Chapter 3
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Looting the Convenience Store
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So, what should I do now?
Normally, in a situation like this, a protagonist familiar with zombie apocalypses would lay out a clear plan like a pro and charge ahead decisively.
But I'm no expert. Sure, I've watched zombie movies and comics to kill time, but I've never really thought about what to do if something like this actually happened.
For now, the electricity and water are still on. Flip the switch in my room, and the lights come on. Turn on the faucet, and water flows just fine.
The internet seems to be working too.
Though it's blowing up with reports of zombies appearing everywhere.
But there's no guarantee any of this will last. At some point, the supply will cut off for sure.
In a zombie apocalypse, all the modern infrastructure humanity's built up will grind to a halt. Survivors will have to fend for themselves, right?
And one of the most essential things for survival is food.
Whether it's growing crops or raising livestock, I need to secure a way to eat first.
I can think about that later. For now, maybe raid the nearby shops?
In zombie movies, people always head out to supermarkets for food. It's practically a cliché.
I changed into some comfy clothes, slung on a bag, opened the door, and stepped outside.
"Gaaahhh!"
"S-Save me!!!"
"Kyaaahhh!"
Screams were echoing from all over the place, but I ignored them completely and headed toward the nearby convenience store I remembered.
A big supermarket would have more variety, but I'll clear out the local spots first, then hit the mart later.
Right now, the goal is to stockpile food securely. Raiding the convenience store should net me plenty.
Chasing those screams would just lead to finding mangled corpses. Nothing I could do about it anyway.
And when everyone's in chaos, it's best to grab what you need quick.
- Grraaahhh...
Of course, now that I was out walking, zombies spotted me and came charging in a line.
For a normal person, the textbook move would be to hide and sneak around, avoiding detection at all costs.
Yeah, for a normal person.
You couldn't handle a swarm anyway, and one bite means game over. Getting caught is definitely a no-go.
But I'm not normal.
I sidestepped the zombie lunging at my back, placed my hand on its head, and cast Mana Drain right away.
Mana Drain
Demonic energy absorbed. Target mummified.
The zombie withered into a mummy in seconds, feeding me its demonic energy.
The others didn't care—they bared their teeth and charged to rip me apart. I hurled the mummified zombie at some of them, then closed in on another.
It tried to grab and bite me, but I smacked its arms away, seized its neck, and sucked dry its demonic energy with Mana Drain.
Know why humans have two hands?
So I can drain two zombies at once!
These things were so weak that a touch and Mana Drain sucked them dry instantly. I grabbed zombies with both hands, drained them, and cleared them out.
About twenty zombies had rushed me on the street—it took less than five minutes to drain them all.
Man, this is straight-up cheating. Just walk around, and these honey jars come running to feed me demonic energy. The world's overflowing with them.
And other people have to risk their lives fighting these?
Am I allowed to live this easy?
Sure, some folks are probably huddled at home right now, shaking and praying the zombies go away. Me? Zero sense of crisis.
Not that I plan to save them all.
I'm not that good a guy. Back in that other world, I got dragged there against my will, slayed the demon king, saved the day—all in hopes of going home. If not for that, I'd have lived however I wanted from the start.
And here? No obligation to save everyone like some hero.
Well, if someone catches my fancy, I might play white knight.
If such a person shows up.
Strolling along like it was a walk in the park, I reached the convenience store in no time.
Time to clean this place out?
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Heading inside, I heard loud banging from within.
Eh, probably just a zombie slamming into walls.
I ignored it, opened the door, and walked in.
- Grraaahhh...
Bingo!
Sure enough, a zombie was thrashing around inside. Before it spotted me, I grabbed its neck and drained all its demonic energy.
Mana Drain
Noisy honey jar eliminated.
One noisy honey jar down.
Now, let's grab everything in sight.
I started stuffing my bag with all the food items. When it got full, I pulled out every plastic bag in the store and packed as much as possible.
Ah... I really want to open my Subspace and store it there. That would've been so convenient.
It was my go-to storage method in that other world, and I can't use it now. What a shame.
Subspace doesn't consume demonic energy except when opening and closing—super handy once set up. But right now, I'm way short on energy to create one.
No choice but to gather it bit by bit from these zombies.
Later, after hauling this home, maybe go zombie hunting? Stockpile as much demonic energy as possible.
Demonic energy is all about quantity.
"Hmm~ Hmm~ Hmm-hmm~"
"W-What? Already looting?"
I was humming happily, packing away, when a guy suddenly walked in from outside.
Built like a tank, scary face, wrapped in cardboard like makeshift armor for zombie bites. He clutched what looked like a kitchen knife, blade and cardboard splattered in blood. He'd clearly fought his way here.
Worked so hard killing zombies to get here. Poor guy.
"Everything here's mine now. Get lost if you don't wanna die."
I'd already claimed the whole store.
"What? All this is yours?"
"Yup. So keep walking unless you wanna get hurt. Or y'know, die."
Look at me, warning him out of courtesy. Am I too nice? I could just kill him on the spot, but I'm being a gentleman.
In a zombie apocalypse, you gotta be selfish, but looks like I still have some decency left.
"Crazy bastard! You get out! Wanna get stabbed?!"
Ignoring my polite warning, he strode in and pointed his knife at me.
Like he'd go to extremes if I didn't leave.
Sigh. What a pitiful sight.
"Haa... I warned you. Don't blame me if you regret it."
"W-What? You psycho! Die!"
He charged at me, knife raised.
A normal person would panic, brain going blank when a knife-wielding attacker comes for their life.
Doesn't matter if it's a zombie apocalypse or not—civilians don't face this, so it's a natural reaction.
They'd get stabbed without fighting back.
Maybe that blood on his knife heading for my gut wasn't zombie blood, but someone's else?
But he had no clue. No way he could.
That I've been through it all. How many times has someone come for my head...
His knife thrust felt glacially slow.
I could blast him with magic using the demonic energy I'd gathered, but better to save it for when I really need it.
Zombies provide a steady supply, but the amount's so tiny I can't splurge.
So, bare hands it is.
I twisted aside from his gut stab, grabbed his wrist, and wrenched it hard.
"Gaaahhh!"
He screamed in agony, dropping the knife. I snatched it midair.
"W-Wait! H-Hold on!"
He yelled desperately, maybe sensing his fate, but my mind was made up.
I slashed his throat quick.
"Gurk! Gahk!"
Blood gushed from the wound as he clutched it, staring at me in disbelief before collapsing.
Told him to leave when he had the chance. Not my fault.
Time to finish it proper? Don't want him thrashing in his death throes.
If you're gonna kill, do it clean and confirm.
"Guh... Urk, y-you... an Awakener too?"
Huh? Awakener?
What the hell's that?