The Careless Supporting Character Begins His Journey Through the Changed World (1)
"Hm~ Hm hm hm~"
Joyeon's humming echoed through the empty forest.
"Master, even if you're keeping an eye on our surroundings, there's always the chance of the unexpected. It would be best not to make unnecessary noise."
Tiasia, carrying two iron balls chained to Joyeon's shackles, voiced her concern over her master's carelessness.
"Ehh~ What's the harm in humming a little~? We only just left the hideout. I'll be quiet once we get close to the school."
Joyeon pouted as he complained, but despite his words, he stopped humming and continued walking in silence.
Only ten minutes had passed since they'd said goodbye to Sirius at the hideout, but since the cabin and the school weren't far apart to begin with, they soon arrived at the school gates.
"We're here~"
"So this is the educational facility Master used to attend. It resembles the academy I attended, though on a much smaller scale."
The school, which he hadn't seen in months, looked as though it had weathered years of neglect. Walls had crumbled in places, paint was peeling, and an eerie atmosphere hung over the grounds.
Joyeon stood at the main gate, scanning the buildings, then began walking toward his classroom.
"Are you planning to go inside?"
"Of course. I didn't come here just to look around. There might be people living here. Schools tend to be used as shelters in situations like this."
"There are far too many blind spots where someone could hide. You should have Karl and Ron check if it's safe first."
"Hmm~ I don't think we need to worry, but... fine. Come out, you two."
Tap, tap.
When Joyeon lightly stomped his foot, the ground behind him rose up. Clack!
Karl and Ron bowed their heads in silent greeting before slipping quietly into the school building. Even these two, who usually clattered their jaws noisily while laughing, moved with serious purpose when the situation demanded it.
"This'll take a while. Lara, put the iron balls down. They must be heavy."
"It's all right. I'll keep hold of them in case we need to flee."
"I don't think that'll be necessary... You really do worry too much, Lara."
"Ensuring Master's safety is the bare minimum."
After roughly twenty minutes of searching the school, Karl and Ron returned and knelt before Joyeon to report.
There are no living beings inside this building.
There are traces of people having lived here, but it seems at least a week has passed since then.
"So someone was living here and then abandoned the place?"
"Karl, any signs of combat?"
There were. Several corpses as well, though many are severely damaged—likely from monsters wandering through.
"Combat... against monsters? Or...?"
No. Most of the corpses show small puncture wounds. The monster traces are from feeding on the bodies.
With Karl and Ron's reports, Joyeon had a decent grasp of the situation.
"So, just as I thought—there was a group living here, they got attacked by other people, monsters were drawn by the scent of blood and corpses, and once there was nothing left to eat, the monsters moved on?"
"A reasonable conclusion, Master."
Once they'd confirmed there was no immediate danger, Joyeon entered the school himself.
"But why did they fight...?"
The thought suddenly occurred to him.
I cannot say for certain.
"Just tell me whatever comes to mind."
The most obvious reason would be food. In a chaotic world, the essentials—food, clothing, shelter—are everything. This building could house thousands if properly managed, yet it was left abandoned, which suggests they had already solved their housing problem.
Indeed, humans die without food. The supplies held by the weak are worth killing for. Given how much time has passed since the world changed, it's not surprising that more people have lost their aversion to murder.
"Killing people over food..."
"Humans are a race capable of becoming infinitely evil when it serves their own interests."
At Tiasia's words, Joyeon scratched his head.
"I still don't really get it. I've only met good people so far. Even the boss talked tough, but he didn't actually kill anyone."
"...You may see it sooner than you think."
As they talked, they arrived at Joyeon's classroom. A thin layer of dust had settled over the desks and chairs, as if it hadn't been used in a long time. When Joyeon stepped inside, the dust stirred faintly in the air.
He frowned and made his way to his old seat, sitting down carefully.
"......"
He looked around the classroom as if lost in nostalgia, then gazed out the window at the view beyond.
The scenery outside was completely different from what he remembered.
"The world really has changed."
"...Yes. The world we lived in is gone."
"It's strange. Sitting here and looking out the window, everything I used to see is far away now. I can see the roads, the apartments... but the university that used to be visible at the very edge isn't there anymore."
After sitting like that for a while, Joyeon wiped the dust off his desk and lay down on it.
"Jack. May."
Jack reporting for duty.
Do you have orders for us?
Joyeon rested his head on his arms and closed his eyes.
"Lara stays. The rest of you, see if there's anything worth taking. There might be phones or electronics left in the lockers."
Understood.
At Joyeon's command, the four skeletons began searching the school.
"Lara, put the iron balls down. I'm going to take a nap."
Joyeon closed his eyes and tried to sleep at his old desk for the first time in a long while.
****
"They say there's nothing left."
"Looks like they cleaned the place out. Not that I expected much to be left in a school anyway."
When Joyeon woke and stretched, Tiasia gently brushed the dust from his clothes.
"By the way, where are the corpses?"
The corpses were gathered in one empty building with no other structures nearby.
"An empty building? You mean the auditorium?"
"Do you intend to resurrect them?"
"Huh? No. There's no real benefit. I was just wondering if I might recognize anyone."
Identification will be impossible. Half the corpses are wearing identical clothing, while the other half are dressed in garments made from various fabrics.
"So they were all modern people?"
That appears to be the case. Given the circumstances, modern humans and mages aren't exactly in a position to trust one another.
"True enough. Let's just leave it, then. Rather than that, the hospital where Mom is—"
Joyeon's words cut off as he stared out the window.
"...? Master?"
Tiasia followed his gaze out the window.
In the distance, black smoke was rising.
"...People?"
"Perhaps."
"Let's go check it out!"
Joyeon shouted excitedly at Tiasia.
"Pardon? You wish to go there?"
"Yeah, it looks interesting!"
Tiasia's expression grew complicated.
"Master? You saw what happened when people fought here and left behind a pile of corpses, and now you want to go toward a place that might have people?"
"It's pretty far away. They'll probably be unrelated to us!"
"W-well... that could be true, but..."
Keh keh! The young lady's completely wrapped around Master's finger!
This is quite the sight. Kahaha!
This is no laughing matter. Honestly, it's far too dangerous. Tiasia, you should suggest we head to our original destination.
Master's mother's safety should take priority, shouldn't it?
Jack and May expressed concern over Joyeon's impulsive decision. Tiasia felt the same.
'No one has been encountered yet, so it's unwise to assume anything. But gambling with Master's safety is out of the question... and yet...'
Tiasia hesitated as she looked at Joyeon, whose eyes sparkled with anticipation. She knew that as a loyal retainer, she should firmly guide her master in times like this. But she also knew that when Joyeon looked like this, he rarely backed down from what he wanted.
Still, she tried to persuade him.
"Master, why not visit your mother first, then go? You've never even met other people yet. Heading toward that smoke based on nothing but a hunch isn't a wise decision."
"The hospital where Mom is is too far. And we're just going to take a quick look. What could go wrong?"
"But..."
Grin!
"Besides, you guys will be with me, right?"
Joyeon flashed a wide smile, teeth showing.
"Eep..."
The Successor's Absolute Trust in His Followers!
Checkmate! Hahahaha!
Of course! We are here, after all! Kahaha!
Naturally. I would shatter every bone in my body to protect you, Master.
I will repay Master's trust without fail.
The bond between the Successor and his followers has grown even stronger.
Moved by Joyeon's sincere words, Tiasia placed a hand over her chest and bowed respectfully.
"...Of course. Everything shall be as Master wishes."
"Great. Then it's decided~ Let's head out right away~"
Joyeon's destination had changed to the place where the black smoke was rising.