Chapter 39 - A Misguided Scheme

"This one, and this one..."

Inside a grocery store on the main street, Kazuma tossed canned goods one after another into a bag without hesitation.

The zombie that had been inside the store had already had its head smashed in.

His strength, honed through years in the baseball club, proved just as effective when the target was a human head.

Toward the back of the store, Sayo was gathering water, while Jun kept watch at the entrance.

"Still... this is a lot."

Kazuma allowed himself a faint smile.

Perhaps because shopping districts were seen as high-risk zombie zones, there were no signs the store had been looted.

It looked like only the staff had taken a few things.

Even just what was left on the shelves was a substantial amount, and if they rationed what was in storage as well, they could probably make it through the winter.

"Alright, the bags are full—I'm heading back to the bus for now."

With a backpack slung over each shoulder, Kazuma started making his way out.

Sayo followed him out of the store, and Jun began to move as well.

None of them noticed the eyes silently watching their backs.

Meanwhile, Team One had also returned to the bus with a fair amount of supplies.

“For now, put the gun on that seat over there. Then start loading the supplies from the back and line them up.”

Following Tooru’s instructions, the supplies were placed accordingly.

Soon after, Team Two returned as well.

“We got a huge haul over here!”

Kazuma was in high spirits.

Wearing a smug grin, he dumped a rattling pile of canned goods onto the floor.

The sheer quantity made even Tooru let out a breath of amazement.

“There’s still plenty left in the storage area, so I’m heading back for another run.”

“We’d appreciate that.”

“…Oh? Is that a gun!?”

“Yeah, we found it earlier,” Tooru replied.

“Huh… interesting.”

Kazuma picked up the New Nambu revolver and toyed with it in his hands.

There was something practiced about the way he handled it.

Sensing Tooru’s curious gaze, Kazuma offered an explanation.

“Oh, I’ve always had a bit of an interest in guns. …Mind if I take it with me?”

Rather than leaving it with someone inexperienced, it might be better to let someone who knows how to use it carry it.

“Sure, that’s fine.”

“Hold on a second!”

Shinji suddenly raised his voice.

“What is it?”

“N-no, it’s just… shouldn’t we store the gun more securely? If it goes off, the gunfire will draw zombies.”

He was clearly flustered.

And for good reason—Shinji had tampered with the gun.

He had inserted a blockage into the third chamber of the cylinder, intending to make it misfire. His plan was to have Tooru fire it under the pretense of testing it or checking its power, causing a malfunction that would severely injure him—maybe even kill him.

With their current lack of proper medical supplies, a serious injury could easily turn fatal.

If needed, Shinji could always claim the gun had simply been defective.

But now the situation had turned against him.

If Kazuma took the gun and used it—or worse, noticed the obstruction before using it—he might realize someone had tampered with it. And since Shinji had been the one in possession of the gun earlier, suspicion would fall squarely on him.

“It’s better than letting it go to waste,” Tooru said casually, brushing off the concern.

There was nothing more Shinji could do.

Kazuma, revolver in hand, headed back toward the grocery store with the other members of Team Two.

Shinji could do nothing but watch them go, silently.

"Ah... that is..."

In front of Rei stood a bookstore.

And beyond his gaze was a single magazine.

On its cover were the words: “Robot Anime Special Feature.”

That’s right, Rei and Ryuu weren’t just fans of Union Fusion Godbind; they were full-blown enthusiasts of all kinds of robot anime.

“Entertainment’s important too… right?”

Rei gently slipped the magazine into his backpack.

After that, he grabbed a few magazines on survival techniques and regrouped with Seiji.

“Rei, find anything?”

“Um, some survival magazines, I guess.”

“I found this.”

What Seiji pulled out was a camping hatchet and a mountaineering ice axe.

“Oh, weapons?”

“This one’s for you.”

Rei took the hatchet.

He gave it a small swing. It felt surprisingly right in his hands.

It gave him a sense of reassurance he hadn’t felt with the bat or metal pipe.

To Rei, the unfamiliar hatchet felt like a real weapon—and that filled him with a thrill he couldn’t quite describe.

Right now, he felt like he could take on anything that came his way.

Then, without warning, Seiji brought the ice axe down toward him.

“Wha—!?”

Startled, Rei braced himself—only to see the tip of the axe crush the skull of a zombie that had crept up behind him.

Seiji flashed a wicked grin.

“You let your guard down, didn’t you?”

“…”

Rei was so terrified he couldn’t even speak.

Seeing that, Seiji burst out laughing, then added, “The coward lives on,” and laughed again.