Chapter 21

I don't like the idea of leaders. They that that you're born with it. You can't get it any other way and from a young age people who exhibit such qualities have it drilled into their heads. To most people they seem like good and perfect people but let's face it no one is truly good much less perfect. They have certain habits that you won't notice unless you're on the receiving end. Favoritism is a good example. Everyone wants friends, it's only natural. When these 'leaders' want certain people to be their friends they usually let them get away with certain things that they would definitely not let other people get away with. They have the tendency of categorizing people into two distinct groups. Those equal or greater to them and those lesser than them. It sucks to be in the latter group. You will know when you are.

When I look at the scene in front of me I think that Soichiro was never actually 'best friends' with the poor sod. He intends to use him as some sort of campaign gimmick. I pity the fool, disrespected by the man you thought was your friend after your death. That is the thank you he gets after he sacrificed himself. Not even a proper burial. He might have even sacrificed himself for him and Soichiro only saw it as natural. Of course he did. He's the leader and he was the ever faithful servant. He should be glad to lay down his life for him. He should also be glad to let his dead body be used to gain support for followers. Fucking bastard. This, coupled with his swift abandonment of his daughter is the biggest betrayal to not only himself but also the people around him and as a leader that should mean something to him.

While I understand the need for this demonstration in the short run. It paints a negative impression on me and himself in the long run. It's the principle behind it. How far is he willing to go? The snowball effect has started. How long until he gives out his wife to some fat faced scum because it will give him extra benefits that he doesn't really need? When he starts to see those close to him as tools that he needs to use as he sees fit that is a very likely possibility. Sure today it might seem like a no brainer but repetition is the mother of all learning. He started with Saya and now his best friend. Friends and family mean nothing to him. He's worse than Takashi.

And so the random unnamed character loses his life again in a pathetic fashion for the small benefit of a master he served and everyone is happy. Everyone that doesn't have a functional brain. Kohta should be starting a fight right about now with the gang and losing it even though he is one hundred percent correct. He has no confidence in himself despite being a capable individual. A very dangerous combination as it can lead to him getting exploited. Why would anyone think that swords are better than guns? That they even compare. Swords have served their time and they're era is long since passed. Who has years to waste to become only a fraction of someone like Saeko who is only that great because she spent her entire life dedicated to the craft. All the while some random teenager with too much freedom has immediate access to greater skill than you and your four decades of anime training arc. It doesn't even have to be a headshot as long as that shit lands you're out. If they love swords so much why do they want our… oh shit our guns.

I sprint on over to the garage where we stupidly left our shit for no fucking reason. How stupid could we possibly be? If I was one of the guys at the mansion and saw that literal guns were being kept under no supervision I would not let that chance go by. I would thank God, gear up and act dumb when the fools come around for their guns. Deny even when I'm caught. Especially in a zombie apocalypse. Death is inevitable but the piece isn't. Best believe I would have gotten one.

Luckily, Kohta's decision to fight for what he believed in proved to have been the best move as I definitely saw some shady guys snooping around the place. Kohta may be capable of handling himself in a real fight but basic bullying is a bit beyond his repertoire for now. I join up with him as he continues to tinker around with the guns. We chat for a while about games. It seems this world isn't such a lost cause after all. Some interesting titles pop up from time to time but even then it's mostly drowned out by games I've never heard of. Maybe it's due to difference in locale. I wonder how things would've gone if I had gone into some other world like Skyrim or the Witcher. It's really crazy if you think about it. Never in a million years would I have thought.

A while later the stupid bastards gain the courage to try and strong arm us into giving them our guns. Over my dead body. Kohta responds first by slinging the guns to his back and making a run for it. I don't know why he does this as I'm pretty sure I've proven myself by now. Maybe he's programmed to follow the script. That would be pretty messed up if that was the case. Imagine if I actually formed real connections with the people here only for it to be some code in a game somewhere. I wouldn't stress too much over though plus this helps me be one step ahead for a while which enables me to do stuff like looting when I can.

The men inside aren't worth much. I beat them up obviously. I'm still pretty pissed about all this. Who knew I cared so much. Maybe I'm not so bad after all. Anyway as I leave the bloodied bodies on the floor I race afterwards Kohta who somehow managed to get another group chasing after him. Okay tell me that isn't scripted.

I'm getting pissed off again. I don't think o have anger issues but some things just get on my nerves. What gives them the right? No, maybe they are right. They are strong and therefore can do whatever they want to the weak. I'm strong and they're weak so going by their logic what I'm about to do to them is fair game right?

Right. It seems my actions have turned Soochiro's attention over to me. I hear his footsteps getting closer as if he was some sort of level boss that I was under leveled for. But this isn't a game. I know I'm in no real danger. If I really wanted to I could. End it all right now but I won't. I think that makes the difference between good people and bad. Some people couldn't imagine themselves wielding the power I wield and choosing to stay my hand especially when there's so much to gain from it. They in turn project these feelings onto others believing that since they themselves would do it others must be the same. It's pathetic behaviour.

"I am Soichiro Takagi. What is your name?" he declares boldly and he stares at me. His wife and a few other men standing behind him.

"Atlas. Your men are exhibiting unbecoming qualities. I hope you understand that their action reflect poorly on you as a leader," I hit back. Man this is like peak entertainment for me. It's like watching a movie by being the movie. Death by boredom is something I intend to avoid.

"The guns would be better off in the hands of adults rather than children," he makes a good point but it's invalid as the two most skilled shooters here are me and Kohta, the so called children.

"I have a hard time believing that when they show such unsightly behavior, bullying those that they claim to protect," I say as I point at Kohta who hasn't put his head up since he saw the stone faced giant in front of me.

... He doesn't say anything. So I continue.

"Moreover I have a hard time putting my trust in you as a leader," he frowns. He should. This could go wrong for him if I really wanted it to but I ran out of fucks to give when he abandoned Saya. Man, when you watch something you don't really think about it too deeply but now, a lousy father is all I can see when I look at him.

"You failed. You went out on a rescue mission with your men and came back with less men than you left with whereas we, the children, have incurred zero losses so far even undertaking a successful rescue mission,"

"That could-

"That isn't my point. What disturbs me about you is that you turn your back on you daughter and have the nerve to hold your head up high and look me in the eyes as if you've done nothing wrong. The politician's blood must run deep in you,"

"Atlas. Who are you to my daughter," he asks his voice growing cold with each word. Ooh scary.

"Now you wanna play the over protective father?" it seems I'll have what I want. Drama. Soichiro grips his sword but I scoff and put one hand in my jacket pocket. Side note, if you see someone who you think you can beat challenge you calmly and has his hand in his jacket. Chances are he's strapped. This might not always be the case. Bluffs exist after all. But are you really gonna gamble with your life over some petty pride? If he's a wise man he'll back off. I sure as hell won't. Isn't he the adult? He should know better. I'm just a kid after all who makes silly mistakes. What the fuck are responsibilities?

"Papa stop it!" Saya comes in between the two of us. Like Kovu and Kiara from that one movie. Ooh entertainment. Keep 'em coming.

"Saya this man is-

"Doing way more for me in the short time I've known him than you have in years," damn. Me personally I wouldn't take that level of disrespect from my daughter defending another man. I would beat that boy the fuck up. Screw the consequences. I'll take that assault charge. But who knows people are different.

"I'm going to have to stand up against this," Saeko says with a serious face having crept up on me with her hand on her sword ready to tale on the world for me. Hot.

"I can't leave one of my students to face this barrier on their own can I?" Kikyo also pops on from out of nowhere.

"What she said," ah yes the true heroine of this event Shizuka herself. I must have fallen real low if even she can sneak up on me. Do I not register them as threats? Isn't that incredibly dangerous? Is this the start of some generic revenge manga? Cause I'll blow shit the fuck up. I can see it know. Me, walking away fr a fiery explosion of death and misery, no wait riding away with sunglasses and a cigar. Oh and a new chick to bang. While blasting music on my bike to draw in the zombies for more kills. Man that would be awesome. Anyway Saya finally kinda stands up for herself against her trashy family with the help of the power of friendship. It truly is overpowered. It can even fix broken families. I'm sure many would pay to have a fraction of its legendary strength but alas it's stuck here with me in the fictional not so fictional world of big anime titties. What were the creators thinking when they made that one boob scene anyway? The one with the gun. Never mind whatever I was saying, this world is bullshit.