Chapter 20: Dance of Death

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***

Asahi could see the surprise flickering across Kyoko's face. First the zombies and then his miraculous healing potions — any normal person would look utterly lost for words.

"Student Marikawa," Kyoko said, her hand absentmindedly brushing her neck where a wound had just been. "How did you do that?" 

"Save the questions for later, Sensei. We gotta figure out this situation first, okay?"

She silently nodded and picked herself up. After almost losing her sanity to the curse, she had finally stopped shaking in fear.

Asahi's gaze went over to the balcony of the school, and as expected, a black-haired student was standing there, gaping with wide-open eyes. It seemed Takashi Komuro didn't leave after seeing the first undead and stuck around, possibly because of Asahi's presence.

'He looks shaken.'

Asahi waved his hand at Takashi. "Go and tell others about this! Evacuate the school as quickly as possible."

He warned Takashi since he had nothing against Takashi. What's more, Takashi had Asahi's sympathy for losing the woman he loved over hesitation.

Suddenly, Kyoko's finger pointed behind him, her eyes filled with terror. "Be careful! More of them are coming!"

Asahi looked over his shoulder. A horde of undead approached from a distance, growling and chanting for mankind's annihilation. "Let's leave."

As much as he loved slaughtering undead for XP, fighting hundreds of them wasn't possible for him. It was where his contingency plan for humanity — Visions — would come in handy.

Asahi took the sturdy baton from the guard's corpse and passed it to Kyoko. "Go for the head or knock them down. Those zombies aren't people anymore. Killing them is putting them out of their misery."

She didn't argue his claim of calling them zombies after her own near-transformation into one of them. With a determined expression, she held the baton. "Never thought I'd get tutored by a student…"

Asahi flashed her a reassuring smile before sprinting towards the stairs that led into the building.

"Where are we—"

"Attention all students and teachers!" Kyoko's question was abruptly interrupted by the PA announcement. "Attention all students and teachers! There is a violent struggle occurring all around the school. Students are requested to stay with teachers and follow their instructions! I repeat foll-Arghhhhh!!! HELP! STOP! SOMEONE HELP ME!!!"

Asahi had been waiting for this announcement. The miserable screams in the PA system threw the whole school in turmoil. The very ground trembled from the stampede of several hundred students as they rushed to leave the school.

Kyoko's eyes widened, her figure trembling visibly in the face of chaos. "We have to leave this place."

Asahi placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We will. After I get my Nee-san."

Kyoko nodded her head. "Shizuka had no lecture before lunch break. She must be in the Faculty Room."

"We'll take the connector to the Admin area."

He was fully familiar with the layout of Fujimi academy by now. The panicking students stormed to the exit from the main building, and hardly anyone took the Administrative Building route to exit the academy premise.

(No need to worry about Saeko and Shiori. They are more than capable of fending off the early stage of the curse.)

'Hmm.'

Asahi rushed over the stairs and arrived at the hallways connecting the student and administrative building. Only a few undead tumbled about the place, which easily fell to the splendid sharpness of his ax. Kyoko didn't join him in the battle, which was for the better.

She knew that he killed the student zombies to protect himself, but not everybody had the guts to kill zombies like they were chopping wood.

Asahi glanced over his shoulder and paused in his tracks. Kyoko was growing breathless when he wasn't even trying. She'd absolutely lose sight of him if he accelerated to his limits.

"Let's take a breather."

"Okay," Kyoko said between ragged breaths. "Why is everyone becoming zombies? And what do these zombies have against humans?"

"Valid questions, but you're asking the wrong guy. I'm just an ordinary highschooler who likes chopping wood."

"..."

"Trust me. I'm training to become the best lumberjack in Japan. Best in the world."

[–Kyoko Hayashi: Affection +3]

A momentary smile touched her lips. Clearing her throat, she adjusted her glasses. "You should focus on your studies."

"You wouldn't be alive if I did."

"...I can't argue with that." She sighed. "I'm fine now. Let's move."

"Stick close to me."

***

Asahi's trip concluded in a massive surprise — Saeko and Shiori engaged a horde of about fifteen student undead outside the Faculty Room.

Armed with wooden katana — bokken — they fearlessly fought the undead. Despite being greatly outnumbered, they skillfully targeted the legs of the undead, causing them to stumble and fall. The twins delivered the finishing blow to the undead one at a time.

From offense to defense, their movements synced flawlessly. They turned the fight into a gracefully captivating spectacle — a dance of slaughter.

Kyoko was in full awe. "Busujima siblings. What are they doing here?"

"They came to help my Nee-san."

(Such nice girls… I hope one of them doesn't turn out to be a sadist who takes pleasure in killing!)

'Shhh. No spoilers.'

Asahi stepped forward to help the twins. Saeko and Shiori showed a brief look of surprise, which became full-blown shock when he raised his ax and chopped an undead's head. He didn't stop there and massacred the rest of zombies with a speed they could hardly see with their eyes.

Another burst of refreshing energy filled his veins — he had leveled up again.

He pressed his heel on the back of an undead and pulled out his ax that was stuck in its ax. "How's it going?"

His casual greeting put an end to the twins' stupor. They exchanged a meaningful glance, nodding at each other as if they were communicating through telepathy.

[–Saeko Busujima: Affection +30]

[–Shiori Busujima: Affection +10]

'Sadist Onee-san liked my performance.'

(Nobody. Saeko getting aroused by watching her handsome friend slaughter zombies.)

Asahi chuckled at the goddess' meming skills. "Shiori, looks like your sister fell for the charming old me."

"W-What?" Saeko stammered. "No. I was merely shocked by your… strength."

Shiori narrowed her eyes at Saeko's rare stutter before turning back to Asahi. "Who hurt you, Asahi? You can tell us."

"Nobody. I woke up and chose violence," he said with a grin. "Are you guys here for Nee-san?"

Shiori glanced at the undead lying on her feet. "We knew you didn't come to the school today. So, saving Shizuka-sensei became our top priority."

They dropped everything after spotting the zombies and headed straight to rescue Shizuka. Their loyalty deserved praise.

Saeko revealed a polite smile. "Don't say a word. It is our duty to help the family of our friends."

Shiori looked impressed by Saeko. "Look at this smooth talking sister. How is—"

"Excuse me," saying so, Kyoko strode past the group and opened the Faculty Room's door. "I can't believe this."

Shizuka was peacefully dozing off, her head resting gently on the wooden desk.

Kyoko turned towards Asahi with a serious frown. "I'll leave the explanation to you."

...

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