NOVEL FROG Sorting Out
It has been half our since we reached this spot, the water is finished... the TV broadcast was cancelled and we have yet to sort out what's our next move. I'm sitting together with my girls while Takashi together with Rei is sitting with Miku and the senpais.
Ever since their conversation finished, Takashi has been looking at me with an aggrieved expression. No idea what she told him but it can't be anything good.
Saeko was cleaning her sword and Saya was looking through useful stuff in the room; Kyoko was sitting beside me just like Shizuka, hugging her knees... she already gave me the keys, which means we already have what we came here for, one of the two of them has to drive us out of here.
The sun is going to fall in roughly two hours.
'Hollow, show me my status and inventory...'
...
[Name: Brand Mercer].
[Age: 17].
[Gacha Points: 592 -> 642]
[Skills:]
*Kendo.
[Powers:]
*None.
[Inventory:]
*Crossbow Excalibur TwinStrike x1.
*Glock 17 3rd Gen x1.
*.38 9mm Special Cartridge x10.
*Twin Strike Specialized Arrows x2.
*Bandage Roll x5.
*Katana 'Kuroikazuchi O Kiri' x1.
*Hagoromo Chunks Tuna Can x20.
...
[Summons:]
*Lucy (Cyberpunk Edgerunners)
**
**
'So I got twenty-five points for each kill? or ten for each, counting Lucy's?'
[Since Lucy is your summon naturally her kills are also included in your gacha point remuneration].
I sighed, thinking that it was a pity that I wouldn't get points for Saeko, Saya and Shizuka's possible kills, but anyway, it is good enough. Ten points for each kill is not a bad rate... but also not a good one.
To purchase an item that costs 300 points, I'd have to kill thirty zombies. That's also enough to roll three gachas.
[... do you have any further enquiry?]
'None... but, let me ask you just in case... is there any sort of limit to what I can store in my inventory?'
I have several assorted utilities that I stored impromptu. One of my regrets was not being able to acquire the crossbow's special arrows, just any arrow won't do, it has to be a particular model which Lucy and I didn't find for this American model. In any case, I only need two of them to perform my glitch with the inventory... there is also the Glock that I was given.
I was thinking whether I should give it to that Hirano; but I can't trust anyone but my girls holding a gun just yet, the guy is already dead with a nailer according to Saya, much more so with a true gun.
The food is enough for us to last for a few days and that's about it, that's also considering it is just me and my girls... if it is everyone here... it won't last more than two days.
"Do you have your sword, Brand?" Saeko asked me, drawing eyes towards herself... she had been cleaning that sword for a while now, Hanayome... what's the point if it is going to get stained soon?
"I do... but I haven't used it due to the fear of infection, I'd rather use a blunt weapon that produces less blood," I said looking towards Rei and Takashi's weapons, a blunt spear and a bat; they do splash blood but not compared to Saeko's katana, she was truly irresponsible.
"You don't need to be afraid of the blood~" Saeko seemed to notice my gaze and chuckled, "so far... I think you only get infected if you get bitten... I can't say for certain but... the blood has splashed on me, I believe it has also entered my eyes and yet nothing has happened so far, I don't feel anything different"
Although she said that, we can't be certain.
"They do behave like zombies in movies... to the point I even believe this is orchestrated, Brand-chan, it just doesn't make sense... that student that died in front of us, Kazu-kun... he had been bitten but at no moment had blood splashed on him or his mouth or his eyes, he was just bitten... it could have been the zombie's saliva which carried the infection" Shizuka explained her point of view.
"We can't deny or confirm, so just to be safe... try to engage in fights the least possible" I ordered them, earning a pout from Saeko; darling I know you want to kill anything that weights more than a chicken, but I can't send you out until I'm certain.
"I think hiding your power at this stage is meaningless... if you're asked questions, just avoid them..." Lucy told me all of the sudden, this girl doesn't care about anything.
I nodded but decided to keep the matter secret for now.
Alas.
"What 'power' is she talking about, Brand-kun?" Kyoko crossed her arms beneath her plentiful chest, tipping on her elbow... her gaze mirrored that of Rei and even Miku.
*Cough!*
"Let's all meet here, we have rested enough and need to think of what our next movement will be..."
Everyone paid attention to me and we stood up in a circle.
"I believe the best call would be to head to the same spot shown in the broadcast, it is River Central where the bridge to the west side is located; there are concentration fields in there with the army protecting the perimeter"
I was surprised that Takashi delivered a rather nice suggestion, what they're saying now is the spot where I'll drop them, as for me and my girls... we already have our mansion ready and waiting for whatever this Catastrophe wants to throw at us, sadly... the big protection murals that were being built weren't finished in time, thankfully there is already a metallic protective row which won't protect us completely but so long as we keep quiet, there is no reason for Zombies to try and penetrate it.
"Then that's where we're going to go, but we need to reach the bus first, there are two hours before the sun falls and it will be more difficult for us to make our way through, Zombies have no sight, but we do need to see in the dark"
"I'd dare say that they have a smelling sense as well, Brand-chan, otherwise... they'd not be able to differentiate between the living people and the other zombies".
"That makes sense, I never expected you to be so attentive, Shizuka".
"Moou, Saya-chan you bully! I'm smart you know!".
At Shizuka's protest everyone remained silent and shot her a deadpan, why are these guys underestimating my cute girlfriend?
Forget it, I can't protect her when it comes to this.
"You guys stay here... Saeko and I will try to see if there is any safe route. Lucy, stay and take care of Shizuka and Saya".
Lucy seemed reluctant but she nodded her head in the end.
"What about us?!" Rei growled at me the moment she heard what I said, Kyoko and Miku weren't happy either. I know exactly what I said.
"The three of you can stay here as well, no need to come with us"
"That's not what I mean..."
All that Rei managed to catch was my smirk as I departed together with Saeko, someone wasn't quite happy at all this though, Yuuki was flashing me a poisonous glare, but I couldn't care less.
Once all this is done we likely won't see each other again.