NOVEL FROG The Academy’s Elite
I trodded out with Saeko, watching our surroundings, inside the teacher's room we found a lantern and although it is not completely dark... it is not far from becoming difficult to see. Kyoko said the lighting panels are downstairs so even if the building has electricity, we don't have access to the consumer unit and switches.
I materialised Kuroikazuchi and took it out of its scabbard, ready for anything. So did Saeko with her Hanayome.
"They're everywhere... I don't think there is a way out without fighting, Brand" my girlfriend said, taking a peek downstairs and smirking at the numbers, I refrained from commenting.
"I think that as well..."
We clutched down, trying to make the least noise possible and peered down the stairs where the whole place was full of zombies, there weren't even corpses. I scanned the school and saw a lot of red dots palpitating, so much so that if there were any white ones, I couldn't see them.
"Hollow, can you tell me the numbers?" I can see the red dots in the scanner everywhere, but I can't see the number of enemies around me.
[There are a hundred and thirty-five Zombies in the perimeter, Brand...]
"Survivors?"
[Aside from your group, three...]
I sighed, so there are indeed some survivors somewhere.
"How wide is the perimeter?"
[About 0.5 miles, the area of this facility]
"Who are you speaking with? are you still keeping secrets from me?" Saeko paused for a moment to send me a frowned gaze, not happy... I took the chance to give her a peck on the lips and smiled.
"It is nothing worth commenting, like an assistant of sorts... it allows me to see where the zombies are. There are about a hundred zombies around us... that's also counting those that aren't in our way... we may be able to slaughter our way out, but it is going to attract more zombies to us even if we do it silently".
Saeko glared at me for a few seconds before sighing and switching her gaze, I could feel her pinching my waist, not too happy with my explanation of the 'assistant'.
What I like about her too is that -unlike Saya- she doesn't like digging deeper. She will take my explanation and trust me, so far I have not concealed anything from her that she should know and she's aware.
We remained just like that, thinking of our options, we could also do some sort of distraction to take the zombies away from our path but... It is convenient for me to kill all of them and I'd get more gacha points. The problem is: is it worth risking it? trying to kill all these zombies on our own, let alone I won't get points for those killed by Saeko or anyone else other than Lucy.
"Do you have enough resources for us?" The beauty inquired. The inventory is something they're aware of.
"That's not the issue... remember that I told you I can get more? well... the more zombies I kill the more I can get".
"Isn't it better to kill all of them then?~"
'You just want to kill people...' I thought in exasperation; any plan that involves blood, she's in. I pulled her wrist in order to head back to the teacher's main room after having seen enough, there is nowhere else we can go on this floor without making a commotion.
"If I give the crossbow to Lucy and some arrows; we may be able to get out of this together, just the two of us will get tired before making it to the bus".
Saeko nodded and we head back into the room where everyone had been waiting; Kyoko saw us through the small window of the gate and opened the door for us. Everyone assembled around us.
"We've got good news and bad news..."
"Ugh, just say it" Saya rolled her eyes, earning a glare from me and a giggle from Shizuka.
"There is no way out of the building without fighting..." I said, immediately ranging concern in the group mostly for those who didn't know how to fight like Kyoko, "But... if we fight we are highly likely to escape, so long as we don't make any noise, there are a lot of us here with experience in the offensive".
I looked around, although Lucy, Saeko and myself are the most qualified. There is also Hirano, Rei and Takashi who can give a fight on their own; there is also Saya... sadly, the only weapon she knows how to use so far is her glock, so, her assistance is unavailable; the same could be said for Shizuka.
"I'd be useless fighting in melee combat and the guns are unavailable so I'll stand down from this one" Saya waved her hands immediately, of course, she knows...
"I can help! but I don't have that many nails left" Hirano lifted up his hand flustered, I had already checked up his nailer. Producing some nails for it won't be an issue as long as he has a full cartridge, which he does.
"No problem with that, I can get you more..." The boy nodded, I think he misunderstood me, there are no nails in this room, I'm going to buy them with Gacha points.
"I can help you as well, Brand-kun" Rei said, holding her pole.
"Me too!" Takashi came forth with his bat.
"I can cheer on you~" Shizuka smiled, waving her chest back and forth.
"..." Nobody paid attention to her except for Takashi and Hirano who upon noticing my killing intent, switched their gazes away from my girl. Can't blame them; I can only blame Shizuka for being so seductive and uncaring.
"Sorry, Brand-kun... I can't help" Kyoko said in a lower tone, holding her elbow... I didn't expect anything from her anyway, she's a civilian.
"I can help too!" One of the senpais answered, holding the leg of a chair that he found somewhere, it had a big screw pointing out at the end of it, I don't know if I should trust him or not. But since he offered himself, then so be it.
The other senpai just remained together with Miku, both of them hugging their knees and shaking their heads. Useless, huh?
Seeing everyone I counted with, we're now in a better position... the offensive has many and if by chance any of us is bitten then... I'll have to count on Lucy to put an arrow through our heads.
"Very well... I don't want questions asked"
Lifting my hand up; I materialised the Twinstrike and handed it over to Lucy who nodded with a smile, she's been wanting to test the baby for a while... I'd have kept it for myself but she has better marksmanship than I do while I'm a better swordsman.
!!!
The reactions didn't make themselves wait, it was as if I just did magic.
"W-What-" Rei exclaimed as for Hirano, he seemed to be more awed by the crossbow than by the magic I did.
[-40 gacha points...]
I then bought twenty arrows for 2 points each in a bulk and gave them to her as well.
"Don't worry, I won't waste a single one~"
"I know... that's why I'm giving it to you, I would have wasted a few".
"B-Brand-kun, that!" The fanboy began jumping and inspecting the crossbow from all over before I stopped him, this is not the moment.
"I said no questions asked... Hirano, give me some of those nails".
He reluctantly took out one of the cartridges from his pocket and I had Hollow analyse it.
**
[Analizing...]
[Shop]
*Crossbow Twinstrike Arrow - 2 gacha points.
...
*.38 9mm Special Cartridge - Prize: 10 gacha points.
*.3inch x 10units Makita Nailer Cartridge- Prize: 2 gacha points.
**
I bought just two cartridges for him, those I give to Lucy can be replenished but I won't be getting points for anything Hirano kills.
"I-I won't ask questions but that's amazing! can you create anything!? is like a superpower!" Right now Hirano was the one having the reaction and asking questions of everyone in this room, I could feel their suspicious glances on me.
"I hope you will answer later, Brand-kun" Kyoko said with a frown but I merely shrugged my shoulders, I have no reason to give an explanation to them, we're going to go on our separate ways after all.
"Don't yell, Hirano... and you just asked a question... let's go, those that can't fight; stay behind... we're going to be making our way to the bus and there will be a lot of blood".
"Use this, it will help flood from getting into your nose and mouth".
Kyoko gave us some masks that were on one of the desks, I don't know if I can fight comfortably with these. I decided to follow Saeko's instinct and decided to not use it, but the guys standing behind us were all using it.
"Be careful, Brand-chan..." Shizuka told me and in front of everyone's stunned gazes, I kissed her... the one that I felt wasn't astonished was Kyoko, instead she looked... irritated? I ignored all of them and decided to take our spots.
Having finished the briefing I walked up to the gate, Hirano loaded his nailer... Lucy pulled the bowstrings and loaded two arrows; putting the rest on a bag that she carried. Both of them stood behind me together with Takashi.
Saeko stood by my side both of us at the front.
As for the senpai, he was in the back protecting Shizuka, Saya, Kyoko, Miku and the other senpai. Shizuka and Saya had their guns prepared in case they were necessary... if any of them shoot, at that point we know that it will be run or die; with this silence, a gunshot would be heard a few a mile around.
With this lineup, I think we can do it.
"Umm, let's go!"
The moment I gave the order and the gates opened; it was as if Saeko got possessed by some ancient shogun samurai ghost.
*WHOOSHH!!*
She jumped on the first Zombie she saw, ahead of me, slicing it in half.
*SPLASH!*
I haven't even killed one and there are already three bodies laying down!
A silent hum belonging to the crossbow resonated; two arrows were shot by Lucy, hitting one straight on the skull.
Hirano did so next, taking down two in a row with a maniacal stare that actually scared me a little.
Fucking hell... there are just psychopaths here, isn't it? this may be easier than I expected it to be.
I began my own onslaught, the noise of falling bodies quickly drew more zombies towards us, it would be difficult as we have to go down the stairs, possibly walking on top of bodies. I sliced three of them and felt something stinging my cheek and a zombie coming from the front fell down. I touched my cheek and saw blood; my gaze looked back at Lucy in disbelief and I found her smirking awkwardly.
"Don't get in my line of fire, babe~ Hirano and I will take care of the 6's and 9's, focus on your front, if you get flatlined by mistake, don't blame me!~" Lucy uttered as if nothing had happened, a few inches more and that arrow would have gone through my brain.
I'm telling you there are just psychopaths in this school, goddammit.