Chapter Ten: The Obvious Choice

Just as Hao Ren’s mood fluctuated wildly, the vehicle came to a halt by the roadside outside the tunnel entrance. A group of unruly, yellow-haired students began picking trouble with Takashi Komuro.

Hao Ren curled his lips and nudged Shiki Ryougi, inviting her to watch the show with him.

“I just don’t like this guy!” the yellow-haired youth spat, pointing at Komuro.

“What’s your problem? Did I say something to you?” Komuro replied, his tone even.

“You bastard!” The yellow-haired student, seemingly agitated, lunged at Komuro. Hao Ren couldn’t fathom his train of thought; why stir up trouble without reason?

Fortunately, Komuro’s girlfriend proved her worth. She stepped forward, swinging her arm in a sweeping blow that sent the yellow-haired youth sprawling to the ground, retching uncontrollably.

“Pathetic,” Rei Miyamoto sneered, her gaze as cold as if she were looking at garbage.

“Beautiful, what a splendid bit of teamwork,” Shido suddenly appeared, applauding Miyamoto. “Komuro, Miyamoto.”

“But the fact that we’re having disputes proves my earlier suggestion was right,” Shido pressed on, “We truly need a captain to lead the group.”

“So, is there only one candidate?” Saya Takagi adjusted her glasses with mockery.

“I am a teacher, Takagi, and everyone else here is a student,” Shido replied, drawing closer.

“From that alone, you can see who’s qualified,” he continued, spreading his hands. “If it were me, I’d have taken measures before problems arose.” He waved his arms as if reciting poetry before an audience; Shido indeed lived up to being the son of a parliamentarian.

“Well, everyone?” he prompted.

The nameless extras all stood up and applauded.

Shido bowed graciously. Yet, in Hao Ren’s mind, the word ‘gentleman’ had taken on a completely different meaning…

“So,” Shido turned, spreading his arms in a boastful display towards Komuro and his friends, “By majority vote, I am elected captain.”

Miyamoto’s face twisted in resentment. She turned sharply and leapt out of the bus.

“Rei!” Her concerned ex-boyfriend called after her.

“I’d rather die than stay with someone like him,” Miyamoto declared, turning fiercely and glaring.

“If we can’t act together, there’s nothing to be done,” Shido continued, airing his cold remarks.

“What are you talking about!” Komuro snapped, glared at Shido, then jumped out of the bus to chase after Miyamoto.

---

“This Shido really knows how to talk,” Hao Ren said, nudging Shiki Ryougi’s shoulder.

“This man called Shido gives me an instinctive disgust, like a messenger I once met,” Shiki replied coolly.

“It doesn’t matter. Keeping him alive is to drive the plot forward; once he’s useless, we’ll get rid of him,” Hao Ren said, his tone cold, tinged with the killing intent from dispatching so many undead.

Just then, another bus of the same type sped past behind them.

Inside, it was a tableau of hell—living and dead alike, blood and flesh everywhere. It crashed into a sedan blocking the road, flipped over, and barreled straight for the tunnel entrance.

Komuro, the protagonist, lunged and tackled Miyamoto, both plunging into the tunnel together. Fortunately, the burning bus was wedged perfectly at the narrow mouth of the tunnel, sparing them from disaster.

Saeko Busujima quickly stood, meeting Hao Ren’s gaze as if seeking advice.

“They should be fine. Talk to them about a time and place to regroup later. As for what happens next, everyone must rely on their own fate,” Hao Ren suggested, slightly surprised that Saeko would seek his counsel.

“Understood. I’ll go check on them,” said Busujima, who had already felt a tinge of disappointment at Komuro’s actions outside the school, but for the sake of being classmates, she stepped off the bus.

“Oh?” Shido, intrigued by Hao Ren’s ability to command Busujima, approached, “You two are unfamiliar faces—what class are you from?”

“Stay away from me, or I’ll kill you!” Shiki Ryougi’s eyes were icy, showing no mercy.

Sensing mortal danger, Shido instinctively stepped back.

“Don’t mind her, she’s just not good with words. I’m Sato Koji, and she’s Shiki Ryougi. We both transferred not long ago, so it’s normal you don’t know us,” Hao Ren replied, feigning friendliness.

“Is that so?” Shido wiped cold sweat from his brow and adjusted his glasses. “Why does Busujima take orders from Sato?”

“We’ve been through life and death together—any sound advice, Busujima will heed,” Hao Ren said, his smile as hollow as ever.

“That’s right, we’re partners,” Busujima echoed upon returning to the bus. “I hope you’ll mind your words, Shido. Nurse Shizuka, the road is blocked.”

“Understood, I’ll try another way,” Shizuka Marikawa said, quickly turning the steering wheel.

Looks like taking full control of this group won’t be easy, Shido thought darkly, settling into a corner.

“Player 73950, main quest updated. Please check.”

Main Quest: Phase Three—Lead the story characters “Saeko Busujima,” “Shizuka Marikawa,” and “Saya Takagi” to the small villa of “Rika Minami.” Completion reward: 4 LP; failure loses 4 LP. If any of these three die or are infected by the undead, the quest fails. (Status: Unfinished)

Hirano and Ishii were once again ignored by the main quest, and Komuro and Miyamoto had disappeared from the list of those needing protection. Ishii was always doomed, so being ignored was normal. But Hirano and Komuro? Had Hao Ren already replaced them?

---

In a sense, Hao Ren was right.

He failed to notice that the quest description had changed from “follow” to “lead.”

Unknowingly, dusk had fallen. The bus, now in the city, was stuck in traffic.

“It’s dangerous outside; do not attempt to cross the river. I repeat, it’s dangerous outside…” The police, tirelessly maintaining order, repeated the warning over and over.

“We’ve only moved a kilometer in an hour,” Busujima observed, looking at the dense cars.

“At this rate, we might not get across the bridge even by morning,” Takagi concluded.

“Grr~” Hirano’s stomach growled loudly.

“So noisy! Hurry up and make your stomach stop,” Takagi scolded, textbook unreasonable.

“But how can I just stop it…” Hirano protested, aggrieved.

“Grr~” This time, it was Hao Ren’s stomach.

“Sorry, I haven’t eaten anything since morning. I’m starving,” Hao Ren said, scratching his head in embarrassment.

“Honestly…” Takagi blushed, thoughts unknown.

Such blatant double standards.

“Takagi, you like Sato, don’t you?” Hirano gazed out the window, brooding over the scenery.

“Wh-what nonsense are you spouting!” Takagi panicked, turning her head, only to see Busujima and Shizuka’s mocking expressions. Takagi ducked, hiding her face in embarrassment.

Gunfire erupted outside; the security forces had begun shooting the undead. The waste of bullets made Hao Ren’s teeth ache.

Two female extras screamed, and Shido played along by comforting them.

Hao Ren glanced at Shido’s performance, wondering what else he might be plotting.