Chapter Seven: The Portable Bus Key

According to the task instructions, the other three players must have already been eliminated—in other words, erased. Let me offer a moment of condolence for these strangers; who knows, maybe one day the same will happen to me. That means the man with the sideburns is the only other player left besides myself. I have no idea who he is or whether he’s familiar with this anime. If he isn’t, that would be ideal—I could just pretend to be an NPC. However, with Sister Shiki's kimono jacket, so eye-catching and stifling, she might just seem eccentric to the story characters, but to another player, it’s probably a major red flag.

In the teachers’ office, Hao Ren reluctantly let go of Takagi’s delicate body and pulled Shiki into a corner, quietly explaining his general plan. Shiki made a subtle gesture of drawing her finger across her throat. Hao Ren shook his head, indicating they should wait and see.

“Enjoyed that hug just now, didn’t you?” Shiki suddenly changed her expression, smiling slyly.

“Yes, soft and fragrant, though there was a faint scent of blood…” Hao Ren, slow on the uptake, was about to say more.

“Is a big chest really that great?!” Shiki delivered another merciless blow to Hao Ren’s kidney. He doubled over, clutching his stomach.

“Don’t take it to heart, Sister Shiki. I’m perfectly fine with… modesty.” Hao Ren tried to redeem himself.

“I have some, at least!” With a tic mark pulsing on her forehead, Shiki knocked Hao Ren out.

The scene shifted to Saburo Watanabe.

The main system indicated only two players remained—myself and one other. Shizuka Marikawa and Takashi Komuro are confirmed as story characters, and everyone else is wearing similar school uniforms, so they’re likely not players. That one in the kimono seems the most suspicious. But is it a man or a woman? If it’s a woman, she’s got quite the figure. Watanabe leaned against the opposite wall, his thoughts tinged with malice.

Having washed up at the sink, Saya Takagi approached the just-recovered Hao Ren.

“Th-thank you for earlier…” she said shyly, “But don’t get the wrong idea! I only hugged you because I panicked, you hear? Don’t read too much into it!”

“Yeah, I get it. The glasses suit you,” Hao Ren smiled sincerely at Saya, who was now wearing regular glasses instead of contacts. Indeed, in the world of anime, even nearsightedness becomes adorable.

“Wha…” Saya, now in glasses due to her contacts slipping out, took a step back. “What are you talking about?!” She spun around and fled, flustered.

Hao Ren looked at Shiki, his face a bundle of question marks. Did I say something wrong?

“I can see it now. You’re the densest guy alive,” Shiki sighed.

“Huh? Dense? How am I dense?” Hao Ren protested.

Shiki turned away, ignoring him.

“Teacher, did you find the keys?” Takashi Komuro asked, seated on the floor.

“Oh, they’re in my bag…” Shizuka began rummaging for the keys.

“Is it a car big enough for all of us?” Saeko Busujima raised an important point.

“Ah, come to think of it…” Shizuka looked embarrassed; clearly, it wasn’t.

“How about the club bus?” Saeko suggested. “The keys should still be on the board.”

“The bus is still parked out front,” Hirano said, peering out the window.

“Is this what you’re looking for?” Hao Ren, feigning ignorance, tossed the car key to Shizuka, having just received it as a side quest reward—a humble, unassuming key.

Item properties: Portable Bus Key. The holder can summon or dismiss a mid-size bus at any time. Seats up to 20 (including driver). Maximum speed 200 km/h. The front is equipped with a high-strength alloy ram, the body is reinforced, and there are four spare machine gun mounts. Each hour of use consumes 1 LP.

After reading the item’s description, Hao Ren was dumbfounded. What the hell! This isn’t a mid-sized bus—it’s the armored vehicle from Dawn of the Dead!

Once the shock faded, frustration set in—there’s no way to use this openly. Not to mention the shape, the resource consumption alone was a killer.

“Faced with widespread unrest across the country, the government is already discussing emergency measures. However, deploying the Self-Defense Forces to maintain order…” The TV’s broadcast drew everyone’s attention.

The news quickly switched to footage of corpses attacking people and fires breaking out.

Hao Ren casually slipped the key into his pocket, quietly observing everyone’s reactions—especially the man with the sideburns. That man seemed genuinely shocked as well.

If this man isn’t an accomplished actor, Hao Ren could conclude he hadn’t encountered “Highschool of the Dead” before.

While everyone was caught up in discussion, Hao Ren took the opportunity to rummage through the desks, searching each drawer. In one tucked away in the corner, he found something that first startled him, then made him grin mischievously as he pocketed it.

…

“We need to form a team,” Saeko concluded after some debate.

Everyone armed themselves with whatever weapons they could find, ready to move out.

“If we find any survivors, we should bring them along if possible,” Saeko said, glancing at Hao Ren.

“Understood.” It seemed Saeko now liked Hao Ren more than the others—a good omen, and a strong sign the possibility of a “NTR” event had increased.

“Which way is best?” Rei Miyamoto asked.

“To reach the parking lot, the main entrance is closest,” Takagi replied, adjusting her glasses.

“Alright, let’s move,” Takashi Komuro led the way, and the group set out.

Hao Ren insisted he needed to protect Nurse Shizuka—best to let the main character take the spotlight.

“Player 73950’s quest log has been updated. Please check your tasks.”

Quest Log: 3 Quests

Main Quest: Phase Two—Accompany the protagonist’s group to the bus and escape the school. Only players who complete Phase Two can unlock subsequent main quests. Reward for success: 2 LP. Failure: lose 2 LP. If Takashi Komuro or Shizuka Marikawa dies or is infected, mission counts as failed. (Status: Not Complete)

Side Quest: “Protect the Busty Nurse”

Phase Two—Go with Shizuka Marikawa and Saeko Busujima to the teachers’ office and retrieve the bus key. Reward for completion: “Portable Bus Key.” Failure: can’t unlock further side quests. If Shizuka Marikawa dies or is infected, mission is failed. (Status: Complete)

Reward has been issued.

Phase Three unlocked—Accompany Shizuka Marikawa to the bus and escape the school. Reward for completion: Relationship with Shizuka Marikawa changes to “Intimate.” Failure: lose the “Portable Bus Key,” and relationship with Saeko Busujima becomes “Aloof.” If Shizuka Marikawa dies or is infected, mission is failed. (Status: Not Complete)

“An Extra’s Remaining Life”

Phase One—During the dungeon, protect the story character Ishii until boarding the bus. Reward: “Ishii’s Contact Lenses.” Failure: temporarily lose 3 points of mental stat until the end of this dungeon. If Ishii dies or is infected, mission is failed. (Status: Not Complete)

So the key isn’t truly mine after all…