Rei Ao naturally responded to Shizuka Marikawa's trade request, appearing right in front of her.
"Rei Ao-kun!"
Shizuka excitedly grabbed hold of his hand.
"Rei Ao-kun, please save my friend, Rika Minami!"
She was dressed only in her underwear, and although her warm, graceful figure was right there, Rei Ao wasn't in the mood for any untoward thoughts.
"Calm down. First, tell me where she is."
"She's at a military base. Based on what Shizuka-sensei's friend Rika Minami said, it sounds like the place was overrun by a wave of the undead."
Since Shizuka herself wasn't calm enough to explain properly, Saya Takagi stepped in to provide the gist of the situation.
"The military base is in that direction," she added firmly, pointing.
"Got it. Wait here. I'll be right back."
Knowing the location was all that mattered, so long as she was still alive.
"I'm going with you!" Shizuka insisted, deciding at once to follow him.
"No need. I'll be faster alone."
Rei Miyamoto: "But you don't know what Shizuka-sensei's friend looks like, do you?"
"I do."
"Eh?"
Rei Ao recalled quite clearly—a dark-skinned, busty, dashing woman.
"Oh yeah, this is my friend. Please look after her."
"…"
So in the end, Fumino Furuhashi had shown up as well.
She still felt dazed about the people and the scene around her.
Rei Ao had no intention of taking her along.
If that military base was overrun by the undead, one could imagine the carnage.
Given Fumino's current state, it wouldn't be good for her mental health to witness it firsthand.
Once Rei Ao disappeared from that spot, Saya Takagi frowned. "How does Rei Ao know what Shizuka-sensei's friend looks like?"
"… …"
No one could answer her question.
And now wasn't really the time to worry about it.
Alice came over to Shizuka Marikawa, holding out a towel.
"Shizuka-nee, here—put this on, or you'll catch a cold."
"Thanks."
Saeko and the others also gathered around.
Noticing the worry on Shizuka's face that wouldn't dissipate, she suggested, "Since you're still anxious, why not ask Rei Ao to turn on a livestream while he's at it?"
"Good idea."
Shizuka's eyes lit up at once.
She immediately sent Rei Ao a message.
Shizuka Marikawa: "@Rei Ao, Rei Ao-kun, could you please turn on a livestream?"
Rei Ao: "No problem. I was just about to."
[Ding! Rei Ao has started a livestream!]
Everyone on their side logged into the broadcast, focusing carefully so as not to miss Rika Minami.
Meanwhile, Yuriko Takagi approached the still-bewildered Fumino Furuhashi.
"Young lady, may I ask your name?"
"M-my name is Fumino Furuhashi."
She answered somewhat timidly.
Yuriko nodded in understanding. She had a general guess that this pretty girl must have just learned about certain things and hadn't yet come to terms with it.
So she took Fumino's hand.
"Come, sit over here, and wait for Rei Ao-kun to return. Then he can explain everything properly to you."
"And if you're confused about anything regarding the chat group, you can ask me or any of the other members."
"… …"
The gentle, motherly words from this elegant woman dispelled any wariness Fumino might have had. Obediently, she nodded and, guided by Yuriko, sat down on the sofa.
After Rei Ao started the livestream, people in the chat group became active.
Frieren: "Oh-ho, another rescue trade."
Hiiragi Shinoa: "So the classic hero-saves-the-beauty storyline begins again."
Misaka Mikoto: "Marikawa Shizuka? Who's that?"
Yomogawa Ayame: "I recall something about her — I think she's from Saeko's world?"
Busujima Saeko: "Yes, Shizuka-sensei is one of my companions. Rika Minami is a friend who recently got in touch with her."
Shizue Izawa: "Something happened?"
Busujima Saeko: "From what we've gathered, the defenses of Rika's military base were breached by a wave of undead."
Stella: "Eww, those disgusting undead."
Sui: "Looking at the livestream, Rei Ao-kun seems to have arrived at the place you mentioned."
Shiba Miyuki: "Oh my gosh… this is awful!"
Rei Ao was up in the sky, looking down.
Throughout the entire region of the military base, flames roared in every direction, total chaos everywhere.
You could see the undead converging like a tidal wave around the base.
Many soldiers and civilians had taken up weapons, firing chaotically at the undead.
Though some undead were shot down, more would instantly surge forward.
And once humans were bitten, they would soon rise again as part of the undead horde.
If they didn't use large-scale heavy weapons, the place was unsalvageable.
Yet if they did, it meant razing everything, and the humans there couldn't survive either.
"Rika Minami…"
Rei Ao narrowed his eyes.
Even in the darkness of night, his gaze remained keen.
Quickly, he spotted a figure retreating while spraying bullets at the undead — a woman in black leather.
That must be Rika Minami.
"Ratatat… click click!"
Her gun was firing no bullets. Rika quickly reached back for another magazine, her expression changing drastically.
She was out of ammo.
Without suppressive fire, the undead surged toward her.
"Damn it!"
Swearing under her breath, Rika turned and ran. A gloom settled in her chest.
The distance to escape the military base was huge; even with a gun, it would be tough.
Her situation felt desperate.
After all, human stamina was no match for zombies that never tired or felt pain.
Her breathing grew labored, her pace slowed.
The undead were closing in.
A backward glance revealed several withered arms about to grab her.
"Shit!"
She cursed again, thinking that this was the end.
At that moment—
Emptiness!
All around, the screams, wails, explosions, gunfire — everything suddenly vanished.
"?"
Feeling something was off, Rika slowed her steps.
Huge beads of sweat dripped to the ground.
She looked around in confusion.
Everything seemed as though someone had pressed the pause button.
She saw hordes of undead frozen in place…
People's desperate cries halted in mid-expression…
Even flames from the explosions were locked in mid-burst.
At this moment, time had stopped!
~~~
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