"...."
Zeroy's expression turned a bit subtle.
…Was this supposed to be therapy?
Wasn't she, as the protagonist who crossed over, the one meant to counsel Saeko? How had it ended up flipped like this?
Still, to be fair, Saeko wasn't wrong.
Even she couldn't keep killing endlessly. She also needed rest, with lifesteal effect or not.
The fragrance of tea drifted from the spout of the pot.
Saeko lifted the teapot, eyes lowered as she poured. The touch of porcelain cup against bamboo saucer rang softly, the rising steam blurring the silence between them.
"Even with unimaginable power, killing will wear down the heart."
Her fingertips traced the rim of the cup, ripples spreading in the tea reflected in her eyes.
"Besides... after what happened today."
Zeroy's emerald eyes flickered, blinking in puzzlement. "You think I'd be upset about that? Why?"
"Intuition."
Saeko suddenly gave a soft laugh. She knew such a vague thing as intuition didn't belong in serious discussion, yet she still chose honesty.
"Like that day, you could have executed the troublemakers outright, but instead you used an iron cage to demonstrate the danger of zombies. I don't think that was just intimidation."
She paused, gaze settling on Zeroy's calm face. "Gentle people always carry their burdens forward."
"And tonight, you ate one bowl less."
"...?"
So, her conclusion was that poor appetite came from being emotionally down?
"It's fine."
It was normal for her mood to be affected, after all—a group of pitiful survivors had just been kneeling before her, begging, mothers clutching children among them.
"Mhm."
Saeko only gave a soft reply.
She had known Zeroy would say that.
"So, would you like to rest properly?"
Saeko gently suggested, her eyes shimmering with tenderness.
"I've studied a little about how to ease someone's fatigue."
Zeroy's brow twitched slightly as she looked up at the figure kneeling opposite her.
The incandescent light edged Saeko's long purple hair with silver. Her half-open collar revealed a delicate collarbone.
Those hands that swung a blade with deadly sharpness in the dojo now smoothed her clothes tenderly, embodying gentleness.
Raised as a Yamato Nadeshiko, she had long been trained in bridal education, naturally including how to care for and soothe those around her—especially how to grant a weary heart a moment of peace.
Looking at Saeko's expression as soft as flowing water, Zeroy, already somewhat tired, did feel moved.
Her gaze slowly drifted downward, finally resting on the fair legs peeking out from beneath the skirt.
Round and slender, with just the right softness, their graceful curves gleamed with a warm luster in the light.
It felt as though a single touch would reveal that softness and comfort.
"A lap pillow?"
"...."
Saeko froze, not expecting Zeroy to so easily accept her suggestion… let alone make such a request.
Still, she agreed without hesitation.
For the time being, Zeroy set aside her hacking of global systems and climbed onto the bed, resting her head upon Saeko's thighs.
Saeko provided the lap pillow and reached out to gently massage Zeroy's head.
In the warmth and tenderness of the girl, Zeroy fell into her first sleep since coming to this world.
Saeko let out a quiet breath of relief.
The girl hadn't shown obvious signs of strain, seeming unchanged on the surface.
Yet between her brows, Saeko could faintly glimpse the look of someone about to work herself to death from endless overtime.
...
Ninth day—
People began packing their belongings and supplies, preparing to leave the base.
Zeroy, well-rested, rose to inspect the situation at the survivors' base, urging them to hurry.
Then she returned to her room and resumed typing at her computer.
Lacking specialized electronic warfare gear and much related knowledge, Zeroy realized her dimensional strike might not be as absolute as she thought.
It took her the entire morning to successfully breach the systems of various nations.
Her first action was to cut off any chance of nuclear launch. She couldn't tamper with the weapons themselves, but she could intercept top-level commands to fire them.
During this, she even considered whether she could leverage modern firepower to wipe the world clean for Points farming.
However, nuclear missiles were beyond her reach.
As the ultimate weapons of this planet so far, they couldn't be launched with a mere electronic order.
They required numerous procedures, the key being an independent launch button—something she couldn't control online.
Of course, she didn't really need nukes for the task.
If not nukes, plenty of other missiles were still available.
Despite that, when it came time to use them, she realized valid targets were scarce.
Survivors were few, but they were always mixed in with zombies. She couldn't bomb the undead if it meant wiping out the living too.
Still, there were some targets, if not many.
Seven days had passed, and many areas had already completely fallen—lands where only zombies roamed.
Missile blast radii were far smaller than nukes, making them far less picky about targets.
So Zeroy tried firing two missiles.
But when they exploded, the zombies vanished—yet her Points didn't increase.
So it was no use. The Main God wouldn't let her farm Points this way.
Though she had half-expected it.
If such a method were allowed, it really would have been broken.
She could already earn massive Points just through slaughtering zombies.
Even if she didn't yet know the purchasing power of Points, the rewards listed in missions made it clear—ten thousand was a hefty sum.
If there were no restrictions, abandoning humanity and leveling the world with firepower... how many Points could she rake in at once, with the planet's population?
It simply wasn't realistic.
Still, it was a bit of a pity.
"Hah…"
With the nuclear threat eliminated, Zeroy exhaled in relief and leaned back. The swivel chair creaked.
Half-lidded eyes, she stretched languidly. With a long sigh, her body arched like a graceful cat.
In that instant, her clothes pulled taut to trace a breathtakingly slender waist, each motion radiating unintentional allure.
When her hands stretched overhead, her cuffs slid down, revealing a slice of wrist pale as jade, the curve of bone exquisite under the sunlight.
Most captivating of all were the long, straight legs she raised.
Her toes stretched and curled lightly, drawing out the smooth skin beneath the stockings.
The matte black silk hugged her legs, every movement flowing with enticing sheen, highlighting each graceful curve all the more.
From her delicate toes, to slender ankles, to shapely calves, up to thighs half-veiled by her skirt, a straight line was formed.
Every part was like a carefully carved work of art, radiating a tension and elegance that compelled the eye to linger without escape.
...
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