Day Thirteen—
Zeroy had nearly cleared out all of the Company bases located in Japan.
Right now, she only had her initial equipment, no additional gear, so she couldn't possibly sweep the entire world of Company forces.
But clearing out the branches within Japan—that was no problem.
After all, Japan was far too small.
Once she was finished, Zeroy had obtained a total of five thousand vials of Antiviral Serum.
Out of these, 4,950 were distributed by her.
She handed them out rather casually—basically, whenever she met a survivor, she gave them a vial each.
She didn't have time to distinguish who should get it, who shouldn't, or who was more valuable to give it to. With that time, she'd rather kill more zombies, letting more survivors live, and carving out more space for them to survive.
The remaining fifty vials she entrusted to Saeko Busujima and the others, letting them decide how to use them.
Finally, on this thirteenth day, Zeroy brought Saeko and the others to one of the many shelters Wilson had prepared for himself.
It was a small, hidden base perched on a cliffside.
Fully equipped, with ample supplies stored, and the scenery was beautiful—calling it a paradise wouldn't be an exaggeration.
"From now on, you'll live here. Unless absolutely necessary, don't go outside, and don't make contact with anyone."
She didn't say it outright, but everyone understood.
On the ruins of a collapsed civilization, the most dangerous things weren't the wandering zombies, but the demons wearing human skin.
Until order was restored, humanity itself was the greatest threat.
"We understand, Lady Zeroy."
Saya Takagi was the first to bow in gratitude. She was no longer tsundere, but clearly respectful now.
"Thank you!"
The others also bowed deeply to this incredible savior.
Zeroy gave a slight nod. "Then live well here."
She turned to leave.
Abruptly, then, a clear voice suddenly rang out, "Please wait!"
Saeko Busujima quickly stepped forward, her purple hair lifted slightly by the breeze. Her eyes were complex, tinged with reluctance and unease.
"Are you… leaving?"
"Yes. I'll leave here, and today and tomorrow I'll continue clearing out zombies. Only by tomorrow night will I truly depart."
Saeko's fingers tightened slightly, her voice lower. "Will you… come back?"
Zeroy turned her head but gave no answer. She only gazed silently at Saeko for a moment.
And at the group behind her. All of them wore the same reluctant expressions.
Especially one short-haired, chestnut-red little girl.
Alice Maresato—whom Zeroy had saved these past two days while cutting down zombies. A sensible, cute, and pitiful little girl.
Zeroy had taken her along simply because she liked her at first sight.
Besides, she remembered that Alice was also part of the main cast in the original.
Alice's reluctance was written all over her face. Hugging a teddy bear, she looked as though she was about to rush over and cling to Zeroy.
"I don't know."
Zeroy's voice carried a trace of hesitation.
She had once asked the Main God this very question, but the great glowing sphere ignored her.
Asking anything was useless—perhaps communication was impossible within the scenario itself.
"Then…"
Saeko took a deep breath, determination flickering in her violet eyes.
She gripped her wooden sword tightly, as if giving herself courage.
"Can I go with you?"
The words had barely fallen when a childish voice cried out, "Alice wants to go with big sister too!"
Without heeding anyone trying to stop her, Alice dashed to Zeroy's side and hugged her leg tightly.
Saeko's request seemed to open some floodgate, releasing all of Alice's long-suppressed emotions.
Although, since being rescued, Zeroy had only continued going out to kill zombies without much interaction with her… Alice still grew closer to Zeroy.
Because it was Zeroy who saved her in her moment of despair.
[Saeko Busujima and Alice Maresato request to join your Party. Do you accept?]
[Yes / No]
[If accepted, the character will become a Reincarnator.]
'...There was such a function?'
Zeroy looked at the two before her, at the doubt in their eyes and the courage they had summoned, then chose…
No.
What kind of joke was this? Saeko was one thing, but dragging Alice into the Main God Space? That would be murder.
Not even Saeko could be allowed.
In this Main God Space, where erasure could happen at any moment, pulling people in was only harming them.
"No."
Zeroy's answer was firm and final.
At that word, Alice's eyes immediately filled with tears, crystal drops rolling down one after another.
"Big sister…" the little girl's voice choked, "please, don't leave Alice behind…"
Normally, she was always so mature that it made people's hearts ache, but this time was different.
On that bloody night, she had seen her father die with her own eyes… that was the second great loss of her life.
And Zeroy's appearance was like a light in the darkness, becoming her only support after losing her father, her new family.
Now, that light was about to leave her again.
For a little girl who had already lost too much, this pain was unbearable.
"Don't cry, Alice."
For once, Zeroy's cold face softened.
She knelt on one knee, meeting Alice's gaze directly, gently stroking her soft hair. A tender curve lifted her lips.
"Big sister… I…" She paused.
"Yes, I will definitely come back."
"Liar!" Alice sobbed. "You just said you didn't know…"
"That was earlier." Zeroy wiped the tears from her cheeks, her voice gentle. "Now, because Alice can't bear to part with big sister, big sister will surely come back to see you."
This was the first time in this world Zeroy had lied to someone who wasn't her enemy. But when there was no other choice, she could only use a kind lie.
"R-really?"
"Of course. Want to pinky promise?"
"…Pinky promise!"
The people around them watched in a daze.
They knew Zeroy was kind and gentle, or else she wouldn't have used her own power to help so many people, asking for nothing in return.
Even so, they had never seen this side of her.
In their eyes, Zeroy had first been a cold-blooded, merciless killer. Later, she was inwardly gentle and kind, but outwardly an iceberg.
And now, a tender young girl?
"In that case… may you rest here for these two days? Though it's a trifling gesture of thanks, we'd still like to do something for you. Please don't refuse…"
Though her heart ached at being rejected, Saeko didn't press further.
She couldn't make things difficult for Zeroy, and perhaps Zeroy refused because she was too weak, unwilling to burden herself with her.
If that was the case, she had even less reason to insist.
She didn't want to become a burden… that would be repaying kindness with betrayal.
"…Not today. From tonight until tomorrow night, I'll stay."
...
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