Swish*

Swish*

Swish*

"What do you think about the guild's notice?" – asked Akatsuki seriously, as the cold morning breeze struck her small face, wiping away any trace of drowsiness.

Although Akatsuki tried not to show it, Kojou could easily pick up on the unease in her tone. It was clear she was worried about the strange shift: at first, they only had to fight against Shito, but now they were about to face an entirely unknown threat—one so great that even the guild itself had decided to directly intervene to help humans survive it.

"I don't really know, but it must be something that affects the entire world. Still, that doesn't mean the danger will come right away. All we need to do is kill Shito and finish the mission before it even starts." – Kojou replied casually, his initial worry having already vanished. After all, he was a Campione. And a Campione possessed terrifying instincts that allowed them to sense danger with uncanny accuracy. Yet, his instincts hadn't reacted at all until now, which meant they were safe for the time being. Still, just in case, he kept scanning his surroundings warily.

"I agree with Kojou." – said Akame quietly, her hand brushing against Murasame at her waist. – "If it were an immediate threat, the guild would have deployed its forces right away instead of waiting for a scheduled deployment. Not to mention, the fact they didn't trigger forced recall is another sign."

If something unforeseen happened during a quest that adventurers couldn't handle, the guild would use forced recall, instantly teleporting them back to the guild hall.

"I see. But it's better to stay cautious; better safe than sorry later." – Akatsuki finally nodded after hearing their opinions. They were logical, but she couldn't shake the warning in her mind: if something really happened, it would already be too late for regrets.

Hearing her words, both Kojou and Akame nodded as well. They weren't fools; they were already on guard, ready to react if anything unexpected occurred.

'Dealing with zombies like this is so boring…' – Kojou thought as he lifted his left hand off the motorcycle's handle and punched a nearby zombie, sending it flying several meters away. His task was to clear a path so the Humvee behind them wouldn't get blocked.

It wasn't much trouble for him—he had taken it upon himself without anyone asking—but he couldn't help feeling bored. He longed for his easy life back on Itogami Island, even though it had only been three days since he arrived in this zombie-infested world.

For someone like Kojou, who either lazed around at home or fought against Heretic Gods, this was pure hell. No internet, no powerful foes to battle. Even with 99% of his power sealed away, zombies were nothing more than petty insects. That was why he didn't even bother sealing more of his strength; it wouldn't make any difference anyway.

And so, Kojou kept driving the motorcycle toward Takagi Estate, his expression one of absolute boredom—but he never forgot to remain alert, just in case.

—

Second Hayashizaki District River.

"Is that Takagi Estate?" – Kojou asked, pointing toward the massive mansion on the hill, visible even from several kilometers away.

"That's right… but…" – Rika, who was familiar with Takagi Estate, spoke with a trace of hesitation.

"This… impossible…" – Saya Takagi muttered in disbelief, staring at her once-familiar home. Her body suddenly gave out, and she collapsed onto the ground, utterly drained at the sight before her.

"Get a hold of yourself, Takagi!!" – Takashi rushed to help her up when he saw Saya fall in shock.

And the reason for her collapse? The Takagi Estate was engulfed in flames, visible even from their distant vantage point.

Though Saya had been worried about her parents these past two days, she knew they were strong people who could take care of themselves. That was why she had felt resentment—that they hadn't tried to contact or rescue her. She had even planned to complain endlessly once she got home. But now, all those complaints vanished, replaced only by fear and dread that something might have happened to them.

Pang!*

Pang!*

Pang!*

While everyone was frozen in shock at the blazing mansion, Kojou, thanks to his sharpened senses, picked up the distinct sounds of gunfire.

"Save the grieving for later." – Kojou suddenly said, turning his gaze toward the pink-haired tsundere. – "There's a large group of people nearby, and they're even using firearms. Your parents might be among them."

"Really!!…" – Saya gasped, her face lighting up with shock and desperate hope as she tore free from Takashi's embrace and grabbed Kojou's hand.

"I don't know exactly what happened to your home. But even if something did, one of your parents—or maybe both—should still be alive." – Kojou reassured her. His senses had picked up a life force similar to Saya's. To him, it meant one of her parents had either died or remained trapped in the burning mansion.

"I… see…" – Though his words were worrying, they still gave Saya a sliver of hope that at least one of her parents was alive. She had feared losing them both—but now, even if just one survived, she would be grateful.

"I don't think I can just leave right now, so I'll go with you to meet this group of survivors first. Then, I'll figure out what to do after." – Kojou said. Though he had intended to part ways at the river, reality had crushed his plans. For now, he needed to stay with the group a bit longer. Even if they had firearms, he still felt uneasy—especially with the guild's countdown timer nearly at its end.

[ 00:13:48 ]

...

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