Ch.191Chapter 21. The Art of Deceiving Each Other (3)

I opened the cabinet with my gloved hands and gathered the yeast and flour. Camilla wrapped the canned goods she found on the side shelf with clothing. That way, they would make less noise if they bumped against each other.

Whether Virginia made threats or not, we were doing what needed to be done. Before winter came, we had to gather as many supplies as possible and find the safest place, far from the battlefield. That meant we needed to keep moving quickly today too.

“I’ve filled it up. Let’s go.”

With our bags packed full, we walked down the stairs. The stairs weren’t a problem. The issue was the entrance. Three zombies had appeared from somewhere and were loitering nearby.

“Grrrk. Kik.”

But they didn’t charge at us. Instead, they stood in place and sniffed the air like dogs. Then they started sniffing each other. It seemed like they wanted to know if we were one of “their kind” or not.

All three of them looked at Camilla at once. Camilla quietly aimed her Glock 17 pistol with a silencer attached. But before she could shoot, and before the zombies could charge—

“Hmm?”

I gently embraced Camilla from behind and pressed my lips against her cheek and neck.

“It might be uncomfortable, but bear with it.”

“O-okay.”

I moistened my lips and kissed her skin again. Camilla shifted slightly and let out a small moan. Only then did the zombies lose interest in us, shaking their heads and backing away. Camilla aimed her gun at the backs of their heads but eventually lowered her arm with a sigh.

“That was a bit dangerous.”

Camilla opened a bottle of water and gulped it down. Water trickled down her chin and neck, dampening the front of her shirt. Her moist skin glistened in the sunlight.

“Yeah.”

My response was delayed because of that. Camilla looked at me and smiled. But soon after, she watched the departing zombies with a rather complicated expression.

Since that day, “my” Cro-virus had spread among the zombies in the central district.

The good thing was that we could save on spray. Collecting my bodily fluids took quite a bit of time, and after the process, I felt extremely tired and lethargic. That was also why Cassandra had been so insistent on improving efficiency.

But now we didn’t really need to use the spray. The zombies could easily recognize my presence by “smell.” Thanks to that, even beast-type zombies recognized me to some extent. Of course, recognition didn’t mean they weren’t still wild, so I avoided unnecessary provocation.

The problem was when I was accompanied by Camilla, Leticia, or Cassandra.

Although Camilla and Leticia were infected too, they couldn’t emit pheromones to the extent that I could. In slightly dangerous situations like now, I had to mark them directly. Spraying would be most effective, but that would be wasteful.

“By the way, why aren’t Camilla and I wandering around like those fanatics? Those guys seemed desperate to sleep with Johan, like they were under some kind of hypnosis.”

Leticia had asked Cassandra that question a few days ago.

“Well, we have some immunity. We were with Johan when his Cro-virus was weaker, so we’re not greatly affected. But since we’re not completely the same, it could be a bit dangerous if we face zombies directly, so keep that in mind.”

Leticia commented that “it’s not so bad if it means keeping our sanity,” and Camilla agreed.

“I would have felt bad if my emotions and decisions were swayed by such things.”

While we were discussing this, Cassandra quietly added a comment.

“For reference, that’s not the case for Cassandra. Cassandra isn’t fully infected with Johan’s Cro-virus. Of course, even carriers of Johan’s Cro-virus aren’t immune to attacks, but Cassandra has a higher chance of being attacked.”

“Hmm, it’s because of your… constitution, right?”

Since I roughly knew “how” she had become that way, I expressed it indirectly. But as I listened, I became curious. Of course, it wasn’t a question I could ask in front of the other women, so I casually inquired when we were alone.

“Hey, Cassandra. This might be a rude question, and if it makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to answer. Can I ask?”

“I’ll hear it and then decide, Johan.”

“That ‘thing’ you received. If we could adapt it for public distribution, couldn’t more people resist zombification?”

Thankfully, Cassandra neither laughed nor got angry. She just expressionlessly covered her nose and turned her head away.

“…Sorry, but could you step back a bit? You smell.”

I definitely showered, so I was confused about the smell. Was she talking about my breath? I felt both embarrassed and hurt, but I stepped back as she asked.

Only then did Cassandra explain that “the procedure is highly personalized and extremely difficult, so it’s impossible to distribute it widely right now.” She also mentioned that the number of people who had received the procedure could be counted on one hand, and that there had been some failures.

“Correction. Rather than failures, I should say side effects. The cases of side effects are all different, so they can’t be patterned. But those people still have significant immunity to the Cro-virus. Of course, if they get bitten directly, that’s a different story.”

Cassandra’s face seemed to redden, and her breathing became faster. Judging by the movement of her large chest, she was definitely breathing harder.

“Ah, um. I understand. Rest. And I’ll try to shower better.”

It was half a joke, but Cassandra jumped as if she’d stepped on a tack.

“Ah, no, um, Cassandra didn’t mean it that way. Just, um, Cassandra…”

But in the end, she disappeared without finishing her sentence, her face bright red. Did she need the bathroom urgently? Anyway, being able to live “equally” with these people was definitely a good thing.

“Johaaaaan!”

If I were like those lunatics, I wouldn’t have survived long.

“Grrrrrr!”

“Woof! Woof!”

“Blessings! Give us the blessing of immortality!”

One madman was running toward us naked, holding only a pistol.

“Let’s quickly get in the car and escape.”

“Okay!”

It’s good that Camilla and I understand each other so well. Zombies were gathering behind the man. I checked the rearview mirror. Naked humans with rifles appeared on top of collapsed building piles.

No, that’s not right. They were wearing backpacks, so they weren’t completely naked. Anyway, those people were shooting in all directions trying to save their comrade, but thanks to that, it seemed like no one would die.

“I’ll lose them at the 30th rotary. Get ready. Let’s blow up another embankment.”

“Okay.”

I don’t understand why those crazy fanatics keep coming to the central district, zombies aside. After discussion, we concluded that “they do it because they have nothing better to do,” and therefore “we need to keep them busy.”

Fortunately, among the items we had acquired were many good things to keep those sex-crazed fanatics busy. For example, a considerable amount of C4 and dynamite. From the passenger seat, Camilla made a call.

“Hey, Cassandra. It’s me. Could you sound the sirens between 63AC and 63AD? We want to lure some zombies and blow up another embankment.”

Shortly after, the disaster warning siren sounded. – Emergency! Emergency! Air raid warning! Air raid warning! Now the zombies in front of us would rush to the left block. Then we would speed down the empty road, activate the time bomb we had installed on the embankment, and quietly disappear.

“This embankment connects to the northern district, so if it breaks, the gang members will be quite busy too. Is that okay?”

Camilla looked at me questioningly. I nodded.

“It’s fine to do that to the gang.”

“Really?”

“They’re bad guys.”

“Right. They’re bad guys.”

Camilla smiled with satisfaction and took out her mobile phone. Beep beep beep, beep beep beep. When she pressed the call button, a loud explosion was heard. The ground trembled, and the impact was so great that cracks formed in the pillars of the building next to us.

Now that one northern embankment had collapsed, the zombies from the central district would move toward the north. They would survive by biting and eating the zombies that blocked their path, just as they had done until now, and they would continue to spread my Cro-virus.

If there are more safe paths to travel, that’s good enough.

“That feels good. Like all my stress just melted away.”

Camilla was making a somewhat dangerous expression. Finding satisfaction in watching an explosion.

“Had a lot built up?”

“Yeah.”

“Why? In what way?”

“…Just. Various things.”

“Tell me just one.”

Instead of answering, Camilla let down her tied hair and opened the car window. Her long, vibrant red hair fluttered in all directions. After a while, Camilla finally spoke.

“The woman I really want to shoot is in the capital, and I wonder what I’m doing here.”

“Virginia?”

“…Yeah. But, I also think this.”

“What thought?”

Camilla rolled up the window. She seemed to be organizing her thoughts as she gathered her hair into a ponytail. We drove slowly down a quiet road, just enough not to attract the zombies’ attention.

“I want to kill that woman.”

“Yeah.”

“But, would there be any meaning in killing her?”

“Huh?”

Although it was dangerous while driving, I had to look at Camilla. Camilla was looking at me. She seemed incredibly lonely somehow.

“The world I knew is already broken, and the country has fallen. I don’t think killing that one woman will bring any of it back. Johan, I don’t know what I should do anymore.”

It would be easy to say, “You should survive.” It’s an easy answer, and therefore not very moving. Such words seemed to just wipe away stains unnecessarily. So I didn’t say anything. Instead, I firmly held her hand with my right hand. Camilla’s roughened hand curled up small in mine.

If the world really does completely collapse. What should we live for then?

I’m not sure. Usually, when life stabilized, when I felt there was nothing more to do, I would “let go” of that save file. I would end the stable life, think “my avatar will live happily ever after,” and then start a new game that was dangerous and full of things to do.

But being in a place where you can’t save or load, only log out. I’m not sure about that either.

“Johan.”

“Yes, Camilla.”

“Will you hold me?”

“Yes.”