[Current Traits: White Traits x17, Green Trait x1, Blue Trait x1]
Among these, the 17 white traits were mostly useless garbage like “Zombification” and “Shambling Gait”…
traits that offered no benefit and instead applied debuffs to the user.
But the remaining two major traits, one blue and one green, brought Kiryu a pleasant surprise.
[Lockpicking Proficiency (Green): Your hand speed changes from clumsy to nimble.
Lockpicking is clearly no longer unfamiliar to you.
After mastering this trait, even without a key, you can use certain tools to pick some door locks.]
[Note: Ordinary mechanical padlocks can be easily opened with small steel wires, thin metal strips, or hooks.
Even for slightly more difficult lock cylinders, there are many lockpicking methods available.
Screwdrivers, aluminum foil, chewing gum, matches…
anything can be used to pick a lock.]
[Hound’s Step (Blue): When using this trait, you can instantly disappear from sight, moving with a stepping motion.
The movement speed is fast, and the distance is long.]
[Note: Using this skill once consumes approximately 10% of your total stamina.]
‘Not bad.’
The green trait [Lockpicking Proficiency], though not a combat skill, could prove useful in critical moments.
And the blue trait [Hound’s Step], despite consuming roughly 10% of his total stamina, had the characteristic of allowing him to instantly vanish in battle.
That alone was enough for Kiryu to save his life in a desperate situation.
…
Drip, drip…
The long, narrow blade of the katana was covered in the black-red blood stains from cutting down zombies.
The viscous blood gathered at the tip, forming droplets that fell to the floor as crimson beads.
Inside the classroom, it was dead silent.
Fear was written plainly on everyone’s face.
Everyone present was a student.
Moreover, the vast majority had been pampered since childhood, accustomed to a life of luxury and fine clothes.
Suddenly thrust from a peaceful, stable, law-abiding society into a brutal, chaotic apocalypse world…
Not everyone could adapt to this world as quickly as Kiryu, that apocalypse maniac.
“You…
Kiryu-kun, are you alright?!”
The quickest to snap out of it was Hayama Hayato.
He looked somewhat incredulously at the calmly composed Kiryu.
He wondered where the other party got his courage from.
Facing a never-ending tide of zombies, pouring in like a flood, he had single-handedly and ruthlessly killed every single zombie that had entered the classroom.
“I’m fine.”
Kiryu casually tore off a piece of his school uniform’s hem.
He used the scrap of cloth to gently wipe the bloodstains from his face.
He had seen everything clearly, how everyone in the classroom had acted just now.
To be honest…
Not one of them could be his teammate.
The girls were all pampered hothouse flowers.
Except for Yukino, who was barely managing to stay standing, everyone else’s performance was, in his opinion, hopeless.
And the boys weren’t any better.
Each and every one of them was trembling with fear, their legs weak, their faces pale.
Some had even left a puddle of yellow on the floor, a truly disgraceful sight.
Many of these boys, despite holding melee weapons and having the system-issued “Newcomer Gift”,
Not one had dared to muster the courage to step forward and help him kill the zombies.
Suddenly facing the apocalypse, their reactions were, in a sense, normal.
Kiryu didn’t want to stand on a moral high horse and condescendingly point fingers at them.
He was just a little disappointed.
Among these 22 people, not a single one could become his teammate.
‘Oh well.
With the trait system, even if I go alone, as long as I’m careful, it shouldn’t be a big problem.’
The young man shook his head, not wanting to say anything more.
‘Before leaving here, there’s one more loose end to deal with.’
He expressionlessly gripped his katana.
He walked step by step towards the frail girl he had just saved, who had already lost an arm.
Those bitten by zombies would become infected and turn into mindless zombies.
Rather than seeing a former classmate turned into a mindless husk in the coming days,
It would be kinder to give her a quick death now.
At least he’ll spare her the pain of zombification.
Watching Kiryu silently approach, katana in hand,
The expressions on everyone’s faces changed noticeably.
None of them were fools.
They could naturally guess what he intended to do.
“Kiryu-kun…
is he going to kill Yumi?”
Among the girls,
Yuigahama Yui covered her mouth with her hand, her body trembling continuously.
Pain and anguish showed in her beautiful eyes.
They were all classmates, spending every day together, sharing a whole year.
Now someone was suddenly going to kill their companion.
Could anyone accept that so easily?
“Wait, what are you doing?!”
Watching the young man approach with his katana, Miura Yumiko stood up abruptly.
She shielded the one-armed girl behind her, looking at him warily.
“You know perfectly well what.” Kiryu raised an eyebrow impatiently.
“Move.”
“No!” Miura Yumiko gritted her teeth, her tone resolute.
Like a mother hen protecting her chick, she spread her arms to block his path.
“Yumi…
Yumi is still alive, still conscious…
Just killing a living person outright is too cruel!”
“Yeah, Kiryu-kun, that’s way too heartless…
we’re classmates, after all.”
“If we tie Yumi up with ropes, even if she turns into a zombie, it should be fine, right?”
“Exactly.
I saw some rope in the corner.
Everyone, let’s help out.”
Someone led, and others followed.
People who had remained silent moments ago began stepping forward one after another, echoing Miura Yumiko’s words.
“…”
Kiryu sheathed his sword and walked away without a word.
He felt Miura Yumiko couldn’t read the room.
She hadn’t lifted a finger when the zombie horde rushed into the classroom.
And now she was playing the good Samaritan?
But time was precious right now; he couldn’t waste a single second.
He didn’t have the leisure to argue with Miura Yumiko and the others,
Or discuss boring topics about human nature, good and evil.
Everyone present was 16 or 17 years old, no longer children.
Since they’d made their decision, they had to take responsibility for it.
He had done his part.
There was no need to stay and waste time.