Killing zombies, grinding for traits, earning game currency—
That was the top priority for survival right now.
After that bout of killing,
Kiryu not only obtained the two powerful, practical traits [Lockpicking Proficiency] and [Hound’s Step], but also earned an additional 13 game currency coins.
According to the Death Game, the game currency dropped by these zombies could be used after leaving this place,
To purchase items, skills, bloodlines, and the like.
For a newbie like him starting from zero, the more, the better.
‘According to the Death Game’s notes, the more zombies you kill, the higher and more stable the probability of dropping game currency becomes…’
‘Therefore, to maintain this beneficial rate-up buff, I have to keep fighting my way out.’
Without a doubt,
For this novice trial, the Death Game’s inclination wasn’t towards mere survival, but towards encouraging the newcomers to kill.
This also aligned with Kiryu’s own intentions.
With the Infinite Trait System at his side, it meant he absolutely couldn’t hide in a corner and cower to survive.
“Kiryu-kun, can we talk?”
Watching Kiryu prepare to leave the classroom,
Hayama Hayato, who had been quietly observing him, felt a stir of motivation and quickly reached out to stop him.
“Something wrong?”
Kiryu frowned slightly, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana.
He looked at the class’s leader and central figure.
As the core of the popular group and the ace of the soccer club,
Hayama Hayato, with his sunny personality and handsome looks, was undoubtedly far more well-liked than him.
Though, comparing appearances, Kiryu was actually better looking.
But his behavior of spending every day holed up researching apocalypse survival and hacking at zombies, never talking to classmates, came across to others as somewhat aloof and antisocial.
The subconscious distance this created was enough to make adolescents, both boys and girls, hesitant to approach.
As someone skilled at smoothing over situations, a classic nice guy,
Hayama Hayato didn’t want a powerful asset like Kiryu to just leave his little group.
“Kiryu-kun, you misunderstand.
I mean no harm.”
Hayama Hayato raised his hands and gave a wry smile.
“Also, I want to formally apologize to you for Yumiko’s behavior just now.”
With that,
The leader of the popular guys actually gave him a respectful bow.
“As you saw, Yumiko meant no harm.
She just doesn’t want to kill Yumi right now.
They’ve been close friends since elementary school.”
Hayama Hayato looked apologetic.
“With your skills, joining our team would allow you to go further.”
“There are many of us.
We have melee weapons and the ‘Newcomer Gift’.
If we unite, find our courage, we might just have a chance to survive!”
“Sorry, but based on your performance just now, I can’t bring myself to trust you.”
Faced with Hayama’s sincere invitation, Kiryu just shook his head slightly and refused him outright.
What he wanted were teammates who could coordinate, whom he could trust to watch his back.
Seeing zombies had made this group of students go weak in the knees.
They could barely muster the courage to fight back.
Kiryu didn’t want to drag a bunch of dead weight out to fight zombies.
He didn’t want to end up killing few zombies, only to be dragged down by useless teammates.
“Well…”
Hayama Hayato paused, his expression turning extremely awkward.
He had always been confident in his charisma.
He had fully expected Kiryu to accept his invitation.
He never imagined the other would be so blunt, saying outright he couldn’t trust them.
“Kiryu, you bastard, don’t be ungrateful!”
Seeing their leader’s pride wounded, Hayama Hayato’s loyal followers—Tobe Kakeru, Yamato, and Ooka—immediately rushed forward indignantly.
“Hayama is a candidate for the next student council president!
Compared to a loner like you, he has far better leadership skills!” Tobe Kakeru said, his face dark.
As a member of the popular group,
Tobe Kakeru greatly admired and believed in Hayama Hayato’s abilities.
The other party had been good at handling interpersonal relationships since childhood.
He had close ties with various factions at school.
Even the upperclassmen respected Hayama Hayato.
Compared to Kiryu, who was usually quiet and bolted as soon as class ended, with no one knowing what he did,
Surely Hayama Hayato was more worthy of respect!
Beyond that,
Deep in his heart, in a place he couldn’t speak of openly,
Tobe Kakeru actually harbored a deep jealousy towards Kiryu.
At school, despite never socializing, the other party relied on his good looks to attract the affection of many girls.
Kiryu was usually busy with apocalypse training, so naturally, he didn’t realize he was actually quite popular with the girls.
Who could blame him?
He ran off as soon as class ended, not even giving others a chance to talk to him.
But Tobe Kakeru, always hanging around the popular group, knew very well how popular he was.
‘Damn it, what an infuriating guy!’
‘Relying on his looks and such…’
‘I run around like a dog next to Hayama every single day, so why won’t those girls even glance my way?’
‘And that guy!’
‘He just went charging in alone with his katana to save someone…’
‘While I, I…
I can’t even measure up to someone so gloomy and unsociable.’
‘I was frozen stiff with fear, lacking even the courage to step forward.’
Inferiority and arrogance melted together inside him, turning into unwillingness and humiliation that warped Tobe Kakeru’s expression.
He wanted to see Kiryu lower his head, behave himself, and stay under Hayama’s thumb just like him.
Then, he could rightfully start bossing him around.
“Foolish.”
Facing Tobe Kakeru’s blustering accusations, Kiryu just raised an eyebrow impatiently.
He didn’t draw his blade.
He simply gripped the katana’s sheath.
Then, he swung it at him casually.
The next moment,
Tobe Kakeru felt a sudden weight on his right shoulder.
Like a mountain pressing down on him.
His entire body suddenly sank.
His knees bent, creaking.
Thud.
He was forced directly to his knees by the force of that sheath.
“How…
is this possible?”
Tobe Kakeru’s face was ashen.
His breathing was erratic.
Veins bulged on his neck.
He tried to reach up and push the sheath away, but found he couldn’t muster any strength.
Instead, the movement messed up his breathing.
His arms braced on the floor, his proud head was forced down.
Looking down was uncomfortable.
Tobe Kakeru stared fixedly at the sneakers in front of him, glancing upward with his peripheral vision.
What met his eyes was Kiryu’s expressionless, downward gaze.
“Waste my time again, and I’ll kill you.”