Chapter 73: The Course of the Calamity

On the rooftop, the three survivors tried to calm their turbulent emotions after the ordeal.

The first to collect herself was the girl in the sailor uniform. She stood up, approached Su Yi, and bowed deeply at ninety degrees with utmost formality.

“Thank you so much for your help. My name is Ryoko Hashimoto. If there’s anything I can assist you with, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“May I have the honor of knowing your name, esteemed protector? If this is an unreasonable request, I apologize deeply.”

She bowed again.

Her words sounded oddly formal, as if she were a die-hard fan of anime.

“Su Yi,” he replied, speaking in the language of the Land of the Rising Sun.

“You’re a foreigner!” Ryoko Hashimoto was a bit surprised.

According to the information provided by the system, there was no country resembling his homeland in this world. To the west of the Land of the Rising Sun, countless islands dotted the vast ocean.

At this point, the other two also came forward, grateful and eager to introduce themselves.

The chubby man in the loose T-shirt was named Shota Yamada, and the other was indeed a housewife, named Nai Matsushima.

Seizing the opportunity, Su Yi asked the three in detail about their experiences during the disaster.

The three exchanged glances, somewhat taken aback, but considering Su Yi’s status as a foreigner, they imagined he might be unfamiliar with the details of the catastrophe.

Through their accounts, Su Yi finally understood the nature of the disaster.

Two months ago, on a weekday during working hours, calamity struck the world without warning.

Survivor groups estimated that at the moment of the disaster, over eighty percent of the global population mutated into the living dead.

With such a high mutation rate and the undead’s formidable physical abilities, social order in every country quickly collapsed. Armies, unable to leverage their modern firepower, were wiped out in their entirety.

Those who did not mutate faced overwhelming numbers of undead and dwindling populations. They could only rely on special terrain and whatever survival supplies they had, communicating with the outside world via radio for help.

Yes, radio. Technology in this world was roughly equivalent to the 1980s or 1990s in Su Yi’s own world; cell phones and the internet had not yet become household staples.

Yet, the greater the hope, the deeper the disappointment. Two months had passed, and according to the three, no organization or team had succeeded in turning the tide. Instead, the news was filled with stories of survivors and groups being wiped out one after another.

Su Yi was not surprised. With a mutation rate above eighty percent, those in crowded places had little chance of survival, while those living alone or in isolation had a better chance.

The three before him were perfect examples.

Ryoko Hashimoto, a high school student, should have been at school that day, but a sprained ankle a week prior meant she was home alone, recuperating.

Shota Yamada was a seasoned recluse. After graduating from university, he became disillusioned with work and social life, and spent three years at home, rarely venturing out.

Nai Matsushima, a housewife, had once enjoyed a happy family life, but the disaster claimed her husband, who was at work, and her two children still in elementary school.

The trio managed to survive thanks to sufficient food supplies.

Ryoko Hashimoto was an avid collector of snacks, though she never seemed to gain weight.

Shota Yamada, a veteran shut-in, disliked the hassle of grocery shopping. Months ago, he became one of the first members to order a “doomsday package” from a major international supermarket called COST. The six hundred cans he bought were enough to keep him indoors for three years.

As for Nai Matsushima, unlike most housewives in the Land of the Rising Sun who favored minimalist storage, her fridge and cabinets were packed with food, helping her survive the last two months.

Su Yi recalled Ryoko Hashimoto’s disproportionately strong physical abilities for her petite frame, and how the three were amazed by his own skills but not utterly bewildered, and steered the conversation in that direction.

He soon received the information he sought.

It turned out that after the disaster, some humans who did not become undead underwent mutations, gaining incredible abilities.

Some could control water or spit fire, some acquired strength rivaling rhinos or elephants, others could alter their skin color, and some possessed senses far beyond ordinary humans…

These mutated humans were collectively known as “evolvers.” Thanks to them, small survivor groups could still persist.

Ryoko Hashimoto, the sailor uniformed girl, was a strength-type evolver.

According to her, she could effortlessly lift her double-door refrigerator at home, and with such extraordinary power, could easily smash the undead’s heads with a baseball bat.

“Lord Su Yi, you must be a super-powerful evolver. I’ve never heard of someone on the radio who can treat the undead as mere trifles like you do.”

Ryoko Hashimoto spoke with utter admiration, and the other two wore similar expressions.

In times when humanity seemed doomed, clinging to the strong was the only way forward.

A gust of wind swept across the rooftop, carrying an unusual scent from the three survivors.

“This is…this is truly embarrassing!” Ryoko Hashimoto, Nai Matsushima, and even the seasoned shut-in Shota Yamada were all awkward.

Having hidden indoors for two months, afraid to bathe for fear of alerting the undead with their heightened senses, they had only managed to wipe themselves down occasionally.

The accumulated odors were obvious.

Shota Yamada was better off, but Su Yi noticed Ryoko Hashimoto and Nai Matsushima were mortified. He waved his hand.

“Don’t worry. There’s a water supply here, you can wash up.”

“Thank you!”

Following Su Yi’s instructions, the three moved to the other side of the rooftop, turned on the tap, and took quick showers.

Despite his disconnect from society, Shota Yamada still possessed basic gentlemanly manners. He let the two women go first and was the last to finish.

They returned to the original side of the rooftop, still wearing their old clothes. There was no helping it; in the rush, none had time to change before fleeing.

“The wind is strong here. Let’s head down to the lower floors,” Su Yi said.

“As you wish,” Ryoko Hashimoto replied, and the three followed Su Yi in single file, entering the stairwell through the rooftop door.