Chapter Three: The Side Quest Begins

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"Teacher, I'm really curious." Ms. Juukawa shot her right hand into the air as if eager to answer a question, staring intently at Hao Ren. "Can you tell me what happened?"

"Eat egg tarts!" Hao Ren blurted out reflexively. "Oops, I said it out loud."

"Hmm? I don't understand what you're saying," Ms. Juukawa continued to act cute.

"Attention, all students." Suddenly, the loudspeaker in the rooftop corner came to life.

"A violent incident is occurring on campus. Students, please follow your teachers' instructions and seek shelter."

"Repeat, a violent incident is occurring on campus. Students, please follow your teachers' instructions and seek shelter." The announcement was followed by a burst of static and chaos, "…Help me! No! Ah!! Stop!"

"It's begun…" Hao Ren's expression grew complicated.

"No! Please, someone help me! Ah!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~" Then, an eerie silence fell over the entire school.

Clatter—the crisp sound of chalk hitting the floor.

"Ah!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~" Panic swept through the school.

Everyone surged toward the exits, pushing forward with all their might, shoving aside anyone in their way without hesitation. Screams and violence erupted across the campus. Beneath their feet were people; those attacking and those being attacked were all human. In this moment, the darkness of human nature was laid bare.

The scene returns to the infirmary.

"Player 73950 has triggered a side quest. Please check your virtual interface for the quest list."

"Are side quests really so easy to trigger?" Hao Ren thought, realizing he had never used a spear in any game, and let it go.

He rubbed the mark on his left palm, and the quest interface appeared before his eyes.

Quest List: Number of quests—2

Main Quest: Phase One—After the outbreak of the Dead, rendezvous with the main character "Takashi Komuro" within ten hours. Only players who complete Phase One will unlock subsequent main quests. Completion reward: 1 LP; failure: deduct 1 LP. (Status: Incomplete)

Side Quest: Protect the Explosive School Nurse

Phase One—Before the story character "Saeko Busujima" reaches the infirmary and meets "Shizuka Juukawa," protect Shizuka Juukawa. Completion reward: Saeko Busujima's relationship with the player becomes "Friendly." Failure: Saeko Busujima's relationship becomes "Hostile." If Shizuka Juukawa dies or is infected by the Dead, the quest is considered failed. (Status: Incomplete)

Mainframe Notice: Because player 73950's class is Humanoid Summoner, increasing relationship with story characters may grant a chance to recruit them as followers. When the instance ends, you may pay a certain price to bring followers out of the game instance. (Relationship levels: Nemesis, Hostile, Indifferent, Neutral, Friendly, Intimate, Admiring)

It seems the trigger condition for this quest is to interact with the explosive nurse before the outbreak. Guess I got lucky with the starting scenario.

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On second thought, Hao Ren glanced at the school nurse with a bitter look. Since a protection quest had been issued, the story was surely not going to unfold as simply as he had first imagined.

There was still too little information at hand. For now, he could only wait and see.

"Ms. Juukawa," Hao Ren said with a serious face, unconsciously adopting a firmer tone.

"Yes." Like a student singled out in gym class, Shizuka Juukawa straightened, chest out, hands at her sides—in a perfect attention stance. But seeing the school nurse like this was strangely alluring. Hao Ren wiped away imaginary nosebleed.

"The school is no longer safe. I suppose you've seen movies like Resident Evil?"

"I have, but what does that have to do with now?"

"The campus is overrun with zombie-like creatures. I need to ensure your safety, and I hope you'll cooperate with us as much as possible."

"My, my, does this mean you like me?" Shizuka Juukawa struck a pose reminiscent of Yuno Gasai.

"Yes, that's right. I don't want to see you get hurt." Hao Ren wiped the cold sweat from his brow, playing along.

"But we're so far apart in age. You're just a student, aren't you?" Shizuka looked genuinely concerned.

"It doesn't matter! As long as there's love, age gaps are absolutely adorable!" Hao Ren seemed to be getting into character.

"But I don't even know your name!" Shizuka was still putting up a token resistance.

"Kouji—I'm Sato Kouji. You can just call me Kouji." Hao Ren sidled up and took her hands. Honestly, Hao Ren, you caught on fast. Just in the first chapter you were still a geeky Gintama fan, and now you've got the hands that so many dream of holding.

"Ah, um, my name is Shizuka Juukawa. If you don't mind…" Caught off guard, the school nurse seemed a bit dazed, clearly led astray by Hao Ren.

"Ahem." Shiki glanced at the clock, reminding them it was prime-time TV hour.

"Yikes!" Snapping back to reality, Shizuka quickly pulled her hands free, hiding them behind her back and drawing circles with her right foot. "I think we're moving a bit fast…"

"As long as you'll give me a chance to pursue you." Hao Ren realized he might've been a bit too hasty.

"Alright… I'll give you a chance. But you'll have to buy me designer purses, skirts, cosmetics…." Shizuka began counting on her fingers.

Seeing her lost in a world of luxury brands, Hao Ren let out a long sigh.

"It's just for the quest, you understand, right, Shiki?" Hao Ren approached Shiki, looking at her seriously.

"A summoner's private life is none of my concern," Shiki replied calmly.

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"I almost wish you would interfere a little," Hao Ren muttered, squatting in the corner, drawing circles on the floor.

BAM BAM BAM! Suddenly, a frantic knocking drew all three of their attention.

"Hey, is anyone in there? Please open the door!" It was a man's voice.

Shiki leapt up, swiftly drawing her short blade and taking a defensive stance by the door.

"Wait!" Hao Ren blocked her with his arm. "It shouldn't be dangerous yet. Let me ask first."

"Who's out there?" Hao Ren called toward the door. "State your name!"

"My name is Ishii Shiki. My classmate Okada's been bitten. Can you let Ms. Juukawa take a look?" The speaker's face appeared in the infirmary window—a student in uniform and glasses, with the look of a total background character, supporting someone who looked lifeless on his shoulder. This must be that story character Saeko Busujima mercifully put down. Honestly, I felt bad for him—sacrificed just to protect this airheaded nurse. But since I'm here, I might as well do what I can to help.

"Shiki, let him in. The one with blood on his clothes—throw him out the window. He's already infected; nothing can be done." Hao Ren quickly issued orders.

"Understood." Shiki opened the door, let the two in, and swiftly locked it again.

"Ms. Juukawa, please, look at my friend—what are you doing?!" Ishii cried out as Shiki seized his classmate.

Window open, body out—she was so practiced, it was clear Shiki had done this before.

"What are you doing?!" Ishii stared in shock as Okada was tossed out the window.

"Calm down. That was no longer a living person. Look," Hao Ren said, dragging the agitated Ishii to the window and forcing him to look down. "See? He's no longer human."

Ishii saw it: below, a pool of blood spread beneath Okada's broken body, yet the corpse was still squirming, crawling desperately toward the crowd of fleeing students.

"This can't be!" Ishii was clearly in denial.

"This is reality, whether you accept it or not. You've seen Resident Evil, right? What's happening around us now is just a virus outbreak," Hao Ren soothed him.

"So what should I do now?" Ishii asked, utterly lost.

"Stay with us for now. One more person, one more bit of strength." Hao Ren gripped Ishii's shoulders, putting on his most reliable face. Off to the side, Shiki rolled her eyes.