What the actual hell is going on?!
How did Shuya just draw a bow in the air and kill someone from a distance?
How did they jump from the third floor and land like nothing happened?
And where the hell did Saeko-senpai's sword suddenly come from?
Why does she make killing those monsters look so easy? It's like she's just chopping vegetables!
Saya Takagi's mind was in complete chaos.
The worldview she had built over the last sixteen years felt like it was crumbling apart right before her eyes.
She secretly glanced at Shizuka and Rei beside her.
Could they also have that kind of terrifying power like Shuya?
She quickly shook her head, rejecting the idea.
From the conversation earlier, Shizuka had been ordered by Shuya to protect them, so she definitely had that special power.
As for Rei… she was probably just like her—an ordinary person. Otherwise she wouldn't have panicked so much when Shuya jumped out the window.
While Saya was still spiraling, Shizuka seemed to notice her staring and turned her head.
Their eyes met for less than a second before Saya quickly looked away.
"Takagi-san, you look a little uncomfortable. Do you need to use the bathroom?"
Shizuka asked kindly. "It's okay~ If you really can't hold it, just tell Sensei. I can go with you."
"After all, Sensei is really strong too!"
She proudly flexed her arm, showing off completely smooth, untoned "muscles."
"Who wants to go to the bathroom?! I don't!" Saya snapped back on reflex.
"Really?" Shizuka scratched her head. "Then if you want to pick flowers, you can tell Sensei too~"
"I already said I don't need to go!"
Saya felt like she was going insane.
As a proper young lady, of course she knew "picking flowers" was just a cute way of saying "going to the toilet."
Shuya and Saeko-senpai she could understand.
One was her biggest academic rival.
The other was the untouchable flower of Fujimi Academy, from a famous swordsmanship family.
But this ditzy-looking school nurse… how could she have that kind of power too?
"Um…"
Maybe because Shizuka and Saya had started talking, Rei finally couldn't hold back either.
"Marikawa-sensei… can I ask something? What exactly is this 'Nen' that Saeko-senpai mentioned earlier?"
"Since Shuya-kun left you here to protect us, that means you have this power too, right?"
Saya immediately perked up and listened closely. She had wanted to ask the same thing but felt too awkward since she wasn't close with Shizuka.
"Nen, huh?"
Shizuka scratched her head again.
It wasn't like she couldn't explain it. After all, Nen was something only their group had.
Although Shuya had told her that in theory anyone could learn it through hard work, even a genius would need several years just to awaken it.
But explaining stuff was such a pain…
"You can just think of Nen as a kind of superpower," Shizuka said after thinking for a moment. "Miyamoto, you don't have to worry. Little Shuya will probably share this ability with you later."
From the way Rei had been brought to the infirmary and how close the two of them had almost kissed earlier, Shizuka was certain Rei would be the next one to sign the contract.
"Share it with me?"
Rei blinked, then immediately asked, "Won't that affect Shuya-kun negatively?"
Saya shot Rei a slightly resentful glance.
You really had to ask that, huh?
She had been about to ask more, but now that Rei brought up the potential downside, what could she even say?
With her current relationship with Shuya—basically just acquaintances—what right did she have to demand superpowers?
She was Saya Takagi, but right now she felt like she was nobody.
"Never mind, I'll just explain it properly…"
Shizuka looked at both girls and decided to give them a proper introduction to Nen.
Consider it partial compensation for ruining Rei's almost-kiss earlier.
As for Saya… well, with her looks and figure, there was a chance she might join the group someday. Might as well build some goodwill early.
While Shizuka was busy explaining Nen upstairs, downstairs Saeko had already moved with Shuya to a new battlefield.
That was also why the girls had stopped watching the fight and started talking instead.
They didn't move because there were more zombies elsewhere. Zombies were brainless—if you made any noise, they would keep coming.
The real reason was simple: reality wasn't a game.
In games, monster corpses disappeared into data.
In reality, after killing so many, the ground was literally piled high with bodies.
They had no choice but to relocate.
Shuya couldn't help feeling a little envious of Kortopi's Vacuum Cleaner from the Phantom Troupe. That thing could suck up any dead object. No need to even worry about confirming kills.
After who knows how long, the battle finally ended.
There might still be some stragglers, but they had basically cleared the area.
Saeko stood atop a small mountain of zombie corpses.
Moonlight poured down, bathing her in silver light. Her school uniform was completely soaked in fresh blood.
"Saeko-senpai, did you enjoy yourself?"
Shuya looked up at the girl who looked like a beautiful spirit under the moonlight.
"Shuya-kun… thank you for this graduation gift. I really like it."
Saeko's voice was calm but filled with sincere emotion.
To her, this blood-stained uniform was the best graduation gift she could ever receive.
"As long as you like it."
Shuya nodded. He was also extremely excited.
Saeko had killed at least a thousand zombies. The amount of Nen he had absorbed through their contract was staggering.
He felt terrifyingly powerful right now.
And this was just one high school.
If they slaughtered their way across the entire country… just how strong would he become?
The mere thought made his body tremble with anticipation.
"However," Saeko sheathed Reizan and looked at him with burning eyes, "right now I want another graduation gift from you, Shuya-kun."
"Another one?"
"You."
Saeko pointed straight at him. Her gaze had turned scorching hot.
For her, was there anything in this world more pleasurable than the man standing in front of her?
No. There wasn't. There never would be.
So right now—
While the euphoria from the unrestricted slaughter still burned in her veins, she was going to finish what Shizuka had interrupted half a month ago.
She would push that pleasure to its absolute peak.
And engrave both this day… and Shuya… into her soul forever.
"Me?"
Shuya froze for a second.
Before he could react, Saeko had already grabbed his hand and started dragging him away.