Neither Saya Takagi nor Shizuka Marikawa had seen the dimensional chat group's livestream. They had no concept of the strength that Shirakawa and Misaka Mikoto wielded.
If it were just physical prowess—
They wouldn't have been this shocked. But this went far beyond imagination. Their very understanding of the world was being overturned. Occasionally, Saya had seen TV shows about isekai or psychic powers...
But they were fiction.
Now, faced with such overwhelming, reality-defying power, she felt only helplessness—and suffocating awe.
"…Shirakawa-kun… are you… a god?"
Shizuka, ever the airhead, clung tightly to his arm once more—completely unbothered that it was now deeply nestled in her chest.
After thinking seriously for a moment...
She concluded that only the title of "god" could properly describe someone like Shirakawa. Plus, he smelled really nice, too.
Even Misaka Mikoto was confused.
This was almost like the powers wielded by earth-manipulating espers in Academy City. Could it be that Shirakawa's world had some kind of supernatural system like theirs?
Regardless...
There was no way the label of "normal high school student" applied to Shirakawa. If they hadn't been paired together in this mission, and she hadn't seen him fight for herself—
She probably would've kept assuming he was just some Lv. 4 guy forever.
[You have successfully defeated a corpse. EXP +50.]
[You have successfully defeated a corpse. EXP +50.]
...
The Arch-wizard class from the Konosuba was so powerful that even its basic spells became apocalyptic threats in a lower-level world like Highschool of the Dead.
Powered by enormous mana reserves,
The spell "Quicksand Ripple" was able to corrode solid ground and turn it into a death pit that devoured every approaching corpse.
Each death—
—was converted into experience, leveling up Shirakawa's "Arch-wizard" and "Holy Sword Wielder" classes. It also proved that a good magic staff could enhance mana efficiency tremendously.
"Let's keep moving."
Looking at the massive number of corpses swarming the academy, Shirakawa knew that while he could handle them using his Holy Sword skills...
…it was far too inefficient.
The simplest solution?
Cast a full-power Explosion Spell and burn his mana reserves to ash.
His gaze swept over to Saya—who didn't even dare make eye contact. He wasn't trying to intimidate her, just reminding her of the power balance here.
"Understood."
Saeko remained composed—even exhilarated. Defeating these things gave her a strange kind of thrill. "What about the rest of the corpses nearby?"
"Leave them for now. I have a plan."
Shirakawa shook his head. These were all valuable EXP sources. Neither Misaka nor Saeko had a level-up system like his.
This was a rare chance to grind.
His best strategy? Stir up a ruckus before leaving Fujimi Academy, lure all the corpses in one place—then decimate them with a single magical barrage.
"Got it."
Although Saeko seemed a little regretful, she followed Shirakawa's orders without question. With a swift flick, she flung the blood off her wooden blade—
—and continued toward the parking lot.
Just then, from around the corner on the second floor, the sound of frantic footsteps echoed.
Coming into view were Takashi Komuro and Rei Miyamoto, fleeing for their lives.
In an environment this suffocating and extreme...
Saya found herself oddly relieved at the sight of familiar faces. She waved toward them instinctively, shouting, "Takashi!!"
But the corridor hadn't been fully cleared.
Several zombies were now chasing after Takashi, closing in fast.
Seeing the boy she once had feelings for about to be caught—
Saya turned to the strongest person in their group. "Komuro is my classmate! Please—can you help him?!"
"…"
But Shirakawa simply looked at her with cold indifference.
His voice was calm.
"When did Takashi Komuro become part of our team?"
"You approved this?"
"…"
Clearly sensing Shirakawa's attitude, Takagi Saya opened her mouth but said nothing. For someone who prided herself on her intellect, she knew that if she questioned him now—
She'd be cast out by the group without hesitation. After all, he was just someone she once had a crush on. Compared to her current situation, survival was far more important.
Komuro Takashi, who had nearly been grabbed by a corpse just moments ago, suddenly stumbled over something. The corpse chasing him from behind leapt directly on top of him.
Using his death—
To buy Miyamoto Rei time to escape.
But watching that simping fool who had always chased after her now being devoured alive… the sight drained the color from her face.
Just minutes ago, one loyal lapdog had perished on the rooftop. And now, the scene was repeating itself once again.
At that moment, Shirakawa silently dispersed the magic he had been concentrating, his voice calm as he interrupted Rei's sorrow.
"Let's go. First, we need to find a secure shelter."
"…"
"I… can I come with you?"
The sheer desire to live compelled Miyamoto Rei to plead. But when Shirakawa turned and walked away without even sparing her a glance—
She bit her lip.
And chose to follow the group.
No matter what price she would have to pay from now on—survival came first.
With Saeko Busujima leading the way, the path to the parking lot was relatively safe. There weren't too many zombies. But the moment the school bus's engine roared to life—
The noise drew nearly every corpse in Fujimi Academy toward them.
Exhausted, Takagi Saya and Miyamoto Rei didn't even have time to catch their breath. The sound had lured a massive horde to the back of the bus.
Faced with the overwhelming situation, Shizuka Marikawa, who was driving, kept whispering to herself—
"These aren't students anymore… they're just infected corpses…"
She floored the accelerator, running over the undead in their path. The bus rocked violently as it approached the main gate, where Misaka Mikoto used her electromagnetic powers to blast the doors open.
However—
Just as they were about to continue toward the Takagi estate, Shirakawa, seated in the front passenger seat, raised a hand to stop her.
"I've got something to take care of."
Under the confused gazes of Takagi Saya and Miyamoto Rei, he opened the door and stepped out—holding a staff wrapped in a grey cloth.
As he channeled his magic into the staff—
The cloth unraveled and fell to the ground.
The wooden staff, now brimming with arcane energy, emitted an ominous aura, and the red orb at its tip gleamed with dazzling brilliance.
"…!"
Misaka Mikoto's expression hardened.
Through the bus window, she watched Shirakawa standing at the school gate, alone, facing a sea of the undead. Her pupils shrank.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Ahead lay a swarm of zombies—and Kōichi Shidō, a teacher frantically running for his life.
Shirakawa simply smiled.
"To this beautiful world, I offer… EXPLOSION!"