*

d*mn, my foot hurts!
Stop complaining and walk away.
I'm getting too young to fit into my shoes.

　Makoto lifted his foot and pointed to his leather shoes.
　The tops of his feet were sore from being one finger too big.
　He had a shoe sore.
　When I looked at my phone, it hadn't even been an hour since I started walking.

'I suppose it's okay over here?'
Yeah, maybe.

　Yuka said unsurely.
　I'm going to escape the dungeon by relying on my memory.
　What a heartbreaking story, but there's no other way, so it can't be helped.
　Makoto took the lead and went on ahead.

''At least if I know how to use the spirit arts.
I can't help it. I'm a wizard.
I don't blame you.

　I looked behind me over my shoulder and saw that Yuka's lips were puckered as if she was sulking.
　If she was just a little bit more gentle, I'd be more inclined to protect her...

　--uh!

What's going on?
I heard voices.
Undead?
I don't know that much.

　Mako stared ahead and narrowed her eyes.
　He saw a figure at the end of the aisle.
　The fellow approached, swaying his body from side to side.

''Oh~, oh~!

　The guy's skin was discolored and his eyes were cloudy white.

'....zombie!
This guy?

　Mako readied her fist, but Yuka was stunned.

'Yuka?'
What?
Prepare for battle.
Oh, yeah, okay!

　Yuka poked her staff into the ground in a panic.

'Luno Kesta Agata!　O Periolis the Imperishable, pierce me like a gravelly stone.

　As he chanted the spell, a glowing magic circle emerged.

''Be a conglomerate that pierces my enemy!　Reveal the magic bullet (Brit)!

　The magic circle glowed strongly and a green light shot out of the wand.
　It was as big as a clenched fist, and it struck the zombie's side and gouged it wide open.
　However, it was not able to finish off the zombie.
　It ran and approached even though its side was gutted wide open.

'You're a running type of zombie!　Yuka, one more shot!
I know!

　Yuka poked the ground with her staff as before, but the magic circle did not unfold.

''Oooh!''
It's me!

　A zombie jumped at me, screaming and yelling.
　I knew in my head that I had to avoid it, but I was terrified.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this as well.

You're not going to be able to get away with it.　Magic, magic, magic!

　Makoto shouted as he frantically stuck his arms out. The zombie must have decomposed quite a bit, and the zombie emitted a strong stench.

''Yuka!''
What?

　Panicking, Yuka cringes as she clutches her wand.
　I thought it was useless, but she's a high school student - she's a child.

'Ooh!'

　The zombie opened its mouth wide.
　I don't even need to think about what it's going to do.
　It's going to bite him.
　The zombie leaned forward and bit Makoto's right arm.

''Ha, let go!''

　Makoto punched him in the face, but the zombie didn't seem to feel any pain or itch.
　The other party is dead, so it's not surprising.
　The creaking bones creak.
　Even if you stick your fingers in its eyes or hit it with a rock, the zombie won't move away.
　On the contrary, they are growing more and more powerful.
　If I don't do this, I'll be killed.
　Just as he was aware of his death, the gears clicked together.
　Jet-black flames erupted from his right arm, and he was filled with power.
　The jet-black flames burned the zombie's body and its body began to crumble.
　With that, the biting force weakens.

''Let go!''

　Makoto kicked the zombie with all his strength.
　The zombie stood up and fell on its back.
　Perhaps it was because it was carrying a backpack, but it couldn't get up and flailed its limbs.

'You're like a turtle.'

　Makoto stood up and slammed his fist into the zombie's face.
　No matter how powerful it was, the head shattered and its contents scattered.
　The zombie twitched greatly for once and then stopped moving.

''........Is this what spirit magic is all about?

　When I raised my right arm, jet-black flames flickered on and off in an erratic fashion.
　Extinguish it, I reminded myself.
　Then the jet-black flames disappeared.

'....Ow.

　I rolled up my sleeve and saw that the zombie bite had caused internal bleeding in the area where I had been bitten by the zombie.

'Yuka, are you okay?'
'What?　Umm, yeah, sorry I can't help you.

　Yuka hung her head apologetically.

'Don't worry about it. Is this your first time in a real battle?'
Well it's not the first time, but I usually have a wallflower to protect me.

　I swallowed the words "I'm sorry I didn't rely on you," as quickly as I could.
　At that time, a voice resounded in my head.

[The level has increased. Level 2, strength 13, muscle strength 10, agility 12, magic power 13]

A game.
It's the voice of the angel. It announces when you reach a higher level.

　Makoto blurted out, and Yuka explained.

'Oh?'

　I cringe.
　Because the area that had been bleeding internally had healed as if rewinding or fast-forwarding back in time.
　The changes didn't stop there.
　What looked like a tribal-type tattoo emerged from the back of his hand and hung over his elbow.

[1 bonus point granted]

Bonus points?
'You can spend bonus points to go to church and get skills.
It's looking more and more like a game.

　I blurt out again.

'What is Yuka's level?'
Level 5. I think I got a little experience from attacking the zombies.

　'Hmmm,' nodded Mako.

'For now, it looks like the food problem is going to be solved.
Are you trying to steal from a dead body?
That's right.

　Makoto unbuckled his backpack's shoulder straps and rolled the zombie over on his feet.
　It didn't twitch as it lay on the ground.
　At the same time, he retrieves his boots.

'.........to the boots.
I don't have a choice.

　I take off my leather shoes and put on my boots.
　Luckily, I should say, they fit perfectly.
　Now I just hope it's not athlete's foot.
　I open my backpack and check the contents.
　There's hard baked bread, dried meat, a small jar, a blanket, and even what looks like a narcissus.

'That's a lot of food for one person.
He's a bagman.
Baggage Handler?
The Order is divided into combat and support teams.
It's extravagant.
The Order is after a relatively large enemy.
'You're being halfway practical,'

　If it's a game, you can get away with not drinking and eating, but in reality, that's not going to happen.

It's a long road ahead.

　Mako looked up at the ceiling and let out a small breath.