You can move a mountain, you can break rocks
You can be a master, don't wait for luck
— Excerpt from "Hall of Fame" by The Script
Seeing my stats right now drove home how extraordinary the system is. Normally this kind of development is impossible. It's hard to believe that just a few hours ago, I was still a below-average person but now, my strongest stat PER is twice as strong as a regular man.
[STATUS:
Name: Martin Harvie
Race: Human
Level: 0
STR: 1.1
CON: 1.4
DEX: 1.3
INT: 1.2
WIS: 1.6
PER: 2.1
KARMA: 550]
Just looking at my karma would indicate how arduous my short stint in zombie hunting. From the previous Tutorial Mission, I got a total of 210 karma from completing both objectives and the points for killing them.
Subtracting my initial karma, it would mean I've killed 24 more zombies, all in all, I got 550 karma.
From the data that the system gave me (inserted directly into my brain), karma also functions as luck. Meaning, the higher the karma the luckier I will be, however, there is a rather large demerit in possessing too much karma. If I've ever got too 'lucky' and had an encounter with some kind of treasure, it's highly probable that it would be guarded by some kind of sacred beast or the same equivalent.
I might also get 'lucky' and suddenly fall into a ravine and accidentally meet some kind of grandmaster to teach me some ancient arts, however, all of this is on a premise that I will survive the event or encounter which will be impossible right now. I might be above average but only 'slightly' above average.
That means I'm still, strictly speaking, within the human limit. This also means that spending your karma as much as possible until you're left with a safe margin is the way to go.
I'm willing to bet that 1000 karma is the safe margin. The reason is already on the main mission statement.
[MAIN QUEST: Survival!
World: E-484F5444
Term: 3 Days
Description:
You have been selected as a potential player by the Nexus. All new players are sent to a different world for initiation and are given a mission appropriate to their level. Please prove yourself by completing the main objective.
Background:
You are currently a student of Fujimi Academy and it will soon be overrun by a horde of zombies. Your time is limited and if you do not escape, you will certainly die.
Main Objective:
- Earn (450/1000) Karma and survive for (3/72) hours.
- Reward: 1000 Karma.
Bonus Objective:
- Kill as many zombies as you can (25).
- Reward: ???
Failure Conditions:
- Karma must not fall below 1000 before the mission ends.
- Completion of all the Main Objectives.
- Penalty: Death.]
Even if I'm wrong, I'm going to stick with 1000 as a margin. From my knowledge, it's possible to lose large amounts of karma on a mission.
I don't know what will happen if I were ever to lose all my karma however I have a guess what would have happened if it ever turned negative.
Death.
Probably not an immediate death but instead, some kind of Final-Destination-esque type of death. A bundle of steel bars from a nearby construction site might accidentally fall on you, a meteorite might fall on you, a truck might run over you and any such unlucky coincidences imaginable might happen.
It's better to be safe than sorry.
I don't know if this is a product of having an above-average mind because I'm very sure that my mind was not capable of such constructive thinking and hypothesis but, being able to think of such consequences is only a plus right now.
〈...ENTRY INTO THE CITY IS CURRENTLY PROHIBITED TO UNAUTHORIZED PERSON! ANYONE CROSSING THROUGH WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION IS LIABLE TO SEVERE PUNISHMENT!〉
After a few hours of a rough journey on a bus in the zombie-ridden streets of Japan (yes, from the name of the school and of my new friend, couple it with his awkwardness after hearing my name and the handshake, I'm pretty sure my guess is right although, I'm not sure how I'm able to speak and understand Japanese), I awoke to the loud sound of the announcement blasting throughout the area. At the moment we're stuck in traffic in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.
Judging from the sun, I probably slept for about one or two hours, max.
Looks like nothing major has happened on the way here. Some of the people looked annoyed, probably due to the current situation, but it also looked like they were comfortable with each other. Some of them are probably friends from school.
But seriously, looking at the bodies of these girls, I wouldn't believe them if they said they're still high schoolers if I had not seen them coming out of the school.
If I were to take a guess, I'm probably in a world based on Japanese cartoons. Sexy bodies and abnormal hair color in a Japanese setting in a supernatural event.
Honestly, only Japanese people can think of combining sexy high school girls and a zombie apocalypse.
*Ding!*
[Due to making educated guesses of your current situation, your WIS has slightly increased!]
Educated? Yeah right.
It looks like even the system agrees. It's probably the right answer.
Oops! That pink-haired girl almost caught me looking. I can feel her eyes glaring back at me. How can she know that I'm looking at- *cough*
What the heck, that's really scary. Is that the infamous 'women's intuition'? Bullshit. That's already on the level of precognition.
Oh, is she somehow feeling some kind of malice from me? Maybe she also sensed my thoughts? She's seriously glaring at me right now. Are those pin-pricks I feel? At the back of my head? Don't tell me she can also use killing intent!?
Don't mistake me for some ruffian on the street, girl. I am a gentleman who admires the wonders of the female body. You can even call me a connoisseur if you will. Can't you see me admiring the people that are stuck in the traffic outside the window?
Well, enough bullshit. I will pretend she's just nearsighted and just happened to look like she killing someone when trying to focus her eyes. Right?
But seriously, even in times like this we still have traffic? It seems the local government is trying to implement an order however it's more probable for their plan to blow up in their faces.
Either the mayor of this city is incompetent or dead and someone not suitable was standing up as a replacement and doesn't know that to do in this situation.
Well, no one probably planned for this situation.
On another seat of the bus, there are two people on an interesting discussion.
One was a well-endowed teenage girl with long pink hair which she keeps in two ponytails on either side of her head. She has fierce orange eyes and furrowed eyebrows. Her name is Saya Takagi, a 2nd-year high school student at Fujimi Highschool.
She currently has her arms crossed under her bosom unaware that it, even more, emphasized its rather large size, while using her genius intellect to contemplate how to kill someone by 'accident'.
"Takagi-san, please calm down!" said the other person in an obvious attempt to pacify the former, only for her to harrumphed in dissatisfaction.
He is Kohta Hirano, a short and plump teenage boy with a shoulder-length hairstyle that has bangs reaching down from the side of his temples stretching outwards and obscuring the sides of his face.
While he might be wearing a smile while trying and failing to calm down Saya, he was actually a little annoyed that someone was ogling her earlier.
He secretly peeked through the corner of his eyes on the culprit. He doesn't know if what she's saying is true but she suddenly seemed to have sensed something before turning around in the middle of their conversation.
The guy (he doesn't know his name) doesn't look so bad, rather, he seemed nice enough aside from those eyes.
He looked like a tall and slim handsome young man with black hair that has a cowlick that splits in two, black eyes that are described as unpleasant sometimes, and a muscular build.
He has his arms and legs crossed and seemed to be having a good time watching the people outside the window until I caught him sneaking glances in our direction.
Yeah, he's suspicious alright. But not bad enough to warrant killing.
He returned his attention to Saya. She seemed to have calmed down a little and touching her chin in concentration. Her posture while she was thinking hard about something.
I guess she's finished with her tantrum?
'Focus!' Saya Takagi thought to herself while erasing all distractions in her head.
It's obvious that right now, we are not in a favorable situation.
Currently, we are on the Onbetsu bridge and stuck in the traffic caused by the checkpoint.
She looked at the others and some of them were probably like her and thinking of just ditching the bus and moving on.
However, that is also risky.
If you looked outside the window, you can see the people on police duty that are clearly overwhelmed by the piling number of problems.
The police are taking extreme measures and some of the people stupid enough to try and breakthrough but were hosed-down by a fire truck.
The people are panicking and screaming everywhere. It's total chaos and there's nowhere safe to run.
However…
"I think with the road packed like it is, We have no choice but to leave the bus." said the calm voice beside me.
Saeko Busujima, a third-year and was also captain of the Kendo Club. She has straight and thigh-length straight purple hair that has a triangular fringe at the front, blue eyes, and sizable breasts. All the guys love her and all the girls want her… except for me of course.
"We should try to cross Onbetsu Bridge and get to the East Police Station." Saeko continued. She seemed calm and composed as if she's not worried about anything.
"Aren't you worried about your family?" I asked Busujima-san in wonder as she seemed too poised in this kind of situation.
As if detecting my suspicion, she entertained my question and answered in mirth.
"I am, but my only family is my Father, and he's training overseas. In other words, the only priority I have right now is staying alive." So it's not that Busujima-san isn't 'not' worried about anyone, but that she doesn't have anything to worry about. Okay, I guess that answers my questions.
Well, she can easily kill 'them' with just a swing of her 'bokken'. I guess shes not a part of the Kendo Club for nothing.
"Ohh! Speaking of which Takagi-san, where is your house?" That was when the school nurse—Shizuka-sensei, inserted herself in the conversation.
Just like us, she's also probably thinking of just leaving the bus behind. She's might be asking to set a direction or destination.
"It's on the other side of Onbetsu Bridge." I answered while looking her in the eye.
She seemed to hesitate before answering in her usual airy voice.
"Uhh, My family's gone now, so I'll stay with, Takagi-san." with that, I just gave her a nod as if I was expecting her feedback.
That was when Busujima-san noticed that Hirano was beside us just listening to our exchanges.
"Where is your family, Hirano-kun?" She asked Hirano with a smile as if she was finding enjoyment in finding a new partner for a conversation.
Hirano appeared to be startled and nervously answered.
"My Dad's in the jewelry business, so he's in Holland right now, and my Mom's a fashion designer so she's always in Paris." He said, in a fluster.
Unbelievable.
"WHAT ARE YOU, A MANGA CHARACTER!?" I can't help but voice out. Who has a background like that? I certainly not!
And to that, the school nurse happily replied to Hirano's ridiculous answer.
"No, if he was a manga character, his Dad would be the captain of a cruise ship." She said as if adding oil into the fire.
And as if in compliance,
"That was my Grandpa, my Grandma was a violinist." Hirano lightheartedly replied.
Really!?
"Too perfect... It-It's too perfect" I can only mutter in defeat. A setting like that, it's too absurd it's not even funny.
"So, what are you guys planning? I want to go." Asked Shizuka-sensei in innocence, such that I found it astounding that a teacher was the one who uttered such words.
Finally a topic I can get over with.
"Really?" However, I couldn't help but ask. It's not like we could just act at the moment but asking wouldn't hurt.
However, before she could reply...
"Umm, hey. Care to share your plans with us?" asked a flippant voice approaching us.
Our earlier atmosphere was broken and we were finally able to notice the other people staring at us.
I nonetheless was more surprised by the one who came to us and interrupted our conversation.
I didn't notice him until he was just a few steps away from our group. It seems we're more distracted than we thought as it looked like none of us noticed him approach.
Even Busujima-san quickly became guarded. Is he that dangerous? Maybe he's really dangerous.
But it was that lecher who was staring at me earlier!!
And he was just standing there while a carefree smile was formed on his face.
For some reason, just looking at it makes you want to slug him hard right on his stupid face.
Oh yeah, isn't he also that guy who was late and was being chased by 'them'?
He looks to be an older student. Maybe a third year? However, he doesn't look like a student of Fujimi High although he's wearing the student uniform.
Even his face doesn't look japanese. Maybe a half? Or a foreigner?
Is he from an abroad student exchange program or something? But the school doesn't do that!
Definitely, he's suspicious.
Even Hirano protectively stood to my front while looking back and nodding at me.
Wait, is he taking advantage of the situation?
Anyway,
"What do you want? And who are you?" I just straight up asked at him.
The guy looked nervous and careful after seeing us guarded, however, he looked more surprised that I even replied at him.
A strange atmosphere seemed to have been formed between us.
After a few seconds of stare-off, he took a deep breath and released a heavy sigh in resignation.
It looks like he finally noticed that he's the one in a precarious situation.
He raised his hands as if in surrender and once more took a look at our group and repeated his earlier question.
"May you please share your plans with us?" in a sweeter voice and in a more polite manner. He even added a slight bow on top of that but you can clearly sense some exasperation mixed in his words.
What the heck, was he being sarcastic? Was he mocking us? EHH!?
Finally… I couldn't help but explode anger.
