A crossover anime/manga story, set in everyday Tokyo, but within a loop of a game.

69

Chapter 69 Special Infected Individuals in the Hospital.

In the end, the team members reached a consensus and decided to drive to Renai Hospital in the city center. After all, Kotoko Iwanaga's body was not suitable for long-distance travel, and although Megumi Kato and Asuna Yuuki were physically healthy, their physical strength at this stage was not much stronger than that of ordinary people.

Furthermore, the time spent completing the clearance objective is also an important factor affecting the clearance rating.

Asagi, the leader, is the kind of professional player who never misses an opportunity when entering a dungeon and always aims for the highest S+ rating. His philosophy and style of action naturally set the tone for this strategy team.

After getting into the car, Asagiri checked the vehicle's dashboard and said thoughtfully.

"There's not much gas left. A family car like this shouldn't consume much fuel. As long as the roads are clear, it should be able to go about 20 kilometers. But the straight-line distance is not the same as the distance the vehicle travels. If I roughly estimate the route... we'll have to get out and walk about two kilometers from Ren'ai Hospital."

"Walking again..."

Upon hearing Asagiri's words, Kotoko Iwanaga leaned over from the back row and smiled.

"Then you can carry me on your back later?"

"can."

To the surprise of Kotoko Iwanaga, as well as Asuna Yuuki and Megumi Kato, Asagiri didn't respond with abstract words this time, but instead agreed directly.

Kotoko Iwanaga was slightly taken aback at first, then, looking very moved, even somewhat exaggeratedly, she raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eye and said in a tone of joyful tears.

"Is this what they mean by 'where there's a will, there's a way'? The Leader ultimately couldn't resist my charm!"

"Don't go crazy here."

Asagiri replied in a flat tone.

"Have you forgotten the negative effects of your talent? Even if your mental energy isn't depleted, you won't be able to use any skills if your stamina is too low. You're very light, so carrying you won't take up much of my energy. Letting me carry you will allow you to conserve your energy and maintain the team's combat effectiveness in order to deal with unexpected situations. This is the most reasonable choice."

"Tch...really..."

Kotoko Iwanaga pursed her lips and couldn't help but complain.

"She's so good-looking, but she speaks so coldly, she's not cute at all..."

Upon hearing this, Asuna Yuuki, who was sitting in the passenger seat, replied irritably.

"Try to be normal. If you want to go crazy, wait until you've finished the game."

Kotoko Iwanaga said confidently, "I found a vehicle for the team, I did a good job."

Yuuki Asuna was slightly speechless, and sighed while rubbing her forehead.

"Sigh, a warlock who likes to take credit."

Listening to the conversation between Asagiri, Iwanaga Kotoko, and Yuuki Asuna, Kato Megumi remained calm and serene, silently thinking to herself.

My three teammates... all seem to be the type with prominent personalities, distinct characteristics, and a high level of presence.

However, how could three people with completely different personalities, ways of thinking, and styles of action not only have great chemistry in the dungeon, but also become such good friends in the real world?

The team I joined is truly amazing.

……

Ten minutes later, at an intersection two kilometers away from Ren'ai Hospital.

"I can't take it anymore... I really can't take it anymore..."

Listening to Asuna Yuuki and Megumi Kato's weak and listless words, and seeing them bent over and leaning against the wall, looking as if they could not continue, Asagiri shook her head and said with a light laugh.

"Actually, I would prefer to hear you say such lines in other situations."

"You, you still have the mind to joke? I can't take it anymore..."

Asuna Yuuki's face was somewhat pale as she stared at the black sedan with lingering fear.

"You say you can drive... but what you're doing isn't driving, it's racing!"

What just happened?

In short, Asuna Yuuki and Megumi Kato got carsick.

Actually, they weren't prone to motion sickness, but the problem was that Asakura was driving way too fast.

The journey of over 20 kilometers was completed in just 10 minutes, with various drifting and turning maneuvers along the way, making it seem as if the driver wanted to stand up and step on the gas.

The worst off weren't Kato Megumi and Yuuki Asuna, but the black sedan.

If it had any sense, it probably wouldn't have imagined that one day, its commuter car would have the opportunity to speed recklessly through the city streets, engine roaring, tires smoking, and on the verge of being scrapped.

But as the saying goes, "If one hears the Way in the morning, one can die content in the evening."

Its life was worthwhile.

"Has it burned out completely...?"

Asagiri gently patted the black sedan, her voice filled with emotion.

"You did your best, I will never forget you in my life, black sedan."

Upon hearing this, Asuna Yuuki, who had already recovered from her motion sickness, couldn't help but retort.

"Why are you talking to the car like this... Let's get going. If you dawdle any longer, all the time you've gained on the road will be wasted."

"Yes, it's time to set off."

Asagiri nodded, looked at the eager Iwanaga Kotoko, and bent her knees to lower her body.

"Come up."

"Okay~"

Kotoko Iwanaga couldn't help but smile, and even her eyes narrowed slightly with joy. She ran over impatiently, put away her equipment cane and masquerade mask, and jumped directly onto Asagiri's back, wrapping her two fair arms around his neck.

Seeing this, Asuna Yuuki became somewhat anxious and said with displeasure.

"I can understand you putting away your cane, but why did you take off your mask too?"

"It's too stuffy to wear that!"

Kotoko Iwanaga lay on Asagiri's back, her cheek pressed against his neck, and smiled happily.

"Besides, I'm worried the mask is too stiff; what if I accidentally bump into the Leader again? So I'll take it off~"

Asuna Yuuki clenched her fists and gritted her teeth as she angrily spoke.

"You're blatantly taking advantage of me!"

"Oh well, there's nothing I can do about it. I'm delicate and frail, and I'm a sorcerer whose main skill is mental power."

Seeing Kotoko Iwanaga's smug, self-satisfied expression, Asuna Yuuki was already on the verge of exploding with anger.

At this moment, she had the strongest complaints about the system. Even when she first entered the game, she had never felt such strong dissatisfaction.

Why?

Why couldn't she become a sorcerer like Kotoko Iwanaga?

In that case, wouldn't she be able to legitimately and naturally have Asagiri carry her?

……

Ten minutes later.

"Is this Ren'ai Hospital...?"

Asuna Yuuki stood at the entrance, glanced at the hospital sign next to her with the four gold-embossed letters "MercyHospital" in English, which, stained with blood, exuded an eerie and terrifying aura. Then she looked up at the buildings inside the gate and frowned slightly.

"It wasn't even marked on the map. I originally thought it was one of those small hospitals with just one building, but it turns out... it's actually a large general hospital like this? It'll probably take quite a while to find that so-called antibody reagent."

"So, this is actually the real beginning of this instance."

Kotoko Iwanaga jumped off Asagiri's back, took out her cane again, adjusted her white beret with her other hand, and slowly began to speak.

"This instance gives ten hours, which seems like plenty of time. In reality, arriving at Ren'ai Hospital is only the first screening step. The real test is how players can find the antibody reagents stored in the hospital after arriving, when they are exhausted from the long journey."

"That's right, this is the real difficulty a dungeon should have."

Asagiri looked at the hospital buildings not far away and spoke softly.

"Moreover, apart from that bloated bile zombie, we haven't seen any other special infected individuals along the way. According to the game's setting, there can't possibly be no dangerous factors in this hospital, so... there must be special infected individuals in this hospital, and maybe even a large number of ordinary zombies."

"that……"

At this point, Kato Megumi finally couldn't help but speak up.

"Why do I feel like our strategy is progressing at a faster pace?"

"You don't need to feel it, it's just like that."

Asagiri smiled and explained.

"The special hints I received saved us from figuring out the route, while the special hints Violet received allowed us to confirm the existence of the special infected from the very beginning. Necro's abilities helped us find a vehicle that could be started, saving us time walking. Furthermore, if we can find the wandering spirits in this hospital, we should be able to obtain information on the location of the antibody reagents. Therefore, in order to obtain a high level of clearance rating, we are definitely aiming for a speedrun, and we are capable of achieving it."

After saying this, Asagiri strode into the hospital, speaking calmly.

"Now, let's begin the strategy."

……

After entering Renai Hospital, the first place that Asagiri and the others decided to explore was the general outpatient building, which was closest to the entrance.

Sure enough, upon entering the lobby on the first floor, Kato Megumi saw a sign.

"Here is a detailed map showing the locations of the hospitals."

"Let me see……"

Kotoko Iwanaga leaned closer, looking at the screen and muttering to herself.

"Outpatient building... Inpatient Building 1, Inpatient Building 2, Hospital Administration Building, Medical Examination Building... There are five buildings in total. It really is a large comprehensive hospital..."

Just then, Asuna Yuuki suddenly noticed a dark shadow flash past the glass railing on the second floor. Immediately afterward, the shadow pounced on Kotoko Iwanaga on the ground at an extremely fast speed.

"careful!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Yuuki Asuna swiftly approached Iwanaga Kotoko and Kato Megumi. She then gripped her exorcist sword tightly and, with a slashing motion, forced the dark figure back.

Only then did everyone see the true face of the dark figure.

A zombie, crawling on all fours, wearing a hoodie and shorts, with skin that was grayish-black and decaying, looked like a wild beast.

Asuna Yuuki stood in front of Megumi Kato and Kotoko Iwanaga, holding her exorcist sword horizontally, staring intently at the zombie in front of her, her brows slightly furrowed.

"This guy... is also a special infected person."

70

Chapter 70: The Crying in the Morgue.

Just as Asuna Yuuki finished speaking, the special infected person wearing a hoodie suddenly let out a piercing scream. Then, his body tensed up, and he sprang up from the ground like an arrow, flying directly towards Asuna Yuuki.

"clang!"

Asuna Yuuki swung her sword, colliding with the hand of the special infected person with sharp nails. The collision produced a metallic sound, and while forcing the opponent back, her body slid backward by nearly half a meter.

"This guy isn't just fast and agile, he's also very strong..."

After the attack, Asuna Yuuki looked at the special infected creature's hands, which were covered in a layer of blackish-red grime from the blood, and had sharp, dirty nails. She thought that this guy was obviously more difficult to deal with than the bloated bile zombie.

“Necro”.

"clear."

Upon hearing Asuna Yuuki call her by her codename, Kotoko Iwanaga immediately understood. She covered her right prosthetic eye with one hand, and her dark purple left eye shone with an eerie light as she stared directly into the eye of the special infected person, activating her skill, "Cursed Gaze."

"Roar……"

The infected creature swayed and couldn't help but raise its hands to cover its head, as if it were enduring some kind of pain.

Yuuki Asuna didn't miss the opportunity. She gripped her exorcist sword tightly and rushed towards the infected creature. With a flash of cold light, she pierced the creature's forehead with her sword. Before the creature could fall, she swung it horizontally, severing the infected creature's hands and neck in one fell swoop.

"Thump, thump thump..."

Seeing the headless corpse of this special infected individual, and its lonely head rolling to the ground, Asuna Yuuki finally breathed a sigh of relief, still feeling lingering fear.

"Both are special infected individuals, but compared to that bile zombie, this guy is clearly more threatening. The mutated parts of its hands are as hard as metal. If it were an ordinary player, there would be no way to eliminate it."

Kotoko Iwanaga nodded and said calmly.

"My cursed gaze can instantly kill ordinary zombies, but it can only cause mental interference. It seems that the mental resistance of special infected people is much stronger than that of ordinary zombies."