With the city in chaos and government departments paralyzed, it also brought trouble for Minami Rika, a member of the SAT Special Assault Team.
Normally.
She would have been resting at home by this time, not needing to be on night duty. Looking back in the direction of her home, it was a considerable distance away.
It would be very difficult to go back.
"I wonder how Shizuka is doing…"
For her few friends, Marikawa Shizuka, the seemingly calm Minami Rika, a flicker of worry crossed her eyes. That girl's personality…
In a world where the zombie virus had broken out.
She dared not imagine it further, only hoping that the school leaders at Fujimi Academy, where she worked, could implement relatively effective measures.
However.
Just then, a pillar of fire rising several kilometers away instantly drew Minami Rika's attention.
It lit up the surrounding night sky.
"This…"
"What exactly is going on?"
Minami Rika's expression was somewhat stunned. She looked back in disbelief. As the SAT's top sniper and patrol leader, her hobby was collecting firearms.
She also had a basic understanding of large-scale destructive weapons, but no matter how much she racked her brain, she couldn't think of any missile explosion that could last for nearly 10 seconds.
The initial flash of fire was followed by the spread of the explosion sound. Even from several kilometers away, she could still feel the impact.
It just wasn't strong… "Could the government have used a large-scale offensive weapon?"
Minami Rika couldn't help but guess, and when she recovered from her shock, she suddenly realized that the area of the explosion was her home!!
"Oh my god!"
#
By the time he left the Apocalypse World, it was already early morning. Thanks to the Mana Tempering of his Holy Sword User profession, Shiraishi Kawa no longer needed sleep.
The improvements brought by Mana Tempering could perfectly alleviate physical fatigue.
Before leaving, he didn't forget to vaguely introduce the world teleportation anchor point that allowed free travel, giving Takagi Saya and Miyamoto Rei a sense of reassurance.
Returning to the real world.
It was a little past 6 AM. With some free time, the refreshed Shiraishi Kawa prepared to take a quick shower before heading to school.
During this time.
He continuously used the "Mana Tempering" skill, finally reaching the critical point for attribute improvement, and the proficiency panel prompt appeared before him.
"You have accumulated 12 hours of Mana Tempering, gaining 800 experience points. Mana Tempering Lv5 (1300/2000)."
"You have accumulated 12 hours of Mana Tempering, gaining 800 class experience points."
"Through continuous Mana Tempering of your body, your overall attributes have received a slight increase. All Attributes +3."
As the level of the Mana Tempering skill increased, the most direct efficiency for Shiraishi Kawa was the increased attribute values gained from tempering.
All Attributes +3.
One could only say.
Shiraishi Kawa was the purest Holy Sword User from beginning to end. Other classes, upon leveling up, only gained 1 unit of free attribute points.
And one chance to upgrade a basic skill.
It was very stingy.
Even if his current strength was insufficient, he could become a stat monster just by accumulating time. While taking a shower, he opened his detailed status panel.
"Name: Shiraishi Kawa"
"Gender: Male"
"Age: 17"
"Constitution: 16"
"Agility: 15"
"Strength: 15"
"Intelligence: 16"
"Energy: 15"
"Mana: 620"
"Currently mastered professions: Student (Lv5), Exorcist (Lv5), Holy Sword User (Lv6), Archmage (Lv5)"
"Skill Points: 6"
"Evolution Points: 6"
"The power of the Archmage class depends on the amount of Mana. Putting all Evolution Points into the Intelligence stat has the most direct effect."
Increasing Mana can effectively increase output.
With the Mana Tempering skill, other basic attribute increases could be relatively slowed down, as tempering alone could boost them significantly.
As for the allocation of Skill Points.
Shiraishi Kawa didn't even need to think; he put them all into the Mana Tempering skill. Increasing its level would bring stronger amplification effects.
The attributes gained from tempering would increase.
"Energy attribute increased: 15 → 21"
"Mana: 740"
... "Skill 'Mana Tempering' level increased, current level: Lv11."
... After simply allocating the Evolution and Skill Points.
Shiraishi Kawa didn't dwell on the changes to his attribute panel. After changing into his Soubu High School uniform, he tidied his hair slightly.
He made all the preparations for an Ordinary High School Student's daily classes.
When he arrived in the living room, he saw the busy figure in the kitchen, also wearing an apron. However, compared to Busujima Saeko.
Mrs. Izumi was clearly much more conservative.
"Good morning, Shiraishi-kun."
Mrs. Izumi, with her hair braided and draped over her chest, said gently, "Breakfast is ready, and your bento is here too."
Entering the kitchen.
Shiraishi Kawa briefly glanced at the brand-new bento box. It seemed Izumi Miori had specially bought it for him. On the side of the plain green box.
There was a pink heart-shaped sticky note.
It listed today's bento menu: Matsuba crab sushi, chopped pepper beef over rice, soft-boiled egg with blanched greens. The portion was generous.
This was a feeling he had never experienced before.
Someone thoughtfully preparing his bento for school. In the past, he would simply eat at a restaurant near Soubu High School. He suddenly looked up.
Observing Izumi Miori.
"...Wh-what's wrong?"
Under his focused gaze, Izumi Miori became a little flustered. Her movements of washing kitchen utensils paused slightly. She turned her head with a gentle smile.
"Thank you, Mrs. Izumi."
His earnest attitude.
Made Izumi Miori a bit flustered. Their colliding gazes made her uncertain, so she used her actions to cover her inner awkwardness.
She wrapped the box in a cloth and handed it to Shiraishi Kawa, who was half a head taller than her.
"Shiraishi-kun should go to class now, or you'll be late."
"Alright."
"..."
Watching Shiraishi Kawa's retreating figure gradually leave, Izumi Miori finally let out a sigh of relief. But as the sound of the security door closing came.
She felt an emptiness inside... Mrs. Izumi... Izumi Miori... She couldn't help but take out her phone, open the front-facing camera. She clearly didn't look like an aunt at all, but what should Shiraishi Kawa call her?
Sister?
Izumi Miori felt embarrassed just thinking about it. Even as a mother, her relationship with her deceased ex-husband was only a de facto marriage, with no emotional development.
As for Sagiri.
She was the result of in-vitro fertilization with her ED-afflicted ex-husband. Even though her profession was an erotica artist, she was still a maiden at heart!
"Why do I feel like I've been thinking about such things a lot lately..."