Fortunately, the distance from the park to the hotel they found on the first day wasn't far.
After checking the map, Lu Chen confirmed they could reach it within a short time.
"Even a year ahead, there haven't been any changes here."
Based on his previous experience, Lu Chen used the front desk, potted plants, and sofas as heavy objects to block the first-floor lobby, preventing a zombie invasion.
With the help of his abilities, he completed the construction task before the zombies respawned.
"Thank you. I thought we wouldn't make it."
In the third-floor guest room, Kirisu Mafuyu, wrapped in a towel, seemed to have finally recovered, but her face was still pale.
Seeing Sakurajima Mai and Toyohina Kaguya gathered around the bed, she sighed softly.
"I failed. As a teacher... I've become a burden to my students. What a failure."
"Kirisu-sensei, more people mean more strength. You need to rest now."
Mai brought a cup of purified water condensed with her abilities, took out the pills Lu Chen had found from the clinic, and instructed her.
"These pills should still be effective. Sensei, please take them."
"A miracle. You managed to find medicine under these conditions... I understand."
Kirisu Mafuyu took the water cup, forced her neck up, and swallowed the pills.
"Cough..."
Even this simple action seemed to exhaust her, her cherry-colored hair was wet with sweat and stuck to her cheeks.
"Thank you, Sakurajima-san. Also... who are these two?"
Placing the cup on the bedside table, Kirisu Mafuyu's gaze fell on the other two in the room.
The boy who drove earlier, and the blonde girl who seemed younger.
She had no memory of these two.
This meant they weren't students from her school.
"She's Toyohina Kaguya, my half-sister."
Sakurajima Mai pulled Kaguya in front of her, introducing her to Kirisu-sensei.
"She always admired you, Kirisu-sensei. Now she finally has the chance to meet you."
"Well... nice to meet you, Kirisu-sensei."
Toyohina Kaguya, slightly shy, crossed her arms in front of her and spoke to her childhood idol.
"Your figure on the ice rink left a deep impression on me!"
"... It's all in the past now."
Hearing Kaguya's words, Kirisu Mafuyu was momentarily stunned, a faint smile appearing on her face.
"However, if it can inspire you, it's a fulfillment of my role model duty as a teacher."
Then, she shifted her gaze to Lu Chen.
This gesture of calling out each person by name truly had the air of an educator.
Lu Chen shrugged and introduced himself.
"You can call me Lu Chen. I'm sorry, I have no blood relation to Mai. For now, let's just say we're teammates."
Sakurajima Mai gave Lu Chen a speechless stare. What kind of introduction was that?
To reassure Kirisu-sensei, she had to supplement it.
"Lu Chen and I have been acting together for three days. It's confirmed that he's trustworthy... a partner."
Towards the end, Mai's tone was a bit uncertain. She ultimately chose "partner" to describe their relationship.
Although typically, partners wouldn't perform mysterious rituals that couples do.
"Reasonable. Team action has more advantages than solo... cough, cough!"
Kirisu-sensei tried to say something else, but suddenly her expression changed, and she started coughing.
"Kirisu-sensei, you've taken the medicine. Just rest here."
Mai quickly helped Kirisu Mafuyu lie down on the bed and condensed a water ball with her abilities, applying it to the teacher's forehead to cool her down.
"We'll handle the rest."
Unable to speak, Kirisu Mafuyu nodded weakly, then slowly closed her eyes.
-
Closing the guest room door, the three left the room and went to another guest room to discuss their next course of action.
"Kirisu-sensei is getting better, but someone needs to stay with her."
"The rest of us will explore the hotel."
"For safety, the person staying behind should have some fighting ability."
Finally, Lu Chen looked at the black-haired girl and spoke sincerely.
"Mai, please."
"So I'm staying to look after Kirisu-sensei..."
Mai was stunned. She thought Lu Chen would ask her to go explore together.
But, come to think of it, if both of them with abilities were gone, what if Kaguya and Kirisu-sensei encountered an accident in the guest room? They would have almost no ability to defend themselves.
Thinking about this, Sakurajima Mai nodded and agreed.
"Fine, leave it to me."
After deciding who would stay, the remaining members were obviously the ones who would go exploring.
Besides the reason Lu Chen just mentioned, there was another factor that only he knew.
That was the tags on the two girls.
Mai has the "Telepathic Connection" effect, which allows Lu Chen to sense her state of mind from afar.
If she encounters danger, he can react and respond immediately.
And Kaguya's "Lucky Charm" might bring good luck during exploration.
"Are you sure you want me to go with you?"
On their way to the basement, Kaguya muttered quietly, a little confused.
"I don't have any special abilities."
"You might have them in the future."
Lu Chen answered without joking.
"The 'Ability Seed' that triggers awakening is also obtained from zombies."
"You've been so lucky today... maybe you could get one too?"
"Really?!"
Hearing the possibility Lu Chen mentioned, Kaguya's eyes lit up, her spirits lifted.
Although Lu Chen often bullied her, his words always came true, he never lied.
"Let's put that aside for now. Let's see how many zombies gather at the hotel entrance first."
Lu Chen already had a plan in mind. He came to the Doomsday City today to farm resources —
In his eyes... zombies are also a resource!
He and Mai were the only ones available the first two days, which could lead to accidents.
Now that he has abilities, he can handle most dangers, and if worse comes to worst, he still has the Mai sisters as a backup.
From now on, it's time to start his "Tag Monster Farming" plan!