MTLNOVEL Chapter 75: Chapter 075 - Saeko and Reuel
Inside the school bus, just before reaching the bridge guarded by American soldiers and Japanese police, the students began to grow restless. The atmosphere inside the vehicle felt tense, full of uncertainty.
Six people were still locked in serious discussion: Busujima Saeko, Takagi Saya, Kohta Hirano, Shizuka Marikawa, Miyamoto Rei, and Takashi Komuro.
Suddenly, Shizuka Marikawa called out to everyone in her usual sweet voice, laced with her trademark childlike enthusiasm.
"I have a solution! I have a really good friend, and her house is across the river. She happens to be out of town, and she gave me the keys. I usually clean up for her when she's away."
Takashi Komuro immediately responded, trying to stop her.
"That's impossible, Sensei. Don't do it. We have to stay with Mr. Kōichi Shidō and the rest of the class. There are soldiers here. If we leave and then they don't let us back in, what will you do? There are tons of zombies out there."
Komuro walked toward Shizuka Marikawa and the other girls.
"So… what exactly should we do?"
They all sank back into anxious discussion.
"My house is across the river, but I can't cross right now. And there's no food or water here either. I'll go to Shizuka's friend's house," Busujima Saeko said calmly.
Komuro thought hard. At first, he planned to go with them to Shizuka's friend's house. But then he remembered—Reuel had gotten off the vehicle somewhere around here. If they ran into him, it could be dangerous. Reuel carried a pistol and a sword that looked like a chainsaw. But seeing the girls getting ready to split off, Komuro knew at least a few of them would definitely decide to leave.
"It's better if we stick together. Saya Takagi's house is across the river too. There might be food there. We could go to her place first, then look for our families after that," Komuro said, half-convincing, half-manipulating.
Komuro deliberately mentioned Takagi Saya's house so that she wouldn't leave. If Saya stayed, then Kohta Hirano—the chubby guy—would also stay. Miyamoto Rei would definitely follow Komuro. That way, only Busujima Saeko and Shizuka Marikawa would leave. But Komuro still didn't know how to stop them.
After hearing Komuro's suggestion, Takagi Saya looked hesitant. She didn't want to stay with Kōichi Shidō, but her family's house was on the other side of the bridge. She missed her father and mother.
Meanwhile, Kohta Hirano was quietly watching Takagi Saya from behind his glasses. In his heart, he swore he would follow her anywhere—and protect her like a knight.
Miyamoto Rei was disgusted by Kōichi Shidō, but fear of the zombies kept her from leaving. At least Takashi Komuro was still there, even though he seemed different since his clash with Reuel. Rei felt torn and confused.
Busujima Saeko looked at them all. She knew it was impossible to get everyone to go with her. So finally, she said,
"Looks like it'll just be me and Sensei Shizuka going. I hope all of you stay safe in your journey."
Just as Busujima Saeko and Shizuka Marikawa were about to step off the bus, a heavy voice stopped them in their tracks.
"Busujima-san, where are you going?"
Kōichi Shidō appeared, approaching them after overhearing the conversation.
Busujima Saeko looked at him coldly, saying nothing. The others were silent too—no one wanted to speak to him. Only Takashi Komuro stepped forward and explained.
"Mr. Shidō, we were just talking about Shizuka-sensei and Busujima Saeko heading to Shizuka's friend's house."
Kōichi Shidō's face hardened. His voice rose, though he tried to sound concerned.
"Shizuka-sensei, you can't leave. All of Fujimi High's students are here. We're both teachers. We have to look after them. You're the school nurse. What if someone gets sick? Where's your sense of duty, Shizuka? How could you abandon your students?"
Kōichi Shidō's eyes locked on Shizuka—or more precisely, on her large breasts. The lust he'd kept hidden for so long was now obvious on his face. He didn't want to lose Shizuka—not because of any noble reason, but because of his own ambition and personal desire.
Shizuka Marikawa looked confused, unsure of what to do. But Busujima Saeko stepped forward, took Shizuka's hand, and gently but firmly pulled her away.
Busujima Saeko drew her wooden sword from the sheath on her back.
"Busujima-san, why are you—" Kōichi Shidō didn't get to finish his sentence.
The moment he saw the tip of the wooden sword pointed at his chest, Kōichi Shidō immediately backed away several steps. The fear on his face was unmistakable. All he could do was watch as the two women walked away from him.
Busujima Saeko pulled Shizuka out of the bus.
"Since they've chosen to go their own way, we don't need to worry about them anymore. What matters is that we help each other survive this crisis…"
Kōichi Shidō turned back to continue manipulating the students of Fujimi High, resuming his brainwashing tactics as before.
Meanwhile, under Shizuka Marikawa's guidance, Busujima Saeko walked down the quiet road. Aside from a few zombies they had encountered earlier, there was no major threat.
But the zombie corpses they found along the way hinted at something suspicious—they had all been shot cleanly in the head.
"Reuel might be up ahead, Miss Shizuka. Look… all the zombies along this road were shot in the head. Some of them were even sliced in half. I don't think there's anyone else capable of doing this besides him," said Busujima Saeko, scanning the surroundings cautiously.
Shizuka Marikawa's eyes lit up instantly at the mention of that name.
"Eto… Reuel's up ahead? Let's go find him, quick!"
Without waiting another second, Shizuka dashed off, dragging Saeko by the hand. Saeko was momentarily surprised but let herself be pulled along. Shizuka's excitement was like a child finding her favorite toy.
All along the way, zombie corpses lay in gruesome condition. Some had their skulls blown apart, others were cleanly severed.
No one could figure out how Reuel managed to wipe them all out on his own.
But in truth, these corpses were the work of the Inquisitors. One of them, a newly recruited member—Pablo Escobar—whispered to Calpone, another new recruit beside him.
"Sir, two women are approaching the area where the God-Emperor is resting. Should we take them out?"
That question was heard directly by the veteran Inquisitor. He immediately recognized the two women—Busujima Saeko and Shizuka Marikawa—as the ones who had previously been near the God-Emperor inside the school bus.
Without hesitation, the Inquisitor turned and slammed his fist into both recruits' faces, knocking them flat onto the dirt. A bolter pistol was aimed at one head, while a roaring chainsword was raised above the other. His eyes blazed with divine fury.
"They are acquaintances of the God-Emperor. If you're still using your mouths for gossip instead of service, then in the name of the Imperium, I will erase your existence from history. Got it?!"
He swung his blade to the side, sending up a spray of blood and zombie gore from the ground.
"Continue cleansing this zone. If even one heretical creature slips past and dares approach the Emperor's resting place… then I'll personally drag both of you into a hell so deep even the Ordo Malleus won't fucking touch it."
Pablo Escobar and Calpone turned ghostly pale. Cold sweat poured down their temples. There was no choice but to obey. From that moment on, they endured brutal training and relentless brainwashing under the doctrine of absolute obedience to the God-Emperor.
In their eyes, only two forces were more terrifying than their former criminal lives: the Inquisition and the Sisters of Battle.
Their interrogation methods? Crueler than anything Pablo or Calpone had ever done in their pasts. Merciless, inhuman, but effective—that was the true face of the Imperium.
---
The sun had completely set when Busujima Saeko and Shizuka Marikawa arrived in front of a grand villa, following the trail of zombie corpses that led there.
"This… this is my friend's house," murmured Shizuka, gazing at the villa with a nostalgic look.
Saeko looked at the gate and said, "Open it. Let's go in, Sensei."
"Oh, okay. I'll open it now," Shizuka replied, quickly rummaging through her bag.
"Eh… it should be… um… why can't I find it? Ah! Got it!"
Like a kid who just found candy in her purse, Shizuka finally unlocked the gate and stepped into the yard. They noticed a Humvee parked there but didn't pay it much attention.
Without overthinking, the two of them headed straight into the villa.
After taking a shower, Reuel pulled out various foods from the system storage and arranged them on the dining table. Finally… some peace and quiet, away from the constant noise of the Imperial Palace construction and the endless chatter of the loli ship girls and the never-shutting-up Universal Bulins.
These meals had been prepped earlier by Ada Wong and a few other women. There was still plenty left in the system storage, so no need to worry about running out.
At the moment, Reuel was relaxing at Rika Minami's house, playing GTA: San Andreas—a simple effort to unwind after a long day of managing the Imperium of Man. The construction of the imperial palace wasn't finished yet, but thanks to the help of the Universal Bulins, everything was moving along faster than expected.
While driving a stolen car through San Andreas, his mind drifted to another universe—the world of Highschool of the Dead, which he had just visited. Spending the entire day escaping alongside Shizuka Marikawa and the others had made him pretty hungry. He grabbed a bottle of wine from the system and began to eat and drink leisurely.
Click! Click!
The sound of the front door opening caught his attention. Still wrapped in a bath towel around his waist and shirtless, Reuel stood and walked toward the door to see who had arrived.
It turned out to be Busujima Saeko and Shizuka Marikawa.
"What are you two doing here? Were you in danger on the road?" Reuel asked calmly.
"Wah, Mr. Reuel! You're really here!" Shizuka exclaimed cheerfully like a little kid. "We followed the trail of dead zombies all the way here. I didn't expect to find you at my friend's house!"
Without hesitation, she ran up and hugged Reuel tightly—completely unaware that the man was only wearing a towel. Shizuka's large, soft breasts pressed firmly against Reuel's body, making him stiffen for a moment. He gently patted her back and turned to Saeko.
"You alright on the way here? Where are the others?"
Busujima Saeko hesitated for a moment, her cheeks turning red as she saw Reuel's body up close. But once he addressed her, she quickly snapped out of it and responded.
"No, no danger. We came across all the zombies you killed along the road. I figured it could only be you. I didn't expect you to be at Shizuka's friend's house either." She smiled softly. "The others are still in the bus, waiting for the situation to clear at the bridge guarded by the American soldiers and Japanese police."
Reuel nodded. "I told you, we'd meet again."
He glanced down at Shizuka, who was still clinging tightly to him, and then spoke again, this time to Saeko.
Shizuka looked up at Reuel and asked innocently, "Mr. Reuel… why are you here? Do you know my friend too?"
The big-breasted woman held Reuel's hand while rubbing herself against him like a child refusing to let go. Reuel thought to himself: No way I can tell them that all of you are just characters from an anime and manga I used to watch, right?
In the end, he just smiled and gave a simple answer.
"I don't know your friend, Shizuka. I was just walking around and happened to find this villa to rest in. I didn't know it belonged to someone you know."
He smiled gently. "Maybe it's fate."
Seeing how clingy Shizuka was with Reuel, Busujima Saeko couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. A small pang of jealousy bloomed in her chest, though she didn't say a word about it.
"I've already prepared dinner. Let's eat first."
Reuel led Shizuka to the dining table, then called Saeko to join them. Everyone was hungry, after all.
Afterward, Reuel returned to the bedroom to change clothes. He put on a black shirt and a white blazer, paired with brown trousers. His long hair was still a bit damp, and he let it hang freely.
Upon seeing the delicious meal Reuel had prepared, Shizuka and Saeko dug in eagerly, without much small talk. Once full, Busujima Saeko stood up gracefully and began clearing the table without being asked.
Watching Busujima Saeko gracefully clean up the dining table, Reuel fell silent for a moment. In his mind, he recalled an old discussion thread on Reddit, a place where "keyboard warriors" used to share their dreams and grievances.
Once, he'd left a casual comment there: "Marrying an ideal wife means marrying a Japanese woman—submissive, gentle, and virtuous."
And now… seeing Saeko in real life, he couldn't help but think that those keyboard warriors would absolutely lose their shit if they knew Busujima Saeko actually existed. Especially if they saw a woman like her—beautiful, deadly, and behaving like a perfect wife.
They'd be mad with envy.
Meanwhile, Shizuka Marikawa—the sweet girl with her childish smile—was jogging lightly while carrying a bucket, intending to drain the water in the bathroom Reuel had just used. "I wanna take a bath too! The tub is huuuge~" she said cheerfully.
Reuel just nodded, letting her go. He then strolled casually to the balcony, lit a cigarette, and leaned against the railing.
From there, he looked out over the burning city. Flames blazed in various corners, occasional gunfire echoed in the distance, and zombies wandered in small groups of two or three.
Suddenly, Red Queen's calm voice rang in his ear.
"Big Brother, I've found an ideal location nearby. We can build a base and a safe zone for Chris Redfield."
Reuel raised an eyebrow. "Where?"
"Haneda Airport. Part of its runway extends into the sea, and its location is strategic."
Reuel nodded slowly. "Haneda Airport, huh… that place makes sense."
He briefly recalled that Rika Minami—the owner of this villa—was an officer at Haneda Airport. But building a base there right now wasn't a smart move. It was too early. There was still an EMP blast on the horizon, and vital equipment for supporting survivors could be completely fried because of it.
It was better to rely on their own gear. Technology from Warhammer and StarCraft was immune to EMPs. Still, logistics remained a challenge. It was impossible to outfit every survivor with Imperium-grade weapons or armor. The solution? Let the Tech-Priests of the Mechanicus design and build the civil infrastructure later.
"Any updates on Chris Redfield's troops and my clones?" Reuel asked.
"Chris Redfield's forces are combat-ready. As for your clone army, there were initially only 10,000 units at the Kamchatka Base. But I've integrated them into the Alice Legion and began mass breeding even before we entered this world. As of now, their numbers have reached around one million clones."
Reuel nodded, satisfied. "Are they ready for battle at any time?"
"Of course. Combat equipment for the Imperial Guard is available at the Mechanicus facility in Kamchatka. However, there are no starfighter units yet."
Reuel sighed, nearly chuckling. "This is just zombies we're dealing with. What the hell would we need starfighters for? Deploying fighter jets against slow-ass creatures is a total waste of energy."
"But what if the nations of this planet decide to attack us?"
Reuel snorted. "Then we strike first. Why don't we just send a Battlecruiser down here while we're at it?"
He smirked slightly. If I'm going to cause chaos in the world of Highschool of the Dead, might as well go all the way…
"Alright. Red Queen, contact Admiral Gerard DuGalle. Tell him to deploy Banshee Starfighters and Lightning Strike Fighters. Include missile defense systems and anti-infantry platforms. Ground equipment must also be delivered—everything. I want every unit of the Alice Legion evenly armed."
"Understood, Big Brother. I'll inform Admiral DuGalle right away."
---
Author's Note:
Reuel's appearance was created with the help of ChatGPT.
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