Chapter 14: If You Lack Strength, Why Are You Acting So Tough?

As a third-year student at Fujimi Academy, Saeko Busujima had interacted with most of the school's faculty and staff.

When she saw Koichi Shido in the crowd, she immediately recognized this teacher who appeared refined and polite but was, in reality, morally corrupt.

At school, Koichi Shido always presented himself as kind, approachable, and gentle, but Saeko Busujima knew his true face all too well.

She was well aware that Koichi Shido often used his position as a teacher to harass and coerce students. Many students had suffered psychological and emotional trauma because of him, yet they dared not speak out due to his status.

Because of the influence of the Busujima family in the region, as well as her own outstanding abilities and background, Koichi Shido had always feared her and tried his best to avoid conflict with her in his daily life.

The reason for Rei Miyamoto being held back a year was that Koichi Shido’s father had been investigated by Rei’s father over financial issues. To take revenge, he had used his network of connections to deliberately ensure Rei failed her year, using it as a blow against her father.

This past history left Rei Miyamoto filled with hostility and distrust toward Koichi Shido.

"Drive."

His gaze was locked firmly on Shizuka Marikawa before he walked straight toward the driver's seat.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he reached Shizuka Marikawa and, without hesitation, twisted the school bus's ignition key.

Shizuka Marikawa looked at Lin Yi, a flash of anxiety and unease crossing her eyes. "But there are still students who haven't boarded yet." Her voice carried a clear plea; it was obvious she hoped to take everyone with them.

Rei Miyamoto hurried to Lin Yi’s side, her face etched with tension and urgency. She urged, "Let's go quickly. I absolutely do not want to stay with that disgusting guy." Her words revealed her disgust and fear of Koichi Shido.

Takashi Komuro stood to the side, watching Rei Miyamoto’s uncharacteristic emotional display, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

In his memory, Rei had always been a girl with a gentle personality, a strong heart, and great wisdom.

But at this moment, she seemed like a different person. Her eyes flashed with anger and terror, and her voice was sharp and trembling; it was clear her inner emotions were on the verge of collapse.

During this brief argument, several students and Koichi Shido had taken the opportunity to rush onto the school bus.

Their sudden intrusion made the atmosphere inside the bus tense, especially the appearance of Koichi Shido, which made Rei Miyamoto feel as if she were sitting on pins and needles. Her body tensed up involuntarily.

Seeing the infected around them increasing like a rising tide, Shizuka Marikawa understood that they had to leave immediately; there could be no more delays.

She decisively sat in the driver's seat, skillfully started the bus, and slammed her foot onto the accelerator.

The school bus engine roared like a wild horse breaking free, charging toward the gates of Fujimi Academy with a sense of determination.

In that instant, everyone on the bus held their breath, watching the front with tension.

With a massive roar and the sound of splintering wood, the school bus violently smashed through the school's heavy gates.

The moment they rushed out of the gates, everyone felt a sense of relief.

They had finally left that place filled with terror and despair.

"We finally made it out."

Takashi Komuro stuck his head out the window, looking back with emotion at the school that was growing further and further away.

At this time in the past, it would have been the moment students walked out of the gates laughing and chatting, heading home together.

But now, there were only groups of wandering infected on the road, silently declaring the cruelty of this world.

After boarding the bus, Koichi Shido did not rush to find a safe seat like the other survivors.

Instead, he began to meticulously tidy his clothes, as if he were about to attend an important occasion, hoping to present himself in the most perfect image to everyone.

His gaze swept across the bus, seemingly evaluating everyone on board.

Finally, his eyes rested on Saeko Busujima.

He walked over to her, a cunning smile appearing on his face.

"Is Busujima-san the leader?"

Saeko Busujima was focused on wiping her white sandalwood wooden sword with a handkerchief, her movements gentle and careful, as if she were cherishing a precious work of art.

"Sorry, there is no such thing here. We are just cooperating with each other to survive."

A smile hung on the corner of Saeko Busujima’s mouth; she wanted to see what kind of scheme Koichi Shido was planning.

Upon learning that there was no clear leader on the bus, a hint of a smile appeared in the depths of Koichi Shido’s eyes involuntarily.

In his view, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"That won't do. In the current situation, to survive, a leader is indispensable."

At this, not to mention Saeko Busujima, even a slow-witted guy like Takashi Komuro felt something was wrong. For a moment, everyone except Lin Yi turned their eyes toward Koichi Shido.

The atmosphere inside the carriage was instantly ignited. The students brought by Koichi Shido began to clamor, their voices merging into a massive wave of sound, one after another demanding that Koichi Shido serve as the team's leader.

These voices were filled with fanaticism and blindness, as if Koichi Shido were the savior in their hearts, capable of leading them to survive in this apocalyptic world.

Listening to these sounds, Koichi Shido wore a smug smile on his face.

He pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose and walked over to Lin Yi.

"Student, hand the weapon over to me. As the leader of the team, I will be responsible for protecting everyone's safety."

Koichi Shido’s gaze, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, stared fixedly at the Black Abyss Sword in Lin Yi’s hand.

He knew in his heart that in this apocalyptic world, weapons were not just tools for attack and defense, but symbols of strength and status.

Whoever held the powerful weapon had the potential to become the leader of the team and control the power of life and death.

"Get lost."

"Student, I am doing this for your own good. Only by following—"

Before Koichi Shido could finish his sentence, Lin Yi suddenly opened his eyes.

The Black Abyss Sword in his hand swung out instantly, like a blade cutting through the air, slicing through the tension in the carriage and also slicing through Koichi Shido’s throat.

Blood gushed from Koichi Shido’s throat, and his face instantly turned pale with terror.

He looked at Lin Yi in disbelief, as if asking, "You... how could you?"

However, Lin Yi did not answer him, only looking at him coldly with a trace of disdain in his eyes.

Koichi Shido truly had not expected Lin Yi to strike so suddenly; this completely shattered his expectations and plans.

In his eyes, these high school students were young and naive; they should have been filled with awe and trust toward him, their teacher.

He believed that as long as he employed a few methods and techniques, he could easily control this team and become the leader.

【You have killed Koichi Shido.】

【Koichi Shido is a key figure in the derivative world. Obtained 2.4% of World Source. Total World Source obtained: 22.6%.】

"Too much nonsense. Stop the bus."

The chaos and panic in the carriage instantly solidified at Lin Yi’s cold and decisive words.

Hearing Lin Yi, Shizuka Marikawa stepped on the brakes without hesitation, and the school bus slowly came to a stop in the middle of the road.

Lin Yi grabbed Koichi Shido by the hair and threw the corpse of the teacher, who had just been trying to control the team, out of the bus without a shred of mercy.

Koichi Shido’s body landed on the street, immediately attracting the attention of the surrounding infected.

These hungry monsters swarmed toward the corpse, lying on the ground and gnawing frantically.

"Lin Yi, you... you killed someone."

Takashi Komuro’s heart was filled with confusion and unease at this moment.

He had not yet transitioned from normal social values and felt shocked and bewildered by Lin Yi’s act of killing Koichi Shido.

(End of chapter)