[Chapter:21][Less than 21 hours.]

"I can't believe it's barely been a day, no, half a day since this shit began…"

Grace smiled at Takashi's comment.

Indeed, although it may have been different to the readers that waited for Author-san to write and publish the chapters, to Grace and all those in the world he was in, it had barely been less than 21 hours since shit hit the fan.

"…"

Though, Grace also felt rather speechless as he realised that a single day took over 20 chapters, each with roughly 2,100 words to boot.

(Author-san seems to be like writing more details.)

Dea-chan quipped while dangling from his hair. Learning her lesson from last time, however, she held on to a strand of hair to the side of his face instead, floating above his right shoulder.

Grace nodded as he got off the bus.

"Saeko-chan…"

He didn't even have to finish his sentence before the sexy purple head walked next to him, her bokken drawn and ready to bash zombie skulls.

With similar smiles, smiles which made the Group rather unnerved, the two ran towards the apartment, Grace holding the key that the airheaded nurse Shizuka handed to him, and swiftly went through the whole building.

......

*crack!*

"That's the last one.", Grace heard her say as Saeko dislodged her wooden sword from one of 'their' caved in skulls.

She then looked at him, and Grace raised his eyes at the flash of anticipation that appeared in her eyes for a brief moment before disappearing.

He blinked, before it clicked, and with a mental chuckle, he walked towards her and brought out his handkerchief to wipe the blood on her face away.

"Thank you."

"Your welcome.", Grace flashed a smile as he turned around, missing the sight of Saeko blushing lightly.

'I'd have missed this chance to grind affection points if I didn't have Psychology : D- skill. I guess it's good to collect at least one copy of all skills I can find.'

Dea-chan nodded her little head in agreement.

(That's a good idea. You never know when a situation might occur when you need a particular skill of ability, and you don't really have to use GP on them either. You can just Rank them up when you have GP in excess.)

Grace nodded.

'Well, I'm out of chances for now. I'll just have to wait for another 2 GP before I can freely extract Cards from anyone in this world.'

Grace didn't really recall there being Transcendent beings, those with any sort of special energy or the like, in the original HOTD, but then again, the series barely covered a month after the apocalypse.

Who knows if there might be someone or something more than just frightened civilians and mindless moving corpses in this world?

For now, though, Grace's priority is to make those in the Group rest, before taking the chance to gulp down that vial of blue serum.

"Come on over, and Kyoko-san, please drive the bus into the garage."

Grace went over to the garage in question as the Group came down from the bus, and opened it.

And there he saw the famed humvee.

*~whistle~*

"It looks way more impressive from this side of the screen huh."

Grace recalled things he had once memorised in his past life, which just so happened to include this particular big boy.

The M1025 Humvee (HMMWV) is a family of vehicles used as armament carrier. Upgrade variants include M1025A1 and M1025A2. As armament carrier, the M1025 can be fitted with a full range of weapons including machine guns and automatic grenade launcher. The M1025 has a empty weight of 2,359 kg with a maximum payload of around 1,000 kg. The M1025 is air transportable by C-130 or larger combat transports, droppable by parachute, and can be sling-loaded from helicopters.

The M1025 / M1025A1 / M1025A2 is fitted with a ring mount mounted on the roof of the vehicle allows full traverse on 360°. This mount weapon system can be armed with a full range of weapons including M60 or M240 7.62mm machine gun, M2 .50-caliber 12.7mm machine gun, MK 19 40mm Grenade Launcher or anti-tank missile TOW launcher station.

Of course, Rika didn't have the kind of funds to support any such heavy weaponry.

The M1025 / M1025A1 / M1025A2 layout is similar to all the range of Humvee family with four seats fully enclosed metal cabin with a vertical windshield at the front. The engine is located at the front of the vehicle and a cargo area is available at the rear of the crew compartment. The roof of the vehicle is fitted with a single hatch that open to the rear. The M1025 variants can be fitted with different types of add-on armour packages as part of near term armour programs, beginning in 2003 were designated with a "P1" after their respective model number.

The one before Grace, however, was clearly bereft of such add-ons, probably for the sake of increased mobility.

And speaking of mobility, the one before him appeared to be a M1025A2 variant. The M1025 is motorised with a General Motors 6.2 litre turbo diesel engine developing 150 hp. at 3,600 rpm. The M1025 is fitted with double A-arm independent suspension front and rear, coil springs and hydraulic double-acting shock absorbers for high off-road mobility. The M1025A2, on the other hand, is motorised with a 6.5l V8 diesel engine. The vehicle can run at a maximum road speed of 105 km/h. It has a tank capacity of 94 litres with a maximum cruising range of 563 km. It can negotiate a slope of 60% (31°) and a side slope of 40 % (22°). The M1025 series is able to cross water obstacle of 76 cm depth without fording kit and 1.52 m with a kit, which the big boy before Grace is clearly equipped with.

The M1025 / M1025A1 / M1025A2 can be fitted with an optional central tire inflation system (CTIS). This enables the operator to adjust tire pressure from the driver's seat "on the move" to adapt to changing terrain conditions for greater off-road mobility. A wide range of optional equipment can be fitted on the vehicle to enhance the HMMWV capability including dual antenna mounts, countermine armour kit, spare tire, bulkhead spare tire kit, Jerry Can carrier and air conditioning, though only dual antenna mounts and air conditioning seemed installed in the one before Grace.

(That's quite a lot of knowledge you have there.)

Grace smiled at Dea-chan's remark.

'I liked machines of war. Guns, artillery, bombers, choppers, battleships, submarines, it didn't matter what. As long as it causes mass destruction, I'm a fan.'

He chuckled softly.

'To that end, it's the only thing that I and Gab used to quarrel on. I liked destruction, while she, she liked nature. A lot. Mostly just trees and plants and flowers, and I really don't get what's so great about living things that can't even speak but…'

He shrugged lightly.

'That's one of the few things we don't share in common.'

A brief silence follows as Grace recalls fondly all the time he and a certain black haired young girl used to quarrel about their particular interests.

Perhaps the only time in his life he truly felt at peace.

......

"Woah! These…these are incredible!"

Grace blinked at the enthusiasm that the fatty showed as he looked at the various firearms on the bed.

The Group has settled down in the apartment, the girls taking three of the four rooms present while the boys agreed to share one.

Well, Grace had volunteered to sleep on the couch, which was agreed upon after a brief discussion.

At the moment, the girls had gone to shower, while the guys were exploring some of the locked rooms, where they had chanced upon this particular stash of cold metal.

"This is! The Ithaca M37!"

"The what?", asked Hisashi dumbly.

It was a bad move.

"The Ithaca M37! A pump-action shotgun developed in 1937, and despite losing out in military contracts to the Winchester M1897 and M1912 during World War II, sees widespread use during the Vietnam War. It is nicknamed "Featherlight" for being lighter than other shotguns! It is also very reliable, and by having both its loading and ejection port under the gun, it is also ambidextrous!"

"The effect of the 12 gauge shotgun pellets is so powerful! To the point where its possible to fire a hole big enough to climb through into the ceiling with just one magazine load, and where a single shot can easily knock over more than a dozen of "them" at a time!"

Takashi, Hisashi, Yamada, and the three Bee siblings looked at Kohta who was enthusiastically explaining what to them sounded like Greek and Latin blankly.

Grace chuckled at the sight, especially at the slightly sadistic smile on the otherwise cowardly fatty's face.

'This is actually more entertaining than in the manga or anime.'

Dea-chan nodded her little head in agreement as she looked at the sight before her while propping her head up with her hands.

Grace ignored the boys, and instead opted to go to the open terrace.

(I thought you said you liked guns?)

Dea-chan asked, confused over why Grace hadn't even bothered to hold the classy and dangerous looking firearms, to which he only smiled.

"What I like are things that cause mass destruction. Give me a pistol, and you won't get much reaction out of me. Give me a grenade launcher, and I'll be your best friend till I have to kill you."

He sat down on the cold hard concrete floor after climbing up the water tank, and looked at the dark yet also bright city with a smile.

"Did I mentioned how much I appreciate you giving me this chance, Dea-chan?"

Grace suddenly felt a weight on his laps, and glanced down to see the little loli sitting in his laps with her small, yet no longer tiny little blue head resting on his chest.

"No, you didn't.", she said, as Dea, who had changed back to her actual size, blushed lightly at the hard 'thing' poking her backside.

"Pervert.", she muttered softly, while Grace just chuckled.

"Who asked you to sit in such a position? It'd be stranger if Grace Junior down there doesn't react."

Grace unconsciously wrapped his hands around Dea, pulling her closer into his embrace as his hands rested on her stomach. Dea's blush deepened, but a soft smile appeared on her face.

"Thank you."

Her eyes widen slightly.

"For what?"

"For both the second chance, and this."

An image appears in Grace's mind, the sight of a black haired little girl sitting between his legs just like now, an image which coincided with the little blue head before him.

He knew the two were different, and he also knew it was only a matter of time before he could get to meet her. He doesn't know how or when or even why, but he was happy just knowing he would.

"Thank you."

Still, he thanked her, as he felt the void in his heart fill up ever so slightly.

"Your welcome~~!", and Dea-chan looked back at him with a bright, dazzling smile of her own.