---
Chapter 14
A scarlet figure streaked across the night sky.
"Wow, that's quite a jump."
Takatsuki Sen hid behind Minato and exclaimed in amazement.
To her, the thing in front of them didn't seem like a Ghoul that could take lives—it looked more like a fascinating toy.
And in reality... it pretty much was.
"Can you take this seriously for once?"
Minato complained about Takatsuki Sen's carefree attitude.
How could this girl be so relaxed?
"Isn't that why you're here?"
Takatsuki Sen giggled.
"You'll protect me, right, my dear Minato?"
The last four words were spoken in an especially sweet and seductive tone.
"Yeah."
Minato's reply was simple.
Yet somehow, he felt strangely motivated.
Perhaps every boy had once imagined himself as the hero saving the heroine.
---
Chapter 17
Minato raised his head slightly and stared at the Ghoul charging toward him.
He didn't have a quinque with him right now, but dealing with a Ghoul of this level wasn't difficult.
Behind him, Takatsuki Sen narrowed her eyes.
For some reason, the man standing before her suddenly gave off a dangerous aura.
She even had the urge to activate her kakugan.
Could Minato really be that strong?
Although she already knew he had forced Kamishiro Rize to retreat, she still didn't fully understand the extent of his abilities.
Truthfully, even Minato himself wasn't certain.
After arriving in this world, his body had already been strengthened once.
Back then, he could already fight most Ghouls barehanded.
Later, the mysterious bus driver had strengthened him again.
Exactly how powerful had he become?
Even Minato didn't know.
Perhaps he really could punch with the strength of a superhero now.
As the Ghoul closed in, Minato lowered his stance.
"Bajiquan—Facing the Phoenix Toward the Sun."
His body sank halfway.
One hand guarded his face while the other extended forward like a phoenix spreading its wings.
Majestic.
Powerful.
Bajiquan was famous for its explosive force.
And Minato happened to be a genius at traditional martial arts.
Even his old master had once said:
"This kid was born in the wrong era."
The Ghoul lunged.
Minato struck.
His palm slammed directly into the Ghoul's lower abdomen.
A tremendous force exploded outward.
The air itself seemed to ripple.
The Ghoul's eyes widened in disbelief.
This human—
Before he could finish the thought, his body was sent flying over ten meters away.
Minato lowered his hand.
"It only took about two percent of my strength?"
Even he was surprised.
His physical abilities had clearly increased far beyond his expectations.
Then a strange thought crossed his mind.
Hopefully that guy was okay.
After all...
The target area of that particular technique wasn't exactly friendly to men.
Behind him, Takatsuki Sen stared with her mouth hanging open.
Her editor was actually this strong?
If he ever hit her head with that kind of force...
That would be terrifying.
But then—
"Mr. Minato, remember to wash your hands when we get back."
She immediately moved several steps away in disgust.
After all, she had clearly seen where he'd struck.
Minato rolled his eyes.
"You don't have to remind me."
He felt disgusted too.
If it hadn't been pure instinct, he wouldn't have used that move.
---
Despite the hit, the Ghoul didn't lose the ability to fight.
Instead, the pain pushed him deeper into madness.
His RC cells surged.
A malformed kagune erupted from his back.
"Oh? A kagune."
Minato looked at it with some nostalgia.
When he first arrived in this world, he had met another Ghoul with a kagune.
That Ghoul hadn't felt like a monster.
He had felt like a true martial artist.
The man's taijutsu had been extraordinary.
His name seemed to have been Kuzen.
The two had fought fiercely before the man suddenly fled because of pursuers.
Minato still regretted never finishing that fight.
It had been a long time since he'd met someone capable of matching him in hand-to-hand combat.
The memory vanished.
The Ghoul charged again.
Minato sighed.
Boring.
As the kagune slashed toward him, he casually swung his arm.
The attack was deflected aside.
If it had been someone like Kuzen, Minato would never have dared to do that.
Unless he wanted to lose an arm.
"What?!"
The Ghoul felt a sharp pain shoot through his kagune.
The balanced kagune type didn't possess any outstanding strengths.
It relied heavily on the user's physical skills.
Unfortunately, this Ghoul possessed neither.
The moment his attack was diverted, Minato closed the distance.
He lowered his center of gravity.
Stepped in.
Then drove his elbow forward.
Bang!
The sound of breaking bones echoed through the street.
"Bajiquan—Iron Mountain Lean!"
This time Minato used more strength.
The impact wasn't merely the force of an elbow.
It carried the momentum of his entire body.
The power bypassed flesh and struck directly into bone and organs.
The Ghoul was launched through the air.
His body folded unnaturally before crashing onto the pavement.
"Cough!"
Blood mixed with fragments sprayed from his mouth.
The starving Ghoul collapsed completely.
His face was filled with disbelief.
How had a human defeated him so easily?
Minato calmly turned his head aside.
He didn't want any of that filth getting on his suit.
Buying a new one would be expensive.
That would be a waste of money.
The fight was over.
---
"So cool!"
Takatsuki Sen applauded enthusiastically from behind him.
Like a fangirl watching her favorite idol.
Minato rolled his eyes.
"Could you at least pretend to be nervous?"
He truly didn't know what to do with this girl.
"With you here, what is there to worry about?"
Takatsuki Sen replied matter-of-factly.
Minato scratched his cheek.
"...I'm happy you said that, but hearing it out loud feels weird."
"Hehe."
Takatsuki Sen laughed.
Then she ran over and crouched beside the defeated Ghoul.
Poke.
Poke.
Poke.
Her face was filled with curiosity.
"What are you even looking at?"
Minato immediately pulled her back.
If the Ghoul suddenly lashed out, it would be troublesome.
---
Chapter 18
The CCG arrived quickly.
"It really was three minutes."
Takatsuki Sen looked at her watch and called out excitedly.
Earlier, Minato had told her that if a Ghoul appeared in a busy district, the CCG would arrive within three minutes.
So she had actually timed it.
Watching the investigators arrive, Minato's mouth twitched.
Could this girl stop saying strange things at times like this?