Chapter 371: Power Bank
Although in some ways Isayama Mei's understanding was technically correct, Hachiman really wanted to complain about exactly what was going on inside her head!
"Anyway, just don't go trying to kill yourself so easily."
Skipping the topic, Hachiman stood up and walked out of the room. A short while later, he reappeared in Mei's line of sight carrying a tray of food.
"You've been unconscious for a whole day; you must be starving, right?"
After becoming a demigod, Hachiman felt that he had reached a level where he could survive without breathing or eating, but clearly, Mei—whose strength was only Special Grade—did not possess such an ability.
In fact, the moment the aroma of the food Hachiman brought in reached Mei's nose, her stomach let out a loud rumble as a protest for going a day without nourishment.
"I am very sorry..."
Hearing her stomach growl so loudly, Mei turned her face away in shame.
"It's perfectly normal for a human to need food to replenish themselves, isn't it? Why apologize?"
After interacting for a brief time, Hachiman felt that Mei cared far too much about the gaze of others. Even though it was just the two of them, her back remained perfectly straight. Furthermore, despite his repeated emphasis on not using honorifics, Mei consistently maintained the mindset of a "minor figure serving a Great Lord" when facing him.
To some people, Mei would be the ideal woman; but in Hachiman's eyes, she was constantly wearing a false mask, which made him feel very uncomfortable.
"That is..."
Hachiman's question left Mei somewhat speechless. Her apology had been entirely subconscious, as natural as a child admitting a mistake before a teacher can scold them to lessen the punishment.
"Has apologizing become a habit for you?"
Hachiman saw through Mei's essence at a glance. Of course, he didn't hold a prejudice against her because of it; he simply felt a sense of pity for her.
"For now, just rest in this inn for a while. Though, ideally, you should head out of town."
Waiting in silence for Mei to finish every scrap of food, Hachiman provided her with some potential plans of action as he cleared the tableware.
"Why go out of town?"
Mei could understand staying in the inn to prevent the Isayama family or other clans from discovering her. But a suggestion to leave town sounded like she was being told to seek refuge from a disaster.
"Because a fight is going to break out here very soon."
Hachiman paused briefly as he moved toward the exit, then closed the door behind him and headed downstairs.
"A fight is going to break out soon?"
Gazing at the closed door, Mei pondered the meaning behind Hachiman's words. Clearly, many things had changed in Tokyo during the time she was under control.
Later, Hachiman returned to Mei's room one last time. He left her about 100,000 yen in cash and reiterated that it would be best to leave Tokyo. After that, he left the inn and set out once again to search for the whereabouts of the Nine-Tailed Fox and Yurikawa Hana.
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The sun set and the moon rose.
Today might have been a day of mourning for the spiritualists of Tokyo, but for the average citizen, the events that transpired were no different from any other day. At most, the news reports featured one more story about a gas pipe explosion in a certain district.
In the bustling night view of Tokyo, a girl with short orange hair walked unsteadily down the street. Although her lovely face and curvaceous figure attracted many gazes, the dark aura radiating from her body made many men hesitate to approach.
Ignoring the startled looks from the men around her, the girl continued down the street. However, as she passed a ramen shop, a wave of fragrance suddenly yanked at her body, causing her to veer off course and step inside.
"Welcome!"
Seeing a new customer, the shop owner behind the counter gave a warm greeting. The girl did not respond, instead sitting directly at a dining table.
"Tonkotsu ramen, large bowl, firm noodles."
The energetic voice was completely at odds with the girl's current gloomy aura. The waiter taking the order merely glanced at her with surprise before noting it down and sending it to the kitchen.
Creak...
Shortly after the waiter left, the table beneath the girl suddenly let out a groan.
"The powerful obsession that drove me out of my hiding place was actually just to eat a bowl of ramen? Is this a joke!?"
The Nine-Tailed Fox, possessing Yurikawa Hana's body, growled angrily at the empty air.
Gurgle...
At that moment, Hana's stomach protested. Sensing the weakness radiating from the body, a flash of helplessness appeared in the Fox's eyes. Though the life force contained in this body was currently immense, it was ultimately just an ordinary human body.
To prevent Hana from breaking before she could be used, the Nine-Tailed Fox—despite being infuriated at having to leave its lair for a bowl of ramen—had no choice but to endure.
After a few minutes of waiting, a steaming bowl of fragrant ramen was placed before the Nine-Tailed Fox. Before the Fox could even observe what was so delicious about the ramen, Hana's body began to move on its own. At this time, the Nine-Tailed Fox was like a mere spectator, silently watching from within the body as Hana inhaled the ramen.
Soon, the large bowl of ramen was devoured.
"Is that enough now?"
Seeing the bottom of the bowl, the Nine-Tailed Fox finally breathed a sigh of relief. It was just about to retake control of Hana's body to return to the hidden base when it saw Hana's hand, holding the empty bowl, raised high.
"Another bowl!"
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Half an hour later, the Nine-Tailed Fox acting as a spectator inside Hana's body had gone numb.
Twenty bowls! Twenty whole bowls!
Through its spiritual sense, the Fox observed Hana's still-flat stomach, and countless question marks popped up in its head. Where did all that ramen go?! How could an ordinary human stomach hold so much food?!
Just as the Nine-Tailed Fox began to question its very existence as a fox, it suddenly felt Hana's life force—which had become weakened due to its own earlier feeding—return to its previous peak level!
"Urp..."
In the outside world, Yurikawa Hana placed the empty twentieth bowl on the table, let out a satisfied burp, and rubbed her belly contentedly. She hadn't eaten all day, and she had been absolutely starving.
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