Jack hadn't even had time to correct the young woman's misconception when another voice chimed in.
"I—I heard it!"
A startled diner, having just crawled out from under an overturned table, pointed at King with a trembling finger. His voice shook with excitement.
"It's… it's the sound! The Emperor Engine!"
"Yes! That sound!" Another voice joined. "That reassuring roar—like a war drum!"
"The Emperor Engine… I know it! It must be the legendary ultimate technique—the Purgatory Unmatched Exploding Heat Wave Cannon!!"
"Lord King!"
"So strong!"
"I couldn't even see how he attacked! The Monster just—gone!"
"This is the power of an S-Class Hero? Terrifying!"
The diners seemed to collectively forget their terror. Eyes gleamed with fanaticism as they crowded around, voices overlapping in a cacophony of praise.
Some even began "logical" analysis. Lord King's attack speed had surpassed human visual limits. The silent annihilation demonstrated absolute control over power.
It's simply art!
Jack: …
(ー`´ー)
He surveyed the group—bruised, bleeding, but utterly fervent. The corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
Heh. Truly superfluous, saving you all.
King, meanwhile, was drowning.
Surrounded on all sides. Cold sweat pouring down his neck. Mind frantically screaming.
No—do these people actually believe something so ridiculous?!
He knew, with bone-deep certainty, that any attempt at explanation would only worsen the situation. So he did what he always did.
Forced the perpetually indifferent strongman face.
Let the Emperor Engine rumble faster in his chest—thump-THUMP-thump—from sheer terror.
Occasionally nodded. Symbolically. Accepting the fervor. The adoration.
Eventually, the crowd's enthusiasm ebbed—slightly. King recognized his window. This bowl of ramen was never getting eaten.
He walked to the counter with practiced calm. The shop owner, still trembling with excitement, declared the meal free—a hero's reward. King fixed him with a fearsomely cold gaze.
(It was actually an eager gaze. Desperate to escape.)
"Excuse me. I have urgent matters. Please make way."
The gruff voice—capable of stopping urine mid-flow—combined with the fierce, scarred face—capable of halting children's tears—formed an unassailable strongman aura. The onlookers parted involuntarily.
King walked through. Didn't run. Didn't sprint. Just walked—at the fastest pace of his life—until he disappeared around the street corner.
Behind him, under the weight of awed and adoring gazes, tears were shed.
"King-san… he's truly too kind…!"
"The strongest, most selfless, most protective S-Class Hero of the people!"
"Strongest on Earth… SAIKOU!!"
"KING!"
"KING! KING! KING!" × N
Jack: …
He watched the near-panicked retreat. A subtle glint flickered in his eyes.
A born Monster-magnet physique?
This… could be useful.
It sounded mystical. But Jack's guess had foundation. After all, the Monster attacking King today appeared to be a single Tiger-level ramen creature.
In reality, there were…
Two Monsters present.
A Street Away
King finally slowed on an empty park path. Trees cast dappled shadows. Pedestrians were few.
He collapsed against a park bench railing. Forehead coated in cold sweat. Simple escape had drained his stamina bar completely. He panted for a long moment before straightening.
"Phew… that was close. I almost died."
He wiped his forehead.
"Good thing that Monster got taken out by an attack from who knows where. Otherwise—I really don't know how I would have handled it."
He shuddered.
"At least for the next year—I'm not eating ramen."
Breathing finally steadied. Hoodie pulled low over his head. He sighed.
"Next time… I'll just order takeout. Going out is really too dangerous!"
His thoughts drifted to safer territory.
"Speaking of which—the latest 'Heartbeat Series' Galgame is releasing soon. By then, the 'Summer Love Song' series should be fully completable—all routes. I'll buy it immediately. Really looking forward to it…"
A longing smile crossed his scarred face.
Then—a voice. Magnetic. Pleasant. From beside him.
"Oh? So S-Class Heroes also like Galgames? I thought you only played hardcore action games."
"It's fine," King replied without thinking, the practiced response automatic. "Anyway, I play alone at home. Private time. I always wear a mask when buying discs, so no one knows—"
He stopped.
"…Huh?"
"EH—?!"
King startled.
The sudden appearance nearly launched the Emperor Engine into overdrive.
*Thump-thump-thump-THUMP…! *
*THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! *
Jack tilted his head.
What kind of noise is that?
But when King registered the face—a handsome young man, even more attractive than a popular idol, definitely not a stalker or a Monster—he allowed himself a small breath of relief. His heart still pounded like a war drum, but at least the immediate threat had passed.
Hmm. I feel like I've seen him somewhere before. A new idol? Some variety show debut?
Suppressing the flicker of doubt, King made a fist, placed it over his mouth, and executed a perfectly timed cough-save.
"Cough, cough. You misheard. I said 'Galaxy Mech Series.' Hardcore action game. Really tests your skills."
By the time he looked at Jack again, the cold, ruthless tough-guy face was firmly in place. Gaze sharp. Piercing.
"If you want an autograph, please be quick. I have important matters to attend to."
Jack observed the performance with silent appreciation.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. This acting. Criminal not to win an Oscar.
It was no wonder King had secured an S-Class ranking with a mortal body. A fierce, expressionless face. Innate acting talent. And the passive ability to automatically summon the Bald Great Demon King in critical moments.
As if God were chasing him down, force-feeding him success.
"Yare, yare." Jack placed one hand in his pocket and shook his head leisurely. A meaningful smile played at his lips. "No autograph needed."
He watched King's lack of recognition with amusement. Then lowered his voice—just slightly. Became a devil's whisper.
"However, Mr. King. Have you forgotten so quickly?"
"…Eh?"
King's brow furrowed. Confusion.
Then Jack spoke again.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Jack."
A pause. The smile widened.
"I'm the one who took care of that ramen Monster just now, you know~"
As he spoke, Jack casually raised his right hand. Flicked his finger toward a decorative rockery in an unoccupied part of the park.
A faint, blazing white light flashed from his fingertip. Disappeared.
*BANG— *
Muffled explosion. The half-human-tall rockery instantly disintegrated—shattered stones flying in all directions.
Instant Scorching Heat Bullet. Power reduced to minimum setting. Destructive force still sufficient to make King's eyelids twitch violently.
*Gulp. *
King swallowed.
The memory crashed back. That scorching white light. The ramen Monster's instant death. The eye contact in the shop doorway.
"It—it was you…"
The pieces clicked into place. The attack method. The timing. The state of the Monster's remains.
This handsome young man—taller than himself, casually dressed, impossibly composed—had saved him at the last possible moment.
Gratitude flooded in.
Followed immediately by deeper entanglement. Panic. Uncertainty.
How do I even speak? I'm the "Strongest on Earth" in everyone's eyes. The strongest doesn't need saving.
If this gets out…
He didn't have to struggle for long.
The smiling opponent's next words sent ice water through his veins.
"Actually, King—you're just an ordinary person with incredibly good luck, aren't you?"
King's blood froze.
"The so-called combat form 'Emperor Engine'? Just the sound of your violently pounding heart. Triggered when you're too timid—too scared—to the extreme."
No. No, no, no—
"As for that 'Purgatory Unmatched Exploding Heat Wave Cannon'… even more baseless. Purely a figment of public imagination. The Hero Association's fantasy. A false urban legend you've never possessed."
Jack leaned slightly forward. Met King's fear-widened eyes directly.
"What I'm saying…"
Each word clear. Precise. Unforgiving.
"Should be right. Shouldn't it?"
King: !!!
∑(ΦдΦlll
OH NO—!
My secret—HOW DOES THIS MAN KNOW SO MUCH?!!
Patreon Rene_chan. 30 advanced chapters