Ren Yamashiro watched everything from beginning to end—just like Bell, who was now becoming even more fearful of Kazuma. It wasn't just his refined technique, but the destructive power of his ability was on an entirely different level. The scale of destruction it produced could even be compared to the devastation of an entire city.
'And this... might still be only a fraction of his power?'
Ren narrowed her eyes, trying to reassess him.
'If he really possesses this much power, why doesn't he solve the problem following him by himself?'
The thought came naturally, but it was far too simple.
Kazuma certainly could do it—destroy everything, erase threats in a single move. But the world he lived in was more than just a battlefield. There was society, order, and consequences.
If he acted without restraint, the label attached to him would no longer be savior—but tyrant.
And that was not a path he wished to take.
On the other hand, Bell couldn't stop trembling.
All this time, she believed her life had already changed. From a past marked by neglect, she had risen thanks to the ability she possessed. Promoted to unit leader, acknowledged, respected—she thought that was enough.
However, this encounter shattered that assumption.
The world she knew... apparently still held something far more terrifying.
Kazuma was living proof of that.
And now—
Ren had ordered her to accommodate a man like that within her unit.
A man with enough power to level a city.
Bell lowered her head slightly, her body still trembling faintly.
'Haa... I want to go home...'
...
"So, what do you think?"
Kazuma asked while putting his clothes back on. His body still radiated lingering heat, thin steam rising from his skin as the temperature gradually dropped. The air around him felt warm, as if the battlefield had yet to fully recover from what had just happened.
"Impressive..." Ren finally said, her voice calm yet filled with evaluation. Her gaze remained fixed on the devastated area below. "I can understand the general mechanism behind your ability. You gather heat—either from the environment or from within yourself—and compress it until it reaches a point where that energy transforms into stable destructive force."
She paused briefly, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"And what's even more troubling... is that you did all of that without being truly serious."
Kazuma smirked slightly as he casually buttoned his shirt.
"Yeah. If I got serious, this place would probably be completely flattened already." He glanced toward the canyon now filled with craters and the remains of Shuuki. "Want to see an ice age?"
The statement sounded like a joke.
Yet no one actually laughed.
Silence fell, thin yet heavy.
Bell unconsciously held her breath. To her, those words felt far too real to be considered a joke. She had just witnessed firsthand how being "half-serious" was already enough to reshape the landscape.
Ren, on the other hand, remained calm. Her expression did not change, as if she had already considered that possibility from the beginning.
"...That's enough," she said shortly, ending the topic without extending it further. She then shifted her gaze toward Bell. "Bell, take him to your unit."
Bell flinched slightly, as if she had just been pulled back into reality.
"Ah—yes!"
"And Kazuma," Ren continued, now looking directly at him, "welcome to the MDF."
Kazuma merely shrugged, maintaining his relaxed attitude.
"Intern."
Ren did not respond. To her, that label was not particularly important—what she needed was results.
...
The trip back felt different.
If their previous conversation had been relatively light, now silence dominated. The jeep's engine hummed steadily, its wheels rattling softly over Mato's uneven terrain. The remnants of thermal energy still lingered faintly in the air, mixing with the strange atmosphere of that dimension.
This time, Bell sat in the passenger seat.
Kazuma was once again the driver, one hand casually resting on the steering wheel, as if this journey were no different from an ordinary routine.
But for Bell, everything felt different.
Occasionally, she glanced sideways before quickly looking away.
'He... really did all that by himself...'
The scene from earlier kept replaying in her mind. The explosions, the speed, the pressure—everything felt far too overwhelming to comprehend at once.
Until now, Bell had believed she was strong enough.
Strong enough to lead.
But today, that standard had collapsed so easily.
"What's Unit 3 like?" Kazuma suddenly asked, his voice breaking the silence without warning.
Bell flinched slightly, needing a fraction of a second to respond.
"Eh—ah... we focus more on tactical operations and support. Situation management, area control, and coordination between units..." She tried to explain in a formal tone, though her thoughts had yet to fully settle. "Not as... destructive as what you did earlier."
Kazuma nodded slowly.
"Good."
"Huh?"
"At least I won't have to destroy the surrounding environment too often."
Bell fell silent.
She wasn't sure whether that was meant as a joke or a fact.
...
Not long afterward, they arrived at Unit 3's headquarters.
The building stood in a traditional Japanese architectural style—curved roofs, sturdy wooden pillars, and a neatly maintained courtyard. However, unlike the peaceful impression usually associated with such designs, the place still radiated a strong military discipline.
Several unit members could be seen carrying out their duties in the distance, but their movements slowed when they noticed Kazuma's presence.
Eyes gradually turned toward him.
Curious.
Wary.
And some... clearly uncomfortable.
Kazuma stepped out of the vehicle and casually observed his surroundings.
"Hmm... not bad."
Bell stood beside him, trying to steady her breathing before speaking.
"Starting today... you'll be under my coordination."
Her tone tried to sound firm, though traces of tension still remained.
Kazuma turned toward her.
"Don't be so tense. I don't bite."
Bell immediately looked away.
'That's exactly what scares me...'
She didn't say it aloud, but the thought was obvious.
The person standing before her now wasn't merely a new member.
Nor merely a military asset.
Kazuma was something difficult to categorize—a highly unstable variable, yet far too valuable to ignore.
...
After the introduction session with the members was finished, Kazuma began to grasp the structure of this unit. The number of personnel did not even reach double digits—which meant that, essentially, each unit consisted of only around six members or slightly more.
A small number, but not without reason.
Unlike conventional human military forces that required vast resources and large numbers of personnel, women with abilities were already capable of dealing with dozens, even hundreds of Shuuki. With physical strength that surpassed normal limits and diverse, unconventional abilities, their combat efficiency was vastly superior.
In a place like Mato, quality mattered far more than quantity.
However, the situation within Unit 3 felt slightly different.
Objectively speaking, the strongest member of this unit was Bell herself. Her abilities were unquestionable, enough to place her in the position of unit leader. Yet her overly humble personality—almost to the point of doubting herself—had become a hindrance.
She did not lead through pressure, nor did she force her authority onto others.
In certain situations, that could become a weakness.
Kazuma's presence did not immediately bring positive changes either.
Instead, it added another layer of discomfort.
The members' reactions were fairly obvious, even if they did not express them openly. Their gazes conveyed wariness, even suspicion that was difficult to hide.
Which was understandable.
This environment had always been occupied solely by women—closed off, structured, and accustomed to their own internal dynamics.
And now, a man stood among them.
It felt little different from a man suddenly entering a women's dormitory without notice.
Awkward.
Uncomfortable.
And difficult to simply accept.
Some members tried to maintain a professional attitude, keeping their expressions neutral. However, others failed to completely hide their reactions—brief glances, quiet whispers, and the deliberate distance they maintained.
Kazuma noticed all of it.
Yet he showed no signs of being bothered.
His expression remained indifferent, his attitude as relaxed as ever—as though his presence in this place was not something worth making an issue of.