Monster hunter.
The monster that the Association currently regarded as its top priority, the one it had ordered all S-Class heroes to kill on sight.
With growth so absurdly fast that it had risen from Wolf to the uppermost Demon level in just three weeks, and with the record of having killed one hero in a surprise attack and single-handedly driven off multiple A-Class heroes.
It had been singled out as a being that might be the true “crisis of the Earth,” even more so than the previous alien invasion.
“Aaaagh! A monster has appeared!!”
It wasn’t Garou, the disciple I had personally expelled after he caused a disturbance half a year ago.
That guy was now calling himself the Hero Hunter and hunting heroes wherever he pleased.
“Kekekekek! As a greeting, this town will be destroyed by the Boxing Maniac!”
“So it wasn’t Garou....”
It had already been a week since I started chasing Garou.
In that time, I had combed through every place I could think of, but hadn’t even caught a whiff of him.
No.
I had caught him once.
“S-Teacher....”
“...Bang, step back....”
“Bang?”
Because I didn’t want him dragged into this, I had expelled Charanko, my only current disciple.
But that method had been too extreme, and because of it, the very thing I had hoped to avoid ended up happening.
Charanko, suspicious of his teacher’s unusual behavior, had found out what was going on and then gone straight to challenge Garou himself.
I arrived at the scene too late.
“Ah! Silver Fang. Perfect timing... that guy is strong. Let’s fight together.”
“........”
“Huh? Over there....”
I saw the sight of his body reduced to a miserable wreck.
“Kakakat! You’re an S-Class hero, right? I know that!! They say you’re also a renowned martial artist!”
How much pain must he have felt?
How severe had it been?
Both physically and mentally.
“I pursued martial arts even when I was human, but matches alone weren’t enough! I was swept up in the urge to rampage with that power, and that’s what turned me into a monster!”
Just Garou alone was enough to fill me with guilt and helplessness.
And anger.
Then, on top of that, a monster hunter suspected to be one of my former disciples had been discovered and marked for immediate disposal.
My mind went blank.
My chest felt tight.
“The current me, who has power beyond humanity, is invincible! Come at me, old man! If I bring back an S-Class hero’s head, I’ll even get a seat among the guys in the Monster Association—guhk!!”
Thududududududududududa!!!
Thud.
As a teacher, where had I gone wrong?
Two disciples no longer by my side were running wild in society.
One had decided to become a monster and was harming countless heroes.
The other had already become a monster and committed murder.
What was I supposed to do about them?
As their teacher, my disciples....
“...Let’s find him. Before it gets any worse.”
For now, Garou came first.
The monster hunter would have to wait, since there wasn’t even a clue to his whereabouts yet.
I had to hurry and find him.
First match, Max versus Lingling.
Max defeated Lingling more easily than expected.
I had thought their skill would be about even based on pure physical ability, but it seemed the difference in combat experience had widened the gap in technique.
Well, in the end, I had caught a glimpse of potential in both of them.
I had clearly seen their movements and martial arts.
“...Haa.”
Right. I couldn’t forfeit.
It wasn’t because it would look bad or hurt my pride or anything so trivial.
Because...
“You. I swear I’ve seen you somewhere before....”
“H-hey, Charanko! Stop. Something about this guy’s vibe is off... a-and your next match is coming up, right? You already provoked Jakos properly, so....”
“........”
Right.
During the first match, I had run into him while walking over to withdraw.
As soon as we met, I hid the cold sweat breaking out on the back of my head and tried to pass by somehow.
That was how it went, until he called me over.
I realized I’d already been marked by him when he immediately turned around and called my name.
...Just how had he recognized me?
How could he ask if we’d met before?
I couldn’t even begin to guess.
“Ah, I see. So I just need to go up now?”
“The announcement hasn’t even been made yet. For now, just get ready....”
It seemed Nigamushi and Saitama already knew each other from before.
There was the way he scolded Saitama for pressing me, and the way Nigamushi tried to advise him... how should I put it?
It looked like an upperclassman, sweating coldly like I had just a moment ago, trying to hold back a fearless junior.
Still... if that was the case, then...
“...That means he doesn’t know about his real strength.”
...Well. He didn’t seem like a bad guy, so whatever.
He had a pretty rough face, like he’d bitten into a bitter insect, but his insides didn’t seem all that bad.
More importantly.
Jakos? Who was that?
“...Mortal. Who was Jakos again? As one of the chosen, I can’t seem to remember....”
“What’s with that disgusting way of talking?”
“....................”
As Saitama’s mood turned cold, my mind froze over in an instant.
W-was that a bit much?
I could understand why.
Even I found that kind of elitist thinking distasteful.
I didn’t like that extreme ideology of thinking, “I am a chosen being superior to everyone else, and everyone else is inferior.”
It was fairly common among monsters, but fortunately I had only seen one human like that so far, so I had at least been able to count my blessings.
And right now, I was that one person.
Damn it.
Why had I turned into human trash like this?
I should have picked someone a little more decent and taken them somewhere secluded....
“................”
...What was I about to think, exactly?
Right up until the very end, I had sworn I wouldn’t become a monster.
Even if I had long ago given up on being human, I would still hold onto that last shred of humanity.
Don’t bother humans any more than necessary.
So I couldn’t do that.
As my frozen mind started moving again, my thoughts began to flow normally once more.
“...Sorry. That was my act.”
“Ah... so that’s what it was. Well, if that’s the case, then I guess there’s nothing you can do. Is it hard on you?”
“...It is hard. Honestly, even I think it’s disgusting. But it’s something I have to do.”
“................”
...Nigamushi’s blank stare was oddly irritating.
Whether it was because I was having such an honest conversation with someone, or because that someone was Saitama... unfortunately, I couldn’t quite tell.
“...Does that mortal have some business with me?”
“Hiiik?! N-no, I was just... whaaa?! ”
Ah.
Seeing his upper body tilt backward, I rushed in fast.
That reaction was somewhat expected. Aside from being a little excessive.
It really didn’t seem like I should smile with this face.
I had already seen it in a mirror, but when I smiled with this face... it got, well... pretty damn fierce.
A killer smile, I guess.
Combined with my expressionless face, it turned into a grotesquely twisted, rotten grin.
I could understand why he stumbled backward and slipped.
It wasn’t even my real face anyway.
As for complaints... I’d like them directed at Choeje, who was probably at the police station by now.
Clack!
“The floor is slippery. Be careful, mortal.”
“Huh? Ah, th-thanks....”
For a moment, I moved quickly around to Nigamushi’s side.
Then I caught his back with one hand and pulled him upright.
Judging by Nigamushi’s bewildered expression, it seemed he hadn’t properly seen my movement.
“...Normally, this would be the natural reaction for a human.”
My current speed was definitely top-tier even among Demons.
I had already been a little faster than the Sea King before, but now I was at least several times beyond that.
I felt like I might even be able to easily surpass the speed of sound now.
When I moved at high speed, I often heard the sound arrive late, after the fact.
Of course, this time I had also moved at roughly supersonic speed.
In other words, I had finished the whole thing in about 0.1 seconds.
And yet my movement...
“Oh... you seem way faster than before.”
“...I appreciate the compliment.”
Saitama had seen it clearly.
And with the same ease as if he were watching a human stroll along on a walk.
If his eyes could easily track my movements at supersonic speed now, that meant his own speed was far beyond that.
As expected. He really was a monster.
I was definitely much stronger than I used to be.
And yet, the more I grew, the more I realized just how far beyond the norm that man was.
“...You really are that mon—”
[Five minutes until entry. Fighters, please prepare.]
“...Ah, looks like I need to go out now. Wait here for a moment. I’ll finish this quickly and come back.”
“...Yeah.”
If he were to attack in earnest, just how much destructive power would come out of that one blow?
If he ran seriously, who could possibly perceive that speed?
If he truly became enraged, could there even be a calamity stronger than him?
“................”
...At the very least, I couldn’t begin to guess with the me of now.
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