Tokyo, but I'm a deceitful scumbag.

Thinking about it this way, that girl with pigtails alone contributed 10 cultivation points to him; she was truly his lucky star!

He spent 20 points to upgrade the Seventy-Two Transformations skill to level 3.

The reason for such a decisive action was mainly because I was afraid afterward.

The situation just now was actually a bit dangerous.

Although he transformed into an excavator, causing Kayaba Nobuyuki to panic, the Level 2 Seventy-Two Transformations didn't actually give him a body of steel; it only made him look like one on the surface.

This is largely thanks to the fact that mini excavators are not very large.

The greater the difference in size from his original fox form, the more weaknesses he will have after transforming—if he were a normal-sized excavator or a tank, he would probably be as hard as a balloon.

With limited offensive capabilities, his Seventy-Two Transformations are his key to dealing with unexpected situations.

So it's safer to upgrade to the next level.

"Let me try..."

After the upgrade, Hoshino Hideyuki had some mysterious and profound understanding in his mind. He picked up a bloodstained feather that had fallen from some bird on the ground and shook it gently.

The next second, the feather turned into a pen.

Yes, the speed of change is faster than before, and the consumption is also less than before.

Then he squeezed the pen hard and wrote on his arm.

It's still a bit soft in terms of hardness, but the oil flow is very smooth, and there are fewer flaws compared to before.

Finally, he placed the pen at his feet and took three steps back.

After waiting for about three minutes, the pen turned back into a feather with a "poof".

"Great, it lasts longer..."

In the past, Hoshino Hideyuki's transformation technique was only effective when applied to himself or objects in contact with him. Once the object left his body, it would revert to its original form after more than 60 seconds.

I can now hold the position for three minutes, which is a big improvement.

Hideyuki Hoshino nodded in satisfaction and walked to the edge of the rooftop.

Although there are still many aspects I would like to continue experimenting with, the available space and time are no longer sufficient.

It's time to go home.

Another gust of wind blew by.

He transformed into a white dove and disappeared into the sky.

at the same time.

Kikuri Ichichi received two text messages.

The first message was a text message from the bank, notifying her that 1505 million yen had been deposited into her account.

Her hands began to tremble uncontrollably.

The money really came back!

Really back!

The dark clouds of the past six months have dissipated, and a free life has returned. At this moment, Ichikiku is moved to tears.

It took her a long, long time to calm down.

Then she immediately wanted to call Hideyuki Hoshino.

We really need to thank them properly!

Whether you sing for him, perform a deep bow for him, provide for his old age and send him off in death, or gild his tombstone, you can do it all!

However, when the call was made, all that was answered was a "cannot be connected" message.

Shut down?

Is it inconvenient for you to answer the phone?

Or is it a problem with my phone?

Slightly puzzled, she looked through her phone and noticed a second text message.

The money had been returned, so there was no need to pay attention to it anymore, but the phrase "sayonara" stuck in her mind.

Although this word means goodbye, it is often used in formal settings, so it also has the extended meaning of farewell forever...

That's when.

She suddenly realized that the man's appearance in her memory was gradually becoming blurry.

Strangely, all the memories of conversations and interactions are intact, but the appearance is like an eraser has been inserted into my brain and is being wiped away little by little.

How is this going……

No, you can't!

I didn't even know his name, I couldn't get through on the phone, and if I've forgotten what he looks like...

Kikuri Ichiji pursed her lips, the joy of getting her money back suppressed by this sudden turn of events.

Subconsciously, instinctively, she resisted this forgetting.

She pinched her thigh hard, desperately trying to concentrate, and gradually, the eraser in her mind really did slow down...

At this time, downstairs.

Because a girl with pigtails cried out for backup, a large number of people in uniform rushed into the shopping mall and controlled the scene like police officers.

the other side.

Hoshino Hideyuki, transformed into a fox-dove, cooed as he traveled, circling in the air as he went.

There's no way around it, flying is just such an exhilarating experience!

Even though he had already enjoyed it several times, he still couldn't resist spreading his wings and feeling the rhythm of the wind whenever he had the chance.

Comfortable~

Wait, why do I suddenly feel a chill down my spine?

Turning the pigeon's head, I saw a dark shadow rapidly descending, already above my head!

Mom!

It's a falcon!

Falcons are small birds of prey that can survive even in cities, and their daily diet includes pigeons.

Damn, I was having so much fun that I forgot this thing even exists in Tokyo.

Now we know where those bloodstained feathers came from.

Fortunately, it was just a falcon. Although we realized it a little late, there was still a way to deal with it.

Hideyuki Hoshino bent over, turning his backside into a steel cactus, facing the oncoming falcon.

next second...

The poor little bird let out a sharp, piercing cry.

When he looked up again, Hoshino Hideyuki could no longer see Hayabusa.

Gugu, you can be secretly happy. I'm in a good mood today, otherwise I would have roasted you!

goo...

wrong.

Why is there such a strange, eerie aura?

Hoshino Hideyuki lowered the pigeon's head and looked at the paper package hooked by its claws—inside was the bell he had obtained on this trip. Because it contained powerful energy, it was highly resistant to the Seventy-Two Transformations and could only be brought back as is.

At that moment, a few drops of blood seeped through the outer paper and landed on the surface of the bell.

what……

It's falcon blood...

Wait, even non-human blood works?

Hoshino Hideyuki instantly became alert, moving carefully to make sure he didn't shake the bell.

He didn't want to face the sealed female monster that Kayaba had mentioned right now.

Just to be on the safe side, let's fly safely to the riverbank and clean the bell thoroughly...

Unfortunately, the plan could not keep up with the changes.

Jingle bell bell~

Despite Hideyuki Hoshino being very careful about his behavior, the bell rang on its own.

"No, buddy..."

"You can move on your own?"

"Kayaba, your information is false!"

With a scream, Hoshino Hideyuki's vision went black and he disappeared into the air.

A few seconds later, he shook his head and stood up.

Looking around, one finds oneself in a peach orchard laden with fruit.

Is it an illusion?

It doesn't seem like it. It looks more like some kind of alternate dimension or a barrier that isolates it from the world.

He turned around and saw a door behind him with a familiar-looking bell hanging on it.

In my vague memory, he came in through this door.

Now, his intuition as a monster tells him that if he wants to get out, he has to go through this door too.

Hideyuki Hoshino immediately walked forward.

"Don't rush me~"

Accompanied by a clear female voice that suddenly rang out, countless flower petals gathered between the fox and the door, spun a few times, and transformed into a young and beautiful girl.