I am a mindless machine.

But how much time will it take?

Years? Years? Years?... Longer and longer? She didn't know.

--After all, machines are all very rigid in their thinking.

The girl tossed the empty lollipop into the trash can. Hu Shoutian stretched out her slender, white hand; sunlight streamed through her fingers, casting a soft glow on her skin.

0. Sunset. Am I really doing the right thing right now?

The white figure under the sky seemed particularly lonely.

"Please acknowledge me as your disciple, Master!!" A loud shout shattered the stillness of the air, causing the world, which had seemed frozen in time, to begin flowing again. Yun You turned her head, somewhat stunned, to look at the person who had shouted.

From the direction of the sound, stood a tall, muscular blond man, staring at her with a serious expression. "So you're here too, huh?" Yun You was well aware of Jess's thoughts, because, on some level...

She shared the same will as the other person. It was a goal she would achieve even at the cost of ruthless means. However, because she worried about altering the original storyline and causing Sai to not join the Hero Association—that's why she had never agreed to his request. Moreover…

Besides, she didn't want to form any ties with the people in this world.

That would only be an obstacle for her. However, it wouldn't be good to keep ignoring him like this, so let's formally reject him here. Anyway, according to the timeline of the original work, the one who could truly become his master...

The person was about to appear. But just as Yun You was about to express her thoughts, she noticed Genos's attire even more clearly, and even as a machine-type, she was speechless with astonishment. Delicate lace, bows, pink—just looking at these three elements, one could tell that this overly ornate, rose-style dress was the epitome of girlish charm. If it were worn by a young girl, it would probably be quite cute, but if it were worn by a young man whose entire body was made of mechanical parts—it was quite…

This is outrageous! This is Genos's ultimate technique! "Master, to become stronger, I can give up anything!" Genos shouted passionately. "Even if everyone around me thinks I'm a freak, I must gain power!" His noble spirit...

In the past, he had always used a direct, frontal attack strategy, which was why he had repeatedly failed. But now, he had decided to take a more aggressive approach! He only needed a slight chance of success.

Then everything else will only be obstacles. The other party is a cyborg devoid of emotion, only capable of monotonously carrying out tasks. So, how can one express feelings to such a cyborg?

"What's the point of all this? Of course, it's pointless. You have to make the other person feel your determination!" Thinking this, he spun around in place, then looked at Yun Ge seriously, blinking as if hesitating whether to add a flying coffee.

Oh my, that scene was so beautiful it's indescribable—I'm afraid saying it would lower my sanity.

Yunge sighed, understanding what Genos meant, and suppressed the weak urge to shoot a Heavenly Strike at him to destroy the impurity. He planned to...

He began to explain his meaning. (After witnessing how easily you killed the Mosquito Woman, I once again realized my own shortcomings, so this time I decided...)

However, at this moment, Jedings began his usual method of interpreting words, but this time Yunge couldn't listen. Her attention was entirely focused on the phrase "[killed the Mosquito Girl]". The girl's bright red eyes widened, and she subconsciously uttered a sound like "[Huh?]".

Wait a minute, did she accidentally ruin the plot just now?

Chapter Nine: Basic Etiquette for Becoming an Apprentice (Revised Chapter)

Yun You felt a slight headache. She was already a mecha, and unless the calculated data exceeded her mecha's limits, her body wouldn't have any problems—but encountering something completely unexpected like this was still incredibly frustrating. However, she couldn't be blamed for making such a mistake! Repeating the same action hundreds of times… the correct number is 1063 kills—it's impossible to notice who you killed every time, right? Even if she could remember how many slices of bread she ate, she couldn't remember what kind of bread they were.

Enemy detected → [Pseudo-Curved Sky Strike] → Enemy eliminated, leave, find the next one --- This process has become almost instinctive for her over the past three years. If there's anyone she can remember, it's those [Dragon] level monsters who can withstand Sky Strike using various methods. In this situation, she needs to fire another shot. Ah... why is Mosquito Girl so weak...? Both are winged creatures, but the Skywing species is far superior to you; they should at least be able to block the first attack.

Yun You covered her forehead with her hand, closed her eyes, and muttered a complaint. "Master and disciple? What's wrong?" Genos noticed the girl's unusual expression, stopped his incessant explanation, and asked with some confusion. In the past three years, every time he saw the girl, she always had that calm and indifferent expression. It was unprecedented for him to see her looking slightly troubled like today. Genos subconsciously frowned, and then an idea flashed through his mind.

"--Could it be! Is some terrifying monster about to attack this place?!"

Genos's expression was solemn. In less than a second, all his weapons were poised to strike. Energy, burning like magma, had condensed in his palms; with a single thought, this energy, capable of plunging the entire city into inferno, would erupt instantly. Even before the attack was launched, a scorching energy circle rapidly expanded outwards from him. The grass in the park was already faintly ignited.

Signs. He had deployed his tactical search device to its maximum, capturing every biological fluctuation within a kilometer radius. Not even a rat could escape his surveillance! Yet, even so, he broke out in a cold sweat. The approaching monster was one that had even caused the girl, comparable to a god and whom he had never encountered anyone more powerful, to show a slight expression of "annoyance." ...It was the legendary "psychopathic"... *thud*—with a soft thud, Genos, who had been fully prepared, collapsed. Afterwards, a pebble, propelled by metal, landed on the ground. "[Dissatisfied] Quiet down, I'm thinking." The expressionless girl casually tossed aside the second pebble she was about to place, sat on the rooftop, her pale legs dangling off the ground, and gazed at the sky, her face propped up by her hand. Although she was usually calm and collected in the face of anything, this matter concerned the sunset, so she couldn't afford to be careless. The terrifying heat wave made the hem of her dress flutter wildly—Yun You had absolutely no curiosity about what secrets were hidden beneath that dress. In fact, Yun You never intended to completely avoid changing the plot from the beginning. After all, when she first gained her human memories, she understood that "even a small butterfly can cause a storm." Moreover, her actions after arriving in this world were completely altered to the level of Winged Dragon of Ra. Not to mention, because of her existence as a "monster killer," the Hero Association's status in this world is now much lower than in the original work. After all, the situation has changed from one where "they absolutely needed to save us" to one where "even without them, as long as the disaster is large enough and lasts long enough, a white-haired girl will fly in and kill Monster J." It's no exaggeration to say that the Hero Association's current role in the public eye is more about dealing with the "overseen" (weak monsters) that the girl didn't have time to handle, and merely buying time when powerful monsters appear. Their situation is quite tragic. However—even though the timeline has slightly deviated, Yun You still doesn't want the original story's overall direction to be changed. The reason is simple: until now, she can't guarantee that she can fulfill the same function as Saitama in the original work. Although she is strong, she is far from being invincible. She is somewhere in the middle, not the best. Putting aside other things... the captain of the interstellar pirate ship in the original work, "Boros," who possessed the power to destroy all civilizations on the surface of a planet single-handedly. The possibility of her defeating him now is infinitesimally close to zero. Therefore, Saitama, as a "safety net" (eyes and ears), is absolutely necessary. At least she can't let the planet be destroyed due to her own mistakes. As for the other reason, Yun You shifted her gaze downwards, looking at the blonde cyborg who had been lying on the ground ever since she knocked him down with a stone.

The oppressive atmosphere surrounding him, almost tangible, revealed just how depressed he was. After all, he had been easily knocked down by a small pebble.

Ah Yunyou sighed silently, unable to bear seeing him remain like this forever. Four years ago, she hadn't freed him from the prison of hatred because of her own ideas. She couldn't let him stay like this forever just because she had changed the plot. If he hadn't met Qi Wu, he would probably never have woken up. After making her decision, countless feasible plans flashed before the girl's eyes like streams of light, analyzed and calculated one by one, constantly revising the "plan" in a positive direction.

After a moment, the girl lightly leaped from the chair to Genos's side, stepped down, and pulled him up with her hand. She said coldly, "[Disdain] With your appearance, do you really think you can take revenge someday? Get up quickly—don't worry, I'll help you fulfill your 'dream'." "--t!?" Genos, who had been feeling down, was stunned by the girl's casual words. His usually composed face showed a hint of surprise. "You finally agreed to take me as your apprentice!?" "[Negative]...I'll find someone more suitable to be your teacher." The girl shook her head, then ignored Genos's incredulous, utterly bewildered expression, and gazed towards a distant point in the city.

"Before that, we need to buy something." It was an ordinary-looking supermarket.

Chapter Ten: Chaos Emerging from the Darkness

(Note: The previous chapter has been modified; please refresh the page in the upper right corner.) This is a small, dark alley in City A. Garbage is piled haphazardly on the filthy corners, and the stench of rotting meat left behind by rats is overwhelming. The combined stench is enough to make anyone dizzy. The sunlight, though dazzling, cannot penetrate this alley. ... A faint groan now echoes in this lawless alley. A girl, dressed only in a thin layer of cloth and covered in bruises from beatings, struggles to navigate the intricate network of corners and enters this dark alley. Her eyes are lifeless, and she mumbles words. However, she can't even finish her sentence before she lowers her head and retches, but after a while, nothing comes out—which is understandable, given that she hasn't eaten for a week. She struggled to keep running, but her weak legs betrayed her will, causing her to fall to the ground. Her already bruised feet could no longer support her paper-light weight. No. She'd finally escaped that place… "Damn it, where do you think you're going! A customer specifically asked for you, and you just ran away right in front of him! Where do you think I put my dignity?! Huh?" A drunken man staggered after her, his face flushed, shouting at the girl lying on the ground. He glared at her menacingly: "I gave birth to you, you should at least know how to be grateful! Do you want to be killed by me like that woman?! If not, hurry up and make some money to pay off my gambling debts!"… The gaunt girl, her escape blocked by the dirty wall, looked desperately at the approaching man. Heroes. Hero Association... In this moment of despair, the girl recalled the "stories" her mother had told her with a sorrowful smile. Hero One—those were incredibly great and powerful people who would save people from danger by the hands of "evil." She'd heard that recently these people had even organized into a large organization, capable of saving citizens with even greater power. But...where were those people now? Tears streamed down the girl's face, and the flame of rebellion that had finally risen in her eyes was extinguished. "[Hey, I said—do you want power? The [power] that will let you kill the man in front of you.]" A mischievous voice, like a needle, pierced the girl's mind. At this point, she had basically given up thinking; upon hearing the voice, she simply nodded instinctively. "[Okay~ Here you go, the power you crave.]" After hearing this voice, the girl lost consciousness. Then, a monster appeared from her body.

The man's screams had completely vanished. He disappeared into the sunless alley. He had become a skeleton being gnawed upon. The monster, once a young girl, had bloodshot eyes, wolf-like ears, and claws and hairy hands that were relentlessly tearing apart the man's body. She hadn't lost her so-called "rationality"—it had simply changed completely. The girl had become what was called a "monster." "0B0 Haha, amazing, amazing!! What's going on in this world? Just a little encouragement and it changes like this, really?"

A series of cute clapping sounds came from the shadows of the alley. The girl, now a carnivorous wolf, stared in surprise and disbelief in the direction of the sound, her golden, vertical pupils mirroring the voice that had just echoed in her mind. The other girl appeared to be fifteen years old. Dressed in a black and white gothic Lolita-style outfit, she carried an overly decorated umbrella despite the fine weather. "And those so-called 'heroes,' some of them have long surpassed human limits, they could even participate in the Holy Grail War without a problem! Clap! Fi-- Why has this world been able to continue until now? It's a miracle!" Twirling the umbrella handle, the girl squinted her eyes in ecstasy. "Ahhh, discovering something like this is really annoying." She stared at the wolf girl, her mouth smeared with blood and her eyes filled with fear, her face flushed as if in a trance, panting as she bent over, clutching her slender belly. A trembling excitement coursed through her body. Her long, pale purple hair, shimmering with silver light, swept past her waist. "Because—this kind of world—it's really hard not to want to destroy it." After saying this, the girl's eyes flashed with an expression that could only be described as "madness," and she turned her gaze to the sky. "Evil spirit, I'm sorry, although I really want to come and play with you, to crush your supposedly well-maintained heart, to tell you your deepest despair, and to completely shatter that mask of calm you've maintained. But right now, it seems I've found something even more fun!" "So, wait for me a little longer~!" With a giggle, the girl named [Frances Caprella J]—who had become a [Chaos Person] as a "Jumper"—once again gracefully stepped into the darkness. Her silhouette was swallowed by the boundless darkness.

"...Yo." Genos had barely uttered the words when he felt a gaze so sharp it stung his skin, so he quickly changed his mind. He knew perfectly well that it wasn't an illusion.

Incidentally, he had changed back into normal clothes. "Really, these things alone are enough as a gift... for that master called [Saitama J]," he said, his entire body now piled high with various packages, his hands, neck, and even the specially extended mechanical devices. He looked more like a moving pile of goods than a carrier of heavy objects. These bags contained the supermarket's most expensive ingredients—beef, matsutake mushrooms, bear paws, shark fins, and so on. However, Genos felt that these things alone were far from sufficient; the other party was a man Yun You called [even more powerful than her]. These items fell far short in terms of both [value] and [thought value], and Genos didn't think it was a good idea. "These things are definitely enough," the girl in the white robe replied calmly as she walked ahead. Since she reiterated it, even though he felt panicked, Genos could only follow her.

Soon, the two arrived at a dilapidated apartment building next to an abandoned factory in Z City. The creaking of the iron staircase, as if it might break at any moment, increased Genos's unease. Meanwhile, Yun You reached out and pressed the doorbell.

Chapter Eleven: The Machine Race is Omnipotent

Gazing at the horrific scene before him, Saitama's expression was solemn and grave, revealing the tension within him. Even when facing a colossus capable of destroying a city with a single gust of wind, he had never felt this fear, for then he was certain he possessed the ability to solve problems. But now, he was utterly helpless—this was a predicament beyond his power to overcome. His rice jar was empty. Saitama silently slammed the lid shut, turned, and walked out of the kitchen to the refrigerator. He took a deep breath and opened the door. The refrigerator was completely empty and impeccably clean, almost making one wonder if it was brand new. "Ughhhhhhh!! I'm doomed!!!" Saitama's knees buckled, and he collapsed to his knees in front of the refrigerator, burying his face in his hands and letting out a mournful cry. To live in this world, one must always eat. Whether it's a family, a profession, or even a hero driven by passion, the same applies. If there's no money for food... people will die from hunger... There should be... there should still be a little bit left..." Saitama's hand trembled as he reached for his wallet, opening it hopefully. But this wallet, bought from a street vendor, betrayed his expectations—it was empty.

Empty. Saitama turned deathly pale, as if one could see a phantom of a soul floating from his mouth. Today marks exactly three years and one month since he was fired from his company. For the past three decades, he has been an unemployed bum, living frugally on his past savings.

(A hero driven by interest). Moreover, during those three years of rigorous training, he often ate expensive health foods. Although he still has some emergency funds in his bank account, he would be doomed if he spent them all. Normally, he could make ends meet by eating vegetables and meat given to him by the people he rescued, but unfortunately, he hasn't received any of those things recently. As Saitama stared at the dilapidated ceiling, feeling his rumbling stomach, and calmly pondered, "I guess I'll have to find a part-time job this afternoon to get through the next few days," the doorbell rang—a rare sound. "Hmm?... Who could it be at this hour? The rent isn't due until the end of the month, is it?" Scratching his round head, Saitama sighed and headed for the door. It probably wasn't a newspaper vendor or a salesperson, after all, this was a nearly abandoned apartment building, practically free of rent. The salesperson couldn't be so clueless. "Hello—who is this—" Saitama opened the door listlessly—and then froze, speechless. What appeared before him was a scene of paradise. Imagine, when your stomach is so hungry that you're hallucinating about food, suddenly beautifully packaged, luxurious food ingredients appear before you in the form of a "piles of items." Regardless of whether you can actually eat them, you'd feel a sense of happiness, right? Saitama already had the illusion that he was enveloped by a mountain of food. "[Greeting] Hello." A pleasant, crisp voice pulled him back to reality. Looking down at the source of the sound, he realized that he had been so captivated by the sheer power of the food mountain that he had overlooked the girl standing at the door. The girl was about a head and a half shorter than Saitama, barely reaching his chest. She was looking up at him, her calm, bright red eyes devoid of any emotion. She continued explaining her purpose in a completely flat tone. "[Question] It's a bit inconvenient to say what I need to say here. Can we go inside first? -- If you nod, all these ingredients are yours."

A silent atmosphere permeated the air, especially in the cramped room. The three... or rather, one person and two machines, stared at each other. The white-haired girl, who was supposed to explain her purpose, simply stared at Saitama without saying a word, her eyes flashing with a digital light, as if she were observing something. "...Um, would you like me to prepare some snacks?" Although there were no snacks at home, and the tea was just the cheapest bitter tea, Saitama still asked out of politeness. As the host of this room, he couldn't let the atmosphere remain so tense. "[Negative] No need. Sorry to keep you waiting." As if she had finally reached a conclusion, the white-haired girl finally spoke softly, "[Introduction] My name is Yun You, and the person next to me is Genos, who will become your apprentice as planned." The girl lightly stood up, supporting herself on the table. She glanced at the kitchen and asked Saitama, "[Question] Can I borrow the kitchen for a bit?"... "Sure, but what do you want to do..." Saitama looked at the girl who called herself Yunyou with some confusion, completely baffled by her intentions. He could already tell from the metal joints faintly visible beneath her white robe and the two tails trailing behind her that she wasn't human, but that information was completely unimportant to him. The intense hunger in his stomach made him want to immediately pounce on the pile of ingredients now under his ownership, but the current situation didn't seem to allow him to do so.

"[Reply] As an apology for keeping you waiting, and because I can't let the person I'm asking for a favor talk on an empty stomach... I'd like to cook a few dishes as a thank you." Although the girl said this, her calm tone betrayed a hint of sincerity. Since she said so, Saitama naturally had no choice but to agree. The girl then picked up the mountain of ingredients piled up to the side and went into the kitchen. "So... who are you?" She looked like a minor. Could she really cook? Could she be a descendant of the culinary disaster world? Hopefully, the kitchen won't burn down soon. With these worries in mind, Saitama turned his gaze to another robot in the room. "Master! Please take me as your apprentice!" However, the other robot shouted this with a serious expression, its tone devoid of any hint of jest. Saitama felt his stomach start to hurt again; it must be from hunger.

Contrary to Saitama's concerns, Yunyou's culinary skills were nothing short of top-notch. Countless ingredients floated in the air under her [levitation field], and the originally cramped kitchen was expanded countless times through her [space displacement]. Top-tier ingredients like bear paws and shark fins couldn't bring out their full flavor without specialized equipment—so the girl used [material creation] to materialize those devices directly into this space. Cooking methods could be easily obtained and perfectly imitated by hacking into the vast data space of the internet, and the skill of precisely slicing ingredients into shreds was no problem for a machine race; if she wanted, she could even cut them into molecules. Although the resulting dishes would lack soul, their deliciousness was undeniable. To reiterate, the machine race is truly an incredibly versatile race. "[Thinking] I've already done a basic scan of Saitama without drawing attention, but his physique and various data only surpass the peak of human potential... Can he really display the destructive power from the original work? How did he do it?" - While processing the food in front of her at a speed that was barely perceptible to ordinary people, Yun You was distracted by these thoughts. For her right now, "time" was extremely precious. If she hadn't determined that staying here would yield more value than "killing Monster J," she wouldn't have been willing to waste even a second here.

Her goal this time is to uncover the powerful secret of Saitama's body, which is described in the original work as "the body inhabited by a god."

Chapter Twelve: You've Heard of...

Saitama's strength in the original work has already reached the [Law J] level. Facing the most powerful enemy appearing at the current stage, Boros's ultimate move, the [Cornwall Roaring Cannon], which could destroy the Earth in one shot (according to the official guidebook), was successfully neutralized and deflected by Saitama using only his skillful "Serious Punch," defeating Boros... without even using the [Limit J] power. If he had used the power of the Extreme Eye... even the [Planet J] itself probably wouldn't be a match for him, and would be pierced through with a single punch.

Such power could only remind Yun You of one person—the god who held the concept of "strongest," the god of war, Artesius. Yun You's current goal is to "jump" between different worlds. According to Mo, the girl who calls herself the "Observer," as long as she acquires enough Fruit Points, she can revive the sunset from its "dead" state. To do this, the first thing she needs is undoubtedly [Power]. Whether it's doing something, changing the plot, fighting someone, or even just [surviving], she undoubtedly needs that incomprehensibly powerful [Power]. The more, the better. The Machine Race is a race with enormous potential. As long as they proceed step by step, they can theoretically "evolve infinitely," making them arguably the race with the highest potential. However, without a worthy adversary... then, this race's autonomous evolution is not high, making it difficult to achieve a [Level] or [Rank] advancement. The essence of the Machine Race is still "imitation calculation." Even if Yun You can combine skills from the database to create new skills, that's just "turning water into ice." What she wants is a fundamental increase in strength, like "turning water into oil." Therefore, her goal in actively contacting Saitama this time was precisely this: although there are many things in this world worth "imitating," Saitama is definitely one of them.

"[Sigh] However, if we analyze it solely from a physical perspective, we can't gain anything. Ayunyou has already prepared the ingredients in the ceramic bowls and plates made using "material composition" within + minutes, and is carrying them out of the kitchen. If it were "unanalyzable (structure unknown)," that would be fine, but the problem is that she "completely analyzed" Saitama's physical condition, from every inch of muscle to the nerves that drive these muscles, she understood it all using the analysis techniques of the Goblin race - but that only surpasses the level of "human peak." Even if she imitates it, it's meaningless. ...This is not materialistic. It feels a bit like the Goblin race back then...can analyze the results but not the reasons for the composition of the results...would it be faster to just ask Saitama to punch me while I'm not dead...?" While thinking this, Yunyou used a black tray larger than her body to carry countless dishes on her head, like an Indian, maintaining a delicate sense of balance, and walked out of the kitchen with light steps. Because the kitchen door wasn't big enough, she slightly enlarged it using [space displacement].

"So, I'm telling you, I really have nothing to teach you!"

"No, Yunyou said you're a stronger man than her, and I don't think she'd lie. So please stop being modest, I'll give you everything I have—please, teacher! I really need power!"

The other party's request to take him as a disciple. To appease the other party's sincere attitude, Saitama honestly told him about his incredibly arduous training process—"10 push-ups, 100 10-push-ups, 100 squats, a 10-kilometer run (which he maintained for 3 years), and the habit of never skipping a week at home regardless of the extreme cold or heat." But the problem was... Genos couldn't possibly believe such a simple training regimen. He now thought Saitama was just making excuses to appease him. Although he couldn't currently sense what Saitama was really good at, his first impression was that Saitama was an idle good-for-nothing who stayed at home all day. But for that "evil spirit" who had barely spoken in over three years to say so much today and personally vouch for Saitama's strength, it couldn't be baseless. That left only the possibility that Saitama was currently concealing his power. Therefore, to demonstrate his resolve, Genos was considering whether to put on his "Resolve Suit" again. "[Interruption] The food is ready. Shall we eat first before continuing our conversation?" The girl's clear voice sounded like salvation to Saitama. To thank her for her timely arrival, even if her cooking was truly culinary disaster, he would eat it all (the real reason being that he would starve to death if he didn't eat). Turning around with a cheerful smile, he said, "Ah, thank you. Then... Holy crap?" Then, seeing the tray larger than the table and the wisp of hair, he was completely stunned. The charcoal-grilled steak, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sliced ​​matsutake mushrooms exuding a natural sweetness, bear paw drizzled with golden sauce, shark fin with a rich aroma... each dish is excessively luxurious.

Is my kitchen some kind of alternate dimension? As saliva involuntarily dripped from the corner of his mouth, Saitama couldn't help but think to himself, "Where did this god come from? The person who marries him will be so lucky."

A bead of cold sweat still clung to Saitama's round, shiny forehead. His stomach was now round and swollen, like a fully inflated balloon. And that... (The sentence is incomplete and lacks context, so a direct translation isn't possible.)

The small black tray was piled high with plates, not even a crumb left. It gave the impression of a locust swarm sweeping across the land. In fact, if the scene were recreated... the reality would be even more exaggerated. The food was being devoured at a speed that was impossible to perceive with the naked eye, making one almost doubt whether the person was still human.

But you can't really blame him! Anyone who's been poor for three years and then sees that kind of food, especially after being told to "eat whatever you want," would be completely unable to control themselves! At that moment, all plans and the other party's intentions would be thrown to the back of their minds, and they'd only care about completely eliminating the "enemy" in front of them. However, after satisfying his most basic desires, his brain returned to its proper function, entering a state similar to a sage's mode. Saitama looked at the white-haired girl with a guilty conscience. As the saying goes, "He who takes a bribe is bound to be obliging," and now that he had eaten all the food by himself, it meant that if he couldn't fulfill any of her requests, he would feel very guilty. Well... as long as I don't have to pay, everything is fine... Saitama mentally prepared himself. As long as she didn't cross his bottom line, he would definitely do his best to fulfill her request. This was something he did out of interest.

A hero's responsibility! Finally, under Saitama's tense gaze, the girl spoke slowly. "[Inquiry] Excuse me, have you heard of the 'House of Evolution'?"

Chapter Thirteen Questions

The House of Evolution was an institution founded by the genius scientist, Dr. Genius. By the age of fifteen, he had already garnered numerous accolades in the scientific community and proposed many inventions that contributed significantly to the world. At seventy, he even developed methods for reversing aging and creating clones of himself—capable of such feats, calling him a genius is no exaggeration. The House of Evolution is the culmination of his life's work, a place marked by [genetic fusion and modification] that has produced many incredible results. For example, there's the Slug-Man capable of telepathy, the Beast King who can destroy countless buildings with powerful attacks, and the Iron Ape incorporating new-era technology... If given more time, perhaps he could truly achieve his initial dream—"to create a new kind of humanity and thus change the world." However, this dream—was shattered today due to a small twist of fate.

This is a "battle space" located deep in the mountains, covering several kilometers in size, far exceeding expectations.

Just now, a battle took place here. ...Is...is that all? Saitama, dressed in his rather tacky Superman suit, awkwardly scratched his head and asked the girl standing behind him. In front of him, a headless corpse over four meters tall, its body covered in armor harder than steel, lay limply on the ground with a loud thud. Countless gushing blood splattered the surrounding ground, making a sound like rain. This headless corpse was named Ashura Rhino Beetle, a powerful monster ranked high in the [Dragon-level (threat to destroy several cities)] category 1, capable of easily killing Genos, let alone now in its berserk Ashura mode. However, it was killed by Saitama's punch in less than a minute. Dr. Genus, who witnessed the entire incident, stared blankly at everything that had happened. "[Apologies] Thank you for your help... Everything will be fine from now on." The girl in the white robe nodded slightly, expressionless. From her appearance, she seemed completely unaffected by the fact that the powerful Asura Rhinoceros Beetle had been instantly defeated. She reached into the rippled air—a virtual space—and pulled out a thick wad of banknotes, walking towards Saitama. "[A gift] As a token of my gratitude for making you come all this way, please accept these." ...I didn't do anything particularly significant... Saitama looked at the thick wad of banknotes before him, which probably equaled his expenses over the past three years. He resisted the temptation and said, "That monster who called himself [Asura Rhinoceros Beetle] was quite dangerous to ordinary people, wasn't he? Defeating him is what a hero should do. If I accept a gift for that reason, it's really..." Saitama looked at the banknotes reluctantly, then gritted his teeth and pushed them back into the girl's hand. Forcing a straight face, Saitama said, "Anyway, that's all settled. I'll head back now! See you next time!" After saying this, Saitama, as if worried about a chemical reaction from spending too much time with that stack of banknotes, smashed through a hardened wall hundreds of meters thick at lightning speed and ran away. Genos, who had witnessed the intense battle between Saitama and the Asura Rhino Beetle, showed an expression that said, "That guy is really strong. I must make him take me as his apprentice!" He then propelled himself away with a rocket... It seems like they'll have a very happy life from now on.

"This is... just because of something like this..." Genus knelt on the ground, his eyes glazed over, pounding the ground with his fists in regret and pain. This morning, he received news from the clone that Mosquito Girl, who had escaped from the House of Evolution, had been killed by the "Evil Spirit." It seemed that the last information was transmitted back via a small tracking camera. Originally, this wasn't information that needed to be taken seriously. After all, Mosquito Girl wasn't a significant asset of the House of Evolution; at most, she was just a research product that died. As for being killed by the "Evil Spirit," that was even more commonplace. [It was common knowledge that the Evil Spirit killed monsters all over the world.]

Another well-known fact is that the opponent possesses top-tier combat abilities. In fact, so far, very few monsters have been able to withstand ten moves from that cyborg girl who likes to indiscriminately launch area-of-effect attacks. Therefore, Genus naturally wouldn't be tempted by revenge and planned to let things pass. Then, the opponent arrived with an even more terrifying force. And without any mercy, she destroyed their strongest force, including the strongest creature he had created so far, the Asura Unicorn. Ah, so that's how it is. So all my nearly one hundred years of painstaking research was in vain? My idea of ​​changing the human species... of making this species evolve—is it impossible? Even a genius scientist like Genus would find it difficult to maintain his confidence after such a humiliating defeat. "[Negative] There's nothing inherently wrong with your idea. The pursuit of evolution—to grow—is an innate human instinct. Without this drive, humans would be no different from mindless beasts." However, the girl who had just shattered his ambition spoke these words to Genus. Her reason for asking Saitama to destroy the "House of Evolution" was to witness Saitama's battle and obtain data for analysis. However, the result was only that Saitama used an attack with a defense higher than Ashura's, killing him in one hit. Nothing was gained. It seemed that continuing to focus on Saitama would yield no results. Because of this thought, she parted ways with Saitama. "[Evil Spirit J... So you can communicate with humans? That's quite a discovery." Genus scoffed in response. Even facing Ayame, the most ferocious weapon in the world, he was no longer afraid. After all, he had nothing left to give up. Just now, his dream had been shattered. He raised his head, ignoring the glasses that had slipped down due to sweat, and roared at the girl: "Since you say that now, then I'll ask you in return! Do you think there's any hope for humanity now? Like now, clearly living in an extremely dangerous world, yet still not changing themselves, but blindly relying on ability users... like you, who joined the Hero Association as a 'hero'... is that the right thing to do!?" He roared unwillingly, a quiet flame of passion burning in his calm scientist eyes. The phenomenon of "[monsters]" didn't just happen in recent years; it existed long ago. Warriors, war gods, generals, heroes... to this day, those who use their immense power to eliminate monsters have been given all sorts of titles. But the strong save the weak, and the weak offer respect and gratitude to the strong. This has been an unchanging fact since ancient times. And Genus—this man who possessed intelligence far exceeding that of ordinary people from a young age—has always harbored deep questions about why the people around him were so foolish. He believes that there is no one in this world who can understand him and communicate with him on an equal footing. In other words, he realized early on that he, this "strongman," was incompatible with this entire world. There is simply no one in this world who can communicate with him as an equal. Therefore, at the age of five, he simply came up with the idea that "I should use my wisdom to help this entire ignorant human world evolve." [Pointing out] "You are distorting the concept. Even if, as you say, the idea that the weak rely on the strong is wrong, your one-sided denial of all humanity and your desire to create a new species to replace them—now that you have been defeated, you shouldn't still try to stand on the moral high ground to criticize others." Don't use righteousness to cover up your mistakes. The girl shattered Genus's insistence with a cold voice. Although people in this world can indeed freely choose the future they want, if it is done under the premise of hindering others, then being defeated and still refuting will only make you look more like a stray dog. "[Conclusion] You should be prepared to bear the consequences of your own actions." Yun You corrected him softly. Although her tone was indifferent, there was no element of falsehood in her words. Because this was indeed the principle she firmly believed in. However, it is precisely because she understands this principle that she feels even more distressed now. Because in the previous world, she chose to follow her heart—to save those who would otherwise face death (creating the cause). Therefore, she had to bear the tragic consequences of her own death and the sunset becoming "all evil" (accepting the effect). Having received such a despairing outcome, she naturally began to doubt her own "heart." Perhaps from the beginning, my idea of ​​analyzing the heart was wrong... she bitterly mocked herself, then spoke up to steer the conversation back on track. "[Correction] Also, although I did join the Hero Association," it was only because it made it easier to obtain operational funds and monster positions. It doesn't mean I personally wanted to become a "hero." Because that kind of thing... is meaningless. Hmm, perhaps it's a bit late to bring this up now, but Yunyou did indeed join that "Hero Association." After all, using the world's resources to support her operation is clearly a wiser approach than searching for monsters alone. In fact, the money she took out when she went shopping earlier came from the Hero Association's funds... But let's leave those things for later. What's more important now is...

Yun You walked over to Genus, who was somewhat dazed from the second mental attack, and asked, "[Question]—Do you know of any other people in this world who defy reason and transcend common sense? As for examples, well, like that bald man from earlier..."

Chapter Fourteen: Long Time No See

Today is a wonderful day. Probably a clear blue sky with fluffy, cotton-candy-like clouds. Probably... After all, I can't see it myself, I can only rely on my past impressions. Iyu brandished the longsword she had named "Medical J" in her hand, feeling the warm sunshine on her body and the gentle breeze caressing her face, thinking to herself...

Although the animal hides she wore were roughly sewn by herself and might not be very attractive, they were at least guaranteed to be comfortable and durable. The soft hides wrapped around her skin, and the fur provided a warm touch. From a purely experiential standpoint, it was world-class. Anyone who had made clothes thousands of times would have acquired this level of skill. Just how long had it been?

Feeling somewhat tired, Yi Yu deftly sheathed the incredibly light longsword, then turned and headed towards the house, following the map in Memory Z. Although she was completely blind, she had lived in this area for over seven years, so basic navigation wasn't a problem for her.

"Ah 09--!" Just as she was thinking this with such confidence, Yi Yu tripped on a stone and tumbled spectacularly onto the grass. Lying on the grass, tears welled in her eyes as she clutched her aching toe from the stone. Luckily, no one she knew saw her in this miserable state, otherwise… Ah, I almost forgot, I don't think I know anyone. After all, most of them are practically dead. Sometimes she really wished she were the "God of War" people talked about. After all, a God of War could easily understand the world just by looking at the air around them, unlike her, who was forced to face only darkness. Thinking about these now irrelevant things, since she had fallen, Yi Yu simply stretched out her limbs, lying on the soft grass, enjoying its fragrance, gazing at the dark world, and letting her imagination run wild about what the sky looked like. Although she had never seen it, it must be a scene so beautiful it would bring tears to her eyes. "...Well, that's about it." The girl with light golden hair that wasn't dazzling but gave off a sense of security murmured. Her snow-white skin looked incredibly soft under the warm sun, just like her delicate appearance, like a fragile object that should be cherished. Feeling the approaching "malice," the girl sighed softly. "What a pity, I thought I could at least hold out for about ten years this time." Although she said "ten years," time had long lost its meaning for Yi Yu—in fact, she had long forgotten how many years she had lived. One year, two years, three years... At first, she would try to remember, but when the span of time crossed a certain threshold, she gave up on such a futile effort. Because ultimately, even if she recorded these things, it would be meaningless. Because no one would ask her anything—she was just living aimlessly. At times like this, she felt that dying was a truly blissful thing. Even though that's what she thought, she couldn't possibly die. Thinking this, the girl slowly used her slender hands to support herself on the grass and stood up. Then, her fair hands grasped the hilt of the "Return of the Blade." Her gaze was fixed on the ground. There, thirteen men wearing "Level-Up Combat Suit," their expressions fierce and menacing, were clearly visible in Iyu's dark vision—because they had already been deemed "dangerous." "Hmph? This is the legendary 'God of War,' and this frail little girl? Are you kidding me?" The tall, burly man at the head wore dark black combat clothing, new equipment they had obtained from "Organization J." Even an ordinary person wearing this equipment could possess the strength to punch the Pentagon several times, let alone these three highly skilled mercenaries known in the industry as the "Death God Thirteen."

Now, donning this combat armor, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe them as having wings—they now even dare to challenge the so-called S-class heroes.

The man squinted at his target, the girl. To him, a professional martial artist, the girl's steps were unsteady, her limbs delicate and frail, and her clothes barely provided warmth. What he found most unbelievable was that she was blind! "This isn't just using a sledgehammer to crack a nut; this is a blatant provocation against us, 'Death God Thirteen.' Looks like we'll have to teach that rich man a lesson." This was blatant disrespect for their strength. As for the claim of "defeating hundreds of monsters," it was probably just exaggerated hearsay from a remote village. In such a backward place, it wasn't a big deal. Just treat it as a joke. A martial god? Ha! That's laughable. The man scoffed, then decided to end the farce quickly. The rich man's order was to "capture the beautiful woman known as the 'Martial God,'" and what he planned to do next was obvious. After all, it's common knowledge that the wealthy man enjoys collecting all sorts of "varieties" of young girls.

However, just before the man was about to give the order, Yi Yu, whom he had already taken for granted, spoke timidly, "Excuse me... what happened to the villagers who originally lived in this village? You didn't harm them..." "OB?" The man burst into laughter, clutching his stomach as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, and then said with a laugh, "You mean those villagers? After they heard what we were here for, they sold your location without hesitation, looking like they were saying, 'Please don't let us get involved in this trouble.'" In fact, even the information about the "Martial God" was sold to a wealthy man by these villagers. Over the years, the development in the mountains has become increasingly large, and these originally simple villagers have been quickly corrupted by the prosperity of the outside world, and have become fond of money. One of them happened to hear the wealthy man's preferences and directly offered up Yi Yu, the lovely girl who had protected the village for many years. Just as Yun You had foreseen, the way Yi Yu chose to get along with others brought about this inevitable betrayal. Trying to connect people based solely on one-sided favors. That's impossible. "Because their stupidity was just too ridiculous—so I killed them all. Guess what their dying screams were—[Lord Martial God, come save me!] Oh? 030808080808! The man, as if showing off, revealed his blood-stained body to the girl, then remembered that she couldn't see. He laughed again, revealing an evil and twisted face: "How about it? Betrayed by the people you've protected for so many years, and unable to protect them in the end, doesn't it feel great? Don't worry, when you're handed over to that rich man, you should be even happier than you are now." As he said this, he stomped his foot on the ground, creating a crater more than three meters deep in the earth and rocks. The splashed sand and gravel flew rapidly in all directions, and the sudden shockwave overturned the originally peaceful grass.

"One—though you'll probably just be grinning like an ecstatic fool when the time comes!" The man raised his fist, the size of a clay pot, and roared with a lewd grin, intending to severely injure the girl first to seal her power. Although he outwardly appeared disdainful of the girl's strength, his years of experience in this dark world taught him that even a lion must use its full strength to hunt a rabbit. Otherwise, he would die at the hands of someone as weak as himself, just like his former master. Following the man's actions, the remaining twelve men silently leaped in all directions, some blocking the girl's escape route, some holding hidden weapons, some drawing weapons to aid the man, and even some preparing to escape and relay intelligence—their name, "Death God Thirteen J," wasn't given lightly... The villagers were all dead.

But Yi Yu let out a soft sigh, her voice tinged with sorrow. "What a pity. I wanted to at least say goodbye to them before I left." -- Then came the sound of countless chunks of flesh falling to the ground. No starting action, no drawing of a sword, no slashing, no screams, no sheathing of the sword. It was as if a slideshow had been cut out of its entirety—only the bloody result before her eyes appeared. Whether it was the man charging forward, the combatants providing support, the combatants hiding in the dense bushes, or the combatants trying to escape, without exception, they were all instantly reduced to countless fragments. Countless chunks of flesh flew through the air, and a foul-smelling rain of bright red blood filled the sky, soaking the girl in crimson. She slowly stepped onto the blocks and walked towards the edge of the village, her dull blue eyes gazing at the pitch-black sky. -- Indeed, she still longed to see what the sky looked like. "So where should I go next?" Feeling the sticky sensation of being covered in blood, the girl decided to go to the waterfall on the north side of the mountain to wash herself off, at least to get rid of the bloody smell. "Huh--?"

At this moment, Yi Yu suddenly showed a look of surprise, turning her gaze towards the village gate. There, a girl in a white robe stood quietly, her expression serene. In the pitch-black world, the snow-white robes of the girl were so dazzling and radiant. Yi Yu smiled gently, looking at her friend whom she hadn't seen for years. "Long time no see, Yun You." Then, she softly uttered in a childish voice. "-- So, you've come to kill me too?"

Chapter Fifteen: The Human Body

—Let's rewind a bit. "You mean someone as incomprehensibly powerful as that bald guy from earlier?" Hearing Yun You's question, Genus, currently in a state of shattered worldview, casually replied: "Of course, I mean those top-ranked S-class heroes in the Hero Association, like you, I. Blast......" "[Negative] That's not what I want to hear. As someone who has researched and developed anti-aging and cloning technologies, you should know something, right? — The 'mystery' hidden in this world."

...Gennas paused for a moment, then turned his gaze back to Yun You. The panic in his eyes behind his glasses was gone, for this was his forte; in this field, he possessed unquestionable confidence. "In my many years of research, in order to find the sample genes needed for the evolution of the human form, I have indeed conducted a great deal of research—whether on humans, animals, or even monsters—and I have achieved a certain degree of success. However, if we're talking about things so irrational that they cannot be explained by existing theories, they are few and far between." "Although I was just speaking casually, the top S-class heroes do indeed possess incomprehensible strength. But if I had to name the person who has impressed me the most over the years, besides that person just now… there's only one other person." Genus looked at Yun You with the expectant, inquisitive gaze characteristic of a mad scientist. Although he probably wouldn't have the chance to witness it, just imagining the scene filled him with pleasure. After all, it could be a battle between two of the world's top powerhouses. "Have you ever heard of the title 'God of War'?" Two years ago, in order to obtain some "rumored" material, he sent out a total of 104 individuals (e.g., Mosquito Girl) who had all failed experiments. The battle was completely incomprehensible, not even worthy of being called powerful—it could only be described as "incomprehensible." However, that wasn't the point. For Gunas, who witnessed everything through remote surveillance, the expression on the blonde girl's face was simply too unforgettable.

That was a helpless, faint smile that appeared after he was certain that all of this was inevitable. It was tinged with a touch of melancholy.

"--So, you've come to kill me too?" Yi Yu looked at Yun You, a faint smile rising on her face, like the warm sun that could melt ice and snow. This was a habit she had cultivated over countless years; no matter what happened, no matter how tragic her fate, as long as she could smile, it was as if she were still in control. Yun You—in her endless life, this girl was one of the few who could surprise her. After all, her "vision" could only see things that posed a threat to her, and Yun You's condition back then was truly close to death; that aura hovering between life and death couldn't deceive her. Yet, even in that situation, she could still clearly see Yun You's figure. What did this represent...? In truth, Yi Yu didn't care. What she needed to do, from the past to the present, remained unchanged—she only needed to follow her "intuition." —Or rather, for her, that was all she could do. Yun You didn't respond to Yi Yu's question, her expression unchanged. After a long while, when all the blood rain had dripped down, leaving blooming blood flowers on the once lush green grass, she strolled towards Yi Yu. Yi Yu looked puzzled, not placing her hand beside her scabbard, for for her, such a gesture was unnecessary. If Yun You showed even the slightest hint of killing intent, or if her "intuition" sensed danger, she could instantly end the battle. This wasn't arrogance or overconfidence—it was simply an inescapable truth. Finally, Yun You reached Yi Yu and extended her small hand from beneath her loose sleeve. Was it coming?

Yi Yu thought to herself calmly. Although she didn't know how You had gotten here, she hadn't forgotten how urgent You had seemed three years ago. You must have something important to discuss, and it was unlikely to be something that could be resolved quickly. Since that was the case, then it was no surprise that You had come to her now. Xiao Ding wouldn't be wasting his time. Although it wasn't true, he currently held the title of "Martial God," so if Yun You intended to subdue him and force him to reveal her so-called secret, that would make sense.

"[Dian Kai] --" Hearing Yun You speak, Yi Yu simply closed her eyes, awaiting the impending "Intuition." "--"Spatial Transfer." However, the next instant, what she awaited was not a terrifying attack capable of slicing off mountains, but rather an icy sensation that instantly overwhelmed her body. The intense stimulation that soaked her entire body made the girl blush and cry out in surprise. "Eek!?" The suddenly splashing icy water refracted a dazzling color in the sunlight.

"No, no, why did it end up like this?!" Yi Yu's cheeks flushed red as she covered her thin frame with her hands, quickly putting on the animal skin clothes that Yun You had just used her all-powerful magic to dry. Although she was blind and didn't have the ability of a "Martial God" to perceive her surroundings through her other senses, she could still roughly understand her surroundings. Moreover, the hint given was too great. The sound of the waterfall roared in her ears, the pebbles under her feet still carried the warmth of the sunlight, and the damp wind inhaled into her lungs was refreshing—this was obviously the place she originally wanted to come to, the waterfall located on the north side of the mountain. But—the key question is, why was she brought here?! "[Confused] Your clothes are dirty, but your eyesight is impaired, so is there a problem with me, as your friend, bringing you here?"

Yun You replied in a matter-of-fact tone, "Then there's no problem..." "I see. You specially came to this remote mountain at this time to guide me here after three years apart and after I've just finished a killing spree, to help me wash off the blood. That's only natural." Yi Yu nodded, then exclaimed, "No! This isn't normal!" "So the reason you specially came back here is to... wait, wait, why are you taking off your clothes?! Ee-eh?" Yi Yu originally wanted to directly ask Yun You the real reason for coming here, and what her thoughts were about him, but before she could finish her sentence, she hurriedly turned her head away. Because at this moment, the expressionless white-haired girl crossed her arms and grasped the hem of her white robe, pulling it up deftly—her snow-white skin was made even whiter by the sunlight, although it contained many complex mechanical devices... However, this did not diminish the girl's charm; rather, it added a unique beauty to her. For Yi Yu, who rarely had the opportunity to interact with others, the destructive power of this was indescribable. Even more crucially, due to her ability, even if she looked away and covered her eyes, every detail of Yun You's body would still appear vividly in her mind. "[Explanation] Since you've already washed yourself, it's normal to switch places now. After all, I haven't really cleaned myself in water for several days—this isn't a public place, and you won't do anything to me, so I can rest assured, right?"