I want to become a Kamen Rider

Fan Kang scratched his head, somewhat puzzled.

"You mean, your future self is visiting your present self in a dream because I will die in the upcoming battle?"

Hiiragi Tina nodded.

It was clear that she was trying to find an expression on his face other than indifference, but she didn't.

"Yes, I understand. There have been quite a few incidents like this lately. Although it sounds absurd, I believe you."

He simply nodded.

"Don't look at me like that, I really believed it."

"This card is the evidence."

Tina Hiiragi revealed the card that she was supposed to have Sakuta Azusagawa deliver, but the figure on the card was not white, but pitch black.

Wrinkled and covered in tear stains, it's clear she's been held and cried countless times; it's definitely not the pristine photo from three days ago.

Seeing this card, he could indeed understand Hiiragi Tina's worries and sorrow, but from his perspective, he couldn't say anything nice.

What could he say? That I am immortal and will never die?

When Tina Hiiragi clings to his leg to stop him from fighting, she'll probably tell a lie like, "I'm the most, most, most powerful Kamen Rider. No matter what kind of enemy I encounter or what kind of danger I face, I will never back down and I will definitely come back alive."

As for now, Fan Kang is certain that if anyone dares to put this card into the Alien Rider Driver, both he and Tina Hiiragi will be in big trouble. This power is real, and so is the danger.

"This card is too dangerous for you. Let me keep it for now."

Without saying a word, he confiscated Hiiragi Tina's card.

Hiiragi Tina opened her mouth, looking at the confiscated card, then at Fan Kang who looked completely at ease, her eyes filled with great confusion.

Clearly... clearly, given that she was told she would die in the future, shouldn't the minister be the one feeling shocked, panicked, and confused? Shouldn't she be the one comforting the minister and showing her adult side? Why is the minister acting so... calm? And even confiscating her "evidence"?

"Minister, do you even understand what I'm saying...?"

she repeated.

"I mean, you will die in the battles to come!"

"I know."

He smiled and nodded, his calm tone sending a chill down one's spine.

"I knew from the beginning that I would die in battle."

"..."

Hiiragi Tina was struck dumb, freezing in place.

All her blood seemed to rush to her head, only to freeze in the next second. At first, she thought that as long as she could persuade the minister to avoid war or adopt safer tactics, she could escape that terrible future. Later, thinking of the man's unique, almost obsessive way of being, she began to practice her skills desperately.

But only now did she understand why he could get used to it.

"How many giant beasts were there in your dream at that time?"

"I...I can't count them all..."

Hiiragi Tina's voice was dry.

"Really? I've actually lived that long. Looks like I'm quite capable after all..."

As he said this, the boy held out his hand to her, where there was a piece of candy.

But she dared not accept it.

"Thank you for the information, Mutina. Now, I only have one question about that future."

Hiiragi Tina looked up blankly: "...?"

Fan Kang looked directly into her eyes, his clear gaze filled with no fear, only pure inquiry, "In the end, did I win?"

"..."

Her lips trembled, and the image of that dark figure burning with black flames amidst the endless tide of beasts, ultimately engulfing everything along with itself in a blazing white light, flashed through her mind. Even though she couldn't utter the answer, the expression on her face, the grief welling up in her eyes, and her earlier heart-wrenching sobs were clear enough to convey everything.

Both the cost and the result are the same.

"Really? It's good that you won."

"..."

“I know this is hard for you to accept, but as I told you a long time ago, just as I can’t accept any girl’s feelings, I can’t promise you anything.”

Fan Kang patted her head, ruffled her purple hair, took her hand, opened it, and gently placed the tobacco candy inside.

"Leave everything to time. You will meet many more people in the future, and I am just the one who passed the first baton to you."

He prepared to step out the door.

Then, a voice came from behind.

"Minister, did you become so strong to protect others?"

"Ah."

With the moon and stars shining brightly overhead, and unusually, a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Then I will also become stronger in order to protect the minister."

Chapter Sixty-Nine: Under the Sun (4K)

I don't know where I heard this saying, but it's a saying that a city is just a bunch of people living together in loneliness.

The towering buildings cast enormous shadows that cut through the thin sunlight; the streets were empty and deserted, save for the occasional rumble of passing vehicles. As dawn broke, Fan Kang got up early, in a good mood.

At least I'm not living under a bridge anymore, and I can finally see the blue sky when I look up—that's a welcome improvement. Although seeing Kyubey curled up asleep next to my bed this morning still dampened my mood a bit.

"Let me see today's schedule. In the morning, I'll meet with Katagiri Nanase to discuss some matters with the Knights Council. In the afternoon, I'll work at the comic convention dressed as Kuuga to earn some living expenses. In the evening, I'll hunt down the last group of Gurongi in East Asia."

I glanced at my watch; there were very few red dots. Despite my long-term efforts, I'm still very busy and tired, but days like today, where my schedule is full but not endless, are becoming more frequent.

If the intensity of the battles used to be relentless, it has decreased considerably recently, to the point where it might cause ordinary people to worry about dying from overwork.

As expected, the suspicious white alien creature skillfully jumped onto his shoulder, its first words of the morning being provocation:

'King, you really don't care at all about the future where you die, as Tina Hiiragi mentioned?'

"It's no use caring, anyway, everyone has to die sooner or later."

He put down his watch, walked to the small sink, and splashed cold water on his face. The icy water droplets slid down his sharply defined jawline.

He pushed open the creaking iron door of the rented room, walked to the equally simple door across the street, and knocked.

Aren't you scared?

"I was terrified."

'Is feigning nonchalance just showing off?'

"No, it's because we want to protect them."

After waiting a few seconds across the hall, the silver-haired, pale-eyed girl rushed out.

Good morning, boss!

"Good morning."

He gently straightened her clothes and hat, and seeing the girl's lively and energetic appearance, Fan Kang secretly rejoiced that he was still able to take care of himself after losing his memory, otherwise he would be in big trouble.

He was heartbroken about paying for an extra room, but the thought of what was about to happen made him a little happier.

"Are you ready?"

The girl nodded frantically:

"Boss, boss, I'm ready! I'm ready!"

"All ready? Let's go!"

"Ooh ooh ooh ooh!"

Fan Kang issued orders with great confidence and authority.

What lies ahead of me?

"You're freeloading! You'll bankrupt the person who's going to treat you!"

Fan Kang slapped the girl on the head with a chop to the neck and scolded her.

"Be more tactful."

The girl covered her head, her eyes darting around before she immediately adopted a "I know the rules" expression, lowered her voice, and said in a serious tone:

"Uphold the spirit of eating a lot, remain polite while others are talking, and then stuff food into your mouth like crazy. Let them talk, we'll eat."

"Very good, very energetic."

He reached out and took the girl's hand, which was calloused, cool, and soft. The girl noticed his gesture, then squeezed his hand back tightly, a bright smile blooming on her face.

Fan Kang pulled her along, striding towards the door at the end of the corridor, the one that shone with the morning light. He raised his other hand, his index finger pointing straight out like a sword at the city streets outside, just beginning to awaken and bustling with traffic, his voice carrying the exhilaration of someone about to embark on a grand feast.

"Let's go, let's freeload a meal!"

Kewpie on the shoulder chimed in at just the right moment:

'It's amazing that Kangjun can talk about freeloading meals with such heroic spirit...'

"If I raise such a glutton, am I really going to have to pay for her meals out of my own pocket if I don't take her out to freeload?"

Fan Kang spoke with conviction.

However, somewhat unexpectedly, what followed was not the usual instigation and seduction, but rather the white demon on the shoulder, who seemed genuinely concerned with the advice:

'She accomplished the epic task of getting Kangjun to take her hand so easily—something no one else could do. This amnesia was a brilliant move. Men really do like naive girls. Doesn't Kangjun find her suspicious? Doesn't he think she has ulterior motives?'

"You're not allowed to talk about Xiaofeng like that."

"Here we go again, you've called Xiaofeng out again, just because she's a little more useful?! I think you've really been blinded by a useful free laborer, Kangjun."

"What do you mean by 'free labor'? I'm not as heartless as you make me out to be. I provide meals and lodging, okay? Besides, according to the usual tropes, this kind of scenario should happen when I've fallen for a honey trap. It would be more reasonable for you to angrily say that I was blinded by beauty..."

Cupid sneered:

Is it possible?

"...It seems so."

Having finally managed to reduce the intensity of the battle a little, he made up his mind.

"No matter what you say, I'm not going to give up this free labor that I can use to my heart's content while she's suffering from amnesia!"

Once she regains her memory and uncovers the truth, kill her if her hands are stained with blood.

If they are innocent, then release them.

Sunlight streamed through the doorway, where a large and a small couple held hands, each carrying a suspicious white alien creature on their shoulders, blending into the city's hustle and bustle.

……

……

Here we need to correct an impression: although he himself slept under bridges and had to borrow money to make a living, living a very hard life, most contract knights are not like that.

In particular, the group of Contract Knights is very large, not just Japanese high school students, but unlucky people whom Kyubey has tricked and recruited all over the world. It is perfectly normal for rich and talented people to be mixed in.

As time goes by, it will eventually become more standardized and rationalized. Although human society may find it difficult to provide real combat support when facing those earth-shattering behemoths, the enemy is not only the behemoths. Whether for the sake of social order or the real need for convenient combat, the necessary connections and communication should not be neglected.

I've heard that some knight councils in economically developed regions are planning to issue special combat allowances to promising contract knights and to standardize combat procedures.

The reason why the Knights Council of Azure Island is so abstract is because of its main activity area and settlement in this vicinity, based on the history of giant beast attacks.

If less blood is lost, the growth will inevitably be less complete.

The abstract nature of Japanese politics also has some influence.

In conclusion, not all knight councils are like the original Azure Island knight council, where everyone had to chip in to buy even a display screen. Perhaps Kyubey's magical selection system led to the unique phenomenon of underage boys and girls saving the world, but... none of those who survived were truly idiots.

Even the most easily broken and desperate person, outside of Kamen Rider Kuuga's main activity area, must have at least a few times, learn to stand up on their own two feet and find ways to solve the problems they face.

In this way, even if they cannot compare to him, there will still be reliable knights.

The elite forces of Europe were unable to support North America, those of South Asia were unable to support East Asia, and those of West Africa were powerless to help other continents. Although they were given the same title as the Knights Council, it was only because it was a name he had chosen arbitrarily. The Knights Councils of different regions and countries were essentially fighting their own battles, a disorganized mess, and they all received aid from him on an equal footing.

This phenomenon is caused by many factors, such as sectarianism, estrangement, and lack of integration. But the most crucial factor is that he is the only one with the ability, flexibility, and, most importantly, the willingness to give selflessly.