In reality, Infinite Seaweed was stiff as a puppet.
His eyes, hidden in the gaps of his seaweed body, were filled with extreme terror.
He was like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered on a chopping block—completely losing the will to resist—fully immersed in the terrifying illusion that stemmed from the depths of his soul, triggered by the Emperor Engine's "Spirit Resonance."
Kaito glanced at the system interface visible only to him:
"Deterrence Points: 575."
Without the slightest hesitation, with a shift of thought, 200 Deterrence Points were instantly consumed!
Ding! Skill "Carbonated Gas Bomb" proficiency has increased to 'Minor Accomplishment' (0/600)!
Effect Update: Carbonation concentration and corrosiveness greatly increased. Form adjustment is now possible!
"It's over."
Kaito looked at Infinite Seaweed with icy eyes, as if staring at garbage that was about to be disposed of.
Carbonated Gas Bomb – Minor Accomplishment!
A condensed, solid-like dark green beam of light tore through the air, emitting a sharp shriek as it accurately struck Infinite Seaweed's pitch-black body!
Pfft—!!!
There was no earth-shattering explosion—only a spine-chilling sound of corrosive dissolution.
The corrosiveness of a Minor Accomplishment–level Carbonated Gas Bomb had reached a terrifying degree.
With just one strike!
The Tiger-Level peak monster, Infinite Seaweed, convulsed violently a few times without even managing a scream, then collapsed with a crash.
Half of his body rapidly melted into a bubbling black viscous liquid, like ice cream under a scorching sun.
The night wind blew, carrying a strong acidic smell and an air of deathly silence.
Fubuki had witnessed it all. Her red lips parted slightly, and her emerald-like eyes were filled with shock.
Is this... the strength of "The Strongest Man on Earth," King?!
So effortless. So relaxed.
With just one move, he had instantly killed a powerful enemy that even she found terrifying!
And that overwhelming deterrent force—even though it wasn't directed at her—made her legs go weak.
What made her heart beat even faster was that, even now, King's strong arm was still wrapped around her waist.
She could clearly feel his firm abs and his scorching body temperature...
"Alright. The blind trash is dealt with."
Kaito released his hand, his voice returning to its usual calmness.
But Fubuki keenly noticed that his gaze lingered on her for an extra second—especially on her chest, which was slightly rising and falling with her agitated breathing...
"Th-Thank you, King-sama..."
Fubuki lowered her head, a captivating blush spreading across her cheeks.
She suddenly felt very grateful that the night could conceal her flushed face.
Kaito walked over to the unconscious A-Class heroes and checked their injuries.
"They just fainted. Nothing serious."
He took out his phone to contact the Hero Association's medical team, picked up the scattered seaweed on the ground, and then turned to Fubuki.
"Let's go. Saitama and the others are still waiting for our ingredients."
Fubuki nodded obediently and trotted to catch up with Kaito's pace.
Under the moonlight, their shadows gradually lengthened—
eventually merging together...
At this moment, no one noticed that in the shadow of a distant abandoned building, a strange figure was silently observing everything.
A pink flesh ball, about the size of a human head, with fleshy wings flapping on both sides.
Its main body was occupied by an enormous single eye, rolling around with an unsettling sense of prying curiosity.
"Interesting... very interesting..."
A hoarse voice echoed in the darkness.
"King... your strength... is even greater than what the intelligence described.
And Fubuki... you...
I'm really looking forward to our next meeting..."
Accompanied by a chilling laugh, the figure slowly sank into the ground and disappeared...Later that night…By the time Kaito and Fubuki returned to Saitama's small house, the night had already deepened.
Click—
The moment the door opened, a rich hotpot aroma wafted out.
In the center of the low tea table in the living room, an old-fashioned copper pot was bubbling with steam, and the special-priced cabbage at the bottom had already been stewed until soft.
Saitama was sprawled on the floor like a dried fish, his bald head reflecting the TV's glow, his finger idly picking at his belly button.
"I thought you two had eloped!"
He scrambled up, rubbing his deflated stomach and whining,
"I'm almost starving to death! Genos—that stubborn old man—insisted on waiting for you two to come back before eating!"
Genos's serious voice came from the kitchen:
"Sensei, hospitality is basic etiquette."
Kaito chuckled and shook the bulging plastic bag in his hand.
"I ran into a rude monster on the way, which delayed me a bit. These are the spoils of war—perfect for making soup base."
A corner of dark green seaweed poked out of the bag.
"Seaweed?!"
Saitama's eyes instantly lit up.
"This is great stuff—it can double the umami of the soup! Genos! Hurry!"
Genos poked his head out of the kitchen.
"Sensei, I remember there were rumors that seaweed is good for hair, but there's no medical basis or any real evidence proving it can promote hair growth."
"Who wants to hear that?!"
Saitama snatched the plastic bag and tore it open roughly.
"Getting it into the pot is the real business!"
"The internet says seaweed can grow hair... Saitama-kun wouldn't be…?"
Fubuki elegantly took off her coat and hung it behind the door.
She walked with a cat-like grace to the tea table and knelt down, her dark green skirt spreading in an elegant arc across the floor.
Saitama's movements froze mid-air.
His face darkened...
at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Genos, completely oblivious, continued in a serious tone:
"But Sensei, after my detailed investigation, this claim lacks scientific basis. For example, this authoritative website clearly states—"
"Shut up!"
Saitama's fists clenched, knuckles cracking audibly.
"I never said I wanted to grow hair!"
Fubuki, right on cue, covered her mouth as she chuckled. A mischievous glint sparkled in her emerald-like eyes.
"Oh? So our B-Class dead last still cares about that, huh?"
"You—!"
Saitama's face reddened. It looked like smoke might start rising from his head. He was just about to erupt—
But before he could, Kaito calmly handed him a glass of ice-cold beer.
"Alright, let's eat."
Kaito's voice cut smoothly through the rising tension, adjusting the atmosphere with practiced ease.
He dropped a few slices of wagyu beef into the pot.
The marbled red-and-white beef unfurled in the bubbling soup, releasing a mouthwatering aroma that shifted everyone's focus back to the food.
And just like that, their long-delayed hotpot dinner kicked off with laughter and heat.
In the steam rising from the pot, the silhouettes of the four people sitting around it danced gently on the wall. Their chopsticks occasionally tangled as they competed for the best slices of meat, creating bursts of laughter and casual bickering.
In the world of One-Punch Man, public mobility and rapid response for heroes were essential—
so maglev trains operated 24/7.
By the time Kaito returned to M City and opened the door to his apartment, the clock had already struck 1:00 a.m.
Only a dim wall lamp was lit in the living room, casting a soft golden glow that traced the outlines of the furniture.
Curled up quietly on the sofa was Mosquito Girl, fast asleep.
Her pale cheeks appeared especially serene in the dim light. Long eyelashes cast delicate shadows beneath her eyes, and her slightly parted lips released the faintest, rhythmic breathing.
On the tea table, a plate of exquisite wagashi and a cup of still-warm black tea were neatly arranged.
Kaito walked over and touched the teacup.
The lingering warmth told him she must have reheated the tea and snacks multiple times, waiting—just so he'd have something warm when he got home.
That small detail brought a rare softness to his usually guarded heart.
He tiptoed to the sofa, bent down, and gently lifted Mosquito Girl into his arms.
In her sleep, she instinctively snuggled into his embrace, letting out a faint, kitten-like whimper.
The curtains in the guest room weren't fully drawn, and a slender beam of moonlight spilled across the bed.
Kaito carefully laid Mosquito Girl on the neatly made bedding.
As he pulled the blanket over her, she murmured in her dream:
"Boss... Welcome home..."
His hand paused in midair for a moment.
Then, wordlessly, he tucked the corner of the blanket a little tighter around her.
Under the moonlight, Mosquito Girl's lips curved into a peaceful smile, as if she were having a beautiful dream.
As Kaito quietly exited the room, he didn't notice it himself—
But a nearly imperceptible smile had also formed on his lips.