[Side Quest: Dragon-level Bane]
[Quest Content: Eliminate 10 Dragon-level monsters]
[Quest Reward: 3 million experience points, 100,000 exchange coupons]
[Side Quest: Demon-level Killer]
[Quest Content: Eliminate 100 Demon-level monsters]
[Quest Reward: 1 million experience points, 100,000 exchange coupons]
[Side Quest: Tiger-level Hunter]
[Quest Content: Eliminate 1,000 Tiger-level monsters]
[Quest Reward: 500,000 experience points, 100,000 exchange coupons]
Aside from the "Hero King" quest, three more side quests popped up, all basically related to eliminating monsters.
"1,000 Tiger-level monsters is one thing, but to eliminate 10 Dragon-level monsters—"
"With no God-level, Dragon-level reigns supreme. In the original work, Dragon-level monsters were arguably the top combat force among monsters, and the Dragon-level monsters that appeared could be counted on two hands. This is asking me to wipe out all of these Dragon-level monsters."
"And there are also astonishing Demon-level and Tiger-level monsters. It seems I'll have to take down the entire Monster Association."
"I don't know if the Monster Association has formed yet. I'll eliminate other monsters one by one for now."
Naruto's thoughts shifted, and he tossed all the pop-ups into the [Messages] bar.
Saitama also blinked his dead fish eyes: "S-Class? Sounds impressive? Does that mean the salary is even higher?"
Only then did the senior executive notice Saitama.
He looked at his "plain" appearance, his mob character art style, and then took the folder handed to him by a staff member.
"His written test score was horrendous, but his physical test was actually perfect. Very good, very good."
The physical test score sheet didn't record the specific score, only that it was perfect, so the executive was merely surprised.
The senior executive hesitated.
Listening to Saitama's implied meaning, could he also want to become an S-Class Hero?
Considering he came with Naruto, he might not be simple, so the senior executive asked: "Mr. Naruto, what is your relationship with Mr. Saitama—"
Saitama was the first to answer: "Naruto is my teacher."
"Teacher, student?"
"Oh~ I see, you are Mr. Naruto's disciple, no wonder you could easily achieve a perfect score in the physical test. Indeed, a famous teacher produces a brilliant student."
The senior executive clapped his hands in sudden realization.
"Since that's the case, let's grant this Mr. Saitama an A-Class Hero license!"
"Leader, this—this doesn't comply with the rules, does it?"
"What doesn't comply with the rules? What are rules for? Of course, they're for breaking! It's decided!!"
The senior executive's voice rose by several decibels, emphasizing noncommittally that his most important goal was to recruit Naruto. As for what level of Hero license to give Saitama, that was a minor matter.
In the Hero system, there were many cases of masters taking disciples. The most typical example was Atomic Samurai and his several disciples, who were also A-Class Heroes.
"Under—understood," the staff member could only comply.
"Teacher, I've become an A-Class Hero."
Saitama was quite happy.
Of course, not because A-Class was a higher rank than C-Class, but because it sounded like an A-Class Hero would get more salary.
Naruto smiled.
Among everyone present, only he knew how strong Saitama truly was.
If he were the chairman of the Hero Association, let alone a mere A-Class Hero license, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to ask Blast to step down and give Saitama the number one S-Class ranking.
After exchanging pleasantries with the senior executive, Naruto and Saitama returned to his apartment, eager to see if the Underground City shop had refreshed Saitama's abilities.
"Not yet?"
"Is Saitama's ability too buggy to be listed, or does it have to wait until Saitama's Hero license comes through?"
Not finding Saitama's abilities, Naruto had no choice but to give up and begin his Hero activities—doing quests!
In the early stages, Demon-level and even Dragon-level monsters were still relatively rare.
Eliminating Tiger-level monsters could be directly entrusted to Shadow Clones by Naruto.
On this day, the emergency broadcast of the Hero Association blared across the city: "Alert! A super-giant monster has appeared in City B! Over a hundred meters tall! Disaster level: Demon, potentially rising to Dragon! It is currently destroying the city! Requesting emergency assistance from nearby Heroes!"
"City B, huh?"
Saitama, sitting cross-legged on the tatami mat, prepared to stand up, but Naruto stopped him with a "Sit down."
"Leave it to me."
"Alright—"
Saitama rubbed the back of his head, felt there was no big problem, and then took a manga book from the bookshelf to read.
"City B, it seems to be that giant."
Naruto turned on the TV and glanced at it.
On the screen, a giant as vast as a small mountain was wantonly destroying City B. One stomp could flatten a block, and a casual wave could stir up a gale, capable of plowing half the urban area into a Kitsuchi basin. Ordinary Heroes couldn't even get close, and the attacks of A-Class Heroes were like tickles to him, leaving them helpless.
Above City B.
With a "swoosh," Naruto instantly teleported there, appearing out of thin air.
"Oh~ quite a size, a few hundred meters, I suppose."
He simply floated in front of the giant, appearing as tiny as a speck of dust in comparison.
"Another guy who doesn't know what's good for him. Quick, little brother, quickly slap him to death!" the older brother, Forko, standing on the giant's shoulder, shouted excitedly and distortedly.
"Hmm? A bug?"
The giant noticed Naruto and let out a booming laugh. His enormous palm swung over like swatting a fly, and the wind pressure it generated was enough to blow away a small mountain!
"Let me try the Ninjutsu I've learned and created over these three years."
Naruto neither dodged nor evaded, merely extending a single finger casually.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains: Modified."
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!"
Several Chakra chains, originally used to seal Tailed Beasts and shimmering with golden runes, shot out from Naruto's fingertip.
These chains were as fine as hair at Naruto's fingertip, but as they shot out, they grew with the wind, becoming thicker and longer, like several majestic and imposing golden steel dragons. They seemed to possess life, instantly coiling around the giant's swinging hand, then rapidly spreading along his arm.
Wherever they passed, the giant's immense power rapidly drained away like a punctured balloon, and his huge arm fell limply!
"What?! My power?!"
The giant watched in horror as the golden chains instantly wrapped around his entire body like lightning, forming a huge sealing network!
"Too big, a bit in the way. Let's make it smaller."
Naruto said, forming a simple hand seal.
"Sealing Ninjutsu: Size Sealing!"
Immediately, the sealing chains wrapped around the giant's entire body erupted in a dazzling golden light.
The giant let out a desperate roar. His massive body rapidly shrank in the golden light at a visible speed!
A hundred meters. Fifty meters—ten meters—one meter. Finally, he became only palm-sized. Due to the giant's drastic shrinking, the older brother, Forko, who was originally standing on his shoulder, fell from several hundred meters high, with predictable results.
In the ruins.
The palm-sized "giant" was still yelling "Waaah!" but couldn't even move a single brick.