"Well yeah, I know they're dead," Raito said quietly. "Touzuki… he died right in front of me, and Makito in the dungeon. It all happened while we were trapped in the locked train station. And Ayana… she was Touzuki's girlfriend. I know the reason Touzuki hated me was because I was her childhood friend."
Renji frowned, but forced a smile. "What's with that gloomy face of yours? Brighten up and eat. we still need to celebrate your manifestation."
"Yeah, you're right," Raito said, quickly digging into his noodles. "Let me finish before it gets cold." He ate fast, then leaned back with a sigh. "I feel so full… I'm so sorry."
"Same here." Renji chuckled. "I really enjoyed this meal. Honestly, I'm glad we had this conversation."
"Yeah," Raito agreed. "So, when will you be going on your next quest? Since you're rank C now."
"Well, They isn't any mission specifically for me at the moment," Renji said.
"Oh, I see." Raito nodded, then stood.
"Hey, where are you going?" Renji asked, standing as well.
Together, they left the restaurant.
"Wow," Raito said as they walked. "That was one of the best noodles I've ever tasted."
"Yeah. The old man really knows his job," Renji said with a grin. Then his expression grew serious. "Tell me, what kind of monster came out of the dungeon? I'm not sure, I just want to know. Before coming here I went to the locked station, I saw how wrecked it was.
Raito's steps slowed.
"To be sincere," he said quietly, "since you're my friend… promise me you won't tell anyone."
"I'm not a fan of making promises, but I promise I won't tell anyone," Renji said.
"Right," Raito replied. "It was a Speedstar Inferno Demon."
"You're kidding, right?" Renji's eyes widened. "That thing is capable of destroying an entire city. That's an S-rank monster."
"Well, yeah," Raito said, his voice steady. "That's the truth. Ayane knows about this, and a few others too."
"Who defeated it? Tell me—I want to hear it for myself." Renji leaned forward.
"It was me," Raito admitted. "In that very moment, when I tried to protect someone, my power manifested."
Renji's chopsticks nearly slipped from his hand. "Then listen carefully. If what you're saying is true, don't tell anyone else. And make sure the people you already told keep it secret too."
"Yeah. I plan not to." Raito nodded.
"Good," Renji said firmly. "Because right now, if word spreads, you'll be the one in danger. Not because of the demon, but because of people. You came out of nowhere, not even rank A, nowhere near S, and you're claiming to have defeated an S-rank monster. They'll drag you into a lab, try to experiment on you, or even take you out. Other hunters might see you as a threat to their reputation and legacy."
"Wait—really? Are you sure about this?" Renji asked, his voice hushed.
"Yeah," Raito said. "To some people, being a hunter isn't about saving the world. It's about status, about legacy."
Renji studied him closely. "Are you truly that powerful?"
"To be honest… no, I'm not," Raito admitted. "It only worked once. I'm alive, but right now I'm only strong enough to stand at rank D."
"But since you defeated it, what happened to the remains?" Renji asked.
"Well… I can't answer that for now," Raito replied.
"Wow. You're truly outstanding," Renji said. "No wonder the people who were there refused to talk. They all said a monster appeared, but no one mentioned what kind. Some claimed it ran back into the dungeon, but it was suspicious. There were shattered walls, broken structures—signs of something powerful."
"I don't know about that," Raito said. "But right now, I'm weak. That power I used… I can't access it anymore. Not until I find a way to make it stronger."
Renji leaned back, still staring at him. "Yeah. I didn't even expect this. But please—don't tell anyone. And I promise myself I won't tell anyone either."
They clasped hands firmly.
"Also, I wanted to tell you something," Renji added. "I won't be around for a while."
"Wait, where are you going? You said you don't have any mission or quest," Raito asked.
"Yeah, it's more like a vacation," Renji said with a faint smile. "And since you don't have much, take this—money. Thirty thousand yen."
He pulled out the bills and handed them over. Raito hesitated, then accepted and tucked it into his pocket.
"I really appreciate it. Thank you," Raito said quietly.
"When I'm back, we'll see each other again. But for now…" Renji's grin returned. "Let's go drink. At least half a bottle before I leave."