"You're S-Class hero King, aren't you? I will erase you here!"
The towering G4 Mecha God looked down at King and said.
"You know I'm S-Class Rank 9, King, the one called the Strongest Man on Earth, and you still dare say that?"
King had his hands in his pockets, not even raising his head.
He seemed utterly disdainful of an opponent of this level.
His overwhelming aura instantly stunned the fleeing bystanders.
"It's S-Class hero King!"
"We're saved! That's the man called the Strongest on Earth!"
"King has completed seven consecutive Demon- and Dragon-level missions. He's recognized as the strongest S-Class!"
The panicked citizens suddenly found their backbone.
They stopped running, their eyes burning with hope as they gazed at the man in the light blue hoodie—King!
Previously, King had the record of directly defeating the Dragon-level monster Vaccine Man, along with other Demon-level threats!
All were instantly killed!
The witnesses dubbed him the Strongest Man on Earth.
Even within the Hero Association, veterans like Silver Fang treated him with respect.
"I said, I've come to take your life!"
The G4 Mecha God sneered.
The massive alloy greatsword several meters long was drawn, its shining blade pointing at King.
But the so-called Strongest Man on Earth, King, remained expressionless.
Doom doom doom doom~~
A deep, rumbling sound suddenly echoed.
The citizens all cried out in shock.
"That sound… is that… the King Engine? It's the King Engine!"
"What's the King Engine?"
"You don't know? When you hear that sound, it means King has entered battle mode! They say monsters who hear it all die of fright!"
Spurred on by the sound of the King Engine, the frightened citizens found courage.
Some even shouted for King to kill this G4 monster and show the might of his King Engine!
"This is also a test for my battle AI. To gather data, I've chosen you to fight!"
The G4 Mecha God pointed his sword right at King's face.
King calmly stared at the unfamiliar robot.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"I understand. But… may I go to the bathroom first? If I fight while holding in a dump, I can only unleash half my strength. That would ruin your data collection."
King raised his head, his gaze cold.
The G4 Mecha God pondered for a few seconds before nodding slightly. The blade remained pointed at King.
"I'll wait ten minutes. For every minute you don't return, I'll kill ten people."
"King, I support you! Go to the bathroom and come back soon!"
"You'll definitely defeat him, King!"
"Go, go!"
Amid the cheers of countless citizens, King walked slowly away.
Because the Strongest Man on Earth was present, the people who had planned to flee were now brimming with excitement.
In their hearts, King was invincible. As long as he appeared, monsters were destined to be crushed!
This time, he was just going to take a dump.
When he came back, that so-called G4 Mecha God would be finished!
Public restroom.
Five minutes later.
King's expression was no longer calm and cold.
His face was twisted in terror, drenched with sweat, nearly collapsing by the toilet.
"Why did it come to this?! I'm not strong at all! I'm just a 29-year-old jobless shut-in!"
"What's this King Engine crap? It's just my terrified heartbeat… multiplied tenfold! Every time I ran into powerful monsters, I was ready to die… but then, somehow, the monsters were defeated before I knew it!"
"It just kept happening over and over! And then the Hero Association handed me an S-Class certificate and called me the strongest new hero!"
"I admit I was lazy and never clarified things… but I never thought it would come this far! I can't take this anymore… I never wanted to be some damn hero!"
King was completely losing it, trembling on the floor, soaked in cold sweat, on the verge of vomiting.
He was riding a tiger and couldn't get off.
"Oh? You're King? Are you okay?"
At that moment, a curious voice came from the next stall.
King turned and saw a bald head and round fish-like eyes peering at him.
Saitama had come alone today, having heard there was a supermarket sale nearby.
Fastening his belt, he looked curiously at the man often talked about but whom he was meeting for the first time—King, the man of the King Engine.
"Sai… Saitama! Ah—thank goodness! You're here! The heavens don't want me dead!"
The joy of salvation lit King's face.
Saitama, ranked higher at S-Class 2, was standing right before him. But… why did Saitama look familiar? Where had he seen him before?
He couldn't recall. But then he realized something terrifying.
Because of what he had just said!
He thought no one had heard.
"Just now… what I said…"
King's heart pounded wildly—the so-called King Engine roaring (actually his panicked heartbeat).
Saitama looked at him calmly.
"Oh, I heard everything."
He pressed his cheek with one hand, speaking plainly.
Damn it!
Was that necessary?
You heard everything?!
The S-Class Rank 8, the King Engine himself, exposed as a fraud?
Would Saitama… silence him?!
Thud!
Without hesitation, King collapsed, bawling like a child.
"Waaaah~~"
He sobbed uncontrollably.
"Sai… Saitama! Please, don't tell anyone… please, don't let them know what I am… I, I, I…"
His mind blanked, panic taking over.
If the truth—that he was weak—spread, the legend of King, the Strongest Man on Earth, would collapse.
From the peak, he would fall to the depths, reviled by all.
The weight was unbearable.
Rumble~~
The ground quaked with explosions and screams.
The G4 Mecha God had begun its slaughter.
King's face turned pale, all semblance of dignity gone. He seemed weaker than any ordinary citizen.
"Oh? You're afraid, King?"
Saitama looked at him calmly.
"The monster seems to be rampaging outside. Want to go out there with me and face it?"
(End of Chapter)
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