Chapter 379: Saitama's Choice
"Teacher, why are we still here?"
Genos, also wearing a yellow apron at this moment, was replenishing various sold-out goods between the supermarket shelves with Saitama.
It seemed that due to the increase in various incidents recently, many people started to panic and stockpile various supplies.
The supermarket business was exceptionally good at this time.
Various data constantly appeared in Genos's electronic eyes. Doing this kind of work, he looked much more like a veteran than Saitama.
Positions and prices of various goods, once seen, wouldn't be mistaken again.
Instead, Saitama, who had been working here for a while, frequently touched his head, as if falling into thought.
Facing Genos's question, Saitama stopped again.
Yeah, why am I doing these things here again...
He felt he probably forgot something, but that thing probably wasn't very important, so he wasn't very distressed.
Just pausing for a moment, he continued working. Turning back, he saw the 'Gift Pack' left for him by the store manager in the staff lounge.
Those were many goods nearing expiration date. Still within the shelf life, but not good for sale, usually treated with special prices.
But knowing Saitama's situation, the store manager always packed such things for him to take back after work.
Saitama paused again.
The store manager's behavior was indeed very thoughtful, but he always felt... a bit weird.
Saitama couldn't say what was weird, but he always felt he didn't like this kind of 'convenience' so much.
He suddenly sat cross-legged between two shelves. Customers coming and going saw this sitting clerk, just frowned and bypassed these two rows of shelves, choosing from other places.
Saitama opened his 'dead fish eyes,' taking this scene into his eyes as well.
Even if he did such a thing, everyone seemed to have no inconvenience. They just took a little detour and continued their own lives.
Whether he stood here or sat here, did this job or not, it wouldn't have any impact on these people...
He looked at the large bag of 'welfare' again, suddenly thinking of where he vaguely disliked.
Before, perhaps a long time ago, in that feeling slowly fading from his memory, there was the joy named 'special price supermarket panic buying.'
But now, he didn't need to pay attention to that kind of thing anymore. He didn't need to spare time; he didn't need to rush to buy with those aunties.
This kind of 'convenience' made many of his actions unnecessary.
He didn't need to do that kind of thing; he didn't need to do this kind of thing. But... what should he do?
Saitama suddenly realized that unknowingly, he was robbed of many things by these [Conveniences], and because it had been a long time, he got used to it, not even realizing what he had lost.
Saitama suddenly stood up, looking around. He remembered that TV program in J-City again.
He saw in that TV, that child was lifted in the air by something, struggling frantically, but he couldn't hear any sound.
Then who was it again, Peach? Forget it, doesn't matter. Anyway, that someone saved that child.
That woman said many of them were crying for help, calling for heroes.
But... he didn't hear it...
"Hey, Genos."
"Yes, Teacher?"
"Use your eyes to check, how many people are calling for help recently?"
Genos looked at his teacher, confused, but still mobilized the data. Soon, he spoke:
"Today, the number of calls for help to various Hero Agencies and attempts to dial the original Hero Association number is 135,764, an increase of about 3% compared to yesterday."
Hearing this number, Saitama still didn't have much sense of reality.
"Have you heard it, their cry for help?"
Genos nodded.
"Of course, Teacher. I sortie 31 times a week on average."
Saitama stood in place, looking at the goods in his hand and the staff uniform on his body. He suddenly thought of that weak crying face again.
That person who really prayed desperately when saying she was going to die—whether God or Hero, anyone, save me.
Want to hear it. What kind of tone did the other party use to call for help to me that I couldn't hear?
Saitama tore off the staff uniform, saying calmly:
"Forget it, Genos. Let's go."
"My working hours should be over~"
He immediately stepped outward.
The chubby store manager immediately walked over from the front. He wasn't angry, just blocked in front of Saitama, asking in confusion:
"What's wrong, Saitama-kun? Are you dissatisfied with the work here?"
"Actually, I have other stores next door too."
Saitama continued forward.
"If you are dissatisfied with the treatment, we can also talk..."
Genos looked at this scene strangely. Could it be that Teacher's work ability was too strong, making the boss reluctant to let go?
But looking at the two fixtures where Saitama was, many goods were still missing at this moment.
Teacher's work ability really made it hard for him to praise.
Then... why...
Saitama suddenly turned his head, l looking at the once kind-faced boss, saying calmly:
"I don't want to work anymore. I want to do something else."
He stepped outward again.
Sizzle!
The lights in the supermarket suddenly began to flicker. Under the unstable lights, the kind boss's face also changed between indifference and kindness.
He suddenly sighed, speaking:
"Why, Saitama-kun? Clearly, with an existence like you, you should understand that for you, this world has no meaning."
"No human cares about doodles on the beach."
"No deity lives in temples worshiped by humans for long."
"You are the same..."
Saitama saw the supermarket boss's face changing constantly, temperament also changing.
He shook his head, not wanting to make fearless arguments, because he himself didn't understand what he wanted to do in the future. But the only thing certain was that at this moment, he wanted to listen to that voice again.
Sizzle!
Outside the supermarket, lightning descended from the sky.
The surrounding space began to twist. The lights in the supermarket went out completely. Genos suddenly found he couldn't see the surroundings clearly at all.
Even with infrared thermal sensing turned on, he couldn't detect the existence of anything.
He tried to speak, but couldn't make any sound.
Saitama was the same; he found everything around him had disappeared.
"Saitama-kun, you should be familiar with this environment. Only this nothingness is the dwelling that can finally accommodate you..."
That voice continued to ring. Saitama suddenly interrupted.
"You are so noisy."
He extended his fist, punching forward.
Crack~
The sound of space cracking rang out.
Then, Bang!
The pitch-black space exploded. The supermarket had disappeared.
Saitama looked around; he was standing in the middle of the road.
There was no supermarket at all. Genos also looked at him blankly.
Beep beep, beep beep~
Genos's communicator rang constantly. After connecting, a familiar voice sounded inside.
"This is Fubuki. Devastating disaster occurred in J-City!"
"No, not just J-City. Many people in other areas turned into monsters. God might have revived!"
"Ah!"
Fubuki exclaimed.
Saitama bent his knees and stomped hard.
Bang!
The entire block shattered with a bang. His figure had disappeared.
Almost the instant Saitama broke that supermarket, several people reacted simultaneously.
Spirit World Evil Lord [???] roared angrily, and directly ignoring Tornado, tore open the Spirit World and disappeared to unknown whereabouts.
And under the desert on the outskirts of Z-City, the man standing in that huge ruin also had various information flowing in his eyes.
He shook his head and sighed, withdrawing the hand inserted into the ruin.
"That is fate... Saitama, you chose such an ending after all."
Over Z-City, Kaito Shirogane, who was constantly in the [Transcendent Helix] state, also perceived at this instant that somewhere in the desert, a stream of [Information] far more complex than everyone else appeared.
Compared to it, if the information emitted by [Sage] was as simple as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, then this [Information] was as obscure as advanced mathematics.
"That is... a [Supreme Powerhouse]?!"
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