Chapter 75 – Yandere Tatsumaki.
...
For the last two days of her forced cat life, Tatsumaki behaved… suspiciously well.
So well, in fact, that Kihara almost started wondering if her personality had genuinely devolved into that of a cat.
That illusion shattered instantly.
The moment he casually tried to touch her backside.
Scratch! Scratch!
Two sharp claw marks appeared on his hand.
"…Yeah. Still the same stubborn, violent brat inside."
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Kihara carried the calico "Haki Juan" outside. Moments later, her small feline body was engulfed in a blinding white light and gradually returned to her original human form.
Floating slightly above the ground, Tatsumaki landed lightly.
Kihara narrowed his eyes, ready for retaliation.
But…
She didn't attack.
Instead, she gave him a long, complicated look—filled with something he couldn't quite read.
Then turned and flew away without a word.
"…What was that about?"
Aside from her residence at the Hero Association headquarters, Tatsumaki had another place.
A hidden apartment.
Even her younger sister didn't know about it.
When she entered, the lights turned on automatically.
The room was small—about fifty square meters.
Completely empty, except for a single bed and the walls.
Every inch of the walls was covered in notes.
Hundreds of them.
Each one filled with her thoughts—her emotions—her obsession.
Most had faded over time, the ink blurred with age.
But some were still readable.
"Black Knight-sama! Where are you?!"
"I don't even know if you're a man or a woman… but… I don't care… I would still…"
"Today I protected the world for you again. When we meet… can I wish to stay with you forever?"
"What if you've already fallen in love with someone else…?"
"No. You're mine. You're mine. You're mine!"
"More and more people are trying to impersonate you… pathetic. As if I wouldn't see through them."
"For you… I would do anything."
Tatsumaki slowly walked toward the wall.
Her pale fingers brushed across the notes one by one.
Then—
Rip.
All of them were torn down at once, shredded by invisible psychic force.
The walls were left bare.
"…Too empty."
She murmured softly.
"…It's time their true owner filled them."
Ten minutes later—
She returned.
Her arms were filled with stacks upon stacks of photographs.
Dozens. No—hundreds.
Every single one…
Kihara.
She began covering the walls again—carefully, meticulously—like a craftsman laying tiles.
Each photo placed with precision.
Each movement filled with eerie devotion.
And with every photo she placed.
A quiet, unsettling laugh escaped her lips.
Not the laugh of a girl in love.
But something far more dangerous.
More unhinged.
More… possessive.
"Kihara… Kihara…"
"I finally found you."
"Back then, you disappeared without saying anything… abandoned me…"
"I told you I'd make you regret it."
Her smile twisted slightly.
"Now I'm an S-Class hero."
"Everything I've done… was for you."
Her voice softened.
Dangerously so.
"You won't betray me… right?"
"In this world… only I can make you happy."
"No one else can."
Her laughter echoed through the empty room.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA—!!"
When the walls were completely covered in his images…
She took one final photo—a close-up.
And stuck it onto a pillow.
Then, hugging it tightly, she curled up on the bed and fell asleep.
In her dreams.
She saw him again.
That figure who had once shattered the walls of her prison without hesitation.
Her small body tightened around the pillow.
As if trying to merge with it.
Her voice, soft and fragile like a newborn bird, whispered into the darkness.
"…Kihara…"
Meanwhile — J-City
A famous coastal city.
Home to one of the largest and most crowded sunbathing beaches.
The atmosphere was lively.
Bright.
Peaceful.
Until—
The ocean stirred.
Dozens of massive shadows surged beneath the surface, moving toward shore at terrifying speed.
Divers didn't even have time to scream.
They were swallowed whole by enormous jaws lined with razor-sharp teeth.
Then—
Chaos erupted.
"—M-MONSTERS!!!"
Screams tore through the beach.
Blood stained the sea red.
Severed limbs floated among the waves.
And from the ocean—
Deep Sea creatures emerged.
Grotesque, monstrous beings.
At the front stood a yellow, octopus-like creature.
It raised its tentacles, easily wrapping around over a dozen humans.
Then crushed them.
Their bodies burst.
Their blood was absorbed through its suction cups.
"From this moment onward…"
"The Deep Sea race shall rule the surface world!"
It licked its lips.
"Human blood… will serve as a delightful appetizer."
Its voice rose.
"Brothers—before the Deep Sea King arrives…"
"Let us conquer this city for him!!"
The monsters descended upon the city like wolves among sheep.
Without heroes present—
This place became their playground.
30 Minutes Later
The news spread.
Within half an hour—
The coastal districts of J-City were reduced to ruins and flames.
Naturally, Kihara prepared to head out.
To eliminate the monsters.
And the yet-to-arrive Deep Sea King.
Before leaving, he turned to Nan Yume.
"After I deal with this… let's go visit your sister."
She lightly punched his shoulder.
Then pinched his nose.
"Don't say things like that."
"It sounds like a death flag… and it makes me uneasy."
He chuckled faintly.
"Got it. I'll be careful next time."
Then—
He pulled her close.
And sealed her lips with a deep, suffocating kiss.
As if erasing all her worries.
Moments later—
He mounted his motorcycle and sped toward J-City.
The once orderly streets were now shattered.
The Deep Sea creatures seemed to hate everything humanity had built.
Nothing remained intact.
Amid the destruction—
One man stood alone.
An A-Class hero.
Spiky hair. A spear tipped with bamboo.
Covered in wounds.
His face swollen like a bruised balloon.
Stinger.
He had fought alone for over ten minutes and achieved an incredible feat.
Dozens of Tiger-level monsters… defeated by himself.
He grinned through the pain.
"These so-called Demon-level threats…"
"I took them down—ALL BY MYSELF!!"
But in his arrogance—
He didn't notice the shadow behind him.
A caped, crown-wearing, muscular fish-man.
BOOM!!
A thunderous impact.
Stinger's body hung limply from the creature's fist.
Unconscious or worse.
"Your arrogance annoys me."
The creature sneered.
"You only defeated the vanguard of the Deep Sea King…"
"What is there to be proud of?"
It tossed him aside like trash.
Then inhaled deeply.
Savoring the scent in the air.
"…I can smell it."
A twisted grin spread across its face.
"Plenty of delicious prey… not far from here."
It began walking forward.
Slowly.
Casually.
Like a predator certain of victory.
Elsewhere…
On a distant rooftop—
Another A-Class hero watched through binoculars.
Lightning Max.
He had seen everything.
Seen Stinger get crushed in seconds.
His hands trembled.
"That thing… is on a completely different level…"
He turned to retreat—
But suddenly—
A presence appeared behind him.
Cold.
Oppressive.
Unavoidable.
"GYAA—!!"
BOOM!!
One punch.
Lightning Max was sent crashing through the building.
Before he could recover, the Deep Sea King followed.
Relentless.
Kicking him back out of the structure like a ragdoll.
Landing back on the street, the monster looked down with contempt.
"Humans…"
"…are weak."
And with that.....
...
(T/N: I think this was written before Blast was introduced)
....
Thank you for reading.