Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Who Is He (2)
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The human brain secretes this 'hormone' strongly in situations of immense stress.
Adrenaline.
It was thanks to adrenaline that frail humans from ancient times could battle threats like mammoths, tigers, or even Tyrannosaurus rex.
(Jurassic Park proves this fact.)
But the effects of this adrenaline were ultimately only temporary.
Over time, it could bring on a severe rebound instead.
Just like right now, with me.
"...How far do we have to go, anyway."
"To avoid the city's surveillance cameras, we have no choice but to move like this. ...Still, if it's too hard on you, I'll look for another route."
"......No need."
In response to the cat's words, I waved him off.
We were currently leaping from rooftop to rooftop, avoiding people's eyes.
Thick balaclava, muffler, even black night clothes.
I'd been wondering how someone dressed to draw so much attention could move quietly, and the answer lay in this bizarre route that avoided normal roads entirely.
"So, are we still far?"
"...We'll reach the organization's hideout soon, so just hang in there a bit longer."
Hideout my ass—call it a grocery store....
My body felt incredibly heavy, but despite the complaints leaving my mouth, I easily followed the cat across the rooftops.
Even though the rag I'd hastily wrapped around to stop the bleeding was still soaking red.
'People die if they lose more than about 30% of their blood, right?'
Objectively speaking, the amount of blood I'd lost had surpassed 30% long ago.
But my condition was surprisingly fine.
Fine enough to reach the grocery store safely, in fact.
"Fuck."
"...What's wrong?"
At my low curse, the cat whipped around to look at me.
"Don't tell me the injury's gotten worse—."
"When the hell did that happen, and when am I supposed to clean it up and repair it...."
I let out a deep sigh as I looked up at the 'half-destroyed grocery store building.'
Especially striking were the massive claw marks.
The cat's voice followed, sounding somewhat dumbfounded.
"...Looks like you've lost too much blood and your mind's getting foggy. We should hurry inside."
Nah, you're just treating me like a patient.
Anyway.
'What a victory that's nothing but wounds....'
My body, the grocery store building—everything.
Of course, I'd paid them back in kind.
'Call the boss.... Nah.'
This was the second time it'd been half-destroyed, so contacting her again pricked at my conscience a bit.
Even the famous Nobita wouldn't summon Doraemon repeatedly for the same issue.
Better to just use the leftover support funds I'd given Michael for repairs.
"Sigh."
The sigh that had already escaped me several times.
Maybe from the mental shock.
My joints felt shaky and trembling.
"L-Leader!!"
Was my body actually swaying? The cat rushed over in alarm to support me.
"...What's this 'leader' crap."
That shocking title snapped me alert.
"Come to think of it, Leader... no, Hotdog Man has the body of a pure purist, so no way to block the pain.... I was too shortsighted. I should have taken a faster route even if it meant pushing harder...."
"...Blocking pain isn't always a good thing."
I recalled the black tiger that kept moving even after losing its nutsack.
At my words, the cat looked down at me with a slightly puzzled expression.
I'm telling you, it's true.
"Anyway, cut the weird talk and let's head in. The others are probably waiting."
I moved my feet toward the newly breached front entrance of the grocery store.
"I'm back."
Normally, the bell would announce my arrival.
Who knows where it's rolled off to now.
Still, it looked like the others had at least cleared away the glass shards and concrete chunks.
The grocery store interior was much cleaner than when I'd left—
[...Du!]
A familiar turret revealed itself from the ceiling.
The building hadn't been completely destroyed, so most of the internal turrets seemed intact.
"Hey, Nova. Good to see you."
I tossed off my mask and waved at the turret.
At that moment.
The turret's movements froze unnaturally.
Soon, urgent footsteps echoed from the direction of the warehouse.
"H-Hotdog Man!!"
"You're hurt bad, right...?!"
"...That's right."
Michael, Liberra, and Nova rushed out.
I turned to look at them.
"Nothing happen while I was gone?"
"“......!!”"
All three sets of eyes went wide.
Even from the usually stoic Michael and Nova, I could sense their shock.
"Y-Your body's covered in blood...!"
"I-I'll grab bandages quick!!"
"Multiple contusions detected. User's physical damage is extremely severe. Lacerations, ruptures, bruises, amputations, etc......"
Everyone's gazes turned to Nova at her long, report-like speech.
"...Especially the right forearm and upper arm are in bad shape. Extensive damage to major blood vessels detected. Already estimating several liters of critical blood loss. Transfusion impossible here, so recommend immediate transfer to a private hospital."
As Nova finished.
Everyone looked back at me.
"Nah, it's not that bad. I'm tougher than I look right now."
I waved lightly to refuse, but right on cue, the rag came loose, revealing fingers with large chunks of flesh missing.
"Ah."
Not the best timing.
The three erupted noisily again.
"...I'll go fetch a homeless guy with medical skills for now."
"Bandages, bandages... Ah, disinfectant and painkillers. And, and..."
"That cannot be called fine."
Whoa, what a mess.
Like a marketplace in here.
"I'm really fine, okay? Just a bit dizzy at worst."
But no one was listening to me.
As I stood there flustered, the cat approached from behind and calmly added,
"Your injuries are indeed very serious right now."
"It's not like this is the first day or two I've been hurt...."
Hmm, fair enough.
But how bad could it be?
"Fine, I'll go check a mirror real quick."
"Tr-Treatment first!"
"Hey now."
Liberra's eyes welled up with tears, but I couldn't hold back my curiosity and headed to the sink.
And.
"......"
I understood why everyone was freaking out.
Well...
In one simple word.
I looked like a zombie with seriously severe injuries.
It was a miracle my guts weren't spilling out.
Beyond the red muscle fibers, white nerves and yellow fat were visible here and there.
My head felt a little dizzy.
"Whoa."
I don't even like gore movies that much.
The blood smell I'd been numb to suddenly hit my nose hard.
'...We fought that intensely, huh.'
Every time I'd barely dodged those claws, my body had felt strangely damp.
The me in the mirror started wobbling like jelly.
I took calm deep breaths and muttered a joke.
"...What the hell are [Iron Man] and [Steel Skin] supposed to mean."
Trait names that sounded like they'd make my body tough, so I'd spent precious points on them.
Feels like I got scammed.
Or was Hansho Takemaru just that strong?
That guy who was weaker than the Megacorp truck driver trying to sneak stuff out?
Well, Black Kellogg was no pushover either.
My peanut spinner didn't even work on him...
......
I stared at my reflection.
And slowly closed my eyes.
My head spun even more than before.
'...Is this really me?'
Build, name, background—all different.
Grocery store manager.
Boss of a homeless gang.
No trace of the ordinary 20-something prepping for a job.
Just the same face—
Like waking from a nightmare, my whole body was damp with sweat, not blood.
'Calm down, get a grip....'
I didn't smash the innocent mirror.
I quietly focused on the scene before me.
With eyes closed, darkening my vision, red roots branched out everywhere.
First, the initial trait I'd picked: [Psychokinesis User].
Then [Steel Skin], [Iron Man], [Kill 'Em All]....
And finally [Mana Circuit].
For reference, [Iron Man] and [Mana Circuit] were steadily gaining proficiency in real-time.
Probably due to the injuries.
Psychokinesis hadn't helped much in this fight, but ripping off a strong enemy's nutsack must've counted for something.
Its proficiency, stuck at 24%, had now climbed to 27%.
'Does it ramp up the required EXP around 25% or so?'
No, that's not important right now.
I used one of my remaining 2 points to select a new trait.
Saving the other just in case.
A moment later.
The anxiety began to subside.
Like the tide receding, ebbing away.
My frantically pounding heart gradually slowed.
"Hoo...."
I exhaled lightly.
My mind cleared up again.
"All good."
It made my personality a bit more anxious and hot-blooded.
But anyway, I was still me.
The guy cracking lame jokes,
Living day by day.
Ordinary grocery store part-timer.
Stepping out of the bathroom, I saw four people—three plus the cat—watching me with worried eyes.
I opened my mouth in a nonchalant tone.
"No need to prep costumes for Halloween at this rate. Right?"
"......Pardon?"
It's true.
I shrugged like it was a joke.
Several days passed after that.
In the cycle of waking to eat hotdogs and sleeping when eyes closed.
Before I knew it, my body had fully recovered.
Yes.
Those brutal injuries had healed in a mere 'few days.'
"Already fully recovered.... It's astonishing. The severity was different from last time."
"That's the power of hotdogs."
Michael scratched his head at my words.
"Not a joke—some homeless folks are seriously suggesting we revere Hotdog Man's hotdogs as the holy body."
"...That's a bit much."
It's not bread and wine.
After wiping out that cult, some especially loyal homeless guys have been popping up.
It's burdensome—please stop.
In the midst of our usual chit-chat with Michael.
Bzzz—.
Vibrations started from my terminal.
The screen showed the name 'Luciana.'
"...Gasp."
"What's up?"
"A suspiciously rich benefactor suddenly calling...."
"Who's th—ah."
I swallowed hard.
It wasn't like there were zero ideas what this was about.
The fall of the Haku-gumi.
One of the three factions dividing Area 49, no less.
'...But they shouldn't know I'm the culprit yet, right?'
I'd avoided cameras.
Wore a mask.
Burned all the club interior camera data.
Stay calm for now....
I cleared my throat and answered.
"Yep, got your call."
[Nergy?]
·
·
·
A voice full of certainty.
In this situation, I couldn't exactly play dumb with a mafia boss like "Me??" or "What's that?" like some public service ad.
"......Y-Yeah, probably."
[Can I see your face for a sec?]
It was probably a casual invite from her side, but seeing the luxury limousine pull up right in front of the grocery store made it sound anything but casual from mine.
But who am I?
The modern alpha male who can boldly say 'NO' when he needs to—
Thud....
"We'll escort you safely."
"......Sure."
So I quietly shut my mouth and got in the car.