Chapter 101: Mosquito Girl: I'm the Senior!
"Whoa—" Puri-Puri Prisoner exclaimed.
"Hmm??!" Garou frowned.
After removing the helmet, a handsome face was revealed.
Aside from a few bloodstains, no flaws could be seen.
But Garou remembered clearly that in the battle not long ago, Masked Hero had been smashed hard on the head by tentacles, crashing through several walls.
How could that tattered helmet, which needed cloth to hold it together, possibly block all the damage!
No, the lack of injuries on his face wasn't the point.
This guy... didn't they say he was ugly?!
Last time Garou faked being unconscious, he hadn't seen Masked Hero take off his helmet with his own eyes.
But the conversation between the old man and Aokiji at the time proved Masked Hero's true situation.
Now... what was going on?
"Masked Hero-chan turns out to be such a handsome boy, wearing a helmet all the time is such a waste~"
"Get lost." Garou kicked him.
He didn't budge Puri-Puri Prisoner, but the man still stepped aside to make room.
Garou scrutinized him carefully again.
Suddenly, he reached out and touched Masked Hero's face.
"Eh, Garou-chan? Could it be that you've had an Awakening too?!" Puri-Puri Prisoner's eyes lit up.
(T/N: hahahaha, lol)
"Don't compare me to a pervert like you!" Garou roared, veins popping on his forehead.
He was just confirming the state of Masked Hero's facial muscles.
Sure enough... muscles should be completely relaxed during sleep.
Yet Garou felt a faint tension in Masked Hero's facial muscles, and even the bones beneath them were the same.
Could this be what Masked Hero learned from Aokiji?
Hmph—anyway, it has nothing to do with me, just leave it to this pervert to handle.
Garou remained silent.
He withdrew his hand and turned to leave.
"Garou-chan, the Association's medical staff will be here soon, you should receive treatment too."
"Only trash need... Hey pervert! Put me down!!"
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The next day, morning.
Ghost Town Villa.
The female mosquito, bloated from sucking blood, generously shared her precious food with her new companion.
This new companion had been attacked by a predator and was heavily injured, unable to move.
The female mosquito used prepared fibers to firmly secure the new companion, just like a human being put in a cast after an injury.
Then, she considerately poured the food into the new companion.
The new companion, who was already stuffed, could only shake her head slightly under restraint, trying to refuse the humiliating feeding.
But she couldn't dampen the female mosquito's enthusiasm at all.
Not only did she supplement her with precious nectar, but she also brought many toys for her to pass the time during treatment.
Feeling the sincerity within the toy gifts, the new companion shed tears of emotion.
The fragrance of food and the saltiness of tears intertwined to fill the entire space.
Aokiji stood in a quiet area where the noise couldn't reach, talking on the phone.
"...I see."
After listening to Masked Hero's narrative on the other end of the phone.
Aokiji paused, then asked again:
"Did you use the portable Monster Detector I gave you?"
"I just woke up today and was in a daze for a long time. Then I remembered your instructions, Mr. Aokiji, and quietly checked several times."
Masked Hero's voice was kept very low.
But it couldn't suppress the underlying excitement.
"There's no abnormality at all!"
"Mr. Aokiji, I must have already learned the Secret Technique you taught me!"
Aokiji looked up in thought.
Being able to quickly digest food and change appearance, saying Masked Hero had mastered Life Return seemed accurate enough.
But could the physical transformation of Life Return be performed in an unconscious state while sleeping?
Not to mention that according to Masked Hero's description.
He still couldn't actively control his consciousness to manipulate parts like his hair.
He only had a significantly improved control over his body.
The change in appearance was more like a passive state.
It was likely that his obsession and the battle that pushed his body to its limit caused Masked Hero to awaken an ability similar to Life Return.
As for why he didn't undergo Monsterization like originally.
Aokiji guessed it was probably because Masked Hero had a clear plan for change and had hope for the future in his heart.
He wouldn't be like in the original work, living every day in negative emotions such as the panic and anxiety of being exposed.
In short, it was a good thing.
It was just that Masked Hero's combat power didn't increase as much as it would have with Monsterization.
"It's good as long as the goal is achieved."
Aokiji first congratulated him, then said with a bit of a warning.
"Now that your image has changed, you'll definitely want to interact more with people, which is understandable."
"But don't indulge in the praise of others and forget your original heart."
Aokiji didn't want Masked Hero to turn back into that punchable personality from the original work.
Actually, from the Masked Hero arc in the manga.
One could see that Masked Hero was actually very clear-headed.
He had a clear understanding of the fans surrounding him, social praise, and the wooing of the upper echelons.
But he still couldn't help being affected.
Anyway, Aokiji had already warned Masked Hero.
If Masked Hero still had that annoying attitude from the original work in the future, Aokiji would decisively smash his head into the ground.
The call ended.
Aokiji returned to the room.
The noisy Mosquito Girl was still clamoring incessantly.
"Hmph hmph! How is it! Isn't the pain unbearable! I'm the Senior, so the newcomer should be honest and well-behaved!"
"Hmm? You still dare to roll your eyes at me! Take this, take this—!!"
Aokiji walked forward speechlessly.
He patted Mosquito Girl on the head.
"You've even started workplace bullying; treat your new colleague with a bit more tenderness."
"I'm not," Mosquito Girl mumbled while rubbing her head, "I'm much more tender than Lord Aokiji, okay."
Aokiji... really couldn't refute that.
So he decided not to continue this topic.
He reached out and took down a ring with straps tied on both sides.
Psykos was panting in pain.
"Heh... heh, ugh..."
"Reform well and become a new person." Aokiji stroked her long blue-purple hair tied in a ponytail.
"If you don't reform soon, how can you go see your former President?"
Pre... President...?
Her dilated pupils regained a bit of luster.
Her brain nerves, which were almost burnt out, vaguely recalled the past.
"No... NO!!"
Psykos suddenly shouted hoarsely.
Her originally magnetic and seductive "big sister" voice became somewhat miserable.
She absolutely, absolutely could not appear before Fubuki in this state!!
"A reunion with an old friend is indeed a happy occasion, but there's no need to be so excited." Aokiji said, selectively ignoring her reaction.
"Let's continue. Mosquito Girl, you go rest first. I'll be busy with other things in a bit, then you can come back for the relay."
Training and building up the progress bar were the top priorities.
This was just a bit of a pastime.
"No, please! I don't want to meet like this... guh, gupu..."
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Three days later.
Fubuki rode her high-tech motorcycle to the villa area.
She came here today for two things.
The first thing was that the technology to enhance her Psychic Power had been successfully verified and could be used safely.
The second thing was that Aokiji indicated the counseling for Psykos had ended, and her extreme thoughts had been completely steered back to the right path.