The tiger had smashed through so many rocks that there was no way it could still be alive.
Seeing little Goku kill such a massive beast with a single strike, Bulma couldn't help sucking in a sharp breath.
So strong… this kid is incredible…
Before Goku could even speak, a notification flashed through his body.
[Mission: Help Bulma escape danger — Completed.
Reward: +10 battle power credited!]
In that instant, Goku felt a surge of strength well up inside him.
He clenched his fist, marveling inwardly.
"Just ten points and I already feel this much stronger…
Compared to grinding through brutal training, doing missions really is way easier…"
With the tiger truly dead, Bulma finally let out a long breath of relief.
She bent slightly toward Goku and extended her hand.
"Thank you so much for saving me earlier.
My name's Bulma. Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you, I'm Son Goku!"
They shook hands lightly before letting go.
Bulma looked him up and down.
"Do you live on this mountain?"
Goku nodded. "Yeah, Grandpa and I live up there.
You're the first girl who's ever come here. Come on, Grandpa should've finished grilling the fish by now. I'll treat you to some."
At his words, Bulma instantly clasped her hands to her chest and took a cautious step back.
"What?! Why are you offering me food?!
You're not going to do something weird just because I'm pretty, are you?!"
Her imagination was clearly running wild.
Goku gave her a gentle smile. "Don't worry.
Grandpa always says you should be kind to girls—especially pretty ones."
Hearing him call her pretty, Bulma's eyes sparkled. She blinked a few times before nodding with satisfaction.
"Right! You have to be gentle with girls!"
Relaxing at once, she laughed and followed Goku up the mountain.
Goku suddenly stopped.
Bulma blinked. "Why did you stop?"
He looked back at the tiger's corpse behind them.
"That tiger's been hanging around Bun Mountain for a while. I finally caught it today.
Can't just leave it here—I'll take it back too."
As he spoke, Goku casually hoisted the massive tiger onto his shoulder and continued walking ahead.
The beast weighed at least three or four hundred pounds—several times Goku's own size.
The contrast between the enormous tiger and the small boy carrying it was striking.
Bulma stared in disbelief.
"He's amazing… Not just strong, even his raw strength is insane.
Maybe I really should bring him along to find the Dragon Balls… He could protect me on the way…"
Before long, they reached the mountaintop.
The smell of grilled fish drifted through the air.
"Grandpa, I'm back!" Goku called out.
Son Gohan turned from the fire. "Ah, you're back already—"
When he saw Bulma beside Goku, he froze for a moment.
"Oh? Goku, you really did bring a pretty girl home…"
He hurried over, beaming. "Welcome, welcome!"
Seeing his kind, grandfatherly face, Bulma's remaining wariness vanished. She bowed politely.
"Hello, sir. My name is Bulma."
Gohan laughed warmly. "Nice to meet you. I'm Goku's grandpa—Son Gohan."
He glanced at her clothes and continued, "You're dressed pretty fashionably. You must be from the city, right?
There are lots of wild beasts on this mountain. What brings you here?"
Bulma took out her radar and explained, "I came here to look for the Dragon Balls."
Gohan blinked in confusion. "Dragon Balls? What are those?"
To make it easier, Bulma opened her bag and took out two Dragon Balls.
"These!"
Gohan's eyes widened. "Those look exactly like the bead we have at home."
Bulma nodded. "They're Dragon Balls. I found one in my family's warehouse and got curious, so I started investigating…"
She quickly explained what the Dragon Balls could do.
Gohan wasn't all that interested in the wish itself, but the journey caught his attention.
"So you have to travel all over the world and collect seven of them for them to work?"
"Yes," Bulma said, nodding.
Gohan looked at Goku, then at Bulma.
"For a young lady to travel the world alone doing something like that… it's far too dangerous.
Why don't you let my grandson go with you? He can protect you."
Bulma had just been thinking about convincing Goku to join her—now his grandpa was offering him up himself. Her face lit up.
"Really, Grandpa?!"
Gohan didn't answer right away. He turned to Goku.
"Goku, you're grown now. It's time for you to go out and see the world.
Why don't you take this chance and go on an adventure with her?"
He leaned close and whispered into Goku's ear.
"Protect her on the road. And if you can marry her someday, even better…"
Goku nodded.
"Grandpa, I can go with her.
But what about you? Are you going to stay here alone?"
Gohan chuckled. "There's something I didn't tell you. A few days ago, my master's sister found me a job—tending boilers for someone.
Food and lodging included, with full benefits. Perfect for retirement.
Once you're gone, I can go work without worrying. I'll save up all the money for when you grow up and get married."
Goku: "…"
So Grandpa wasn't dying at all—he was off to work at a furnace.
Looks like he really does have some kind of fate with fire…
After being warmly treated by Goku and his grandpa, Bulma ate her fill of grilled fish.
That afternoon, Goku and Bulma bid Son Gohan farewell.
The two of them rode Bulma's motorcycle and left Bun Mountain together.
The journey went smoothly.
When they reached a forest, Bulma suddenly stopped the bike.
Covering her mouth awkwardly, she said, "Um… excuse me for a moment. Wait here!"
Goku knew exactly what she meant and nodded. "Don't go too far!"
"Got it, got it!"
Bulma hurried into the bushes.
A message suddenly flashed in Goku's mind.
[In your previous life, you acted like a clueless kid in front of Bulma,
so before you even finished growing taller, she never once thought of you romantically.
Your life has restarted.
Change her impression of you.
Mission: Intervene the moment she is in danger and prevent her from wetting herself.
Reward: +10 battle power.]
Goku stiffened.
Ten more points of battle power…
If he pulled this off, that was like skipping another year of hard training.
Just then, Bulma's scream rang out from the bushes.
Goku didn't hesitate for even a second—he dashed straight in.
Parting the grass, he saw a gigantic pterosaur clutching Bulma in its claws.
She was wailing in terror, trapped in its grip.
The dinosaur turned its head toward Goku and actually spoke.
"Who are you? Her accomplice?"
A killing intent flared in Goku's eyes. He pulled out his Power Pole and pointed it straight at the creature.
"Let her go!"