Five thousand Desire Points.
I stared at the number on the blue holographic screen, feeling like I had just won the lottery.
Usually, my chest felt like it was being crushed by a hydraulic press. Now? It felt light. Breathable. For the first time in three months, I wasn't in active pain.
"Master!" Runa kicked open the door to my apartment, holding two plastic bags triumphantly. "I have returned with the tribute!"
She slammed the bags onto my wobbly table.
Inside were two packs of A5 Wagyu beef, a bottle of expensive wine, and... a cup of instant seafood noodles.
"I spent the rest of my savings!" she beamed, wiping sweat from her forehead. "For you, I acquired the finest meat in the district. For myself, I shall fast to purify my weakness!"
I looked at the marbled steak. My stomach growled. I wanted that steak. I wanted to sear it and eat it until I passed out.
But then I looked at the Cup Noodles.
My stomach wasn't just hungry; it was fragile. If I ate that much rich fat right now, my failing liver would probably pack its bags and leave.
I sighed, reaching for the instant noodles.
"Foolish disciple," I scolded gently.
(I am literally dying to eat that steak. Why is my body like this?)
"Master?" Runa blinked. "You... you prefer the dried noodles?"
"Rich food clouds the spiritual senses," I lied, peeling back the lid. "The preservatives in this cup... they temper the gut. It is a poison I ingest willingly to build immunity."
Runa gasped. "I see! You are constantly training your internal organs against toxicity! I am so unworthy!"
She grabbed the Wagyu beef. "Then I shall eat this heavy burden so you do not have to!"
"Go ahead," I said, pouring hot water into my cup. "Suffer for your art."
(Enjoy it, you lucky girl.)
While Runa cooked the steak on a portable stove (which smelled heavenly), I checked my phone.
The HunterTube notification bar was broken. It was just a solid line of red.
Video Views: 2.3 Million.Comments: 50,000+
Top Comment: [User_Slayer69]: I framed this video. He literally shushed a boss to death. Is he the Emperor of Japan?
I scrolled down.
IronBloodLeader: It's CGI. Look at the pixels. I'm reporting this to the Association.
I chuckled. Let them report it. The System masked everything.
[System Alert: Passive Income Generated: +120 DP.] [Current Status: Viral Sensation.]
I slurped my noodles. Life was good. I had points. I had a disciple who did the dishes. I might actually survive past Christmas.
[Perspective Shift: Metropolitan Police HQ - Special Crimes Division]
Detective Sae Kirishima sat in her darkened office, the glow of the monitor reflecting in her sharp, analytical eyes.
On the screen, a looped video played.
A man in a cheap coat raised a finger. Shhh. A Hobgoblin dropped dead.
"Impossible," Sae muttered.
She tapped the keyboard, pausing the video frame by frame.
"No mana signature. No chanting. No artifacts visible."
She adjusted her glasses. Sae wasn't just a detective; she was an A-Rank Hunter with a unique ocular ability: [Truth Sight].
She could see the structural integrity of reality. Lies appeared as red distortion. Illusions appeared as static.
"Let's see who you really are, Renji Amagiri," she whispered.
She activated her skill. Her irises turned a glowing, electric blue.
She looked at the paused image of Renji's face.
Usually, she would see data. Name, Rank, Crime Coefficient.
Instead, she saw... Glitch.
The moment she focused on him, the monitor distorted. Static snowed across the screen.
[Error. Cannot Decipher Target.][Warning: Cognitive Hazard.]
"What?" Sae recoiled, rubbing her eyes. "My skill... bounced off?"
That shouldn't happen. Even S-Rank hunters had readable data. The only things that blocked [Truth Sight] were Elder Gods or...
"Or a scam so elaborate it breaks the laws of logic," she hissed, slamming her fist on the desk.
She rewound the video. She watched Runa Yozakura—a known failure—suddenly execute a perfect sword strike.
"He's using illegal drugs," Sae deduced instantly. "He's doping his disciple and using holograms to fake his power. He's a fraud. A dangerous one."
She grabbed her coat and her badge.
"Renji Amagiri. I don't care if the internet loves you. I'm going to expose you."
[Perspective: Renji]
"Master, that was delicious!" Runa patted her stomach, looking satisfied. "I feel my energy reserves refilling!"
"Good," I said, throwing my empty noodle cup into the bin. "Now, we need to discuss our next move. The dungeon run was a success, but we need—"
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
The sound echoed through the tiny apartment like a gunshot.
I froze.
(Landlord? No, I paid him. Assassin? No, they wouldn't knock.)
Runa's hand instantly went to her sword hilt. "Hostiles?"
"Stay calm," I whispered, standing up. My legs were a little stronger thanks to the DP infusion.
I walked to the door. I checked the peephole.
Standing there was a woman with silver-rimmed glasses, a sharp black suit, and an expression that could freeze boiling water.
She held up a badge.
(Oh no. It's the cops. Did I forget to pay taxes? Is it the jaywalking? Is it the scamming?)
I opened the door, leaning against the frame with what I hoped was a look of casual annoyance.
"No solicitors," I said. "Unless you're selling cookies."
The woman didn't smile. She stepped forward, invading my personal space. She smelled of cold mint and justice.
"Renji Amagiri?" she asked, her voice sharp.
"That depends," I drawled, heart hammering against my ribs. "Who's asking?"
She flashed the badge again. Metropolitan Police. Special Crimes Division.
"Detective Sae Kirishima," she said, her eyes glowing faintly blue as she scanned my face. "You're under arrest."
(Wait, what? I didn't actually do anything illegal yet! Except the medical malpractice! And the fraud! Okay, I did a lot of things.)
"Arrest?" I raised an eyebrow. "On what charges, Detective?"
Sae stepped closer, pulling a pair of mana-suppressing handcuffs from her belt.
"Illegal use of unlicensed artifacts," she said, reaching for my wrist. "And public indecency for that stream."
Runa jumped up from the table. "You will not touch him!"
"Runa, sit," I commanded.
I looked at Sae. She was glaring at me, but I noticed something. Her hand—the one holding the cuffs—was trembling slightly.
And the System chimed.
[Target Identified: Sae Kirishima.] [Desire Potential: Extremely High (Tsundere Type).] [Note: Target is obsessed with uncovering your 'Truth'.]
I smiled.
"You can try to cuff me, Detective," I whispered, holding out my hands. "But be warned. I'm not responsible for what happens to your heart rate."