The chapter number above is the correct chapter number.
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"I understand," the elderly man said respectfully.
He returned to the long, luxurious car parked outside and retrieved his personal, travel-ready dining set. He then spread a lavish tablecloth over a table inside the restaurant and set out his own silver utensils.
"…"
His actions completely dumbfounded Hiyori.
Raven found the scene equally absurd. However, he recognized the newcomers: Tsurugi Kamishiro, the user of Kamen Rider Sasword, and his elderly butler.
Tsurugi Kamishiro's identity was interesting. On the surface, he was a noble young master detached from the world, currently serving as Kamen Rider Sasword. He hated Worms more than anything because his older sister was killed by one. As a devoted older brother, he swore to eliminate all Worms.
Yet, unbeknownst to him, he was actually a Scorpio Worm that had imitated and replaced the one that murdered his sister.
The incredible thing about organisms like the Worms and the Native Worms was their mimicry. It wasn't just a crude imitation of appearance; they could copy everything about a person—emotions, memories, physical structure, and current state. The Native Worm that mimicked Tendo's mother, for instance, gave birth to Hiyori Kusakabe only because it mimicked her while she was pregnant. It could be said that while Hiyori was born a Native Worm, she genuinely shared a blood relation with Tendo.
This Scorpio Worm, which mimicked Tsurugi Kamishiro, was so deeply immersed in its role that the original owner's strong emotions completely overwhelmed the Worm's own memory. The copied memories and emotions of the original Tsurugi Kamishiro took over, effectively possessing the Worm's body.
In a sense, the real Tsurugi Kamishiro survived within the Worm in an altered state, permanently taking over that body.
And the butler, who knew the entire truth, was even more ruthless. Despite knowing that the young master he served was a Worm impersonating his master, he chose to maintain the lie, concealing the truth entirely. He wanted his master to live on as Tsurugi Kamishiro.
In the original series, Tsurugi was utterly devastated and unable to cope when he learned that he was the very Scorpio Worm that had killed his sister. He pretended to accept his Worm identity, defeated the two strongest Worm executives, and became the Worm King. In reality, he intended to personally wipe out the Worm army and then have Tendo kill him, thereby fulfilling his oath to destroy all Worms.
He was a tragic character through and through, one who ranked high among the most miserable characters in the entire Kamen Rider franchise.
At that moment, Tendo walked in from outside and saw Tsurugi Kamishiro.
"Well, well. If it isn't the Young Master," Tendo said cheerfully, looking at Tsurugi.
Then, his gaze landed on Raven, whom he hadn't seen for a while. "Speaking of which, I haven't seen you in ages. Why are you suddenly back today?" Tendo noticed Raven and Hiyori sitting close together and looked slightly uncomfortable.
"Is it sudden? I naturally returned when it was time to return," Raven replied with a faint smile.
"Hey, what's going on with you two? How dare you ignore me!" Tsurugi said with displeasure, feeling Tendo was not taking him seriously as a rival.
His various contests with Tendo over the past few days had ended in draws, leading him to regard Tendo as his greatest competitor on the path to becoming the best in all fields.
"Please place your order." Hiyori handed the menu to Tsurugi.
He then remembered he was there to eat. He casually circled the items with the highest numerical price on the menu, ordering the most expensive dishes.
This caused the elderly butler next to him a small pang of distress. Their family was no longer as glamorous as it seemed; they were merely a declining, impoverished noble house.
Tsurugi, however, was completely unaware of this fact. But the butler had no choice; to ensure Tsurugi could live carefree, he had to continue deceiving him.
"Old man, are you sure you have the money?" Raven interjected. He knew very well that Tsurugi's family was heavily indebted. The so-called noble house was being propped up solely by the butler.
"What kind of talk is that? I am a direct descendant of the prestigious Discabil family from England. How could I lack such trivial money?" Tsurugi looked at Raven with disdain.
How dare someone question his noble status? What an ignorant country bumpkin.
The elderly butler stood by awkwardly, hands clasped behind his back.
"Oh, is that so?" Raven smiled meaningfully.
Hiyori, however, was not suspicious. Although the two visitors seemed strange, the car parked outside was undeniably a luxury vehicle. They couldn't possibly be unable to pay. She prepared to go into the kitchen to cook.
A short while later, the prepared dishes were served. Tsurugi, with great ceremony, took a shallow taste.
"Old man, this tastes similar to yours," he said, then cut a small piece of meat and offered it to the butler.
The butler took a bite and nodded. "However, it doesn't entirely match your tastes, Young Master."
The butler then naturally stepped into the kitchen, intending to make a fresh batch. Hiyori moved to stop him, but Tendo called out to her.
"Judging by his technique, he's no ordinary cook." Tendo also wanted to witness the butler's skill.
In the end, he was extremely impressed.
Raven also observed from the side. Since he mastered his cooking skills, few people impressed him in this field. The butler was one of them.
It's just a shame that a man this old has to raise a giant infant. And the killer of his true young master, no less.
"Mmm~ As expected, the old man's cooking suits my taste best." Tsurugi said with satisfaction.
"But I'm more interested in that soup," the butler said, focusing on the soup Hiyori had made.
"Oh?" Tsurugi looked at it curiously and took a sip.
He immediately showed a look of surprise. He turned to Tendo, thinking it was his creation.
"Hiyori made that," Tendo told him.
Tsurugi's chuunibyou immediately flared up. He stood up, walked over to the expressionless Hiyori, and declared, "I grant you the opportunity to receive glory."
"You shall be in charge of preparing the dishes for my birthday party!"