Chapter 76: I'm Here to Quit the Hero Association.
...
Braving the torrential rain on his way to City J, Kihara ran into a lost Saitama—along with the C-Class Rank 1 hero, Mumen Rider, who had somehow also lost his way.
To be honest, Kihara wasn't particularly fond of Mumen Rider.
The guy's overwhelming sense of justice bordered on naïve idealism. Even when facing enemies, he would let them go under the excuse that they'd already lost the ability to fight.
That completely clashed with Kihara's philosophy—cut the weeds at the root.
If not for the fact that Mumen Rider actually put his life on the line to uphold those ideals instead of just preaching from the sidelines, Kihara would never have allowed him to tag along.
After all, a teammate who could drag you down at any moment was far more dangerous than an unbeatable enemy.
As the three of them rushed toward the area where the sounds of battle were the loudest, they came across a heavily injured S-Class hero lying amid the ruins.
Puri-Puri Prisoner.
His once well-built muscles were caved in, his body barely recognizable. If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, no one would have believed he was still alive after such devastating injuries.
Mumen Rider hesitated for a moment before making his decision.
He asked Kihara—who was clearly stronger—to take Saitama ahead, while he stayed behind to administer emergency treatment.
As someone whose only real strength was endurance, he understood that rushing into the battlefield wouldn't help. If he could instead restore even a fraction of an S-Class hero's fighting ability, that would be far more valuable.
Kihara carried Saitama to the entrance of a circular shelter.
A massive hole had been blasted through its structure, and from within came chaotic screams and cries for help.
"Where are the heroes?! Why aren't they here to protect us?!"
"It's useless! Even the S-Class 'Demon Cyborg' was defeated! Only the top S-Class heroes can beat that monster!"
"I don't want to die!!!"
Kihara glanced toward the side, pointing at what remained of Genos—his body corroded down to little more than a skeletal frame and half a head.
"Saitama, Genos looks badly hurt. Go check on him," Kihara said calmly. "I'll go deal with the Deep Sea King."
Without waiting, he leapt into the shelter.
The moment he landed, a massive fist tore through the air toward his head, its force whipping his hair upward.
"START UP!"
Time seemed to freeze.
A fist the size of half a human body halted just inches from his face.
Kihara glanced at the towering figure before him—far larger than what had been shown in the broadcasts.
The Deep Sea King.
A glowing, sword-shaped mark lit up on the back of his hand as spectral blades materialized and circled around him.
From the void, he drew two pistols—Ebony and Ivory—crossing them as he aimed at the monster's grotesque fish-like face.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"JACKPOT."
Black and white bullets erupted in a relentless barrage, forming two blazing streams in the near-frozen world.
The moment the first bullet struck the Deep Sea King's green, elastic skin, it didn't bounce off.
Instead, it melted through—like snow under sunlight.
His weapons' anti-nonhuman properties had taken effect.
Even though he was confident this alone could blow the monster's head apart, Kihara didn't let his guard down.
He had no intention of letting his attack miss once time resumed.
With his transformation abilities restricted, the only option was clear.
End it completely while still in accelerated time.
After unloading a storm of bullets, the pistols dissolved into a crimson blade.
"Exceed Charge!"
Phantom sword strikes erupted from all directions, tearing through the Deep Sea King's massive body.
Its once-impenetrable hide was now as fragile as paper before the amplified photon energy and blade storm.
"TIME OUT!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
To the survivors, everything happened in an instant.
Blinding flashes. Deafening gunfire.
The Deep Sea King's head exploded into a mangled mess, followed by a dazzling burst of sword light.
The monster that had effortlessly crushed S-Class and A-Class heroes alike.
Was reduced to scattered chunks.
Silence fell over the shelter.
Everyone stood frozen in disbelief.
"Th-That's… B-Class hero… Scarlet Rider, right? H-How did he kill the Deep Sea King instantly?!"
"Was… was that staged?"
"Are you stupid?! Who would risk lives for a staged fight?! Why didn't the monster eat you first?!"
Just then, Saitama dropped into the shelter, holding what remained of Genos—just a head.
"Huh? Where's the Deep Sea King?"
Kihara pointed at the remains.
"Dead."
"I heard from Genos it was really strong," Saitama said, scratching his head. "Didn't expect you to beat it first."
"Well, you'd just one-punch it anyway," Kihara replied casually. "Figured I'd have some fun."
Saitama's face twitched.
"That's kinda harsh, you know…"
Their conversation wasn't quiet.
To the civilians, it sounded like a B-Class and a C-Class hero were belittling a monster that had defeated S-Class heroes.
The mood shifted instantly.
"If it weren't for the S-Class heroes weakening it first, you think you could've won so easily?!"
"Yeah! Don't you feel ashamed?!"
Kihara didn't intend to respond.
They didn't know the truth—misunderstanding was inevitable.
But then—
A mocking voice rang out from the crowd.
"Two S-Class heroes and several A-Class heroes fought desperately to weaken that monster… and this nobody B-Class hero just swoops in to steal the credit."
"I'd say the Deep Sea King was already on its last legs. Anyone could've finished it."
That was the spark.
The crowd erupted.
"That's right! We were just intimidated by its appearance!"
"I could've beaten it too if I tried!"
"It's just pulling a trigger, right?!"
"Even the Demon Cyborg couldn't burn through its skin, but he could? It was obviously weakened!"
"Scarlet Rider doesn't deserve the credit!"
"He doesn't deserve to be a hero!"
"Yeah! Get out!"
"Get out!!"
"GET OUT!!!"
The shelter filled with a tidal wave of boos and insults.
Genos, unable to speak, couldn't comprehend their logic.
He had been utterly crushed in battle—
So how could they believe this was just luck?
Kihara slowly turned around.
His gaze was cold.
"Since you think I'm not worthy of being a hero…"
"Then where were you when the Deep Sea King was devouring people?"
"You were trembling in the corner while I was fighting. And now that it's over, you come out barking like this?"
His voice wasn't loud—
Yet every word rang clearly in the silent shelter.
"I'm done."
"Saving people like you… only makes me sick."
"From today onward, I quit the Hero Association."
"I will cease all hero activities."
Silence.
Complete, suffocating silence fell over the shelter.
.....
Thank you for reading.