Chapter 364: [Different Dimension]

With a brief explanation, Kaneki helped the ghouls of Anteiku comprehend the magnitude and wonder of dimensional transactions.

Without hesitation, several ghouls grabbed the reagents from the table and injected themselves, not bothering with formalities toward Kaneki. 

Suddenly, the transformative power of the essence of life surged into their bodies, purging impurities and enabling them to evolve into stronger beings. 

Moments later, their eyes lit up with a brilliance they had never felt before. The flesh and blood within them seemed to resonate, vibrating as though orchestrating a symphony of life itself. 

The unprecedented sensation overwhelmed them, pulling them into a state of euphoric awe. 

For a moment, they closed their eyes, soft moans and sighs of pleasure escaping them, a sound that lingered in the room. 

Clap! Clap!

Two sharp claps shattered the spell of the moment. 

Kaneki lowered his palms, smiling as he drew their attention. 

Behind him, Touka and Shuu, already prepared, stepped forward. They retrieved two large bags of human food from a corner and emptied the contents onto the table. 

The items—ordinary snacks such as potato chips, bread, and yogurt—were all purchased from a nearby convenience store. 

Yet, at this moment, these cheap, unremarkable foods were akin to sacred offerings. The ghouls stared at them in reverence, their eyes shimmering with an almost spiritual light. 

They exchanged hesitant glances, none daring to make the first move. 

Finally, the store manager, Yoshimura, stood up. His trembling hands reached for a rice ball on the table. With some effort, he unwrapped the package and took a tentative bite. 

Tears welled up instantly and rolled down his face, the taste triggering memories of a time long past. 

In a soft voice, he murmured, "It's delicious."

With renewed vigor, he devoured the rice ball in just a few bites, then eagerly grabbed a sandwich to continue eating. 

The other ghouls watched in stunned silence, their expressions a mix of shock and joy. 

Words failed them at that moment. Their instincts took over as they followed the store manager's lead, quietly shedding tears as they consumed human food for the first time without revulsion. 

In the past, survival had forced them to commit unspeakable sins. 

When they came to 20th District, they sought refuge, hoping for a quiet and peaceful existence under the store manager's guidance. 

But none of them could have imagined... 

That such a miracle would find its way into their lives. 

Before long, the Anteiku shop resembled a celebration. The ghouls feasted joyfully, savoring the human food that had once been alien to them. 

The flavors were nothing short of extraordinary, filling their hearts with delight. For the first time, eating brought no guilt, no shame—only pure satisfaction. 

It felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted, as if the chains that had bound them to their cursed existence were broken. They let themselves go, indulging freely as their appetites guided them. 

With the ghouls' incredible digestive abilities, the food quickly converted into energy, further enhancing their bodies. 

That day, Kaneki and Touka made countless trips to nearby convenience stores. 

From dawn to dusk, the gluttonous feast continued until they nearly emptied the store's inventory. 

As the setting sun bathed the earth in its warm glow, its golden rays streamed through the cracks of the windows, illuminating Kaneki's face. 

Seeing the happiness etched on everyone's faces, he couldn't help but smile in satisfaction. 

But... 

The time for indulgence was over. 

Kaneki's expression grew serious as he stepped forward once more, his voice commanding attention. 

"Everyone!" 

Despite the humor of the snack wrappers strewn across the floor, his demeanor remained resolute. 

What he was about to say could very well alter the course of history. 

"I want to establish an organization," Kaneki began, his tone resolute. 

"An organization that protects and saves ghouls, while also hunting those who threaten our kind!" 

His declaration drew all eyes to him, the air in the room thick with anticipation. 

He continued, "This organization will hunt ghouls, harvest their kagune, and use dimensional transactions to gain more power. And..." 

Kaneki's voice rose with determination. 

"...to transform ghouls into beings sustained by the essence of life—free of cannibalism!" 

His gaze swept over the crowd as he uttered his final words, the weight of his vision palpable. 

"Until the day comes when this world..." 

"...is free of cannibalistic ghouls forever!" 

Kaneki clenched his fists. 

"I..." 

"...want to create that new world!" 

"..." 

Kaneki's voice rang out, sonorous and powerful, resonating deeply in the hearts of everyone present. 

In an instant, the entire café fell into a profound silence. 

The ghouls slowly lifted their heads, their gazes fixed on Kaneki, who seemed to radiate a soft halo under the sun's fading light. Their faces bore expressions of awe and disbelief, and for a long time, they were unable to respond. 

It was clear... 

Kaneki's words had left them stunned. 

They knew without a doubt that his declaration was not mere theatrics but a genuine proclamation from the depths of his heart. 

A world without man-eating ghouls... 

The audacity of such a vision was breathtaking. 

After all, ghouls existed in great numbers across the world. Even with the miraculous method of dimensional transactions at their disposal, how far could they realistically go? 

To most of them, Kaneki's dream was no more than an impossible fantasy—a youthful ambition born from fleeting passion, lacking consideration of the overwhelming challenges ahead. 

But when their eyes met Kaneki's unwavering gaze, the words of doubt died in their throats. They couldn't bring themselves to speak against him. 

After all... 

No matter how daunting the road ahead might be, someone must take the first step to uncover what lies at the end. 

After a brief pause, the silence was broken. 

The store manager, Yoshimura, smiled warmly. He stepped forward, placed a reassuring hand on Kaneki's shoulder, and said: 

"Just go ahead and do it, Kaneki." 

"You saved us. You gave us a new life." 

"As for me... these old bones of mine will follow you with everything I've got!" 

As he spoke, an immense aura erupted from the store manager, one that seemed to reverberate throughout the room. 

His usually calm, kind eyes turned a vivid scarlet, revealing the terrifying power of an SSS-rated ghoul. 

In that moment, the store manager's peaceful exterior gave way to an overwhelming strength, one that commanded respect. 

With deliberate movements, he let the full force of his aura burst forth for just an instant before lowering himself onto one knee in front of Kaneki, bowing his head. 

This act was both a demonstration of his formidable power and an oath of allegiance to his new leader. 

The store manager had always carried the dream of a world where ghouls could live without consuming humans—a dream he never dared to voice aloud. 

Kaneki's bold proclamation struck a chord deep within him, igniting a spark he thought had long since faded. 

He had witnessed the miracle of evolution brought by the essence of life, and now, he was ready to risk everything once again for this newfound hope. 

What's more, the regenerative power from the life essence had restored his aging body to its former strength. 

He was confident. 

Even if the ultimate goal could not be achieved... 

At the very least, they would make the world witness a different possibility—a different future. 

Following the store manager's resolute declaration, Touka and Shuu, who had been standing quietly behind Kaneki, stepped forward without hesitation. 

They knelt down on one knee, echoing their pledge of loyalty. 

Both had made their decision as early as the previous day, after experiencing their own evolution. At that moment, they had resolved to follow Kaneki wherever he might lead. 

One by one, the remaining ghouls in the café exchanged glances, silently reaching a mutual understanding. 

They stood, walked over to join the others, and without saying a word, knelt on one knee behind the store manager. 

Their eyes were fixed on Kaneki with profound determination, though they remained silent. 

Kaneki, throughout all of this, stood still and said nothing. 

Though he regarded everyone in the room as his friends, he understood the importance of rituals like this. 

Sometimes, these symbolic gestures are what awaken the deepest convictions within people. 

This act of kneeling was not a gesture of submission to Kaneki himself... 

It was a declaration of their commitment to the vision he had shared. 

By kneeling, they showed their willingness to sacrifice their pride, their lives, and everything they held dear for the "new world" Kaneki dared to dream of. 

At that moment, 

a powerful aura burst forth from Kaneki's body! 

With the combined power of two Pokémon, Kaneki unleashed an energy that surpassed even the store manager's strength. 

His expression was stern, and one of his eyes turned scarlet. 

Calmly, his gaze swept across the crowd before settling on someone kneeling on one knee. 

Hoito Roma. 

This was a ghoul who had joined the stable area just a few days prior. 

According to her, she had lived in another district but sought refuge in District 20 after her relatives were killed, leaving her unable to survive alone. 

However… 

Kaneki, wielding his observation haki, had sensed something unusual about Roma the moment he saw her that day. 

Beneath her seemingly fragile exterior lay a life force equal to that of the store manager! 

In other words, she was an SSS-level ghoul. 

Although Kaneki couldn't yet fathom why Roma pretended to be weak and cute while hiding in the safe zone, 

he handed her the life essence without hesitation, bolstered by the trust formed over the past few days. 

An SSS-level ghoul was the kind of power he desperately needed. 

Kaneki spoke suddenly: 

"Roma..." 

"While I don't know what your intentions are, since you've pledged your loyalty, I hope you understand the gravity of your actions!" 

Swoosh! 

A sharp, scarlet tentacle extended toward Roma's forehead. 

Kaneki continued: 

"Otherwise, I won't hesitate to show you the power I've gained through dimensional transactions." 

The atmosphere grew tense. 

When Kaneki finished speaking, everyone turned their eyes toward Roma, their expressions a mixture of shock and confusion. 

Why would Kaneki threaten such a seemingly innocent girl? 

Yet, they knew better than to voice their thoughts aloud. Years of survival had taught them to act without questioning such things. 

Suddenly, a deep chuckle escaped Roma's lips. 

The sound was cold and sinister, like that of a merciless demon, yet carried a regal, commanding air. 

"I didn't think you'd notice this quickly," she said, raising her head. 

Her gaze shifted, and her eyes turned crimson in an instant. 

Even so, she remained kneeling, making no sudden moves. 

Instead, she slowly released her aura, which surged to a level comparable to the store manager's. 

The crowd watched in stunned silence, realizing just how extraordinary Roma truly was. 

For such a powerful ghoul to pose as a helpless girl and hide within the stable area… 

It was clear she harbored ulterior motives. 

Everyone's wariness of Roma intensified. 

But Roma chuckled once more, lifting her head to reveal a radiant yet unnervingly composed face. 

"Please rest assured, Boss Kaneki," she said. 

"I came to the stable area only because life had become too dull. Meeting the legendary artificial ghoul was simply irresistible…" 

Her tone shifted, tinged with excitement. 

"But now…" 

"Hehehehe…" 

"Evolved ghouls, dimensional transactions, a brand-new world—these things sound far too fascinating to ignore!" 

"I believe…" 

"A new organization that accepts ghouls like you can surely accept me, an SSS-level ghoul, as well." 

Roma's face twisted into a crazed, exaggerated grin, yet her eyes remained locked on Kaneki with chilling calmness. 

The air grew oppressively heavy, making even breathing difficult. 

Just as the tension reached its peak, Kaneki suddenly relaxed, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile. 

"Don't worry," he said, his voice light. 

"This world will soon become much more interesting." 

"Hehehe…" 

Roma laughed softly and lowered her head again. 

Kaneki, now suppressing his aura entirely, walked into the center of the crowd with an air of nonchalance. 

Raising his arms, he declared loudly: 

"Then I announce..." 

"Our organization..." 

"is officially established!" 

"Its name is…" 

"Different Dimension!" 

The name reflected not only the group's connection to otherworldly power but also their intention to separate themselves from the current world— 

a declaration of their intent to create a new dimension altogether. 

--- 

Elsewhere… 

From a tall building near the café, a figure watched over the scene. 

Enel sat cross-legged at the edge of the rooftop, using his omniscient perception to monitor everything unfolding below. 

Having seen the frailty of this world, he had little interest in seeking out more recruits. 

For now, his focus was entirely on Kaneki and his rapid rise. 

But then… 

The sound of a metal door opening behind him broke the silence. 

A blonde-haired boy stepped onto the rooftop, a joyful smile spreading across his face when he spotted Enel. 

"Sir Enel, so you really are here!" the boy exclaimed, carrying a dark backpack as he approached. 

Without turning around, Enel smirked. 

"It seems you weren't as unconscious as you let on that day…" 

"Hideyoshi Nagachika…"