Chapter 14: Post-War BBQ

Kaito slowly exhaled a mouthful of stale air, feeling the surging power within his heart gradually return to calm.

The Mastered state of the Emperor Engine far exceeded his expectations.

This was no longer just a skill used to intimidate others—it had become a true spirit weapon with battlefield dominance.

He glanced at the system panel:

— Deterrence System —

Host: Kaito (King)

Level: 1 (Experience: 0 / 100)

Attributes:Strength: 21

Agility: 18

Spirit: 15

Skills:Emperor Engine (Mastered: 15 / 3000)

Monarch's Might (like a prison)

Aura Condensation

Deterrence (Passive)

Spirit Resonance

Spirit Resistance

Deterrence Points: 200

"Strength, Agility, Spirit… all improved?" Kaito's heart stirred, then he understood.

Of course. The heart, as the engine of the body, pumped power and blood to every corner.

The original King's heart could already withstand the terrifying load of the Emperor Engine, which meant his physical condition was beyond that of ordinary humans—on par with elite athletes.

But now, with the Emperor Engine in a Mastered state, the power within that heart was monstrous.

Each pump surged with life energy, coursing through his vessels like lava—stimulating a complete evolution in his muscles, bones, nerves, and even his senses.

To verify this transformation, Kaito's gaze fell on the enormous corpse of the Mantis not far away.

Even in death, the three-meter-tall insect radiated a suffocating pressure. Its scythe-like forelimbs, which could cleave through steel, gleamed ominously under the sunlight.

Kaito took a breath and gripped one of the deadly legs with both hands.

He expected resistance… but with just a gentle tug—

Crack!

A sharp snap rang out as the entire leg broke off effortlessly.

Dark green fluid dripped from the severed section.

"..."

Kaito stared in disbelief at the severed limb in his hand.

He hadn't even applied full strength. It had felt as easy as tearing off a piece of bread.

Curious, he tried the other leg. It came off just as easily.

Holding a scythe-like leg in each hand, he studied the changes in his body carefully.

"The attribute boost isn't just linear—it's exponential."

He evaluated silently.

"Twenty points in Strength… I might be able to lift a car—no, probably a fully loaded semi-trailer if I go all out."

What shocked Kaito most was how comprehensive the enhancement was.

He tried jumping in place—his body felt light as a feather.

He swung the sharp limbs; the sound they made slicing the air was sharp and shrill. His Agility had also surged.

And his Spirit?

He felt his mind clearer than ever—every thought sharp, every sensation vivid. He could hear distant sirens, see dust particles dancing in the sunlight, even notice the subtle shift in the indicator lights on Child Emperor's handheld console.

"King!" Child Emperor ran over, face flushed with excitement. "Are you collecting trophies? I can help you analyze the composition of those scythe legs!"

Kaito snapped out of his thoughts, glancing at the almost two-meter-long blades in his hands. A spark of inspiration flashed in his eyes.

He turned to the others with a rare smile.

"This is good stuff—seven times the protein of beef. Anyone interested in a barbecue?"

"Huh?" Saitama's eyes lit up. "You mean this thing's edible?"

Genos instantly pulled up data on his console. "According to records, certain insect muscle tissues are indeed high in protein, and—"

"Then it's settled!" Saitama cut him off, rubbing his hands together eagerly. He leaned toward the Mantis corpse. "So… which parts are the best? Leg meat? Breast meat?"

Kaito chuckled at the bald hero's gluttonous expression.

"Let's bring the whole thing back and process it later. Genos, could I trouble you to carry it?"

"Understood." The golden-haired cyborg complied, effortlessly lifting the massive corpse.

Child Emperor looked up excitedly.

"Mr. King, can I come along? I brought a portable component analyzer. I'll make sure it's safe to eat!"

Exploring weird and fascinating things was right up his alley.

"Of course," Kaito nodded. Then, lowering his voice, he added,

"But keep it quiet. The Hero Association isn't exactly big on 'recycling' battlefield leftovers."

Child Emperor zipped his lips and gave a salute.

And so, the group departed the scene with their spoils.

From afar, police officers and civilians watched the S-Class hero known as King rip off a monster's scythe limb bare-handed—then nonchalantly haul off the entire body.

Their expressions were a mix of awe... and confusion.

"Is Lord King... collecting specimens?"

"No, I heard that top heroes all have weird quirks… like Prisoner Sexy, who's still locked up!"

"Shh! Don't spread rumors! That's the strongest man on Earth!"

And so, the group of four casually left the scene with their ingredients in tow.

Kaito, well-acquainted with the area, led them to a nearby barbecue spot that King used to frequent whenever he visited F City.

This particular restaurant was known for experimenting with unusual and exotic ingredients—monster meat included.

The owner, a broad-shouldered, unshakable middle-aged man, barely blinked when he saw the massive scythe limb Kaito was carrying.

"Your usual spot's ready for you, King," the man said, wiping his hands on a towel. "Need any special prep?"

"Slice it thin, please. And prep some charcoal." Kaito handed him the leg with practiced ease. "Also… put it on my tab."

"You got it!"

Moments later, plates of thinly sliced Mantis meat arrived—translucent and slightly glimmering.

Under the searing heat of the charcoal grill, the slices quickly sizzled to an appetizing golden hue, releasing a rich, ocean-fresh aroma reminiscent of lobster and sweet shellfish.

"Scan complete," Genos announced, putting away his portable analyzer. "No toxins detected. High-quality protein, plus beneficial trace elements. Safe for consumption."

Child Emperor didn't wait for a second opinion. He grabbed a slice, dipped it in special sauce, and popped it in his mouth.

"Mmm! It tastes like lobster… no, wait—like lobster and chicken had a delicious baby!"

Saitama was already gobbling it down with alarming speed, his cheeks puffed like a greedy hamster.

"King! This is free, right? Can I get ten more plates?"

Kaito smiled faintly, nodding as he picked up a slice of his own.

The meat was tender, with a pleasant springiness and a subtle sweetness like seafood—it really was good.

Just as the group dug in deeper, a Hero Association staffer burst in, panting from exertion.

Kaito's gaze instinctively followed the dramatic rise and fall of her chest with each breath.

She wore the standard tight-fitting uniform of the Association. Her white shirt was stretched to its limits, the top button hanging on desperately as her chest heaved with every intake of air.

Kaito, face unreadable, casually handed her a cold soda.

"Here, drink something first."

The woman froze, clearly not expecting such kindness from the man known as King. A flicker of surprise shone in her wide, glistening eyes.

She hesitated—but eventually reached out and accepted the glass. Her fingertips brushed against Kaito's.

She flinched slightly, as if electrocuted.

"Th-thank you, Lord King..." she murmured, barely above a whisper. Her cheeks were tinged with pink.

She brought the soda to her lips, sipping nervously. A single drop of condensation ran down her chin and traced a line across her slender, pale neck.

Kaito's gaze lingered for only a second before he noted her name tag:

Chiba Reina – Logistics Officer, F City Branch.

She looked to be in her early twenties, with chestnut hair tied into a ponytail—though a few strands had slipped loose from her dash over and now clung to her flushed cheeks.

P@treon Rene_chan