Chapter 70

It's been a while since I used the "Gender Equality Fist." I carefully struck with my right hand, and I'm glad it was successful. I managed to knock him out cleanly with just a graze under his chin.

I had Nia check to make sure no one around us noticed, and it seemed there were no issues. There shouldn't be any aftereffects.

"Congratulations, you passed the test!"

"Congratulations!"

Nia, who had watched the entire process from the job offer to the test, congratulated me.

"Still, to have a meeting right away. I'm a bit nervous."

Right now, I'm waiting in one of the rooms of the office building owned by Kurenai, along with Nia. The top bodyguard is supposed to be coming back from his rounds soon, and we'll discuss the job details and schedule.

"Mr. Yuuki, Chief Dies has returned. This way."

"Understood."

I was led to another room by a different man in a black suit from the one I fought earlier.

"Hey, you must be the part-timer. I'm Dies. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Yuuki Kousuke. Please take care of me."

When I entered the room, a tall, blonde man named Dies greeted me warmly. This is the chief bodyguard... huh?

"Blonde giant!?"

"Yuuki Kousuke!?"

Isn't this the enhanced ability user who was chasing Shizukanae!?

"Enhanced!"

I activated the enhanced ability first. It feels a bit complicated to use the ability I learned from the Original, but it's useful whether I fight or run. I have no choice.

'I want to avoid a fight. I'll run now.'

'Understood. I've taken control of the security system. I've stopped the camera feed. The windows are double-glazed but not bulletproof. They can be broken with a Master's strike.'

Nia quickly understood my intention and took action. I'm grateful, Nia, you're amazing.

'I'll escape through the window. Please create a distraction.'

'Understood. I'll activate the fire suppression system at the same time as your escape.'

We're at a disadvantage since we don't know the number or strength of the opponents. Since Ur isn't nearby, I can use Yin-Yang techniques at normal output. I'll break the window and use the "Scatter Flame Bullet" to fly away.

"Let's go!"

"Stop! Stop! I don't want to fight!"

"Huh?"

"I'm not involved with the organization anymore! I'm just a regular working person now!"

"..."

What do you mean?

"Um... How about we go outside? I'll explain in detail."

'Vital signs, no change in sweat. The probability of lying is low.'

I was surprised that Nia has a lie detector function, but I ignored it and observed the situation. Indeed, it doesn't seem like he's acting. The staff around us also seem genuinely confused.

"Alright, let's talk outside."

We decided to talk in a park near the building. It seems he chose an easy-to-escape location to ease my guard.

"Right... Let's start with what happened after our fight."

The enhanced ability user, Dies, began to explain how he ended up working for Kurenai.

First, after our fight, he was arrested by the police on suspicion of public indecency. Since he had no ID or address, he was detained for a few days. After a stern warning, he was released, but the temporary branch of the organization had already been destroyed, and all the members had retreated, leaving Dies behind. Since the organization's members managed his money and ID, he became completely penniless and lived as a homeless person in Sapporo for about a month.

"Then I met Kurenai and got a job. So, I'm not involved with the organization at all anymore."

'Vital signs, no change in sweat. The probability of lying is low.'

Nia's lie detector function is still active during the conversation.

"Even if that's true, I can't trust you. The fact that you attacked Shizukanae and the others doesn't change."

I'm reluctant to get involved, even though the part-time pay is tempting. It's better to stay out of it.

"Then how about a trade?"

"A trade?"

"Right. I feel bad if the person Kurenai hired quits because of me, so if you take this part-time job, I'll offer a reward."

"Reward? Even if you increase the pay, I don't plan to take the job."

"It's not about money. I'll teach you all the combat techniques and how to use the enhanced ability that I know."

"!"

"I won't ask for the reason, but you can use the enhanced ability, right? At first, I thought it was Yin-Yang techniques, but I've never heard of a technique that can be activated with the power of a Rank A ability. If that's the case, it makes more sense that you have the Rank A 'Enhanced' ability."

I thought he was still mistaken from our last fight, but he's figured it out. The difference in output between techniques and abilities is something Crow mentioned before. Techniques are diverse but have less impact, while abilities are specialized in one phenomenon and have a higher impact. If he could determine that from just one fight, he has quite a keen eye.

"Combat techniques and how to use the enhanced ability...?"

Honestly, it's an attractive offer, but combat techniques come naturally with my learning ability, and I've used the enhanced ability several times, so my proficiency is already quite high. That alone isn't enough to accept.

"You don't seem satisfied. How about I also tell you everything I know about the organization?"

"Organization, as in the ability organization?"

"Right. The contract with the organization doesn't forbid me from revealing information after I leave. I'll tell you everything I know within that range."

"That's..."

'Very tempting.'

Nia seems to think the same thing, as I can hear her whispering through the spirit threads. She tried to gather information on the ability organization before, but couldn't get any core information like the headquarters or purpose. This might not be a bad deal.

"I really don't have anything else to offer. The only other thing is money."

"No, money is fine. If you promise the two rewards, I'll take the job."

"Really! Thank you!"

It's a good deal for me too. Besides, I initially planned to stay out of it, but it's better to keep an eye on him to see if he's up to something.

"I don't want you to back out halfway, so can we release the information gradually?"

"Sure, that works."

"Then, let's practice the combat techniques and enhanced ability usage before and during the part-time job."

After finishing the conversation, we returned to the building, greeted the other bodyguards, decided on the shifts, and went home. It was an unexpected turn of events, but I need to adjust my mindset. I start work tomorrow.

"Bodyguard, I should watch some videos to study."

"I've picked out some useful bodyguard technique videos. You can watch them anytime."

"Nia, you're amazing."

As always, Nia was excellent today.

I'm very, very sorry for the delay in updates.

The author is alive.

I will resume updates, though at a slower frequency.