Manaka-san, I’ve come so far now

Neito decided to send the body of the Santana’s leader to Metallica’s research center. He knew they conducted all their research without interference. They could research more about the monolith and how it was a.s.sociated to human souls.

In the Santana’s point of view, Neito was their savior. Neito appeared to them as a person offering his services for them to build their base. If ever they would try to oppose him, he would crush them mercilessly. That’s why  Neito ama.s.sed arms in the branch headquarters.

But it didn’t come to that. The Santana swore their allegiance to Metallica. No, to be precise, they swore their allegiance to him. Making the sounds [kukko kukko], they even offered their strength to a.s.sist him in any sort of task. They must’ve thought of him greatly. Most of their race are probably living in the ocean depths.

With both Ramone and the Santana are now gone, Metallica’s influence over the island rapidly grew.

Since Metallica’s activities were originally small scale, the island had no countermeasures against them except their local hero.

Under Metallica’s irregular commander, their local hero was brought down easily. All the businesses in the island now belonged to Metallica in the shadows.

Neito did all of it in less than six months.

Mayuzumi Maki was in distress.

The cyborg project proposal she submitted to the committee for the inter-company compet.i.tion was about to be approved, and she already pet.i.tioned for it to be moved to the research and development department, but it came to a standstill due to a problem.

She had no subject to be the “human” part of the cyborg.

She needed someone she could monitor easily. Her experiment didn’t need to produce great results after the transplant, but it would greatly raise the possibility of winning the compet.i.tion if her it went well. A creature that improves itself, that was her concept.

In order for her to succeed, she needed to face multiple problems.

First, she needed to find a subject with strong mental fort.i.tude that could withstand the procedure. There weren’t too many in the world.

After the subject became a cyborg, she needed him to be able to control his powers independently.

He then would be enlisted in Metallica’s elite unit to handle special missions in the front lines.

It was a given that Metallica would want a top-notch subject resulting from the transplant. The battle capabilities shown after the transplant would greatly affect Metallica’s view on the project and the subject.

Maki still thought the concept of “evolving itself to become stronger” did not appeal to the committee too much. After all, they could interpret it as “it will start off as a weak subject” that will try to improve itself.

Maki knew that eventually they’ll come to a decision where there might be complaints.

The project would greatly affect her life and the company. She was hoping the committee would see this.

And, she really worked hard on having the concept of building an improving cyborg. She believed that her project would greatly boost Metallica’s fighting capabilities. She tried thinking of a person to be her subject. This was obviously her job as she was the researcher and developer of the project.

[…Hmm….]

Maki was slumped up in her desk thinking. It seemed that she couldn’t come up with somebody.

[Mayuzumi-san? What happened? Are you okay?]

She heard a voice from afar.

[Ah, no, I’m fine. I was just lost in my thoughts…]

She replied hastily.

[Is that so… You seem kinda down lately. Hey, have you heard?]

[? Heard what?]

[I don’t know if this’ll cheer you up, but…your co-worker, Komori-kun, was it? He’s coming to the main office today.]

[Eh?!]

She didn’t know this. She thought he was still in Okinawa.

She had heard all kinds of news.

He defeated Ramone and gained dominance over the Santana.

This news was widespread within the company. No one [believed it] and said amongst themselves that [it was a miracle]. They simply were in utter disbelief.

A normal civilian, admitted into the company through the General Affairs, rises through the ranks and gets sent to the special region, then comes back with all the glory. It was an unlikely situation.

But Maki thought otherwise. She already expected this of him.

If it’s that person, maybe, just maybe, he can do something. I wonder what he’s doing right now? Is doing well in Okinawa? He could’ve called me once in a while… Is he doing good there? He’s going to do something great again.

Those kind of thoughts came to her.

That’s why when she heard news about him, she shouted [Yay!] out loud, causing people around her to look at her, and making her all red.

[W-why is Neito-kun coming here?]

[He’s receiving the director’s recommendation award. Well, it’s obvious that he would receive such a reward since he was up against a Guardian that strong. Ah, about his scheduled time of arrival…]

[……….!]

She let him out of her sight for a bit and he was already reaching new heights.

He was a shy but caring person, calmly proclaiming that he would destroy the world.

He was truly a mysterious person.

Her chest soon grew hotter by the minute.

[A, Ah, I’m…! ….Can you excuse me for a bit?]

[Hehe, sure. Go ahead.]

[Thank you very much!]

Maki briskly walked through the corridors. When she heard that he’ll be arriving, she concluded that they’ll probably arrive via the lobby.

She had nothing to see him for, but she just wanted to see his face once.

She saw the elevator and decided to use it to go down towards the lobby.

The elevator was crowded with people. She bowed her head to them and entered it.

While she was riding the elevator, she heard all kinds of gossip.

[I still don’t believe it… What kind of guy is he? That Komori?]

[It’s only been a short time since he was accepted into the company… I really don’t know that much about him…]

[I saw him once… But he’s not the type that would leave a big impression on you.]

[If that’s the case, there’s no way he could do something that great.]

[Defeating Dylan, bringing down Beetle and conquering the special region. That’s one h.e.l.l of an achievement. May he’s on par with General Raz in terms of strength?]

It seemed that Neito brought about another storm into the company. The guys on the elevator who were headed to the lobby were constantly  gossiping about him.

Hearing about him made Maki delighted.

Fufufu. You’re all wrong. Komori-kun’s kindness is the same as normal people.

She tried to hold back her delightfulness.

She arrived at the lobby.

The lobby was crowded more than ever before.

There some women from the General Affairs waiting in the lobby, and there were some people frantically coming in from outside.

After a few minutes the lobby gate with Metallica’s emblem opened.

[……!]

Maki’s chest suddenly jumped high. She saw the man whom everyone was talking about in the center of the group.

Wearing a black suit, he was standing leisurely, surrounded by people who looked like his companions.

People around the lobby turned their focus on the group. A cheer erupted from them.

Behind Neito, was a man with a katana, a college student-like brown haired man, a blonde girl and three other men clothed in black. They all walked with an aura booming with tremendous power, not paying much attention to their surroundings.

Neito hadn’t noticed Maki yet.

He really has changed.

Maybe it’s because it has been a while since he came into the main office…

The air around him changed. He had the most presence among the people the surrounded him. But he didn’t have a negative aura. She felt that people were naturally drawn to him.

It wasn’t like General Raz whose aura boomed of death and power. Rather, it was like a darkness lurking around, compelling people to follow him.

The entire lobby came to a silence. They were all speechless. They were only able to look at him and his group walking towards them.

Somehow, she understood him. He may look like that on the surface, but in reality he was really a shy person. He seemed weak and nimble; the type people took lightly of.

But today, he was heading into the main office in order to meet the managing director. The director must need to make some important announcement.

I’m sure he really fought hard during battles…

Maki never saw him fight be she knew that the “gap” between them was very wide.

But when he was in Okinawa, he grew quite a lot, stronger (TLN:( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) EDN: smh), and more atrocious.

The [darkness] he possessed was gleaming darkly during his fights.

I’m sure he’s doing his best. Directing his subordinates, walking forward, atrociously, proudly like a villain.

The lobby was quiet. Only the sounds of footsteps made by Neito’s group were heard.

Among the crowded lobby, a path was opened for him and his men to pa.s.s through.

The man named Komori Neito had now become a prominent figure within the company.

Ding.

With that sound, the elevator doors closed.

Neito rechecked everyone’s attendance. Tsurugi, Anice, Niina and some men from the General Affairs in the Okinawa branch.

Okay, there’s no one amiss.

[… Ah, I’m getting nervous. I guess I really am tired of all this.]

He unintentionally let out his thoughts.

[Good work Boss.]

[Nate was really cool back there!]

[I was honestly taken back, senpai. When you said you were bringing Ramone down, the air around you suddenly changed. You’re really scary when you get serious.]

His companions complimented him one after the other.

Even if you guys say that… Tsurugi still had to suggest that [you’ll be part of history from now on. You should act like a real figure in the main branch, Boss].

So Neito really didn’t think about it, he just subconsciously did it.

He tried doing it like the time when he was facing Beetle, the time he bought down Ramone.

Who ever crosses my path should be fully prepared.

I wont show any mercy regardless of who you are.

If you don’t want to be crushed,

Get out of my way and bow down to me.

He tried bringing out his villainous self.

[Well, I guess that’s it. I really don’t want to continue doing it since I’m tired and all.]

[Understood Boss. Remember that it’s important to make an impression on the director.]

He was now going to face the managing director of the company. The director had apparently news for him.

The next battle was about to begin.

[Thinking about it now…….]

Neito realized something.

He always collapsed unknowingly. After wearing the suit developed for missions, he steadily became resistant to fainting on the field.

He was different now.

When was I able to do something like this?

I can’t consider myself as a weakling now can I?

[Are you okay Nate?]

Anice asked him worriedly.

[Ah, no. There’s nothing wrong here.]

Manaka-san, I’ve come so far.

Will you praise me now?

His thoughts drifted away.

h.e.l.low there,

Daikyun here. Sorry for the “extended vacation”. Real life is really s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g my a.s.s right now. I can’t even find a vacant schedule to translate. Anyways, hopefully, after this week, I’m returning back to schedule of one chapter a week(unless thesis papers get in my way again)… Now for the tradition…

End chapter thoughts with Daikyun:

“It’s amazing how our body can turn chocolate milk into pristine clear p.i.s.s”

(Yes, I’ve been drinking Chocolate milk for 2 days now.)

-Daikyun