“I’m not Action Kamen,” Minoru corrected expressionlessly.
“I’m Kamen Rider Faiz.”
“Kamen Rider…
Faiz!”
Marin Kitagawa’s eyes instantly grew even brighter, and she was so excited she practically clung to Minoru.
“Kamen Rider…
What a cool name!
Is that armor made of metal?
What was with that red beam of light just now?
And that phone-like driver—is it high-tech?!”
As a hardcore anime fan and cosplay enthusiast, Marin had an indescribable obsession with things that could normally only be seen in anime and tokusatsu shows.
She circled Minoru, sizing him up with burning, eager eyes.
“So!
Can I transform too?”
“Please!
Could you lend it to me for a bit?
Just for a little bit!
Pretty please!”
Minoru had originally thought she was about to say something jaw-dropping, but who could have expected Marin to immediately bow with her hands pressed together, pleading with an utterly serious expression?
“…”
Although it was ridiculous, when he remembered that this was how Marin Kitagawa’s brain operated, it suddenly made a lot more sense.
As for lending her the belt…
That was obviously out of the question!
First, Minoru was afraid Marin’s clumsy hands might break it (though the possibility was minuscule).
Second, even if he gave it to her, she wasn’t an Orphnoch, so she couldn’t transform anyway…
Wait!
Right at that moment, Minoru suddenly realized something and stared at Marin Kitagawa in total shock.
Baffled by his intense stare, Marin gave him a puzzled look.
Minoru didn’t have time to pay attention to her expression.
Calling up the system, he hurriedly asked in his mind:
*System, there’s a problem!
I just remembered—isn’t Faiz a belt that only Orphnochs can use to transform?*
*Why can I use it?*
[Ding!
In response to the Host: That is naturally because you are an Orphnoch.]
“?”
Minoru was stunned.
*Since when?
Was I aware of this?*
[The System detected that during your trans-world arrival—specifically, when you were saving someone in the river—you had actually already drowned to death.]
[This caused you to awaken directly as a purebred Orphnoch when your physical body was reconstructed in this world.]
“…”
Minoru opened his mouth, sinking into silence.
Although the system’s explanation answered his doubt, this reason for awakening…
was way too embarrassing!
Not wanting to die a virgin…
While that really was the thought that had flashed through his mind before dying, having the system say it out loud so solemnly was practically a public execution!
However, before Minoru could even recover from the embarrassment, [Constant Composure] made another thought suddenly strike him.
Wait!
If I’m an Orphnoch…
Minoru’s face instantly turned pale.
Although Orphnochs possessed power far exceeding ordinary humans and were touted as the evolved form of humanity, they all had a fatal flaw—genetic breakdown!
An Orphnoch’s cells would decay at an extremely rapid pace, leading to an exceptionally short lifespan.
At shortest, it might be only a few years, and even at longest, no more than a decade or so.
In the end, they would all dissolve into a pile of grayish-white sand and scatter with the wind!
*System!
Doesn’t that mean even though I’m living another life, I still won’t make it to a natural death?!*
[In response to the Host: Under normal circumstances, that is indeed the case.]
The system’s voice remained cold and calm.
[However, it is not absolute.
The System’s Justice Point gacha pool contains countless items.]
[As long as the Host continuously accumulates Justice Points to perform gacha pulls, you might just pull an item that completely resolves the Orphnoch genetic flaw.]
[Furthermore, the ‘Perfect Gene Optimization Liquid’ the Host ingested last night has already delayed the speed of your genetic breakdown to a certain extent, buying you more time.]
Hearing this, Minoru couldn’t help but curse inwardly.
*Fuck…*
What was this supposed to mean?
The system’s meaning was already crystal clear.
If he didn’t try his absolute best to do good deeds, stop evil, and earn Justice Points for gacha pulls right now, he would die in a decade or so!
Minoru looked down at his hands.
Under the buff of [Constant Composure], his brain was incomparably clear, but precisely because of that, he pondered even more deeply.
*If I exercise justice and save others purely so I myself can live on…*
*Can this kind of utilitarian justice really still be considered justice?*
Minoru murmured quietly in his heart.
“Um…
Excuse me?”
Just as Minoru was falling into self-doubt, a fair little hand waved in front of his eyes.
Marin Kitagawa looked at Minoru, who had suddenly fallen into a daze, and leaned over with a hint of concern.
“Are you okay?
Did you get hurt while fighting that monster just now?”
Snapping back to reality, Minoru looked at the beautiful, concern-filled face before him.
Taking a deep breath, he forcibly suppressed the messy thoughts in his head. Follow the newest chapters on novelping.com.
Utilitarian or not, at the very least, he had genuinely saved the girl in front of him just now.
That was enough.
“I’m fine.”
Minoru shook his head, then looking at Marin’s expectant eyes, decisively rejected her earlier request.
“As for the driver, I’m sorry, I can’t lend it to you.”
“Aww— Why?!” Marin instantly dragged out her voice sorrowfully, deflating like a popped balloon.
“Because this transformation system has a genetic lock.”
Minoru thought for a moment, making his tone sound ominous to scare her.
“If an ordinary person uses it by force, not only will they fail to transform, but they’ll also turn into a monster!”
“That dangerous?!”
Frightened, Marin yanked her hand back quickly, though the fanaticism in her eyes didn’t lessen in the slightest.
“Then…
can I still see you transform in the future?
It was seriously super cool!”
“If there’s an opportunity, maybe.”
Minoru glanced at the sky.
The setting sun had completely fallen, and darkness had settled in.
Seeing that Marin Kitagawa had given up on using the belt, Minoru felt relieved as well.
“It’s getting late.
You inhaled chloroform earlier, so your body might still be a bit weak.
Hurry home.
Remember, today’s events are strictly confidential.”
“Mhm, mhm!
Cross my heart, my lips are sealed!”
[LanLi: Him and I?
(♫)]
Marin nodded vigorously, then as if remembering something, hurriedly pulled her phone out of her schoolbag.
“Oh, right!
I haven’t asked what your name is yet!
Let’s exchange contact info!
That way, if I encounter danger or spot one of those monsters in the future, I can notify you immediately!”
That was a reasonable excuse.
Minoru didn’t refuse, pulling out his phone to exchange Line contacts with Marin.
Looking at the newly added contact named “Minoru Kuroe” on her phone, a bright smile spread across the corners of Marin’s lips.
*Kuroe…
huh?*
*It’s the same family name as Shizuku-tan!*
*Should I invite Kuroe-kun to play “Saint♡Slippery Girls’ Academy Milady’s Shameless Miraculous Life in the Humiliation Club II” together in the future?*
Marin’s little brain was instantly filled with all sorts of weird thoughts.
If he saw Shizuku-tan—who shared his family name—getting put through this and that, would a priceless expression pop up on his face?