For quite a long time, peace reigned—at least as far as Ling Luo was concerned.
Ever since he acquired the upgraded cloak from the system, Ling Luo no longer feared running into Moroboshi Dan while acting as a champion of justice.
Of course, fights still had to happen.
Whenever the New Generation Ultras blocked his way, both sides would usually engage in a "friendly" sparring match, and when he got tired, Eris would tag in. Thanks to the timely retrieval, the others never noticed Eris's presence (well, actually, because Eris kept getting blasted away).
Ahem, anyway.
The New Generation Ultras also realized that this mysterious opponent harbored no ill intentions toward them. Rather than a fierce battle, their encounters felt more like sparring and mentorship sessions. Besides, after so many days, the guy really hadn't done anything bad—well, aside from having a somewhat poor reputation among a small minority of aliens.
He had reached the point where he could scare little alien children to tears, but in a way, that was a good thing, wasn't it?
Having figured this out, the New Generation Ultras relaxed and stopped trying to capture him.
Actually, they couldn't catch him anyway.
The New Generation Ultras: "Hey! Don't expose us like that!"
Both sides had fallen into a tacit understanding. Every time they resolved an incident, they would find a secluded spot to spar, dragging along Manaka Kengo and Asumi Kanata, who had just returned from visiting relatives in the Orion constellation.
How could they let the two juniors miss out on such a great opportunity for self-improvement? They were, after all, a united front of New Generation Ultras!
Let us observe a moment of silence for the pitiful pair of juniors... and spend the remaining fifty-nine seconds laughing.
As for the surveillance, that task was still left to X and Ozora Daichi.
With alien disturbances rare lately, it should have been a joyous occasion. It would have been even better if someone hadn't constantly been using them as guinea pigs for new dishes.
Though most of them tasted amazing, the food looked entirely too bizarre.
That dark-robed man was pure evil!
What on earth was that purple soup?!!
Was that colorful plate of stuff actually food?!!
Was this thing bubbling with foam really a drink?!!
This... was an indelible trauma in the lives of Ultras. They were just minors!
Therefore, as expected, Mr. Ling was still the best. Not only would he comfort their wounded hearts, but he also taught them how to cook dishes that looked, smelled, and tasted exquisite.
From then on, at least the New Generation Ultras wouldn't have to worry about starving to death...
Still, except for you, Satoru! Also, put down that jar of sugar! You are forbidden to enter the kitchen!
The New Generation Ultras liked Mr. Ling very much. Naturally, once they grew close, they started calling him Ling Luo instead.
Even though he mostly came looking for Moroboshi Dan, every time he visited, he brought snacks for them! Do you know how touching it is to have a plate of delicious treats waiting to comfort you after a grueling training session?
Recently, the fragments they found had been quite ordinary and completely harmless. Being possessed by animals was still manageable, but in the regions where some of these fragments lay, let alone animals, even insects were a rare sight.
Stage-one and stage-two quests were already completed, and the rewards had been claimed. There was also a minor side quest that had popped up halfway through, which was just a hair away from completion and could be finished tonight.
By all rights, with things progressing so smoothly, Ling Luo should have been happy.
Yet life doesn't always go smoothly—well, the thing was, he felt like Moroboshi Dan might have figured out his identity.
Every time he wore the cloak to spar with the New Generation Ultras, that guy would stare at him intently. When it was his turn to spar with Ling Luo personally, the probing nature of the attacks became significantly heavier.
Terrifying! But surely he hadn't slipped up and exposed his disguise anywhere?
Sometimes, he even used his substitute doll to create the illusion that both of them were present at the same time. (A level-one substitute doll looked identical to Ling Luo, and its movements were basically indistinguishable from a real person, but it lacked any corresponding strength. In other words, it was just an ordinary human. But that was fine; as long as no one threw a punch, his cover wouldn't be blown!)
So where on earth had things gone wrong?! He had even placed the bracelet Moroboshi Dan gave him directly onto the doll!
It didn't make sense.
Though he really didn't want to admit it, the moment Moroboshi Dan dragged him away and told the others he wanted a private word, Ling Luo knew he was doomed.
In a spot devoid of surveillance cameras.
"Well now, what does this little friend want with me?"
(This was the adjusted voice of the cloak, sounding like someone in their early twenties, overall much deeper.)
Even as he said this, Ling Luo knew he couldn't keep up the act much longer.
"Having fun?" Moroboshi Dan raised an eyebrow.
"Huh? What is my little friend talking about~?"
Sensing danger, Ling Luo felt an urge to run. "I just remembered I have business to attend to, so I'll take my leave today!"
He tried to slip away... but failed to escape.
"Ha." Moroboshi Dan let out a soft chuckle.
Ling Luo only felt his wrist grabbed, his perspective violently shifting as he was pinned against the wall.
Raising his head, he found Moroboshi Dan looking right at him, their faces dangerously close. One of the man's hands rested flat against the wall beside him, while the other pinned both of Ling Luo's hands above his head.
"I was wrong, Dan—cut me some slack." A familiar youthful voice came out from beneath the cloak.
He had no choice but to surrender; he simply couldn't break free, boo hoo hoo.
Moroboshi Dan fell silent for a moment before reaching out to pull the cloak down from the other's face, revealing Ling Luo's expression, which bore a slightly ingratiating smile.
"Let... let go, Dan."
The man didn't budge.
Growing a bit anxious, Ling Luo struggled with his hands still restrained, especially since the posture was downright scandalous. The man's warm breath washed directly over his face; previously he at least had the cloak as a barrier, but now there was nothing!
"Dan... Dan?"
Seeing the tips of the man's ears turn red, Moroboshi Dan, on a sudden impulse, reached out to brush them, and then, as if unsatisfied, gave them a little pinch.
Alright, now it wasn't just his ears that were red.
Moroboshi Dan froze, as if only just snapping back to reality, and took a step back while withdrawing his hand.
Why is this guy like this?! Ling Luo protested inwardly.
Though... you're allowed to flirt with others, but nobody is allowed to flirt with you? Double standards.
"Ahem, whatever. If you want to play, go ahead. This young master couldn't care less. Don't worry, I won't tell them."
Moroboshi Dan turned his head away, crossing his arms.
"Eh? You're being this kind?"
He had expected this guy to threaten him.
"Aren't you in cahoots with them?" Ling Luo asked, hesitant.
"Ha, it's just right for testing the little guys."
Moroboshi Dan flashed a wicked smile, raised an eyebrow, and added, "Besides, even if they find out later, they wouldn't dare cause trouble for this young master."
"Heh." Ling Luo thought to himself: You're amazing, whatever you say goes.
"Alright, alright. Time's almost up, this young master should head back."
"Oh... wait~ hold on, wait a second!"
"What is it?"
"Um... well, how did you figure it out?"
Ling Luo thought about it, gave up thinking, and decided to ask the man himself.
"Want to know?"
"Mm-hmm!" Ling Luo was genuinely curious. He had just racked his brain and couldn't find a single flaw in his disguise.
Seeing the other's sparkling eyes, Moroboshi Dan couldn't resist reaching out to ruffle his hair directly, only stopping when the person looked ready to bristle with anger.
"Ahem, guessed it." With that, he instantly bolted, not giving the other a chance to react.
"Guessed... guessed it? So you were just bluffing me!" Ling Luo couldn't comprehend it.
"If I'd known, I would have died and never admitted it. Tsk~"
Was it really just a guess? Yes, it genuinely was a guess, seeing as Moroboshi Dan didn't have a shred of evidence.
It was just that... even with the face concealed, even with the voice altered, he still felt deep down that it was you.
It was as simple as that.
"Ding, congratulations to the host for completing the quest: Give the New Generation a Little Shock (fulfilled for 20 days). Reward points: 200."
Panel
Name: Ling Luo
Age: 19
Height: 178cm
Physical Fitness: 90 (Normal human: 100)
Skills:
Telekinesis (Level 3) (Points needed for Level 4: 420 | Max Level: 8)
Hand-to-Hand Combat (Level 5) (Points needed for Level 6: 280 | Max Level: 8)
Master Culinary Arts (Level 2) (Points needed for Level 3: 40 | Max Level: 5)
Stealth (Level 1) (Points needed for Level 2: 100 | Max Level: 5)
Healing Magic (Level 1) (Points needed for Level 2: 200 | Max Level: 8)
Time Power (Level 2) (Points needed for Level 3: 2000 | Max Level: 5)
Space Power (Level 1) (Points needed for Level 2: 1000 | Max Level: 5)
Inventory:
Eris (Points needed for upgrade: 2000)
Substitute Doll (Points needed for upgrade: 600)
Plastic Explosive × 10
Shadow Cloak × 1
Points: 22
(Note: Level 1 Space Power allows teleportation within a radius of 1,000 meters centered on oneself.)
(Actually, you don't need to remember it in such detail; just knowing roughly what abilities are there is fine) (ﾟòωóﾟ)
(I probably won't write things out in such detail later on.)