Chapter 169 Unknown
Chapter 169 Unknown
When Kawahara came back from shopping, he saw the jade store manager cleaning up with a happy look on his face.
After he walked into the store, he ran over and took the basket of vegetables very actively, without any of his previous listless and depressed look.
"Today is such a good day!"
The store manager Shiyu said with emotion: "Not only are you back, but we just finally hired a new employee. I thought it would be difficult to recruit people for a small restaurant like ours."
Kawahara smiled and said, "That's really good news. Manager, you won't have to be so busy anymore."
"By the way, I've always kept your room. You can go upstairs and have a rest right after you come back. Leave the rest to me!" said the jade jewelry store manager while counting the ingredients.
"Thank you for your hard work, store manager~"
Kawahara did not refuse. After walking up to the window room in the attic, he found that the decoration here was still the same as before he left.
The attic is divided into two sides. There is order and chaos on Yusuke Godai's side, with a main layout that is free and easy.
Kawahara never had many things. The only precious gift box was placed under the table, and there was not much dust on the lid. It was obvious that the jewelry store manager and Goshiro Minoru who occasionally visited here would clean it.
Kawahara took out the stack of super-ancient documents from the box, then sat on the head of the bed and slowly read through them as if he was reading a novel.
He rushed back this time, not only because he was worried that his long absence would cause time confusion, but also because he wanted to resolve the issue concerning "Agito".
However, there are very few records about the "power of light" here. Although Mio later evolved into "Agito", she did not seem to encounter any attacks from angels.
After reading it again, Kawahara thought about it and decided to visit Sawatari Sakurako at Jonan University tomorrow.
Since the emergence of unconfirmed life forms, the girl's research direction has gradually shifted to specializing in ultra-ancient civilizations.
So maybe she has more information there.
……
……
Early the next morning.
Kawahara, who had a rare good and peaceful sleep, seemed to be awakened by something.
He opened his eyes dazedly and was lying on the bed to sort out his thoughts when he heard a crisp "bang" sound coming from downstairs.
Then there was a series of "crackling" sounds of things falling to the ground and shattering, followed by the exclamation of the jade jewelry store manager.
Kawahara: "..."
Is there a thief in the store?
……
When Kawahara tidied himself and walked down the stairs, he saw a girl in an apron behind the bar tremble and knock over the plate in her hand.
"Bang!"
There was another familiar sound of shattering.
He finally understood what had happened to the store.
The store manager, Shiyu, said with a frustrated look on his face: "Kana-chan, there shouldn't be any oil stains on the plate this time, right?"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" The girl apologized with a tense expression and bowed repeatedly.
"Forget it, forget it. Then you go and wipe the table first. It's almost noon now. I'll prepare the rest of the things here." The jade jewelry store manager sighed.
"OK……"
The girl lowered her head, picked up the rag and quickly walked out of the bar, almost bumping into the corner of the counter.
As she passed the stairs, she subconsciously looked up at Kawahara standing at the stairs, then quickly retracted her gaze and went back to wiping the table, but her hands' movements were hurried and messy, and it seemed that she had never done this kind of work before.
Kawahara stared at her back with an unclear look.
When he came over, the store manager who was hurrying to prepare the seasonings was relieved: "A Yuan! You came just in time. I'm going to season the curry now. Can you help me prepare these vegetables?"
Although Kawahara is not as good at cooking as Yusuke Godai, he is capable of doing simple kitchen chores.
Unlike that girl who cut the chopping board while cutting vegetables.
Kawahara washed his hands and put on an apron, while casually asking, "Is she a new employee?"
"She's Kana Okamura - That's right! Kana-chan, this is Kawahara, an employee who doesn't have to work and currently lives in our store!"
After responding to Kawahara's words, Manager Shijidama shouted at the girl who was hurriedly wiping the table.
Okamura Kana turned around and nodded stiffly: "Hello, I'm Okamura Kana."
"Hello." Kawahara looked at her calmly.
When the store manager Shitama went to the kitchen to prepare curry, only Kawahara and Okamura Kana were left at the front desk.
Along with the series of "clang clang clang" sounds of cutting vegetables, Kawahara saw from the corner of his eye that the girl's movements were becoming more and more flustered and hurried, as if she was matching the speed of the sound effects.
Finally, when she turned around in a hurry, her foot accidentally hooked the corner of the table and she fell to the ground. In order to find support, she instinctively pushed down the table and chairs in the row in front of her.
——Crackling!
The destructive power is truly astonishingly strong.
The manager of the Jewelry Shop quickly lifted the curtain of the kitchen and looked over. His expression was dull for a moment. He thought for a long time before he uttered a cold joke: "This is really a bowl of tea rice (reproduced as 'very bad')..."
Kawahara: "..."
After getting up, Okamura Kana quickly apologized while propping up the tables and chairs. She became more and more anxious and panicked, and the more chaotic her movements became.
Kawahara walked out from the bar, lifted up the tables and chairs one by one, and said to her, "Go outside and calm down first."
"Eh? Are... you going to fire me?" Kana Okamura pursed her lips.
"I don't have the final say. You are too nervous."
"……sorry!"
Kana Okamura lowered her head, walked past him and ran out of the store. She stood in the yard and took deep breaths. It took her a while to calm down the uncontrollable trembling in her body.
Too strange……
Feeling uneasy, Kana Okamura turned her head to look inside the store, and through the window she saw a figure arranging tables and chairs.
I was in good condition when I came for the interview yesterday.
As a result, when she started trying to work today, she was so flustered that she couldn't do anything well. Especially after that man appeared, Kana Okamura could clearly feel her heartbeat getting faster and faster.
This feeling of palpitations lasted too long, and naturally affected the work at hand.
Now, blown by the cool autumn breeze outside, Kana Okamura felt herself calm down a little. She patted her cheeks and encouraged herself in her heart - maybe she was just not used to it because it was her first time at work!
Then she took a deep breath and turned to walk into the store.
boom!boom!
My heartbeat quickened again and my hands began to shake.
Okamura Kana: “…”
……
After Kawahara quickly finished cutting the vegetables, he said something to the store manager, Shikidama, and then borrowed the store's landline to call Sawatari Sakurako.
The result showed that the person on the other side was not in the service area.
Kawahara: "???"
Is Tokyo a remote place?
Kawahara looked in the direction of the jewelry store manager in confusion: "Manager, isn't Ms. Sawatari no longer at Jonan University?"
The voice of the jewelry store manager came from behind the curtain: "You are talking about Sakurako-chan. She joined an archaeological research team last year, and told Xiao Minmin a while ago that she had discovered some civilization overseas, so she disappeared for a long time."
Kawahara was speechless.
He had originally planned to visit Sawatari Sakurako today, but now she had lost contact just like Yusuke Godai.
And now he doesn't have to go out anymore, so he might as well stay in the store and hurt the girl with the "power of light".
Kawahara glanced at Kana Okamura who walked in timidly, and took out the collection of the jewelry store manager - a clipping booklet - from under the front desk. Then he sat in the corner where he usually sat and began to absorb the information he had missed in the past year.
Okamura Kana looked at him nervously and quietly.
There was no one in the store now, and the manager Shi Yu didn't dare let her go into the kitchen, so she just did some odd jobs here, wiped the cups there, and subconsciously glanced at Kawahara from time to time.
Kawahara, who was flipping through the newspaper, suddenly turned his head and glanced over. Okamura Kana's hand immediately shook and the cup fell to the ground.
The borosilicate glass cup fell to the ground, making a series of crisp sounds, and rolled to Kawahara's feet.
"sorry Sorry!"
Kana Okamura hurried over and picked up the cup.
Kawahara watched her pick up the cup with shaking hands without realizing it, and he was sure that this girl probably hadn't awakened her superpowers yet, so she probably didn't understand what had happened to her.
From the first moment he saw Kana Okamura, Kawahara could tell that this girl possessed the "power of light".
And this force is already exceptionally strong.
Generally speaking, at this point, humans with the power of light will awaken various superpowers and eventually evolve into the monster form of "Agito".
But although Kana Okamura awakened a very powerful power of light, she does not have any super powers.
This abnormal situation will occur...
Could it be that this girl was instinctively and subconsciously suppressing the changes that would occur in herself?
After all, for some people, turning themselves into an uncontrollable "monster" is a mentally devastating thing. Even if that monster has great power, it is still a monster to them.
Therefore, when some abnormal situations in life reflect this sense of disharmony, a certain protective mechanism of the brain will instinctively start.
In short – escape.
Kawahara looked thoughtfully at Kana Okamura's back as she washed the cups.
If he wants to fight against the "power of darkness" in the future, the first thing he has to do is to suppress his impulse to kill "Agito". Only in this way will he have a chance to resist.
So there is such a person around you who seems to be quite suitable as an adaptation object?
After all, the opponent will not suddenly transform into Agito, and will even actively suppress the power of light. He is simply a natural experimental target!
Kawahara has begun to adapt.
But Kana Okamura inexplicably felt a chill on her back.
……
It's approaching noon.
Finally, more and more customers came to the restaurant, and Kana Okamura began the busy work of serving dishes and collecting plates. She did it carefully, but her hands would always tremble suddenly when she passed by Kawahara.
slam-la-
The dishes on the tray fell down, and when Okamura Kana widened her eyes and exclaimed, Kawahara reached out and caught the two dishes flying towards him.
This was the third time that Kana Okamura had hit him.
He even couldn't help but suspect that this was Agito's sneak attack.
Okamura Kana came over hurriedly: "Yes——"
"Focus yourself. When serving dishes, just focus on serving the dishes. When walking, just walk. Don't be distracted by other things around you." Kawahara sighed.
"Sorry……"
Okamura Kana stammered before finishing the rest of her words.
Kawahara put the dish back on the tray and said, "I'm serious. Try this. You won't have to listen to the manager or the customers anymore."
Okamura Kana looked at him in surprise and doubt.
——Is this a trick to get fired?
Although Kana Okamura felt that this person had ulterior motives, she thought about her achievements today and felt that she would definitely be fired tomorrow.
Then there is nothing to fear!
So she subconsciously tried it.
Kana Okamura is not really extremely reckless, but the "power of light" in her body is already too vigorous, so long-term self-suppression has made her thinking and movements become very slow.
When she focused on the things in front of her, the dishes and plates did not fall, and people did not fall...
The store manager and the customers who just called her were also confused.
But Kawahara nodded with satisfaction.
At least Kana Okamura finally stopped hitting him, which is also a progress!
He gently picked up the coffee cup engraved with the Yaguru emblem and was taking a sip leisurely when he suddenly felt dizzy and a blurry image flashed in his mind.
——With a leopard-print head, a beastly posture, a fluttering blue scarf and a glowing human.
Kawahara came back to his senses and his eyes moved, and he slowly put down the coffee cup in his hand.
"Bang!"
There was a sudden sound of plates breaking behind the bar, and Kana Okamura, whose hands were shaking, quickly squatted down, apologized repeatedly, and cleaned up the plates.
The next moment, she suddenly realized something and instinctively turned her head to see the man walking out of the store.
……
……
When Kawahara walked out of the store, the Ultimate Pursuit had already driven out from the backyard. After he sat on it, it folded up the chassis and rushed into the sky.
The scene of the strange man committing a crime that he had just predicted was naturally not Gurongi, but an angel.
An angel who is ready to destroy humans who may awaken the "power of light".
However, in human cognition, these monsters are naturally not called angels. In order to distinguish them from the "unconfirmed life forms" of the "Gurongi" category that appeared two years ago, the Metropolitan Police Department gave them the code name - Unknown.
Unknown——Unknown life form.
Kawahara had learned from the newspaper that there seemed to be an incident of Unknown attacking humans two nights ago.
However, the Metropolitan Police Department has not officially acknowledged this matter because they themselves have not seen the real monster, so the information published in the news is also based on hearsay.
But I have to say...
After the wave of Gurongi incidents two years ago, the people of Tokyo have become quite calm about monster incidents.
*
However, when Kawahara drove the Ultimate Chaser to the location he sensed, he did not see any trace of Unknown there.
There was only a sad-looking young woman walking in the park.
Kawahara stopped the Ultimate Chaser on the side of the road, looked at the young woman with the "power of light" in her body, and then looked around where there was no trace of any angels.
Finally he thought about it... So he came too early?
But it is better to save people sooner rather than later.
Although the dark power in his body made him want to beat Agito, the light power on the other side spared no effort to allow him to predict the appearance of the angel in advance.
Therefore, Kawahara felt that the "Power of Light" was clearly superior in this wave.
In order to prevent the next angel from appearing, Kawahara followed the young woman directly since he was already there.
But he had not followed for some distance when he suddenly noticed something. He turned his head and looked towards a certain place in the park. He saw two men in windbreakers standing there and chatting.
Kawahara stared at them calmly.
The two people over there: "..."
stare--
Two people: "..."
stare--
Since Kawahara was staring at him deliberately, the two people who were having an awkward chat over there couldn't pretend anymore, and one of them walked towards him viciously.
"Hey! What do you want to do by following that woman? You are the murderer who murdered those people last night, right?!"
……
……
I want to add more but I can't bring myself to do it... Is it because the weather is getting colder? Let me think about it for a while...
(End of this chapter)