This world had never lacked madmen.
Jaden was certain of that.
But no matter how he thought about it, he hadn't expected madmen to be this arrogant.
As he accompanied Erina and watched the process of making snacks at a small stall, Jaden's ear twitched.
"Does that even need to be asked... of course it's to kill that Strongest Creature on Earth."
The voice was quiet.
Very quiet.
Judging by the distance, the speaker wasn't nearby. They were positioned on top of a tall building, and it didn't sound like there was only one person.
And-
The target of their conversation was him.
Thinking of this, Jaden smiled.
This was the first time he had encountered someone so confidently reckless.
They had clearly taken distance into account. Jaden didn't feel any direct gaze on him.
But even so-
Even from that far away, he could still hear them clearly.
With that thought, Jaden's Observation Haki spread outward.
Compared to his five senses, his Observation Haki was on a completely different level. With a single sweep, he locked onto the speaker.
A middle-aged man.
White hair.
And the person conspiring with him-
Kure Fuki.
Seeing the smile on Kure Fuki's face, Jaden felt like laughing even more.
To try to kill him, and even rope in one of his own people...
Was this supposed to be a covert assassination?
Or an underhanded public declaration?
With that thought, Jaden turned to Erina beside him.
"Erina, something interesting might happen in a bit."
"Do you want to stay and watch?"
Hmm?
Erina turned to look at him.
When she saw the malice-filled smile on Jaden's face, her eyebrows lifted slightly. She had already guessed what was coming.
"It won't affect the surroundings, will it?"
She sounded a little concerned.
Jaden glanced at the stall owner making the snack, then shook his head.
"No."
Hearing that, Erina took the snack, thanked the vendor, and paid.
She walked back to Jaden's side, handed him the food, and winked at him.
"Then let's watch together."
"It's dangerous around here, after all. I'd be scared if I didn't stay by your side~"
Jaden held the snack in one hand and wrapped his other arm around Erina's waist.
"Don't worry."
"It's just a performance."
"Nothing will happen."
After saying that, Jaden continued strolling through the stalls with Erina as if nothing were wrong.
The stall owner who had just finished cooking removed his hat.
A faint light flickered in his eyes.
Though clearly male in appearance, his voice was unmistakably feminine-calm and intellectual.
"Big sister, it seems someone is planning to interfere with Lord Yuki's date."
Elsewhere, Brunhilde paused slightly.
"Judging by the location... Reginleif, you just made contact with Lord Yuki, didn't you?"
"What did the Lord say?"
"Lord Yuki seems quite interested," Reginleif replied calmly. "He only hinted that we shouldn't affect the surroundings."
Hearing this, Brunhilde nodded.
"In that case, let's refrain from interfering for now."
"No human can possibly be Lord Yuki's opponent anyway."
"And... the barrier is already in place."
"As long as we adjust its parameters, nothing will go wrong."
"If Lord Yuki wants to see what methods they intend to use..."
"Then let him watch."
Reginleif nodded.
"I understand, Big sister."
After speaking, the man Reginleif had manifested as slipped into an alley.
Her form dissolved.
She returned to her original self and went to handle the barrier adjustments.
The entire newly built commercial street was under the Valkyries' control.
A massive Recognition Barrier had been deployed over the area.
It looked bustling.
But in reality-
Aside from Jaden and the others, there wasn't a single real person present.
Everything else was an illusion created by the barrier.
Jaden had realized this the moment he arrived.
So even if someone attempted something reckless, it would be impossible to injure civilians.
The only possible issue was property damage.
That was why Reginleif was now modifying the barrier to protect every surrounding street, building, and object.
As for Lord Yuki-
Not only did Brunhilde believe it.
Reginleif did as well.
There was no human alive in this era who could be a match for someone who had annihilated an entire pantheon alone.
So-
If the Lord wanted to observe his enemies' methods, then so be it.
The Thirteen Valkyries only needed to handle the aftermath.
...
"Hey."
"Since we're cooperating, shouldn't I at least know your name?"
After reaching an agreement, Kure Fuki finally asked.
The white-haired middle-aged man glanced at her.
"There's no need to hide it."
"You can call me Niko."
"Or Tokita."
"Either is fine."
"Then Niko it is."
Kure Fuki nodded, then looked at his back with a strange expression.
"Mr. Niko... this might be blunt, but if the two of us just go in directly, won't we both die for nothing?"
That was what she couldn't understand.
What gave this man the confidence to think he could kill Jaden?
Niko laughed.
"So you're thinking the same thing."
"Little girl, let me ask you something."
"Before the so-called Era of Heroes arrived... what era did this world belong to?"
"...The Light Firearms Era?"
Niko nodded.
"Correct."
"The Light Firearms Era."
"But in that era, light firearms were just everyday tools."
"If one ignores consequences..."
"Heavy firearms were the strongest weapons humanity possessed."
"I've looked into that so-called Strongest Creature on Earth."
"People are scared mainly because of the Era of Heroes."
"In reality, what has he actually done?"
"No matter how strong a fist is."
"No matter how fast a kick is."
"A human is still a human."
As he spoke, Niko's eyes grew increasingly unhinged.
"What we need to do is very simple."
"The moment the heavy firearms detonate, he just happens to be inside the blast radius."
"That's enough."
Kure Fuki froze for a moment.
Then she blinked.
"Mr. Niko..."
"What if the heavy firearms don't work?"
Niko snorted.
"That's impossible."
"Don't misunderstand-I keep mentioning firearms, but I'm a martial artist too."
"Decades of training have taught me one thing very clearly."
"Humans have limits."
"No matter how hard you train, there are things humans simply cannot do."
"Surviving inside the blast radius of high-output heavy firearms is one of them."
"Unless he's transcendent..."
"Otherwise, it's a guaranteed kill."
He paused, then added a few more words.
"Little girl, the reason you think that Strongest Creature on Earth is so terrifying..."
"...is because he's created too many miracles."
"He's shattered too many preconceived notions."
"So his image has been endlessly amplified in your minds."
"In reality..."
"That man is also human."
"Don't imagine he can fly."
"Don't imagine he can fire energy beams."
"That's all fantasy."
"All delusion."
"Jaden is human."
"Flesh and blood."
"He bleeds."
"He gets hurt."
"And..."
"He can die."