An uproar swept through the crowd.
The man who had argued earlier stood there with his mouth slightly open, completely stunned. He had never expected things to turn out like this. That young man—Shina Etsuha—had actually killed such a powerful Villain?
Everyone present wore different expressions, but one thing was the same across all of them: shock.
No one wanted to believe it. How could a mere teenager possess such overwhelming power? And yet, the evidence lay right before their eyes. The massive crater that swallowed nearly half the town was proof of the battle. Not a single Hero present could replicate such destruction.
Seeing their reactions, the kobold official let out a long sigh and looked up at the sky, worry etched into his face.
He had come here intending to speak on Shina Etsuha's behalf… but it was already too late.
Etsuha had used his quirk without a license. He had caused massive destruction. And worst of all—he had killed a Hero.
These facts were undeniable.
"This incident… may have just destroyed a genius of the Hero world," the kobold thought grimly.
At that moment, his phone rang.
When he saw the caller ID, his expression immediately turned serious. This was his superior—the official in charge of Hero affairs. There was no doubt the call was about Etsuha.
He answered at once.
A calm, authoritative voice came through:
"How is the situation?"
The kobold took a deep breath and reported everything exactly as it had happened. After finishing, he hesitated before adding:
"I don't believe Shina Etsuha is at fault in this matter. I hope his punishment can be reduced…"
But he was cut off instantly.
"You should understand. Rules are rules."
The kobold fell silent.
He had enforced those same rules countless times himself. Law was law. No one was exempt.
Then came the verdict.
"From this moment on, list Shina Etsuha as an S-class wanted criminal. Issue a nationwide alert."
"…!"
The kobold's heart sank.
He had a terrible feeling—this decision might give rise to something far more dangerous than a criminal.
Still, he had no authority to oppose the order.
"…Understood. I'll notify the media immediately."
"Also," the voice continued, "his strength cannot be underestimated. To ensure success, dispatch top Pro Heroes. Assign someone like Endeavor to lead the capture operation. This must be resolved in one decisive strike."
The kobold's pupils shrank.
Even Endeavor was being deployed?
That meant the authorities already viewed Etsuha as a threat on par with the highest-level Villains.
After ending the call, the kobold stood there in silence, feeling an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
Not long after, reporters flooded the scene.
The moment they gathered fragments of the truth, their instincts kicked in. A U.A. student turning into a Villain? A city-level disaster? This was explosive.
The entire press corps erupted into frenzy.
"Is it true that Shina Etsuha will face capital punishment for his crimes?"
"We've heard that Endeavor himself has been assigned to capture him—does this confirm his strength exceeds most Pro Heroes?"
"Who exactly is Shina Etsuha? What kind of power does he possess?"
"Was the destruction of the town entirely his doing?!"
"…!"
Questions poured in relentlessly.
The kobold was overwhelmed. After answering a few cautiously, he quickly made an excuse and withdrew.
He didn't want to label Etsuha as a criminal—but under public pressure, he also couldn't defend him.
To do so would be political suicide.
Akishoute was in an even worse state.
The moment he saw the reporters, a look of disgust flashed across his face. Without saying a word, he turned and left immediately.
Unlike him, most of the other Heroes seized the opportunity.
Fame meant income. Exposure meant rank.
One after another, they stepped forward, recounting Etsuha's "crimes" in dramatic detail.
It didn't take long for the story to explode across the nation.
Headlines flooded every outlet:
"U.A First-Year Student Becomes the Strongest Villain? A Breakdown of Shina Etsuha's Crimes!"
"Famous Manga Artist Shina Etsuha Turns Rogue! Planned Betrayal or Hidden Truth?"
"Town Destroyed Overnight—Villain Civil War or One Boy's Rampage?"
"Youngest S-Class Criminal in History? The Truth Behind Shina Etsuha!"
The entire country was shaken.
Before this, Shina Etsuha had only been a minor public figure. Many people outside Hero circles barely knew his name.
But now?
Everyone knew.
A U.A. student.
A traitor.
A city-destroying force.
These keywords alone were enough to ignite mass curiosity. U.A. High School was practically a household name in Japan. For one of its students to become a Villain—it was unthinkable.
Newspapers sold out instantly.
Television networks ran nonstop coverage.
And in a quiet place far from the chaos—
Etsuha sat in silence, cultivating.
Suddenly, his eyes opened.
The energy within his body surged violently.
"This energy… what's happening?"
He frowned, sensing the change.
In less than a single day, his accumulated energy had skyrocketed to an entirely new level.
At this rate, he could perform another extraction within two days.
Then—
The television nearby flickered.
A female anchor appeared on screen, with Etsuha's image displayed behind her.
"We interrupt with breaking news. Shina Etsuha, a first-year student from U.A.'s Hero Course, is responsible for last night's devastating incident, which resulted in heavy casualties. Approximately forty people have been confirmed dead."
"He has since fled after killing a Pro Hero."
"Under national law, Shina Etsuha has now been designated as an S-class wanted criminal."
At that exact moment—
The energy inside Etsuha's body exploded upward once again.