Chapter 162: BEFORE THE CALAMITY
He turned around and left.
Aiko gently closed the door.
"What happened?"
Raito's father looked at her.
Aiko walked back toward the dining table.
"It was a report from Mesan Nibori."
Raito looked up.
"Why?"
"It seems someone leaked information about where you are staying," Aiko explained. "The reporters are going to swarm this villa soon."
She looked at him.
"What do you want to do? Should we leave?"
Raito calmly continued eating.
"There's no need."
Everyone looked at him.
"I don't have a reason to run from anything."
His voice remained steady.
After they finished breakfast, Raito stood up.
He looked at his father and nodded.
"Thanks for the food."
Then he turned toward Aiko.
"I'll be heading out for a while. I'll be back."
He walked outside into the courtyard.
Once he reached the center
He snapped his fingers.
BOOM.
A massive green barrier erupted around the entire villa and compound.
The barrier expanded outward, covering every corner of the property.
It reached the gate.
Then
It disappeared.
Invisible.
Raito looked around.
"The reporters won't be able to enter."
He calmly explained.
"They won't even be able to touch the gate."
He looked toward the villa.
"Everyone currently inside will still be able to leave and enter normally."
A pause.
"And they won't hear a single word spoken inside."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"It's completely soundproof."
The moment he finished speaking
[(Shadow Phase Activated)]
His body became invisible instantly.
Raito stepped into the air and flew upward, disappearing into the sky.
Raito continued flying through the sky, still invisible, silently observing the city below.
So this was what I was sensing…
I was wondering what was going on.
After using so much power yesterday, I suddenly felt restless.
Now I'm certain.
Something isn't right.
He narrowed his eyes.
I'm sensing bursts of mana from every part of this city.
An unbelievable amount of mana…
But after my stats increased this much, I can perceive things I couldn't before.
He let out a slow breath.
"This is something the Hunter Guild Organization or headquarters should have noticed if there had been such a sudden change…"
He frowned.
"But this isn't ordinary."
"It's unlike anything I've ever sensed before."
As he flew past the city, he landed lightly on top of a moving train crossing a bridge between towering buildings.
With both hands in his pockets, he stared into the distance.
"No…"
"This isn't right."
"There are only two possibilities."
He closed his eyes, carefully analyzing the mana.
"Either there's an enormous amount of concealed mana gathering somewhere…"
"Or…"
He slowly opened his eyes.
"Countless dungeons are about to appear throughout this city."
His expression became serious.
Should I report this?
He paused.
Then he shook his head.
"No…"
"First, I'll go see her."
He disappeared from the train, tracing the familiar mana signature he had memorized.
Within moments, he landed in front of a hospital.
Just then
Kira walked out through the main entrance.
Two police officers escorted her as they exchanged a few words before the officers returned to their patrol car.
The vehicle drove away.
Seeing no one else nearby
Raito automatically deactivated Shadow Phase.
His body gradually became visible.
Kira suddenly flinched.
"H-Hey!"
"When did you get here?" she asked, startled.
Raito smiled faintly.
"I just wanted to check on you."
"Oh, really?" Kira said, raising an eyebrow with a teasing smile.
She gently tucked a strand of her long black hair behind her ear.
"So… what's it like becoming such a big shot?" she asked mockingly.
Raito sighed.
"It doesn't feel good. Not even a little."
"Everything about me is all over the news. And you already know what's happening."
"A lot of guilds are after me."
"They all want to capture me and make me join them."
Kira nodded.
"You're right."
She looked at him for a moment.
"But still… I knew you were strong."
"What I didn't know was that you were capable of taking on multiple S rank hunters at once."
She shook her head in disbelief.
"It's honestly insane."
"Who in the world are you?"
"And… just how strong are you?"
"I feel like I don't even know you anymore."
Raito simply slipped both hands into his pockets.
"You don't need to worry about that."
"We're partners."
"Well… we only became partners because of Jiro."
"You're the one who invited me to join your team."
Kira folded her arms.
"So… you're dodging the question?"
A playful smile appeared on her face.
"Anyway."
"You've already been released by the police?"
Raito asked.
Kira nodded.
"I thought I was going to be arrested for a long time."
"But for some reason, while I was being treated at the hospital, the officers just waited outside."
"They said they'd arrest me after my treatment was over."
She smiled softly.
"But… they never did."
Raito quietly observed her.
She's smiling…
But she's forcing it.
She's still in pain.
Not only that…
Her skin looks dull.
Those so called S rank hunters electrocuted her countless times.
Without saying another word, Raito took a step toward her.
He slowly raised his hand.
Kira froze.
Then
He gently placed his hand on top of her head.
He softly patted it.
Her eyes widened.
A deep blush instantly spread across her cheeks and ears.
"H-Hey!"
"What do you think you're doing?"
Raito didn't answer.
A gentle green glow flowed from his hand.
The healing energy spread throughout Kira's body.
The lingering pain disappeared.
The burns left by the repeated electric shocks faded.
Even the dullness of her skin vanished, returning to its healthy complexion and brighter.
A few seconds later, Raito lowered his hand.
"I could tell you were still in pain."
He looked at her calmly.
"How do you feel now?"
Kira blinked.
"Oh…"
"So that's why…"
For a brief moment, she looked slightly disappointed before smiling.
"Thank you."
She flexed her fingers slightly before moving her shoulders.
"I don't feel any pain anymore."
Her smile became genuine this time.