The party had ended, and the night was already deep.Kaito pushed open the apartment door. A warm yellow lamp glowed in the entryway, casting its light over the figure eagerly waiting for him."Boss! You're back!"Mosquito Girl's voice was bright with joy—until her gaze fell on Kaito's empty hands. Her smile faltered, and her eyes dimmed ever so slightly.In her mind, a small scene played out:
Sure enough… Boss forgot. With so many beautiful women at the party—and Fubuki, too—why would he remember me? I'm just… a monster maid.That quiet sourness in her chest spread. But she still forced a smile.
"Was the party… enjoyable?"Kaito caught the flicker of disappointment in her eyes. A playful smile curled on his lips.He took his time—slowly removing his suit jacket, hanging it on the coat rack, loosening his tie. Then he said mysteriously:
"Close your eyes."Mosquito Girl tilted her head but obeyed. She heard his footsteps, the rustle of a plastic bag… then a sweet aroma drifted to her nose."You can open your eyes now."When she did, an exquisite crystal cake box sat before her. Through its clear lid, a two-tier strawberry cake gleamed under the light—fresh red strawberries crowning delicate cream flowers, every swirl of frosting as neat as art."This is…" Her voice trembled."A double-frosted strawberry cake," Kaito said, handing it to her. "I promised you. How could I forget?"Mosquito Girl froze. Her eyes reddened instantly.Just moments ago, she had been sulking in silence, sure that Boss—surrounded by those glamorous heroines—had forgotten her entirely.
But then… this. A surprise crashing into her heart like a comet."Boss…" Her voice caught. Tears welled.She suddenly stepped forward, standing on her tiptoes to wrap Kaito in an unexpected hug—then retreated like a startled fawn, her face as red as a ripe apple.She held the cake box carefully, her hands trembling with excitement.
When she lifted the lid, the sweet scent became even richer.Picking up a small spoon she'd prepared in advance, she scooped a bite into her mouth."Mmm!" Her eyes went wide—pure bliss.The cream melted on her tongue, sweet but light. The strawberries burst with freshness. The frosting had the faintest sugar grain texture that made it addictive. It was the most delicious thing she'd ever eaten.Kaito leaned against the doorframe, watching her. He reached out to ruffle her soft hair.
"Good?"Mosquito Girl nodded hard, her hair swaying with the motion. A tear slid down her cheek."Hey, hey, don't cry and ruin your makeup," Kaito teased. "If you turn ugly, I won't want you anymore.""I-I won't turn ugly!" she blurted, quickly wiping her tears with the back of her hand. But her heart thudded faster at his words.She peeked up at him. He was smiling warmly. She instantly dropped her gaze, taking small, careful bites of cake again.Kaito's mood lightened at the sight.He turned toward the bedroom. "Eat slowly. I'm going to rest.""Mhm! Boss, good night!" she called, voice bright.The bedroom door shut softly. Kaito collapsed onto the bed with a long exhale.The party had been fruitful… but exhausting.Raising his hand, he snapped his fingers. A system interface bloomed into view, blue light vivid in the dark.——Deterrence System——Host: Kaito (King)
Level: 1 (Experience: 0 / 100)
Attributes: Strength 23 | Agility 20 | Spirit 16
Skills:Emperor Engine (Great Accomplishment: 15 / 3000)
Carbonated Gas Bomb (Great Accomplishment: 0 / 3000)
King's Summon (Beginner: 0 / 50)
Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist (Beginner: 0 / 50)
Deterrence Points: 1751His fingers tapped in the air as he reviewed the data.Upgrading the Carbonated Gas Bomb during the meteor crisis had cost him 600 points. But tonight alone, Atomic Samurai and his three disciples had contributed nearly a thousand. Combined with monster battles in recent weeks, his total sat at 1751."Which one should I upgrade…?"His gaze lingered on the skill list.Upgrading Emperor Engine to Perfected level would push its Spirit fear effect and deterrence field into a whole new realm. He knew the power of the Great Accomplishment stage—so what would Perfected be like?The thought sent a thrill through him.But Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist was different—it boosted both technique and basic attributes. That attribute growth was a rare perk at this stage, one that would vanish later. That… was huge."Emperor Engine is my trump card. But Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist is my foundation."After a moment's thought, he decided.
"First… upgrade Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist."Once his mind was set, hesitation vanished.Deterrence Points - 50
Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist proficiency increased to Proficient (0 / 200)!
Strength +2 | Agility +2New Effect – Water Stream Dissipation (Passive):
The body's ability to disperse impact force is greatly enhanced. Physical attacks are instinctively met with the essence of flowing water, weakening a portion of the damage.A warm current surged through Kaito's body. He felt his muscle fibers grow denser, his joints more flexible. The key movements of Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist crystallized in his mind—so familiar it was as if he had trained them thousands of times."The effect… is good." Kaito nodded, satisfied, and kept investing points.Deterrence Points - 200
Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist proficiency increased to Minor Accomplishment (0 / 600)!
Strength +4 | Agility +4New Effect – Rock Smashing Penetration (Active):
Channel attack force into high-frequency shockwaves capable of piercing defenses and striking the interior of targets.This time, the change was even more dramatic. His muscles trembled faintly; his bones gave off a subtle, crackling sound.He rose and moved. A sequence of Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist techniques flowed from him—smooth as drifting clouds, precise as a blade's edge—each motion hiding explosive force."Continue."Deterrence Points - 600
Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist proficiency increased to Great Accomplishment (0 / 3000)!
Strength +8 | Agility +8New Effect – Hard-Soft Domain (Aura):
Fuses the softness of water with the hardness of rock, forming a ten-zhang Tai Chi Qi field around the user.Boom!A rush of energy exploded inside him. His muscles swelled, contracted, and refined in an instant. Bone density spiked. Tendons toughened. Even his nerve reaction speed climbed sharply.Kaito threw a punch—air cracked with a sharp whoosh!He shifted into another stance, then another, his body so fast it left faint afterimages. Every motion was perfectly measured, every muscle fiber in harmony."This… is great."Attributes:
Strength: 37 (+14)
Agility: 34 (+14)
Spirit: 16In mere minutes, his Strength and Agility had each climbed by 14 points. The pace of growth was absurd.He still had 901 Deterrence Points left. For now, he'd save them—waiting until he had enough to push Emperor Engine to the Perfected level in one burst.Closing the system interface, Kaito lay back on the bed, mind already shifting to tomorrow's plans.Which area should he hunt monsters in?
Should he push toward higher-threat zones?
Maybe… he could ask old man Bang for more martial arts insights. Something like… Explosive Heart Release Fist.His eyelids grew heavy.Just as he was about to drift off, the bedroom door—tightly shut a moment ago—creaked open