The battle had ended, but the commotion Yami stirred was far from over.
The defeat of both Watchdog Man and Tatsumaki couldn't be kept under wraps. With numerous civilians witnessing the event, the Hero Association's attempts to mitigate the negative impact were futile.
In no time, the news spread across the globe.
Many ordinary citizens, who had previously felt secure under the protection of the Hero Association, now faced an overwhelming sense of crisis.
Even the second-ranked S-class hero was soundly defeated—how safe could anyone truly be?
---
This conversation echoed across the world.
"Hey, did you hear about the battle in Q City?"
"Of course, I did! It's all over the news. Even a three-year-old probably knows by now."
"Not just Watchdog Man, but even Tatsumaki lost."
"Right? That guy must be insanely powerful."
"At least it's a relief that the one who defeated them was human and didn't kill anyone. That's a small mercy."
"According to the Hero Association's reports, he's an unknown warrior. It seems his fight with Watchdog Man and Tatsumaki was just a challenge."
"That's good news, at least we don't have to worry about him being a monster."
"Yeah, if he joins the Hero Association, we'll be even safer. What monster could possibly stand a chance against us?"
"With him and King on our side, even dragon-level threats would be no match for the Hero Association!"
Soon after, a slogan began to circulate: "We want him to join the Hero Association!"
No one knew where the slogan originated, but it rapidly gained overwhelming support from the public.
Since Yami wasn't a monster and hadn't killed any heroes, the possibility of strengthening humanity's forces became a topic of hope.
As a result, spontaneous grassroots support groups started to emerge, and discussions of the event exploded across various online platforms.
Suddenly, the global narrative shifted. Instead of blaming the heroes for their defeat, people celebrated the fact that they were still alive.
This unexpected phenomenon caught the Hero Association by surprise.
But as they observed the public's reaction, the senior members of the Association began to see a silver lining.
"If we can recruit this mysterious warrior, it would be a huge win for both the Association and the world."
With this realization, the Hero Association formulated a plan.
"Spread the word to all heroes and staff: monitor the actions of the mysterious man closely. Report any sightings immediately, but don't approach him recklessly."
After much deliberation, the Hero Association decided that antagonizing Yami any further would be unwise. His strength far surpassed their expectations.
It would be far more beneficial to turn an enemy into an ally.
In fact, the Hero Association had done similar things in the past—this was just another variation. Strengthening the Association's power to better combat monsters, even at a high cost, was a price worth paying.
As the world buzzed with excitement, some unexpected individuals reaped the benefits of the chaos.
One such person was Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"I didn't realize that gentleman was so powerful. He even defeated Watchdog Man and Tatsumaki... How incredible."
Utaha had gone straight home after leaving the bookstore. Still wrestling with writer's block for her light novel, her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden vibration in her home.
She initially thought it was another monster attack, but knowing Watchdog Man was stationed in Q City, she wasn't overly concerned.
However, when she checked her phone, she was completely stunned.
The face of the familiar young man she had met at the bookstore was now plastered all over the news. The gentle demeanor he had shown masked an astonishing strength that she hadn't expected.
"I can't believe he defeated Watchdog Man and Tatsumaki but didn't kill them... Is he really just a warrior enthusiast, like they say?"
"If only he could join the Hero Association."
Utaha stared at the photo of Yami on her phone, lost in thought.
Riiiiing—
Her phone suddenly rang, snapping her out of her reverie. The caller ID read, "Editor Machida."
Her heart sank. Was it bad news?
With a sense of unease, she answered the call.
"Hello, is this Utako Kasumi-sensei? It's Sonoko Machida."
"Yes, it's me. What's the matter, Editor Machida?"
Utaha's voice held a hint of nervousness, though Machida didn't seem to notice, her tone brimming with excitement.
"Kasumi-sensei, I have fantastic news—you've gone viral!"
"The sales of Love Metronome have suddenly surged to incredible heights! I spoke with some bookstore owners, and they told me that readers saw a woman holding your book in a photo circulating online—she was standing beside the mysterious man who defeated Miss Tatsumaki!"
"Kasumi-sensei, you're unbelievably lucky!"
"Eh?!"
Machida's rapid words left Utaha completely dumbfounded.