Narrator POV
Isagi ran a hand down his face, letting out a sigh. Getting close to Makima was a constant headache. Not because he couldn't talk to her… but because every single step had to be measured with surgical precision.
One mistake—and he'd be dead.
—(Damn… at least I managed something: she agreed to watch a movie with me. Now the question is… does Hachiko even exist in this time period? It's still the '90s.) —He frowned slightly as he walked down the nearly empty street. If he was going to invite her to watch something, he wanted to pick something that played on the right emotion.
And with Makima… every detail mattered.
Isagi looked up and, with a simple thought, the System screen unfolded in front of him, projecting into the air with that familiar translucent glow. It displayed something he hadn't checked in a long time.
His status.
[Status Window:]
---
Name: Isagi Fushiguro
Titles: Devil Hunter / The Player / Blessed by the Black Sparks
Level: 30
Health: ???
[Error: Health cannot be calculated due to the player's strong regeneration]
Cursed Energy: 1780 / 1780
Physical Attributes:
Strength: 57 Speed: 57
Agility: 53 Endurance: 59
Extra Physical Attributes:
Marechi Blood
Yuji Itadori's Physique
Skills:
Player's Body [Max Level]
Player'sMind [Max Level]
WindBreathing [postures: 9 + 1 created]
Blood Manipulation
Super Regeneration
Black Flash [Trigger Rate: 14%]
Divergent Fist
Quick-silver
Danger Sense
ShadowStorage [StoredObjects: 0]
---
Isagi's lips curled into a faint smile as he looked at the window in front of him. It wasn't just a list of stats… it was proof of how much he had grown since the beginning.
It gave him a complete overview of everything at his disposal. Everything he could use.
—(I forgot I had Divergent Fist… I think I refined my cursed energy control to the point where I don't even need it to deal extra damage anymore.) —he thought, bringing a hand to his chin as he analyzed the skill's actual usefulness. His gaze dropped to the highlighted name on the list. —(Still… I'll leave it there. If I ever need an unexpected double impact, I can use Divergent Fist.) —Not everything had to be used constantly. Some cards were meant to be saved for the right moment. And he intended to play with a full deck.
—Well, nothing's happening… I think I'll take a small break.
Isagi stopped in front of a ramen shop. The smell drifting out from inside was rich and comforting—a mix of hot broth, spices, and meat that contrasted with the cold air outside.
With a faint smile and his hands still tucked in his coat pockets—a blend of confidence and laziness—he walked toward the entrance. He had never tried ramen before.
This would be his first time.
.
.
.
.
—Here you go, young man. The house specialty.
The cook placed a freshly made bowl of ramen in front of him. Steam rose in soft spirals, carrying an aroma so delicious it hit Isagi's nose directly, making his stomach react instantly.
He was practically drooling already.
—This looks amazing… —He rubbed his hands together in anticipation and picked up the chopsticks. —Mmm… —He stared at them for a couple of seconds, evaluating them like they were some complicated weapon.
Then he tossed them aside without the slightest remorse. He didn't know how to use them. And he had no intention of learning. So he grabbed a spoon… and a fork for the noodles.
Was it an insult to eat ramen like that?
That was Isagi's problem. He didn't care how it was supposed to be eaten. He was hungry. With enthusiasm, he began devouring his food. The broth was hot, flavorful, hitting that perfect balance between salty and rich. The noodles disappeared at a suspicious speed as he slurped them up like a human vacuum cleaner.
Then—
The shop door burst open. A loud bang echoed as it slammed against the wall, followed by the violent jingle of the welcome bell.
Isagi didn't look up. He didn't care who had entered. He was busy eating ramen for the first time in both of his lives.
—Hey, you! The one with the sea-urchin hairstyle! Are you with Public Safety!?
Public Safety. The abbreviation for the Public Safety Bureau.
Isagi slowly lifted his gaze with visible indifference, ignoring the fact that he had just been called "sea urchin" because of his hair.
He still held the spoon when he turned his head, as if being asked to do something truly offensive: interrupt his meal.
He rotated on his seat to see who dared desecrate his sacred food.
A teenager stood near the entrance. He was breathing heavily, as if he had run several blocks without stopping. His clothes were torn and dirty, ripped in multiple places, and fresh bruises marked his skin. His expression was a mixture of panic and desperation.
It didn't look like the result of a fight with ordinary thugs.
—Yeah, I'm with Public Safety. So? —Isagi replied flatly, turning back to his bowl to finish the broth. He lifted it and drank calmly, as if this were a trivial conversation.
The boy hesitated for a second. Isagi even looked younger than him. He didn't fit the classic image of a "professional savior." But he had no other choice. He clenched his fists. Squeezed his eyes shut. His body trembled slightly—whether from the cold… or from fear.
—A devil captured my friend! Please, sir, you have to save him! —He ended up bowing forward, almost in a desperate plea. There was no pride in the gesture. Only supplication.
—Ugh… right now? —Isagi complained, clearly unenthusiastic about the idea of getting up at this exact moment.
He set the empty bowl on the counter and let out a long sigh before stepping down from his seat. He stretched calmly, as if preparing for a casual walk rather than facing a devil.
—Fine. I needed something to burn off the food anyway. Take me to where the devil is.
The boy immediately lifted his head. His eyes lit up with hope. He quickly straightened himself and turned around.
—Follow me!
He ran out the door without looking back. Isagi watched him go, completely unhurried.
—So desperate… —he muttered to himself.
Then he started walking toward the exit at a relaxed pace. He wasn't going to run. That was bad for a freshly full stomach.
Besides… the devil wasn't going anywhere.
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End of the chapter.