Chat Group Crossover: My System Simulates Infinite Anime Worlds — Chapter 64

Chapter 64: Saving the Damsel is Out of the Question

Kato Megumi knew better. Her unique Innate Divine Ability, a mutation of her bloodline, was practically screaming at her that there was more to him.

Nagumo was hiding something—a great deal, in fact. Her senses told her he might have broken through to the Two-Star realm long ago.

She remembered, back when they first enrolled, she could just barely perceive the edges of his hidden aura, a faint and elusive presence. But for the past month? Nothing. It was like trying to sense a ghost in an empty room, a void where a powerful presence should have been.

Still, Kato Megumi had no intention of asking. If Nagumo wasn’t willing to talk, pressing him would be pointless. Worse, it might damage the comfortable rapport they had built.

“Nagumo,” she asked, her voice as calm and placid as ever, “are you heading home, or going out?”

Nagumo offered a relaxed chuckle. “Just thought I’d wander around a bit. A little work-life balance, you know? What about you? Any plans for today?”

“I’m going to buy some groceries,” Megumi replied. “We’re out of food at home.”

An image of the bear paws and prime cuts of bear meat in his refrigerator surfaced in Nagumo’s mind. They had used some for a hot pot feast just yesterday. ‘We can have honey-glazed bear paw tonight,’he thought.’The braised version from two days ago was pretty damn good.’

“Perfect, let’s go together,” he said. “There are a few things I need to pick up, too.”

Kato Megumi nodded, a soft “Mhm” of agreement escaping her lips.

The two fell into a comfortable silence as they walked along the street, making their way toward the supermarket. As they neared their destination, however, they noticed something was wrong.

A crowd of onlookers was gathered near the supermarket entrance, their murmurs creating a low hum of anxiety.

Nagumo and Megumi exchanged a glance before quietly weaving their way closer to the front. There, they saw a familiar uniform.

Pinned against the grimy brick wall of a narrow alley was a girl from their school. Her glossy black hair was a stark contrast to the three delinquents surrounding her, their own hair dyed a garish, chemical yellow. They had her slender wrists trapped in their grips, pinned high above her head.

“What are you looking at?” one of the yellow-haired thugs snarled at the crowd. “You want a beating?”

He punctuated the threat by unleashing the oppressive aura of a trained martial artist.

Following the shout and the surge of raw power, the crowd flinched back as one. Faces that had been filled with concern a moment ago became masks of indifference. People turned away, quickening their pace. In a society where most were stuck at the One-Star or Two-Star level, tangling with even one Three-Star practitioner was suicide.

Reaching the Three-Star realm was no small feat; it meant one’s blood qi had refined into true qi. For three street thugs to have reached that level was… unusual.

“That’s Takarao Kaori,” Megumi murmured, her voice low and steady beside him. “Nagumo, what’s your take on this?”

Nagumo stared at the textbook scene of villainy, his expression one of utter speechlessness.

“What do I think?” he replied, his tone completely deadpan. “I’m watching with my eyes. What else would I be doing? Are you expecting me to charge in and play the hero saving the damsel in distress? Still… this is a bit strange.”

“What’s strange?” Megumi asked, her curiosity piqued.

“Everything,” Nagumo said, his gaze analytical. “Even if these guys are thinking with their dicks, aren’t they afraid of getting caught and sentenced to three years of service on the front lines? That means they either have powerful backing, or they’re complete idiots.”

He paused, his voice carrying clearly in the suddenly quiet space. “Or perhaps they simply aren’t afraid of the consequences. If it’s the latter, that lack of fear suggests two possibilities. One, someone sent them here with a specific purpose. Two…”

Nagumo’s words, spoken with casual loudness, hung in the air. The onlookers who had just begun to disperse froze, a flicker of realization dawning in their eyes. They shot wary, fearful glances at the three thugs before their retreat turned into a full-blown scramble to get away.

The thugs’ attention snapped away from Takarao Kaori. All three delinquents fixed Nagumo with a venomous glare, their eyes promising murder.

Kato Megumi observed their reactions, her expression unreadable. “I think you’re right. There’s definitely something wrong with these three.”

Just then, the air shimmered. Figures in the crisp uniforms of Law Enforcers descended on flying swords. The lead officer, his face set in a grim line, took in the scene and produced a pair of rune-engraved handcuffs.

He offered the thugs a thin, predatory smile. “So, are you coming quietly, or do I have to beat you half to death before I take you away?”

In response, the three delinquents let out guttural roars. Their human facades shattered. Coarse fur erupted from their skin, faces contorting and elongating into bestial muzzles. Their disguises had failed.

With newfound savagery, they lunged for Takarao Kaori, their claws outstretched, intending to take her hostage.

Takarao Kaori gasped, her body stiff with fear. But the Law Enforcers were faster. With three fluid, almost casual motions, their blades flashed, and the attackers’ arms were severed at the shoulder.

A spray of warm, crimson blood misted across Takarao Kaori’s pale face. Her eyes went wide, pupils shrinking to pinpricks. She was frozen, a porcelain doll caught in a slaughterhouse.

The lead Law Enforcer glanced at her and shook his head with a sigh. ‘A flower raised in a greenhouse,’ he thought. He then scanned the now-empty street. “Who called this in?”

Nagumo raised his hand. “That would be me.”

Kato Megumi turned to him, a flicker of surprise in her calm eyes. “When did you call the police? I didn’t even see you do it.”

Nagumo just smiled. “Don’t worry about the details.”

He walked up to the Law Enforcer, but instead of offering a statement, he took out his phone and pulled up his payment QR code. He was here to collect his reward; a successful crime report came with a bounty from the Law Enforcement team.

The young officer took out his own phone to scan the code, his eyes appraising Nagumo. “You’ve got some nerve, kid,” he said, a note of approval in his voice. “Not even scared.”

Nagumo shook his head. “Fear is a natural response. You should be afraid when the situation calls for it. But sometimes, even if you’re afraid, you still have to face what’s in front of you.”

Soon, the Law Enforcers departed, taking the three unconscious members of the Beast God Cult with them.

Only then did Takarao Kaori seem to regain her senses, her body trembling with the aftershocks of the ordeal. For students like them, who had never set foot on a battlefield or explored a secret realm, the brutal reality of what had just happened was overwhelming.

She saw Nagumo turning to enter the supermarket with Kato Megumi and hurried to intercept them. She stopped before Nagumo and executed a deep, formal bow.

“Thank you, classmate,” she said, her voice still shaky. “If it weren’t for you, I would have been in terrible danger.”

Nagumo shook his head, then once again took out his phone and pulled up the QR code.

“If you really want to thank me, just scan this,” he said plainly. “You’re a young lady from a wealthy family, right? This shouldn’t be too much trouble.”

After a moment’s thought, Kato Megumi also took out her phone, displaying her own payment code.

Takarao Kaori was stunned silent for a beat. Then, her eyes curved into bright crescents, and she burst out laughing, a sound that was surprisingly radiant.

“You two are really something else,” she giggled. “Are you a couple?”

“No, no,” Nagumo and Kato Megumi waved their hands in perfect, flustered unison.

Still smiling, Takarao Kaori retrieved her phone from her pocket. With a few taps, she scanned both codes, transferring 10,000 Credit Points to each of them.

Kato Megumi stared at the balance on her phone, which had just leaped from a few hundred credits to over ten thousand. She couldn’t help but feel that this was almost too easy. A suspicion formed in her mind: Nagumo had seen through the thugs’ disguise from the very beginning and had orchestrated this entire outcome.

Nagumo pocketed his phone, his expression satisfied.

“Great, now we’re even,” he declared. “Don’t feel any psychological burden. I suggest you focus all that energy on your cultivation instead.”

Takarao Kaori opened her mouth to say something more, but Nagumo had already turned and walked into the supermarket.

Kato Megumi gave her a quick, polite nod before jogging a few steps to catch up with him.

Takarao Kaori slowly closed her mouth, a faint sense of deflation washing over her as she watched their retreating backs.

‘Am I some kind of monster?’she wondered.’They couldn’t get away from me fast enough.’A small, determined smile touched her lips.’Well, no need to rush. Since they’re students at my school, it won’t be hard to find out who they are.’

A short while later, Nagumo and Kato Megumi emerged from the supermarket, each carrying plastic bags filled with groceries.

They chatted about mundane things as they walked, their earlier conversation resuming as if nothing had happened. When they reached an intersection, they parted ways, each heading toward their respective homes.