Jack pushed open the door to the ramen restaurant, and the lively, bustling atmosphere immediately enveloped him.
Business was booming. Nearly every seat occupied. The air carried the unique, mouthwatering aroma of ramen, layered over the satisfied slurping sounds of customers. Even just listening made you hungry.
Jack found an empty seat and settled in. A vibrant young female staff member immediately appeared at his side, menu in hand.
Their eyes met.
The young woman's gaze caught—held—on Jack's deep black eyes. Her mind went momentarily blank. Steam practically rose from her head. Her delicate, collagen-rich face flushed a vivid red.
"Sir… c-can I help you…?"
Since entering the human world, Jack had encountered this reaction more than once. His restored appearance from his previous life simply attracted an unusual amount of female attention. Commonplace. Surely every handsome man in existence understood.
He took the menu with practiced ease, casually ordering a signature Deluxe Ramen set meal and a few appetizers. The dizzy staff member retreated toward the kitchen, only snapping back to reality when her forehead nearly connected with a counter pillar.
A small interlude. Then—his ramen arrived.
Steam rose from the large bowl. Broth milky white. Noodles firm and springy. Chashu pork—perfect ratio of lean to fat. Vibrant green scallions. A soft-boiled egg, perfectly jammy. The presentation was immaculate.
Even without needing to eat, Jack's appetite stirred. He picked up his chopsticks and dove in.
Within moments, the large bowl was empty.
But with Jack's physique, this amount of food barely registered. He signaled the flustered staff member for more.
Just then—the restaurant door swung open.
A tall figure entered. Hood pulled up. Beneath it, a baseball cap, brim low—nearly covering half his face.
But Jack caught the details. Golden hair in the shadows. Three hideous knife scars faintly visible over the left eye.
…Isn't this too much of a coincidence?
He'd picked a random Emperor's Ramen restaurant. And walked straight into the Emperor himself. The legendary innate Monster-attracting Holy Body truly lived up to its reputation.
(Jack: Oh right. I am a Monster.)
As if sensing Jack's gaze, King's eyes lifted slightly. Cold. Piercing. Carrying an aura that could stop a child from crying mid-tantrum.
Jack: …
Honestly—if he didn't know the truth about this "Strongest Man on Earth," that single moment of eye contact would have made him sweat.
The legendary ultimate technique. "King's Gaze." Capable of scaring Monsters to death with a single look.
But King's gaze was majestic only in appearance. In reality, he'd just glanced over casually. Internally, he was thinking: What a handsome young man. Like a wild Sweet Mask.
Then he found a corner seat, raised a hand, and ordered.
I've been classified as a passerby.
Jack noted this with satisfaction. If even the Hero Association's S-Class No. 7 couldn't detect his hidden Monster identity… his infiltration was a resounding success!
(Note this down. Claim credit from Great Eyes later.)
Before long, both Jack and King received their ramen simultaneously. Both entered a quiet, focused noodle-slurping phase.
"Ah—help!!"
A shrill scream tore through the restaurant. From the kitchen.
Then—chaos. Tables overturned. Chairs scraping. Dishes shattering.
*BOOM—!!! *
The wall near the kitchen exploded outward. Bricks and stones sprayed across the dining area. Smoke and dust billowed.
Panic erupted.
Several unlucky diners caught in the blast were struck by flying debris. Blood streamed from wounds. Wails filled the air.
"AH—!!"
"I'm hurt!"
"It hurts so much!"
"My leg! My leg is pinned!"
"Daisuki! Daisuki!" (Help me! Save me!)
Through the thick fog of steam and smoke, a massive silhouette emerged.
*Kukukukuku!! *
The laugh echoed—standard villainous, thoroughly cliché.
"Why should ramen be eaten by humans?"
The voice boomed.
"And be cruelly chewed to bits, strand by strand!?"
The shape solidified.
"I am Deluxe Ramen—born from the voices of countless ramen noodles, crying out in anguish!"
A dramatic pause.
"Today—I officially declare war on you humans!"
"You cruel beings do not deserve to exist in this world!"
The voice thundered through the shattered restaurant.
"I, Deluxe Ramen-sama, shall turn every last one of you into ramen toppings!"
A pause. Then—a chant, building in intensity.
"Shine! Shine! SHINE—!"
From the dissipating smoke and dust, a creature emerged.
It was a giant ramen bowl. Nearly three meters tall. Thick, human-like arms and stubby legs protruded from its ceramic body. A bizarre human face occupied the bowl's surface—gaping mouth, hideous, filled with jagged teeth. In one massive hand, it brandished chopsticks. In the other, a knife and fork combo. Inside the bowl, noodles, toppings, and thick, scalding ramen broth churned in a grotesque, sanity-draining vortex.
Somehow, impossibly, it also looked strangely appetizing.
"Wow! It's so big!"
"It's scary! But it smells so good! I really want to slurp ramen from a bowl that big—slurp, slurp!"
"Are you serious?! That's a MONSTER!"
"Help! Someone save me!"
"Hero! Hero, help—AAAAHHHH!"
WARNING
A piercing alarm broadcast cut through the chaos, echoing across the city.
*"Emergency Evacuation Warning! The Monster 'Deluxe Ramen' is causing widespread destruction near M City's central business district. Disaster level initially determined—TIGER-LEVEL! The Hero Association is urgently dispatching patrol heroes to the scene. Residents in the vicinity are advised to evacuate immediately!" *
A pause, then the automated voice repeated.
*"Repeat! Emergency Evacuation Warning…" *
The Hero Association's response speed was, as always, terrifyingly fast.
Inside the ramen restaurant, Deluxe Ramen swung its chopsticks, knife, and fork indiscriminately. The once-fine establishment now resembled a grenade testing range. Most of the storefront had been reduced to rubble.
Customers who could flee had already fled. Those who remained were pinned under tables, chairs, or debris—or lay injured and unconscious from the Monster's assault.
Jack moved.
One hand caught a collapsing section of ceiling. The other grabbed the female staff member beside him, pulling her clear. His speed was such that she didn't even register what had happened until it was over.
"AH—!"
When awareness returned, she found herself clinging to Jack's neck—her pale, tender arms wrapped around him like a lifeline, trembling violently in his embrace.
Jack dodged another falling chunk of ceiling. Found a safe corner. Gently set the delicate figure down.
Then his gaze shifted. Toward the restaurant's corner.
A tall figure sat there, utterly calm.
Black high-neck knit base layer. Light blue cardigan hoodie. Black baseball cap, brim low.
The corner where he sat remained miraculously untouched. Tables intact. Chairs upright. Walls unscathed. Even the large ramen bowl before him hadn't been splattered by a single piece of debris, dust, or wood chip.
Jack blinked.
This is the legendary hero-by-luck?
He's terrifyingly formidable.
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