After some explanation, Saitama reluctantly believed that the girl in front of him, who looked about fifteen or sixteen, was already an adult.
"Come to think of it, why did you move to the abandoned zone? It's not actually that safe here."
Saitama picked up a slice of beef, swished it in the hot pot a few times, dipped it in sauce, and stuffed it into his mouth, asking while he ate.
"Both of us have some ability to protect ourselves, so we can deal with some threats. The main thing is that, for some reason, the water and electricity in this abandoned zone haven't been cut off, and there's no rent to pay. We could just move in. Apart from having to spend some time traveling to the city when we need something, there's nothing bad about it."
"Oh, that's true. I only moved here after I couldn't afford rent back then. Other than there being a few more troublesome characters around here, there's no problem."
"For example?"
"Just monsters. Maybe it's because there are so many monsters that this place became an abandoned zone. Anyway, when I first moved in, I could encounter them every day, though it's been less frequent recently."
Saitama couldn't help but sigh with emotion as he recalled those years.
"I encountered a lot of things when I first moved here. I spent quite a while picking the place I live in now. At first, I lived in several apartments, but they would all get smashed by monsters that popped out of nowhere. It was really troublesome!"
"Then why did you come to live here, Saitama?"
"It's simple. I had no money. Water and electricity are always available here, and there's no rent. In that situation, of course I moved here to save money."
"Based on your strength, Saitama, if you went to the Hero Association and became a hero, you should be able to earn quite a bit of money and wouldn't have to worry about finances."
"Hero Association?"
Saitama looked at Caelus beside him with a blank expression.
Caelus looked at his blank expression and couldn't help but feel a little surprised. As a native of this world, how did this guy know even less than him, an outsider who had only arrived about a day ago?
"Saitama, do you not watch the news or anything like that?"
"Ah, aren't the things broadcast on the news just a bunch of politicians talking nonsense, spouting lies to deceive ordinary people, and then, when something happens, they just bow and say they're sorry? It's a boring program. I'd rather watch comedy routines. At least they make people laugh."
"...Anyway, the Hero Association is a place that recruits heroes. Because monsters have been appearing frequently in recent years, the vast majority of wealthy people banded together to fund the creation of the Association. Anyone can become a hero. As long as you pass the Hero Association's assessment, you can become a professional hero. After that, as long as you defeat monsters, you can receive funding."
Saitama blinked, stunned for a long while, and then asked somewhat unwillingly, "Eh! Then what about the monsters I defeated before..."
"I think they probably can't be counted. Up until now, Saitama, you have not been approached by the Hero Association. It seems that the monsters you defeated were either unknown to anyone or claimed by others as their own achievements."
"That's really a pity! If I had known, I would have registered to become a hero!"
Saitama's tone was full of regret, but there was not much unwillingness or anger. It seemed he did not care much about his own feats being stolen by others. He was just regretful that he had not discovered sooner that fighting monsters could earn money.
Caelus looked at Saitama, who clearly looked very regretful on his face but felt no ripples in his heart, and asked, "Saitama, don't you feel unwilling or angry that the monsters you clearly defeated were taken by others as their own achievements?"
"That sort of thing doesn't matter. I wanted to become a hero of my own will. Defeating monsters to make money is just a bonus. Of course, if I could gain more fame and have more fans along the way, I'd be very happy too!"
"...A pure hero? Then, Saitama, if powerful monsters appeared in two different cities, and they were monsters that no one else could defeat except you, but if you defeated one, the other monster would inevitably cause greater destruction and casualties before that, what do you think should be done?"
"Why are you suddenly asking such a bizarre question? As a hero, of course, I have to defeat the monsters. As for arriving late and causing greater loss and destruction in another place, isn't that all the monster's fault?"
"Then what if the people in that place blame you, transferring their hatred for the monster onto you, blaming you for not coming sooner to save them?"
"What does that have to do with me? I'm just a hero for fun. I'm not a god. I can't save everyone, nor can I bring happiness to everyone. I'm just an ordinary person who wants to be a hero. I'm just doing my best to save people. Whether others praise me or blame me, it has nothing to do with me."
"Mr. Saitama, you really are someone who sticks to your own path, a very pure person."
"Are you complimenting me?"
"Yes. After all, many people are unwilling to face their true selves, and many others don't even know what their purpose is, just drifting aimlessly through life."
Saitama looked at his neighbor strangely, not knowing what was up with him, suddenly bringing up such profound topics while eating.
But he did not mind. Since he was here for a free meal, it did not matter if they talked a bit more.
After eating and drinking to his fill, Saitama patted his stomach in satisfaction, then smiled and said goodbye to Caelus and Cyrene before returning to his room.
As Cyrene cleared the table, she asked, "Partner, if this Mr. Saitama were in our universe, perhaps he would become a Galaxy Ranger and embark on the Path of The Hunt. Who knows?"
"Possessing great power, holding firm to his principles, and having a pure sense of self, such a person would indeed do well anywhere. Besides, this world is actually quite interesting."
Caelus recalled what the System had told him when he first arrived in this world.
In this world, all living beings possess an extremely unique mechanism, a mechanism similar to idealism. As long as someone firmly loves a certain thing, they can gain power from it.
For example, some people believe that a tank top gives them great power. Even if it looks like just an ordinary, poorly made tank top, as long as they wear it, their power multiplies. Even that originally ordinary tank top can block swords and bullets.
But if the tank top is damaged, their firm belief is shaken, and all their power vanishes in an instant, leaving them easily defeated.
The same applies to those monsters. Some become monsters because they love eating a certain thing too much, instantly gaining great power and having their bodies mutate into that monster.
Others are simply animals that suddenly turn into monsters for unknown reasons.
There are even some who, while just wearing a mascot costume, inexplicably transform into the monster corresponding to that costume and gain a certain level of special power.
"This is a world of the heart."
(To be continued.)