Ultraman grunts? Call me Space Policeman outside!

Hearing him say that, Hoshino's expression became somewhat puzzled.

"There's actually a newcomer who surpasses Shinomiya Kikuru?"

"I'm really looking forward to it."

He adjusted his stance, gripped his short knife tightly, and prepared to launch another attack.

He had been resentful ever since he was captured by Natsuki in one move. Even though his opponent was a strong person who could defeat the commander of the Shinomiya, he had no intention of admitting defeat. Instead, he kept challenging Natsuki.

In this defense force where firearms dominate, he, who only knows how to use melee weapons, has only this one source of pride left.

He wants to continue honing this unique strength to an even higher level through constant challenges.

Natsuki initially wanted to refuse, but Hoshino directly offered to cover Natsuki's three meals a day, a condition that was hard to refuse.

"Twenty to zero."

"Alright, let's eat!" Natsuki took to the air and launched a surprise attack, catching Hoshina off guard, knocking the short sword out of his hand, and declaring his victory.

He threw his short knife to the ground and was about to rush towards the cafeteria.

"What a monster..." Hoshina Soshiro bent down to pick up the cracked dagger, scratched his head, and followed behind. "Isn't it a bit too unfair to attack by flying up?"

"Can't monsters fly?"

"Too......"

"Alright, if we finish eating quickly, we should be able to make it in time for the new recruits' assessment."

"Just wait and you'll be amazed."

"Is there really a newcomer who can surpass Shinomiya Kirkuru?"

"How about this, ten high-class meals, I bet the newcomer I'm going to tell you about later will surpass Shinomiya Kikuru, how about it?"

"Emmm... at most five meals."

Chapter 178 The Fourth Palace

"Ichikawa... I feel my blood boiling right now!"

In front of the Tachikawa base building, Hibino Kafka and Ichikawa Reno stepped out of the van. Kafka looked at the fully armed soldiers around him and the exquisite building, took a deep breath, clenched his fist, and said excitedly.

Despite being rejected time and time again, he stands here once more this year!

We're determined to win this time!

“This time, we’ll definitely be able to join the defense force together,” Ichikawa Reno said, looking at Kafka and nodding excitedly.

Then, I looked around.

"Speaking of which, there are quite a few people who came to take the test. I thought that changing the time would prevent many people from participating."

In Ichikawa Reino's view, the parking lot area was full of young-looking test takers, all with confident expressions on their faces; they were all formidable competitors.

"I'm probably the oldest person here." Kafka, who was already thirty-two years old, put his hands on his hips, looked around, and realized this sad fact.

The soldiers maintaining order didn't look as old as he was.

"That's right."

"Leave the battlefield to the young people. You, uncle, should just stay in the rear." Suddenly, a haughty voice came from behind them.

Turning around, they saw a girl with golden twin ponytails, wearing a brown coat, standing behind them, speaking to Kafka with a look of disdain on her face.

Shinomiya Kiro, 16 years old

When someone barked at him and called him "uncle" right in the face, Kafka's forehead instantly creased with a smug look. His face was full of defiance, his eyes widened like saucers, and he bared his teeth as he retorted, "Who are you calling 'uncle'!"

"I'm only thirty-two this year, okay!"

Whose child is this, so rude?!

They're about the same age, but Ichikawa is much more well-behaved!

“Thirty-two is already considered an uncle.” The young woman crossed her arms and stated the harsh truth, her eyes showing a hint of disdain. “He’s twice my age.”

She was sixteen years old, and Kafka, who was thirty-two, was almost a generation older than her.

"The defense force is constantly risking their lives to fight monsters. Those who are too weak will only lose their lives in vain on the battlefield."

Throughout the history of the defense force, no member has ever joined before the age of thirty-two. Moreover, those who joined at an advanced age generally met a tragic end, unable to keep up with the other members, falling far behind, and then dying inexplicably on the battlefield.

It was a reasonable suggestion to advise Kafka to stay put in the rear.

"Damn it, don't look down on me!"

"Uncle, I'm very strong!" Kafka said defiantly, still acting like a child despite his age, full of passion.

"Finally admitting you're an old man?" The girl covered her mouth, smiling teasingly.

"What's wrong with the uncle now!"

“Don’t even mention thirty-two years old, some people are still struggling at nineteen thousand years old!” Kafka retorted, panting heavily, showing no sign of admitting defeat.

Compared to Mr. Natsuki, I am definitely one of the youngest.

These guys have never seen what a real old person looks like.

Natsuki: "Achoo!"

I always feel like someone is talking badly about me.

"Are you serious, sir?" The girl's eyes instantly held a hint of pity for a mental patient. What kind of person could live to be 19,000 years old? This sir probably really wasn't awake yet.

"Forget it, discussing these things with you is just a waste of my time."

"If you continue to be so stubborn, then you'll get to experience what it feels like to be left far behind by me." She tossed her blonde hair aside, ignoring Kafka, and walked towards the building accompanied by her butler.

He's just a 32-year-old man; even if he successfully joins the defense force, he'll only be at the bottom.

And I, am the one who must be number one.

"Wait!" Kafka suddenly called out to her from behind.

"Want to fight me?" The girl turned around and asked helplessly. This uncle was on a completely different wavelength from her.

"My name is Kafka Hibino, and I'm the man who will absolutely join the defense force... and stand by Mina's side." Kafka said earnestly, "Therefore, I will not lose to anyone!"

Hearing him say that...

A hint of interest appeared in the girl's eyes.

"You're very motivated, uncle."

“My name is Shinomiya Kikuru. If you have the confidence to surpass me, then give it a try.” Her pride made her unafraid of any challenge, and she said with her chin raised.

After saying that, he turned and left without looking back.

After she finished speaking, Ichikawa Reino frowned and pondered, "Shinomiya... that surname."

"Could it be the daughter of the Shinomiya Commander?"

The name of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Force, Isao Shinomiya, is extremely well-known among the citizens, after all, he is the strongest man in history.

"Really?!" Kafka belatedly realized.

"We're doomed, Ichikawa!" he suddenly shouted.

"What's wrong, senpai?" Ichikawa looked at him, puzzled. "Although we are the daughters of Commander Shinomiya, we should be quite strong after being specially trained by Mr. Natsuki."

"No, that's not what I meant," Kafka said regretfully. "I forgot to ask for an autograph!"

Ichikawa Reino: "..."

"You really are a humorous person."

......

Tachikawa Base, Captain's Office.

"The physical fitness test this morning is over. Here is the list of those who passed." Hoshina Soshiro walked in carrying a bag of documents and handed it to Abe Mina behind the desk.

"This year, there are many unexpected newcomers," he said with a smile, his eyes narrowed.

Yabamina took the document bag and looked through the information of each qualified candidate.

“This is a good thing for our defense force,” she said softly.

With more outstanding talents joining the defense force, they will be able to better protect the citizens.

"Are there any people you really think highly of here?" she asked as she flipped through the pages.

Hoshina Soshiro watched the entire physical fitness test in the morning.

“At first, the person I favored the most was the daughter of Commander Shinomiya, Shinomiya Kikoruru,” Hoshina Soshiro said, stroking his chin.

"However, the person who came in first place in the physical fitness test was an ordinary person I never expected, Ichikawa Reino."

He recalled the physical fitness test he had watched that morning and couldn't help but praise it repeatedly.

"He is neither from a monster extermination academy nor a military background, yet he is able to overpower a group of newcomers and even surpass Shinomiya Kirkuru."

"He's a guy you absolutely shouldn't underestimate."

As he spoke, he also recalled that this boy seemed to be the first person to have contact with Mr. Natsuki.

No wonder he made a bet with himself... he must have known about Ichikawa Reno's strength beforehand.

That fancy lunch almost cost me half a month's salary! How awful...

----------

----------

Thank you to the amazing user 【I'm helpless】 for the generous donation and verification! Bonus chapter!

Chapter 179 Call Me Sir

"Is she even more outstanding than the daughter of the Shinomiya Commander?"

Abamina also flipped through Ichikawa Reno's file, looked at the white-haired boy, and pondered for a few seconds.

"Judging from the physical fitness test, he is indeed very outstanding."