My youth story cannot be a knight war

[“Now you are just like Xiaoqi, always thinking about others but ignoring yourself and the people around you who care about you.”]

[Yuigahama Yui walked up to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. The familiar touch on his shoulders reminded Zaimokuza of Kousaka Kyousuke who had counseled him before. He also placed his hands on his shoulders and talked to him.]

[For some reason, at this moment, the images of Yuigahama Yui and Kousaka Kyosuke overlapped in Zaimokuza's eyes, and their voices rang in his ears at the same time. ]

[Whether it's the voice, the expression, or the eyes, everything overlaps.]

[“Zaimokuza, the reason you fight is to protect everyone’s smiles, right?”]

[——The reason why I became a policeman is that I want to protect the citizens. I don’t want them to suffer the reality of what I fear. This was Kyosuke Kosaka’s original wish and the source of his journey.]

[“I don’t expect you to stop fighting those unidentified life forms. I understand that you will not agree to this, but——”]

[“I hope you can remember this and keep it in mind every time you fight.”]

[——Every time I feel scared and confused, I will remember the origin of my journey, and every time I can overcome the confusion and move forward.]

[“Zaimokuza, since you are fighting to protect everyone’s smiles, I hope you understand that you have to protect not only the smiles of those you protect, but also your own smile, and the smiles of all the people around you who care about you.”]

【——But we can at least do our best, overcome our confusion and fear, step over the stones that block our way, continue to move forward into the future, and fight for the things we believe in. 】

【“Zaimokuzu.”】

【——Wooden seat. 】

[The two people's voices completely overlapped at this moment, as if one person in a different time and space asked Zaimokuza Yoshiki why he was fighting.]

[Zaimokuza stared blankly at Yuigahama Yui, whose face overlapped with Kousaka Kyousuke's. Her pink eyes were as gentle as jade, and her voice was like a breeze that gently brushed away the last bit of haze in his heart.]

[“Never forget your original intention, and please don’t forget those who care about you. Don’t let us be sad and cry, because we are also in those smiles you want to protect - aren’t we?”]

[——If you still feel confused and afraid, then think more about why you are fighting and recall what your starting point is. ]

【“…”】

[Zaimokuza's hands slowly clenched into fists, and a light gradually appeared in the depths of his eyes, just like the first star that lights up in the dark sky in the black night.]

[I see. I remember now...]

[The remaining fear in his heart about the powerful force of No. 21 gradually disappeared, just like reaching out to remove the last layer of curtain covering his soul, and it could no longer prevent him from seeing his own heart.]

[My origin, the reason why I fight is...]

【Buzz——————】

[At the moment when he realized it, Zaimokuza seemed to "hear" the humming sound of the belt buried deep in his body, and also "see" the light of the dull spiritual stone in the center of the belt gradually brighten.]

[In a trance, the spirit stone that had been feeling somewhat "weak" since his defeat to No. 21 slowly regained its strength at this moment. A powerful force that was somewhat similar to the previous one, but completely different in nature, filled his limbs from the lit spirit stone, and the wounds on his body also recovered faster.]

[He “saw” the brand new light that the spirit stone in his body shone with this time.]

[It was like a bright purple galaxy that flickered and lingered in the night sky, filling the entire sky, illuminating the dark world with its warm glow.]

53. A sincere smile (two in one)

[Tokyo City, along the Sumida River. 】

[While Zaimokuza and Yuigahama Yui were talking, a killing was quietly happening in another corner of the city. ]

「Uaaaaa——!」

【boom! ! ! 】

[In the bursting flames, the victim's body was devoured in the blink of an eye, and the screams of despair and fear came to an abrupt end.]

[“The 161st prey, solved.”]

Giiga stretched out his left hand, which was wearing a bracelet, and swiped one of the magatama in the first row to the left.

[Just after it put down its hand, the silver-white monster had restored itself to the strangely dressed man, and its surroundings were covered with holes burning with flames, each of which represented a human being killed by it.]

【Beep, beep, beep, beep.】

【"Um?"】

Giiga looked up in the direction of the sound and saw a line of police cars approaching quickly in the distance, sirens blaring. Her thick lips, painted with purple lipstick, curled up at the sight.

[“You are too late, warriors, but you are lucky.”]

[“…Next, there is only one last target left. Clean your neck and wait for me.”]

"KUUGA."

【Tokyo City, sewer. 】

【The sewers in Tokyo, Japan have long been known as the "Tokyo Underground City". The height alone is as high as 18 meters, which is comparable to a six-story building.】

[The structure is well connected, leading to various areas in Tokyo. The drainage system is one of the best in the world. It is completely a real-life super maze temple. The space is so large that it is more than enough to hide a few people, even if there are dozens or hundreds of times more people living inside.]

[The Gurongi who escaped from the warehouse area are now hiding in a large hall, sitting, standing, or walking around idly, waiting for the result of this game and then choosing the next player to play the game.]

[“I’m back~”]

[The sound of footsteps on the stairs filled the silent hall. All the Gurongi who heard the sound looked up and saw Giiga slowly walking down the stairs at the top.]

[“It seems you completed the game well.”]

Baruba looked up at the figure walking down and said calmly, "Judging from its slow and brisk pace, Giiga is clearly in a very good mood."

[“Hey!”]

Because the winding staircase was so long, Giiga, growing impatient, leaped down from the five-story staircase. Landing on the ground with his knees slightly bent, his feet made a dull thud as he stepped onto the ground. Then, with a smile on his face, he walked towards Baruba.

[“Ah, one hundred and sixty-one of the one hundred and sixty-two targets have been solved. Now there is only the last one left.”]

【"KUUGA?"】

Upon hearing this, Baruba took a stone tablet decorated with a solemn beauty from a nearby table that Gooma had brought in from outside. He glanced at the mysterious words written on it, describing the game rules and time limit, and raised his eyebrows slightly.

[“You are very fast. Within the three-day time limit, you have completed 99% of the goal in just one day.”]

"Based solely on efficiency, you've already surpassed the vast majority of GO players. You might even become the first ME player to reach GO."

"But the prerequisite is that you have to solve the last game goal. Are you sure you really want KUUGA to be the last goal?"

[“You can still change your mind now, right? Just go out and find another target to kill.”]

"There's no need for that. I've already fought this current KUUGA today. He's no match for the previous one. He's a complete loser."

Giiga shrugged slightly, reached out to take the Baruba, and used a pen to draw strange patterns on it, a smile full of arrogance and disdain on his face.

"Not only will I become the first ME to be promoted to GO, but I will also use the name GO-Giiga-Gi to tell those old men who have been clinging to this position for thousands and thousands of years that times have changed! Kikiru is no longer their world."

[“I will complete the “Dark Game” before them, advance to the “White and Dark Game”, and finally—”]

[At this point, Giiga's tone suddenly became excited and high-pitched, his eyes blazing with enthusiasm.]

[“I will defeat ‘Him’ in the ‘Game of White and Darkness’ and become the one who brings about the ‘Ultimate Darkness’!”]

[As soon as it finished speaking, a sinister voice came from the corner.]

“Can you do it?”

Gooma, who was leaning against a pillar, looked at Giiga's back and said something malicious.

"I remember there were many players who said something similar before, but none of them came back. It seems like they were all dealt with by KUUGA?"

“I don’t think you’re the next player to advance to GO, but the next player to die at KUUGA’s hands, hehehehe…”

【“——”】

Giiga, who had just made a loud declaration, paused at this sentence and remained motionless for a long time.

After a long moment, it silently put down the clipboard with the game information written on it. The traffic sign overhead pressed down its bangs, blocking Giiga's gaze. It turned and walked towards the stairs behind it that led to the outside world.

[“Jie jie jie jie…jie jie jie…jie jie jie…mmmm…”]

But when Giiga reached Gooma, who was looking at him with a wicked smile, he stopped. Gooma's smile gradually faltered at his sudden stop, and a deep sense of foreboding gradually welled up in his heart.

[“Woooooo!”]

The next moment, Giiga reached out his hand without turning his head, and once again grabbed Gooma's neck like last time, lifting it up as its eyes widened in fear.

"...Looks like you really want to die, don't you? You idiot 'ZU'."

Giiga gently twisted his neck, his cervical vertebrae rubbing against each other, making a crisp "crunch" sound. He slowly turned his head and looked at Gooma, whose eyes were gradually widening.

[Its face was expressionless, but countless green meridians were climbing and undulating on its forehead, like a group of green snakes twisting their slender bodies.]

[“Since you want to die so much, I will grant your wish.”]

【"wait--"】

[Recalling the last time he was burned by flames, Gooma suddenly contracted in pain, and a look of fear appeared on his face.]

But before Gooma could even beg for mercy, a fire far more fierce and fiery than before erupted from Giiga's hand that was gripping its neck, completely engulfing its body.

[“Hmmmm hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!”]

[“…What a short memory.”]

As Gooma's screams echoed throughout the hall, Baruba glanced indifferently at the frantic figure, completely engulfed in flames. He then indifferently turned his gaze to Giiga's back, who was pinching Gooma, a meaningful smile curling his lips.

"GO-Giiga-Gi? Sounds pretty good, but—"

[“Times have changed? Oh, you could say that.”]

“But wait until you’ve actually advanced to GO before you say that. I hope you won’t regret it then…”

……

【Tokyo City, Wakaba Ward, Wakaba Kindergarten. 】

[“Destoroyah is coming! Howaaa! Awooo!”]

[After recovering from his injuries, Zaimokuza removed the bandages on his body, wearing a cow headdress, and crawled towards the children gathered together on all fours like an orangutan, looking ferocious. The children also scattered around with laughter.]

[“Wow! The big monster that defeated Godzilla is coming! Everyone, run away~”]

[“Don’t run! I’m going to eat you to avenge Godzilla, owoo~!”]

[Among the scattered little rascals, the sharp-eyed Zaimokuza immediately spotted the burly boy who "defeated" him this morning. Holding a grudge, he let out an "angry" howl and quickly crawled after him.]

[The little boy was soon cornered by him. He looked at the cow version of Destoroyah with horror as he raised his hands to make a Tyrannosaurus Rex look. But just when he was about to be caught, the horror on his face immediately turned into a cunning and naughty one. The speed of his expression change was comparable to that of an actor, and he was far better than the young handsome guy.]

【“Everyone, now is the time!”】

[He pointed behind Zaimokuza and shouted in a childish voice.]

[“What!?”]

[Zaimokuza's expression suddenly changed, and he quickly turned his head to look behind him, only to see a petite figure wearing the same rabbit ear headdress he had worn that morning, rushing towards him with a righteous look on her face, and speaking in a childish voice.]

[“Take that, Red Lotus Explosion Attack~”]

[“Uwaaa! I’m defeated~”]

[Zaimokuza reached out accurately to hold the little girl who flew towards him, raised his head and uttered a "miserable" wail, then fell straight back.]

[“Everyone, now is the time to defeat the big monster!”]

【“““Okay~”””】

[At the command of the boy who led the charge, a group of little rascals rushed forward with a smile to press down the timber seat, and soon a small mountain of timber was piled up on him.]

[Papapapa——]

[Zaimokuza, who was pinned down by the crowd, protected the little girl in his arms with one hand, and tremblingly reached out with the other hand to slap the ground. After slapping the ground three times to show his surrender, he “powerlessly” fell to one side, humiliating himself for his third defeat of the day.]

[“We won again, yeah!”]

【“““Yeah~”””】

A group of young children joyfully raised their hands and formed a "Y" sign, their smiles radiating brightly under the setting sun. Unknowingly, they had once again defeated Unidentified Lifeform Number Four, completing a feat that no other unidentified lifeform had ever accomplished.

[“Zaimokuza-san, you are really popular among the children~”]

[One of the female teachers watching from a distance covered her mouth with the back of her hand, her eyes formed into a pair of crescents as she smiled and said.]

【"Um……"】

[Yuigahama Yui nodded lightly, not commenting on what the female teacher said, and just quietly watched Zaimokuza holding a group of children in his arms with a cheerful smile.]

[“Hmm? Mr. Yuigahama, why are you…”]