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If only those dandelion seeds floating through the air weren't so huge…If only they didn't explode when they touched something…Then maybe, just maybe, people would stop and admire how beautiful this scene was.Unfortunately, that was not the case.
Each of those seeds was about the size of a soccer ball—big, but surprisingly light. A single breeze could lift them high into the sky and scatter them far across the city.
It didn't take long before these bomb-dandelion seeds had spread everywhere.Explosions echoed through the streets, followed by the constant chorus of screams.
"W-what's happening? Is this… a terrorist attack? Are those some kind of new bombs? Or… monsters?" Sayuriko clung to Ethan's arm, trembling as she stared at the floating seeds filling the sky.
"Probably monsters," Ethan muttered. "Damn it, this is such a pain. I finally decide to go out for once, and of course I run into some monster pulling a terror act. Knew I should've stayed home!"
"I-I'm so sorry, Master! It's my fault! I was the one who wanted to go out today. You only came because I begged you to…" Sayuriko said, looking guilt-ridden.
"Relax, it's fine. I'm just annoyed, that's all. It's like having a fly buzzing around—sure, it's annoying, but not really a problem." Ethan shook his head with a sigh.
"I knew it! Master is amazing—nothing can ever bother you!" Sayuriko nodded earnestly, then muttered under her breath, "Even if you are super powerful… you're still so lazy. Everything's always 'what a hassle' with you…"
"Because it is a hassle," Ethan grumbled. Just then, a breeze blew by, carrying a new wave of bomb-dandelions straight toward him. He sighed again, looked up, and exhaled.A massive gust of wind burst from his mouth, sweeping all the explosive seeds far, far away—who knows where they ended up.
"Master, if it's that easy for you… then maybe you could…" Sayuriko trailed off nervously.
Ethan frowned. "Don't tell me—you want me to deal with this whole thing? Come on, that's such a pain."He'd known it from the start—every time he left the house, something like this happened. Which, of course, was exactly why he preferred staying home… though it also doubled as a convenient excuse for his extreme homebody tendencies.
"But Master," Sayuriko pleaded, her voice trembling, "if you don't do something, people will keep getting hurt! They could die! This could turn into a huge disaster! You can't just stand by and watch!"
"Ugh… but it's such a pain…" Ethan sighed lazily again.
"But Master, you're a hero! Isn't it a hero's duty to stand up and help when this kind of thing happens? And besides, for someone like you, this is nothing! If it were actually dangerous, I'd never let you go—but this? This is easy for you! Please, Master, help them, pleeease?" Sayuriko pressed herself close, wrapping both arms around his and shaking it gently, her voice soft and sweet as she looked up at him.
Every hair on Ethan's body stood on end. His whole body tingled like he'd just been electrocuted.
"Ahem… fine, fine! Since you put it that way, I'll handle it."And just like that, our so-called "hero" gave in.To be fair, Ethan wasn't exactly used to this kind of attention—he'd never had a girlfriend, barely talked to women, and despite being "Superman" now, he was still a hardcore shut-in at heart. Add in a cute, kind maid like Sayuriko who practically worshipped him, and, well… resistance was futile.
"Let's start by getting rid of all these flying bomb-dandelions," he said, taking a deep breath.Then he blew.
A gust of wind swept through the entire city—gentle enough not to destroy anything, but steady and powerful enough to carry every last dandelion seed far out to sea. The moment they hit the ocean, a chain of explosions rippled across the waves. Only then did the wind fade.
"Wow! That was amazing, Master! You're incredible! Sayuriko totally worships you!" she cried, leaping up and planting a quick kiss on his cheek.
The soft touch on his face froze Ethan in place. His cheeks flushed red instantly.
"Hehe~ Master, you're blushing!" Sayuriko giggled, delighted.
"Ahem! That's… just because I ran out of oxygen from that long exhale, obviously. Anyway, come on—let's go find where those bomb-dandelions are coming from."He cleared his throat, trying to hide his fluster, grabbed Sayuriko by the waist, and shot into the sky.
New dandelions were still forming, but Ethan blew them away easily as he followed the trail back to its source.
Soon enough, he found it—right on top of the tallest skyscraper in the city.
A massive plant stood there—calling it a "plant" was generous. It looked like a gigantic dandelion, three or four meters tall, but with a disturbingly human twist: a face embedded in its stalk, two arms, two legs—a dandelion-shaped humanoid.
"Huh? A monster?" Ethan tilted his head, curious.
"That's right! I am the Bomb Dandelion Man! Rila-poi! Hahaha! What's wrong? Scared yet? Rila-poi! Hahahaha!" The creature's laughter shook its body, scattering more bomb seeds from its head.
Ethan casually blew them all away with a puff of air.
"So it really is a monster!" Sayuriko gasped, staring wide-eyed.
"That's right! I am a monster—Rila-poi!" it cackled again.
"Uh… excuse me," Ethan said, scratching his head. "Is 'Rila-poi' your name or… what exactly?"
"It's my verbal tic—Rila-poi!" the creature shouted proudly.
"Ah, got it," Ethan and Sayuriko nodded in unison.
"Ever since I became a monster, Rila-poi! I realized I no longer have a gender—so tragic, Rila-poi! So I vowed to stand at the top of the world and scatter my bomb seeds across the globe! Rila-poi!" The Bomb Dandelion Man declared his "ambition" with ridiculous confidence.
"Well, that's… quite the dream," Ethan said dryly. "But sorry. Since you're a monster, it's kind of my job as a hero to take you out."
He threw a punch.
"Hero?! Die, Rila-poi!"A cloud of explosive dandelions swarmed toward him—but the mere force of Ethan's punch wind blew them apart. His fist connected squarely with the monster's chest.
"Rila… poi…!!"And that was the last thing the Bomb Dandelion Man ever said.
"..."
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