Chapter Nine
Kisame's eyes widened.
It was night.
In the arena, it had been morning. The realization struck him immediately.
No wonder I'm hungry… and thirsty.
He made his way toward the canteen. Most people went inside the school building, sitting in stunned silence, their faces filled with disbelief. Fear and confusion lingered heavily in the air.
Inside the canteen, students were eating dinner. The ones distributing the food looked tense and worried, constantly glancing around.
Kisame observed quietly.
I'll help them, he muttered under his breath.
Even though I have a purpose now… I'll still help. Maybe one of them will defeat the Anomaly. I don't even know if I can. But I can at least give them everything I know.
A thought surfaced in his mind.
What if you regret it later?
Regret only exists if I choose to see it that way.
If I choose to smile even when I'm betrayed, that's my decision.
Kill me. Betray me. Lie to me.
That's your choice.
I won't change because of anyone.
Kisame sighed and looked around.
Ali still wasn't there.
He activated Hunter's Awareness.
His perception spread through the building. He felt every presence—every heartbeat, every movement. On the rooftop, he sensed two people talking. One of them raised a hand and made a subtle signal.
A signal only Kisame and Ali knew.
Relief washed over him.
Who's he with… and how did he sense me?
He pushed the thought aside. I'll ask him later.
Kisame joined the line for food, waiting patiently. He planned to help organize things once he finished eating.
Then—
Several people cut into the line, taking extra food meant for others.
They were tall, muscular.
Teachers.
No one dared challenge them.
Except Kisame.
He stepped forward and met their gazes.
"I never thought teachers would do something so unjust," Kisame said calmly.
One of them scowled.
"Get out of the way, Kisame. Or you'll regret your decision."
Kisame's eyes hardened.
"Last chance."
He activated Hunter's Awareness.
His eyes turned red. A faint crimson aura leaked from them.
The teachers froze.
"We outnumber him," one of them muttered. "We can still beat him."
They surrounded Kisame and attacked one by one.
With Hunter's Awareness active, Kisame felt everything. Front. Back. Left. Right. Every movement was clear before it happened.
He dodged effortlessly, counterattacking with precision.
One teacher fell. Then another.
They forced themselves back up, anger burning in their eyes.
The fight dragged on.
Kisame felt the strain increasing. Maintaining the skill was becoming harder.
I can't keep this up.
His movements sharpened.
Enough.
Within moments, all of them were on the ground, unable to stand.
Kisame deactivated the skill.
But one of them hadn't given up.
Unable to accept the humiliation, the man pulled a knife from his pocket and charged.
Kisame never lowered his guard—only his skill.
In one swift motion, he grabbed the man's wrist, twisted it sharply, and disarmed him. The knife fell as the man collapsed.
He looked up, trembling.
"I'm sorry," he said.
Kisame paused… then gave him a chance.
Without another word, he returned to the line as if nothing had happened.
He took his portion and ate quietly in a corner.
After finishing, Kisame stood.
"Attention, everyone."
The canteen slowly quieted.
He explained everything he had learned—about the system, quests, survival, and preparation. At first, everyone listened. But when he began talking about the Anomaly and the gods, many lost interest.
It was boring to them.
Kisame didn't lose hope.
Some people were still listening.
That was enough.
When he finished, most of the canteen had fallen asleep. Only a few had truly heard him.
Then he heard worried voices.
He followed the sound and entered the storage room. The people distributing food stood there, their faces tense.
The supplies were almost gone.
They looked at Kisame, unsure if they could even speak to him after what they'd seen earlier.
"I can help," Kisame said.
They stared at him in shock.
"But how?" one of them asked.
"We can buy food from the shop using gold coins."
"But no one has that currency."
"I do," Kisame said. "And I'm willing to share."
"How did you get it?"
Before Kisame could answer, a calm voice spoke.
"That's not necessary," said the student council president. "How he got it is his choice. We have no right to ask."
Kisame glanced at her.
So she's the leader…
"It's fine," he said. "I've already explained it before. You get it by completing side quests."
He purchased bread and water.
One gold coin gave ten loaves of bread and ten bottles of water.
He spent twenty gold coins.
The food appeared out of thin air, wrapped neatly in plastic.
They thanked him repeatedly.
"You're like a hero," the girl said softly.
Kisame smiled weakly.
Hero.
To him, that word was poison.
No one wanted to know you when you were useless.
People were valued only for what they provided.
Once useless… you were trash.
"I'm Kisame," he said simply.
After helping, he went outside and sat beneath a tree. Lying back, he stared at the stars.
Human emotions are strange.
If you're useful, you're good.
If not… you're nothing.
He remembered his middle school days—friends who only approached him to cheat in exams. The moment he refused, he became invisible.
He never made friends again.
And he didn't want to.
Yet… the urge to help people never left his heart.
He helps because it's his will.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
His thoughts faded as exhaustion claimed him.
Under the quiet night sky, Kisame fell asleep.