An ordinary profession creates the world's strongest

"Is that what you're looking at?" Shia thought, moving the bag of kebabs from side to side. The girl's gaze followed her like a magnet, swaying back and forth, evidently hungry. Shia was about to remove the kebabs from the bag when Hajime stopped her. While Hajime questioned the girl, he began to refine them.

"May I have your name?"

The girl's gaze had been drawn to the kebabs Shia was holding, but she suddenly saw a red electric current radiate from the ground, and a square object resembling a box rose from the ground. The girl shrank back in shock at the sight. Then, Hajime asked her name. After a moment's hesitation, she whispered, "You're not a woman."

“…Myuu.”

"I see. I'm Hajime, and she's Shia. Myuu, if you want to eat those kebabs, wash yourself first."

After completing his simple bathtub, Hajime filled it with clean water from the "treasure vault," adjusting the water temperature with a warm stone crafted from Fulham ore, creating a makeshift bathroom. Eating without first washing a body contaminated by sewage was dangerous. She must have drunk some of the contaminated water, so she needed to take a commercially available detoxifying and antiseptic drug.

Before Myuu could reply, her clothes, soaked with water, were taken off and she was thrown into the bathtub. Although Myuu shrank back timidly, as the warm water enveloped her body, she gradually showed a comfortable expression.

After giving medicine, towels, soap and other items to Shia and asking her to take care of Myuu, Hajime walked out of the dead end alley and went to the street to buy Myuu clothes.

Not long after, Hajime returned to the cul-de-sac after buying Miu's clothes. Miu had already showered, wrapped in a new blanket, and was cuddled in Sia's arms. She was cuddled, desperately trying to eat the kebab she fed her. Her previously grimy hair had regained its original emerald green sheen, reflecting the sunlight like an angelic halo.

"Ah, Hajime-san, you're back. I'm an outsider, but from what I can tell, Myuu-chan seems to be alright."

Shia noticed Hajime's return and stroked Myuu's still damp hair, reporting to Hajime. Myuu also became aware of Hajime's presence and, chewing, stared at him again, probably still trying to decide whether he was a good person or a bad one.

Hajime nodded at what Shia said and took out the clothes he had bought. It was a white dress very similar to Shia's, along with a pair of sandals and a pair of underwear. Although the store had told him it was for children, the clerk still gave him a concerned look.

Hajime walked over to Myuu, lifted the blanket from her, pulled the dress over her head, and neatly helped her put on her underwear. Then he knelt in front of Myuu and helped her put on her shoes.

Then, Hajime pulled out a divine tool that blew hot air from his treasure chest, a hair dryer, and used it to dry Myuu's damp hair. Myuu let Hajime do what he wanted, her eyes fixed on him. However, the warm air made her make pleasant noises, and her eyes gradually narrowed.

“…I didn’t realize Hajime-san was really good at taking care of others.”

"Why are you suddenly saying something like that..."

As Hajime was drying Myuu's hair, he frowned at what Shia said. However, his actions were proof of his caring nature, and Shia smiled happily. Hajime felt awkward and changed the subject:

"Regarding the future..."

"Is it about how to deal with Myuu-chan..."

Myuu seemed to know that they were talking about her, so she raised her eyes and looked at Shia and Hajime alternately.

Hajime and Shia decided to first find out what happened to Myuu.

Myuu's stuttered words were very close to what Hajime had deduced. Simply put, one day, Myuu was swimming near the coastline when she became separated from her mother. While she was wandering and helpless, she was captured by a human male.

After several days of arduous journey across the desert, Mu was taken to [Flen] and locked in a dim cell with many human children.

In the following days, several of the children she was with were taken out every day and never came back. According to the teenagers who were slightly older than her, they were taken to be displayed and bought by customers at a price.

When it was finally Myu's turn, the underground water system was undergoing maintenance, and the door to the underground water system was opened. Myuu heard the nostalgic sound of water and immediately jumped into the underground water system.

Fortunately, the other party, probably believing a three or four-year-old girl couldn't possibly escape, didn't put her in shackles. Myuu endured the discomfort of the dirty water and swam desperately. Though young, she was a child of the Sea People, and humans, who could only run along the passage, couldn't catch up to Myuu, who was escaping with the current.

However, she was not used to long journeys and being kidnapped also caused her severe mental stress. The prisoners only gave her unaccustomed and unpalatable food. Coupled with the harsh environment of being immersed in sewage for a long time, Mu's spirit and body finally reached the limit and she lost consciousness.

Then, she regained consciousness as she felt warmth enveloping her body, and found herself in Hajime's arms.

"The customer is bidding... This should be an auction, right? And it's a black market auction of human and sea-people children."

“…Hajime-san, what should we do?”

Shia hugged Myuu sadly, her eyes revealing her desire to resolve the situation. The capture of demihumans as slaves was commonplace, and having lost her own family, Shia understood the fear and pain.

Hajime shook his head and refused:

"It would be better to hand her over to the Security Bureau."

“How could this happen! Mr. Hajime, are you going to let this child and the others die…?”

Hearing Hajime's answer, Shia objected passionately, hugged Myuu tightly, and looked at Hajime as if she had received a huge blow.

The security bureau Hajime was referring to was what Earth calls the police. Handing Myuu over to them meant handing her over to a public institution, but also meant she would be completely separated from them. While Hajime was simply taking the proper approach to a missing child and had no intention of abandoning Myuu, the fact that demihumans were involved probably made Shia feel like she was simply watching someone die.

Hajime explained the reasoning to Shia:

"Listen, Shia. Sending a missing child to the Security Bureau is a matter of course. Furthermore, Myuu is a Sea People child, so they'll definitely protect her. Furthermore, attempting to auction off the Sea People is a serious matter. The Security Bureau will probably launch a formal investigation, and that way, the other children can be saved."

Although the Sea People are demihumans, they are protected by the [Heilig Kingdom] government. Even a neutral city cannot turn a blind eye to the abduction of a Sea People child; administrative and public security agencies will surely take action. In that case, Myuu will surely be escorted back home.

Despite the explanation, Shia still seemed dissatisfied, and Hajime continued to say to her:

"Listen up. I suspect this is the dark side of the metropolis. It's not just the organization that captured Myuu, but criminal organizations like this exist in places where government agencies can't reach. In other words, this is Fren's problem, and we shouldn't interfere. Considering your situation, I understand your desire to handle it yourself, but no matter what, we must inform the Security Bureau, right?"

"That's true... but can we at least send this child back by ourselves? We're going to the Western Sea anyway..."

"...Look, we still have to get to the Great Volcano before that. Are you planning on taking her with you to conquer the Great Labyrinth? Or are you leaving her to wait for us in the desert? Besides, if we take the abducted Sea People child without permission, we'll be considered kidnappers. Stop your impulsive talk."

“Wow, alright…”

It seems that in such a short time, Shia has already developed feelings for Myuu. Perhaps sensing that the atmosphere has become tense due to her, Myuu hugs Shia tightly. It seems Myuu trusts Shia quite a bit, which is why she resists being sent away.

However, what Hajime said was absolutely correct, and despite being disappointed, Shia could only nod in agreement. Hajime bent down, lowering his gaze to Myuu's level, and in order to make Myuu understand, he slowly explained:

"Listen carefully, Myuu. We're going to take you to someone who can protect you. It may take some time, but you'll be able to return to the Western Sea sooner or later."

"...Where are Big Brother and Big Onee?"

After hearing what Hajime said, Myuu asked about the two of them's movements with an uneasy tone.

"Sorry, after we drop you off there, we'll have to say goodbye to you."

"don't want!"

"No, it's not a question of whether or not..."

"I love big brothers and big sisters! I want to be with you!"

Seeing that Myuu's resistance was more intense than he had imagined, Hajime was a little flustered.

Myuu started to struggle against Shia's legs like a tantrum. Previously, she had seemed quiet and obedient, but it seemed that was because she was still trying to figure out who Hajime and Shia were. Now that she'd decided they were trustworthy, she threw a tantrum. Perhaps she was naturally quite lively.

Hajime was happy with Myu's trust in him, but they had to report to the authorities anyway. They also had to conquer the Grun Volcano on the way, so he didn't plan to take Myu with him.

So, seeing Myuu yelling “No——!!” and trying her best to express her dissatisfaction, refusing to give in at all, Hajime gave up trying to persuade her, forcibly carried Myuu on his shoulders, and took her to the Security Bureau.

After escaping danger, Myu miraculously found someone she could trust, so she refused to be separated from Hajime and the others. On the way to the Security Bureau, she kept pulling at Hajime's hair, eye patch, or grabbing his cheeks, desperately trying to resist.

If it weren't for Shia's face covering up with a smile, Hajime might have been reported as a kidnapper. His hair was disheveled, his eyepatch had been stolen, and his cheeks were covered in scratches. With one eye closed and the girl who kept hitting him on his shoulder, he arrived at the security station and explained the situation to the stunned security guards.

After hearing the story, the security guard, with a serious expression, stated that for the further investigation and the procedures for returning Miu, her cooperation was required. He promised to take good care of her and requested that she remain at the station. As Hajime had anticipated, this matter was indeed serious, and headquarters might soon send support. Hajime thought his duty was done, and he could retire, but...

"Does big brother hate Myuu?"

Few people could remain calm when a little girl with her eyes wide open and pleading said this. Even Hajime couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt. Although Hajime patiently explained that he couldn't take her on the trip and that the security guard in front of her would take her home, Myuu's expression remained deeply sad.

The security guard couldn't bear to watch, so he comforted Myuu and slightly forced them to separate. Although Myuu's sad voice made them reluctant to leave, Hajime and Shia still walked out of the security station.

Xia was certainly not in the mood to continue the date. She frowned worriedly and kept looking back in the direction of the Security Bureau.

When they had walked quite a distance and could no longer see the Security Bureau, Hajime noticed that Shia's expression was still gloomy. Just as he was about to say something to her,

Boom boom boom! A huge explosion suddenly occurred behind them. The two turned around in surprise and saw only thick black smoke rising. That place was -

“Hajime-san! Isn’t that right there…”

"Wow! It's the Security Bureau!"

That's right, the place where the black smoke was coming out was the Security Bureau that Hajime and the others had just left.

The two nodded in understanding and immediately rushed back to the Security Bureau. The timing of the explosion was so perfect that they couldn't help but think of the worst - the organization that kidnapped Muu had blown up Muu and the Security Bureau to prevent the information from being leaked.

Suppressing their anxiety, they arrived at the Security Bureau and immediately saw the shattered windows and doors of the building on the street outside. However, the building itself hadn't sustained significant damage, so there was no need to worry about collapse. Upon entering the building, they found the security guard who had greeted them lying on the ground.

He collapsed with both hands broken. The other staff members were in similar situations, but fortunately, none of their injuries were fatal. While Hajime was inspecting the staff's injuries, Shia went to investigate elsewhere. She returned, looking anxious.

"Mr. Hajime! Myuu isn't here! He only left this note."

Shia handed Hajime a piece of paper with the words—

——If you want the Sea People's children to survive, bring the White-haired Rabbit People to ○○.

“Mr. Hajime, this is…”

"It seems the other party is very greedy..."

Hajime crumpled the note into a ball, a sinister grin on his face. Perhaps the other party had somehow overheard the conversation between Myuu and Hajime at the Security Bureau, and decided that instead of killing Myuu to silence her, it would be better to take her hostage and capture the rare Bunnyman along with her.

Shia, who was standing next to Hajime, said with a resolute expression:

"Hajime-san! I've made up my mind!"

"You don't have to tell me, I understand. These guys are already my enemies, and I won't make excuses anymore. We have to defeat them all and take Myuu back."

"yes!"

Honestly, Hajime had originally thought that since he had no intention of taking Myuu on this dangerous journey, it would be best to part ways with her as soon as possible. She was a child whose spirit had been driven to the brink of despair, and if he harbored half-hearted feelings for her, it would only make Myuu even more distressed later.

However, now that Myuu had been kidnapped again, Hajime couldn't just sit there and do nothing. He had the energy and the ability to save someone, and leaving a young child behind would be what's known as a "lonely way of life." In fact, if Hajime decided that this matter had nothing to do with them and left Myuu to die, Shia would surely be heartbroken.

Besides, this time, they even wanted to take Shia away. If they wanted to attack someone Hajime valued, it meant they were an enemy, and there was no mercy for them. They had already crossed the line that Hajime would not tolerate.

Hajime and Shia, armed with their weapons, rushed to the location designated by the other party, ready to teach those foolish people who awakened the monster a lesson.

"Then we arrived at the designated location, only to find a bunch of armed thugs, but no Myuu. They'd probably planned to kill me and take Shia from the start. Anyway, we left a few alive and killed the rest. We then asked the survivors for Myuu's whereabouts, but no one knew. We then tortured them to find out the locations of other thieves' dens, repeating the same pattern over and over again."

"It seems they're not just after me, but are even planning to abduct Miss Yue and Miss Tio. We're going to make a killing and wipe out the organization involved in this incident and its ties."

Yue and Tio listened to Hajime and Shia's explanation as they moved. They were clearly just going on a date, so how did it escalate into a war against an underground organization in a large city? Hajime and Shia's tendency to cause trouble easily made subtle expressions on their faces.

"...All we have to do is look for a child named Myuu, right?"

"Yes, according to the information we've gathered, the enemy appears to be a rather large organization... and the number of related facilities is also unusual. Are you willing to help?"

"Hmm... leave it to me."

"Well, since it's the master's request, I certainly can't refuse."

Yue and Tio agreed without hesitation. Hajime told them the location of the underground organization's lair, which they had discovered so far. Hajime and Yue would form one team, while Shia and Tio would form another. They would split up and search for Myuu and defeat the enemy organization. Incidentally, Hajime and Shia were split up so that if they found Myuu, it would be helpful to have someone who recognized her present.

This place is located closest to the outer wall of the commercial district, and furthest from the tourist and artisan areas. It's a place deep within a world completely beyond the reach of government agencies, a dark side of the metropolis. Even though it's daytime, the light is somehow dim, and the pedestrians seem lifeless.

Somewhere in this place, there stood a massive ten-story building. On the surface, it was a human resources dispatch agency, but secretly, it was the headquarters of the underground organization that controlled the human trafficking—the "Graveyard."

The cemetery's headquarters, usually shrouded in a quiet and eerie atmosphere, was now bustling with activity, with many people coming and going. A group of men, seemingly thugs, presumably the messengers, wore expressions of confusion, anxiety, and fear at the chaotic situation.

With people coming and going dozens of times more frequently than usual, two people wearing robes that completely covered their heads took advantage of the chaos and easily broke into the cemetery's base camp.

The two men nimbly dodged the rushing crowd, finally arriving at a room on the uppermost floor. The room had a heavy door, and from behind it rang a man's gruff, furious roar, audible even from the corridor. The slightly raised hood of the robed figure fluttered at the man's roar.

"You must be kidding! Say that to me again!"

"Eh~! So, over fifty bases have been destroyed, and the enemy is two duos!"

"You mean, just four people defeated our cemetery? Is that what you mean!?"

“In the end, that’s right—Waaa!?”

Just when I thought the roaring had stopped, a crashing sound was heard in the room, and it became quiet instantly. The man who reported seemed to have been knocked unconscious by the roaring man.

"Listen up! Bring those bastards to me alive, no matter what. As long as they're alive, it doesn't matter what their condition is. If they keep going on like this, our cemetery will lose all its reputation. We must torture them alive and show others how powerful we are. Spread the word to every team member. If anyone brings those guys here, I'll reward them with five million rupees in cash, five million for each person they bring!"

At the man's command, the room bustled with activity. Following his instructions, they prepared to leave the room and pass on the message to all members of the organization. The two robed men who had been eavesdropping outside the door nodded to each other, and one of them pulled out a warhammer from behind his back and raised it high.

Then, he would seize the moment when the person inside grasped the door handle, use centrifugal force, and swing the heavy hammer hard.

A loud bang echoed, and the door shattered. The man holding the door handle was struck, his right side shattered. The person behind him was also pierced or hit by the wood fragments that had turned into shotgun shells, instantly covered in wounds, and slammed into the opposite wall.

"No need to send a message to the team members. The person you are looking for is right here."

"Leave the people outside to me. Just finish your work quickly, Xia."

"Thank you, Miss Tio."

The two people who broke into the room and seemed completely unconcerned about the tragedy that had just occurred were, of course, Shia and Tio.

The door exploded, and the men before him were instantly sent flying into the opposite wall, their bodies shattered and battered. This scene caused the cemetery leader, Hansen, to widen his eyes in shock, freezing in place. But upon hearing the voices of Shia and Tio, he snapped back to his senses, quickly drawing his weapons and taking up a stance, saying in a threatening tone:

“…Are you the attackers reported? That face… hmm, isn’t it someone on the list? You’re Shia and Tio, right? And that little one named Yue… I see, your appearance is truly exceptional. Hey, if you surrender right now, I’ll spare your lives, you know? You didn’t think you could return alive after breaking into the cemetery base—”

Hansen looked at Xia and Tio with lustful eyes, and was spouting threats when a heavy voice interrupted him.

Looking closely, Shia looked at Hansen with a cold gaze, retracted the handle of the Deluken, and switched to bombardment mode. She pointed the Deluken at Hansen and fired the shotgun without hesitation.

Hit at close range by countless iron balls with ferocious destructive power, Hansen's entire right hand was naturally blown off, spurting blood as it slammed into the wall behind him. A beat later, Hansen realized his condition and squatted on the ground, screaming in shock.

"Boss!? What was that noise just now!?"

"Boss, are you okay?!"

The members stationed at the base camp heard the commotion and rushed over, but—