MMO: Chapter 11/15

Chapter 11: What Is It Like to Become an Idol for No Apparent Reason?

What's it like to become an idol out of nowhere?

Silvain was sitting quietly in class when a group of underclassmen—both boys and girls—crowded around the doorway, tiptoeing to catch a glimpse of the man who had defeated Aso Koji.

"Is it the guy with glasses? He looks kind of plain. Maybe he would be a little more handsome if he took them off."

"Aiya, Miho, you're mistaken. He is the one behind him. His smile is so sunny. He's totally my type."

Their chatter quickly drew the teacher's attention.

"Everyone, hold on a moment. I'll go see what's going on."

After the teacher stepped out, Yuko Tachikawa chuckled softly.

"Silvain-kun, you've become the number-one celebrity on our school forum. According to their posts, your swordsmanship is even better than the masters on TV. It's just a pity I didn't get to witness it myself."

Shinichi, seated in front of Silvain, hadn't checked the forum the night before, so he had no idea what had happened.

"They're just messing around."

Meanwhile, Migi had secretly started playing with Shinichi's phone under the desk again. It logged into the school forum, where most of the hot topics were about Silvain, along with some discussions about recent serial murders.

Soon, Migi found a video of Silvain going up against five people the day before.

The camera was shaky, making the footage somewhat blurry.

"Shinichi, he's incredibly strong. If he were parasitized by a Parasyte, he'd be terrifying," Migi whispered into Shinichi's ear from inside his collar.

"Really? That's kind of exaggerated, isn't it?"

"No. His reaction speed is far above average. If possible, I think you should try learning swordsmanship from him."

"Forget it. I'm not interested in that kind of thing," Shinichi replied, shaking his head.

Yuko Tachikawa noticed Shinichi talking to himself and asked in surprise, "Are you muttering to yourself?"

"No, I'm… reciting something."

Seeing Shinichi's awkward reaction, Yuko furrowed her brows slightly but didn't press the issue.

By then, the teacher had already asked the students outside the classroom to leave.

Time passed quickly, and before long, it was already the last PE class of the afternoon.

"I'm sorry, but I don't plan on dating right now. I hope you understand." Silvain politely turned down yet another girl. Ever since the video went viral, more and more girls had been giving him love letters. On top of that, tons of people were asking for selfies and autographs.

"Seems like having too many admirers isn't that great either, right, Silvain-kun?" Yuko teased while linking arms with Rimi Murano. The two watched Shinichi playing basketball.

"It's definitely a little annoying," Silvain replied with a shrug.

His gaze shifted toward Shinichi on the court. With Migi's help, Shinichi was clearly showing off. Every shot he made landed perfectly, almost never missing.

"But now someone's stealing my spotlight." Silvain smiled.

Hearing that, Yuko shouted at Shinichi from the sidelines, "Satomi says if you score one more point, she'll forgive you for what happened last time!"

"Hahaha, if you say that, he'll probably give it everything he's got," Silvain joked as he looked at Satomi Murano, who was visibly shy.

"Anyway, I'll leave you to watch the game. I'm heading to the Kendo Club."

With that, Silvain left the gymnasium.

On the way, a familiar figure blocked his path. It was none other than Aso Koji, holding a steel baseball bat with a group of his lackeys behind him.

"I was gonna teach you a lesson at the school gate, but you went and hid. So, where's all that arrogance you had yesterday?"

Aso Koji tapped the steel bat against the ground, the sound sharp and clear.

"Be smart and come with us quietly."

Silvain glanced at the group without saying a word, then followed them out of the school.

They led him to a secluded alley. A dozen rough-looking young men were smoking there. When Aso Koji brought Silvain over, they immediately surrounded him.

"Word is, you're pretty famous around lately." The gang leader, a blonde-haired guy with a cigarette dangling from his lips, looked at Silvain with clear disdain.

Sigh.

Silvain shook his head. "This revenge setup is so cliché. And why do guys like you always talk so much?"

"Baka! You're about to die and you're still mouthing off?" Aso Koji snapped. He raised his baseball bat and swung it at the back of Silvain's head.

The thugs spat out their cigarettes and picked up iron rods, joining the assault.

Bang! Silvain turned instantly, his fingers transforming into steel blades. He caught the incoming bat mid-swing. The bat's surface caved in, Silvain's blade-like fingers sinking into the metal, leaving visible indentations.

Aso Koji didn't even see what happened before the bat was ripped from his hands.

"You're just wasting my time." Silvain kicked one guy down, then lifted the steel bat and slammed it down. The sound of bones cracking rang out as his target's arm bent unnaturally.

The thugs and Aso Koji's crew were terrified.

But Silvain wasn't. The bat in his hand made sharp whistling sounds as it swung, followed by the groans of thugs hitting the ground. If they'd been trained fighters, this would've been tougher, but sadly, they were just street punks used to ganging up on the weak. They had simply picked the wrong guy today.

It took five or six minutes.

Silvain had broken one arm on every person present. It was physically exhausting work.

"Alright, stop pretending to be dead. I didn't even hit you." Silvain raised a leg and kicked Aso Koji in the gut.

"He really passed out?" Silvain crouched down and lifted Aso Koji's eyelid. Turns out the guy had actually fainted from fear. Silvain had thought he was just faking it.

"Here are the rules. Head to the hospital now, and you might be able to save your arm. But if I find out any of you call the cops, the consequences won't be as simple as a broken limb." Silvain wiped blood off his face and turned to the gang leader, his eyes narrowing. "I don't think you want to find out what it's like to be tied up in concrete and dumped in Yokohama Bay."

The gang members on the ground nodded frantically, none of them daring to speak.

As for Aso Koji's classmates, Silvain hadn't touched them. Their frightened eyes told him his warning had left a lasting impression.

With that, Silvain slowly walked out of the alley.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 12: Parasyte Conversations

Back at the Kendo Club, Silvain grabbed another full-length sword, wrapped it in black cloth, and stuffed it into his backpack. He wasn't there to train anyway. Last night, he'd poked a hole in the bottom of the bag. Although carrying a long item on his back looked a little suspicious, it was still better than holding it in his hand.

"This fusion speed is really frustrating."

[Transformation Talent Fusing, Current Progress: 19%]

Silvain pulled out his phone and started searching for good food nearby. The world was vast, but for Silvain, satisfying his taste buds was top priority. Of course, if he happened to run into another Parasyte or two along the way, that would be even better.

"It's a shame I can't use the Analyze function until the talent is fully fused. Otherwise, I could check whether other Parasytes have developed sensory abilities."

Thanks to helpful netizens, Silvain soon found a solid oden shop. The flavor was excellent.

The only downside was not encountering any Parasytes who might be following him.

…

The next day, the auditorium at West High was packed with second-year students.

A middle-aged man in glasses stood on stage, with faculty members lined up behind him.

"Good morning, everyone. A few days ago, Mr. Matsuyama was hospitalized due to a traffic accident and won't be able to continue teaching. Next, I'd like to introduce your new substitute math teacher." He turned to the right. "Ms. Tamiya, please."

A woman with a striking figure walked to the front of the stage. She wore a light blue, open-necked trench coat.

Her face was calm and expressionless as she introduced herself: "I'm Ryoko Tamiya. Please take care of me."

Interesting. So she finally appeared. While Shinichi grew visibly nervous after realizing her true identity through Migi, Silvain remained composed.

He vaguely remembered that she was a leader in one of the Parasyte organizations.

And ultimately the one who created the monster known as Gotou.

"A true genius among Parasytes." Silvain's gaze toward Ryoko Tamiya was filled with appreciation.

However, she didn't notice him at all. Her attention was focused elsewhere.

As expected, after the math class, Shinichi Izumi was called alone to the career guidance office.

"What a charming beauty. Congrats, Shinichi. I'm honestly jealous. You get a private tutoring session with such a gorgeous teacher." Silvain raised an eyebrow teasingly.

Shinichi reacted with unusual intensity, lunging at Silvain and shouting, "What are you even talking about?! You don't understand what I'm feeling right now!"

"Relax. Things are never as bad as you think." Silvain leaned against the desk behind him and replied calmly.

After Shinichi walked out of the classroom, Migi popped out of his collar again. "Actually, he's right. Things might not be as bad as he fears. At the very least, I don't sense any killing intent from her."

"Wait. Someone's following us."

Migi told Shinichi to look back, and he spotted Silvain exiting the classroom as well.

"Don't mind me. I just need to use the bathroom."

"No, he's lying. The bathroom's the other way," Migi whispered.

"It doesn't matter," Shinichi muttered, suppressing his nerves as he approached the career guidance office and opened the door.

After Shinichi entered, he quietly shut the door behind him.

At the same time, Silvain arrived at the door. He smiled at the slightly ajar window, then leaned against the wall. His right ear stretched like rubber, allowing him to hear the conversation inside clearly.

"Please sit."

When Shinichi didn't move, Ryoko Tamiya continued, "Izumi, you know my true identity, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Yes? Is that how you talk to a teacher? No need to be so tense. Your right hand should know I have no intent to kill."

Ryoko stared at Shinichi and went on, "Besides, if we fought at this distance, we would both suffer fatal injuries."

"I still have a lot I want to ask you. Can we talk again after school?"

Before Shinichi could respond, his right hand answered for him.

"What if this is a trap? I don't want to go with her," Shinichi said quickly to Migi.

"Why are humans so irrational? If I wanted to kill you, I already would have. I'm simply very interested in your case. I've never encountered someone like you before. I want to collect your data, exchange information, and maybe even collaborate in the future."

Click. The door opened.

Silvain stepped in and smiled at the two. "I think it's best to include me too. I'm quite interested in your information."

Silvain's sudden entrance triggered an instant wave of killing intent from Ryoko Tamiya. Cracks formed across her right cheek, and razor-sharp blades sprang from the fissures.

"Silvain-kun! Get out of here, now!"

Shinichi didn't hesitate to stand in front of Silvain, urging him to leave.

"You've been eavesdropping this whole time? Foolish human," Ryoko said coldly, her appearance now twisted and feral.

"That's right." Silvain admitted it casually. He stepped forward from behind Shinichi and raised his right hand, now transformed into a sharp blade. "But I'm not human. I'm also a Parasyte. Same kind as you."

The statement nearly made Shinichi's jaw hit the floor.

"Impossible. I can't sense your presence," Ryoko responded immediately.

Silvain gave a faint smile. "You can't sense me, and I can't sense you either. If Shinichi's situation is a first for you, then who's to say mine isn't also new to you?"

His bluff was surprisingly convincing. And more importantly, the transformation ability he displayed left Ryoko with no choice but to believe him.

"Your case is certainly unusual. Could there have been an error during parasitism, causing you to lose the ability to detect others… But then why can't I detect you either?"

Ryoko Tamiya was genuinely puzzled.

"What's more, I have an overwhelming urge to eat you… the same feeling I get when I face a human."

In response, Silvain simply shrugged. "I don't know what's going on either. But out of so many Parasytes, isn't it normal for one or two anomalies to show up?"

"That's true. You really are a rare case." Ryoko stared at Silvain. Though she appeared calm, her thoughts were in turmoil. She had long been curious about the relationship between humans and Parasytes, and how the latter could integrate into human society. Now, Silvain might hold some of the answers.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 13: Special Existence Just Like You
"What information do you want?"

Silvain's sudden appearance left Ryoko Tamiya feeling like she was staring into a dense fog. All of his abilities were perfectly concealed beneath the surface. Had he not revealed himself, she wouldn't have known he was a Parasyte at all.

"I'm completely different from you. I have no interest in humans. On the contrary, I'm very curious about Parasytes."

Silvain returned his right hand to normal and continued, "You must have dissection data on Parasytes. I want everything you have."

His request displeased Ryoko Tamiya.

Since becoming a Parasyte, no one had dared to speak to her with such audacity.

A surge of killing intent rose within her. "I do have plenty of data. But why should I give it to you?"

"Because I'm worth cooperating with. Aren't I?" Silvain smiled as he looked at her.

Ryoko Tamiya stared at him for a long time before finally nodding. "Congratulations. You've convinced me. Meet me with Shinichi Izumi after class, and I'll give you what you want."

With that, she turned and left the career guidance room.

In the now-empty room, Shinichi stared at Silvain like he was seeing him for the first time. His face was pale and his voice uneasy. "When... when did you get parasitized, Silvain-kun?"

In the face of Shinichi's angry question, Silvain simply smiled and pointed at his own head.

"How are you so sure I'm a Parasyte? Or do you assume that all hosts with Parasytes inside them become Parasytes themselves? If that's the case, then tell me, Shinichi, what are you?"

Before Shinichi could respond, Migi answered on his behalf. "I'm in a symbiotic relationship with Shinichi. I didn't consume his brain. He retains his human consciousness. Therefore, he's still human."

"That's right. I'm human. Definitely not a Parasyte!" Shinichi said firmly, though his voice carried a hint of guilt.

Silvain turned and said softly, "What if the Parasyte that tried to take over me lost consciousness during the process? Would I, still possessing a human mind, not be considered human?"

"You mean... the Parasyte inside you is brain-dead?"

Shinichi looked shocked.

Silvain didn't answer. He simply continued, "Like you, I'm a special existence."

Then he turned and walked out, heading back to the classroom.

Standing alone, Shinichi stared at his back in silence.

"Migi... do you think what he said could be true?"

Migi blinked its large eye. "It's possible. Just like any group, there are always a few exceptional individuals. As he said, he may be one of them."

"No. What he said is definitely true." Shinichi smiled faintly.

Migi tilted its eye, puzzled. "How can you be sure, Shinichi?"

"Because I saw something in him that you Parasytes don't have."

"What is it?"

"Guess," Shinichi replied with a mysterious grin.

…

After school, the two took a bus to the coffee shop where they had agreed to meet Ryoko Tamiya.

On the bus, Migi kept peeking out and observing Silvain, clearly curious about what exactly made him different from other Parasytes.

It wasn't until they arrived at the café that he began to understand.

"This place looks expensive. The atmosphere's nice though," Silvain said casually. He set his schoolbag at his feet, picked up the coffee in front of him, and took a sip, completely at ease compared to Shinichi's stiff demeanor.

"Shinichi, roll up your sleeve," Migi said suddenly. "Two Parasytes are approaching."

"I thought you said there wouldn't be a fight," Shinichi replied as he rolled up his sleeve.

"There won't be. But two of them are coming."

"Don't worry. If there's a fight, I'll help," Silvain said as he continued drinking.

Soon, Ryoko Tamiya appeared, accompanied by a man.

The man wore an expressionless face and was dressed like an average office worker.

"Sorry for the wait. Let me introduce him. This is Mr. A," Ryoko said.

Mr. A examined both of them, his eyes narrowing as he sensed something strange.

"What's going on here? Can this guy even be considered one of us? And why is there an ordinary human here?"

"A, don't worry. I'll explain everything," Ryoko said, then took a seat across from Silvain and Shinichi.

"This is the data you wanted." She handed Silvain a file folder.

He opened it on the spot and flipped through it. The folder contained both text and diagrams, though not much. Clearly, Ryoko hadn't given him everything.

As he studied the parasite dissection images, the progress bar on Silvain's panel jumped forward.

"This isn't everything, is it?" Silvain asked with a smile.

"We're cooperating. It wouldn't make sense for me to hand over all my bargaining chips."

"These are still useful," Silvain said as he placed the documents back into the file and slid them into his bag. "So, what's the job?"

Ryoko then pulled out another stack of papers, printed with personal information.

"This Parasyte isn't under our control. She's already responsible for multiple incidents around Tokyo and is drawing too much attention from both the public and law enforcement. I need you to eliminate her."

Silvain looked through the papers. There was a photo of a woman, along with a map of her last known locations.

Trying to test my strength? Silvain thought as he tucked the photocopy into his bag. His lips curled into a grin, revealing razor-sharp teeth.

"No problem. I'll take care of her soon."

"You're a Parasyte too?" Mr. A frowned.

Silvain's smile turned even more unsettling. "What? Don't I look the part?"

Mr. A said nothing more, but Ryoko continued, "Now that our cooperation is established, let's move on to something else."

"Izumi. What are we, in your eyes?"

"Man-eating monsters." Shinichi hesitated. "Actually... I don't even know what to call you."

Ryoko's next words stunned him.

"Actually, I'm already pregnant. The father is Mr. A."

Even the waiter was so shocked he dropped a coffee cup.

"What a waste of two good cups," Silvain muttered. He had returned to his human appearance and dabbed his mouth with a napkin in disappointment.

"Now, Shinichi, tell me… is the child in my womb human, or Parasyte?"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 14: Mr. A Seems to Have a Low IQ

"If that's the case, then what exactly are we?"

Anyone could see that Ryoko Tamiya was seriously considering how to integrate into human society. Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone so far as to get pregnant.

"How would I know? You people literally eat other humans just to survive. That's cannibalism. Why do you even do that?" Shinichi asked with some anger.

"It's simple. Because their food source can only be humans. Sure, they can consume ordinary food, but only certain components in the human body can actually nourish them," Silvain replied on Ryoko Tamiya's behalf.

"That's right. We need nutrients that can only be derived from humans," Ryoko added as she looked at Shinichi's right hand. "Didn't you ask your right hand about this already?"

Migi spoke up. "I draw nutrients directly from Shinichi's blood, so I don't understand what food is. Nor do I grasp the concept of cannibalism."

"No wonder you find us so repulsive." Ryoko folded her hands in front of her chest. To be honest, Silvain could sense a scholar's temperament from her. Compared to the dull and rigid Mr. A beside her, she was more like a scientific researcher.

"I've often wondered… does a creature that can't reproduce and must cannibalize others to survive really deserve to exist?"

Shinichi clearly couldn't keep up with such a deep question. "Either way, I don't think you're from this planet. You're probably aliens."

The ongoing conversation clearly agitated Mr. A. He suddenly stood up and said flatly, "This is a waste of time. So what if I understand what I am? It doesn't change anything."

His face twisted with emotion. "I only know one thing—when I'm hungry, I eat. When there are problems, I eliminate them. That's all."

With that, he walked out.

And as he left, he added coldly, "That guy is dangerous. He should be killed."

"Ms. Tamiya, this Mr. A seems like he's lacking in brainpower. Are you sure it's a good idea to let him father your child?" Silvain leaned back in his chair, sipping his coffee leisurely.

Rather than getting annoyed at Silvain's teasing, Ryoko actually frowned and started thinking seriously. "At the time, I only considered his physical fitness. I didn't think about this issue. Tell me, would a baby's intelligence really be affected by the parent's IQ?"

Seeing her take the question seriously, Silvain quickly raised both hands. "Hey, I was just joking. For that kind of thing, I'm sure there's credible research online."

"That's true. Anyway, I've got the information I needed. I'll head out first. Shinichi, if anything comes up, call me." Before leaving, Silvain patted Shinichi's shoulder and raised his left hand, making a phone gesture.

After leaving the café, Silvain took a taxi to Ginza, following the location printed on the photocopy.

Ginza was one of Tokyo's central districts. Silvain sat in the back seat, gazing through the window. The area was full of tall buildings and crowded sidewalks. Most passersby were high-level white-collar workers, and luxurious stores lined the streets—places you wouldn't find in an average district.

"We're close." Silvain checked the map in his hand and got out of the cab.

"Are you here for work?" the driver asked kindly as he took the yen. "If so, be careful. There's talk of a psycho killer loose in the area. It's dangerous."

"I'll be careful. Thank you, sir."

Silvain smiled and pocketed the change. Just then, he noticed a well-decorated Japanese restaurant nearby.

"I'll have the 13,000 yen tuna set, thanks."

After placing his order, he casually found a seat and began reviewing the documents Ryoko had given him while waiting for his food.

The service was incredibly slow.

He had almost finished reviewing the material before the food finally arrived.

"Apologies for the wait," a young and beautiful waitress said as she set the tuna platter on the table.

Silvain had just finished reading. Though he felt like complaining, he forced a polite smile and said, "It's fine. Good food's always worth the wait."

After the waitress left, Silvain opened his system panel.

[Transformation Talent Fusing, Current Progress: 51%]

Ryoko Tamiya's data had helped significantly. It had saved him at least half a month of work. Silvain tested his abilities and found he could now control about 50 percent of his body. However, the energy cost was enormous.

Even advanced Parasytes usually only transform the part of the body where they reside. Full-body transformation requires extremely high physical fitness and concentration, making it unsuitable for actual combat.

Unless, of course, the body was segmented and controlled by multiple consciousnesses—like Gotou, the strongest Parasyte.

"As expected of a 13,000 yen meal. The ingredients are top-notch." Silvain dabbed a bit of fresh wasabi on the tuna sashimi and popped it into his mouth.

"Sss!" A sharp rush of wasabi cleared his sinuses instantly.

Just as he was quietly enjoying his meal, an uninvited guest appeared outside.

A woman approached the luxury boutique next door, dressed head to toe in name-brand clothing. But her outfit was strange—it was clearly autumn, yet she was layered in bulky garments like she was trying to wear every luxury label at once.

She stopped at the shop's entrance, silently staring at the display window.

A salesperson inside eventually noticed her.

"Excuse me, would you like to come in and look around?" the clerk asked politely.

"I want everything inside." The woman's head suddenly split open like a Venus flytrap, devouring the clerk's upper body in an instant. Dozens of tiny tentacles extended from her head, each with a tiny eyeball at the end. It was grotesque and horrifying.

The sudden killing sent passersby into a panic. The composed white-collar workers fled in terror. Cars sped up rather than slowing down. The chaos unfolding outside was enough to shatter anyone's sense of reality.

Inside the Japanese restaurant, customers screamed. Even the manager abandoned the shop and ran.

"Tch. So skittish."

Silvain, unfazed, continued eating his meal while watching the unfolding scene through the window.

Parasytes could sense each other's presence.

That was why Ryoko Tamiya had included a map in the photocopy, marking the target's exact location in advance.

All Silvain had to do now was finish his meal... and kill the target.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 15: Dumb Mr. A

"It's truly delicious."

Outside the restaurant's window, the female Parasyte sighed as she swallowed half a person—at the same time that Silvain sighed over his meal.

"This sweet shrimp is excellent." The brutal slaughter unfolding just meters away didn't affect Silvain's appetite at all. He continued chewing the shrimp slowly and with relish.

It wasn't until the Parasyte had finished killing everyone nearby and turned to enter the luxury store that she finally noticed Silvain quietly enjoying his food. His calm demeanor clearly provoked her.

Boom! A dozen tentacles slammed into the glass in an instant.

Seeing this, Silvain quickly grabbed his backpack to shield himself from the flying shards. He avoided injury, but the food on the table was ruined. The seafood platter was now buried under a thick layer of broken glass, rendering it inedible.

"She finally noticed me. Seriously, am I that lacking in presence?"

Silvain lowered the backpack and wiped away his smile. He took out two items from his bag and calmly walked toward the Parasyte.

She didn't bother exchanging words. To her, humans were food, there was no reason to talk to a meal. Her tentacles twisted midair into a net, poised to slice Silvain apart in the next second.

"One." Silvain swung his sword, instantly severing the approaching net.

"Two." The moment the net collapsed, a glass bottle of concentrated sulfuric acid hit her squarely on the head. The intense burning forced her to retract every tentacle she had extended.

"Three."

A cold flash of the sword streaked through the air, and a lump of flesh was sent flying.

"A fool who only focuses on attacking... Hard to believe you've survived this long." Silvain walked up to the body, pried out the Parasyte's heart with his blade, and crushed it underfoot without hesitation.

After studying her corpse for a moment, he turned and left.

"Trying to probe my strength isn't so easy."

Once Silvain disappeared, two figures emerged from a corner. Mr. A squatted beside the corpse, examining it. After a moment, he shook his head.

"He's tricky. He didn't even use his abilities. Just sulfuric acid and a sword to kill her."

"Do you think you can kill him?" Ryoko Tamiya asked.

"I'd like to try." Mr. A's eyes gleamed with anticipation as he licked his lips. "I want to taste him."

"A, he's currently a vital research subject. Don't touch him. Or I'll make sure you understand the consequences."

After delivering the warning, Ryoko turned and left.

Mr. A stared after her, his expression growing increasingly twisted. "Maybe letting you into the organization was a mistake."

…

The next day.

Silvain was dozing off in class while Shinichi chatted with Yuko Satomi in front of him.

"You went home with Silvain yesterday, right? Where did you go? Satomi was really worried about you."

"No, I didn't go anywhere. Just grabbed a bite with him."

At that moment, Ryoko Tamiya, standing at the front of the classroom, suddenly snapped the chalk in her hand. She had sensed a familiar wave of killing intent approaching the school.

At the same time, Migi, attached to Shinichi's right hand, spoke in a low voice.

"Shinichi. A fellow Parasyte is coming. He intends to kill us."

Outside the school building, Mr. A's face morphed grotesquely as he shattered the surveillance cameras at the entrance.

"Idiot," Ryoko muttered, visibly irritated.

She now realized Silvain had been right yesterday—Mr. A's intelligence really was subpar. Despite her repeated warnings, he had come anyway and ruined everything.

She glanced toward Shinichi and then at Silvain, who was still half-asleep behind him.

"Continue studying on your own," she announced before walking out of the classroom.

Downstairs, chaos had already broken out. The school's leadership began emergency evacuation procedures to prevent further casualties.

Shinichi immediately turned to shake Silvain awake. Silvain yawned lazily and muttered, "Is class over already? Shinichi-san, you know I'm not interested in math."

"Silvain-kun, Migi says a Parasyte is coming for us!" Shinichi whispered anxiously.

"Calm down. That's what tall people are for, right?" Silvain replied, sipping from his water bottle as if they were just discussing the weather.

Shinichi was stunned by how relaxed Silvain was. Still, his calm attitude helped Shinichi settle down a bit. Ryoko Tamiya had left the room, likely to handle the intruder.

"Shinichi, that guy has already killed three people. He's probably the one from yesterday."

"What? He's already killed people?"

Shinichi could no longer sit still. He stood up, ready to face the attacker.

Suddenly, the vice principal's voice echoed over the school PA system.

"Urgent notice. A suspicious individual has entered the school grounds. For your safety, please remain in your classrooms."

Many students thought it was just another drill. There had been previous lockdown drills, and no prior notice made this one feel oddly realistic.

Only Shinichi and Silvain knew this was no drill.

"Damn it. He's barging in like this. Is he really here to kill me?" Shinichi said grimly.

"Most likely. He's about 150 meters from us now," Silvain replied.

Shinichi turned to him. "What should we do? He's obviously coming straight for us."

"If he comes, we kill him," Silvain said calmly. He unsheathed his sword and laid it on his desk.

"What are you two talking about?" Yuko asked, confused.

"There's no time to explain."

Just then, the PA crackled again.

"Please stay away from Building A. Use the evacuation stairs in Building C."

Moments later, a middle-aged teacher entered the room. Unable to find Ryoko Tamiya, he began leading the students toward the designated evacuation route.

To the school's credit, previous drills had paid off. There were no incidents of trampling or panic. Most students still believed this was part of a routine safety exercise.

Some even greeted Silvain enthusiastically as they passed him.

"Is that a sword wrapped in black cloth? That's so cool! Can I take a look?"

Silvain hadn't expected to run into fans even during an emergency. He smiled and replied teasingly, "My blade is not drawn lightly. Once drawn, it must taste the blood of an enemy."

To his surprise, the students actually believed him.

"This guy... he's really not nervous at all." Shinichi gritted his teeth, watching Silvain surrounded by admirers.

(To be continued.)