Chapter 318: Damn, I'm Hungry

Haruto had faced many groups like them before. If there was one thing Haruto learned from all of that, it was the fact that a living enemy is an enemy that can strike back at any time.

That’s why Haruto had prepared several plans.

Plan A was the most ideal. If Haruto could find signs of an attack before they acted, he would immediately send Shadow Clones to eliminate them silently. This method was the most efficient, quick, and did not attract much attention.

However, if Plan A failed and they managed to attack, then Plan B would come into play.

In this scenario, if the Soul Collector kidnapped a student, Haruto had to ensure that he was also taken in the kidnapping. In other words, Haruto would deliberately allow himself to be kidnapped along with their target.

This was the best way to infiltrate the group without raising suspicion. Once inside their headquarters, Haruto could attack from within, using Shadow Clones to free the hostages and destroy the place from the inside.

However, if Plan B also failed, then Haruto would have to switch to Plan C—which was much riskier.

In this scenario, Haruto would have to disguise himself as one of the Soul Collectors, infiltrate their group, and wait for the right moment to strike from within. But disguises were not something that always went smoothly. If Haruto was caught, everything could turn into a disaster.

And if all of that failed... then there would be no choice but to attack head-on.

Haruto would deploy all the Shadow Clones he had to attack them directly. But Haruto really disliked this option. An open battle would attract a lot of attention, and that would be something very troublesome.

Haruto slowly rubbed his face, feeling the heat of the afternoon seeping between his fingers. He knew time was running out.

As Haruto's mind was filled with various strategies and countless possibilities, the sudden growl of his stomach shattered everything.

"Ah... damn, I'm hungry."

Haruto sighed softly and then shifted his gaze to the right. In the distance, among the rows of merchant tents, Haruto's eyes caught sight of a small food stall with a wooden sign sticking out above it. The aroma of grilled meat and spices wafting through the air tantalized Haruto's sense of smell, causing him to unconsciously step closer.

Once he arrived in front of the stall, a middle-aged man in a worn apron greeted Haruto with a friendly voice.

"Welcome! What would you like to order, young man?"

Haruto glanced at the menu board for a moment before saying, "Ten grilled sausages, two burgers, and one mayo pasta."

The man nodded, his face still smiling. "Alright! Please wait a moment."

While the man prepared his food, Haruto stood with his hands in his pockets, glancing around. Other customers were enjoying their meals, chatting cheerfully under the soft, twinkling light of magic lamps.

A few minutes later, Haruto's food was ready. He paid without saying much, then took his order and walked away.

It didn't take long for Haruto to reach a simple house on the outskirts of town.

The building wasn't large, but it felt warm and cozy. Light from inside the house seeped out through the windows, casting moving shadows within.

Haruto opened the door without hesitation and stepped inside.

In the living room, two pairs of eyes immediately turned to him.

An adult woman with slightly messy long hair glanced at him briefly before returning her gaze to the television screen with a blank expression. Beside her, a little girl with sparkling curious eyes stared at Haruto without blinking.