The Apron Brothers

"What! Are there really gods in this world?"

"Don't speak so loudly. Don't let Minori hear."

"Ah, yes, my sincerest apologies."

Yusuke Godai's personality truly hadn't changed at all. Hozer rubbed his forehead and continued to tell the entire story.

During the narration, Yusuke Godai's expression shifted from initial astonishment to seriousness, and finally to indignation and grief.

"How can this be? Even if it is God, he cannot casually take others' lives. Moreover, aren't they his beloved children? What kind of parent kills their own children?"

Hozer quickly reassured the agitated Yusuke Godai.

"It's useless, Godai. We cannot stop him."

Yusuke Godai's expression changed.

"Even if Brother Hozer and I work together, we can't?"

"Unfortunately, no."

Hozer patted Yusuke Godai's shoulder.

"Furthermore, the crux of the matter doesn't lie with us, but with Agito."

"Brother Hozer, I don't quite understand."

"God is observing, contemplating, contemplating whether humanity should evolve into Agito, deviating from the human archetype in his heart."

Yusuke Godai realized with a sudden clarity, "So Agito must receive God's recognition."

"Yes, but to be more precise, God must realize that humanity evolving into Agito is still humanity. This is the path humanity chooses for itself, so that he understands he should let go."

Yusuke Godai stood up somewhat frustrated, pulling at his hair.

"Brother Hozer, I don't know how to make God recognize Agito, but I cannot just stand by and watch. I want to stop those Lords."

"Godai..."

When fighting Gurongi, Yusuke Godai had once said that he didn't want to casually take lives, even if the opponent was a Gurongi. A year of combat had caused his heart too much pain.

After a moment of silence, Hozer softly said, "Godai, then go do what you want to do."

"Yes, thank you, Brother Hozer."

"But it's best to secretly help. It's best not to reveal yourself if possible."

Yusuke Godai nodded, not staying for dinner but hurrying away, it was unclear if he had heard the advice or not.

"Mr. Hozer, my brother?"

"He's fine. Don't worry. Godai is just doing the right thing."

Minori Godai looked towards the door for a moment, then suspiciously at the man before her. She always felt that Mr. Hozer and her brother were hiding something from her.

In the evening, after coaxing Minori Godai to sleep, the next morning, Hozer, with a refreshed spirit, went to Misuki's house. In the courtyard, he found Tsugami Shoichi and Yusuke Godai joking around while planting vegetables.

Indeed, these two had a lot in common.

Yusuke Godai's physique had long surpassed the realm of ordinary people. As soon as Hozer reached the door, he sensed his presence and turned to look.

"Brother Hozer, look! I just learned a new skill. This is my 2,113th skill."

With that, Yusuke Godai held up the spinach seedling and small shovel in his hand, excitedly waving at Hozer.

"Brother Hozer."

Hozer glanced at Yusuke Godai, who was wearing a pale yellow apron and a bright, smiling face.

He then turned to glance at Shoichi Tsugami, who was wearing a pink apron, also with a radiant smile.

"Hmm, are you two planting vegetables? Godai, come here for a moment."

Yusuke Godai didn't bother putting down the small shovel and spinach seedling in his hand and quickly ran over.

Hozer lowered his voice and said, "Godai, you didn't tell Shoichi about those things, did you?"

Yusuke Godai quickly shook his head upon hearing this.

"No, didn't Brother Hozer say that Shoichi is the only Agito so far, and God pays close attention to him? It's best not to tell him these things beforehand."

"That's good then. Go continue planting vegetables."

After leaving yesterday, Yusuke Godai had gone directly to Misuki Yoshihiko's house to find Shoichi Tsugami, because Hozer had said that when the Lords appeared, Agito would have a premonition, which was much more effective than him wandering everywhere.

Hozer, seeing no problems here, then made a round to the police department, directly seeking the Superintendent General.

"Mr. Hozer, what brings you to me? Is there anything I can assist you with?"

The Superintendent General was very polite. Hozer was no minor figure; he wouldn't put on airs.

"Nothing major. I want the list of survivors from the Akatsuki ship incident."

"No problem. I'll have someone bring it over shortly."

The Akatsuki ship incident was a scandal, but for a figure of the Superintendent General's rank, it had no impact whatsoever.

Judging others by himself, the Superintendent General didn't think Hozer needed to use this matter to pressure the police department to do anything. Wanting the list of survivors likely had another purpose, so he readily agreed.

Hozer took the list and then turned to leave. The Superintendent General also didn't say empty words like "let me help you investigate."

Hozer had no intention of letting the police department help find people, but he would ask Ichijo Kaoru, Tsuyoshi Sakurai, and others currently working in various police departments for assistance.

A few days later, Hozer again heard about a death case from Hikawa Makoto.

"The deceased was a twenty-six-year-old man named Yamazaki Koji. The cause of death was a fall from a height, moreover, he suddenly appeared in mid-air. It was determined to be caused by an unidentified creature..."

Hikawa Makoto, Sumiko Ozawa, and Omuro Takahiro were recounting the details of the case, while Hozer only half-listened.

Compared to the Gurongi tribe, who all possessed animal-like abilities, these newly appeared Lords were truly God's subordinates, possessing all sorts of superpowers. Their actions were even more bizarre, and their whereabouts harder to detect.

Hozer had basically given up on actively searching; that could be left to Yusuke Godai.

What he was thinking about now was how to change God's perception. This was the most fundamental problem. Otherwise, once God personally intervened, he didn't think that even Prometheus had failed, so what could Shoichi Tsugami and the others manage?

While Hikawa Makoto was busy investigating clues, there was a visitor at Misuki Yoshihiko's house today.

Mayumi Katahira, a beautiful and intellectual woman, exuding the charm of a mature woman, was Misuki Yoshihiko's student.

This time, Mayumi Katahira came because Misuki Yoshihiko had specifically asked her to tutor Mana Kazaya.

Mana Kazaya was extremely dissatisfied with this, complaining to Misuki Yoshihiko.

Misuki Yoshihiko merely gave a cold chuckle, raising his eyebrows in an exaggerated manner.

Then he slowly held up Mana Kazaya's most recent math test paper. The glaring 42 points on it left Mana Kazaya speechless.

Mayumi Katahira tilted her head and glanced over, looking at Mana Kazaya, who was gaping, and felt that this little girl was truly adorable, quickly raising her teacup to hide her smile.

Behind Mana Kazaya, at the dining table, Shoichi Tsugami, Yusuke Godai, and Misuki Taichi were sitting in a row, looking towards this scene.

"So cute."

"So cute."

Two exclamations rang out. Yusuke Godai heard them and looked at the older and younger figures huddled together beside him, his face full of bewilderment.

Shoichi Tsugami and Misuki Taichi, after whispering a few exclamations, turned their heads together to look at Yusuke Godai.

The two faces suddenly pressed close made Yusuke Godai lean back.

"Godai, don't you think she's cute?"

"Cute? Who?"

"Miss Katahira, of course. Could it be this old auntie Kazaya?"

Misuki Taichi didn't realize his voice was a bit loud. Mana Kazaya in front suddenly turned her head to look.

Yusuke Godai quickly averted his gaze, trying to change the subject.

"Ah, Miss Katahira is very cute, but Miss Mana is also very cute."

"Oh, the two of them are not in the same league, tsk tsk."

Misuki Taichi acted like a little old man, gently shaking his head and wiggling his finger at Yusuke Godai.

Yusuke Godai looked at Mana Kazaya behind Misuki Taichi, who had revealed a sharp, cold gaze, and secretly sighed.

Taichi, pray for yourself.