Campione: Strongest# 416: A Glare to Make You Scared?

‘Why are you so slow?’ Nyarlathotep’s indignant voice echoed in Haru’s mind.

This was the bustling downtown area of the city, and the streets were teeming with people. Of course, the most numerous were Japan’s specialty: high school girls.

Even though the winter chill lingered, the miniskirt culture seemed to have been deeply ingrained in the national identity.

The streets were filled with girls in school uniforms and warm pantyhose. Though the idea that there are no ugly girls in 2D wasn't entirely correct, in this country of cosmetics, there was certainly an abundance of attractive young women.

————

At a glance, Haru was a little dazzled. Of course, that was without looking too closely. His sharp perception could easily see the microscopic mites living on the girls' faces.

“I am walking. Speaking of which, Fujino was taken back to her old home. How come a stranger like you is more anxious than I am?” Haru, dressed in a black sweater and cotton pants with his hands in his pockets, said with a calm expression.

‘Ah, but that’s a cute girl with a super rare attribute! You’re not worried at all that someone else will get to her?’ Nyarlathotep bit her gravity-defying cowlick and rolled around on the imaginary floor with a look of frustration.

“Didn't I take precautions?” Haru shrugged, looking at the absurd evil god with a speechless expression.

At this moment, he was actually quite proud.

The otaku culture he had stored in his unique egg seemed to have successfully corrupted a great Evil God. In just two days, Nyarlathotep seemed to have gone down the path of a shut-in otaku, never to return.

‘That kind of measure? I can blow it apart with a sip of soda. What good is it?’ Nyarlathotep crawled on the ground like a caterpillar, her expression full of disdain.

“Yes, yes, you’re the best. Why don’t you just call yourself ‘God’s-Bane’ and be done with it?” Haru’s lip twitched as he spoke with a sarcastic tone.

‘Sorry, I don't have a dick,’ Nyarlathotep suddenly stood up, took off her white panties, and groped herself with a look of regret on her face. Then, she blinked and said with a dazed expression, ‘How about it, Haru? You cut yours off and give it to me?’

“Get lost!”

‘Eh eh? We seem to have arrived.’ Nyarlathotep tilted her head and lifted her right hand with an excited expression and shouted, ‘GO! GO! Rob the money, steal the food, and capture the women!’

“Just shut up,”

Haru said, glancing at the “Asagami Family” gate plaque before lifting his hand to knock gently on the wooden door.

Thump. Thump.

The dull sound echoed in the air.

Creak—!

A middle-aged man with glasses, who looked very gentle, slowly appeared as the door opened. “This is the Asagami residence. May I ask what you need, sir?”

“Take me to the person in charge here,” Haru ordered, his lips curving into a faint smile. As his words reached the middle-aged man’s ears, a mental suggestion invaded his mind.

The man was stunned for a moment, his eyes going vacant before a look of extreme fanaticism appeared on his face. “To think you would come in person! I will go and ask the eldest and second son to come and see you,”

“No need. I’ll go to them. Lead the way,” Haru waved his hand. Summoning them would require expanding the suggestion's range and power, which was just a waste of time.

“Yes, yes, please, this way.” The middle-aged man quickly gestured for him to enter and led him towards the living room.

————

Soon, the two arrived before the Asagami family’s main living room.

“Please, come in. The eldest and second son are both inside,” the middle-aged man said, pulling open the sliding door and speaking with the utmost respect.

The sudden opening of the door startled the two men kneeling inside, Masahiko and Kazuhiko, who looked up in bewilderment.

A family with a long history like the Asagami clan had many rules. For the middle-aged man, the family butler, to let a stranger into the main living room without any announcement was a serious breach of protocol.

Masahiko narrowed his eyes. He didn't know who this intruder was, but something was very strange. For their strict, rule-abiding butler to act so abnormally was a clear sign of trouble.

He crossed his hands and reached into the sleeve of his loose-fitting kimono. Feeling the cold steel of the gun, a sense of relief washed over him.

Though the Japanese were fond of katanas, what modern man felt more secure than with a firearm? As a member of a capitalist family, he knew the main branch were all espers, but having never seen a powerful supernatural being himself, he naturally put more faith in science and technology.

“Hirai, who is this?” Masahiko asked the butler.

“Where is Asagami Fujino?” Haru ordered, his tone impassive as he narrowed his eyes.

He knew a little about Fujino’s family situation. If her stepfather, Kouzou Asagami, could treat her so horribly, he could only imagine how the younger members of the family behaved.

When he learned she had been taken back to her old home, he had expected foul play.

Hearing the commanding tone, Masahiko’s face stiffened, but he quickly composed himself. “Sir, what business do you have with my younger sister?”

“I’m taking her home,” Haru said nonchalantly.

“Please don't joke, sir. This is the Asagami family,” Masahiko said with a surprised tone, raising an eyebrow.

‘What are you arguing with these insects for? Just grab the girl and leave! If they get in the way, feed them to an octopus! What's with this slow-burn plot?’ a displeased, playful female voice suddenly sounded. Nyarlathotep was getting impatient.

“To avoid making another trip, I have to assess the situation first,” Haru shrugged with a look of disdain.

Watching Haru, who was apparently talking to himself, Masahiko frowned. He looked at Haru with the expression one would give a lunatic. “Hirai, what are you doing? Bringing a madman in here? Get him out!”

The middle-aged man called Hirai was taken aback and looked at Masahiko with a conflicted expression.

‘Oh ho ho, so he's calling you a lunatic? This brat's got some nerve,’ Nyarlathotep chuckled, but her tone turned ice-cold by the end. This time, the evil god’s voice echoed in the air around them.

“Ahhhhhh!”

A heart-wrenching, low roar suddenly filled the room.

‘What’s going on?’ Kazuhiko and the butler looked in horror at Masahiko, who was clutching his head. Tears, snot, and saliva flew from his face, and blood began to seep from his eyes.

“Just the voice has this kind of power? These eldritch powers are truly unreasonable,” Haru said with a look of surprise, raising an eyebrow.

“Hiss!”

Kazuhiko took a sharp breath. At this point, it was obvious that Haru was the cause.

He was about to beg for mercy, but seeing his brother in extreme pain—already starting to tear at and gnaw on his own scalp—a glint of cunning flashed in his eyes.

Kazuhiko feigned panic and stumbled back, deliberately knocking over the tea set beside him.

“Hmm?” Haru turned his gaze to him.

Kazuhiko looked back at Haru with terror.

The moment their eyes met, his mind dissolved into chaos. The human fear of the unknown magnified to an unbearable degree. His whole body went rigid, and then slack.

After a long moment, he finally caught his breath and said, his voice trembling, “I know where Fujino is, and I know why my brother called her back! Don’t kill me, don't kill me!”