Chapitre 167: Chapter 166: Kaminari’s Choice

"What… what do you mean we're not qualified to kill this bear?!"

Kaminari frowned, clearly confused and frustrated.

"This giant bear is ten—no, twenty times more dangerous than an ordinary black bear!" he argued. "It's full of hatred for humans. If we don't kill it now, what are we supposed to do? Stick it in a zoo?"

Edgeshot, however, remained calm.

"I'm not saying it can't be killed," he replied. "I'm saying we don't have the qualifications to do so."

"Qualifications?!" Kaminari exclaimed, his frustration boiling over. "What qualifications do we need to put down a monster that's already attacked people?!"

Edgeshot's expression didn't waver as he began to explain.

"The black bear is a species listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species," he said.

"In Japan, black bears were once found across Kyushu, Honshu, and Shikoku. But the population in Kyushu went extinct decades ago. Every black bear left in the wild must be treated with caution. That's why our laws strictly prohibit killing black bears without the proper authorization."

Edgeshot's tone grew serious as he continued. "And by law, we are not authorized to kill this bear."

"You're saying we can't kill it? Then what—are we supposed to just let it go?" Kaminari shot back, his tone sharp.

Edgeshot sighed but remained patient. "Of course not. As you said, it's far too dangerous to let it go. The best course of action is to restrain it, notify the police, and let them hand it over to professional hunters."

"Hunters?" Kaminari raised an eyebrow.

"That's right," Edgeshot nodded. "Even we, as heroes, aren't allowed to hunt black bears without a bear hunting license. Neither are the police."

"Then who does have a bear hunting license?" Kaminari's irritation flared. "This is ridiculous. There are so many rules, regulations, and red tape!"

"Professional hunters," Edgeshot answered simply. "Usually, when a black bear attacks, either we or the police contact the local hunting club to send someone over."

"Hunting club…?" Kaminari's golden eyes flickered toward Hideo and Ryoichi Sato in the distance, still standing silently nearby.

"So, if we find a professional hunter with a bear hunting license, we can kill this bear legally?"

"That's correct," Edgeshot replied, following Kaminari's gaze toward the two Matagi hunters. His eyes narrowed slightly as realization struck him. "And it seems we already have hunters here, don't we?"

Without another word, Kaminari strode past Edgeshot and walked toward Hideo and Ryoichi.

"Excuse me," he asked directly, "do either of you have a bear hunting license?"

Hideo and Ryoichi exchanged a glance before the elder nodded.

"Of course," Hideo replied. "Not only do I have one, but Ryoichi does as well. He earned his license just last year."

The old man's voice carried a note of pride as he spoke of his grandson's achievement.

"That's perfect," Kaminari said with a faint smile. "Here's the situation: while we had the authority to fight the giant bear, we're not legally qualified to finish it off. So, could I ask you to take care of it?"

Kaminari emphasized the word "qualified," a sharp undertone in his voice as he said it.

To his surprise, Hideo hesitated before shaking his head.

"I'm sorry," Hideo said gravely. "Though I appreciate you saving us, as a Matagi hunter, I cannot agree to your request."

"What?" Kaminari asked, frowning in disbelief.

Hideo explained, his tone resolute.

"Matagi hunters have their own traditions. Matagi hunters do not finish off animals that others have subdued. Bear hunting must always be the work of the Matagi themselves, from beginning to end. That is the sacred tradition we've upheld for centuries."

Kaminari's jaw tightened. He let out a hollow laugh, anger simmering beneath the surface.

"Rules… traditions… Is everyone just obsessed with following arbitrary rules today?"

At that moment, Edgeshot walked over. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Kaminari lowered his voice, explaining Hideo's refusal.

"In that case," Edgeshot said thoughtfully, "we'll have to stabilize the bear's condition and transfer it to the authorities. They can handle it."

Kaminari didn't agree. To him, it was far simpler—and safer—to end the threat here and now. Record the act as evidence, leave the bear's body to nourish the ecosystem, and move on.

For such a dangerous creature, this seemed like the most logical solution.

His gaze shifted to Ryoichi, who was crouching nearby, his expression troubled. A thought struck Kaminari, and he addressed the young man.

"Your name is Ryoichi, right?"

Ryoichi looked up, startled. "Ah, yes. We met on the Shinkansen before," he replied nervously.

"Why did you and your grandfather come all the way out here to hunt this giant bear?" Kaminari asked, his voice calm but probing.

"Uh… well…" Ryoichi hesitated, glancing at his grandfather before lowering his head. "It was to… to make a name for ourselves."

He sighed and continued, his voice filled with frustration.

"After black bears were listed as protected animals, we Matagi could only hunt them in small numbers, and even then, only under strict conditions. Applying for a bear hunting license is a long and complicated process, so many descendants of ghost hunters have simply given up the profession entirely.

"With no one left to carry on the traditions and no attention from the outside world, my grandfather and I were worried that the legacy of the Matagi would disappear."

Ryoichi paused before adding quietly, "So, when we heard about the 'three-meter black bear' causing havoc, I suggested we take it down ourselves to bring the Matagi name back into the spotlight."

"Ryoichi!" Hideo interrupted sternly. "But you cannot go against tradition! I've told you this countless times—what makes us sacred is our adherence to those traditions!"

Kaminari's golden eyes narrowed. He sensed an opportunity.

"Ryoichi," he said softly, "look at that bear. That's no ordinary three-meter black bear. It's a five-meter giant that's awakened a Quirk—a true Bear King."

He stepped closer, his voice lowering.

"Think about it. If a photo of you standing proudly over this bear, sword in hand, was published in the media, you'd instantly become a legend.

"'The strongest and youngest Matagi hunter,' they'd call you. A new Matagi hero who personally brought down a Quirk-enhanced monster. Isn't that what you've always dreamed of?"

Ryoichi's eyes widened. The fire of ambition flickered in his gaze, growing brighter with every word.

"The strongest… the youngest…" he murmured, swallowing nervously.

"Ryoichi!" Hideo shouted, his voice filled with anger. "No! You must not betray the name of the Matagi!"

But Ryoichi didn't respond. His hands trembled as he drew the Matagi blade from his belt, the traditional weapon used to finish off bears. Step by step, he approached the injured giant bear.

"Ryoichi!" Hideo shouted again, furious and heartbroken. He turned to Kaminari, his voice filled with rage.

"What have you done?! You've pushed him to betray everything the Matagi stands for!"

Kaminari met the old man's glare without flinching. His voice was calm, almost cold.

"I didn't push him to do anything," Kaminari said simply. "I gave him an opportunity, to achieve his dream through his own efforts. You should be thanking me."

He turned to Edgeshot, his golden gaze sharp.

"This follows the rules, doesn't it?"

Edgeshot hesitated for a moment before nodding. "…It does."

To be honest, Edgeshot hadn't expected Kaminari to take such a direct approach. He realized that the young hero didn't care about fame or recognition. What Kaminari cared about was solving problems and asserting his own values.

Kaminari glanced at the bear one last time before giving an order to his battle suit's AI.

"'Pikachu,' record everything. Make sure to get high-definition shots of Ryoichi finishing the job."

"Yes, Master," the AI replied.

***

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Chapitre 168: Chapter 167: Establishing the Will of Hero(es)

The rest was simple. Under Hideo's disapproving glare and Kaminari's indifferent gaze, Ryoichi drove his blade into the giant bear's throat, ending its life.

The bear, its reserves of "blood energy" completely depleted, didn't bleed much as it collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

"It's over. Let's go."

Edgeshot retracted the paper-limbs he had used to restrain the bear and turned to Hideo Sato, his voice calm.

"Can you walk? If not, I can carry you."

But Hideo, stubborn as ever, ignored the offer and instead glared daggers at Kaminari, his expression full of unspoken fury.

Kaminari didn't bother holding back his irritation. "Seriously? This is how you treat the guy who saved your life?"

He crossed his arms, sneering. "I'm starting to think you don't know the meaning of gratitude. You know what? On top of being your savior, I'm also your creditor!"

Hideo remained silent, but Kaminari pressed on, his tone sharpening. "That hemostatic agent I gave you? It cost 300,000 yen. Without it, you'd have bled out in the forest. But instead of showing thanks, you're standing here giving me attitude? You've got some nerve."

"Kaminari, that's enough," Edgeshot said as he knelt down, helping Hideo to his feet. His tone was firm, but not unkind. He glanced at Ryoichi, who looked both guilty and exhilarated, and added, "Let's just get them to the police station and put this behind us."

"Fine," Kaminari muttered, exhaling to calm himself. His annoyance eased slightly as his mind cleared. Closing his eyes, he slipped into his meditative state once more.

Moments later, the iron sand scattered across the ground began to stir, drawn together by Kaminari's control. The particles coalesced into a sleek, floating iron boat large enough to hold five people. Three chairs rose from the boat's surface, a subtle detail that hinted at Kaminari's meticulousness.

"Wow… That's incredible," Ryoichi said, watching with wide eyes. Even though he had seen Kaminari's abilities in action before, he still couldn't help but marvel at them.

"Get on," Edgeshot said, gesturing toward the boat. He glanced at Hideo, who had turned his back on Kaminari in silent protest, refusing to move.

This time, Edgeshot didn't indulge the older man's stubbornness. Without a word, he hoisted Hideo onto the iron ship with ease.

As the others boarded, Kaminari remained motionless in his meditative state.

A moment later, under the watchful eyes of everyone present, a ball of iron sand gathered at Kaminari's feet. The particles formed into a thin platform that gently lifted him onto the ship.

"Where does he come up with this stuff?" Edgeshot thought, a trace of admiration flickering in his eyes. "He may have strong opinions, but there's no denying his talent."

The moment Kaminari stepped onto the ship, the iron platform beneath him disintegrated and merged seamlessly with the rest of the vessel.

Under Kaminari's guidance, the iron ship began to ascend. It rose above the treetops, granting its passengers a breathtaking view of the vast, unbroken sea of trees below.

"Beautiful…" Ryoichi murmured, awestruck by the sight.

The ship picked up speed, moving smoothly through the air at the pace of a car. Compared to the dense and treacherous forest below, the open sky was a far more efficient path. Before long, they reached their destination: the local police station.

"We're here."

As the iron ship touched down, Kaminari opened his eyes. The ship dissolved into loose sand beneath their feet, spreading harmlessly across the ground.

"Ryoichi," Kaminari said as he walked toward the station with Edgeshot, "turn on your phone. I've sent you the video and photos."

Ryoichi's face lit up with excitement, while his grandfather's expression darkened with anger. Still, neither protested as Kaminari's AI, Pikachu, transferred the files to Ryoichi's phone.

"Congratulations," Kaminari said with a small smile. "From this moment forward, you're the 'youngest and most powerful ghost hunter.'"

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Ryoichi stammered, his voice trembling with gratitude. His face broke into a wide grin. "Soon… Soon, everyone will know about the Matagi again!"

But Hideo clenched his fists, his voice trembling with rage. "Ryoichi! This is a mistake! You're violating our sacred traditions!"

Ryoichi turned to face his grandfather, his expression firm. "Grandpa, I respect the traditions, but I want the Matagi to survive. If that means letting go of outdated rules, so be it."

Their argument continued as Kaminari and Edgeshot walked into the station, leaving the two to their unresolved dispute.

As they left, Edgeshot glanced at Kaminari, his tone hesitant. "Kaminari… do you hate rules?"

"Mm?" Kaminari glanced at him, caught off guard by the question. After a moment's thought, he replied, "It's not that I hate rules. I just don't like when they're too complicated."

He shrugged, his tone casual but firm. "Rules should make things clear and simple, but when they're overcomplicated, they turn simple situations into massive headaches."

"But Kaminari," Edgeshot countered, his voice calm and steady, "as heroes, we can't look at rules through the lens of personal likes or dislikes. Rules aren't just guidelines, they're the foundation of hero society."

He paused before adding, "Without rules, heroes are no different from villains. These rules are what define what it means to be a hero."

Kaminari's golden brows furrowed slightly at Edgeshot's words but quickly smoothed as he regained his composure.

"Don't you think…" Kaminari began hesitantly, "the true meaning of being a hero lies in sacrifice?"

Edgeshot froze mid-step, his thoughts racing. His mind immediately flashed to the video of Stain, the Hero Killer, and the ideology it had presented.

"Have you… seen the Stain video?" Edgeshot asked cautiously, his sharp eyes narrowing as he turned to Kaminari.

"Stain? Isn't he that villain who targets heroes?" Kaminari asked, confused. "What video? Did he put something online? What is he, some kind of wannabe influencer like the Gentle Criminal?"

Realizing Kaminari wasn't lying, Edgeshot relaxed slightly, though his expression remained serious. "Then… those words about sacrifice. Were they your own thoughts?"

Kaminari scratched the back of his head, chuckling awkwardly. "What's with the serious look? I was just talking out loud, you know, trying to figure out the concept of heroism. It's not like I've got it all figured out or anything."

Edgeshot shook his head, his tone firm. "No, I want to hear it. Tell me what you've been thinking."

He gestured for Kaminari to follow him. "Let's walk and talk."

Unbeknownst to Kaminari, Edgeshot was taking this moment very seriously.

"This is it," Edgeshot thought. "The stage where Kaminari begins to establish his own heroic ideals. It's earlier than most, but for a genius like him, it's not surprising."

He glanced at Kaminari, determination flickering in his eyes.

"As his master, it's my responsibility to guide him through this crucial stage."

***

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