My Monster Evolution in One Punch Man

Before Hansen could correct the waitress's misunderstanding, voices suddenly rose in agreement from the nearby diners.

"I-I heard it!"

A trembling man crawled out from under a table, his finger shaking as he pointed directly at King. His voice wavered between fear and awe.

"That sound… it was the Emperor Engine!"

"Yes! That was it! That thunderous roar, like a war drum pounding in your chest, the kind that makes you feel safe no matter what!"

"It really was the Emperor Engine. I know it now! That must have been the legendary secret move, Purgatory Unmatched Explosive Heat Wave Cannon!"

"Lord King!"

"He's far too strong!"

"I couldn't even see him move! One moment the monster was there, the next it was just gone!"

"This is the true power of an S-Class hero… terrifying beyond belief!"

The diners seemed to instantly cast aside their earlier panic. Instead of cowering, their eyes now glimmered with feverish devotion as they crowded closer, surrounding King in a wave of admiration.

Some of them even began analyzing the scene with exaggerated detail, claiming his speed had surpassed the limits of human sight. To them, the silent annihilation they had just witnessed was irrefutable proof of his mastery and control over power itself. They spoke of it as if they were describing a grand masterpiece.

It was, in their eyes, nothing short of art.

On the other hand, Hansen was going through a reality crisis.

Looking at this group of bloodied yet worshipful people, Hansen's lips twitched in annoyance.

Heh, so it was pointless to even save you.

Meanwhile, at the center of the crowd, King stood stiffly. Cold sweat trickled down the back of his neck while his thoughts screamed in despair.

No way… are these guys seriously believing this bullshit?

He knew better than anyone that trying to explain would only dig him deeper. Any denial would be twisted into further proof of his supposed greatness. The only option left was silence.

So he kept up his trademark expressionless strongman face while the "Emperor Engine" in his chest thundered louder and faster, not with power, but with sheer panic. Occasionally, he gave small, almost mechanical nods, as though acknowledging their respect, and forced himself to endure their overwhelming enthusiasm.

When the storm of praise finally began to cool, King realized with dread that there was no chance he'd be able to finish that bowl of ramen today.

He rose, walked steadily to the counter, and reached for his wallet. The ramen shop owner, still trembling with gratitude, insisted the meal should be free, a token of thanks for saving everyone's lives. But King, fixing him with a cold and intimidating glare, though in truth it was a desperate plea to end this quickly, flatly refused.

"Excuse me. I still have important matters to attend to. Please step aside."

His voice was gruff, the kind that carried no room for argument, and his stern expression gave the impression of a man who could silence even the cries of children. The crowd instinctively parted, forming a clear path, and watched in reverence as King hurried out of the shop. His figure disappeared around the far corner of the street, leaving only the echo of awe behind him.

Bathed in those mixed gazes of reverence and admiration, King forced himself to maintain composure, though in reality he was walking at the fastest pace possible. His only goal now was to get home, turn on his console, and lose himself in a few games to calm his rattled nerves.

Even so, some fans were moved to tears as they called after him.

"Mr. King… he's too kindhearted…!!"

"He's the strongest, most selfless, most protective S-Class hero of all!"

"The strongest man on the surface… truly supreme!"

"King!"

"All hail King!"

Watching King's nearly panicked escape under the crowd's relentless adoration, Hansen's expression remained calm. Yet, a faint gleam flickered deep in his eyes.

"The natural-born magnet for monsters, huh? That might actually be something I can use."

It might have sounded superstitious, but his reasoning wasn't baseless. Because the truth was, today's attacker might have resembled just a tiger-level ramen monster… but in reality, two monsters had been present.

…

"Phew… that was close! I nearly died!"

A full street away from the ramen shop, King finally slowed down along the deserted path of a small park. The shadows of trees stretched across the pavement, scattering patches of dim light, and the place was almost entirely empty. Even that brief escape had drained his stamina bar to zero. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he clung to the backrest of a bench for support, gasping desperately for air before managing to stand upright again.

"Thank goodness some mysterious attack killed the monster. Otherwise, I'd have no idea how to explain my way out of that mess!" He groaned, swiping the sweat from his brow. "At the very least, I'm not touching ramen again for a whole year!"

Catching his breath, he tugged the hood of his sweatshirt lower over his face and released a long, heavy sigh.

"Next time… I'll just order delivery. Going outside is way too dangerous." His muttering soon shifted into something brighter. "By the way, the latest game in the Heartbeat series is coming out soon. By then, the Summer Love series should be fully cleared with every route. I'll buy it the very moment it's released. I really can't wait…"

His face lit up with a dreamy, almost childlike smile. That blissful moment was interrupted by a deep magnetic voice that cut in from right beside him.

"Oh? So S-Class heroes also enjoy Galgames? I thought you only played hardcore action titles."

"It doesn't matter," King answered without thinking, completely on autopilot. "I usually play them alone in private at home. Besides, I always wear a mask beforehand when I buy the discs. No one would ever know… Eh? Ehhhhh!!!!!!"

King practically jumped out of his skin. Even his "Emperor Engine," which had just calmed down, threatened to roar back into overdrive.

Thump-thump-thump…!

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Hansen tilted his head slightly, his expression calm. "What's with that noise?"

When King finally realized that the figure standing before him wasn't some stalker or another bizarre monster, but instead a strikingly handsome young man whose looks could rival top idols, he managed to breathe a little easier. Still, his heart hammered violently, like a drum echoing inside his chest.

Wait… why does this guy look familiar? Could he be a rookie idol from a variety show or something?

Suppressing the suspicion, King quickly raised a fist to his mouth and faked a cough, trying to restore a shred of dignity.

"Ahem, you must have misheard. What I meant was Galaxy Mecha Series, a hardcore action game. It really tests your skills."

But when his eyes flicked back to Hansen, the young man's expression had already shifted. A cold, merciless mask slid into place, and his gaze sharpened like a blade.

"If you want an autograph, then hurry. I have other matters to deal with."

Hearing this, Hansen raised a brow.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. With acting skills that polished, he could have won an Oscar on the spot.

Hansen studied him with faint amusement.

No wonder King, an ordinary man, had managed to rise into the ranks of S-Class heroes. That fierce poker face, paired with his natural instinct for acting, combined with the passive ability to draw out the Bald Demon King at decisive moments… it was as if fate itself had hand-fed him success.

"No need for an autograph."

Sliding one hand casually into his pocket, Hansen shook his head with a leisure that almost seemed mocking. The corner of his lips curved upward in a meaningful smile. Seeing that King truly had no recollection of him, Hansen leaned in slightly and lowered his voice, letting it slip from his mouth like a devil's whisper.

"But King, have you forgotten already?"

"…Huh?"

King froze, utterly confused, but his expression shifted in an instant as Hansen's next words struck him like a hammer. His pupils contracted sharply.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Hansen. That Ramen Monster just now? I was the one who killed it."

With that, Hansen raised his hand almost lazily and flicked his finger toward a decorative rock in the empty part of the park.

A faint flash of scorching light flickered at Hansen's fingertip.

Boom!

With a sharp, muffled explosion, the decorative boulder, half as tall as a man, shattered into rubble, fragments scattering across the path.

Even though it was only the weakest form of his instant-cast heat shot, the sheer destructive power made King's eyelids twitch violently.

Gulp.

In that moment, King's memory snapped back to the terror of being cornered by the Ramen Monster, followed by that blazing light that had obliterated it in a single strike.

"It… it was you…"

His mind replayed the instant their eyes met inside the ramen shop, then compared it with the exact same attack he had just witnessed. The conclusion struck him like lightning.

With this overwhelming power on display, and the way the monster's corpse had been destroyed, there was no longer any doubt. Hansen was telling the truth.

This tall, sharp-featured young man standing before him was the one who had saved his life at the very last moment.

Gratitude should have filled King's heart, but instead he was overwhelmed by something much heavier: dread.

He had no idea what he could possibly say.

To the world, he was "The Strongest Man on the Surface." The strongest had no reason to be rescued.

If anyone learned the truth…

Before his thoughts could spiral any further, Hansen's next calm words made cold sweat bead across King's skin and left his mind completely blank.

"In truth, King, you're nothing more than an ordinary man blessed with absurd luck, aren't you? That famous battle mode, the 'Emperor Engine,' is simply the sound of your heart pounding in fear." Hansen then raised a brow, "And that supposed technique, the 'Ultimate Hellfire Burst Wave Motion Cannon'… It's nothing but a rumor fabricated by the public and the Hero Association. A myth that never existed."

Hansen leaned closer, his voice quiet but unyielding, every word sinking into King like a blade. His eyes locked onto King's terrified ones.

"Am I right?"

King.exe stopped working

King was speechless.

Oh no!

My secret… How could this man know everything so perfectly?!