Compared to the threat of the Leech Devil—
What Hayashi feared more was Division 4 and the Leech Devil fighting like idiots and smashing his shop in the process.
It was like not being afraid of Marvel heroes battling villains…
As long as it wasn't your business.
But what if one of the superheroes grabbed the car you're still paying off and chucked it at the villain—
missed—
and totaled it.
Then the insurance says "no coverage."
Then they punch each other through your apartment building—
the one you're 30 years into a mortgage for.
Hey, guess what? Still no coverage. And the mortgage? Yeah, that's still due every month.
So let me ask you—
If you were the victim, would you like the superhero or the villain more?
My answer is: screw both of them.
Pay me back for my house and car!
As Division 4 ran closer—
Hayashi focused his intent directly into the system and gave an order to the gatekeeper who had been waiting at the Deep Night Diner entrance.
"Pochita. Eliminate that devil."
"Woof!!!"
The next moment—
Just as Division 4 reached the van, the roar of a chainsaw ripped through the air, freezing them in their tracks.
They'd just reached the driver's window when—
VRRRRRM!
A roar burst forth, shaking them to their core!
Immediately after—
A black beastly silhouette launched from the diner's entrance like a cannonball!
Everyone stared as it soared through the air—
Clearing nearly a hundred meters in a single leap!
It crashed into the Leech Devil, slamming a one-meter-long chainsaw from its head straight into its body!
SPLURT—!
Blood sprayed everywhere as the Leech Devil shrieked in agony!
Everyone in Division 4 was frozen in place.
Power pointed at the monster and shouted,
"That devil—with a chainsaw on its head—that's a devil too! And it's terrifying!"
Even Power's face showed genuine fear.
Aki Hayakawa studied the creature and turned to the others.
"What kind of devil is that?"
Everyone shook their heads.
Kobeni was already cowering behind the van, praying she wouldn't have to fight.
"Let's just stay here and watch. Let them kill each other."
Himeno glanced at her but didn't say anything.
Inside the vehicle—
Hayashi tilted his head and looked outside.
Seeing Pochita viciously tearing into the enemy, he nodded with satisfaction.
The chainsaw man form wasn't the true body of the Chainsaw Devil.
Pochita was the real body.
The humanoid form was just a reference—it could transform into the black chainsaw devil at will.
But that wasn't necessary.
For now, everyone would just think it was… a devil.
By the time Power snapped out of it, she quickly ran over to the car and asked Hayashi,
"Manager Hayashi, are you okay? Can I still eat your golden fried rice?!"
Hayashi: …
If she hadn't said that last part, he might've actually been touched.
"I'm fine, don't worry." Hayashi stepped out of the car.
Tohru got out too and started watching Pochita at work.
If Pochita didn't get the job done, she was prepared to jump in.
But the moment Tohru stepped out of the car—
Himeno froze.
She took one look at Tohru and instantly realized that this was the dragon from the intel reports.
But seeing as neither Power nor Aki looked surprised—
This meant Makima-sama had already acknowledged it?
And her outfit… a maid uniform.
The man next to her was clearly the manager.
Which meant—this dragon was under his command?
No wonder Makima-sama paid attention to him.
In that moment, Himeno realized this man was not just another handsome face.
On the contrary, he had an extraordinary presence beneath the surface.
She thought for a moment, then stepped forward, pulled out a cigarette, and offered one to Hayashi.
"Smoke?"
Hearing that, and seeing the gesture, Hayashi was genuinely caught off guard.
"It's been a while."
He accepted the cigarette and stuck it in his mouth.
Himeno lit it for him.
Hayashi took a long drag, then exhaled slowly.
"Cough—" A light cough followed. It really had been a while.
It wasn't that he didn't smoke—
He just wasn't addicted. He only smoked when someone offered him one. Otherwise, he didn't touch the stuff.
The sensation brought back memories.
Tohru glanced curiously at them, then turned away again.
Himeno and Hayashi leaned against the car, exhaling smoke rings side by side.
Then Himeno asked,
"Power said those two devils are fighting right at your doorstep. You don't seem worried."
"No need," Hayashi replied, taking another puff. "Pochita will handle it."
"Pochita?" Himeno blinked.
Everyone around them paused.
Himeno looked at the beast currently beating the crap out of the Leech Devil.
She hesitantly asked, "That little guy… is Pochita?"
"Yeah." Hayashi nodded.
At this point, there was no need to hide it.
Pochita was now officially his shop's guardian.
People like Makima and the rest were bound to find out eventually. Might as well get it over with.
Hide his power? What for?
He wasn't trying to lay low to bluff others. If it was time to show force, then so be it.
Keeping a low profile was useful when you wanted to ambush someone stronger.
But Hayashi didn't care about being flashy or low-key. He just didn't like unnecessary attention.
After he said that—
Everyone looked at Hayashi in shock.
"Manager Hayashi, then… is it…?" Aki Hayakawa asked.
"He's our guard dog," Tohru answered for him. "Pochita is a good boy! Don't bully him, okay?"
Everyone: …
Tohru's words stunned the entire group into silence.
At this point, the Leech Devil could no longer hold its own against Pochita. It was gushing blood, missing chunks of flesh, and being chased and hacked apart.
Pochita's body had also grown bigger with the fight. Not only was there a chainsaw protruding from its head—
More saws had emerged from its joints and limbs!
All pitch black—looking more and more like its black chainsaw devil form!
Hayashi and Himeno leaned against the car, still smoking.
Power, after seeing Pochita's strength, glanced at him, then back at Hayashi. Her little brain seemed to be running at full speed, clearly thinking about something.
After a while, she leaned over and whispered,
"Manager Hayashi, I think I figured out one of Pochita's secrets."
"Hm?" Hayashi exhaled. "What secret?"
"Pochita seems like a symbiotic-contract devil. Not a free one like me. He's completely under someone's control." Power's voice dropped to a cautious tone.
She sounded worried—like she didn't want Hayashi to find out she herself was an independent devil.
Everyone turned to look.
Hayashi took one last drag, stubbed the cigarette out, and flicked it into a trash bin. Then he gave Power a strange look.
"Haven't I already said? Pochita's mine—in every sense of the word."
"!!!"
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