"Although I don't want to harm innocent people, for someone so sacrilegious, I can only…"
Before Stiyl could finish, Zhong Chen, with a look of disdain, interrupted him.
"Only what? Kill me? Do you even hear what you're saying?"
"Also, aren't you concerned about this little one's life or death?"
As soon as Zhong Chen finished speaking, he suddenly appeared beside Index, a quaint longsword materializing in his hand and pointing at Index's neck.
"This…"
Kamijou Touma was about to say something when he saw Kochou Shinobu gently shake her head at him.
Seeing this, Touma decided to observe the situation first. After all, Index had been saved by Zhong Chen and Shinobu.
"You're despicable!"
Stiyl looked at the sword tip pressed against Index, finally showing a hint of anger on his face.
"Heh, yeah, I am despicable! So what? Are you going to bite me?!"
Kochou Shinobu couldn't help but curl her lips, looking at Zhong Chen's irritating expression.
This bad guy is starting trouble again.
"Alright, you release Index, and I'll leave now."
"But if anything happens to Index, I will definitely… Ah ah ah! Pfft!"
Before he could finish, Zhong Chen's figure instantly appeared in front of him and viciously kicked him in the stomach.
"How could… cough cough… such a big gap…"
Stiyl, who was sprawled on the ground coughing up blood, struggled to lift his head and looked at Zhong Chen, who was staring down at him with a cold, indifferent expression.
"I was willing to play along with you because you're not an enemy, but that's not an excuse for you to keep being insolent."
"Kid, remember, next time you encounter an enemy whose background you don't understand, the first thing to do is show weakness, then go back and call for backup!"
"Understand?"
Zhong Chen narrowed his eyes and spoke in a cold tone to Stiyl, who was lying on the ground.
"I… cough cough… Ah!"
"I asked if you understand!"
Before Stiyl could speak, Zhong Chen stomped on him again.
"Under… understand…"
Upon hearing the response, Zhong Chen finally showed a satisfied smile on his face.
Then, with a smile, he continued:
"Since you understand, then scram! You're not still expecting me to treat you to a meal, are you?!"
Hearing Zhong Chen's words, Stiyl endured the intense pain in his body, struggled to stand up, and gave Index a deep look.
Then, he staggered towards the stairwell.
"Um… will he be alright?"
Kamijou Touma looked at Stiyl's retreating back and couldn't help but ask with a worried expression.
"Don't worry, I know how to hold back. He won't die."
"Speaking of which, this guy was about to attack you, and you're still worried about him?"
Zhong Chen looked at Kamijou Touma, who was worried about his enemy, with a helpless expression.
"This… haha… I'm used to it."
Hearing Zhong Chen's words, Kamijou Touma scratched the back of his head, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Alright, aren't you going to invite us in to sit down?"
Zhong Chen pointed at Touma's apartment door and asked with a smile.
"Oh… please come in!"
After saying that, Touma pulled out his key, opened the door, then picked up Index from the ground and walked in first.
"Shinobu, let's go in."
"Okay."
As Zhong Chen and Kochou Shinobu arrived in the living room, Kamijou Touma, who had just settled Index, brought over two glasses of plain water.
He spoke with a look of shame:
"Um, I don't have any tea at home, so I can only ask you two to bear with it."
Hearing his words, Zhong Chen waved his hand nonchalantly and said:
"It's fine, having water to drink is enough. After all, you probably don't have money to buy tea leaves right now."
"How did you know?"
Touma looked at Zhong Chen in surprise.
"Haven't you been unlucky since you were little?"
"You know that too?!"
"Of course I know. Kamijou Touma, your right hand can negate all supernatural powers, but you can only face two small thugs at most simultaneously."
Zhong Chen calmly stated Kamijou Touma's name and ability, while Touma asked in surprise:
"Um, I haven't had a chance to ask, who are you two?"
"I'm Zhong Chen, and she's Kochou Shinobu. You could say we're travelers visiting Academy City."
"I see, I'm Kamijou Touma, nice to meet you!"
Zhong Chen smiled and nodded at Touma, then said:
"By the way, do you want to stop being so unlucky in the future?"
Hearing Zhong Chen's words, Kamijou Touma was momentarily stunned, then showed an indifferent expression and said:
"After so many years, I've tried countless methods, but I'm still just as unlucky. I've actually gotten used to it now."
"Is that so? Then, would you like to try this…"
Saying that, Zhong Chen handed Kamijou Touma a cute Slime pendant.
Kamijou Touma quickly took it. Whether it was useful or not, it was a kind gesture from them.
"What is this?"
"Just think of it as a good luck charm. Remember, just keep it with you. If you lose it, I won't be responsible for replacing it."
After speaking, Zhong Chen even playfully raised an eyebrow at Touma.
"Then thank you, Mr. Zhong Chen. I will remember this kindness."
After saying that, Touma put the Slime pendant around his neck. Touma could clearly sense the goodwill from people towards him.
"Alright, that little one is about to wake up, and we also need to go back and rest. See you again if there's a chance!"
"Mr. Zhong Chen, Miss Kochou Shinobu, are you leaving Academy City?"
"Not necessarily!"
"Shinobu, let's go."
"Oh."
After saying that, Zhong Chen waved at Touma, and Kochou Shinobu nodded at Touma before they both left Touma's apartment.
Watching their retreating figures, Touma reached out and pulled out the pendant from his chest, his eyes slightly downcast as he softly said:
"Will it really work?"
"Whimper…"
Just as Touma was lost in thought, touching the pendant, Index nearby finally gently opened her eyes.
Touma quickly put the pendant back under his collar, a smile appearing on his face as he looked at Index and said:
"You're awake!"
At this moment, the two who had just left Kamijou Touma's residence were slowly strolling under a streetlamp.
"Bad guy, you seem to really admire that spiky-haired kid, don't you?"
Kochou Shinobu thought of all of Zhong Chen's actions today and asked with a puzzled expression.
"You noticed."
"It was too obvious. Weren't you bullying that red-haired guy just to stick up for that spiky-haired kid?"
"Heh heh, this is a guy whose popularity with women always brings him misfortune. If I can help, I'll help him out."
"Besides, believe it or not, even if you didn't know him before, if you asked him for help, he'd put his life on the line for you."
Hearing Zhong Chen's words, Kochou Shinobu looked at Zhong Chen in shock.
She hadn't expected that the seemingly ordinary young man she had just met could have such a good heart.
Suddenly, Kochou Shinobu jogged in front of Zhong Chen, her hands behind her back, a brilliant smile on her face as she spoke to Zhong Chen:
"Bad guy, you're not so different from that young man."
"Hahaha, Shinobu, you think too highly of me. I don't want to be a good person; I want to be a bad guy, the worst bad guy!"
"Hmph, bad guy, you're already quite bad now!"
"Then I'll show you what true badness is!"
Thump… "Ouch! (So painful!)"