[MAIN MISSION | SURVIVE THE PLOT FOR 150 DAYS | COMPLETED]
[REWARD]:
x1 WELFARE DUNGEON ENTRY TICKET
[HIDDEN MISSION | WORLD SHIFT | COMPLETED]
[REWARD]:
x1 WORLD ENTRY TICKET
[GAINED WORLD TITLE | RANK 1 INVESTIGATOR]
[REWARD]:
1000 POINTS
[HIDDEN TITLE | ENFORCER]
PARTICIPATE IN, OR LEAD, OVER 50 RESCUE/PROTECTION OPERATION.
RESTRAIN OR ELIMINATE 50 CRIMINALS.
[HIDDEN ACHIEVEMENT | APPRENTICE WIZARD (LOL)]
The whole world froze. Staring at the "subtitles" floating before him, Lancer's expression looked extremely complicated—not because of that clearly malicious "hidden achievement," but because of what he had been doing right before time stopped.
Why… why did it end up like this…
I finished the main mission for the first time.
I even got the chance to go home.
Two happy things happening together.
And those two happy things brought me even more happiness.
What I should have received… was a dreamlike, blissful moment.
So why… why did it become like this…
...
10 minutes earlier...
...
Because business had been slow lately, Kirishima Touka sat in a corner of the shop reading, while the others quietly handled the day's work for her. After all, in a way, everyone in Anteiku had pinned certain "hopes" on this girl.
Nishio Nishiki—no need to explain. A former "villain" softened by Kaneki Ken, a man walking a painful path because of the girlfriend who had been willing to die for him. He saw in Touka someone like himself—someone walking barefoot through thorns.
Irimi Kaya and Koma Enji—former S-rated Ghouls, once the leaders of a feared group hunted relentlessly by the CCG. Because of "certain events," they abandoned their old ways and joined Anteiku. Without question, their childhoods were far from normal. Their pasts were soaked in blood. In Touka, they now saw a future their younger selves couldn't even imagine.
And in the corner, Yomo Renji's eyes were filled with memory. In this girl, he saw the shadow of his foolish brother-in-law… and his gentle, earnest sister.
Though Ghouls were feared as demons by humans, right now, they were simply a family gathered around a shared wish.
Just then, Kirishima Touka's phone buzzed.
"Lancer-san? Out now? A surprise? Uh… okay…"
After hanging up, Touka jogged to Yoshimura's side.
"Manager, Lancer-san says he needs to see me about something…"
"Lancer… Did he say what it was?"
"No, just something about a 'surprise.'"
Touka's expression shifted slightly—because no matter how she replayed it, there had been something strange about Lancer's tone on the phone.
If Touka sensed it, Yoshimura certainly did too. Yet rather than stop her, he simply nodded toward Yomo. Yomo returned a silent nod, and only then did Yoshimura speak.
"Go ahead. There shouldn't be any danger."
Touka did not notice the subtle exchange, only nodded politely.
But the moment Touka left and Yomo quietly followed her out, Irimi Kaya leaned toward Koma with a wicked grin.
"Hey, Koma… you think that Investigator is actually into Touka?"
"Hm… not sure."
"I know it's unlikely, but wouldn't it be kinda fun if he was~?"
What could you say? Women truly were terrifying creatures—even female Ghouls had gossip coded into their DNA.
But what Irimi didn't notice was Yoshimura's expression behind her… also turning extremely complicated.
...
Without question, Touka had no idea the entire café was gossiping about her. She simply headed toward the convenience store where they had agreed to meet. Just as expected, Lancer was already there.
"Touka! Sorry for calling you out so late. I'm heading out soon."
"Out? Are you going back to your country?"
"Mm… something like that."
Lancer's words were vague. Then he picked up the cardboard box beside him and handed it to her.
"This is the 'gift' I mentioned. And that 'surprise'…"
As he said this, he leaned in—pressing his forehead and ear close to her ear.
Ordinary girls would have squealed if an adult man approached like that. But Touka simply blushed. After all, she wasn't just some innocent girl—she was an S-rated Ghoul. Lancer didn't even have his Quinque out. If he attacked her, she could kill him instantly.
She was just… curious what he was going to say.
And then——
"The coffee you make—sure, I can drink it now. But to be honest, at the start it was a little too bitter. Is it because, as a Ghoul, you can't really grasp how normal people feel about sweetness and bitterness?"
Ghoul.
The air froze.
Touka's expression snapped—her Kakugan flashing blood-red.
She didn't know how he learned this, but she did know one thing: she needed to grab Lancer now and take him back to Anteiku.
But what she didn't know was...
Lancer had been preparing for this moment for a long, long time.
The moment the word "Ghoul" left his mouth, he sprang backward, landing on a trash can and flipping over it in one motion. The rest of his words were shouted while he was already running full speed away.
By the time Touka leaped over the wall—Lancer was gone.
Realizing something, she opened the cardboard box.
Inside… was a full box of exam study guides.
And a letter.
Touka's expression became… hard to describe.
...
Lancer now lay on the ground in a perfect ORZ pose, deeply regretting every choice he had made.
Originally, he thought he'd have no chance to return home, so he figured he'd pull a death-defying stunt before leaving. He deliberately waited until the last possible moment, then contacted Touka. Why Touka? Because—
The Manager could one-shot him.
Any of the three SS-rated members could too.
He wasn't trying to expose Anteiku's identity.
And Nishio was practically a stranger.
So the only "safe" target was Touka…
Mother of god!
Even though he'd put a letter on top of those study guides explaining the earlier thing was a joke and that he hadn't told anyone (which was technically true, since he wrote it in the letter instead)…
He still had a strong feeling he'd be murdered the next time he returned…
But the "system" was a mechanical, emotionless existence. It didn't care about someone flopping on the ground like a salted fish. It simply continued its function. Even as he lay face-down in despair, three options appeared in the air before him.
[CHOOSE DESTINATION]:
①: MISSION WORLD
②: WELFARE DUNGEON (CONSUMES 1x WELFARE DUNGEON ENTRY TICKET)
③: TOKYO GHOUL WORLD (CONSUMES 1x WORLD ENTRY TICKET)
Without a doubt, he wasn't going back yet. Not only because of the stupid stunt he'd just pulled—but also because, now that he knew he could enter other worlds, maybe, just maybe, he could find a method to solve the Ghoul issue.
But before that…
"Welfare World~ hehehe~"
A very questionable smile spread across his face…
---
T/N: VOLUME 1 ENDS HERE!!!! i think he'll be gone for 6 months right (idk)? is there a 6 month timeskip...? anyways hhuehuehuhe heres his status!
Lancer's Status (as of End of Volume 1)
[Host]: Lancer
[Gender]: Male
[Age:] 22
[Combat Power]: 45
10 AVERAGE ADULT MALE
+11 TRAINING
+4 GHOUL PREDATOR
+20 SPEAR MASTERY E
[STRENGTH]: 25
20 BASE
+25% PREDATOR OF GHOULS
[ENDURANCE]: 29
23 BASE
+25% PREDATOR OF GHOULS
[AGILITY]: 38
31 BASE
+25% PREDATOR OF GHOULS
[MANA]: 0
NOT UNLOCKED
[WEAPON]:
S+ QUINQUE — SPEAR-TYPE
[PERSONAL SKILLS]:
SPEAR MASTERY E
LANCER'S FATE EX
[GENERAL SKILLS]:
BESERKER
CHARGED STRIKE LV4
TRIPLE THRUST LV5
DASH LV5
DEATHMATCH LV2
[SECRET TECHNIQUES]:
WEAPON OVERLOAD C
LAST-RESORT STRIKE D
MURLOCK TRIPLE THRUST E
GHOUL PREDATOR C
[TITLES]:
ENFORCER — +50% INITIAL FAVORABILITY WITH LAWFUL-ALIGNED INVIDUALS | -50% WITH CHAOTIC-ALIGNED INDIVIDUALS
APPRENTICE WIZARD — +1 MYSTERY | +10% MANA RECOVERY RATE
[ONLY ONE TITLE CAN BE ACTIVE AT A TIME | COOLDOWN FOR SWITCHING (24 HOURS)]
[ULTIMATE MOVES]:
NONE
[EQUIPMENT]:
MASK OF DETERMINATION C
RING OF RECOVERY E
[MISSIONS]: NONE
[POINTS]: 1820
[OVERALL RATING]: D+
okay this is what the author said, SO ITS LAWWWWWW unless he admits mistakes so yeah