"Sora, I'm heading out for a bit. I'll be back soon," Kawashima Toya said to Kasugano Sora before activating his Clock Up ability.
He entered the domain of accelerated time, dashing out of the Trash Fox Detective Agency.
Within minutes, he arrived in the heart of Tokyo's bustling shopping district.
What kind of commotion would the appearance of Kamen Rider Kabuto cause in the city center?
As Toya manifested—a figure of sharp, peerless majesty—the pedestrians let out a collective gasp.
"Is that a Kamen Rider?"
"Is it Tendo-sama?"
"I'm actually seeing Kamen Rider Kabuto in person!"
People erupted into a frenzy, rushing toward him without a second thought.
The congested street became a sea of people as the crowd pushed forward.
Everyone was desperate to get a closer look at their idol.
Flashbulbs went off like a localized storm as people scrambled to take photos.
This is going to be a headache. How am I supposed to find her in this mess?
Toya scanned the surroundings.
The area was swarming, every exit and walkway completely blocked by the mob.
He had sensed a demonic aura in this specific street and intended to track it down.
However, he hadn't accounted for how much the Kamen Rider brand appealed to the public.
"Uuu..."
A weak, pitiful whimper, much like a frightened kitten, drifted through the roar of the crowd.
Found you.
Toya looked toward the source of the sound.
A petite figure dressed like an ancient Egyptian queen was being buffeted by the moving crowd.
Seeing her, Toya confirmed that this was indeed the Medusa mentioned in the commission.
The crowd is getting out of control. I'll just take her away and explain later.
Toya activated Clock Up once again, entering the realm of hyper-speed.
To his eyes, the world froze into a series of slow-motion statues.
While his personal time was accelerated, the pedestrians remained anchored to their sluggish flow.
He wove through the stagnant sea of bodies and reached Medusa's side.
"Stay calm," he whispered.
Medusa looked up, her face filled with panic as Toya suddenly appeared before her.
"I... I won't struggle," she stammered, abandoning any thought of resistance.
She didn't know why she was so quick to trust this armored figure.
But a strange intuition told her that following him might lead her to Jashin-chan.
Good thing she's cooperative.
If a top-tier demon started thrashing around, he wasn't sure the armor could take the strain.
Toya easily carried the light Medusa and vanished from the spot.
It wasn't until several seconds after he was gone that the crowd finally reacted.
"Where did he go?"
The pedestrians were left in a state of regret for missing a chance for a photo.
.....
Quiet Residential District
One minute later, Toya arrived at a secluded area with Medusa in his arms.
"De-transform."
The mechanical beetle detached from his belt and flew off into the distance.
With the armor gone, Toya's azure eyes settled on Medusa.
She looked incredibly frail, as if she were easily overwhelmed.
"I should have taken you back immediately," Toya explained.
"But to avoid any misunderstandings—or you accidentally petrifying anyone—we should do this here."
"E-Eh? You're... you're looking at me?"
"You shouldn't look at me! I'll turn you to stone..." Medusa said weakly.
Toya shook his head and spoke gently.
"Don't worry about that. I'm immune. Trust me."
As the Savior of this era, the world itself shielded him.
Abilities like the petrifying Evil Eye were ineffective against his high-tier existence.
"That's a relief."
Medusa's face showed a glimmer of genuine gratitude, her voice soft and airy.
"I really didn't want to hurt anyone innocent. If something happened to you because of me..."
Toya smiled. "I'm Kawashima Toya, head of the Trash Fox Detective Agency."
"I've accepted a commission to either take you in or send you back to the Magic Realm."
Before he could finish, Medusa's face filled with distress.
"Please don't send me back! I haven't found my friend, Jashin-chan, yet!"
"Just calm down," Toya said. "I wasn't finished."
"I'm sorry," Medusa whispered, bowing her head in apology.
"My goal is to bring you to the agency for protection," Toya said warmly.
"As it happens, your friend Jashin-chan is already there."
"Thank you so much for looking after her!"
Medusa bowed deeply, her gratitude palpable.
"If it wasn't for you, I don't know when I would have found her. Please, take me there."
I appreciate the cooperation.
Toya felt a surge of respect for her.
Medusa was truly the least demonic demon he had ever met.
Her gentle personality was the polar opposite of Jashin-chan.
Comparing the two was like comparing heaven and hell.
He really needed to find an excuse to beat some sense into the snake-girl.
"Put this mask on. It'll prevent any accidental petrification," Toya said.
He handed her a specialized mask he had purchased from the system.
"What a strange mask."
Medusa put on the visor-like device, her eyes wide with wonder.
"I feel like my power has been suppressed. With this, I won't have to worry."
[System Notice: World Commission Complete. Reward: 10,000 Origin Points.]
"Alright, let's head home," Toya nodded, leading Medusa toward the street.
Medusa followed behind him obediently.
She didn't have a single shred of suspicion toward this man.
As they stood waiting for a ride, a man in disheveled clothes walked straight toward them.
What does this guy want?
Toya's brow twitched as he watched the man approach.
"Oh, what a cute girl!"
"A beauty like this only comes once in a thousand years!"
The man's face twisted into a predatory grin as he reached toward Medusa.
"Eek!"
Medusa was startled by the man's sudden proximity.
Being gentle-hearted, she wondered if this was a human greeting and didn't know how to refuse.
"You're an embarrassment," Toya said coldly, delivering a sharp kick.