Chapter 42 — Fourty Two Punch
"Since the exchange event began, my system has been intercepting some strange communication signals. They're likely the electromagnetic waves emitted when someone operates machinery. Since I'm also a cyborg, I can detect these waves. I don't think the other party expected that."
"Eh? So you're saying, Genos, that you already knew there was someone communicating with the curses?"
"Yes. I can understand the content of these wave communications as well."
"…Then why didn't you say anything until now?"
"Normally, I detect countless waves all the time, most of which are useless information. Processing them consumes a lot of energy, so I simply ignore the majority. Besides, this matter didn't concern me, so I didn't pay attention. It wasn't until you mentioned the insider that I went through my memory logs and found the communications between the insider and the curses, Sensei."
"You… you really are something… in this regard, anyway."
On the nighttime highway, Genos and Saitama ran one after the other.
Genos led the way, slightly bent forward, his mechanical arms trailing behind in a streamlined formation with his head and neck. Saitama followed, his running posture more like a puppet being pulled forward, legs swinging like an elementary school kid in a sports meet. He had changed back into his full body suit, with his cape trailing straight behind him.
Even at a casual running pace, their speed surpassed that of cars. As they passed speed cameras, the devices clicked, capturing two blurred shadows—one resembling a transforming robot, the other like a hyper-accelerated egg.
"In short, based on the intercepted wave data, the Kyoto school student communicating with the curses is that one called 'Mechamaru' Though called a student, Mechanical Maru is merely a machine puppet; the real person is elsewhere," Genos explained while running, updating Saitama on what he had learned. "After extracting the wave data from memory, I discovered that Mechanical Maru has a meeting arranged with the curses. The time is tonight, the location is the hydroelectric dam on the Torikami River."
"Then let's take care of it early," Saitama said, thinking while alternating his legs in long, fast strides. "If we take the flight back to Tokyo tomorrow morning, we can still make it for the Saturday afternoon supermarket sale."
...
"Ugh, finally back!"
The students who had participated in the exchange event disembarked the bus sent by the High School of Advanced Sorcery and headed toward the dormitories. After two intense days of events, everyone was exhausted, and by the time they returned to Kyoto via plane, it was already past ten at night.
"The next two days are the weekend break, so we can really rest!" Momoko Nishimiya raised her arms and stretched, letting out a big yawn. "Even though the exchange event lasted only two days, so many things happened in such a short time. I'm exhausted."
"After getting back to the dorm, I need to watch Takada-chan's variety show to recover," Aoi Todo muttered, still frustrated from being defeated by Saitama twice.
"I just want to sleep. My shoulders are still a bit sore," Kasumi Miwa said, recalling being ordered by Rakuyaji Yoshinobu to take Saitama aside, and noticing Satoru Gojo eavesdropping. She massaged her shoulders, feeling even more strained. "This is such stressful work."
"Speaking of which," Kasumi glanced at Mechanical Maru standing nearby. "Mechanical Maru, what are your plans next? You probably don't need rest like the rest of us, right? After all, the past doesn't concern the original Mechamaru"
"As for me…," Mechanical Maru hesitated, a cold electronic voice emitting from the machine. "I need to rest for a while as well. So if anyone comes looking for me, I probably won't answer the door…"
"Understood!" Kasumi laughed, patting the cool metal shoulder of Mechamaru "Don't worry. I think everyone will rest on their own and won't disturb you."
Mechanical Maru turned its camera-equipped eye toward Kasumi, as if wanting to say something, but no words came out.
The dormitory was right ahead. As everyone exchanged goodnights, boys and girls went in separate directions.
Mechanical Maru lagged behind everyone. He watched the others enter the dormitory and stood in place for a while before slowly walking in, the "clack-clack" of his mechanical steps echoing as he climbed the stairs and entered his room.
With a "swish," Mechanical Maru closed the door behind him and then walked over to a chair, sitting down.
The eyes that had been glowing green slowly dimmed, finally going out completely. As the cursed energy connection was severed, Mechanical Maru's arms fell lifelessly, its once life-infused mechanical body reduced to cold steel.
The true body of Mechanical Maru—Kokichi Muta—had deliberately cut off connections with numerous puppets, including the "Mechanical Maru" inside the Advanced Sorcery School, so as not to be distracted.
His technique, Puppet Manipulation, allowed him to control multiple puppets over long distances. But such a power came at an enormous cost.
"Celestial and Cursed Bindings" are a term for the situation in which one sacrifices a healthy body in exchange for exceptional cursed energy or a powerful technique. No one can voluntarily choose these bindings—they are forcibly imposed on a person even before birth, a violent and overbearing constraint. Kokichi Muta, in truth, was an unwilling bearer of such a Celestial and Cursed Binding.
The cost of obtaining Puppet Manipulation was that his body had been broken from the moment of birth. He could not walk or run freely like normal people, and even standing up unaided was impossible.
Paler and more fragile than a ghost, Kokichi's skin was so sensitive that sunlight, which is warm for ordinary people, could even burn him. For the past seventeen years, he had been wrapped head to toe in bandages, surviving in a dimly lit room filled with nutrient-rich tanks of water.
Kokichi had believed that this life would continue until his body completely failed, ending in death—until a month ago, when a sorcerer came to him.
The man, clad in a black coat and wearing a mask to conceal his face, approached one of Kokichi's Mechanical Marus with a smile. "May I have a few words with you? This might change your life," he said.
This seemingly like-minded entrepreneur was, in truth, an unnamed special-grade curse user, accompanied by a curse spirit called "Mahito." The sorcerer demanded information accessible to advanced students, such as the exchange event's time and location. In exchange, the curse spirit Mahito would use Inaction Transformation to restore Kokichi's body.
Kokichi agreed.
Tonight, that sorcerer was set to fulfill his promise.
The two parties had bound themselves with an unbreakable cursed contract. Kokichi had already completed his part, so no matter what, Mahito must restore his body to full health tonight using Inaction Transformation. Even so, the mental pressure on Kokichi did not ease in the slightest.
Though unspoken, both sides knew: the binding only required restoring Kokichi's body to health. After that, neither party would be restricted by the curse.
What followed would be a brutal battle.
But Kokichi thought to himself, he was ready.
The meeting point had been chosen at the hydroelectric dam, with sufficient energy to power his mechanical puppets. His seventeen years' worth of cursed energy was fully charged, allowing him, as a quasi-Grade 1 sorcerer, to briefly reach special-grade output.
In the dam's reservoir lay his ultimate creation: the giant mechanical puppet, Ultimate Mechamaru In addition, he still held four trump cards—New Yin Style: Simplified Domain—capable of killing Mahito outright.
His sensors indicated no other cursed energy in the vicinity, so no one else would be caught in the fight. Once his body was restored, he could immediately contact Satoru Gojo to ensure survival. If lucky, he might even use the seventeen years of stored cursed energy to take out either Mahito or the special-grade curse user.
Thinking this, Kokichi, hiding within the hydroelectric station, suddenly detected a trace of cursed energy.
It was weak—only one source, at the level of an ordinary human, not the sorcerer or Mahito. The movement speed of the cursed energy was fast, exceeding 50 km/h, suggesting the person was driving a car.
An ordinary human driving by? But the direction of the cursed energy seemed to be heading straight for the hydroelectric station…
Kokichi's exposed eyes beneath the bandages showed confusion. Then, he paused.
The cursed energy suddenly stopped moving. Its position should be…
...
"Has it not started yet?" Saitama asked, staring blankly.
Saitama and Genos stood at the lakeside beside the hydroelectric dam, looking out at the serene night scenery of the massive structure.
"Mm. But the true body of Mechanical Maru—Kokichi Muta—should have already arrived inside the hydroelectric station. According to my sensors, there's a stationary life signal hidden inside," Genos replied. "Once the curse spirit arrives, their meeting should begin."
After speaking, Genos suddenly bent slightly at the waist, straightening his arms behind him. Energy pulses raced through his steel limbs, instantly turning their surface a brilliant gold.
"There's no need to wait any longer. We can destroy the dam first, and then deal with the curse spirit when it arrives," Genos said, as the muzzle of his palm-incinerator began gathering golden light. "Incinerate—"
"Wait, wait, Genos!" Saitama hurriedly pressed down on him. "We're not supposed to just wipe everyone out! The mission is only to find the traitor!"
The flames in Genos' palms vanished. He calmly retracted his hands. "Understood, Sensei!"
"Although, it seems we still have some time to wait," Saitama said, scratching his head. His bald scalp was slightly red from wearing a knit cap on the plane. "Damn, it's a little itchy. I wish I had an ice pack."
Genos turned his head, eyes resting on Saitama's bald head. After a brief pause, he suggested, "If you need one, Sensei, I remember passing a gas station just now. There should be a convenience store inside with cold drinks or ice cream that can temporarily serve as an ice pack. The station is about eight kilometers from here. At top speed, I can go and return, plus the time to pick the item, in roughly twenty minutes."
"Oh, then I'll leave it to you, Genos," Saitama said, pausing his hand scratching his head. "Also, if you buy a popsicle, I want melon flavor."
"Yes, Sensei!"
Genos turned and, as his propulsion system ignited, his metallic body emitted a dazzling golden glow through the gaps in his armor. In an instant, he shot forward, leaving a golden afterimage.
Meanwhile, inside the hydroelectric station, Kokichi Muta's eyes narrowed slightly.
That trace of cursed energy at ordinary human level suddenly shot off in the opposite direction, likely driving away. Although he didn't know why that person had come to a remote hydroelectric station in the middle of the night, at least they were gone. No other cursed energy could be detected around the station, meaning no one remained nearby.
The next second, Kokichi suddenly detected two extremely strong cursed energy signals rapidly approaching the hydroelectric station from another direction. The frequency of these energy waves was familiar to him.
He snapped his head toward the source, and the pupils visible beneath his bandages trembled violently.
Special-grade curse user and Mahito… they were here!
...
"No, it's still itchy—I can't wait twenty minutes. If only there were something to cool it down…"
Saitama muttered to himself, scratching his head as he looked around. His gaze finally fell on the mirror-like lake.
"Huh? Something to cool it down? Isn't there one right here?"
With a "plop," Saitama squatted at the lake's edge, dunking his bald head into the water.
"Pffft… ahhh, much better, summer lake water is really cool…" he murmured, bubbles escaping his mouth as his face stayed submerged. Then, he froze. "Huh?"
The moonlight filtering through the water grew hazy, illuminating a massive dark shape beneath the lake's surface.
It was a giant robot, crouched with its back hunched, lying motionless in a squatting position. Its legs were bent, arms wrapped around its knees, head buried in its knees. Dense, unevenly sized pipes extended from its back, connecting to the interior of the hydroelectric station.
Water plants swayed with the lake's currents, brushing against the robot's legs, while schools of fish swam through the gaps in its back pipes. The robot resembled both a statue and a sleeping giant.
With a splash, Saitama yanked his face out of the water.
"What the heck? Armor?" he muttered, dripping water over himself. After thinking for a moment, he stepped back into the lake. "Well, as long as I stay in the water, my head won't itch. Might as well get in and take a closer look."