Kaiju No.8: Devour and Evolve

Drake Myers's sharp eyes quickly recognized the white-haired newcomer, Reno Ishikawa.

"Huh! What's he doing here?" Drake wondered.

He was unaware that the commotion he caused during the exam had drawn widespread attention. Kikoru Shinomiya's fame as the most celebrated prodigy in Sakura Nation overshadowed everything else. Her effortless handling of the situation, coupled with her mysterious challenger leaving no trace behind, only fueled curiosity about the enigmatic figure.

"Kafka, we're a cleaning company. At the very least, could you tone it down during work hours? You've been harping on the Blue Serpent's core question over and over again—at least a dozen times now! I can't take it anymore!" Uncle Daisuke rubbed his temples, visibly drained.

As an ordinary human, he found Kafka's obsessive questions mentally exhausting.

"Was I that repetitive?" Kafka asked, scratching his head in embarrassment.

At nearly 32 years old, Kafka clung to this as his final chance. With the Defense Force's recent reforms, the age cap for joining had been raised to 32. Years of relentless effort and training had brought him here, but doubt still gnawed at him.

"Come on, man. I understand your concerns, but this kid's not who he used to be. Trust him—he's more than capable now!" Uncle Daisuke sighed.

Having worked alongside Kafka, Daisuke knew how hard his colleague had worked. However, their cleaning company was filled with ordinary folks who had long resigned themselves to a mundane life of scraping by. Caught between high rents, endless bills, and familial obligations, the average person here had little room for lofty dreams.

Sakura Nation, once a beacon of prosperity, had been battered by financial crises and rampant monster attacks. For the average person, daily life had become a grind. Even a modest home that allowed sunlight to filter through felt like a luxury.

Drake, ever the realist, understood the struggles of this world. The financial strain, the chaos of monster attacks, and the pressures of daily life had left most people downtrodden.

Kafka's earlier obsession with dreams and aspirations now seemed almost out of place.

Daisuke snapped back to the present and realized his blunder. "Ah, Kafka, I got so caught up I forgot to introduce someone." He turned to the white-haired newcomer. "This is Reno Ishikawa, a new intern!"

Turning back to Kafka and Drake, he added, "He'll be joining your team. Like you two, his dream is to join the Defense Force!"

Reno studied the seemingly frail Drake for a moment, showing no discernible emotion. He then shifted his gaze to Kafka, silently pondering this older man's aspirations.

Uncle Daisuke chuckled and playfully smacked Kafka on the back. "This guy here has been trying for years—written exams, interviews, you name it."

"Ah, it's nothing, really. Just some unrealistic fantasies from the past," Kafka muttered, visibly uncomfortable.

Since witnessing Drake's transformation, Kafka had begun to let go of his own Defense Force ambitions. Life has a way of steering dreams towards new horizons, and in Drake, Kafka saw a reflection of his younger self.

Reno's gaze landed on the desk near Kafka, cluttered with Defense Force figurines and study materials. His expression shifted to one of mild disdain. "Dreams can't be so fragile, can they? No matter what, you should persevere."

His tone was sharp, even arrogant—a reflection of his prickly personality.

Kafka was taken aback, unsure how to respond.

Drake stepped forward, countering Reno's remark with a firm voice. "Don't mock someone else's dreams so lightly. We're all just bystanders to one another's struggles. Besides, how do you know my senior's dreams are fragile? Don't go slapping labels on people, you white-haired brat!"

"White-haired brat?" Reno froze, his fist clenching instinctively. The audacity of this pale, sickly kid was infuriating, but Reno held back, mindful of Drake's earlier display of power.

"Hey, Drake, that's too much," Kafka interjected, stepping between them. "He's new here—he's one of us now."

Kafka quickly turned to Reno. "I'm sorry about him. He's young and has a bit of a temper…"

Known for his gentle demeanor, Kafka rarely showed hostility towards people—though his resolve against monsters was unwavering.

Reno bowed deeply, his tone genuine. "I apologize. I was out of line."

Outside, members of the Defense Force covertly observing the scene were visibly disappointed. They had hoped for a more heated confrontation.

--------------

T/N:

Access 30 Chapters in Advance on my

P@treon: [email protected]/GodFic