"If there's nothing else, I'm heading back. Bye, Husu! Oh, and tell Supar I said goodbye." Karochi was enveloped in white light. Instant Transmission!
In the blink of an eye, he vanished before Husu's eyes, leaving him alone to stand there in stunned confusion!!
Whoosh~!
Karochi appeared at Capsule Corp. He'd been here so many times, it practically felt like home!! What a great place—so much money, unlike his previous life, when he'd been dirt poor.
"Oh my~! Little Chi's back? How wonderful! It's been so long, and you've gotten taller and more handsome!! Oh ho ho ho~ Would you like to go on a date with me?" Karochi knew without looking that the voice belonged to Tights's mother, Mrs. Brief.
And he really wanted to complain: You said the exact same thing when you saw me three years ago! You said it the last few times I came back, too. If you're serious, then go for it—I won't resist.
Mrs. Brief linked her arm through Karochi's, and the two inevitably brushed against each other. Meanwhile, Dr. Brief was still playing with a cat as he spoke. "Little Chi, that alien technology you brought back is really something!! Oh, and I modified the Gravity Chamber as you requested. Its maximum gravity is now 500 times normal, and the temperature can be adjusted by ±50°C."
Karochi had asked Dr. Brief to do this when he came back two years ago: create a perfect simulation of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber's environment!! A training room he could enter whenever he wanted.
"Also, I improved the materials used to build the spaceship! Now it'll take you only six days to get to Planet Namek." Karochi and Tights had visited many planets, including some with extremely advanced technology. Karochi had very reasonably borrowed information from those planets.
Usually, they brought the information right to him, so there was no need to borrow it—and no need to return it!!
"Thank you, Dr. Brief!!" Karochi was thrilled. Not only had the doctor helped modify the spaceship, he'd upgraded it to Pro Max. But after such a huge favor, wasn't it a bit much to be getting handsy with the man's wife?
Karochi couldn't shake the feeling that Dr. Brief had a pair of green horns growing from his head. He tried to pull his arm free, but Mrs. Brief had such a firm hold that he couldn't. Instead, he ended up brushing against her a little.
"Ah~! Mom, what are you doing? Let go of Little Chi." Tights had just arrived with Bulma and was instantly furious at the sight. And what was that good-for-nothing Karochi doing? Just letting her mother cling to him like that.
"Oh my~! Little Chi, when are you and Tights planning to get married?" Mrs. Brief let go of his arm, covered her lips with her left hand, and asked softly.
Huh? ×2
Karochi and Tights stared at Mrs. Brief in confusion. Madam, didn't you change the subject a little too quickly!!?
"What are you talking about, Mom? Little Chi and I are just like siblings!!" Tights wasn't embarrassed at all. The two of them really hadn't sparked anything.
Yeah, Tights would never like me!! Because... she swings the other way. Karochi silently covered his face.
"Big Sister is mine. I won't let you have her, you big meanie." Bulma hurriedly stepped in front of Tights and loudly declared her claim. Her big sister had been cuddling her to sleep every night lately, and it felt so nice.
Huh!? Karochi stared at Tights in shock. Holy crap, you're a predator, Tights! You've gone after little Bulma!? Vegeta, your wife's been stolen.
Tights looked at Karochi, puzzled. "What's with that look?" She felt like he was looking at her as if she were some kind of pervert.
Well!! Could he really say that out loud? Karochi quickly laughed it off and changed the subject. "By the way, Big Sister Tights really did become a wildly popular sci-fi writer."
Over the past two years, Tights had published many works based on what she'd seen during her travels through space, becoming one of Earth's most sought-after authors.
After all, she really did turn her firsthand experiences into stories. It was only natural that they'd attract plenty of readers! Not just ordinary humans, but even Earth's Kami and Korin read Tights's works.
Of course, they weren't interested in the same things as those other readers!!
"Humph, of course! Do you even know who your big sister is?" Tights was practically gloating.
Tsk~! You only got this far because I was your "personal chauffeur." What are you showing off for? Still, Karochi put on a smile and played along. Tights was pretty much his patron on Earth, after all.
As long as he buttered her up, he wouldn't have to worry about going hungry.
"Hmm~! So you and Tights aren't dating, Little Chi??" Once Mrs. Brief understood, she cried out in disbelief.
Karochi was stunned, too. I'm still a kid! Dating now would be way too early. It's not like my previous life, when I was already seventeen or eighteen and still had to hide from my homeroom teacher just to date someone. Honestly, someone my age in my previous life could already have a kid who could walk, while I was still at school with my teacher watching me for signs of puppy love.
Thinking about it now, it was completely absurd.
"We're not, Mom! Don't make things up!! Besides, I'm still so young." Tights complained. She was only fourteen.
Dating and all that was far too soon for her. And besides... Tights's face flushed slightly.
"Big Sister, why's your face red? Are you sick?" Bulma was standing close to Tights, so she noticed right away and asked with concern.
Bulma was already seven, and she could build plenty of machines on her own!! Scientists were born with brains like that. What a pity—being a scientist had been his dream in his previous life.
Karochi silently covered his face. He just wasn't cut out for it.
"N-no, I'm fine!! I just suddenly feel a little warm." Tights snapped out of it and quickly shook her head. How could she be thinking about Rielbea? Rielbea was her dear friend, after all.
Hilarious—the lilies of her hometown are in bloom, Tights! Karochi took a sip of water and silently shook his head as he watched her. Such a lovely girl, and she was going to fall for a woman?? And the woman she liked was Rielbea, of all people. It'd be such a waste for Tights to get her hands on a beauty like that!!!
Mrs. Brief looked at Tights and Karochi in confusion. The two of them really didn't seem interested in each other! But Tights's expression looked like... Could it be that Tights had a one-sided crush!?
Amid the laughter and chatter, the sky gradually darkened!! It was a full moon tonight, so it wasn't very safe for Karochi to be outside. If he accidentally looked up, he'd be in for an embarrassing transformation!
He thought he could probably keep his sanity even if he turned into a Great Ape, but he'd rather not find out!!
Meanwhile, at Mount Paozu.
Goku was helping Son Gohan clear away the dishes. Goku had a huge appetite, after all! It took a long time to clean up after every meal.
"Wow~! Grandpa, look how round the moon is." His clear, bright voice made it hard to believe that this child was a Saiyan.
Son Gohan came out with a cheerful smile. He was a kindly old man, stroking his beard as he spoke. "Yes, it is. But it's time for bed, Goku! Staying up too late isn't good for you."
Normally, Goku would listen and obediently run off to bed, but tonight he stayed quiet and didn't answer Son Gohan. He didn't go to sleep, either, which left Son Gohan puzzled. He turned around.
Goku was still standing there, staring blankly at the moon in the night sky. At the same time, his heart was pounding. Thump~ thump~
"Goku~?" Son Gohan called out, confused. Was the moon really that fascinating? It was certainly bright tonight, with the full moon shining overhead.
Thump, thump~ Thump, thump~ Thump, thump~~!!
The heartbeat grew more and more violent. Son Gohan could hear it clearly! What a powerful heartbeat. A sense of foreboding crept over him.
Just as he feared, Goku doubled over as if in terrible pain! His limbs rapidly grew thick and powerful~~~!
"Goku??"
Huh?? All the way in West City, Karochi sensed it—Goku's ki!!
"What's this? Did Goku turn into an ape?" Karochi was shocked. No way, no way! Hadn't he warned Kami about this three years ago!? Could Kami have been so old that he'd forgotten? Damn it!
"Hm? Little Chi, what's wrong!?" Tights asked, confused, as Karochi stopped wolfing down his food. The only things that could make Karochi stop eating were Earth about to explode or the sight of an absolutely gorgeous woman like Rielbea.
Karochi got up with an embarrassed look, pretending he urgently needed the bathroom. "Big Sister Tights, I need to step out for a bit!!" With that, he dashed out the door. The moment he was outside, he vanished into the night.
Whoosh~!
In the next instant, Karochi used Instant Transmission to appear at Mount Paozu. Goku had already transformed into a Great Ape, and his battle power had reached 90 points.
Son Gohan kept calling Goku's name over and over, while dodging to avoid being trampled.
"It's a good thing that although his power increased tenfold after transforming into a Great Ape, he didn't have any reason left. Well, that's not quite right—if Goku still had his reason, he wouldn't be causing so much destruction." Karochi rubbed his brow. He didn't dare look up into the sky.
"Goku!!!" Son Gohan had nowhere left to run. He stared in despair at the gigantic foot bearing down on him!!
Without hesitation, Karochi used Instant Transmission and rescued Son Gohan. Honestly, the thought of Goku accidentally killing the grandfather who'd raised him was just too tragic.
If he could change things, why stand by and watch such a tragedy happen!?
"Who are you!?" Son Gohan stared at Karochi in shock. He was floating in midair, and this boy who'd appeared out of nowhere had a tail, too.
"Are you Goku's family?" Son Gohan asked, realizing what was going on.
"Not exactly family. I guess you could say I'm one of his people," Karochi replied. He stared at Goku for a while, but couldn't see any sign that he had some kind of destiny surrounding him!!
Roar~!
Goku had spotted Karochi and let out a roar that sent the birds and beasts of Mount Paozu fleeing in every direction!! He opened his jaws and began gathering energy for a Ki Impact.
Son Gohan was horrified. Back when he was young and training with Master Roshi, he'd seen a similar technique. He frantically called out a warning. "Run! You can fly, kid—fly away!"
Uh~! That was touching, but we really didn't need to move.
Before long, a Ki Impact shot toward Karochi and Son Gohan. Son Gohan was filled with despair. He was going to die anyway, but he'd ended up dragging a child down with him.
But, to his astonishment, the Ki Impact was stopped in midair ten meters away. It couldn't even get close to them!!!
Before you continue