Palace Guardian Spirit Korin was merely an ordinary guardian spirit on this mountain, but the patrol captain before him suddenly became so enthusiastic that Korin did not react in time. He thought he had done something and watched the departing figure in surprise.
"Palace Guardian Spirit Korin, long time no see."
Uchiha Hikaru greeted Korin warmly. The others, however, showed no enthusiasm at all. They seemed accustomed to the affairs of this place and did not find anything particularly remarkable about it.
"L-Long time no see."
The moment Palace Guardian Spirit Korin heard someone calling to him, he immediately turned around. He nervously looked at the boy before him and found that he seemed strangely familiar, especially the feeling he had upon seeing him now. He really looked very much like someone Korin knew.
It took him three or four seconds to realize that the boy before him was the young man from their previous transaction—Uchiha Hikaru, the great hero.
"You're Uchiha Hikaru! No wonder he said you were a great hero. So it really was you!"
Korin looked as though he was about to leap with joy, but he restrained himself. He was already very short, so even if he jumped a few times, it would not make much difference.
Hearing Korin's excited voice, Bulma glanced at him in confusion, then shook her head and stopped paying attention to him.
"I'm no great hero. Wiping out the Red Ribbon Army was merely a small effort. There's nothing worth celebrating about it. My strength simply wouldn't allow otherwise!"
Uchiha Hikaru looked at Korin. Without any polite pleasantries, he simply wanted his reputation to spread farther, so more people would know him. That way, he could become one of Earth's geniuses.
The moment Bulma heard talk of gaining honor, she became