The hero assessment begins

Two days later.

"Big brother, be careful out there!"

Wearing pink bunny pajamas, Runo poked her little head out of her bedroom and called to Baicang as he prepared to leave.

"Yeah, yeah, no problem."

"Once I pass, I'll buy some eel from the supermarket so we can celebrate."

As Baicang spoke, he packed his change of clothes, identification, and other supplies into his backpack.

Although he was brimming with confidence, his face looked utterly defeated.

Last night, Baicang had still been fantasizing about placing fourth in Class B, with Hellish Fubuki clinging to his leg and begging him to join the Fubuki Group.

He didn't know much about the Fubuki Group, but if a long-legged beauty with a killer figure like Fubuki personally came begging, he would have a hard time resisting.

Unfortunately, dreams were the opposite of reality.

Looking at the superpower that had refreshed first thing that morning, Baicang sank deep into thought.

Bargainer: Anything you buy will be a tiny bit cheaper.

What kind of shitty superpower is this?! Why call it Bargainer instead of Haggler?!

And why only a tiny bit cheaper?!

I even put down that I had superpowers on my hero assessment application. What am I supposed to do when they ask me to demonstrate during the interview?

Baicang was filled with grief and indignation.

Take the interviewers straight to the supermarket and show them the power of a grocery Bargainer?

My glorious reputation...

After saying goodbye to Runo, Baicang trudged out the front door.

Once Runo saw that Baicang had left, she cautiously approached his bedroom, expertly picked the lock, and slipped inside.

She surveyed the somewhat messy room.

Then she threw herself onto the bed, hugged the covers tight, and buried her head in them, breathing deeply until she was completely satisfied before letting go.

After a moment's thought, she pulled the pillow into her arms too.

After lying on Baicang's bed for a while, Runo remembered what her brother had said a few days earlier.

On her flushed little face, the usual gentleness in her bright, wide eyes vanished, replaced by a bone-chilling coldness.

"Hero Association!!"

As Baicang walked down the street, he suddenly felt as though the temperature around him had dropped considerably.

Glancing at the sun, which was still blazing overhead, he asked in confusion, "Isn't it summer right now?"

Why did it suddenly get cold? I hope Runo has her covers on while she sleeps in at home.

Just as he was considering whether to call Runo, a blue figure beside the road caught his attention.

"I'm Blue Tornado, the rank 30 B-Class Hero! With me protecting City M, nothing can go wrong!"

A middle-aged man wearing a blue bodysuit with a tornado emblem on his chest jumped onto a roadside flower bed and shouted to the pedestrians.

Amid the onlookers' cries and flashing phone cameras, he kept striking poses.

The bodysuit squeezed his belly into layers of "spare tires," sending great waves of flesh wobbling with every move.

Baicang could barely stand to look!

Back in his world, the police would surely have arrested the man for being a public eyesore.

In this world, however, this was perfectly normal behavior.

Here, virtually all law enforcement agencies were controlled by the Hero Association, with security guards and police serving only supporting roles.

Professional heroes had become the first line of defense in protecting cities, fighting criminals, and resisting monsters, earning the public's adoration.

To gain more recognition, as well as higher classes and rankings, they all promoted themselves in front of the public.

After all, a higher hero class and ranking meant greater status and influence.

For example, Sweet Mask, the rank one A-Class Hero, had an enormous fan base, along with formidable strength and influence.

He could even sway a behemoth like the Hero Association.

Although Baicang was very curious about how the man could run so fast with that enormous belly, he wanted to spare his mind the contamination.

He chose to hurry away instead.

City M.

The Hero Association branch was the highest executive authority and disaster response agency in all of City M, controlling every resource in the city, including hero deployment and mission assignments.

Venue Four of the 53rd Hero Assessment was located here.

Looking at the skyscraper towering into the clouds, the sea of people below, and the armed troops maintaining order with their guns, Baicang couldn't help marveling.

The Hero Association's status and financial power in this world were truly astounding.

"Pretty fierce competition."

Still, Baicang was very confident in his physical fitness. Securing Class B would be a breeze.

As long as they didn't ask about his superpower...

He followed the line into the building.

After confirming his identity with the staff at the entrance, Baicang was ready to begin the tests.

The hero assessment consisted of a physical test and a written exam, each worth fifty points, for a total of one hundred. A score above seventy was a pass.

Baicang aimed for around eighty points to secure a Class B result.

The written exam came first.

Since Baicang had done his homework beforehand, and had honed his ability to make things up during politics exams in the past, he was confident he could get full marks.

He strode out of the exam room full of confidence, then arrived at the sports grounds for the physical test.

Name: Baicang

Gender: Male

Age: 20

"Identity confirmed. Everything checks out."

The bespectacled staff member handed Baicang his assessment sheet and told him he could enter the grounds for his physical test.

Holding the assessment sheet, Baicang felt the same nerves he had experienced when receiving his answer sheet for the college entrance exam.

He changed his clothes and entered the sports grounds.

Baicang's handsome face and muscular build, combined with his striking, unusual white hair, drew plenty of attention.

But as he surveyed the people waiting to be tested, he lowered his head and sank into thought.

Among those waiting for their tests...

There were skeletal old men over seventy wearing reading glasses, street punks with green mohawks, and gangsters wearing gold chains.

Even more outrageous was a woman in adults-only BDSM gear... no! A man! There was a huge bulge in his underwear!

What a wealth of talent.

Looking at this collection of freaks, Baicang felt uncertain about the Hero Association's future.

When the BDSM pervert smiled at him and started coming over, Baicang jolted in fright and ran straight off to begin his tests.

After considerable exertion, Baicang successfully completed every physical test thanks to the superior physique he had gained after crossing over. Judging by his performance and the staff's expressions, he figured he was in good shape.

I've got this in the bag!

After evading another pursuit by the BDSM pervert, Baicang returned to the changing room. When he emerged in his original clothes, a young woman in uniform approached him.

"Mr. Baicang, please follow me for your interview."

Sigh...

He had applied as an esper, so the Hero Association took him seriously and had deliberately saved his interview for last.

So there really is no escaping it.

Even the young woman's lovely figure as she walked ahead couldn't dispel the sorrow in Baicang's heart.

As for why he had applied as an esper...

At first, Baicang hadn't known his superpower would refresh every week. When Steal the Sky and Replace the Sun became Fire Control, he had excitedly signed up for the hero assessment.

He wanted to catch Tatsumaki's attention and, through her, come to the notice of the Hero Association's upper ranks, so he could prepare for the disasters that would arrive later in the anime.

Although he could only control flames on the scale of a lighter, Baicang had been confident he could bluff his way through the interview.

Who knew it would turn into this dumbass ability? What am I supposed to do now? Actually take them downstairs to buy groceries?

"We're here. Please go inside."

In front of a black door, the young woman stopped, stepped aside, and turned to give Baicang a sweet smile.

Baicang nodded his thanks.

His hands trembled slightly as he pushed the door open.

Seeing three men in black suits sitting upright at a long table and watching him curiously, Baicang nervously found the seat farthest from them and sat down.

Looking at Baicang sitting seven or eight meters away, the three men thought he seemed a little uneasy.

One of them, a middle-aged man with black hair and scruffy stubble, teased him.

"Hahaha, no need to be so nervous."

"I see you listed yourself as an esper on your application. We place a great deal of importance on espers."

"May I ask what your ability is?"

Beads of sweat sprang up on Baicang's forehead.

Shit, straight to the point?!

"Uh... my ability is a little unusual..."

"Could you describe it for us?"

"..."

"I... my ability changes every week."

His answer left all three men looking surprised and extremely excited.

It keeps changing! That's even more incredible than the psychic powers of Tatsumaki, the rank two S-Class Hero.

If it turns out to be a powerful ability, we might have another S-Class Hero on our hands!

The stubbled man thought excitedly, unable to stop himself from rising to ask Baicang another question.

"Then may I ask what your ability is this week?"

"Things I buy are a little... bit cheaper..."

Baicang struggled to squeeze the barely audible answer through his clenched teeth.

"What? Could you speak up, please?"

"..."

"I can buy things cheaper!"

Baicang shouted helplessly, looking utterly defeated.

Just end it already. I'm tired.

The room immediately fell silent.

Just as the three men were left deeply shaken by Baicang's "powerful" superpower...

A piercing alarm sounded.

"Alert! Alert!"

"Attention, all units!"

"A major disaster has occurred in A City! Estimated disaster level: Demon-level!"