The Omnipotent Super Chuunibyou - Chapter 45

Hasegawa Izumi removed his identity-concealing mask.

Throughout the journey, he had worn this anime-style kitsune mask primarily due to time constraints. Any slight haste or deviation to places one shouldn’t be could easily attract attention.

Currently, there was no need for such minor actions to draw scrutiny from authorities, so he took extra precautions.

Additionally, the mask served dual purposes – enhancing his enigmatic aura and concealing his identity, making his movements more convenient.

To take a shortcut, Hasegawa Izumi remounted his bicycle and ventured onto a narrow forest path.

Soon, the scenery opened up before him.

A railway track and a rudimentary train station appeared ahead.

Due to its remote location, cell phone signals were scarce here. The only train heading towards the city departed every six hours, and various insects constantly buzzed around, proving quite bothersome.

From what he understood, there were just a few nearby villages, with the Forestry Bureau’s logging camp situated close by.

“It’s that direction; should be only a few minutes away.”

He glanced at a notice board near the platform, which displayed a map guiding his next route.

By following the road to the right, he would reach his destination.

The end of this road leads directly to the Forestry Bureau’s local outpost, contrasting with the raw wilderness, as it features modern buildings.

Apparently, this place is primarily used for training loggers, and only after their internship period would they be assigned to various villages.

“Hey, where did you come from? Don’t tell me you’re a lost student?”

Noticing him approaching on a bicycle, the gatekeeper quickly emerged from his booth, scrutinizing Izumi closely.

“I’m here to purchase wood.”

Hasegawa Izumi responded while dismounting from his bike.

“Is that so?” The gatekeeper observed the young age of the person before him, finding it rather unconvincing.

“Please inform Hayano-san that Hasegawa has arrived,” Izumi continued, unfazed by the skeptical attitude.

“You know Hayano-san?” The gatekeeper looked doubtful, but seeing the serious demeanor of the newcomer, he turned to communicate through his walkie-talkie.

“Huh? Already here? Make sure to treat them well, don’t neglect them! I’ll be right over.”

Hayano-san’s voice came through the intercom, sounding highly attentive.

It was important to note that Hayano-san was the overall head of this regional office. The deferential attitude towards the young man before him clearly indicated his exceptional status!

“Excellent. I’ve informed Hayano-san, and he’ll be here shortly. Please wait for a moment in the meeting room; thank you for your patience.”

The gatekeeper promptly changed his demeanor, bowing courteously as he extended the invitation.

Hasegawa Izumi parked his bicycle inside and entered the meeting room to await Hayano-san.

Knock, knock, knock…

As he enjoyed some prepared afternoon tea, after a brief while, there came another knock at the door.

A person entered, appearing to be in their late thirties or early forties, with neatly styled short hair and dressed impeccably—a clear sign of deliberate respect.

Izumi wasn’t surprised by this treatment, as he had subtly utilized the Sawamura family’s connections (the Spencer lineage), likely leading them to perceive him as a member of high society.

“My apologies for keeping you waiting, Hasegawa-san,” Hayano-san expressed upon entering the room.

“Don’t worry about formalities; I’m here solely to purchase satisfactory raw materials, and I’m quite pressed for time.”

As he spoke, Izumi stood up.

“Well then… alright, let’s head there now.”

Hayano-san was slightly taken aback by his straightforward manner but quickly adjusted.

After a nearly half-hour car ride, they arrived at the location of the oak forest.

“Would you like us to help select the wood?” Hayano-san asked.

“No need, I can manage on my own.” Hasegawa Izumi declined with a shake of his head, promptly stepping out of the vehicle and venturing into the woods.

This sudden action startled them greatly.

In such a place, even a momentary lapse in attention could lead to injuries from tripping or collisions!

“You can wait in the car, I’ll come back once I’ve found what I need,” Izumi’s voice swiftly reassured them, stopping any thoughts of following him.

“Are you sure it’s okay, Hayano-san? Shouldn’t we go check on him?”

“He said no assistance is needed, so we respect that. If we upset him, it might not bode well for us.”

“But I heard there have been recent sightings of bears around here; it’s quite dangerous.”

“How likely is it to encounter a bear just like that? Besides, we haven’t heard about such incidents for a long time. They probably mistook something else for a bear.”

While Hayano-san engaged in conversation with the two loggers, Hasegawa Izumi had already ventured deep into the dense forest.

Surrounded by nearly identical trees and scenery, avoiding getting lost would be challenging for most people. However, Izumi had a remarkable memory, so he didn’t need to worry about this issue.

“Huh?”

Suddenly, his eyes lit up, not because he spotted a desirable oak tree but due to a remarkably straight branch, as thick as a thumb.

It held an inexplicable allure.

The impulse to pick up such a stick-like branch felt almost instinctual, etched within his DNA – what one might call hunting instincts.

“Ah.”

He stepped forward, picked up the branch, gave it a few swings, feeling satisfied with its grip, and continued on his way carrying it along.

Another five minutes passed.

His gaze finally found the desired raw material he had been seeking.

“Rustle…”

Treading on fallen leaves, Hasegawa Izumi gently traced the patterns on the oak tree, as if sensing something deeper within them.

Suddenly,

he felt a gaze upon him.

In a bustling street or school setting, this wouldn’t have raised his concern.

But amidst the dark forest, it immediately caught his attention.

“Snap… Snap…”

Amidst the silent woods, urgent and forceful footsteps echoed, accompanied by the sound of snapping twigs.

These were distinctly different from human steps.

Hasegawa Izumi’s eyes shifted to the left, quickly spotting a black figure charging down from a small slope several hundred meters away.

“It seems like a bear?”

“No, we need to get closer to confirm; it could just be someone in a costume.”

After all, such rumors existed online.

Within moments, while patiently waiting, the black bear approached to within ten meters of him.

“Roar!!”

The bear abruptly halted, emitting a thunderous roar and rearing up on its hind legs. Its imposing stature became evident, resembling a towering iron structure, exuding an aura of immense strength, seemingly unshakable.

“Are you warning me to leave? Have you claimed this area as your new territory?” Hasegawa Izumi interpreted the meaning behind the bear’s roar, attempting to communicate with it.

“Roar!”

This time, the black bear’s call was somewhat softer, its large, jet-black eyes flickering with alert intelligence, giving off a sense of considerable wisdom.

“It seems this isn’t just a costume-wearing oddity but a real bear. However, its intelligence appears to be above average—could it be on the verge of gaining human-like cunning?”

To the black bear’s confusion, the human before it seemed unperturbed and even took the time to scrutinize and analyze it, showing no signs of fear or desire to flee.

Was its title as the King of the Forest so ineffective at instilling intimidation?

The black bear lacked complex reasoning abilities; it only felt the disdain in the human’s gaze, instantly igniting both pride and fury within it.

“ROAR!!”

With a powerful roar, the black bear charged forward like a tank, its sharp claws resembling unsheathed blades, ready for a forceful attack.

Japanese black bears, compared to other subspecies, are generally smaller. However, the bear confronting Izumi exceeded typical size, likely approaching three hundred kilograms. Among land-dwelling creatures, such a formidable threat is rare indeed!

Unfortunately for this black bear, it had encountered no ordinary person.

“After all, you’re still within protected territory right now. I’ll show some restraint.”

Facing the charging black bear, Hasegawa Izumi held a sturdy branch like a club, standing firm as a pine tree, expression calm and unflinching, devoid of any fear or surprise.