Chapter 37: Food Wars – V – The Karma Strikes Back

Yuri scowled and then swept out her arm, pointing at John. “What did you do to Grandpa?!”

John groaned. “Not this development.”

This was the exact same thing that happened when he tried to enlighten that Divine Doctor back in the Three Realms.

That girl had been just as fiery and upset and after the Divine Doctor got shaken up when he realized his path was incomplete, she had chased after John too…

“What was that?!” Yuri stepped forward, her eyes narrowed.

John sighed and quickly spun around, walking off. “I’m not dealing with this.”

Right. He didn’t have to deal with this. Knowing how things turned out, he’d get dragged into some sort of contest to show that he really had the abilities, some people would show up and expose his talent, blah, blah, blah.

John didn’t sign up to do that when he returned to Earth. He’d had more than his fair share of face-slapping, thank you very much!

So, instead of confronting Yuri, he walked away.

“W-Wait! Where do you think you’re going!?”

Footsteps echoed from behind, Yuri running after him.

John sped up his own steps and then said, “Home. And you should head back as well, considering your Grandpa’s state.”

Sound advice. Nothing but good intentions.

Since John had made a dish showing the limits of perfection to Minato, the old man would likely be in turmoil at the moment, especially as he realized his fundamental flaw.

The old man seemed to be made of stern stuff, so John wasn’t worried that the guy would drop dead or something, but he was definitely in a weak state and would benefit from the presence of his granddaughter to overcome his tribulation.

Of course…

“And whose fault is that!?”

…Yuri was having none of it.

John sighed and took a look around.

Was it because John and Yuri both looked like foreigners? The surrounding pedestrians gave them a wide berth, not wanting to get involved in their dispute.

In short, John couldn’t count on someone interrupting them or distracting Yuri to get her off his back.

Yuri’s footsteps were fast approaching, quickly closing the distance.

Hearing that, John broke out into a light jog.

“H-Hey! You bastard! Stop running!”

John didn’t turn back, but he said, “And get caught up in whatever insane contest you want to drag me into? No thanks.”

“You shameless bastard!”

John rounded the corner, making his way into the commercial district. As a result, there were more people around. But when they noticed him jogging and saw Yuri running after him, the crowd quickly scattered.

“When I catch you, I’ll make you wish you were dead!”

John sighed. “Honestly, things will end better for everyone around if you just let this go. And your grandfather’s fine. He’ll be up and running tomorrow morning-“

“So you *did* do something to Grandpa!”

John groaned.

Just what was it with girls like that? You try to reason with them, they get mad. You try to be nice, they get mad. You run away, they get mad. You stand your ground, they get even madder and then throw accusations of harassment, call higher authority, swear that you’re the most vile man beneath the heavens…

Gasps echoed as more people made way for John and Yuri.

He glanced back to check on her.

Their cat and mouse chase had led them a few blocks now, so he was hoping that she was tiring out.

Unfortunately, when John glanced back, all he could see was Yuri running at him with her eyes glaring with killing intent.

He really needed to sort out his karma… His ‘accumulation’ must have been synergizing with his wife’s acts and drawing in everything good and bad.

Like usual.

That was the only way to explain the current situation when he should have been immune from those clichés.

Though…

“Heh.”

If those old bastards knew that he was being chased around even after transcending the Three Realms, they would be on the floor laughing… while throwing all sorts of curses his way and blessings towards Yuri.

Especially the Jade Emperor. That guy still had it out for him the last John remembered-

“What the hell are you laughing at?!”

Right. Crazy girl still chasing him down.

John pulled out his phone to check the time. 12:30 PM.

He had to admit, for an ordinary high school girl, Yuri had decent physical abilities.

Glancing back, he saw that she had only just started to break a sweat. Her hair had become messy, the blonde strands flowing behind her in the wind. At the same time, a faint sheen of sweat was on her forehead and her clothes were starting to stick to her body from the sweat. However, her brown eyes were narrowed in determination and fury.

A fierce beauty, like a war goddess or valkyrie. One that would no doubt draw the attention of any man and the jealousy of any woman.

…And also the exact type of young woman that John hated dealing with the most.

He knew the type. Sweet on the inside, but harsh on the outside because of extenuating circumstances. If you broke through the girl’s sharp tongue and demeanor, she’d be sweeter than a bag of sugar or the purest honey.

Like his wife.

Which reminded him that he really got out lucky in that deal… and that he needed to go find proper gifts to make it up to her.

John frowned and then placed a hand on his chin to think.

His wife was already used to riches and divine treasures, so it wouldn’t do him any good to buy anything. At the same time, she was used to his tactics of giving her gifts to placate her.

Then… instead of gifts, maybe he should start finding ways to spend time with her instead?

Japan had some famous locations that weren’t quite present in the Three Realms.

…Though it might not impress her considering she was the Jade Princess and all.

“You… bastard…!”

Yuri’s voice. It was a bit further away now as well.

Glancing back, John saw that she had come to a halt, doubled over to catch her breath.

Seeing that, he finally stopped jogging and turned around. Making sure to keep a considerable distance so he couldn’t be accused of anything improper, John called out and said, “Did you calm down yet?”

Yuri shot him a fierce glare, but because she was so tired, that was it.

John took a look around the surroundings.

Since he had been lost in thought, he hadn’t been keeping track of where they were running. Now that he did, it seemed like he had somehow managed to reach a park.

It was also empty, as if perfectly set up to have the confrontation between him and Yuri.

Yuri panted, struggling to catch her breath. But she forcibly raised her body, glaring at John. As a result, it looked more like she was trying to hold herself back out of fury than exhaustion.

John shook his head. Walking over to a nearby swing set, he leaned against the pole supporting it and said, “Honestly, what’s your problem? Your grandfather will be fine… Moreover, he’ll be worried that you chased after me instead of heading home.”

“As if… I could just leave you be… after what you did…!” Yuri started to walk over to John, but her legs trembled, clearly exhausted from sprinting after him, and then she fell to her knees. “Dammit…!”

Seeing that, John sighed and said, “Look. I’m sorry if I messed up your plans or whatever last time. And I’ll make it up to you and your grandfather later, alright? In fact…” John walked up and pulled out his business card for her… Or rather, made one from thin air and handed it to her.

Yuri looked up and glared at the card. Still, it seemed like her head had cooled down a bit as she took it and read it instead of throwing it away or ripping it up. “John Smith… Myth Inc. CEO?”

“Right.” John nodded and said, “There. My contact info and everything. If you’re upset, come there and we can have a chat then. But running after me in public like this isn’t doing anyone any favors. Not to mention the trouble it will cause your grandfather. I’m fine since I’m relatively unknown here still, but you and your grandfather are pretty renowned right? Think about him and how your actions will reflect on him.”

Yuri flinched. “T-That’s…” She started to seem convinced, but then she narrowed her eyes and said, “But that’s your fault to begin with! You cheated and made Grandpa like that! I can’t just let you off!”

“Cheated?” John let out a long sigh and ran a hand through his hair. “It’s always like this…”

He had been hoping to just convince her with logic after she cooled off, but it seemed like Yuri wasn’t going to let it go that easily.

It seemed she was a bit like Alpha in that regard… which explained why the two were at each other’s throats earlier.

“Fine. Since you’re so obsessed with the fact that I ‘cheated’, how about I just show you what I did?”

Yuri pushed herself up and then brushed off her clothes. “Why didn’t you just agree to that earlier then, you bastard?!”

“Because it’s not in my policy to listen to bratty teenaged girls who run after me in a crazed fit of fury and curse me out in public, disregarding the reputation of herself and her family in the process?”

Yuri flinched, looking guilty and ashamed. “E-Even so!”

John sighed again and then made a show of pulling out his phone to look at the area. But in reality, he sent out some shadow servants into the city to go find and rent a nearby restaurant.

Yuri narrowed her eyes and said, “What are you doing now?”

“Making preparations. And arranging transportation… Though I have to say.” John looked up at Yuri and said, “Out of respect for your grandfather’s efforts, as well as a general apology, I have to warn you. Continuing to react so brashly like today is going to end poorly someday. If you keep on in this manner, one day you’ll piss off the wrong person and then your grandfather will never see you again.”

Yuri scoffed. “What, trying to scare me?”

John shook his head. “No. I’m telling you the reality. After all…” He stepped forward.

Yuri’s eyes widened and she stepped back on reflex. But before she could take half a step, John was already standing behind her, a knife pressed against her back.

Yuri froze.

“…It’d be easy to make you disappear right now.”

“Y-You…!” Yuri turned her head back but didn’t move. The sweat on her body increased, her eyes trying to see the knife but not daring to move.

John let out a long and weary sigh before shaking his head and putting the knife away into his sleeve before banishing it to his Heavenly Realm. After that, he backed off, giving Yuri space.

The blonde young woman… No, calling her a girl would be more accurate. Like Alpha had called her earlier, Yuri was a young girl who didn’t know any better.

So, before she met a terrible end like the countless others John had met before, he wanted to teach her a lesson in a way that would stick.

Yuri didn’t move. However, her shoulders were trembling and her breathing was irregular.

Was she still angry? Terrified?

John sighed and carefully walked around to face her, intending to apologize again and explain his actions.

And then he heard it.

A soft sniffle.

John froze.

Was it… just his imagination? It had to be right?

Still, he had to confirm it. So, with cautious steps, John walked all the way around to face Yuri again. And then…

“I-I… I know! I know that this is bad! But… But if Grandpa has a weak granddaughter…!” Yuri’s voice caught in her throat and then she fell to her knees again, covering her face and breaking down into sobs.

John groaned and covered his face as well, muttering, “Daddy issues. It’s always the Daddy issues…”