Bald Virus

Enri and Nemu, watching this spectacle, were amazed. They had never seen anything like this before. Just a few minutes ago, these knights were so cocky and cruel, but now they were running like frightened children.

Saitama, seeing the knights running, only sighed as if it didn't concern him. He didn't try to stop them, he didn't chase after them, he didn't care where they were running to. He just stood there, as if he didn't understand why they were acting like that.

The square was silent again, broken only by the faint moans of the wounded and the cries of the children. The village had been saved.

The villagers, coming out of their stupor, began to slowly rise from the ground. They looked at Saitama as their savior, as if he was an angel who had descended from heaven. Their eyes were filled with gratitude and admiration. They didn't understand who he was or where he came from, but they knew that he was the one who had saved them.

Saitama, feeling the stares of the villagers on him, began to feel nervous. He wasn't used to such attention. Usually he would save the day, quickly deal with the monsters, and then just go about his business, most often going on sale at the nearest supermarket. He didn't expect any praise or thanks, he just did what he had to do as a hero, albeit for fun.

The villagers began to come to their senses and rushed to help each other. They picked up the wounded, taking them to the local doctor, trying to give them first aid. They hugged their loved ones, happy that they were alive.

At this time, a few villagers noticed the knights lying unconscious. Rage and hatred flared up in their hearts, they wanted revenge for all that they had endured. They grabbed whatever they could get their hands on - rocks, sticks - and began to approach the knights, intending to finish them off.

Saitama, noticing this, quickly approached them and, without raising his voice, said: 

"Leave them alone. They are no longer a danger."

The villagers, surprised by his words, stopped. They did not understand why he wanted to keep them alive. They were filled with hatred and thirsty for revenge.

Saitama, seeing their bewilderment, did not explain anything. He simply walked over to the knights and began to help the villagers tie them up with ropes so they couldn't escape.

The villagers, submitting to Saitama's will, bound the knights.

 They were bound and powerless, and now they had to answer for their deeds.

Saitama, watching this, felt a slight satisfaction. He had saved the villagers.

 He had done his job, and now he could move on in peace.

As Saitama was about to leave, he heard someone call out to him. It was the village chief, an elderly man with a kind face and wise eyes. He slowly approached Saitama, his eyes full of gratitude.

"Hey, wait, hero!" - said the headman, his voice hoarse and trembling with excitement.

 "Where are you going? We haven't thanked you yet for saving us. You saved our lives, you're our hero, and we can't just let you go."

Saitama, stopping, turned to the headman and calmly replied:

 "I don't need money. You villagers need it more right now. You need to rebuild your homes, heal your wounds, and you will need money for that."

The headman, touched by Saitama's words, shook his head and said: 

"But, hero, we can't just let you go without offering at least a little. We want to thank you for your feat. We can't let you go hungry. Please stay at least for dinner. That is all we can offer."

Saitama, hearing the headman's words about being invited to dinner, suddenly perked up. 

His face, which had been calm and unemotional until then, suddenly lit up with a smile. 

He could not hide his excitement at the impending meal. He was very fond of eating, and for him, food was one of the great joys of life. 

Saitama, in order to hide his impatience, tried to regain a calm expression and looked around and said: 

"Alright, I'll take a look around the village while you prepare dinner. Just let me know when it's ready."

The headman, nodded.

Saitama, meanwhile, began to make his way around the village. He walked through the streets, but his gaze was unfocused and his thoughts were hovering somewhere far away from here, near the large, appetizing pieces of meat.

Saitama, who was walking through the village and was already starting to get bored as dinner still hadn't started, suddenly heard himself being called out. He turned around and saw a young blonde woman walking towards him, smiling embarrassedly.

She pulled herself together and walked up to Saitama and said, trying not to look him in the eye: 

"Uh, so how do you like the village? I'm sorry it doesn't look like much right now... it's partially destroyed now and it doesn't have the beauty it used to have."

Saitama looked at Enri carefully. His gaze was intense and studying, as if he was trying to solve some mystery. 

Enri, feeling his gaze on her, began to feel nervous. She didn't know what to say to him or why he was looking at her like that. She began to fix her hair and lowered her gaze to the floor.

Saitama, after being silent for a while, suddenly asked:

 "And who are you?"

This simple and unexpected question took Enri by surprise. She had expected anything but that. She felt all her thoughts jumbled and she was at a loss for words. She opened her mouth but couldn't utter a word.

Her eyes widened with surprise and her cheeks flushed. 

She couldn't believe that the man who had saved her village, and even held her in his arms, had absolutely no memory of her. 

Enri, hearing this simple question, "And who are you?", felt resentment brewing in her heart. Her cheeks flamed even more, but now it was a blush of embarrassment as well as annoyance. She couldn't believe that Saitama had forgotten her so quickly after everything that had happened.

With a resentment in her voice that could be felt in every word she said:

 "My name is Enri! And how can you forget me, Saitama-san? You did... you were the ones who carried me in your arms! In fact... I was the first person you found in the forest!"

She tried to remind him of everything in great detail:

 "You pulled me out from under those knights, didn't you! You protected me and Him! You... you saved us from death!"

Saitama, listening to her words, frowned.

Contradictory feelings raged inside Enri. She was hurt, upset, and a little humiliated that Saitama had forgotten her so quickly. But at the same time, somewhere deep inside, she realized that perhaps it wasn't surprising.

"He's so strong, so incredible! Surely he has a sea of female admirers who are far more beautiful and interesting than me, and many times more influential. Can he remember some village girl he saved from some knights?"

She felt small and insignificant compared to the image of Saitama she had painted for herself. She realized that to him she was just one of the many he had saved, and that she meant nothing special to him.

"I'm just a country girl, after all," Enri kept thinking.

 "He must have saved so many people that he just isn't able to remember everyone."

And at that moment, she heard a loud shout: 

"Dinner is ready! Please come to the table everyone!"

She felt something prickle inside her. There was resentment in her heart, but also relief because it was possible to end this awkward conversation. She didn't know how she should act with Saitama.

She looked at Saitama, who was already heading towards the table, and whispered: 

"I guess I just expected too much."

---------------------

Saitama, hearing the invitation to dinner, immediately walked toward the table that was set up in the center of the village. The villagers, with smiles on their faces, invited him to eat, and he sat down at the table without waiting for an invitation.

The food the villagers had prepared was quite simple and not as tasty as what he was used to eating back home. It was just ordinary food made from simple ingredients, but it was hearty and appetizing.

Saitama, hungry from the day, began to eat with great appetite. He didn't complain about the taste of the food, he realized that these people had given everything they had to feed him. And besides, the food was free, which was definitely a plus. He mentally thanked the residents for their generosity and continued eating, savoring every bite.

As he was finally getting full and finishing his meal, the atmosphere of the dinner was quite peaceful and pleasant. The inhabitants, forgetting their troubles for the time being, smiled and talked to each other, enjoying the freedom and hope for the future.

But the idyll did not last long. Suddenly, a panting young man ran up to the table, and, panting, shouted: 

"More soldiers are coming to us! On horses! There are many of them!"

All joy and serenity vanished as if they had never existed. Fear appeared on the faces of those present, and they all looked at Saitama as if he were their last hope.

With a sigh, Saitama set his plate aside and stood up from the table. He had gotten used to having his life constantly interrupted by some sort of trouble.

"All right," he said calmly. 

"Have the residents hide just in case. And I'll meet these knights. There's nothing to worry about."

The villagers, nodding silently, began to scatter, seeking cover. They knew Saitama could protect them, and they trusted in his strength.

Saitama left the table and walked leisurely towards the entrance of the village. He stood in the middle of the road with his arms crossed over his chest and began to calmly wait for the new soldiers to arrive. He didn't worry, he wasn't in a hurry, he just stood there like a stone sculpture, and sometimes even glanced at the watches he was looking at in the discount stores.

A few minutes passed, and Saitama, with his keen eyesight, noticed a cloud of dust in the distance. It was approaching the village at the speed of the wind, and Saitama realized that these were the very soldiers the young man had spoken of.

He waited as the dust cloud grew closer, until he could make out the faces of the approaching enemies. He watched them, and his face remained calm and unperturbed.

Finally, the soldiers approached the village. They stopped in front of Saitama, creating an impenetrable wall of horses and armor. In front of them, riding a huge, black horse, sat a huge man in shining armor, his face stern and expressing confidence.

"I am Captain Gazef Stronoff," the man said in a loud, commanding voice, so that he could be heard throughout the village. 

Saitama, listening to the pathos-laden speech of this strange..... weird? Uh... what was the name? Never mind, he'd already forgotten, he was starting to get frankly bored. He didn't understand why this man was shouting his name so loudly, and why he was ranting so long and tediously. He just wanted to end it all as soon as possible and go home.

While this, uh. what's-his-name, the captain was yelling about his position and his name, Saitama couldn't hold back a yawn. 

Gazef, having finished his introduction, turned to the headman who was standing next to Saitama, and from the height of his horse spoke up: 

"I take it you're in charge here? As far as I know, you were attacked by bandits, right? I've come to rescue you."

Saitama, listening to this speech, yawned again. He didn't understand why all this was necessary anymore. He had already saved this village as it was, and now this pompous type had come to take all the glory for himself. He didn't understand the logic of these people, and he was getting more and more bored.

"It's getting late," he muttered to himself. 

"I already saved them."

The headman, hearing Gazef say that he had come to rescue them, shook his head and looked at Saitama gratefully.

"No, that won't be necessary, Captain-san," the headman said, his voice calm and firm. 

"We have already been saved by a hero. He," the headman pointed his hand at Saitama, "saved us from the brigands and even helped us capture a couple."

Gazeph furrowed his eyebrows in surprise upon hearing those words. He hadn't expected this turn of events. He looked at Saitama, scrutinizing him with disbelief. He couldn't believe that this bald man in a ridiculous suit could be the hero who saved the village.

 He, surprised and a little embarrassed, jumped off his horse and, approaching Saitama, said:

 "I apologize for my ignorance. If all they say is true, then accept my thanks for your help and protection."

Saitama, listening to Gazef's words, was slightly surprised. This pathos type, it turns out, wasn't so bad after all. 

While Gazef and Saitama stood in front of each other trying to find common ground, one of Gazef's subordinates stepped forward from the ranks of the knights. He was agitated and spoke with obvious anxiety in his voice.

"Captain!" - uttered the subordinate, his voice strained. 

"We have detected the enemies that have surrounded the village! They are launching an attack!"

The faces of the knights, until that moment calm and confident, immediately changed. Fear and anxiety appeared on them. 

Gazef, hearing his subordinate's words, immediately frowned and looked in the direction the knight was pointing. He realized that the situation was serious and that they needed to take action immediately.

Saitama, inwardly sighed. His plans for a quiet evening were once again not going to come to fruition. He needed to do some more "hero" work before he could go home in peace.