A Tarnished Hero

Chapter 28: A Bitter Pill

"Well, here we are, my humble abode." Izuku turned around and stretched his arms wide open, both Patches and Blaidd looking at him like some kind of street performer. Midnight and Eraserhead has opted to go their own way once his house came into view, so that just left him, the bald man, and the halfwolf to their own devices.

Not that they would do anything untoward, what with how the walls had eyes and ears everywhere. If there was one thing Izuku respected of the rat, it was that he valued security.

"Strange design for a house, eh?" Patches was the first to move forward, greedy eyes roaming all across the property in an attempt to find anything worth of value.

"A difference in culture and technology." Izuku replied while sticking close to the man, making sure that his grubby mitts didn't grab anything to sell it back to him later in the Lands Between. And, the funny thing is, if Patches did manage to grab something from his house he liked, such as soap, and he ran out in the Lands Between, Izuku would be willing to cough up runes like no tomorrow just to buy it back. "Also, keep your hands to yourself, Patches."

"What? I wasn't doing anything, I swear on my good name." Patches grinned and held his hands behind his back. If there ever was a poorly disguised liar, Patches would be it. He'd have to ask Melina to keep an eye on the bald man, just to make sure he doesn't incur the wrath of the rat running the entire school. Thieves aren't respected in this world.

"I'd listen to him if I were you." Blaidd stepped in, his height towering over the two as he held his snout up high. His eyes roamed the property for a scant few seconds, before letting how a low hum. "Looks decent enough."

"You should check the inside." Izuku chuckled as he moved towards the front door. Laying his hand upon the knob, he twisted it, only to realize that it was locked. Scratching the back of his head, he tried to recall where he left the keys, only to be reminded by the spectral girl whispering into his ear.

"You left it underneath the door mat." Giving his mental thanks to Melina, because he sure as hell didn't want the two to know that he had someone following him, and by extension, them while fully invisible.

Taking the key from under the floor mat, he inserted it into the doorknob and twisted it open. A normal person would think that with the technology advancements, security would also advance, but no, physical locks still did the job splendidly, sometimes even surpassing those of digital origins.

Entering the house, Izuku was followed by both Blaidd and Patches, their eyes once again roaming the insides of his humble abode. No doubt, they were confused the moment they laid eyes on the giant screen hanging upon one of the walls.

"Izuku, what is that?" Blaidd pointed towards the TV screen and Izuku smirked. Silently picking up the remote that laid on the couch — he'd have to teach his spectral companion to learn to leave the remote on the table instead of the couch — he pressed on the power button and waited for the TV to boot up.

Blaidd's eyes widened when it lit up, showing live video feed about another hero duking it out with a villain within Musutafu. Curious, he approached the screen, Patches doing the same as his eyes remained glued on the ensuing fight.

Giving a knowing smirk, Izuku tapped both of their shoulders and pointed towards the couch. His intentions known, the half wolf and the bald man took their seats and watched intently as the ensuing controlled chaos continued.

"Downtown Musutafu in turmoil today as Kamui Woods tries to contain a budding villain that is on the run." The scene portrayed the hero, Kamui Woods, using his quirk to immobilize the villain, one that had an appearance quite similar to that of the Beastmen from Farum Azula.