"What approach?"
As soon as Denji heard that there was a way to solve the problem at its root, she immediately pushed aside her earlier doubts.
"Kill the creditor."
Chiya spoke bluntly: "Under Japanese law, as long as you don't inherit your father's estate, you don't have to repay his debts. So your debt is illegal, including the loan sharking. But the yakuza won't care about that. They'll just exploit you until you're dead. So the only way is to kill your creditor."
Even if you inherit the estate, you only need to use the estate to offset the debt, and you won't have to repay the remaining amount. But loan sharks won't reason with you…
"That's amazing… I had no idea about any of this…"
Denji was stunned.
She had never been to school, so how could she know about the law?
From the day her father died, she had been forced to repay the debt. She thought it was something she had to do, and if she didn't repay it, she would be killed!
"But I'm too weak. There are so many of them. I can't possibly beat them."
Denji knew her own limitations.
"Don't worry, I'll help you. Those thugs are nothing to fear."
Chiya had already decided to save Denji.
Although in four years, Denji would fuse with Pochita and become Chainsaw Man, completely changing her life.
But those four years would be filled with pain and suffering. Starvation and abuse would be the norm, and since Denji in this world was a girl, she would likely be forced into prostitution.
In the original story, the yakuza even planned to force Denji, who was a boy, into prostitution. As long as it made them money, they would do anything.
Since he had transmigrated here, he couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
That said, it seemed Denji had only recently made a contract with Pochita. Although she was malnourished, her body didn't have any serious issues, and all her parts seemed intact.
"R-really?"
Denji could hardly believe it.
Aside from her mother, who had passed away early, she had always been an object of disdain and abuse. Being treated normally, without being looked down upon, was already a luxury for her. She never dared to imagine someone would help her or care about her.
"Of course, it's true." Chiya nodded.
"That's amazing!"
Denji's face immediately lit up with joy. She hadn't been this happy in a long time.
[Ding! Host has unlocked the achievement "Denji's Favor (Lv. 1)." Attribute points gained: 2!]
Hearing this system notification, Chiya was slightly surprised. There was an achievement like this?
And judging by the (Lv. 1) suffix, it seemed there were multiple stages.
"But how do you know about my debt? We've just met, right?"
At this point, Denji remembered her earlier doubt.
"You know that making a contract with a devil grants you devil powers, right? This is one of my abilities—I can see a part of someone's memories."
Chiya lied without batting an eye. "But this is my secret. Don't tell anyone."
Denji was slightly stunned. The fact that he was willing to share such a secret with her must mean he already saw her as someone he could trust, right?
She immediately nodded vigorously. "Mhm! I won't tell anyone!"
However, she didn't even consider whether his words were true.
Chiya knew Denji was this naive and innocent, but he wasn't lying to her with malicious intent. After all, he couldn't just tell her about his identity as a transmigrator.
He continued, "Besides, I have a grudge against that yakuza group. Aren't the enemies of my enemies is my friends?"
This wasn't a lie. In the original story, many Public Safety devil hunters, especially Himeno, were killed by the yakuza. The mastermind was a certain weapon human, also known as the Katana Man, though the real mastermind behind it all was actually Makima.
And the Katana Man's grandfather was Denji's biggest creditor, that old bastard who had been turned into a zombie. So it was actually the same yakuza group.
Chiya naturally despised this yakuza group and was determined to wipe them out.
"Oh, okay."
Denji nodded without any suspicion.
"By the way… is your eye okay?"
At this point, Denji was staring at Chiya's left eye.
She had noticed the bloodstain below his left eye earlier. Seeing that he hadn't wiped it off, she couldn't help but remind him.
"It's fine. This is just the price of using demonic powers."
Chiya finally remembered that he had forgotten to wipe away the blood from his left eye, which had now dried into a stain.
He casually wiped away the bloodstain and continued, "Once we eliminate the yakuza, you won't have to keep repaying the debt."
"That's a great idea!"
But soon, Denji's expression turned worried again. "But will the two of us be enough?"
Although she had just witnessed the big brother's strength firsthand, the yakuza had numbers on their side.
And she knew she didn't have much combat ability. Strictly speaking, it was just the big brother alone, taking on an entire yakuza group for her…
"No problem,"
Chiya had just started speaking when Denji's stomach let out a loud growl.
Denji lowered her head and patted her stomach. Unlike most girls, she didn't feel embarrassed about something like this. "I just ate a slice of bread before we left. How come I'm already hungry again…"
"Woof woof~"
At this moment, Pochita rubbed his head against Denji's calf, his barks soft and gentle, as if comforting her.
Denji immediately crouched down and hugged Pochita. "Pochita, you must be hungry too. There are two slices of bread left at home. Let's go back and eat them."
"Go home and pack up whatever you want to take with you, then come with me."
At this point, Chiya said.
"Huh…?"
Denji didn't react at first.
"Of course, if you still want to keep living in that little shack, I'll respect your wishes." Chiya added.
Only then did Denji understand. She quickly shook her head. "No, no, no! Who would want to keep living in that dump?"
"Then it's settled. You and Pochita go home first. I have something important to take care of, so I'll leave for a bit. Once I'm done, I'll come find you at your place."
Chiya had already thought of a plan.
"Okay!"
Denji, overjoyed, ran home with Pochita in her arms.
Even now, she couldn't believe that she had met such a kind person today, someone willing to take on an entire yakuza group alone for her.
After running a few steps, she turned back and waved at Chiya. "Bye, Chiya-niichan! Make sure to come find me later. We have a deal!"
"Definitely."
Chiya smiled.
Seeing that gentle, handsome smile, Denji's face turned slightly red with shyness as she ran off with Pochita.
"What should I do, Pochita? I think I've fallen for that nii-chan…"
[Ding! Host has unlocked the achievement "Denji's Favor (Lv. 2)." Attribute points gained: 4!]