Journey to Godhood Begins in Frieren

Origami went off to brush her teeth too, and Shichen stopped pretending he couldn't hear anything. He told the other two to go brush as well.

Thankfully, they were both obedient.

Tohka was just naturally well-behaved, and Mukuro was following the "dutiful wife" mindset to the letter.

Still, even if they listened this time, Shichen knew this kind of thing would keep happening for a while.

Mukuro's possessiveness and jealousy weren't problems you fixed overnight. The only real solution was time—letting her relationship with everyone deepen, and letting her slowly get used to this kind of life.

So for the weekend, Shichen didn't take everyone out running around. He stayed home with them and focused on Mukuro.

The goal was simple: help Mukuro get closer to the others.

Mukuro didn't dislike anyone, but she stayed glued to Shichen anyway—wherever he went, she followed, always holding onto his arm like she couldn't bear to let go.

A clingy girlfriend is usually a great thing—no one hates it, especially when she's that cute and… well, that striking—if there weren't other people watching.

The others mostly treated it like entertainment. Tohka, meanwhile, treated it like a competition—she grabbed Shichen's other arm and refused to let go either.

Mukuro and Tohka bickered and got jealous, but they didn't actually throw hands.

Even if Mukuro wanted to, she couldn't—her Angel was still with Shichen, and without it her fighting ability dropped hard.

And Tohka wouldn't be the one to start a real fight anyway.

Honestly, Shichen thought this might not be a bad way for Mukuro to adapt. If she got used to a little harmless jealousy and rivalry, her possessiveness might stop feeling so extreme.

During those two days, Shichen also had Reine handle Mukuro's transfer paperwork.

Aside from Tohka's class and a couple of the younger-looking girls, most of them could blend into school life just fine, even if their "on paper" ages didn't match their appearances.

Nia was the only one who was fully in "working adult" mode.

Mukuro originally didn't want to go to school at all—but the moment she heard Shichen was a teacher there, she agreed instantly.

On Monday morning, after breakfast, everyone changed into their uniforms and headed out with Shichen.

Today, he deliberately walked with them instead of using any shortcuts.

For a first day, walking felt right—he wanted Mukuro to adjust little by little.

He was a bit worried she might not care about school or might get bored fast, but with Tohka and the others around, it should be fine.

They dropped Kotori off at her school first, then everyone went together to Raizen Academy.

Honestly, walking down the street in the middle of a group of uniformed girls was its own kind of luxury.

You didn't even need jealous stares from strangers to feel satisfied—just being there was enough.

And each of them had a different kind of charm.

On them, the uniform wasn't "proper attire" so much as an accessory—framing youth, freshness, and that bright, just-starting-out energy.

Shichen was used to seeing everyone in uniform by now, but it was the first time he'd seen Mukuro's.

It was supposed to show "student innocence," yet on her it somehow looked… mature. Her blouse couldn't hide her figure at all—if anything, it outlined it even more.

And then there was her long golden hair, practically trailing behind her—so unmistakably different.

She looked like a princess trying out a school uniform for fun.

Compared to her, Tohka and the others weren't even in the same league. Mukuro was the standout among standouts.

All along the way, pedestrians couldn't help staring. Some even stopped walking—and a few spaced out so hard they bumped into poles.

Spirits already had an unreal presence, and when they moved together like that… people getting stunned was the most normal thing in the world.

At the school gate, the looks got even worse. But this time, the students' attention wasn't on Tohka's group as a whole—it was centered on Mukuro.

Not because she was the loudest, but because she was the newest.

Everyone already knew Tohka and the others. Mukuro was unfamiliar—and students always fixate on unfamiliar faces, especially when it's a beautiful transfer student who screams "main character" just by existing.

Transfer students weren't rare anymore, but people still couldn't wrap their heads around why every single one was such an eye-catching girl.

The campus forum lit up again.

Mukuro was placed into the same class as Tohka and the others—partly because Mukuro and Tohka were already "closest" in their own way. You don't bicker that much with someone you don't know.

Having familiar faces around also meant someone could look out for her—and with the more level-headed Kurumi and the quietly reliable Origami there too, Mukuro wouldn't be alone.

Before sending them off, Shichen specifically told them: if anyone started running their mouth, getting handsy, or trying to act tough, they were allowed to shut it down immediately.

He didn't care how big a scene it caused. Mukuro's first day mattered more.

Kurumi was perfect for handling things discreetly. Origami could do it openly—her cold bluntness was already part of her "brand," so no one would question her putting someone in their place.

And if you're wondering why Shichen didn't just do it himself…

Because they wanted to.

Shichen wasn't afraid of anything, but they wanted the satisfaction of protecting their own—and yeah, they also wanted praise for it afterward.

If they were that motivated, why would Shichen stop them?

Everyone wins.

…

"Shichen, why are you playing games in here?"

The room was dim, lit only by the flicker of a screen where some character was bouncing around wildly.

In front of it, Shichen held a controller, completely focused.

In the prep room, Reine walked in and stared at him with mild disbelief.

She clearly remembered how worried Shichen had been this morning about whether Mukuro would fit in—and it hadn't even been half a day. And here he was gaming?

"Reine? Why are you here?" Shichen glanced up, surprised.

"I don't have class right now." Reine sat down beside him and leaned in until they were just barely touching.

"…Whoa—ambush!" Shichen snapped his attention back to the game.

"You were worried about Mukuro, weren't you? So why are you in here playing games? Stress relief?" Reine tilted her head, watching him quietly.

In the dim light, her heavy under-eye circles weren't as obvious.

"It's not that," Shichen said, still moving the controller. "Mukuro's doing better than I expected. She adapted fast—and she's already getting along with her classmates."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah."

"Then… isn't that basically done?" Reine asked.

"Done with what?" Shichen didn't look away from the screen.

"Mukuro was the last Spirit, wasn't she? If she's settled in, then nothing should be holding you back now."

"…Probably."

"Then you can go find the Original Spirit and settle everything."

Shichen finally set the controller down and looked at her.

In the darkness, the two of them held each other's gaze—calm and sharp.

"How do you know I have unfinished business with the Original Spirit?" Shichen asked.

"I guessed," Reine replied softly, expression unchanged.

"That good, huh?"

"It's not hard to infer," Reine said. "You and Kotori and the others are tangled up in time-related cause and effect. It's natural the Original Spirit would be part of that too. And you've already said her target is you."

"…Yeah. You're really sharp, Reine."

"Anyone paying attention could figure it out."

Shichen chuckled, picked the controller back up, and resumed playing. "Still, I can't go to her yet."

"Why?" Reine's brow tightened.

"Mukuro's situation isn't actually resolved."

"What's left?"

"She sealed her memories. Her past—her family—what she went through… she still has to face it."

"…I see." Reine's eyes narrowed slightly. "So when are you going to let her recover those memories?"

"No rush," Shichen said. "Let her settle into her new life first. Once her mindset is steadier, it'll be safer."

"That's… too slow." Reine's gaze went cold.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing." Reine stood up. "I'm going to the office."

And she left.

After she was gone, Shichen put the controller down again and stared at the doorway, frowning.

Something bad was coming.

…

Up until lunch, nothing happened. Mukuro and Tohka's group looked like they were getting along fine.

But right near the end of the lunch break, the alarm suddenly blared.

A Spacequake warning.

"How can there be a Spacequake?" Kurumi frowned inside the classroom.

"Wasn't that supposed to be over?" Origami shot back.

"Quick—tell Shichen… Where's Mukuro?" Tohka spun in place, scanning the room. Mukuro wasn't there.

"…Don't tell me."

Back home, where Shichen had returned to relax with Yoshino and Natsumi, he heard the alarm too.

He hadn't expected another Spacequake.

But then he felt it—the violent surge of spirit power in the distance, like something was spiraling out of control.

And the "factor" inside that turbulence felt familiar: the stench of reversal, unmistakable.

Worse—within that storm was a wave pattern identical to the energy signature of Michael, the Angel he'd taken and sealed inside himself.

Mukuro's power was rampaging.

She was on the verge of reversing.

But why?

At school, there shouldn't be anyone who could push her that far…

…No. There was one.

So it really was happening.

Something bad.

~~~

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