The Absolute Godspeed of Infinite Worlds

Chapter 593 - 593

"Hey bro, I need to ask you something, but promise you won't hit me!"Walking along the mountain path, Okita Souji held her forehead protectively while eyeing him warily.

"Shoot."

"Are you cheating?"

Okita Souji rolled her eyes before giving him a look usually reserved for public enemies of women.

"Lately when I do your laundry, your clothes always smell like some unfamiliar woman's perfume! You better not be doing anything to betray sister Nero!"

"You've been spending a lot of time with Nero recently?"

Eiji didn't answer directly, instead studying Souji thoughtfully.

"N-not that much really!"

Souji suddenly shrank back, her gaze becoming evasive.

"Mom mentioned you've been going out every weekend lately, and your wardrobe's filled with all these flashy new clothes and accessories?"

"Uh..."

Souji guiltily averted her eyes.

Could she admit that sister Nero kept inviting her out shopping on weekends, and she'd succumbed to the monetary temptation of her sister-in-law's lavish spending to become their relationship spy?

"Thunk!"

Souji: "Owww!"

"Listen up, I'm not cheating. I've just been interacting with more women lately. You know me - I've never been one to settle for the ordinary."

The massive campus of Type-Moon Academy came into view, its gilded entrance plaque glittering like gold dust in the sunlight. The head of campus security, Amakusa Shirou, greeted arriving students with his usual gentle smile.

Leaving a skeptical Okita Souji behind, Eiji entered the high school division, striding confidently under the watchful eyes of many.

High School Division, Class 1-1.

"Morning."

Eiji entered the classroom and took his seat at the protagonist's designated spot - second to last row by the window - exchanging greetings with Achilles who waved at him from the front.

"Yaaawn~"

The moment he sat down, drowsiness assaulted Eiji again.

"Eiji-kun, have you been having trouble sleeping lately?"

Almost immediately, a girl at the adjacent desk turned to him with concern.

She was a fashionable girl with a flip phone covered in obscure stickers, nails done in crystal-clear polish, long drawn eyelashes, and light makeup on her cheeks - clearly skilled with cosmetics.

Though the ears on her head and tail behind her seemed utterly bizarre, no one at school paid it any mind, treating her like any other student.

"More or less. Just haven't slept much."

Eiji slumped onto his desk as sleepiness hit him like a tidal wave.

"Would you like to rest in the infirmary?"

The fox-like fashionable girl asked worriedly.

"Maybe later. Thanks for the concern, Suzuka Gozen."

"No problem at all!"

The fox girl practically skipped away, unable to suppress her grin.

[Divine Gratitude] - a skill effect that keeps someone in high spirits all day, though it tends to draw hostility from others.

"Why'd you come to class today?"

Achilles turned around from the front seat, jealousy written all over his face.

"Don't you usually disappear after arriving at school? We're lucky to see you once a day."

"How do you even know I came to school?"

"Whenever the noisy morning school suddenly goes quiet, there's an 80% chance you've arrived. Truly befitting of a Kami-sama!"

Eiji nodded in understanding.

"Scáthach's class is this morning."

"You're scared of her?"

Achilles looked unconvinced.

"You've barely attended any of her classes, and she never calls on you anyway. Seriously, are you two involved?"

At this topic, Achilles' face lit up with excitement.

"This just means I have one period to rest."

Eiji shot him a glare, completely unwilling to entertain the question.

If we were involved, I wouldn't be here - I'd be living at her place, wouldn't need to come to class at all, and certainly wouldn't be sporting these heavy dark circles from daily insomnia.

Soon after.

"Morning class begins. Everyone settle down!"

The Queen of the Land of Shadows entered the classroom in teacher's attire, her commanding voice instantly silencing the room.

"Before we begin, an announcement. There was a murder case at the shopping district last night - reportedly quite gruesome, with the victim dismembered. The whole town's been restless lately, so don't wander around after school. If any of you accidentally run into the killer, don't expect me to pray for you!"

How familiar this lecture sounds.

Eiji yawned and laid his head down right under Scáthach's watchful gaze, closing his eyes.

He'd been swamped lately, busy day and night with barely any time to sleep. Even consciously entering deep sleep couldn't help him recover.

But the shopping district... wasn't Raikou working there?

As these vague thoughts crossed his mind, Eiji quickly drifted off.

Scáthach glanced at him. Normally strict as iron, she said nothing this time and quietly looked away.

"Definitely involved!"

Achilles' face was the picture of envy.

With her ample chest, slender waist, long legs, and near-perfect curves, plus the stacked attributes of teacher, glasses, and long purple hair - Scáthach was practically the school's dream girl for many. And this guy had apparently won her over? The jealousy was unbearable!

...

In the midst of deep sleep, Eiji suddenly sensed danger.

"Whoosh!"

Before he could open his eyes, a sharp whistling sound reached his ears!

Eiji's hand shot up almost instinctively.

"Hiss!"

But his movement suddenly felt like moving through sludge, slowed tenfold.

The projectile struck his forehead dead center, forcing a sharp intake of breath.

With a clatter, the weapon fell to the floor in several pieces.

A piece of chalk.

Eiji looked up, sending a reproachful glare toward the lectern.

Couldn't you wake me up more gently?

"With me."

Scáthach lowered her chalk-throwing hand.

Her blood-red eyes focused on Eiji, the utter lack of emotion in her gaze sending chills down one's spine.

With those words, she turned and left the classroom.

At some point, the school had grown noisy again - morning classes had ended during his nap.

Under a mix of pitying and envious stares from classmates, Eiji yawned his way out of the classroom.

Faculty Building.

Eiji followed Scáthach into her office.

"You're late this morning!"

A valiant and beautiful young woman was already waiting in the spacious office.

The gray-uniformed girl crossed her arms, accentuating curves that rivaled Scáthach's. A red bow adorned her sleek black hair, adding delicate charm to her appearance.

But compared to her looks, her impatient finger-tapping betrayed her irritation, her blue eyes glaring daggers at the two.

Let's stop at two chapters for now - need time to brainstorm.