Early in the morning, warm sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of a high-end duplex villa.
The blonde girl rolled her snow-white stockings up layer by layer, the elastic snapping crisply against her thighs.
"Another hopeful day, death!"
Sunlight reflected off Dekomori's smooth forehead, casting a faint golden glow. She slowly tied her hair into twin tails, swung her "warhammer" through the air, and smiled in satisfaction.
"Oh! I must report the information from the parallel world to my Master as soon as possible! Death! We must hurry toward destruction!"
With her short legs pumping energetically, Dekomori spun in place, then dashed downstairs in a few quick steps. Ignoring the maid's stunned gaze, she grabbed two slices of bread and stuffed them into her mouth.
"Miss! Your Breakfast"
"It's too late, death! I'm leaving!"
The maid glanced at the clock. It was only 6:00 a.m.
Miss… the driver hadn't even started work yet!
On the sidewalk leading to the school, Dekomori walked briskly with bread clenched between her teeth, the scenery rushing past on both sides. Focused on delivering her message, she failed to notice anything unusual.
Meanwhile, inside a coffee shop along the only route to school
A booth facing the street contained a camera quietly adjusting its focus.
Kotoko Iwanaga stared at her laptop, which replayed footage of Dekomori passing by moments earlier.
Beside her, the undead samurai rubbed his hands together obsequiously.
"I didn't expect Your Highness to notice something amiss so quickly after arriving."
Kotoko's eyes were fixed on the screen as streams of data scrolled past. She bit her thumb, muttering to herself.
"Compared to yesterday, that child's physical fitness has increased significantly. Speed, endurance, even reaction time,up by nearly twenty percent."
"Tsk… so there really is something abnormal about that 'Descendant.'"
"Princess?"
The undead warrior's trembling voice pulled her back.
I need to find a way into that game myself, Kotoko thought. Otherwise, I won't uncover the truth.
But it's dangerous… Perhaps I should have someone else test it first. I need to confirm whether that 'Descendant' is truly human. If this is the work of some malignant spirit, the consequences would be…
"Princess?"
"…But how do I convince that person to give me a slot?"
At that moment, the samurai suddenly shouted:
"Princess!"
"Hm?" Kotoko looked up.
Dekomori's face was pressed flat against the café window, her features slightly distorted by the glass.
"!"
Kotoko's heart skipped.
We've been discovered? That visitor really was watching me the whole time?
No
Was it because Dekomori's perception had improved?
Kotoko turned to look at the samurai
Only to find he had vanished without a trace.
A bead of cold sweat slid down her forehead.
At the same time, Dekomori burst into the coffee shop, hurriedly swallowing the last of her bread. She choked slightly, patting her chest as she ordered a coffee from the clerk.
When she finally sat down across from Kotoko, she was already gulping it down.
"Ugh so bitter!!"
Dekomori stuck out her tongue.
Kotoko leaned back slightly, her gaze filled with mixed emotions.
"What do you want?" she asked coolly. "We should be complete strangers. Even if you fell in love with me at first sight, I don't have any particular interest in women."
Unfazed, Dekomori slammed her coffee cup onto the table, braced her hands on it, and leaned forward.
"Hey."
"What's wrong with your eyes?! And,and what was that dark thing beside you just now?!"
Kotoko turned her head away with a dry laugh.
"Ha… what are you talking about? Where's your attending physician?"
Excited, Dekomori completely ignored the implication. She slammed her fist down.
"Stop hiding it already! Lord Descendant said so, death!"
"The world is filled with [mysteries], death!"
Her entire body trembled with excitement.
What's right in front of us is the greatest key to exploring the invisible boundary line!
Tch… what a troublesome girl, Kotoko thought, conflicted.
She tapped her prosthetic eye helplessly.
"As you can see, I'm just a poor girl who lost her right eye and left leg. Could you please stop bothering me?"
Dekomori paused, then stroked her chin thoughtfully.
"Your memories were altered too? Don't worry, death! As long as I ask my Master the wielder of the Evil King's Eye, I can surely awaken your past-life memories!"
"…What are you even saying?"
"Come with me! One-eyed, one-legged Lord of Wisdom! We shall awaken your dormant power, death!"
"Huh?!"
Before Kotoko could react, she was already being dragged along by Dekomori, running toward the school.
Why did things turn out like this…?
Kotoko was speechless.
At the School Gate
The PE teacher stood at the entrance, arms crossed, glaring at them.
"Unauthorized personnel are prohibited from entering the school. And you, little girl judging by your appearance, you're still in elementary school. Shouldn't you be in class?"
He glanced at Dekomori.
"Or are you causing trouble again, Dekomori?"
"I'm already a high school student," Kotoko sighed helplessly.
"This person is the key to exploring the invisible boundary line, death!" Dekomori declared, striking a pose.
"She must meet my Master! Not even the Great Ape Battle Saint can stop us!"
"Who's the giant ape?!" the teacher barked. "Get your homeroom teacher here!"
"Ugh—"
The PE teacher grabbed Dekomori by the collar.
In the end, Kotoko was naturally denied entry as an outsider, while Dekomori received a stern lecture.
Only after Kotoko revealed that she was also in the group did the farce finally end.
Later.
"Why…"
Having missed school entirely, Kotoko let out a long sigh.
The undead warrior slowly appeared beside her.
"Princess."
"Where did you go just now?" Kotoko asked irritably.
"That child appeared capable of seeing me. To be safe, I withdrew," he explained.
"…I see." Kotoko rubbed her chin.
"So the game not only enhances physical fitness but also grants a degree of spiritual sensitivity."
"That man is truly something."
The warrior hesitated, then spoke carefully.
"Your Highness… there is something I'm unsure whether I should mention."
"Huh?" Kotoko frowned. "You still have secrets from me?"
After all the messes I've cleaned up for you?
The undead warrior immediately knelt.
"I sensed the presence of a god within that child."
"…A god?" Kotoko sucked in a breath. "The kind you mean?"
"Yes." He lowered his head. "I once encountered a wandering god named Yato. The aura was similar. That child appears to be a kin of a higher deity."
"A shrine maiden…?" Kotoko calmed herself. "Then she's no different from me."
The Sakura Province claimed to have eight million gods. In truth, many yokai were worshipped as such.
Kotoko chosen as the Goddess of Wisdom by demons, stood above most of them.
Still…
High-ranking deities did exist.
"Tch. What a pain…"
The undead warrior fell silent.
Kotoko continued walking, clearly not heading toward school.
"Princess?"
"Ah, stop it!" Kotoko covered her ears.
"It's already late, why would I still go to school? I'm taking the day off. I'll just say someone forced me to work all night and didn't let me rest."
"…I see."
"Oh, never mind that. I'm going to the hospital to sleep. Can't you see my dark circles?"
Leaving the stunned samurai behind, Kotoko Iwanaga leaned on her cane and headed toward the familiar hospital.