When Satsuki returned to the Kusanagi household, she only said a single sentence.
"The matter has been resolved."
Her tone was calm, without the slightest mention of the details of the divine battle near Sardinia, nor any follow-up regarding Prometheus' Grimoire.
"Oh~ Did you give my regards to Lucretia?" The folklore professor who had once been quite the romantic in his youth merely asked an irrelevant question with a genial smile.
However—when his gaze shifted to Erica, who was kneeling properly and obediently beside Satsuki, a subtle expression appeared on his face.
"Satsuki, and these two are...?"
"A Knight and Witch I met in Italy—Miss Erica Blandelli and her maid, Arianna."
"Ah, a Witch, I see."
Kusanagi Ichirou did not look surprised. If anything, his expression seemed to say, As expected.
Satsuki had little interest in her grandfather's thoughts and simply said, "Due to certain special circumstances, Miss Erica will be staying here temporarily."
"Um... I will pay rent. Would 1,000 euros per month be acceptable?"
The young lady clearly lacked nothing in the way of money. One thousand euros was more than enough to rent an apartment in the center of most Italian cities.
Kusanagi Ichirou burst into hearty laughter.
"Miss, the Kusanagi family has not fallen so far as to charge rent to guests who have come from afar—especially a beauty such as yourself. Please stay without concern. There is no need to pay."
Though his words sounded magnanimous, there was something faintly greasy in the finer details.
In the end, Satsuki led Erica to the place where she herself was staying.
Incidentally, also living here was her nominal "younger sister," Shizuka Kusanagi.
This adorably dressed younger sister seemed to harbor a special attachment toward Satsuki. The moment she saw her, her face was filled with concern.
"Satsuki Onee-sama, you're finally back. I saw on the news that there was a huge storm in Italy. I even begged Grandfather to let me go with you, but he insisted on testing my spring break homework..."
Satsuki did not dislike this energetic girl.
"A few things did happen. Italy's scenery is beautiful, and the people are warm—but it isn't a place one should visit often."
After all, when Witches and Heretic Gods popped up every few days, an ordinary person wandering around there could easily lose their life.
The previous divine battles alone had caused dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries.
It was no small matter.
After chatting for a few moments, footsteps approached from behind—Erica and Arianna had followed.
"And this is...?"
Curiosity appeared on Shizuka's face.
Before Satsuki could introduce them, the Italian Witch smoothly introduced herself in fluent Japanese. Then, in a manner that invited boundless imagination, she described her relationship with Satsuki.
Sharing a room... dining together...
As she spoke, Satsuki noticed a faint popping vein mark appear on her younger sister's forehead.
"Tch, Host, I smell the scent of a battlefield of love," the system suddenly made its presence known within her sea of consciousness.
Still in the mood to joke? It seems you've finished what I assigned you.
Satsuki divided a portion of her awareness to speak within her mind. What have you concluded about Godslayers?
[Uh... At present, Godslayers appear to be nothing more than an external interference factor in the divine arena—a special type of individual created by this world itself to counter the gods.]
Only an interference factor...?
Judging from Erica's changes over the past few days, although her strength had improved tremendously, it was still worlds apart from a true god.
Leaving everything else aside, the limitation that the Persian war god's ten incarnations could only be used once per day was enough to show that a Godslayer's power did not truly equal that of a Heretic God.
For them to defeat a god and usurp Authority to become a Godslayer was itself an "impossible" "miracle."
And a miracle was called a miracle precisely because it occurred under conditions of minuscule probability and vast disparity in strength.
For Satsuki, there was no need to become a Godslayer and entangle herself too deeply with this world. From the current situation, her own power was sufficient to secure victory in this so-called "Divine Arena."
—However, the existence of Godslayers was ultimately too conspicuous.
On the way back, she had already noticed several groups subtly tracking Erica. Judging by their magical signatures, they were insignificant characters—but still.
As she thought, Satsuki returned her attention to the present scene.
The Shizuka and Erica who had been at odds moments ago suddenly seemed to have found common ground. The two leaned close together, whispering about something.
Satsuki had no interest in their topic. After giving a few instructions regarding Erica's arrangements, she returned to her room.
And so, time passed peacefully—until one day, she received a message.
—Today was the first day of school.
When Satsuki read the notification on her phone early that morning, she felt momentarily disoriented, as though time and space had overlapped.
"School... what an ancient and distant memory."
Before inhabiting this Ōtsutsuki body, Satsuki had merely been an ordinary person named Lin.
Like most people, he had passed through a long student life—without worrying about the scrutiny of superiors or colleagues, burying himself in books, free from workplace criticism or jealousy.
Books were far more loyal than friends. The more time you invested in them, the more they rewarded you. Knowledge would never betray you or make your efforts meaningless.
After transmigrating, that realization had become even more profound.
Satsuki closed her phone and began packing her schoolbag. Since she was attending school, wearing her usual kimono was clearly inappropriate.
After changing into a long-unworn school uniform and concealing the earrings by her ears with an illusion, she left early.
Japanese schools began at eight-thirty.
When Satsuki arrived at the classroom at eight, she was not there out of genuine interest in student life, but rather to indulge in a sense of nostalgia as she examined every corner.
Because of her exceptional appearance—combined with her elegant bearing and the powerful aura that lingered between her brows—her classmates regarded her as though she were some kind of idol.
As a result, the shoe lockers and personal storage boxes were stuffed daily with all manner of love letters.
When the bell rang and the usual handful of students slipped into their seats at the last minute, Satsuki, who had been merely relaxing, suddenly shifted her gaze toward a figure passing by the window.
From the woman who had just walked past, she sensed an incomparably familiar power.
"Interesting. To think there would be a shrine maiden here as well."
Very quickly, Satsuki retrieved the relevant information about that girl from her memory. The image of her soon formed clearly in her mind.
Yuri Mariya—her classmate in the same school, with her classroom right next door.
Slender and petite, yet beautiful. Though her features still carried a trace of youthful softness, her serious personality and stern expression made her appear far more mature than others her age. Her hair was black with a pronounced chestnut tint, and her pupils shared that same glass-polished brown hue.
She wore the standard school uniform. The tailored design wrapped around her graceful figure, the cinched waist outlining her slim curves. Beneath the short skirt—shifting subtly between blue and violet—extended a pair of slender legs.
"According to collected data, although she is not comparable to you, Host, this girl already qualifies as an 'idol-level' figure within the school," the system suddenly interjected in her mind.
"How boring. You even have time to collect this sort of data?"
Satsuki watched the teacher speaking at the front while casually taking out a book at her desk.
"Yes. During the entire spring break, when Miss Mariya opened her shoe locker, she received a total of twenty-four love letters. As for you, Host, during the same period, your locker received two hundred and seventy-six letters. And furthermore—"
Before it could continue, Satsuki decisively shut down the glowing orb of the system in her consciousness.
It's getting far too idle lately. Give it three days without discipline and it'll start climbing onto the roof.
However, that was clearly not the only event awaiting her today.
As she settled into her seat, the two boys to her left suddenly began discussing something.
"Hey, have you heard the rumor? A transfer student from overseas is coming to our school."
The other boy leaned in eagerly. "Really? To our class? What country? Is it a guy or a girl?"
"Apparently an Italian beauty..." The first boy lowered his voice knowingly. "And supposedly some kind of noble, too."
...
The noisy classroom quickly quieted as the young teacher entered.
"Alright, everyone. We have a transfer student joining us today. Please be polite."
With that announcement, a familiar figure of golden hair stepped onto the podium.
As expected—it was Erica.
For ordinary people, transferring schools or changing nationality involved complex procedures. But for a wealthy and influential Witch and Knight like her, such matters posed no difficulty at all.
Moreover, the Italian young lady spoke Japanese fluently.
"Good morning, everyone. My name is Erica Blandelli. I will be studying here from today onward. Please take care of me."
Her bearing was elegant, her tone warm. Not the slightest hint of nervousness could be seen—rather, she radiated a foreigner's characteristic enthusiasm along with aristocratic grace. In an instant, she captured the attention of every student in the class.
Such a commotion was predictable. The teacher, having once been young herself, knew full well the stir an exotic beauty would cause in a school.
Clapping her hands to restore order, she adjusted her glasses and glanced toward the most eye-catching student in the room—Satsuki. Unlike the others, the class's top student had reacted with complete calm.
That observation made the teacher reach a decision.
"Hmm. Erica, would you mind sitting beside Satsuki?"
"That is precisely what I was hoping for."
With those words, Erica walked to the empty desk next to Satsuki and flashed her a smile of unmistakable triumph.
The classroom erupted once more.
"Whoa—now our class has two great beauties! This is legendary!"
"Where am I supposed to place my heart now? This is too difficult!"
"Hmph. Only children choose. From now on—I'll write three love letters a week!"
"Three?! That's outrageous!"
...
Soon enough, the bell rang and order returned.
Unlike other education systems, lunchtime here was short, but classes usually ended around three-thirty or four in the afternoon. Since many parents worked, club activities were practically mandatory, often continuing past six.
Purely in terms of structure, the system did not seem harsh. It even carried the faint air of quality-oriented or relaxed education. But from a broader perspective, it subtly restricted upward mobility for ordinary people.
To achieve class advancement required admission to prestigious schools. That meant cram schools. Japanese society valued education highly, and many students across East Asia attended extra lessons outside regular classes.
Yet cram school tuition was expensive—not every family could afford it. Nor was every student willing.
Broadly speaking, after school, students had three main destinations: campus clubs, cram schools, or part-time jobs. On an individual level, however, countless variations existed.
For example—when the final bell rang, the shrine maiden carrying spiritual power approached Satsuki's classroom.
Yuri Mariya.
But her target was not Satsuki. It was Erica, seated beside her.
As Erica packed her bag, she clearly noticed the shrine maiden's approach. With an unspoken understanding, the two exchanged glances and then walked outside together.
However, Satsuki observed that although Yuri maintained a composed expression, the tightly clenched fists gripping her bag betrayed her intense inner anxiety.
"It seems—one cannot hide the identity of a Godslayer even for a single day," Satsuki murmured softly.
She began tidying her books at an unhurried pace. Unlike most students, she had no interest in any of the three after-school paths. They were a waste of time.
What she desired was to gather more information about the myths of this world—and the major catastrophes tied to them.
But clearly, someone did not intend to leave her in peace...
The two girls walked beyond the school gates to a quiet, deserted street.
Erica spoke first.
"A high-ranking shrine maiden of the spiritualists guarding the Kanto region—a rare 'Princess Shrine Maiden'—why would you seek out a member of the Copper-Black Cross such as myself?"
Yuri's grip on her schoolbag tightened further.
"Because, in order to protect the believers of this land, as a shrine maiden, I must confirm whether the newborn Campione is a dangerous person."
"Oh?"
"I am well aware of the anger and brutality of Campiones. Therefore, if you harbor any dissatisfaction or require someone upon whom to vent your wrath, please consider me the first target."
Those words extinguished Erica's initial impulse to tease her. Yet such sincerity instead stirred a different idea within the aristocratic young lady.
"Now, now—describing a lady with a word like 'brutality' seems rather excessive, don't you think?"
"Ah..."
Yuri lifted her head, staring at her in stunned confusion.
"If we're speaking of someone who truly gives off the aura of a Campione, I happen to know one. But before that—"
Erica's gaze shifted toward the shadows behind them.
"The friend hiding in the dark—won't you come out and meet us?"
"As expected of a Campione. Your perception is truly sharp."
The speaker was a middle-aged man stepping out from a street corner. He wore his hair in a ponytail and dressed like an ordinary office worker, yet his every movement carried an incongruous elegance and leisurely composure.
He approached Erica and gave a bow in the manner of a Western butler.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Touma Amakasu, affiliated with the Committee for the Compilation of True History."