Kids, I Really Am a Good Student / Schicksal: Where'd This Broke Beggar Come From?

God (Yahweh) led Abraham not only to Shechem, but also to that Bethel in Bethel?

The real-world Bethel was an ancient Palestinian city, located roughly sixteen kilometers north of Jerusalem and around a hundred kilometers north of the West Bank. In Hebrew, Phoenician, and Aramaic, the word "Bethel" meant "House of God [the body of Christ]."

If it had been anyone else, Shoko would never have made such connections. But whenever Qianyi fought, he kept calling out "Susanoo-no-Mikoto," which was unmistakably the name of the creation god in Japanese mythology. And now his parents worked in a place like Bethel, steeped in religious significance, while Qianyi's family owned a classical garden-style house in Ginza, where every inch of land was worth a fortune...

Holy shit! You can't actually be a god, can you?!

Was it too late to kneel and pray for wealth?

As the two chatted, they arrived at their destination. The place Shoko had brought Qianyi to was called STARRY, a classic live house in Shimokitazawa. They walked down the stairs, and just as Shoko was about to press the doorbell, the door ahead opened on its own. Looking up, she saw that it was the manager's younger sister. Her name was Ijichi... right, Nijika!

"Whoa! Shoko! Good evening! Here to work again today?" Nijika called out.

"I'm a little late. Is that okay?" Because of Qianyi, Shoko had arrived slightly late today.

"What does it matter? There aren't many customers during the day. Being late by a little isn't a big deal." After greeting Shoko, the sunny blonde girl with the side ponytail noticed Qianyi beside her. "Whoa! Isn't this Qianyi?"

"You know each other?" Shoko tilted her head.

"Of course. Qianyi and I are desk mates, right?" Nijika introduced their relationship.

"A gift." Qianyi handed Nijika one of the five cans of Sugar-free Fanta he had been forced to buy after the vending machine jammed.

"Thank you." Nijika accepted it with both hands.

"Thank you." The blue-haired girl who had somehow appeared beside Nijika smiled and held out both hands, waiting for the drink to be placed in them.

Her hair had been cut unevenly, with several stray locks sticking out in every direction. Her bangs also fell crookedly across her forehead, yet the hairstyle suited her perfectly. Over a white short-sleeved crew-neck shirt, she wore a black jacket. Her slender legs extended beneath a blue skirt before disappearing into black stockings, and she wore leather shoes on her feet. She was thin and looked as though a gust of wind could knock her over.

"Here." Since he had five cans, Qianyi was not stingy.

Greatness needed no words.

"Thank you. I like you." Yamada Ryo spoke such bizarre words with a blank expression. She could tell that the man before her possessed an innate rock-and-roll soul!

"Ryo, don't say weird things like that!" As the bridge of communication, Nijika introduced the extra blue-haired girl to Qianyi. "She's Yamada Ryo, in the same class as us. Oh, and she's our bassist~."

After the introductions, Nijika grabbed Qianyi with one hand and Shoko with the other, dragging them both into STARRY. After finding an empty seat, she asked seriously, "By the way, can you two play guitar?"

"I thought your band already had a guitarist. What, are the rehearsals not going well?" Shoko asked curiously.

"If only that were the problem." Ijichi Nijika sighed, slumping weakly across the table as she complained, "Our guitarist suddenly ran away. The performance we were supposed to put on might be ruined now. It was such a hard-earned opportunity that I finally got from my sister."

"I see. That's how bands are. They come together and fall apart. If there's a beginning, there's also a parting. Even if you find a new guitarist now, you probably won't make it in time for the performance. My condolences." Shoko indicated that there was nothing she could do.

"No!" Qianyi suddenly became agitated. "At times like this, you should drag that guitarist back! I know a Box Domain God. I'll help you find her right now! I'll never forgive someone who leaves a band without permission and causes it to break up! If I become prime minister in the future, the first thing I'll do is charge that person a ten-million-yen Band Dissolution Tax!"

Shoko: Holy shit! How did I forget about that?!

She immediately grabbed Qianyi, putting all her strength into protecting that unknown guitarist from being terrified to death in the future by a sudden ten-million-yen debt and having her soul return to Takamagahara on the spot.

Come to think of it, if a soul returned to Takamagahara, would that fall under Qianyi's jurisdiction too?

Wouldn't that mean getting taxed twice?

Yamada Ryo, sipping Sugar-free Fanta, showed an understanding smile. "As expected, Qianyi, you're very rock and roll."

"What does 'very rock and roll' mean?" Nijika asked in confusion.

"Drinking, smoking, tattoos, fighting, sleeping with high school girls, groupies, and charging your friends fees." Yamada Ryo rattled them off without pause.

"No blowing up Tokyo Tower?" Qianyi added.

Yamada Ryo's expression immediately turned serious. After pulling out a wet wipe from the table and wiping her hands, she spoke two words. "Bass?"

Qianyi nodded in response. "Bass."

The next moment, their hands clasped tightly together.

Watching the two God-kin inexplicably reach an understanding and become as close as siblings, Shoko and Nijika's expressions immediately darkened. "Shoko, change of plans. Today, we separate those two first. They're too dangerous."

"Agreed."

The Children, I Really Am a Good Student

Qianyi and Yamada Ryo were ultimately separated.

The two were like biological siblings who had been separated for years, able to talk about anything, yet in the end, they were forcibly torn apart by the evil demon king Toyokawa Shoko and the demon god Ijichi Nijika.

If those two had not forcibly dragged them apart, the pair would probably have started looking for three sticks of incense right there, swearing not to be born in the same year, month, and day, but to die in the same year, month, and day.

That made Shoko's eyelids twitch wildly.

If her guess was correct, Qianyi was Izanagi. If he became sworn siblings with Yamada Ryo, wouldn't that make Ryo the mother of all Japan?

But that was not the most terrifying part. The truly terrifying thing was that she had finally realized this was not an ordinary world. It was a world of gods and demons where supernatural powers existed.

In a world with supernatural powers, gods, and demons, she had actually chosen to play in a band before?

If she had known, she should have gone with the students from the neighboring class to the card shop to build decks and play cards.

"We'll part here."

After seeing Shoko onto the train, Qianyi turned toward another train. The moment he turned around, a petite figure, hidden in his Blind Spot, unexpectedly crashed into him.

"Ah!"

The gray-haired, pink-eyed girl felt as though she had crashed into an iron tower and toppled backward, losing her balance. Just as she was about to fall to the ground, a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist and gave her a point of support, restoring her balance. Everything happened in an instant, almost unreal, followed by a clattering sound beside her ear—the sound of the notebook in her arms falling to the ground.

Yet she did not pick it up immediately. After steadying herself, she desperately looked toward the train Shoko had boarded, which had just left the station.

That person just now... was Shoko, right...?

"Sorry!" Because the girl was so short and had been in his Blind Spot, Qianyi had not noticed her rushing in at all.

He crouched down to help her pick up the notebook from the ground, and happened to see what was written in its open pages—Bubbles, listen, listen to my voice, the voice calling out. I am here, using my voice in place of blood, calling out at the end of the world. I am the Little Mermaid, the Little Mermaid with no way home, the Little Mermaid who will become bubbles...

"No, that's—" Takamatsu Tomori instinctively wanted to explain after noticing that someone had seen her notes, but Qianyi spoke before she could. "Is this the cry of your soul? Your cry at the end of the world?"

"Eh?" Takamatsu Tomori froze.

"No, it's nothing. I just think you resemble a friend of mine." Qianyi closed the notebook and carefully placed it back into the gray-haired girl's arms. "If this is the cry you wish to convey to someone, then sing it. Convey it to the person you want to reach. Goodbye."

"Um... wait! Please wait!" Takamatsu Tomori suddenly called out to Qianyi, who had already walked several steps away. Holding out her notebook with both hands, her voice trembled. "Can you tell me your name? Just your surname is fine! Please!"

Qianyi turned around and looked at the adorable penguin-like girl before him. Though he found it somewhat baffling, he still accepted the Stag Beetle Notebook she offered, wrote his name on a blank page, and handed it back. "My name is Qianyi. Nice to meet you."

"Um... I... I'm Takamatsu Tomori. N-nice to meet you too!" Tomori had no idea where she had found the courage, but somehow, she felt that the person before her was warm and gentle, making her want to get closer without realizing it.

"Tomori? What a cute name. I look forward to meeting you again."

Qianyi waved goodbye.

???

Friday → Monday.

Today was a bright, sunny day. As usual, Qianyi came to class, but before the second period had even ended, something unusual happened.

I want to eat Mei-flavored instant noodles: Hey, everyone, something terrible has happened!

Lower District Flying Head Barbarian: Has Otto finally decided to make his move? So the fact that he paid so readily before was just a trap to deceive us! Come on, get him!!

Talulah: Come on, brothers, let's raid his house!

Steel Prison Big: Calm down, everyone.

Steel Prison Big: Kiana, tell us exactly what happened first. What did Otto do?

I want to eat Mei-flavored instant noodles: It's not that. It's even more serious!

Steel Prison Big: ?

How could it be even more serious? Had Otto killed Raiden Ryoma in front of Mei, then told her, "Even if you no longer have a father, you still have me," utterly shattering Mei's mental defenses and making her become a Herrscher on the spot?

Or had he captured her, forcibly stuffed the Serenity Gem and a massive amount of Honkai Energy into her body, and forced her to become a Herrscher?

I want to eat Mei-flavored instant noodles: Chi You, which had been dormant near Shenzhou for a long time, has awakened. Otto came to St. Freya Academy and asked us to deal with it, but I remember Chi You should still be asleep at this point in time. Something feels wrong. Otto might be up to something in secret, but I can't be sure, so I wanted you all to advise me or come help.

After Kiana sent her message, the Dimensional Chat Group interface suddenly popped up.

Mission: Defeat the suddenly awakened Chi You.

Content: The Judgment-class Honkai Beast Chi You, which should have been dormant, has suddenly awakened. Is this Heavenly Mandate's conspiracy or World Serpent's method? Either way, it signals the arrival of a crisis. (There is a chance to unlock a subsequent hidden mission.)

Time Limit: Thirty days.

Participant Limit: None.

Reward: As the Dimensional Chat Group is under maintenance, the specifics cannot be announced for now. Double rewards will be issued afterward according to the updated content.

Oh? A mission with a hidden quest, and double rewards too.

Steel Prison Big: Looks like it's necessary for everyone to mobilize this time.

Customer Service Xiangzi is at your service: But I'm still in class.

Maple Sugar Commander: I'm in class too.

Steel Prison Big: I'm in class too, but there's no helping it. Shoko, Wutina, skip class.

Customer Service Xiangzi is at your service: No, no, no, even so...

Steel Prison Big: According to my intuition, this Chi You mission might only be the beginning. No one can say how strong the enemies we'll face afterward will be. It would be best if everyone participated.

Steel Prison Big: Since the three of us are in class, let's roll dice to decide. If we roll a one, we'll skip one class to help deal with it. With our strength, if we're quick, one class period should be enough to deal with Chi You. Then we can decide based on what happens afterward whether we should stay.

Customer Service Xiangzi is at your service: This... all right. If I roll a one, I'll skip class.

Steel Prison Big: Dice.gif

Qianyi sent a dice emoji. The six-sided die spun through the air, four faces flashing past in rapid succession. Its tumbling trajectory resembled a shooting star streaking by, before it finally landed on the face with six dots.

Lower District Flying Head Barbarian: It's actually a six.

Talulah: Sigh, some people can't come because they have class. Students' studies really are busy. Is that also the trouble of peaceful happiness?

I want to eat Mei-flavored instant noodles: We're down three people. We might have to keep a low profile and develop cautiously.

Just as everyone thought this mission might be missing three main fighters, Qianyi posted in the group.

Steel Prison Big: It actually rolled a six. What good luck. That's six times one. Nothing to be done, then—we have to skip six classes.

Honkai Impact 3rd, full assault!

Maple Sugar Commander: ?

Customer Service Xiangzi is at your service: ?

Heavenly Mandate: What beggar showed up out of nowhere?

The white Costa Firenze let out a deafening roar as it tore through the waves.

This was an Italian-style luxury cruise ship roughly 323 meters long, capable of carrying more than 5,000 passengers. It had been designed specifically for billionaires, international superstars, and major figures in business and politics. Traveling aboard such a luxurious cruise ship made it possible to forget one had ever left land. Inside were numerous themed restaurants, museums, art exhibition spaces, and classic Italian cafés.

To give passengers a luxurious experience, the ship also had extravagant ocean-view suites, swimming pools, and a cinema.

When Qianyi and the others arrived at St. Freya Academy, the cruise ship was already waiting for them at the harbor. This was the transport Otto had specially approved as a show of generosity. It would carry the three Honkai girls and the Dimensional Chat Group squad to Jiu You in the East China Sea.

Aside from displaying his generosity, there was another reason: this mission was of an extremely high level. It involved a Judgment-class Honkai Beast, so they could not afford to be careless.

"The bread here actually has jam filling! Can I take some with me?" Seele rubbed her hands together like a fly and asked the attendant eagerly. The instant the attendant said yes, she would pull out a sack and sweep every loaf on the table into it.

"These tableware are all made of silver. These must be royal utensils reserved for the Victoria royal family." Talulah studied the cutlery in her hand.

"Ata, show some taste. Silver cutlery has long stopped being valuable. Look at these bottles of champagne on the table—each one is worth at least two hundred thousand yen." Qianyi shrugged and reminded her.

Just as Shoko was about to open a bottle and pour everyone a glass, she suddenly shuddered. Even the hand holding the champagne began to tremble slightly.

One bottle costs several months of my salary?!

"Can I take one?" Shoko felt her moral integrity decline once more.

"Shoko, you can't openly take it, but you can pretend you're going to drink it, then secretly pack it into a group red packet and send it to someone. After we get back, everyone can claim it and settle up together." Qianyi offered a suggestion. In truth, he had already taken several game consoles from the cruise ship, planning to use them to fill up his room. He had simply been fast and professional enough that no one noticed.

"Even if you're friends with Kiana, Mei, and Bronya, could you at least not be so obvious right in front of me?"

As the captain of this operation, Mutsuhisa Himeko looked at this group of God-kin before her—either stealing food, taking cutlery, or pocketing champagne—and truly could not take it anymore.