Morvathos woke up the next morning and went through his usual routine. He brushed his teeth, put on his school uniform, locked the door, and headed for school.
The house was nearly fully renovated now, with only some interior painting and extra additions left to be done.
The lawn was clean, the grass freshly cut, new plants planted, and the trees trimmed. Even the walls had been redone. Since the renovation company had the key, the work continued whether or not Morvathos was home.
A few days had passed since he moved in, and he had already acquainted himself with the neighbors. Most of them were stunned by how handsome he was.
The neighbors were mostly housewives with children, and some had even made suggestive gestures toward him.
Morvathos ignored them entirely; such women were beneath him. He greeted them out of courtesy, not obligation. Since he regularly went out, many people in the area already knew him.
The walk to school took ten minutes. By the time he arrived, greetings came from all directions.
"Good morning!"
He smiled and answered each time with,
"Good morning to you as well."
The exchange repeated again and again. He noticed the looks in their eyes, admiration from some, obligation from others. One expressed admiration and other felt the obligation to do the same. Such is human psychology.
'Truly beings too easy to manipulate...'
Morvathos scoffed internally. He won't go out of his way to manipulate these mortals for his favour. He has to reason to.
He wasn't like those God's in heaven who used manipulation to gain followers and powers.
'By the way... why haven't I seen any one from Earth's Heaven yet? A God is roaming around causing trouble... yet they are no where to be see? Suspicion... but none of my problem.'
Morvathos thought before shifting his focus. There is no need to think about Heaven's when his Hell's in danger itself. It's the Heavenly God of Earth's problem if anything went wrong with order
One female student had stars in her eyes as she greeted him, and when Morvathos returned the greeting, she giggled, rushing off with her friends while whispering that he might like her.
Morvathos only smiled and paid it no mind. He had expected this reaction.
If this kind of attention hadn't been given to him, that would have felt alienating instead.
'Man, I feel like a god with all this attention now… but wait! I am a god!'
He thought, amused by his own musings.
When he reached his classroom and slid the door open, every head turned toward him.
He greeted them cheerfully.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning, Morvathos-kun! How are you doing?"
"Yes, I'm doing fine,"
He replied with a smile, then made his way toward his seat behind Shiraishi.
As he walked past Miyuki and Maya, Miyuki caught his eyes, snorted, and turned her head away. Maya, on the other hand, stared at him openly, her eyes fixed on his face.
When he reached Shiraishi's desk, she quietly greeted him without turning back.
"Good morning, Morvathos-kun. I hope you had a pleasant night."
"I did,"
He answered warmly as he sat down.
"I hope you did as well and didn't run into any trouble along the way."
"I didn't,"
Shiraishi replied curtly, still facing forward.
"Ohohoho! What is this? What is this? Is our cold campus belle finally melting under the warmth of a handsome guy?"
The football guy from yesterday approached, teasing Shiraishi. Her cheeks reddened slightly, but she kept calm and tactfully denied it.
The football guy didn't push the matter and instead turned to Morvatos again.
"Hey, Morvathos-kun, let's play football. You've got a great physique, man, you're wasting your talent if you don't use it!"
Morvathos glanced at his name tag.
This dude whose brain was filled with football, his name was Okada Daichi. Morvathos hadn't noticed yesterday, or maybe he just hadn't paid attention. Now he thought about Daichi's proposal.
Morvathos imagined scenarios where he might accidentally lose control of his strength and kill someone while playing football, even without intending to.
His power had been growing with each passing day, even if only slightly. And he had never trained to hold it back, most of the time, he went full attack mode. Because of that, he wasn't sure he could properly control himself.
Further training would be needed if he wanted restraint… but he dismissed the idea immediately.
'Why would I bother controlling my strength for something meaningless like this? And besides… I don't want to get dirty.'
With that conclusion, he looked at Daichi and said:
"Daichi-kun, you see, I'm somewhat of a clean freak. I like to stay clean. And football isn't a game where one can stay clean. So, please forgive me,I cannot indulge your request."
Morvathos politely declined. Daichi listened to his reasoning and, though disappointed, reluctantly agreed. Before he could reply further, Matsuda-sensei entered.
The class scrambled back to their seats. Chairs scraped against the floor as everyone stood to greet.
"Alright, everyone, settle down."
Matsuda-sensei did roll call, then resumed the lesson. The classroom grew quiet.
But one person wasn't calm at all. Takahashi Haruto, the boy sitting right next to Morvathos, whom he had met yesterday, was feeling as if a mountain was pressing down on him.
Yesterday, Haruto had experienced what Morvathos was truly capable of.
In the superhuman society, Robert had been his mentor-like figure, the same Robert Morvathos almost slapped to death. If not for Selene's quick reaction and healing, Robert might have suffered permanent brain damage. Even now, Robert was still unconscious.
From childhood, Haruto had been able to see spirits, talk to them, and even control them. Robert discovered his gift and introduced him to the exorcist society.
Since then, his life had changed. On the surface, he was just a quiet loner boy, but at night, he became a hunter who fought dangerous demonic beasts threatening the peace of normal society.
Yesterday, Robert had told him another companion would arrive to help subdue a beast.
When Haruto first saw Selene, he was instantly smitten by her cold, beautiful looks, long flowing white hair and piercing blue eyes.
Yet her personality carried warmth, like the first breath of spring. He had felt himself fall in love, but quickly forced himself out of it.
'Someone like her would never love a person of my stature. We're worlds apart.'
Besides, Robert seemed head over heels for her anyway.
He thought he was about to die when the beast went berserk. Watching Morvathos destroy the beast so easily left him shaken.
And then, seeing his mentor nearly slapped to death for a single slight disrespect, Haruto had felt immense rage. But that rage was crushed instantly under the Divine Presence of Morvathos.
It was as if a mountain pressed down on his very soul. He had felt the true fear of death, the kind of fear that tells you even breathing the wrong way will end your life.
All his anger evaporated instantly. His body trembled with primal terror.
Last night, Haruto couldn't stop thinking about it. He hadn't wanted to come to school today at all. But fear gnawed at him,
'What if he comes to my house? What if my absence somehow disrupts his normal life?'
So Haruto reluctantly showed up.
And now, sitting beside Morvathos again, the dread returned. He didn't dare lift his head.
When the lunch bell finally rang, something strange happened.
*Snap!~*
With that small sound, all the crushing fear suddenly vanished, as if it had never existed. Haruto gasped in relief, like a man freed from being buried alive. His chest felt light for the first time since yesterday.
He turned his head around, trying to find the source of the sound and saw Morvathos digging through his bag.
Morvathos frowned.
'Shit. I forgot to pack lunch.'
Normally, he didn't eat or feel hunger, so it slipped his mind.
*Sigh~*
'Guess the cafeteria it is.'
He dropped his bag and was about to stand when Maya quietly appeared.
"Morvathos-kun… looks like you didn't bring lunch. Want to share mine?"
Morvathos looked at her. Shiraishi, sitting ahead, also glanced back with wide eyes.
"You're fine with it? What are you going to eat?"
"Well… I made extra. Too much, actually. I don't mind sharing,it's enough for two."
True to her words, she had prepared two bentos.
Morvathos smiled.
"Of course. If you're showing me such generosity, it would be rude of me to decline."
He opened the bento and found an artful arrangement rice and side dishes placed with care. He stared at it for a moment, then picked up his chopsticks and took a bite.
His eyes widened instantly.
'Oh… so this is the "explosion of flavor" those animes talked about. I see. They weren't lying, the cooks were just bad.'
Shiraishi and Maya were watching him intently. Even Miyuki was sneaking glances from a distance.
"Morvathos-kun, do you… not like it?"
Maya asked hesitantly.
Morvathos looked up and smiled.
"No, I love it! It reminds me of my mom. She used to make bentos like this for me."
Hearing that, Maya smiled softly. Her eyes flickered for a moment before she asked,
"I see… I'm glad to hear that. If you don't mind me asking, where is your mom?"
Morvathos, still chewing, answered casually,
"My mom and dad both died in a car accident a decade ago."
"Oh! I'm sorry for asking that."
"No worries. I'm long past it. They wouldn't want me mourning for the rest of my life. The only repayment I can give them now is to be happy. So don't be sad on my behalf."
Maya was stunned by his maturity. Shiraishi said nothing, only focusing on her meal.
Maya awkwardly nodded, then returned to her seat to eat her own lunch. Miyuki, watching from a distance, seemed uncharacteristically downcast. Morvathos didn't pay much attention.
The rest of the day passed as usual.
When the final bell rang, students began leaving. Morvathos packed his things and was about to head out when Miyuki called to him.
"Hey, Morvathos-kun."
He turned, and Shiraishi looked at her too. Miyuki fidgeted with her fingers, hesitant. Morvathos waited patiently, not interrupting.
"Um… I'm sorry,"
She finally said.
Morvathos raised a brow.
"What for?"
"For acting impulsively yesterday. After I went home, I realized I was wrong. I understand now what you were trying to do. I'm sorry for yelling at you."
Morvathos smiled.
"It's good you realized your mistake. Just don't make the same one again. Next time, there might not be someone around to warn you."
He adjusted his bag and turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Miyuki blurted.
He stopped and looked back. Maya and Shiraishi also turned toward her, curious.
"Wanna hang out tonight, maybe?"
Morvathos's brows rose slightly.
"Hang out? Where? And do you even realize what you're saying? You're inviting a guy late at night somewhere. Is this what you call reflection? Is this what you call realizing your mistake?"
His voice was calm, but his words cut deep, brutally honest. Maya and Shiraishi both nodded in agreement with him.
"Well… me, Shiraishi, and Maya were planning to go to a restaurant tonight. I thought, why not take you along as an apology? My treat!! you don't need to worry about money."
Miyuki hurriedly tried to justify herself.
Morvathos considered his schedule for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright. Let's go then."
Miyuki's mood visibly lifted. The four of them left together, chatting as they walked.
Their presence drew stares from students around them male and female alike. Four strikingly beautiful figures, walking side by side, heading toward the main city where Miyuki would treat them that evening.