Shizue remained frozen for a brief moment, her grip on her sword loosening as the weight of Loki's words finally sank in.
"Loki?" she repeated. "Wait… you have a name now? Is that not bad?"
Loki tilted his head, genuinely puzzled. "Huh? Why would that be bad?"
Shizue paused, eyes shifting slightly as she thought it through.
'If some other Primordial had been named… that would be terrifying.'
She shook her head lightly. "Actually, never mind. If it were another Primordial, that would be bad. But because it's you…" She smiled softly. "I'm not scared at all."
A visible vein popped on Loki's forehead.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he snapped.
Before Shizue could respond, another voice cut in.
"So that's the Shizue Izawa you were talking about."
Loki turned sharply. "Wait, Rain? You know her?"
Rain crossed her arms, eyes calmly assessing Shizue. "Of course. Guy-sama has Misery and me keep watch over individuals who could potentially tip the balance of the world. Shizue Izawa, with the power of Ifrit, naturally fits that bill."
Shizue blinked, then turned toward Loki.
"Loki-san… who is this?"
Loki gestured lazily. "This is Rain." He paused, then added, almost as an afterthought, "Technically, she's my elder sister."
The words hit Shizue like a shockwave.
'His… sister?'
'Then that means…'
'She's a Primordial too.'
Her expression stiffened slightly.
'Is it really okay for two Primordials to be here at the same time…?'
Her thoughts drifted further, unbidden.
'But Loki-san doesn't seem to like me the same way I like him… but if I became close with his sister, could that change?'
Her cheeks warmed faintly.
'Stop thinking nonsense, Shizue.'
She straightened, regaining her composure, and turned to Rain with a polite smile.
"It's nice to meet you, Rain-chan."
Rain returned the smile, relaxed and friendly. "It's nice to meet you too, Shizue."
Shizue then looked back at Loki. "So, Loki… what brings you here? I'm sure you're not just here to greet me and spend time together."
Loki scratched the back of his head and smiled awkwardly. "Well, seeing you is good and all, but basically…" He sighed. "I'm here to dump something I don't want to deal with on you."
"What?" Shizue said, confused.
Rain stepped aside.
Behind her stood a young girl.
Shizue's eyes immediately fixed on her. Her breath caught slightly.
'She looks… Japanese, doesn't she?'
Shizue turned back to Loki. "Now who is this?"
Loki pointed at the girl dramatically. "This is Kirara. A Japanese otherworlder I saved from some abusive Kingdom of Falmuth." He shrugged. "And since I don't want to look after her, I came here to see if you could."
Shizue whispered softly, almost inaudible, "Japanese…"
Before anyone could react, she rushed forward, wrapped her arms around Kirara, and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Thank God you're safe," Shizue said, relief pouring into her voice.
Loki froze.
'…Huh?'
'She's changed.'
'The old Shizue wouldn't have hugged someone like this. Not in public.'
Kirara's body trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes. "It was… it was so scary."
Shizue gently wiped away her tears. "Don't worry. I'll look after you, okay?"
Kirara nodded, clutching Shizue's clothes tightly.
Loki stared at the scene in stunned silence.
'I don't know whether she's actually scared… or just pretending.'
His expression darkened slightly.
'The novel version of Kirara really pissed me off.'
'Even now, I constantly have to restrain the urge to just hit her with a Hakai.'
Shizue turned back to Loki with a gentle smile, her eyes softening. "Good job bringing her to safety, Loki."
Loki tilted his head and returned the smile, casual as ever. "It's only natural."
Shizue then cocked her head, a teasing grin playing on her lips. "But you're still terrible for not wanting to keep her safe… even though you two are fellow countrymen."
Loki's face went pale, almost comically so, while Kirara and Rain exchanged puzzled looks.
Rain furrowed her brows. "Wait… did you just say… countryman?"
Kirara's eyes widened in disbelief. No way… this ruthless monster could be Japanese, right?
Shizue's smile faltered as she realized she had just revealed something she probably shouldn't have. She inwardly cursed herself.
Loki, however, quickly composed himself, a small smirk returning to his face. "When she says 'countryman,' she means we're both from the Cardinal World."
Rain exhaled, relief crossing her features. "Oh… so that's what it is."
Kirara, however, was unconvinced, staring at Rain with utter disbelief. 'He's obviously lying… there's no way this monster is Japanese.'
Shizue clasped her hands together, letting out a soft laugh. "Loki, you do know what we do here at the Freedom Academy, right?"
Loki tilted his head, thinking. "I guess… you look after kids that are… about to die?"
Shizue twitched slightly, internally sighing. Well… that's technically right, but why phrase it like that?
She smiled politely. "Basically that's it, but the school is much larger, and my class is not the only one."
Loki raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
"Yes," Shizue said warmly, smiling brightly. "Would you like to see my students?"
Loki hesitated for a moment. "Really? Won't they be scared? Not to brag, but I am a demon."
Shizue let out a soft sigh, exasperated yet gentle. "Don't worry about that. As long as you contain your magicules, they won't be able to see you as a demon."
Loki smirked. "Well, alright. Let's go then."
The four of them walked through the academy, the air alive with the faint scent of parchment and chalk, the muffled chatter of children from distant classrooms echoing down the hallways. Finally, they arrived at the door to Shizue's class.
Shizue opened it and stepped in, her presence calm but commanding. "Students, I've finished what I needed to fix, but I came back with some guests. Please be respectful."
Ryota frowned, leaning forward in curiosity. "Guests? Sensei never brings guests."
Shizue chuckled softly. "That's because I don't know that many people."
She gestured for them to enter, and the three walked into the classroom.
As Loki stepped in, his eyes landed on Chloe Albert. A slow, bemused smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Chloe Albert… what a plot twist. Awakening her was definitely a game-changer. To think such a literal weapon is in a child's body… this makes zero sense.
Actually awakened Chloe could no-diff his current self.
Shizue began introducing them. "Class, this is Kirara. She is an otherworlder, just like you."
The class froze in shock.
Alice's hand shot up. "Wait… Kirara is from another world?"
Kirara nodded, trying to stay composed. "Yes."
Kenya frowned, confusion written all over his face. "Wait… so how is she still alive?"
Chloe tilted her head, speaking softly. "Most probably… she was summoned after the age of ten."
Shizue raised a hand, trying to ease the atmosphere. "And this right here is Rain, and next to her is her little brother, Loki."
Kenya's eyes flicked to Loki, a spark of awe and curiosity flashing in them. He's strong.
Shizue added, "Actually, Loki is the only one I've truly fought alongside."
Kenya's excitement grew. "So, Sensei… he was able to keep up with you? He must be incredibly strong!"
Shizue smiled faintly. "Certainly."
Kenya leaned forward, eyes shining. "Oh… so who's stronger between you two?"
Without hesitation, Loki answered, his tone casual yet confident. "Shizue is miles stronger than me."
The classroom went silent.
Kirara, Rain, and Shizue herself all turned to him in unison, expressions a mixture of shock, disbelief, and confusion.
'No… no.
We all know that's definitely not true.' Was their thoughts.
Even Loki noticed the collective look of bewilderment, but he remained nonchalant, as if daring them to argue.
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