High school freshman Kazuma Sato is nearly hit by a truck on his first day. A beautiful girl named Aqua, who claims to be a goddess, saves him. She offers to grant him one wish, and he jokingly asks for her to be his girlfriend. She immediately agrees. Thus begins their strange relationship.
At school, his childhood friend and kendo ace, Darkness, demands he become her fiancé. Aqua declares she's his girlfriend. Then transfer student Megumin confesses her love and challenges Aqua to a duel. Thr
God's Blessing on This Wonderful Academy! - The Silver-Haired Transfer Student, the Shadow in the Park, and the Matter of Mother's Keepsake
The morning air was still a little cold.
Under a sky so clear it made yesterday's downpour seem like a lie, Satou Kazuma walked alone along the path beside Mirador Central Park.
(...What was that alarm about?)
He couldn't get it out of his head.
That pale, bluish light. The heated crest that had surfaced in his right palm.
"...I just want to live a normal life."
He sighed.
Scratching his black hair, still mussed from sleep, he gazed up at the park's trees with deep brown eyes.
Morning light sparkled through the gaps between the leaves.
Birdsong. In the distance, someone walking their dog.
It was a peaceful morning.
...It was supposed to be.
"—!?"
Suddenly, it felt as though a red-hot iron rod had been driven through his temple.
A violent headache.
"Guh... agh...!?"
Kazuma dropped to his knees on the spot.
His head was splitting.
Something was pounding at him from the inside.
(What... is this...!?)
His vision flickered white.
And then—
'Chosen one, awaken.'
A voice resounded directly inside his head.
A man's voice.
Like an old man, yet like a youth.
Low and heavy, rattling his skull from within.
"Wh-Who are you...!?"
Kazuma forced the words out.
'Chosen one. Awaken. The boundary is warping.'
"The boundary...?"
Just then.
A ripple.
The air in the park changed.
A lukewarm wind.
The stench of rotting mud.
And then—
The pond.
The quiet pond at the center of the park.
Its surface heaved and bulged, thick and viscous.
"What...!?"
The water was black.
No—that wasn't it.
Black shadows.
Shadows came crawling out of the water's surface.
Countless black human shapes.
No eyes, no mouths.
Just black masses of shadow.
They spilled over the pond's edge, swarming onto the ground.
"...Shadowwalkers...!"
Kazuma's voice died in his throat.
He'd seen them before.
That time, after the sports festival, in Central Park.
But not this many.
Ten. Twenty. No—more.
A swarm of black shadows.
They all turned toward Kazuma at once.
They had no faces.
But he could tell.
He was being watched.
He was being hunted.
(I have to... run...)
His legs wouldn't move.
Terror had nailed his ankles to the ground.
"Dammit..."
The Shadowwalkers moved.
Crawling along the ground.
Without a sound.
In an instant, they closed the distance.
(I'm going to die!)
Kazuma squeezed his eyes shut.
And then—
Heat.
His right palm burned.
"—!!"
Kazuma thrust out his right hand.
A crest of light rose to the surface of his palm.
A blinding white light.
That light illuminated the swarm of Shadowwalkers.
GIIIIIIIIIIII!!
The Shadowwalkers shrieked.
The shadows bathed in light flinched.
They fell back.
(I did it...!)
But.
The light went out.
The crest's glow faded rapidly.
"Wh-Why...!?"
Strength drained from him.
Something was being sucked out of his body.
(My power... it's not enough...!)
Kazuma collapsed where he stood.
"Dammit... move...!"
The Shadowwalkers closed in again.
Faster this time.
Their killing intent laid bare.
(It's over...)
Kazuma gave up.
That was when it happened.
"—Oh my. This looks terrible."
A clear voice, like a bell.
A wind blew.
A silver wind of light.
A single girl stood before Kazuma's eyes.
Silver, long, straight hair.
Hair that shone like moonlight.
Pale violet eyes.
Beautiful eyes that seemed to draw you in, harboring a deep intelligence.
She was about five foot four.
A white dress.
She stood quietly between Kazuma and the Shadowwalkers.
"...Are you all right, Kazuma-kun?"
She turned and smiled gently.
"Wh-Who are you...?"
Kazuma forced the words out.
"You can ask about me later. For now, please step back a little."
With that, Wiz turned to face the swarm of Shadowwalkers.
"—You there. You shall not pass."
She slowly raised her right hand.
Pale, slender fingers.
Silver particles of light gathered at her fingertips.
"...Vanish."
She gave a light flick of her fingers.
In that instant.
A silver flash.
A torrent of light.
It swallowed the swarm of Shadowwalkers in an instant.
GIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!
The Shadowwalkers let out death cries.
The black shadows dissolved into the silver light.
Without a trace.
Not a single one left.
Silence.
The morning stillness returned to the park.
"...It's over."
Wiz turned back to Kazuma.
"Can you stand?"
She held out her hand.
Kazuma took it.
Her hand was astonishingly cold.
"...Who exactly are you...?"
"My name is Wiz. As of today, I'll be transferring into your school."
"A transfer... student...?"
Kazuma was confused.
"Yes. So I thought I'd take a look at this park before heading to school. And then I found you being attacked by Shadowwalkers."
"...You saved me. Thank you."
"Not at all. I only did what was natural."
Wiz smiled.
"...Still, I was surprised. That crest on your palm. That's the power of a Guardian, isn't it?"
"A Guardian...?"
"You are one chosen to save this world."
She looked straight at Kazuma with those pale violet eyes.
"...Save the world? Me?"
"Yes. But we'll talk about that another time. For now, I want to enjoy my romance with you."
"...Huh?"
Kazuma doubted his ears.
"Romance...? What are you—"
"Fufu. I'm joking."
She giggled.
But her eyes weren't smiling.
"...And one more thing. I know what your parents were trying to do."
"—!!"
Kazuma's heart leaped.
"You know my parents...!?"
"Yes. But that, too, another time. You will surely reach the truth on your own."
With that, Wiz turned her back to Kazuma.
"Wait! My parents—!"
"Let's meet at school, Kazuma-kun."
She spoke without turning around.
"...The photo that belonged to your mother. What's written on the back of it. Have you read it yet?"
"...The back of the photo...?"
Kazuma murmured.
"Well then, if you'll excuse me."
Her silver hair glittered in the morning sun.
She walked away down the park path.
"...Wait..."
Kazuma tried to chase after her.
But his legs wouldn't move.
He couldn't summon any strength.
(...What my parents were trying to do...)
(...She knows...?)
Kazuma stood rooted to the spot.
His head was a mess.
Shadowwalkers.
Guardian.
Save the world.
The truth about his parents.
(...What the hell is going on...)
Kazuma looked up at the sky.
A blue sky.
As if yesterday's downpour had never happened.
But everything had already changed.
He felt that somehow.
"Kazumaaaaaa!!"
Suddenly, a shout.
Kazuma looked toward the voice.
"Kazuma! Are you okay!? Where are you!? Are you alive!?"
Her blue hair flying wild, Aqua came sprinting at full speed.
"Kazuma! Are you unharmed!?"
Behind her, Darkness in her kendo uniform.
"Kazuma-senpai! I've come to save you!"
And behind her, Megumin running desperately on her small frame.
The three of them rushed to Kazuma at once.
"Y-You guys... why..."
"Why? Because I sensed you were in danger! I'm a goddess, so I know right away when you're in trouble!"
"As did I. As a Guardian, I felt your presence become disturbed."
"I did too! I heard Kazuma-senpai's heart cry out!"
"...A heart cry? What does that even mean?"
Kazuma smiled wryly.
But seeing the three of them, he felt relieved.
(...Thank goodness they're safe.)
"So, what happened? The presence of Shadowwalkers lingers thickly around here..."
Darkness scanned their surroundings with a serious expression.
"Yeah... actually..."
Kazuma told the three of them what had just happened.
The headache.
The mysterious voice.
The swarm of Shadowwalkers.
The silver-haired girl, Wiz.
"...A silver-haired girl?"
Aqua's expression changed.
"...Did you say Wiz?"
"Yeah. That's what she called herself... You know her?"
"...No. I don't. I don't, but..."
Aqua faltered, unusually.
"...That woman is dangerous. Kazuma, don't go near her."
"Dangerous? You clearly know something."
"I don't! But something about her feels wrong! I'm a goddess, so I can tell!"
"...Aqua-senpai. Do you have some history with this Wiz person?"
Megumin narrowed her crimson eyes.
"I don't! It's just a woman's intuition!"
"...Whatever. More importantly, Kazuma. Show me your right hand."
Darkness took Kazuma's right hand.
"...As I thought. The Guardian's power is beginning to awaken."
She stared intently at Kazuma's palm.
"...That crest lit up. But it faded right away."
"Yes. Your power is still incomplete. But you are certainly beginning to blossom with the qualities of a Guardian."
"...Me, a Guardian..."
Kazuma looked at his own right hand.
"...Kazuma. It's all right. I'll protect you."
Aqua clung to Kazuma's arm.
"I will as well. I won't let you come to harm."
Darkness took his other arm.
"I will too! I'll protect Kazuma-senpai with my Explosion magic!"
Megumin stood in front of Kazuma.
Three serious faces.
The three who usually bickered endlessly were now united, just to protect Kazuma.
"...You guys..."
Kazuma felt a warmth deep in his chest.
(...I want to protect them. I want to protect them too.)
It was the first time Kazuma had ever thought that.
"...Thanks."
Kazuma murmured quietly.
The three looked at each other and smiled.
—Afternoon.
Mirador High School, Kazuma's classroom.
"Today, I'd like to introduce a transfer student."
The homeroom teacher's usual listless voice.
The classroom stirred a little.
"Another transfer student? This school's been getting a lot of them lately, hasn't it?"
"I wonder what kind of girl she is this time."
Kazuma had a vague, bad feeling.
(...No way.)
"Please come in."
The door slid open.
Silver, long hair.
Pale violet eyes.
A white dress.
"...I'm Wiz. Pleased to meet you."
She gave an elegant bow at the center of the classroom.
"Whoa... she's gorgeous..."
"Silver hair... amazing..."
The whole classroom buzzed.
"...So she came after all."
Kazuma held his head.
"I've come to see Satou Kazuma-kun."
Wiz looked straight at Kazuma and said it.
"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!?"
The entire class turned to look at Kazuma at once.
"...Stop. Please, stop."
Kazuma slumped onto his desk.
"May I sit next to Kazuma-kun?"
"Uh, yeah... it's open..."
Wiz quietly sat down in the seat beside Kazuma.
"Please take care of me, Kazuma-kun."
She smiled at Kazuma.
"...Yeah. Likewise."
Kazuma replied reluctantly.
Just then.
"...You."
A cold voice.
Kazuma turned around.
Aqua was standing there.
Blue hair.
Clear aquamarine eyes.
But those eyes weren't the usual, silly Aqua's.
They were cold, sharp, harboring a deep, unfathomable light.
It was the face of a goddess.
"...Oh my. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Wiz gazed back at Aqua.
A smile played at her lips.
But her eyes weren't smiling.
"...You, of all people, coming here. What are you planning?"
"Planning? I've simply transferred schools. To this school, where Kazuma-kun is."
"...Stay away from Kazuma. You—"
"You're one to talk. How long do you intend to keep lying to him?"
"...!"
Aqua's face stiffened.
"...What are you two talking about?"
Kazuma cut in between them.
"...It's nothing, Kazuma. Be careful of this woman. I'm a goddess, so I can tell. She's dangerous."
With that, Aqua returned to her own seat.
"...Be careful of me, hm. Fufu."
Wiz gave a small laugh.
"...Hey, Wiz. Do you know Aqua?"
"...Who can say?"
She played dumb.
"...I have something to tell you after school. Would you come to the rooftop?"
She whispered into Kazuma's ear.
"...Got it."
Kazuma nodded.
—After school.
The rooftop.
The sunset dyed the sky red.
Kazuma leaned against the fence, waiting.
"...Sorry to keep you waiting."
The silver-haired girl appeared from the rooftop door.
"...So, what did you want to tell me?"
"...First, please look at this."
She pulled a silver pendant from around her neck.
"...A pendant?"
"Yes. Look at this crest."
At the center of the pendant.
An intricate geometric pattern was engraved there.
"...Is this some kind of mark?"
"...The Ring of Void. The crest of the organization I once belonged
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