Sitting on a bench in front of the school building facing the sports field, Ren sipped on a cold yogurt he bought from a vending machine. Beside him, a green tree provided shade, its leaves swaying gently in the afternoon breeze.
His gaze was fixed on the baseball club members practicing, but his mind was busy thinking about something more crucial.
"Athena, Sun Wukong, Susanoo, Lancelot, Perseus, Hanuman. Those are the Heretic Gods that appeared in the original Campione timeline. However, this world is integrated with dozens of other anime. Not only Heretic Gods, but also ghosts, youkai, evil spirits, and even aliens."
"Hou Yi never appeared in the Campione anime or light novel. So, I conclude that aside from the Heretic Gods from the original work, there's a possibility other gods will emerge from their myths and become Heretic Gods."
Needing a new Divine Authority, Ren began considering his options.
Athena is currently incomplete without the Gorgon Stone, Sun Wukong is imprisoned in the Netherworld, and the cowardly Susanoo chose to hide there as well. Lancelot's whereabouts are uncertain, always moving around. Perseus hasn't even emerged from his myth yet. As for Hanuman, he will only appear if the King of the End is awakened.
In short, even if Ren wanted to hunt Heretic Gods now, there's no easy target for him to pursue. He can't always rely on luck favoring him, like when he encountered Hou Yi who came to him as a warning.
"There's another method... the Heretic God summoning ritual. Marquis Voban once used this method to summon Siegfried. The ritual requires dozens of Hime-Miko, and after the summoning is complete, most of them will die as their magical energy is drained, leaving only one Hime-Miko alive."
"No, I shouldn't become a bastard like Marquis Voban."
Indeed, Ren is a scumbag who prioritizes results over the process. He has his own moral bottom line, though it might be lower than most people's, but it still exists. He's not cruel enough to sacrifice so many young girls' lives just to strengthen himself.
However, if the sacrifices were men?
Without hesitation, he would do it.
Call it bias or racism. He doesn't care. If a man cares more about men than women, there's something wrong with his sexual orientation.
"Sruppp..."
Sipping his yogurt, Ren let out a soft sigh.
"If only summoning Heretic Gods was as easy as summoning Heroic Spirits in the Holy Grail War. Just use a relic as a catalyst, and it's done."
He gazed at the sky for a moment before suddenly jolting.
"The Holy Grail... Wait, in Campione there's also something called the Holy Grail. So, what if I use it to summon Heretic Gods?"
Ren began seriously analyzing the possibility.
"If I can replicate the Fuyuki City Holy Grail War ritual, then use it to pull Heretic Gods out of their myths... That would be amazing."
"But the problem is, I don't know how that magic ritual actually works. Ah, but that's not a big deal. If I can't create it myself, let someone else do it. This world is full of geniuses on the mystical side. There must be someone who can replicate it for me."
The only uncertainty is whether the method would work. Ren shook his head, he's not the type to give up before trying.
"Anyway, there's no harm in trying rather than just waiting for Heretic Gods who might appear at any time. If it doesn't work, it's just a waste of time, I won't lose anything."
"Now, it's just a matter of obtaining the Holy Grail. But that's also not a big problem... I know who has it."
Formulating a plan in his mind, Ren decided to start next week.
"Oh, Rokuhara, so you came to school. If you're here, you shouldn't skip class. The semester exams are in two weeks, you don't want to take remedial classes while the other students are on summer vacation, do you?"
Ren was still deep in thought when a mature woman's voice suddenly snapped him back to reality. He turned and found Hiratsuka Shizuka already sitting beside him, one leg crossed in a relaxed posture.
Without showing any change in expression, Ren simply gave a brief excuse, "There was an urgent family matter."
Hearing that, Hiratsuka raised an eyebrow and looked at him with an amused grin.
"If you're going to lie, come up with a better excuse. Did you forget that you're an orphan?"
The remark stabbed directly without any pretense, but Ren only responded with indifference. Meanwhile, Hiratsuka casually took a pack of cigarettes from her pocket, pulled one out, and lit it.
As smoke began to rise, Ren frowned.
"Is it okay for a teacher to smoke in front of a student?"
Hiratsuka blew smoke to the side, then looked at him with a challenging expression.
"Going to report me? Besides, school hours are over, and I'm smoking outdoors. I'm not breaking any rules. Or do you want to experience the legendary Iron Fist?"
Staring at her without flinching, Ren waved his hand in front of his face, trying to dispel the annoying cigarette smoke.
"I really don't understand why sane people enjoy inhaling poison."
"You'll understand when you grow up." Hiratsuka said casually, blowing smoke into the air.
"Tsk."
Ren just clicked his tongue, uninterested in delving into the lung-destroying habit.
"Anyway, don't be a problematic student, or I'll throw you into the Service Club, like I did with Hikigaya."
"Is the Service Club some kind of rehabilitation center or something?"
"Aren't you curious about its somewhat ambiguous name? Usually, people who hear 'Service Club' for the first time immediately think of something lewd."
Ren's reaction was somewhat surprising to Hiratsuka.
"Well, I've heard about that club. Its president, Yukinoshita Yukino, right? She's famous as a beautiful but cold woman who has rejected many confessions."
"So, are you interested in Yukinoshita?"
Hiratsuka looked at him with great interest.
Not showing any awkward or embarrassed expression like a beta male, Ren instead answered frankly,
"No. Yukinoshita isn't my type. Her personality is cold, her words hurt people's feelings, and her chest is small. Those are common traits among anime heroines, something unique to make them stand out. It's enjoyable to watch in a show, but in real life, they're more troublesome than useful."
"Cough, Cough, Cough..." Hiratsuka almost choked on her cigarette smoke. "Goodness, Rokuhara, do you have a grudge against Yukinoshita? Your words... make sense."
"I'm just being realistic, Hiratsuka-sensei. Aside from her pretty face, what's good about a woman like that? The world isn't lacking in beautiful women. Tsundere or 'ice queen' personalities are outdated. Only masochistic men like women like that." Ren shrugged, not feeling there was anything wrong with his words.
"What about me? Am I your ideal woman?" Hiratsuka asked casually, wanting to hear her student's opinion.
"..."
Ren glanced at the woman beside him, observing her for a moment before choosing to remain silent.
In fact, Hiratsuka was his homeroom teacher during his first year of high school. If this were a generic fanfiction story, perhaps he would try to add Hiratsuka to his harem. But Ren is different. Even a scumbag has his own standards, and Hiratsuka didn't meet his criteria.
Smoking, drinking, prone to violence, and already in her 30s. Even in blind dates she's been on, most men back off after learning a bit about her personality. It's no wonder she's still single.
Hiratsuka isn't the type of woman suited to be a gentle and virtuous housewife. She's more like a senior at work who often complains about life while downing beer at a bar.
On the other hand, if he had to compare, Itsuki fits Ren's standards better. She's still young, only 22, good at housekeeping, can cook, and has a curvy body in all the right places. Her personality is also friendly, far more pleasant than the woman sitting beside him now.
Faced with two choices, Ren didn't need to think twice. If he really wanted to find a partner, Nakano Itsuki is clearly superior to Hiratsuka Shizuka.
The proof? Itsuki is now pregnant with his child and will give birth next month.
Ren sipped his yogurt leisurely, while Hiratsuka stared at him, feeling something was off. For some reason, his silence annoyed her.
"You're not thinking something rude about me, are you?" She asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
Ren glanced at her briefly before returning to his yogurt. "No. That's just your imagination, Hiratsuka-sensei."
Without changing his expression, he lied without blinking.
"Hmph!"
Hiratsuka snorted softly. She knew Ren was lying, but what could she do? Hit her own student just because she felt annoyed?
Realizing she might lose her temper if she stayed any longer, Hiratsuka chose to leave.
"Don't skip class again, or I'll drag you to the Service Club." She threatened before walking away.
Ren just smiled faintly, enjoying his yogurt once more.