The Indomitable Human Spirit

Despite my unhealthy obsession with reading, calling me a bookworm, a "hikikomori," or a bore would be a massive exaggeration. I was a pretty normal dude who didn't waste time on pointless fantasies, didn't lose touch with reality, and definitely didn't drool over "2D" boobes with a crazed gleam in my eyes. In fact, my lack of fear made me, well, let's say, fairly popular in certain circles. Jumping off cliffs into the sea? No problem. Handling a poisonous spider or an enormous snake? Easy. And yeah, chatting up a girl at the bar was even easier. But that's not the point here.

The last four months had flown by like a blur, filled with daily immersion in books about the supernatural and magical theory, mastering the Kukishin-ryu style, learning my first spells, and establishing myself as the greatest chess player to ever live. Each morning began with exercise and meditation, and every night I fell asleep thinking about magic and combat strategy. So, when I saw Akeno standing before me in her cute miko outfit, I couldn't help but smile. Who would've thought I'd miss normal interaction so much, even if it was just a meeting with Akeno… even if her parents were there… especially her father…

We were seated in a traditional Japanese room, where every object, every sound, felt like part of some ancient, almost forgotten ritual symphony. Akeno gracefully poured me tea, her movements smooth and precise, like a seasoned shrine maiden.

"How is your sister?" Shuri, Akeno's mother, asked, smoothly changing the topic once again. Her voice, as always, was soft and caring.

"She's doing great," I replied with a wide smile that, perhaps, was a bit more performative than genuine. "Same as usual… top of her class, though that's not too hard in the lower grades."

Of course, I couldn't exactly tell them that my sister had gotten so caught up in training me that sometimes her enthusiasm left me either drained of magical energy or passed out from physical exhaustion. That wouldn't exactly be the best conversation topic over a cup of tea.

Fun fact — passing out from magic depletion and physical exhaustion feels exactly the same... Skeletor will be back with more facts! An image of a skeleton in a purple hood flashed through my mind, a brief moment of dark humor amid the conversation.

"So, you don't like school?" Baraqiel, Akeno's father, interjected, frowning. His eyes, as usual, bore into me like he was trying to burn through my skull, as if he could see all my thoughts and intentions.

To be honest, he had been drilling holes in my head with that glare ever since I stepped through their front door. The guy clearly wasn't shy about showing hostility, even toward a kid. Not that it surprised me, especially considering I'd developed a little theory about who he might really be.

During our first meeting, this perpetually grim man introduced himself as Baraqiel. Sound familiar? Maybe not. Not everyone spends their life reading the Bible, let alone the Jewish Tanakh. But it's in that book, which is pretty similar to the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, that an archangel named Baraqiel is mentioned.

"My passion for reading never conflicted with the fact that I was an atheist... Which, in the current reality, seems somewhat amusing, if not outright foolish. Although, the way the Biblical God behaves in this world doesn't quite align with the image of the Allfather from my previous world."

If I had heard Akeno's father's name before learning about the "Other Side of the World," I might have just pitied the guy, maybe even patted him on the shoulder if I could reach, thinking he was the victim of an overly devout family. But! Knowing far more than any six-year-old should, I kept my emotions in check and respectfully bowed in greeting. What else could I do? I was standing before an archangel in the flesh! Though, admittedly, his family did seem a bit too devout…

Anyway!

As time passed, and I delved deeper into studying the supernatural world, I began to suspect that this man wasn't just an archangel, but one of the fallen — cursed by the heavens and forsaken by God. Not just any fallen angel either, but the Vice-Governor General of the Grigori! Did I have any hard evidence besides his name and the superhuman strength of his daughter? No, I didn't. But for some inexplicable reason, I was sure I was right. And even if I wasn't, showing respect to Akeno's father seemed like the safest move.

And yes, if you're wondering whether he tried to hide behind a different name, the answer is — no!

"Dear…" Shuri turned to her spouse with a sweet smile on her face.

But for me, that smile was anything but sweet! It felt more like a warning snarl, concealed under a mask of kindness.

"It's all right," I chuckled for a moment, already used to this kind of behavior from Akeno's father. "School… let's say I find it somewhat... limiting. But that doesn't mean I consider it useless."

"At least, not for everyone else…"

I knew that every word I said was being weighed, every action scrutinized under a microscope. Baraqiel wasn't the kind of "man" you wanted to disappoint. His power and authority were palpable in every gesture, every glance. I could sense that even the slightest misstep could lead to consequences… though those consequences would likely be softened by Shuri's sweet smile. But still, I wasn't about to disappoint Akeno.

As for Akeno herself, she quietly set the teapot on the table, her eyes briefly meeting mine. There was something reassuring in her gaze, as if she were silently saying, "Everything's going to be fine." It was a strange feeling... to be comforted by a little girl? How far have I fallen!
Though it seemed like Akeno had already grown used to her overprotective father... who was I to judge? After all, who knew how I'd be in his shoes?

"'Limiting,' you say?" Baraqiel continued to pierce me with his gaze. "I hope you understand that school isn't just a formality."

Hearing that from a fallen angel who could probably wipe a metropolis — or maybe even an entire country — off the map, felt... strange, to say the least. Like someone loudly passing gas and pretending it didn't happen.

"Of course," I replied, trying to keep my voice even. "I value knowledge. I just find school too slow and boring... at least for me."

Baraqiel said nothing, only gave a slow nod, as if acknowledging my words. Silence hung over the room, broken only by the soft clink of porcelain cups as we sipped tea.

Did I really not fear speaking so candidly with him? Honestly, claiming I was completely fearless would be a blatant lie. Moments like these made me wish that along with my obsessive love for reading, I'd also inherited the ability to stay completely cool under pressure. Alas, no such luck.

But, as befitting an Alchemist of Atlas, I had something running within me that had guided humanity through the toughest of situations: a brain. And right now, my brain was operating like a flawless computer, analyzing every little detail of our conversation, calculating potential outcomes, and delivering precise predictions, much like in a complex chess game. My mind told me I was behaving much the same as I had during our first meeting — far too mature for my age, but far too cheeky for an adult. A side effect of my loss of fear, no doubt.

Still, if this man — no, this fallen angel — hadn't disposed of me during our first encounter, despite any mistakes I may have made in his eyes, why would he do it now?

"Well then," Shuri suddenly clapped her hands together, her voice carrying a playful tone. "My husband and I will leave you two alone and won't bother you any longer." She paused, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she threw a quick, almost imperceptible wink at Akeno. "Have fun. We'll be in the back of the house if you need us."

Neither I nor Baraqiel objected. Personally, I had no issue with it — spending time alone with Akeno sounded far more pleasant than sitting under the intense gaze of her ancient-as-humanity father. As for Baraqiel himself, though his expression remained stern, it was clear he simply didn't dare to oppose his wife. It was at that moment I saw the true nature of this man — despite his immense power and authority, he wouldn't dream of defying the real boss in their household. A classic henpecked husband.

Akeno practically beamed when her mother announced we'd be left unsupervised. Her eyes lit up with excitement, as if she were about to receive the most coveted gift. The energy inside her was palpable, just waiting to burst free, and I couldn't help but notice how thrilled she was at the prospect of having me all to herself.

As soon as Shuri and Baraqiel left, the brief silence that had filled the room was immediately broken by Akeno's soft giggle.

"So, what do you want to do?" she asked with a bright smile.