The all-powerful middle schooler

"I have a better way out."

As Izumi Hasegawa spoke, she turned around and looked at the city in the distance.

"please tell me."

The spirit maiden's eyes shone with hope.

"Ah."

He chuckled softly.

Do you want to become a true god?

74

Chapter 74 Your Name.

"What...does Your Excellency mean?"

The spirit goddess looked puzzled.

Actually, it already had a guess in its mind, but it was too bold to ask directly.

"You, who grant everyone's wishes, aren't you just like a god?"

Hasegawa Izumi turned her head slightly to the side, looking back.

"If this is a god... I'm willing."

The spirit girl hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"However, you are not qualified to become a true god yet, whether in terms of power or your self-willed way of doing things... In my opinion, you are just indulging in self-satisfaction, but that is normal, after all, this is the meaning of your birth."

Nishikawa Morika suddenly interrupted.

"So-called gods must be powerful enough to be dead."

"It is more accurate to say that it is precisely because of its power that it is revered as a god."

Sanae Dekomori and Rikka Takanashi continued.

"Having ability but no wisdom is useless; you'll have to start learning all over again."

Natsukawa Masaki followed up with a sarcastic remark.

“You…are right.”

The spirit maiden humbly accepted the answer.

According to Japanese tradition, it is actually more like a 'tsukumogami' (spirit/ghost), possessing great spirituality and intelligence comparable to humans, so it can also learn.

However, before, it had always used itself as a heartless wish-granting machine.

Through human perception, it also understood the potentially disastrous consequences of such a terrible abuse of power.

"So, I happen to have a job here. Would you like to take it?"

At this point, Izumi Hasegawa finally extended an olive branch.

"I am willing!"

The spirit maiden readily agreed.

……

Afterwards, the Far East Magic Society brought the Laughing Cat statue to Yagami Shrine.

"Good afternoon, everyone."

Yakumo Tsukamoto was cleaning the shrine when he saw everyone arrive, so he put down his broom and greeted them.

When she arrived, the girls' expressions were somewhat strange.

Because the previous school uniform has been changed into a shrine maiden outfit with a white top and red bottom.

“Very cute.”

"Oh my, the minister's hobby is quite peculiar."

"Is this a requirement of the sages?"

"Does the Sage like the shrine maiden's outfit?"

Several close female friends immediately complained, though their tone was somewhat sarcastic.

"No, no...you've misunderstood."

Tsukamoto Yakumo hurriedly waved his hands and tried to explain.

“Our family exists because of serving the shrine. In this generation, there are only my sister and me. She is not interested in it, so I became the ‘shrine maiden’.”

So, is this a coincidence?

The girls all turned their gazes to one side at the same time.

"Meow!"

At that moment, the black cat Iori, who had been hiding to rest, ran out and pounced on him.

"Iori, do you miss me that much?"

Hasegawa Izumi didn't dodge; instead, she caught it, held it in her arms, stroked its fur, and smiled.

"Meow~"

Iori called out obediently.

"good."

He nodded with satisfaction.

Petting cats is indeed fun, but it shouldn't interfere with important matters.

He looked at everyone and explained, "This is not a coincidence, because I had already seen that Tsukamoto had such potential. As a stone servant of the gods, her abilities are perfectly suited."

The girls then realized that this was the reason for their previous agreement.

"Eh? Serving the gods?"

Tsukamoto Yakumo was stunned for a moment, almost thinking he had misheard.

Immediately afterwards, Hasegawa Izumi explained the situation to her and then asked them to introduce themselves.

When he heard that the other party was a statue that had become a spirit, Tsukamoto Yakumo was quite startled.

"So, sir, you intend for me to become the deity worshipped at this shrine?"

The spirit maiden then understood his intention.

"But can we do it?"

Tsukamoto Yakumo asked somewhat uncertainly.

"With the abilities of the three of you, you are certainly capable of doing it... From now on, let's bring this shrine back to life."

Hanesegawa Izumi spoke with certainty.

Now they had no choice but to agree, leaving them no room to back out.

"However, the name of the Yagami Shrine should probably be changed, right? It would be better to target the believers."

Dan Shengtani Morika came up with an idea.

"Two of the three are cats, so let's just call it the Maya Shrine."

Rikka Takanashi thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up.

In the villages of Kawahira and Ukikai on Ishigaki Island, the deities worshipped during the sacrificial ceremonies held on the day of Ji Hai in the 8th or 9th month of the lunar calendar are divided into two gods: Maya and Tomomaa.

Maya means cat in the dialect, therefore, this god is also considered to be a cat god.

The name immediately gained everyone's approval.

"Then should we create a cult or something? Like the Meow Meow God Cult or something about Death!"

Sanae Tokomori put her mind to work.

"The name is cute, but... I guess it's unnecessary?"

The spirit goddess looked embarrassed.

"Alright, let's do it this way. From today onwards, the Maya Shrine is established. You will be the cat god worshipped by everyone. You will listen to the wishes of all beings, understand their hearts, and respond in the most appropriate way. As for Tsukamoto, you will serve as the 'shrine maiden,' responsible for communication between the gods. As for Iori, she can be a mascot."

That's how Izumi Hasegawa clearly defined everyone's responsibilities.

Although it's a bit rough around the edges, let's get it running first and then fine-tune it if any problems arise.

"Is there anything else you'd like to add?"

He then swept his gaze across the area.

"I have one more question."

The spirit girl raised her hand.

"explain."

"I...want a name."

It lowered its head, its fingertips lightly touching each other, like a shy little girl.

Seeing that everyone else had their own names, it couldn't help but feel a little envious of what it had been born from nothingness.

"Then, from now on, your name will be 'Cocoon'."

Izumi Hasegawa named it.

"Is the naming complete?"

Rikka Takanashi suddenly asked a question.

While the others were still puzzled, they heard Sanae Dekomori sigh and say, "Names can bring power. When the strong bestow them upon the nameless, they will bring them evolution and death. But this world obviously does not yet have such a setting... rule death."

"So this is ah."

Tsukamoto Yakumo listened with a mixture of understanding and confusion.

[This isn't another world, you know!]

The other experts silently complained to themselves.

"I accept this name."

"I will also bear the consequences of this name."

"From now on, please call me by my name."

The spirit maiden quickly accepted it and said it solemnly.

Whether you break free from your cocoon and become a butterfly, or become trapped in your own cocoon, depends on your destiny.

Hasegawa Izumi spoke slowly and took out a strange stone engraved with a spell from his pocket.

"Besides, you should place this in the place of worship; I will find it useful in the future."

1

Chapter 1 End - If the End of the World Is Coming

Cocoon reached out and took the item without asking any questions out of curiosity.

As humans often say... curiosity killed the cat.

However, others did not have this awareness.

"Could this be the legendary 'Philosopher's Stone'?"

Rikka Takanashi said with a serious expression.

"what is that?"

Yakumo Tsukamoto raised a question.

"It is said to be an amplifier endowed with magic that ignores the principle of 'equivalent exchange' and can be refined into any substance... With it, all sorts of incredible things can be accomplished!"