Before Morpheus crossed into this world, he'd come across an amusing saying online.
"I scoff at superstition, but I'd kneel for hours before the God of Wealth."
It spoke volumes about the allure of money and the flexibility of human principles.
Since ancient times, deities tied to wealth never lacked worshippers.
Inari Okami was one such god.
As the deity of thriving commerce, countless business groups visited Fushimi Inari Taisha to pray for blessings.
Upon returning and profiting, they'd fulfill their vows by erecting torii gates. Over time, these gates multiplied, creating the sprawling spectacle stretching kilometers across Mount Inari. Walking the entire path took about three and a half hours.
Each torii was unique—wealthy donors built grand ones, while those with less means offered smaller ones.
Some sections split into two parallel tunnels to accommodate even more gates.
No other shrine could boast such a sight.
As Morpheus and his group stepped into the Thousand Torii Gates, they felt a powerful force enveloping the area.
It wasn't the radiant power within Morpheus, nor demonic energy.
It was an equally potent but unfamiliar force.
Morpheus suspected it was divine power, unique to gods.
This was, after all, a shrine—and one brimming with fervent worship. The presence of divine power was only natural.
In contrast, the absence of such power at Kiyomizu-dera, which they'd visited yesterday, was the anomaly.
Intrigued by the divine energy, Morpheus's interest was piqued.
He'd been in this world for some time and, aside from Sirzechs and Serafall, hadn't encountered other gods.
Perhaps this was his chance to meet a local deity.
So, the group leisurely passed through the torii, entering the shrine to pay their respects to its god.
But upon entering, Morpheus was stunned to find the divine aura emanating from the enshrined statue.
No god was present within the shrine itself.
Whether they'd returned to Takamagahara or were deliberately avoiding him, Morpheus didn't see the deity.
He came with high hopes and left disappointed.
That evening, back at the hotel, the front desk informed Morpheus that two girls had come looking for him that afternoon. Learning he was out, they'd waited in the lobby.
Morpheus scanned the room and spotted two women, one older, one younger, on a sofa.
The younger was Yukino Yukinoshita, whom he'd parted ways with that morning.
The older was her sister, Haruno Yukinoshita.
Noticing Morpheus's group, the sisters rose and approached.
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Morpheus," Haruno said, bowing with a warm smile. "I'm Haruno Yukinoshita. I'm here to thank you for saving my sister."
Yukino bowed alongside her.
Morpheus nodded. "I accept your thanks. Anything else?"
Haruno's eyes flickered as she spoke softly. "Words alone can't express the Yukinoshita family's sincerity. We've arranged a banquet in your honor. Would you do us the pleasure of attending?"
"No need for a banquet," Morpheus declined with a wave.
No banquet could rival the cuisine of his follower, Erina Nakiri, who spent countless hours honing her craft in the time-locked follower platform.
Her skills, while not divine, had leaped several levels.
Paired with ingredients from Morpheus's Light Dimension, her dishes outshone any modern restaurant.
Even a three-star Michelin establishment couldn't hold a candle to her cooking.
Accustomed to such fare, Morpheus had little interest in lesser cuisine.
He cut to the chase. "If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, I'll head back to rest."
The Yukinoshita family, in his eyes, wasn't worth much effort.
Not even the Shinomiya family would sway him.
Haruno's smile faltered, caught off guard by his bluntness.
But she was adaptable, recovering quickly with a laugh. "We do have a matter we'd like to trouble you with, Mr. Morpheus. Could we discuss it in private?"
Morpheus didn't refuse. "Come to my room."
He was curious what trouble the Yukinoshita family faced.
Haruno, delighted, followed with Yukino, trailing Morpheus to his room.
"Something to drink?" Morpheus asked, gesturing for the sisters to sit.
"Coffee," Haruno replied.
Morpheus snapped his fingers, and two steaming cups of coffee materialized before them.
Though Haruno had heard from Yukino that Morpheus was extraordinary, witnessing it firsthand was startling.
Some things, only seen in person, carried true weight.
She sipped the coffee, her eyes lighting up. "This is incredible. What kind is it?"
The Yukinoshita family, while not a mega-corporation, was a prominent name in Chiba, with access to countless fine coffees.
Yet none compared to this.
No coffee on the market could match it.
Yukino, surprised, glanced at her sister, noting her genuine admiration, not flattery.
Curious, she took a sip and was equally stunned.
It was exceptional, better than any coffee she'd tasted.
Though not a coffee enthusiast, she could make an exception for this.
"Just something I grow myself. No famous brand," Morpheus said casually. "Now, what's the issue?"
Haruno, sensing his impatience, didn't delay. "The Yukinoshita family is a political and business family in Chiba, rooted in construction. We're currently expanding into Tokyo."
"Recently, we acquired land there to build a large shopping complex."
"But halfway through construction, something strange happened."
She paused, glancing at Morpheus, perhaps expecting a question.
Morpheus remained silent, gesturing for her to continue.
Haruno gave a wry smile. "Two weeks ago, during construction, there was a death. The project's been halted ever since."
***
If you like the Classroom of the Elite and Danganronpa series, don't hesitate to check out the new project I'm currently working on:
[COTE: The True Perfect Human]
Synopsis:
Since the era when humanity was still focused on steam and coal, people have already been questioning what the Perfect Human truly looks like.
Some say the Perfect Human possesses overwhelming physical strength… others claim the Perfect Human has unparalleled intelligence.
Of course, there are also those who believe the Perfect Human possesses both... strength and intellect.
Like Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
That's why when people ask who the most perfect human in all of fiction is, they often point to the Masterpiece of the White Room as the Perfect Human.
But… only the OGs know that the only Perfect Human who has ever walked this earth is...
The Ultimate Hope…
Izuru Kamukura.
...
This is the story of Izuru Kamukura as he challenges Classroom of the Elite searching for whether there is anything in this world capable of dispelling his boredom.