Campione Scumbag in Mash-up Anime

After school.

In front of the lockers, Ren was changing his shoes. As he was about to leave the school, a girl's voice called out to him.

"Rokuhara-senpai..."

Ren turned around. The girl was his junior in the Archery Club—Sonoda Umi.

She had a slender figure, long dark blue hair with three bangs framing her face, and her brown eyes looked slightly nervous. Umi had the qualities of a yamato nadeshiko, a polite and traditional Japanese woman. Because of this, she was usually shy when interacting with people she didn't know well. Even with those she felt comfortable around, she remained quiet unless provoked.

It was precisely because of Umi's shy personality that Ren didn't expect her to initiate a conversation with him first.

"What's up, Umi-san?" He asked curiously.

Umi bit her lip for a moment before finally speaking in a soft voice. "U-um... are you planning to rejoin the Archery Club?"

Ren stared at her for a moment, then smiled faintly. "What makes you think that?"

Umi avoided eye contact, then slowly pointed to the archery bag on his back.

Ren understood her meaning and just chuckled softly.

"Oh, this? Unfortunately, I didn't bring it for the Archery Club. It's for self-defense." He said, patting the bag.

Hearing that, Umi's expression changed slightly. It wasn't overt sadness, but there was a subtle disappointment on her face.

"I see…" She murmured softly.

Ren watched her for a moment before leaning back against the lockers. "Do you want me to come back, Umi-san?"

Umi tensed slightly, then hesitantly nodded.

"Rokuhara-senpai is very talented... You won the national high school archery competition. You brought glory to our school and the Archery Club. However, after you left, this year's competition was won by Shinomiya Kaguya from Shuchi'in Academy."

"..."

Ren showed no reaction to her words. The girl's sad expression wasn't enough to change his decision.

"I don't plan on coming back. There are more important matters than archery."

Umi bit her lip, then asked, "What matters?"

"A secret." Ren smirked slightly.

Of course, he wouldn't tell the truth. In his heart, the "important matters" he referred to were playing around with his women.

If Umi knew, all her admiration and respect for Ren would vanish in an instant.

Realizing Ren couldn't be persuaded, Umi stopped pushing. However, after a moment of hesitation, she asked, "Senpai... do you know about Yume-san?"

"Did something happen to her?"

"Um. Yume-san has been missing for a week without any news."

Yume was also a member of the Archery Club. She was a cheerful, sociable, and easygoing girl. It was hard to imagine her suddenly disappearing without a trace.

In a worried tone, Umi explained, "Her parents have already reported it to the police as a missing person case, but so far, there's been no progress."

Ren thought for a moment, then muttered, "Missing... Huh... Considering Yume's personality, I think it's unlikely she ran away from home. If she didn't run away, then there's another bad possibility—she was kidnapped."

"I think so too, senpai."

'So it's already started. Yume didn't run away from home or get kidnapped. She crossed over to another world called Grimgar.'

Even if Ren told the truth, Umi wouldn't believe him.

With nothing more to discuss, Umi returned to the Archery Club, while Ren left the school.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Ren strolled leisurely through the rows of flea market stalls, his sharp eyes scanning every corner with his ever-active Insight Gaze. It wasn't without reason that he returned to this place—before thoroughly checking every stall, he wouldn't move on to another flea market.

The air was filled with the scent of old wood, rusted iron, and a hint of damp earth, creating the unique atmosphere of this place. The vendors sat behind their stalls, offering a variety of items—from worn-out jewelry, rusty swords, ancient statues, to yellowed scrolls eaten away by time.

Most of the visitors were middle-aged to elderly people. For them, collecting antiques was a hobby and a form of nostalgia. However, the presence of a high school student like Ren was a rare sight.

Some of the older folks glanced at him briefly, perhaps surprised to see a young person who seemed to understand their world. But no one bothered him—in this market, everyone was busy with their own affairs.

An hour passed.

Ren continued his steps, meticulously combing through each stall with great patience. He had long understood that true treasures wouldn't be found in haste.

Then, his steps halted.

In the corner of a small, unremarkable stall, he saw a piece of limestone.

An ordinary stone. That's how it seemed to others. No carvings, no unique patterns—just a piece of rock that, if placed on the side of the road, might not even be picked up.

But—

His Insight Gaze saw the truth behind the stone.

[Limestone: Contains a strand of hair from the Great Sage Equaling Heaven , Sun Wukong. The hair is part of the Divine Authority of Shapeshifting, capable of transforming into almost any imaginable form, whether it be animals, other humanoid creatures, or even inanimate objects. According to myth, it can transform into 72 different forms. Several hundred years ago, the Storm God Susano'o trapped Sun Wukong and sealed him in a remote dimension. Before being fully sealed, Sun Wukong threw out a strand of his hair, hoping his clone would help break the seal from the outside. However, the seal was so powerful that it severed any connection. The hair has long lost its Magical Energy and can only be used once by whoever holds it.]

Ren's eyes widened slightly as he read the description of the limestone in his hand.

'A strand of Sun Wukong's hair, part of the Divine Authority of Shapeshifting? Lady Fortuna must be on my side!'

'Yesterday, I found one artifact related to a god, and now, on the second day, I've found another valuable item!'

'I look like the protagonist of a xianxia novel who always stumbles upon lucky encounters wherever I go.'

Ren couldn't help but smile faintly. This was a true jackpot!

He glanced around. The stall owner, an old man with a weary face, was busy reading a newspaper, completely unaware of how valuable the item he was selling was.

"Kid, that's just an ordinary stone. If you like it, take it for 500 yen." The old man said without looking up from his newspaper.

'500 yen? That's even cheaper than a curry rice at the school cafeteria!'

Holding back his excitement, Ren took out a coin from his pocket and handed it over without hesitation. "I'll take this, old man."

"Okay. The stone's yours now." The old man nodded lightly, still engrossed in his reading.

Ren didn't want to linger. After ensuring the transaction was complete, he immediately headed to a quieter corner of the market.

"Now, how do I use this thing?"

He stared at the limestone in his palm. Based on the Insight Gaze description, Sun Wukong's hair inside could only be used once—and its effects were truly extraordinary.

"Shapeshifting, huh? Can transform into almost any imaginable form..."

Ren thought quickly. In many myths, Sun Wukong was known for his 72 Transformations, which allowed him to transform into living creatures, inanimate objects, and even natural elements like water and fire. If he could use it correctly, limitless possibilities opened up before him.

"If becoming a Campione was just a daydream before, now that chance is within reach. The only problem? Finding a Heretic God."

"Courage? I've never lacked courage!"

"Without fighting a Heretic God and seizing their Divine Authority, it's impossible for me to become a Campione. But before that..."

"I need information."

Ren needed to confirm whether the Campione plot had already begun or not. If this world hadn't entered the main events yet, then there was another path he could take—steal Prometheus' Grimoire from Kusanagi Godou, then head to Italy to kill the War God Verethragna!

With a casual step, he carefully stored the limestone in his bag. There was no reason to linger at the flea market anymore. The next destination: Akihabara Electric Town!