Mushoku Tensei: Ragnarök

[Sigurd POV]

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So there I was.

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Seven months old, standing at over seven meters tall like some kind of discount giant, wrapped in what I generously called "fashion"—but was really just beast pelts around my waist and shoulders.

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My white hair had gotten longer over the months. Apparently, being a giant comes with built-in hair growth bonuses.

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Who knew?

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My bandaged eyes picked up movement through my newly acquired Observation Haki.

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And by "newly acquired," I mean I was still terrible at it—but hey, at least I could sense the fifty-plus presences trying to sneak up on us.

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"Oh wonderful, looks like half the neighborhood decided to visit," I muttered.

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My voice was still annoyingly high-pitched, which really killed the whole "intimidating giant" vibe I was going for.

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"This One thinks you're being too casual about this," Kishirika piped up from her boulder perch. "That's a lot of wolves."

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"Thanks for the brilliant observation, pipsqueak. Really, what would I do without your tactical genius?"

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The vultures overhead decided to add their own commentary.

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SKREEEEEE!

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"Yes, yes, I know you're excited for dinner. Try not to choke on the bones," I said, not even bothering to look up. These birds had become my personal peanut gallery over the past few months.

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The wolves started emerging from behind rocks, and honestly?

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I was impressed.

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Gray Wolves with that lovely 'I haven't bathed in months' desert fur look, some smaller Wind Wolves that probably thought they were fast, and a few Stone Wolves who looked like someone had glued rocks to perfectly normal wolves and called it a day.

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But the real star of the show was their Alpha.

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A Scorch Wolf, with reddish fur and glowing heat lines that screamed "I'm the main boss of this encounter."

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Steam was literally rising from its body. Talk about dramatic flair.

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"AWOOOOOO!"

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"Yeah, yeah, very intimidating, fleabag. Really struck fear into my heart there," I rolled my eyes behind the bandages. "What's next, are you going to tell me your tragic backstory?"

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The pack spread out in a loose circle, and I had to admit—for a bunch of overgrown dogs, they had decent tactical sense.

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Stone Wolves took defensive positions.

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Wind Wolves darted between rocks like they were auditioning for a parkour video.

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And the Gray Wolves formed what I assumed was supposed to be an intimidating assault formation.

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"This One is impressed by their coordination," Kishirika commented.

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"Wow, animals with working brain cells. Alert the press." I stretched my shoulders, feeling the satisfying pop of joints. "Maybe they'll actually make this interesting."

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The alpha charged straight at me while the others moved in from every direction.

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Within my disruption range, I could feel several wolves trying to form wind blades. The magic destabilized immediately—one of the few perks of being a walking anti-magic field.

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But three Wind Wolves further out managed to launch their attacks before getting close enough for me to ruin their day.

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The wind blades got sucked toward me faster than normal—apparently my gravity was as subtle as a brick to the face.

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The strikes hit my chest and arms, and I felt... basically nothing.

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Like someone poking me with dull sticks.

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"Aww, what's wrong? Having performance issues?" I called out as tiny red marks appeared on my skin. "Maybe you should try a different approach, like knitting or stamp collecting."

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SKREEEEEE!

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"Oh, you're just dying to get started, aren't you?" I said to my feathered audience. "Don't worry, the main course is coming up."

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A Stone Wolf decided to try its luck with my leg.

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Its teeth scraped against my skin about as effectively as a house cat trying to chew through leather armor.

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"Hey there, rock-for-brains! You might want to try a different approach!"

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I grabbed the wolf and punted it like I was going for a field goal.

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"Don't fuck with this homeless giant!"

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The wolf went flying in a perfect arc, crashing into two Wind Wolves in what I could only describe as a strike.

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"GOOOOOAL!" I announced, raising my arms like I'd just won the World Cup.

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"This One thinks you're enjoying this too much," Kishirika said dryly.

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"This One needs to find a hobby that doesn't involve critiquing my entertainment choices." I grinned as more wolves swarmed me. "Like maybe getting taller so she can actually reach things on high shelves."

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Their claws scraped harmlessly against my skin, teeth unable to penetrate.

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It really was like being attacked by house cats. Angry, oversized house cats with abandonment issues.

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But then the Alpha Scorch Wolf reached me—and suddenly things got interesting.

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Heat radiated from its body in waves, and when its claws raked across my chest, they actually left shallow scratches.

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The searing heat amplified the damage just enough to break skin.

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"Finally! Someone who can actually play!" I grinned savagely. "I was starting to think this was going to be boring."

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Its burning bite pierced my forearm slightly.

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The heat triggered something deep in my Lunarian heritage—I felt flames beginning to build along my spine like someone had lit a campfire between my shoulder blades.

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"Oh, you done fucked up now, discount furry dragon."

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Time for some fun.

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I shrank down to mouse size, darting between the legs of suddenly very confused wolves.

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"Where'd the giant go?" I squeaked in a tiny voice, then grew back to full size right behind a group of Gray Wolves.

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"Surprise, assholes!"

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My club swept in a wide arc, sending three wolves flying like they were auditioning for a cartoon.

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But I wasn't done yet—I still had my party trick to show off.

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I spat a glob of purple poison, aiming carefully at a cluster of four wolves.

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The toxic substance splattered across them, immediately beginning to dissolve their fur and seep into their flesh as they howled in agony.

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"Enjoy the toxic hospitality!" I called out as the wolves collapsed, twitching as the poison did its work. "Five-star service, really."

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"This One finds your puns terrible," Kishirika said.

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"Your face is terrible. Now why don't you stand there and keep trying to look pretty—"

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The Alpha Scorch Wolf breathed a concentrated stream of fire, interrupting my witty comeback.

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The flames washed over me, and I actually felt burning this time.

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My hair singed, but the heat was triggering something else—blue flames began flickering along my back.

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"—Persistent little shit, aren't you?" I said, smoke puffing from my mouth like I was a defective dragon. "Two can play at this game."

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The flames on my back blazed higher, turning from blue to brilliant azure.

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My Lunarian fire—hotter than anything these mutts could imagine.

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Finally, time to show off properly.

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"Let me show you what real fire looks like!"

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My hands ignited in the same fire.

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With a swipe of one hand, I unleashed the flames in a devastating wave.

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The remaining wolves—except for the heat-resistant Alpha—were instantly done for.

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Their howls cut short as they became well-cooked corpses.

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SKREEEEEE!

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"Yeah, yeah, I know. Dinner's ready early today. You're welcome," I said to the vultures. "Try to pace yourselves, there's plenty to go around."

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Only the Alpha Scorch Wolf remained.

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Its heat resistance kept it alive, but it was clearly shaken.

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Steam rose from its body as it prepared its dramatic final stand.

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Its muscles tensed.

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The ground beneath it cracked from the heat it released.

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It let out one final, thunderous howl and charged, its entire body igniting in a blazing cloak of flame.

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A desperate, kamikaze rush. This wasn't just an attack—it was a last stand.

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I grinned.

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"Let's end this properly, then."

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I ripped my club from my back between my folded wings, gripping it tightly.

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In my mind, I could see it—a technique from my memories, a signature move I'd been dying to try out.

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"Let me show you how it's really done, discount dragon."

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The alpha lunged, jaws wide and burning.

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I sprinted forward, muscles coiling as I channeled everything into my swing.

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Thunder cracked around the weapon as I brought it down with devastating force.

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"RAIMEI HAKKE!"

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The club connected with the alpha's skull like a meteor striking the earth.

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The impact split the ground beneath us in a wide crater.

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Kishirika was knocked clean off her boulder.

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"This One did not consent to flying lessons!" she shrieked as she tumbled.

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The alpha wolf's body was driven deep into the earth.

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It twitched once—then lay still.

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Steam hissed from the crater.

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Silence.

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And then—

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"Hehehahaha! That's how you deal with fifty overgrown dogs!" I shouted, shouldering my club with a manic grin.

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I was laughing hard—and I realized I'd been enjoying fighting more and more these past few months.

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Probably not the healthiest development... but hey, at least I was good at it.

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"This One thinks you're showing off," Kishirika said, dusting herself off.

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"This One can kiss my ass."

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SKREEEEEE!

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"Yes, yes, I know you're proud of me. Now go enjoy your meal before it gets cold."

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I started walking away from the carnage, leaving the vultures to their feast.

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My hair was half-burned, I had a few shallow scratches from the alpha, and I was pretty sure I'd pulled something in my shoulder.

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But I was smiling.

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"Sigurd Ragnarök," I muttered to myself. "Yeah... that has a nice ring to it."

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"This One thinks you're getting a big head about this," Kishirika said, hopping onto my shoulder without invitation.

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"This One's head is proportional to This One's achievements."

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I paused, rubbing my bandaged eye. "And speaking of achievements, I can still feel phantom pain in the eye you poked when you proclaimed you were giving me a Demon Eye and proceeded to poke it anyway despite my attempt to retort."

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Kishirika whipped her head away, pouting.

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"Humph! This One only wanted to reward you for saving her back then."

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"Oi, don't try to act cute, you're literally thousands of years old—a hag in a kid body."

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"Mean." Kishirika pouted, then mumbled with a mischievous glance, "You literally saw my body with those same eyes."

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I sighed and began walking again, the dry gravel crunching beneath my massive bare feet.

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"What's there to see? Your body's literally that of a kid. I didn't ask for a peek either—my eyes are still out of control. They just... trigger on their own sometimes."

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Who could've guessed that her idea of "bestowing a Demon Eye" meant stabbing me in the face?

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I thought bitterly, feeling a faint sting just remembering it.

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Really should have seen that one coming.

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"Hai hai~ This One understands," she replied sweetly. "Still linked to your emotions, right? But doesn't that technically mean you were thinking about a woman's body~?"

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I rolled my eyes behind the bandages and muttered under my breath.

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Right. Emotion-linked powers.

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Like when I ended up writhing on the floor, screaming, because she accidentally triggered Giro Giro no Mi instead of whatever she meant to give me.

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Good times.

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I came to a stop and casually looked around, squinting exaggeratedly at the horizon.

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"Woman's body? Where? I don't see one around here."

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Kishirika narrowed her eyes and yanked my cheek with both hands from her perch.

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"You're looking right at her, you blind oaf!"

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I winced. "Ow—okay, okay! Easy on the face!"

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I didn't swat her away, but I did carefully peel her fingers off and flick her forehead.

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"Violence is not the answer to everything."

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Yeah, that eye thing had hurt like a bitch.

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Like a thousand fire ants crawling behind my eyeballs trying to claw their way out.

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I rubbed my eye absently.

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Still does, sometimes.

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"I'll have you know," she snapped, tail flicking, "the Great Demon Empress Kishirika Kishirisu was once hailed as the most beautiful woman across the entire Demon Continent!"

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I gave a half-lidded look and scratched my ear like I couldn't be bothered.

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"Yeah? Try saying that when you're not fun-sized."

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"That's my line! You're the kid here!" she barked, puffing up again.

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I smirked, shoulders shaking.

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"Heheh..."

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Then it burst out—loud and rolling.

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"Hehehahahaha! You're way too easy to mess with, O' Great Empress!"

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SKREEEEEE!

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"Thank you for the applause. Same time tomorrow?"

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The vultures, as always, just kept circling as we walked away from the battlefield.

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Just another day in paradise, really.

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'hmm?... Weird, I felt almost like someone was spying on us—me?' I subtly closed my eyes under the blindfold to use my Clairvoyance around, but I couldn't see anything.

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I shrugged it off for the time being. Deciding to remain cautious.

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* * * *

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[Void World]

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In the endless white void that served as his domain and prison, the Man God, Hitogami sat cross-legged on nothing, his perpetual smile stretched across his pale, mosaic-like face. The future spread out before him like a vast web of possibilities, though he could only clearly observe the detailed paths of three individuals at any given time.

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But something was... off.

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"Hmm?" His head tilted slightly, the smile never wavering. "Now what's this?"

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There were disturbances in the threads - small at first, barely noticeable ripples centered around the Demon Continent. Nothing dramatic, nothing that would upset his carefully laid plans, but... unusual enough to catch his attention given his limited scope of foresight.

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"How curious," he mused, his voice carrying that same pleasant tone he used when speaking to his apostles through their dreams. "Something's making little waves in my beautiful future."

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He focused his divine sight, peering deeper into the threads of fate he could perceive. The disturbances were subtle - a conversation here, a decision there, small changes that shouldn't matter in the grand scheme of things. But they were consistent. Persistent. And they all seemed to radiate from somewhere within the Demon Continent.

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"Now, now, who could be causing such interesting little ripples?" His smile widened slightly. "Let's see..."

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Hitogami's consciousness swept across the Demon Continent, his divine perception touching every settlement, every town, every gathering of people. He observed the demon lords in their domains, the wandering tribes, the scattered villages - all the usual suspects who might cause temporal disturbances.

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And then his sight simply... stopped. Slid away. Like trying to grasp smoke.

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"Oh?" The smile froze on his face for just a moment before returning to its usual pleasant expression. "Oh my."

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He tried again, focusing his divine sight with more intensity. The disturbances were definitely coming from somewhere, but when he tried to look directly at the source, his vision encountered something he hadn't felt in a very, very long time.

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A blank space. A void in his perception. A place where his sight simply... couldn't reach.

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"Well now," he said softly, his voice carrying a note of genuine interest. "That's... familiar."

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The sensation was unmistakable - the same maddening blindness he experienced whenever he tried to observe Orsted. The same frustrating inability to see, to know, to manipulate directly.

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"Another one?" He leaned forward slightly, his smile taking on a sharper edge. "How... interesting."

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But then his expression brightened, the smile becoming genuinely amused. "Well, well. Just because I can't see you directly doesn't mean I can't see you at all, does it?"

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Hitogami's consciousness began to sweep through the Demon Continent once more, but this time with a different purpose. He wasn't looking for the source directly - he was looking for someone who might have encountered it. Someone he could work through.

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"Let's see... who might be in the right place at the right time?" he mused, his tone taking on the playful quality of someone solving an entertaining puzzle. "Someone trustworthy, someone useful, someone who might eventually cross paths with the little mystery..."

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His divine sight touched upon various individuals - merchants, travelers, adventurers, anyone who might have a chance to meet or see this mysterious blindspot now or in the future.

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Through their eyes, their memories, their perspectives, he could potentially glimpse what his direct sight could not perceive.

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"Ah, there we are," he said pleasantly, his attention focusing on some particularly promising candidates. "Perfect."

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e god of manipulation settled back, his smile widening as he prepared to enter someone's dreams. After all, he had been playing this game for millennia. One little blind spot wasn't going to stop him - it would just make the game more interesting.

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"Now then, my dear little puppets," he whispered, his consciousness reaching out across the void toward the Demon Continent. "Let's visit them, shall we? I have some questions and I need you to find the answers..."

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The future threads continued their dance, the disturbances growing neither larger nor smaller, simply... persisting.

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But now Hitogami had a plan. He always had a plan.

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After all, what was the point of having influence on others if you couldn't use them to solve your problems?

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END OF CHAPTER

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• Author Note:

This ended up being my longest chapter so far, and I'm hoping to get better at writing longer ones. Hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading.