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Prologue. 【Excerpt From the Meeting Minutes with Associated Individuals, Written by the Traveling Archeologist Sherilyn from London
【Excerpt From the Meeting Minutes with Associated Individuals, Written by the Traveling Archeologist Sherilyn from London, Beginning of the 21st Century】 Dragons have nine similarities. Heads like a camel, horns like a deer, eyes like a ghost, ears like a bull, appearances like a snake, bellies like a mirage, scales like a carp, claws like an eagle, palms like a tiger. Such is the [Dragon]'s appearance as written in Chinese books. But it was merely a fantastical description written in text, combining various creatures to form a strange biological existence. At the same time, the dragon's greatest similarity was its considerable semblance to snakes. Whether it was eastern or western, dragons always had a thin, snake-like body, and at the same time exhibited characteristics of other beasts special to the region; therefore it always looked different given variations in location and time. The greatest unchanging aspect of this beast was that it always had its foundation as a [Serpent], which, regardless of region, has not differed since ancient times.
【Notes of the Witch Lucretia Zola, Regarding the Mythology of Perseus and Andromeda】[1] The monster perched by the waterside (likely a great serpent or dragon-kin) required them to present a girl as sacrifice. At this moment, the timely appearance of a hero defeated the monster; he then took the rescued girl as his wife. We have confirmed that even in the far-eastern Japan, there were also stories like that of Perseus and Andromeda. The most renowned examples would be the tales surrounding the Yamata no Orochi.[2] Susanoo defeated the Yamata no Orochi before marrying Kushinada.[3] Then from the tail of the slain serpent, he was granted the blessing of a divine sword.[4] Therefore, Susanoo acquired the [Sword] from the body of the [Serpent]. There were several similarities to the formula that we European witches are familiar with. For example, Siegfried who became immortal after killing the dragon Fafnir,[5] or the knight Sir Lancelot who received the magic sword from the faerie of the lake.[6] In other words—confronting dragons was the hidden symbiotic relationship between heroes of steel and the gods of the earth and water.
【Liliana Kranjcar, about to go on vacation, just before meeting the [King]】 It was already late July and about to change months. Europe was in the middle of summer, the season of long vacations. Spending the long vacation in either resorts that avoid the summer heat or coastal locations was good; renting a villa to spend leisure time was alright as well, even relaxing at one's own home from morning to night was not a bad call. So for Liliana Kranjcar to assess her own swimsuit in front of the mirror in her room, it was not something others should gossip about. Because it should be like that. "...No, no this isn't good either, how can I wear something like this in front of everyone!" Liliana was looking at herself in the mirror, frankly pointing out that it was impossible for her to dress like that. The long vacation was scheduled to be spent by the sea this year. Therefore, she was now trying out the new swimsuit now. But... What was wrapped around her slender body were the upper and lower portions of a bikini. Although her body was very slender, the lush and delicate chest, as well as the feminine waistline, were both very soft, while her slim legs were like fine glass, all of it giving a fairy-like cuteness and the dangerously-balanced charm of a girl. Liliana looked despairingly at her posture. —Definitely not! This is way too exposed! Way too vulgar! Liliana's white skin tone overwhelmed the blue lines of the swimsuit that was covering her. It was way too daring. Even though it fit perfectly, it was still problematic. Although such an appearance may create some opportunities for her, things that could not be done just could not be done. ......The blistering summer sun, the scorching hot beach. ......At this time, the shy Liliana strolled in her swimsuit, watched by a gentleman (definitely a handsome guy, clad in swimwear, with the tanned skin of an athlete) who could not keep his eyes off her. ......The shy Liliana occasionally made eye contact, but the guy sent an elegant smile her way. She thought it would finish with just that, but the two of them met again several hours later....... "J-just what am I thinking, really...... compared to this, Karen!" "What are your orders, Liliana-sama? Does that swimsuit still meet your wishes?" As Liliana addressed the exclusive maid who stood behind her, the other replied in a calm steady voice. Karen Jankulovski. A petite and cute girl who was wearing a maid outfit. At age fourteen, she was at an age when studying should be her focus. But, Karen was currently an apprentice sorceress studying at the Kranjcar family's [Bronze Black Cross] magic association. She already finished her high school courses, a result of constantly skipping grades while studying within the private school ran by the association. Now she worked besides Liliana, receiving an education necessary for witches. "It's rare to come here to shop, but I feel like this swimsuit doesn't fit me; seems way too showy." "Not at all; I think it fits you perfectly." "No! F-for a lady, just wearing such a thin swimsuit is already a problem!" "Don't you often emphasize that you are a knight and not a lady?" "Eh, that is completely true, b-but what about as a girl! That's right, a pure girl shouldn't wear such shameless clothes." Liliana declared in a high tone. But Karen sighed with a tiny sound, and with gentle eyes that looked like she was dealing with a selfish child, she said: "Really? Since Liliana-sama says that, there's also another swimsuit that I prepared...... but you might mind what others think of it." Karen replied in a teasing tone. Karen Jankulovski was not only an excellent witch, but also a capable maid, not to mention someone with an unforgiving tongue full of critique for others. "Since it's a swimsuit, it's natural to be very thin; the fact that you mind such minor details also means that your tolerance is far too low...... ah, I'm really sorry, I accidentally spoke my mind, please forgive me." Liliana could not help but frown as she heard these words that lacked the sincerity of an apology. But, such a level of criticism was not enough to change her views. "Then, what do you think of this swimsuit? I prepared it as a backup just in case. This is a blue one-piece swimsuit, completely lacking any cuteness; its simplicity and lack of sexiness is its only trait, a piece that completely lacks any sense of interest—" "If you already prepared a plain swimsuit, then take it out in the first place." As she watched, Karen pick up a swimsuit from the nearby table, Liliana relaxed and let out her breath at last. But the calmly plotting maid purposefully made a worried expression. "Well, I did prepare it, but when I heard that Erica Blandelli-sama's swimsuit this year was not only light and functional, but also a bikini that emphasized her boldness and sex appeal, I thought that if this continued, you won't even have a chance to compete against her......" "......What did you say?" Although Liliana wanted to pretend those words were just a passing wind, she was completely hooked after hearing the name of her rival. "Karen...... how do you know what Erica's swimsuit will be like this year?" "Do you know Arianna Arialdi? She's Erica-sama's maid and a long-time friend of mine; just yesterday on the phone we ended up chatting about this topic." "You, when did you build such a relationship with that devil woman?" "Please don't be surprised by something like this; this was only to grasp Liliana-sama's and our [Bronze Black Cross]' enemy—Erica-sama and her intentions." The petite maid showed a calm and natural expression to her surprised mistress. "Erica-sama and Liliana-sama are connected by an inexplicable fate, so it's likely that you'll meet her on some beach or at some swimming pool...... given that, I'm extremely worried about such a plain swimsuit; I'm not sure if it even has the right to compete with her." "You are worrying over nothing; that fox woman is definitely staying in Japan, trying to beguile that seventh godslayer. I definitely will not meet her this summer. Trying to use my rivalry with Erica to dress me up so shamefully? I will not let you succeed. Hmph...... Liliana rejected Karen's suggestion with a cold smile. "Ah, didn't you know? Erica-sama accompanied her lover—Kusanagi Godou-sama and arrived in Italy." ......Now she received some completely unexpected information. Liliana fell silent and into deep thought; she had repeated her days of conflict with Erica Blandelli since childhood. Their martial arts shared the spotlight equally with neither side gaining any advantage, and while her magic was not as good as that woman in iron alchemy, she was still one-step better overall. Then there were social skills, where Erica held an overwhelming advantage. Just on this matter she was never as good; as a woman, her charm and her presence has always lost to Erica. She did not feel like her appearance or attitude lost in any way, then just why? No...... I'm definitely somewhat blunt, and I don't really know how to talk...... But, that woman does not understand chores at all, especially when it comes to cooking, where she herself held an overwhelming advantage. Liliana Kranjcar could be counted as a homemaking type of woman after all. "Then, we won't need the swimsuit you have on now, is that alright?" The maid suddenly asked as she was pondering over things. Liliana wanted to nod, but she hesitated. Was this alright? Was this really alright? From a normal standpoint, without prior arrangements, her chances of meeting Erica on the beach were almost zero. But when she thought of her luck regarding that woman, going to a ten or even twenty percent chance from zero was possible...... "......No, let me carefully look over this again; this is actually alright. However please prepare the one piece for me as well, even though this year I'll wear the first one." "Is that so? I understand." Liliana pretended to be calm, while Karen coolly accepted the orders. ......Truthfully, as the head of the Kranjcar family, Liliana's grandfather was also worried about his granddaughter's lack of appeal, therefore he instructed Karen to "at least make her choose some more appropriate styles, but just how?", "Well Sir, please leave it to me.", "Oh~~ if successful, I'll reward you with a special bonus......" and similar dialogue, none of which was appropriate to the topic right now. Nevertheless, the mistress and her exclusive maid finally came to a result, immediately followed by...... The ring tone sounded on Liliana's cell phone. "Hello, I am Kranjcar...... yes, it has been a long time, Diana. Eh, Sir Salvatore? Yes, though I can get in touch with him...... Is there any reason to request his divine power? Unless some rare occasion has happened? The Heraion? The Seal of the Snake and the Cow!?" After finishing her conversation, Liliana immediately opened her cell phone's contact list. She called Italy's proud godslayer of the sword—Salvatore Doni. To request his help, she had to reach him first. At the same time, Liliana called the maid that stood beside her. "Karen, my apologies, looks like this year's vacation is cancelled, right now we need to find Sir Salvatore, then immediately head towards Naples. Please make the travel arrangements. "I understand, Liliana-sama." This would drag Liliana Kranjcar into battle with the [Heretic Gods], and marked her prelude to new adventures.
[edit]Chapter 1 - In Pursuit of Lost Time [edit]Part 1 In a group that is comprised mainly of females, there is someone sticking out like a sore thumb. A single male. If someone should think that they would be super happy or "This world is too perfect", then there is something seriously wrong with them. Recently, Godou had started to have this kind of viewpoint upon his situation. All in all, his shoulders felt very heavy, his mood was not good at all and he felt very uneasy. Godou had no idea why he had to leave Japan and come all the way here to Sardinia, Italy for his summer vacation. The layout of the island was similar to Shikoku (Japan), and was also famous for being a summer vacation tourist spot. Because of the surrounding emerald-blue seas, it grew to fame as a tourist spot as celebrities frequently came here for vacations. Originally, Godou and company had intended to stay on the area around the western coast. As the airport was very close to Alghero, there were also many attractions nearby. There were quite a few gothic, baroque and renaissance style buildings which served as world heritage sites. Lastly, to trump everything else, the breathtakingly beautiful beaches and seas. Except for the fact that it's slightly hotter than what would be comfortable, this would be the perfect vacation spot. Even so, Godou's mood had not improved much. And all of it was due to being surrounded by females. From the time he arrived until the current moment, four days have already passed. In this time, Godou had not even a day of peace. For example, this morning - In a room in the villa they had rented, after a refreshing wake-up, Godou had headed to the bathroom. After brushing his teeth and washing his face, someone had sprung a surprise attack against him from the back. Gagged, handcuffed and blindfolded, he was brought outside the villa and placed upon something like a rubber dinghy. About twenty minutes had passed. Taking the rubber dinghy to the sea, Godou was finally released from his bindings, and was given a ridiculous explanation. "Finally, we can be alone together, Godou. I've been looking forward to this." The voice expectedly came from Erica Blandelli. Twirling her blond hair with her hands and giving off an expression of absolute happiness, Godou somehow felt like he was swooning, and began his retort. "No way is this a situation where 'we can be alone together', isn't it more like a kidnapping?" "That's not it... Because, it's all your fault that this happened." Erica replied, still maintaining her immaculate smile. In heaven and earth, I am the one and only, once said by Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha[7]. This young girl's actions had always seemed to be inspired from that phrase, hence Godou was already used to it. "Whatever sins I have committed to deserve this fate, please tell me all about it. I would like to have a peaceful life in the future." "Of course, it is the sin of not wanting us to be together alone." Upon the first day of arrival, Godou had already been a victim of Erica's relentless and ferocious hugging. After that, he had taken extreme caution not to be caught in a situation where he was alone with Erica. Will I be able to return in one piece? Did the chicken or the egg come first? In order to prevent a tragedy and taking preventive measures, in the end it would still lead to the same tragedy. If whatever I do will result in the same ending, then isn't life just cruel and meaningless? ... Godou fell into deep thought, attempting to escape from reality via his random inner monologue. The Erica who was naturally wearing a swimsuit temptingly gazed at Godou, her swimsuit revealing -a lot- of skin. Their skin came in contact intimately, her face gradually getting closer and her mesmerizing lips slowly closed the distance. Not good. To continue escaping reality would result in fatality. To be specific, it would not be strange for it to end in an engagement to Erica in three days. Comparing their physical strength, combat would not be a viable option. From her combat capability, Godou would already be hanging by a thread. Even in a war of attrition, stamina would only be slowly chipped away. If that was the case, then he would entrust everything to that instance of battle. The amorously approaching Erica had relaxed her guard, and it was at this moment that he took action. "Ah, hold on a moment Godou! After coming this far with me, where are you planning on going?" "Sorry, but I'm going to head back by myself. Don't follow me!" Stripping off his shirt, he focused on the shore in the far distance amidst the rolling waves. With all his might, he swam, not stopping even for a brief moment. On the endless sea, he swam towards the shore which seemed like a mirage in the desert. Not just his body, even his spirit was suffering from this ordeal. Finally, after what seemed like eternity, he finally managed to reach the rented villa. Mariya Yuri and Lucretia Zola were waiting together for him. "Godou-san, where on earth have you been this morning?" Yuri asked while standing in front of the door. Indeed, she gave off the feeling of a traditional Japanese-style girl, but her light-brown hair made her seem to be more than meets the eye. She was a prim and proper beautiful girl with a sense of transparency. However, the eyes of the usually level-headed Yuri were very frightening at the moment. Her eyes did not give off a feeling of undisguised danger, perhaps it was a more quiet and tranquil stare. Also, one could feel a strong will and a noble sense of obligation behind those eyes. - Oh. Although I don't know why, somehow it seems that I have angered Yuri. Godou sighed. In these few months, he had come to know that this expression was a sign of danger. She was a girl that could be as gentle as Buddha, but also as fearsome as Yasha. At the same time, he looked at the witch under the eaves, who was swaying on the rocking chair. "Hoho, once, some Japanese female university students on vacation drew graffiti on the San Pietro Cathedral. Unintentionally, I flew into a rage. Now, I'm regretting it... What sad, deplorable behavior they showed me.." Said Lucretia Zola, who was randomly spouting off various stories. The beautiful witch with flaxen-colored hair and a body that mere words could not do justice to, did not even glance over at Godou and Yuri even once. Suspicious. Based on that, should anything disastrous occur, most likely it would have something to do with her. "Godou-san, where exactly have you been to? Please face me, and listen to me properly. That is only basic courtesy." "Ah, sorry... Erm Mariya, is it ok if I ask what you are angry about?" "I am not angry. Merely shocked. I came to understand that Godou-san, although always speaking seriously, is in actual fact an impure person who knows no shame, and thus I feel disappointed." Although I had asked in such a nice and polite manner, such was the reply I had received. The degree of scariness in Yuri's eyes was increasingly steadily. "It, it seems that you are misunderstanding something, what happened?" "I am not misunderstanding anything at all. Earlier, I heard from Lucretia-san, that early this morning, Godou-san and Erica-san, had snuck out together alone... To, to accept that kind of tempting invitation from Erica-san who is always up to no good and not even resist, you were obediently brought outside..." "No, it is because I was fully handcuffed, blinded and gagged that I could not resist, there is no way I would have gone along willingly with that girl. Don't misunderstand this!" After listening to Godou's explanation, Yuri could only give a pained smile. What does she mean by that expression? It was as though she was mourning someone who had done something so utterly hopeless, like a complete idiot, as though she was doubting how he would turn out in the future, while revealing a Buddha-like expression. "It is no surprise to me that you refuse to tell the truth. It is just as Lucretia-san had said, it is times like this that men will continue to lie and dig their own graves... I was mistaken in judging your character, how filthy." Mariya Yuri is a very smart, deep-thinking girl. As she was raised as a ojou-sama, she had a very gullible side to her. Not knowing the lies and trickeries of the world, she is very pure-hearted. "Ma, Mariya. Although I don't know what she told you, don't just believe in anything. Please believe me!" "A man caught with his pants down will always say things like "Please believe me", really, it is in no way convincing - exactly like what Lucretia-san had said." That damn witch, what nonsense exactly did she feed her? Godou, stared menacingly at Lucretia, whose face was currently covered by a newspaper. "Hoho, the Italian Prime Minister has been denying rumors about his having of a hair transplantation surgery. He claims that it is a change in lifestyle that resulted in the unnatural sudden spurt of hair growth. Hoho, what a load of crap." "Please don't badmouth people behind their backs, when you are also guilty of the same thing. Why have you been telling Mariya a load of nonsense?" "Telling her a load of nonsense, that's surprising, I don't remember doing that. Boy, it's not good to get lost in wild delusions." Lucretia replied, finally putting down the newspaper that covered her face. "I merely taught her a brief lesson on biology and social psychology. First, about the stamen and pistil and their roles in fertilization. After that, about how in recent times, young males and females would fall into the depths of their youth, resulting in a certain ending which would greatly affect their daily lives. And then, due to their own muddiness and dishonesty, what kind of excuses men will employ to cover up their mistakes. This morning, I only imparted these few basic understandings of humans to her, that's all!" As she was saying that, she puffed out her chest as though it perfectly explained her actions. Lucretia Zola, the witch, was their host at this island of Sardinia. According to his personal experience, and proof from various situations, she was at least about six to seven decades old. However, from what the eyes could see, she was a flawlessly beautiful lady in her late twenties. Underneath that, she was an advocate of 'fun above everything'. To her, having fun was the single most important factor in any decision. In the end, Godou had to spend an hour to explain to Yuri that he was innocent. After all that, she still regarded him with a slightly suspicious look. Not just that, she also mentioned something like, 'Since you have gone to such great lengths to explain yourself, I will trust you just this once. Please do not betray my expectations of you'. Godou totally had no idea what she was so hurt about. It was as though she were a young wife who knew her husband was cheating on her, yet still endured with pure willpower. Mariya Yuri is a miko who possessed something like clairvoyance, known as "Reishi" (Spirit Vision). Although she could see what cannot be seen, know what cannot be known, she could not use this power as she willed. At times, it was a really reproachful ability. At any rate, to Godou who had barely managed to make it back safely, he had already met another crisis. "Ara, Godou-san. Where have you been? Please hold on a moment, lunch is almost ready." Came a voice from the kitchen, from a girl who was busy working in the kitchen while humming a tune. Arianna Hayama Arialdi. She had a Japanese grandfather, and is currently working under Erica as a maid. Lively, kind, serious and with a refreshing appearance. A gentle person who wouldn't harm a fly; that was how good the impression Godou had of her. But this time, Godou felt a sudden chill run down his spine. Anna, as she was more commonly called, was adding some zucchini, and unknown shellfish-like things, among others, into the boiling soup. Her stew was extremely dangerous. A few days earlier, Arianna had created this soup known as 'The refreshing taste of summer', which had a taste and appearance that words cannot possibly describe. Erica and Lucretia did not even try to taste a single bit. Yuri tried her very best, but could only manage to finish half of it. In the end, it was left to Godou to dispose of it. The leftovers were fed to the stray cats, well, to be exact, the cats had run away the moment they smelled the concoction. Thus, Godou, ignoring his current fatigue from long-distance swimming, made a request. "Anna-san, you are always the one who makes all our meals. As I kind of feel bad over it, please leave lunch's preparations to me." "I can't do that, please, you don't have to be so kind to me. After all, I do love cooking." "No, please let me do it by all means! Leave it to me!" Just like that, Godou had forcibly taken on the responsibility of making lunch. Afterwards, Godou, Yuri, Arianna, Lucretia and Erica who had just returned, started to enjoy the lunch that was prepared together. "Such a bland, sketchy taste. Also, the ingredients are not beautifully cut." Said the gourmet Erica, who was sitting in the opposite direction, facing Godou. Surprisingly, to the Erica who would eat anything, she would pick the portions of better quality whenever she had the chance. Because of that, Godou did not prepare any frozen foodstuffs (Even in countries that favored the slow food culture, would also sometimes make use of frozen foodstuffs as ingredients). Really, people as extravagant as Erica do exist. "This must be because the chef did not have enough love. Clearly, even though we love each other mutually, he only ever runs away... The moment I let down my guard, he runs straight to another woman." "It can't be helped, that is just how men are." Of course, the one who replied with such profound, unfathomable truths, was no other than Lucretia. Directly opposite her, the person silently listening with a serious expression, Yuri. No, what this old witch said was definitely wrong, hopefully Yuri won't take her seriously. "A hooked fish is too valuable to be used as bait. Isn't it a very thoughtless way of doing things? Even as a joke, it is a behavior ill-suited for the man who possesses the title of 'King'. Oops, sorry. This is just the general opinion, by no means am I referring to nor criticizing any particular individual."[8] As she said that, Lucretia nudged the shoulders of Godou, who was sitting at her side. She is doing this on purpose to infuriate me, isn't she?! "Yes, however, even though that is the general opinion, it is not always true. Overly enthusiastic pursuits result in a lot of problems, but, if you can properly manage the relationships with your women, yourself and others, that could also be considered as a form of forbearance... If possible, please let me go in depth as to how Caesar was able to maintain his relationships with many women." "That's right, this would be useful for Godou to know. All for the sake of his future." "What kind of 'future' are you talking about?!" Godou shouted, at Lucretia and Erica, who were saying whatever they pleased. Pressured to this extent, Godou's voice was loud enough to surprise even himself. "No need for your lessons, also, don't say it like I'm someone from the Genji Era!" "Ah, an exiled, shameful noble who spends every day wallowing in sorrow? Living such a life, not forgetting the lovers you had once brought back to the capital, such a lustful person... Ah, though to be honest, your life is pretty similar to him, boy." [9] "Ara, Lucretia, although I am allowing Godou to increase the size of his harem, he probably already has six to seven wives and mistresses? As expected, it is a bit too much." "Please don't use such an expression from such a famous Japanese literature to describe it! Godou-san, this is your fault! Because you are always doing things that invite such misunderstandings..." Aaah, what a mess. Just listening to them made Godou extremely exhausted. What went in from the right ear, goes straight out the left ear. Kusanagi Godou had to endure events like this for four days straight. He felt like he had almost reached his limits. Aaah, I want to escape from this. [edit]Part 2 Indeed, living together with just girls is, simply put, torturous. Finally, he made it to the fourth evening of the vacation. In his room in the villa, he had come to that conclusion. He should have become used to this lifestyle by now, yet things had not quite gone the way he wanted. Godou could not think of any other reasons why this was the case. Godou, who played baseball from his childhood, had often participated in group activities like camps and such. While in the junior league and when he was a senior, the team would often go overseas together to practice. In groups of large numbers, usually over ten boys, they would always take care of their own respective laundry and meals. Godou had even experienced the hardball baseball Tokyo trials, or, even better, the national trials to represent the nation at international events. Participating in such events meant Godou had quite a fair bit of experience lodging together with many others. Because of this he was quite used to living together with his fellow competitors, in an atmosphere filled with tension. However, compared to those times, this was much, much worse. With just guys, he didn't really need to care much about anything. There was also no need to be mindful about anything in particular, either. Furthermore, he wouldn't be in this much trouble. Which is why, it is all because of the fact that they were all females that the current situation was so dire. Definitely not because of their personalities, nor conduct, nor glaring problems with their common sense or anything like that. - A case of sour grapes. Godou couldn't help but think of this saying. Perhaps there were lucky men out there living their lives surrounded by only kind, gentle girls... Although from his point of view, it seemed like an impossible scenario. Thinking that, he looked around the room again. A room in the rented villa. On the girl's side, Erica and Arianna shared a room, Yuri and Lucretia shared another. He stayed in this room alone. He insisted on it, after all, while they were allocating the rooms. Such a snug and cozy place. "... Well, getting past this lock won't even be enough to make Erica break a sweat." Very confident in his prediction, his shoulders fell again. Someone that could stop the [Diavolo Rosso] from running wild, did not exist here. Yuri, whom, theoretically could do so, turned out to be unexpectedly easy to counter. Previously, she could control her emotions so well, yet nowadays she seemed to regard Erica with an air of malice. Arianna would not be able to oppose her master in any way. As for Lucretia, she would only make things worse. However, Kusanagi Godou would not give up because of this. After all, being persistent was part of his nature. "As expected, it is necessary to carry out that plan, huh..." Taking care not to make a single sound, he snuck out the room. Maintaining the level of stealth, he continued on his way out of the villa. The sun had set some time ago, and it was pitch black. European nights were surprisingly darker than those in Japan. Although, with Godou's sharp night vision, this was not a big problem. In the night, after walking on the road for roughly ten minutes, he reached the entrance of a small grocery store. In Italy, convenience stores were a rarity. This was a shop that stocked only groceries and basic necessities, but now the doors were tightly shut. However, as Godou's aim was not to buy something, it didn't matter. His goal was the public payphone in front of the store. Inserting a coin, he called the number that he had obtained from Erica earlier. (What is it, Godou? Do you need something from that vulgar man?) (I remembered that he requested that I do something for him. I'm counting on you.) After nagging Erica who refused to give in for three hours, he finally managed to get an answer out of her. Now, the person who is about to be contacted, was one of the rumored few in the world that Erica Blandelli outwardly disliked. Still, he was someone that Godou got along well with. Someone to make use of, in this situation. "...... Oi, who are you? I'll say this first, I'm currently very busy. Get straight to the point." "It's me, Kusanagi Godou!" Through the phone, came a rough voice that he had not heard for a while. Instinctively, a picture of the owner of the voice came to mind. The appearance of Genaro Gantz. He was not particularly tall, yet he was very powerfully built. Also, he had a very manly beard.[10] He had a sharp look in his eyes, and he wore a serious expression. On his head he wore a bandanna, anyone who saw him would have thought he looked just like a pirate. However, in the [Copper Black Cross], he was Erica's equal. Among the Knight Templars, he bore one of the titles that held the greatest honor, that of the [Great Knight]. It is certainly an impressive feat to accomplish at the age of twenty-three, but even more impressive than that was the fact that he already had a one-year-old kid with his wife. "Ooh, it's you, 'King', eh? It's been a while." "Yes, it's me. By the way, Gantz-san, I came to Italy a few days ago..." "You should have told me that you were coming beforehand, I would have been there to welcome you." He said something that made Godou a little happy. Though he appeared to be coarse and rough on the outside, he was quite a good-natured person on the inside. Although his actions were far from graceful due to his hot-bloodedness and he was greatly disliked by Erica, he could be described as someone who had good intentions. ...... Well, it's not that he doesn't have any faults. "By the way 'King'-sama, have you properly finished the 'assignment'?" he rudely asked Godou out of the blue. People involved with the affairs of the magical or occult usually treat Godou with a lot of respect, due to his Campione status. Gantz is one of the few that did not do so. His relationships with others was more, casual, so to speak. Godou was rather pleased with this aspect of his personality, but however, during these specific times he couldn't let it slide. "N-no. I've been busy with various things, I haven't done it yet." "What!? Idiot, haven't I told you many times before? If you're a true Japanese, you have to hurry up and finish all four seasons, two hundred episodes of 'Magical Sorami'!!" [11] "...... Sorry." Godou had seen that coming. Because of how troublesome it would be, Godou did not bother to get Gantz's contact information before his attempted get-away vacation. Godou sighed to himself, at a volume low enough that the other party would not be able to hear. "Sheesh. I've even said this before, although they transform into witches through magical cosmetics, and are still in training, the girls from 'Magical Sorami' still managed to win the hearts and smiles of people around them. Understand this, real magic comes from 'courage' and 'kindness'! That is what I've learned from that show!" Even though he is a bona fide magician, he still said that with such gusto. Godou did not dare to say out his true feelings. Although 'Magical Sorami' was a show that had already ended ages ago, Godou had no idea why it was still so popular in foreign countries (It seems like it has been repeatedly broadcast in Italy several times). The first time that he tried watching the DVD that he borrowed, he got rapped pretty hard by his sister Shizuka, and had gotten a condescending look from her. ...... If Gantz didn't have this weird fetish, he would have been a great person to hang out with. Godou felt regret, but he had to push away his true feelings due to the things he had to say this time. "Never mind then. I'll just have to invite you to my place and hold a movie marathon. If we pull an all-nighter, we'll probably finish the first season by the second day." "I see. I don't really mind. Alright then, I'll go straight to Milan!" Godou did not want to stay in this place for even a moment longer. Having made up his mind to escape from this hellish place, he had no choice but to resort to this call. Although he did not know if he could stay at Gantz's place temporarily, before he knew it, he was already invited. It's going rather smoothly. Godou felt as though he still had a fighting chance, and his spirits soared with the surge of motivation. Watching a show that was targeted at little girls under the age of ten; that would still be better than what Godou had been going through. - Although, problems immediately started to arise. "...... Ah, hold on a moment. Actually, it's a no-go. Definitely not now." "Eh!? Wh, why is that?" "In any case, you won't be coming alone, right? That little devil - Erica Blandelli, would come along with you, right?" "Eh, seems like it..." "That's how it is. If I invite you, that woman will definitely force her way into my house! I'm very sorry about that! Right now, my cute little Angela is at home!" Angela is the name of Gantz's daughter. Godou had seen her picture before, or at least, was forced to look at it by Gantz. However, that is irrelevant at the moment. "If she breathes the same air as that ill-natured woman, should Angela grow up to be like that devil, that would be a big problem. For the sake of my daughter's education, there is no way I'll let Erica come near my house!" "Please don't say things that have no scientific basis!" "Just in case. For the sake of my cute little angel, I won't let any pests come near. Don't hold it against me. Then, let's meet up another time." With that, he hung up. Godou, who was suddenly cast aside, had a sudden urge to use the power he held as a 'King'. As a devil king, a Campione, to make Gantz take back his previous words. But he changed his mind right away. No, if he thought like that, wouldn't he turn into a devil himself? He should not abuse his status like that. Although, a devil king asking someone, 'Let me go to your house to watch some anime DVDs' was totally unheard of. What a laughingstock. "...... Back to square one. I'll have to continue this fight on my own." Said Godou, who had just renewed his determination, in a low voice. No matter what, I cannot return to the villa tonight. I should find a place to stay the night, far from the women, in order to recover. The temperature was pretty warm, thus there was no problem even if he were to sleep on the streets. ...... Although right now, he was trapped with indecision, clueless about how to proceed. No matter, Godou decided to just explore the street first, and come up with something later. Godou was thankful for the cool night breeze, so drastically different from the blazing heat of the day. Of course, it was even more comfortable in his room in the villa, but taking a stroll in the night was also good, in its own way. The night wind continued to blow ever so gently. To be able to see the constellations in the night sky so clearly, was only possible in a rural place with clean air. Additionally, the shimmering silver half-moon hanging in the middle of the sky. Unlike the constellations, the same moon could be seen from Europe and Japan. It was like the eternal companion in the night sky, Godou remembered that he also had times in Japan where he gazed at the moon like this. 'When was the last time?' he wondered. While reminiscing, Godou continued moving forward. He was not sure when it happened, but the muscles in his back had started to grow tense, his limbs and body filling with strength. Since defeating Verethragna in spring, he had experienced this feeling a number of times. The changes that occur in the body of a devil king, a Campione, when their natural enemies, the Gods, are nearby. When he felt that, Godou gulped. He had realized who the girl currently blocking his way was. - Looking as though it could dissolve in the moonlight, hair of pale glimmering silver. - Looking as though they were made of the condensed darkness of the night, eyes of pure black. - The body of a very young girl, a goddess from ancient times. Heretic Athena. The goddess Godou fought and triumphed over in Tokyo, was standing right in front of him.
[edit]Part 3 "It's been a while, Kusanagi Godou. To meet once again, I feel a sense of elation." Athena said, giving off a faint smile. The sealed artifact of the ancient earth goddess, Gorgoneion. The smile she gave off did not suit her, who had once again become the goddess of earth and darkness, after reclaiming the artifact Gorgoneion. No, this was the fearless smile of the goddess of war. "...... Why are you here, in such a place?" "What a foolish question. You were the one who plunged right into my territory. To meet again in this land, it is an inevitable fate. Don't you agree?" Putting it that way, that sure seems like the case. This great goddess, Athena, her sphere of influence did not include just Greece and North Africa, but also small parts of Asia close to the Mediterranean sea. And Italy was right smack in the middle of that sphere of influence. "But, you have no reason to come specifically to where I'm currently staying, right? Let me make this clear, I wasn't looking for you. Nor do I have time to chat with you like we're good friends." "Hmm... A reason..." Under the moonlight, the ends of her lovely lips tilted slightly upwards. Beautiful, dignified, yet ferocious was her smile. Overflowing with the will to fight, the unmistakable proof of a warrior. "You are a man of poor judgment. All I am doing now is paying a visit to the victor, the one who had defeated me. Do not think that this is for the sake of revenge." It was not that Godou did not think that was possible, but rather that he did not want to think this was actually happening. He had started to break out in cold sweat. Would he come out victorious if he were to face Athena in combat? Probably impossible. In the previous battle, he had only come out on top because he had used the spell words of the [Sword] as his weapon. However, he could not repeat that again. The [Sword] could only be used if the user had relevant information of the enemy God, something he was lacking at the moment. More than two months back, Godou had been fed information on Athena via use of the magic [Instruction] by Erica. Should one decide to make use of this magical art, it is possible to obtain a large amount of information over a very brief period of time. However, the information could only be retained in one's memory for roughly one day. If the effects of the spell would remain indefinitely, there wouldn't have been a need to study this much. Although he was usually grateful for the existence of this spell, this time - it would not be of use to him. Even if he tried to recall the relevant knowledge regarding Athena, he could not clearly remember the details, his efforts ended in futility. This time round, he would not be able to use the [Sword]. What should I do? How can I fight? I'll need a weapon besides the [Sword]. Which form can I use -? "Besides having poor judgment, are you a man who's also poor at giving up? I do understand... that right now, you do not possess the same strength from last time. I can also guess why that is the case." Athena said, scornfully. Godou remembered that she was a goddess with multiple aspects. A goddess who ruled over the earth and the underworld, a goddess of war and also a goddess of knowledge. It would be difficult to hide anything from Athena. Although, even if she found out about that, it is not as if he had no other combat options... Though, this was slowly turning out to be a hopeless situation. Looking at Godou who had started to steady his resolve, Athena pouted in displeasure. "Come now, don't get angry. I have no intention of having a rematch... At least for today." She declared while scrutinizing him with a disdainful look. "Kusanagi Godou. From our last battle, it has barely been two full moons, is it not? In such a short period of time, to repeat the conflict between a god and a Campione, don't you agree that it would be boorish? If I had wanted a fight, then I would have picked a better place and time. Do understand your current situation." "So, why have you appeared before me, again?" Godou asked while keeping his guard up. Her previous words might have just been to give him a false sense of security. A goddess like Athena should not have to resort to such tactics, but one could never be sure. "Hm, I feel that, between us, something exists that interlinks our destinies - In other words, it might be that it is not fated for me to be the one that defeats you." That kind of destiny, I definitely don't want it. Godou's terrible luck with women was definitely getting worse. "That's why, as one of my enemies, I would like you to acquire enough power and experience, was what I was thinking about. One day, you will obtain the right to do battle with me - the queen who rules over the earth and the underworld. When that happens, it would be time for the grand finale, a battle that will be told of for ages." "No, no thanks, things like 'looking forward to having a decisive battle on Christmas', I don't want to hear it." "To be honest, recently I have been feeling awfully excited rather often." Athena replied, nonchalantly ignoring Godou's retort. As expected of a high-ranking goddess, such perfectly natural arrogance. "Perhaps, it is due to the fact that I am sensing that a battle is approaching. When I knew that you came here, I simply felt like coming out to have a little bit of fun." "A little fun?" "Indeed. The experience gained from one day on the battlefield exceeds that of a hundred days in training. Not to mention, if one were to fight beside me, a goddess of war, and receive my teachings, it would surpass that of what you would get from a thousand days of training. To train and further improve your strength. Accompany me while I have some fun, Kusanagi Godou!" "C, come again?" Hearing that from Athena, Godou thought that his ears were malfunctioning. "I am ordering the inexperienced you to stay by my side and train your skills. Should you find that disagreeable, then I will secure a rope around that neck of yours and bring you around. Any objections?" Naturally, it has already been decided. He did not have a say in it. From Athena's body of a little girl, one could somehow feel a divine power of deterrence. Looking over all life across the lands, the power of the loving earth mother. Beneath the earth, she was the queen of the underworld, the power that ruled death and darkness. Possessing unparalleled ferocity, the power of a war goddess. Lastly, the power from the wisdom of a goddess of knowledge. To carelessly engage in combat with such a goddess would be extremely foolish. It would be best to avoid that at all costs.
On an unrelated note, the villa that Godou and company had rented and were staying in was along the coast. Moving along the outskirts of Alghero's main street which was along the sea, one could discover many villas, resorts and other buildings that tourists on long summer vacations were lodging in. Her house, was one of those buildings. Alongside the azure sea, the white sands stretched out further than the eyes could see. In this kind of location, one would be able to fully enjoy just soaking in the seawater, but, recreation and entertainment on the beaches of Sardinia was not restricted to just that. Yachts of different sizes decorated the seaside, some were fighting against the forces of nature, the waves - There were also boats and ships at the harbor. Although in the area, the biggest port was in Alghero, there were quite a few smaller ports scattered along the coast. The place that Athena and Godou finally arrived at, was one of the small aforementioned ports. "Now, let us move out, shall we, Kusanagi Godou?" "... where are we headed?" "Although I mentioned this earlier, but I have been feeling unusually excited recently. Being a goddess of war, it might be because I'm sensing the approaching battle ahead. To have this feeling, I dare say that something is going to occur very soon." "Eh - " "If we were to head towards the root of that calamity, we would then gain a rough understanding of the situation. Let us cross this sea. To the unseen enemy, shall we advance..." "Is that so..." "Therefore, that is our destination. Let us make haste." "Wait a second, isn't that place just weird? Don't bring me to a place where danger awaits, on purpose!" Godou retorted. General knowledge would dictate that the usage of the word 'therefore' was inappropriate in that sentence. "You are the weird one, I can already see the omen of battle. Fate has decided for me to do battle, and it is my duty as a goddess to follow the will of fate. I cannot refuse." She said that with a powerful sense of responsibility. How he wished that she would even spare a tenth of that sense of responsibility for the people who will be caught up in that battle. Sighing, having no other choice, Godou could only strengthen his determination. No matter what happened, a battle would only bring problems to the nearby residents, like that incident in Tokyo. It was clear that the word 'consideration' did not exist in Athena's dictionary. If that was the case, then all he could do was to prevent her from going too wild. Although he really wanted to escape at the first opportunity he got, he was the only person around who could, and would stop Athena from overdoing it. "You mentioned crossing the sea earlier, by boat?" Speaking of the Mediterranean Sea, he could not help but think of the ferries that travelled to and fro between Sardinia, Sicily, Corsica islands and the Italian peninsula. However, at this time of the day, there were no vessels moving about. To Godou who had sensed something amiss, Athena replied arrogantly, "Can you not see the scores of boats before your eyes? Any of them will do, we just have to pick one to use, why do you care about the trivial things?" "What you just said, those were the words of a petty thief! A goddess should not resort to crime!" No doubt about it, this little port was filled with sea vessels. From small crafts that could only support a group of four, to high-speed ships that were over fifteen meters long, Athena chose, and boarded a small one, beckoning to Godou. Godou apologized in his heart to the owner of that boat. If he had time, he would definitely return the boat. Please forgive us! After that, Godou took a seat next to where Athena was sitting. "... Do you know how to operate this type of boat? Gods sure have strange abilities." "How would I know how to operate a man-made contraption? As long as I follow the guidance of the stars, the whispers of the wind, all I have to do is utilize my divine powers, and we will naturally arrive at our destination." Saying that, Athena snapped her fingers. By some unexplainable forces, she was moving the craft forward. Towards the sea ahead, which was shrouded in darkness. She couldn't possibly be thinking of heading out to sea, just like that? Even if they were skilled seamen from the Age of Discovery, they should also bring the necessary provisions and equipment and the right crew, but now, they did not even have a scrap of food or a drop of water. Godou had started to feel that this was a very, very bad idea. Facing the possibility of death on the seas, unable to even lodge a complaint and leaving his life in the hands of this goddess, was it really ok? Thinking that, Godou began to grow even more uneasy. At any rate, before he realized it, it had become a strange situation where this pair, once bitter enemies, were placed on the same boat.
[edit]Chapter 2 - Of Witches, and the King of Swords [edit]Part 1 Naples (Napoli, in Italian) is one of the most prominent metropolises in Italy, and the harbor is a famous sightseeing spot. The phrase "See Naples and die" was coined, from the sheer beauty of the ancient city. Even when seen from afar, the view of the city was still as impressive. The rays of sunlight fell upon the glimmering azure Bay of Naples, and on that stood one of the numerous historical structures, the Santa Lucia port. It could be said that the night scenery there was among the three greatest in the world. If you were to look eastward, you would be able to see Mount Vesuvius, the volcano ten kilometers away.
"Hm, looking at it this far away, it looks like quite a beautiful town, but once you get close, you realize that the streets are dirty and strewn with rubbish, the walls are vandalized, there is constant traffic congestion, the people are happy-go-lucky, and daily life is simply chaotic. No matter how much you try to butter it up, it is still an environment unfit for human habitation." "Ara, Karen, although you are absolutely right, that isn't something you should say to a resident of this city!" "I apologize if my words offend you, Madam. Honesty and frankness are both part of my nature, hence I often let slip my true feelings by accident." Known as Spaccanapoli, this was one of the older streets in Naples. The center of the city, close by Garibaldi Square and the nearby cathedral was bustling with activity, overflowing with the friendly atmosphere of a traditional commercial and working-class neighborhood. In a decrepit corner of that lay Diana Milito's ancient bookstore. "—M-Madam? Did you hear that, Lily? This little girl dared to call me 'Madam'... Say something for me!" "Karen, when addressing a... young lady like Diana, shouldn't there be a better way?" Naples, the birthplace of pizza, was also a university town. It was in the year 1224, the era of the Syrian Kingdom, when the University of Naples was established. The university has lasted through the ages till the present times. Perhaps one of the reasons would be the environment, as there were a surprising number of old bookstores in the area. There was a street next to Piazza Bellini that was well known for having many old bookstores. In the building known as the 'House of Milito', the three witches had gathered there. Somehow, no matter which country, one could feel the same sort of atmosphere in these ancient bookstores. Within the cleanly designed store, were a collection of a myriad of old books, tomes and other texts, and it gave off a very peculiar atmosphere. "When Liliana-sama is not being sincere, she will look elsewhere, and will not engage in eye contact... Like how she was earlier." "What!? Lily, is that true...?" "Not a single bit! Karen, don't say things without any basis or proof behind them!" "Ara, weren't you rather concerned about that the other day? —Wondering about Diana-sama's actual age? Did you not say this last time, although she had dressed younger than her own age, she still could not conceal the crow's feet around the corner of her eyes?" "I didn't say that! Definitely not to that extent!" "Now, now, you let the cat out of the bag, Lily. How cruel of you girls!" The owner of the shop, Diana Milito, was a witch that resided in Naples. Age unknown, a baby-faced young female who liked to dress herself in fluttery dresses with plenty of frills, which, strangely, did not look out of place on her. Liliana was only seven years old the first time she met Diana, who was already a young woman then. From that time, till now, roughly nine years later, she still bore the same smile, and her youthful appearance had not changed at all. Be that as it may, the passage of time had not left her untouched, as shown recently by her crow's feet wrinkles, or the fact that her skin had not seemed as glamorous as before. How old was she, exactly? It is probably best not to think too much about that. Liliana hurriedly changed the topic of conversation. "More importantly, Sir Salvatore is running late, and that is worrying." "... Hmph! Lily, using such a topic to feign innocence. Being a Campione, how could anything bad possibly happen to our lord?" Diana replied, sulking. You're already way past your prime, please act more like your age - although Liliana really wanted to say that, she still resisted the temptation. No, it would be a very perilous thing to say. "Naturally, that was not what I meant. What I was referring to was our lord's mental and psychological issues, because he is lazy and carefree, there are things he has to overcome himself." Between them, only Liliana had directly met with the [King of Swords] before. Upon hearing her words, Diana also showed a worried expression, and Karen nodded as though she had a sudden epiphany. "In other words, do you mean to say that Sir Salvatore is that kind of person?...... If you discount the fact that he holds the power of the [King], personality wise, you would be hard-pressed to find something positive about him?" "I often hear that he is a sloppy and forthright person." Liliana took out her blue cellphone. The problem was, Salvatore Doni did not carry these kinds of electronic devices with him when he went out. It was said that even if he did bring one, he would lose it unknowingly, somehow. As a preventive measure, this time round he had an assistant, who would be of immense help in such situations. After several rings, the person on the other end finally answered the call. "This is Kranjcar... What is the current situation with our lord?" "I'm sorry for being late. Though I managed to bring him in to Naples, the King stopped by Garibaldi Square for some gelato. Could you drop by to pick us up? I'll pass the burde- sorry, pass him over to you." Although he seemed somewhat tired, he still spoke with a very harsh tone. "That's fine, I'll be making my way over now. I'll meet up with you later then...... Our lord has already arrived, I'll be going to pick him up right away. Diana, bring Karen with you to the underground first, this way it'll be faster." After hanging up the phone, Liliana continued explaining the current situation to her comrades. After hanging the 'Closed for business today' sign at the door, the three witches made their way outside, onto the streets of Naples. Liliana soon split up with the other two and headed straight for Garibaldi Square. Liliana Kranjcar was both a witch and a knight. Her rival, Erica Blandelli, in a broader sense, was also a witch, but was probably closer to a [Female Magician]. There was a very thin line between being a [Witch] and a magician. This had been defined by the sacred miko and priestesses of old. Their knowledge and magic had been directly imparted from the witches of the previous generation. Дата добавления: 2015-09-27 | Просмотры: 358 | Нарушение авторских прав |
