Vol 1 Chapter 3 (2/2)

This is probably the success of the elite education of the knights to better

acc.u.mulate stamina in the body by avoiding picky eating.

She was now wolfing down the rice b.a.l.l.s G.o.dou made.

”Last time when I was having sus.h.i.+ at G.o.dou's home, I wondered if this

was something I could make myself? Isn't it just rice with some fish mixed

inside, very simple, right?”

”If that's what you think, try it yourself some time.”

G.o.dou had never seen Erica cook anything other than instant noodles,

probably since her primary concern towards food was the ”eating” part.

”Those pa.s.ses, really are troublesome.”

To Erica's change of subject, G.o.dou nodded at the expected response.

The sky was cloudy, and there were a few other groups eating lunch on

the roof apart from them.

Next to G.o.dou was Yuri eating her own lunch brought from the cla.s.sroom,

while s.h.i.+zuka was having the sandwiches she had bought.

”So that's what Onii-chan was making in the kitchen early this morning...

Really! You had to spend so much effort!”

s.h.i.+zuka complained as she ate her sandwiches, while Yuri slowly worked

her chopsticks at her mini-sized lunchbox.

In it was a small amount of rice, fried yellowtail fish with soya sauce, as

well as fried egg and side dishes like spinach.

A few touches of tomato greatly enhanced the overall color, and looked

very appetizing.

”...The content looks a lot less than what G.o.dou made for lunch.”

”Erica, don't speak so tactlessly and stare at other people's lunch with such

interest. My apologies Mariya, please don't mind and continue eating.”

”If, if you want to try, please feel free to pick what you like.”

Though her tone of voice seemed slightly forced, Yuri spoke with a smile.

Perhaps she wanted to improve the initial rocky relations.h.i.+p she had with

Erica.

As G.o.dou thought to himself, the blonde girl beside him reached her hand

out without hesitation.

Directly grabbing a piece of fried egg and putting it in her mouth, Erica's

manners were poor but the motions of her hand was very elegant.

”Hmm, the taste is not bad. If you made it slightly fluffier with a more sticky

texture then that would be my favorite style. If Arianna made it, it would

have been perfect, but that's asking for too much.”

”You don't know how to cook but you sure know how to talk.”

As he commented about Erica, G.o.dou also reached out to try some of the

fried egg.

The fried egg with sauce was very delicious, and the skipjack tuna sauce

was very enjoyable to the taste buds.

”Ah, this is really great. Is it Mariya-senpai's mother who made this? Unlike

my own mother, this cooking is wonderful.”

Her interest piqued, even s.h.i.+zuka took a portion of the fried egg to try out,

but the answer to the question shocked everyone.

”Ah, no. My mother didn't make this. I made it myself. It's wonderful that it

suited everyone's tastes.”

”Mariya's cooking is pretty good... Do you make your own lunch every

morning?”

”Something like that, however since I used some of the leftovers from my

mother's cooking last night, it doesn't really count as my own exclusive

work.”

”Well, still it's quite amazing. Compared to my house... it's very different.”

G.o.dou spoke extremely impressed.

And then he glanced at the younger sister beside him.

”What now, Onii-chan, your expression is saying something.”

”Let me make this clear, G.o.dou, the cooking that Arianna does is

something prepared specifically for me the master. Don't forget that.”

s.h.i.+zuka was feeling indignant about her lack of cooking talent, while Erica

was simply selfishly throwing out her own willful comment.

Compared to these two, Mariya seemed much more n.o.ble no matter how

you looked at it.

By the way, it was completely different from G.o.dou who had tried very hard

to knead the rice b.a.l.l.s with the appropriate amount of force.

”Once you get used to it, it doesn't feel so amazing right? If you'd like, I can

share some tips on how to prepare food quickly.”

”That sounds quite interesting. Thanks. If possible, those two should—”

G.o.dou turned his head around to find s.h.i.+zuka glaring angrily at her

brother, while Erica was deliberately averting her gaze and staring at birds

flying in the sky.

Yuri and G.o.dou could not help but look at each other and smile.

Part 3

'Hoho, lunch together at noon, good job! Though this is just a small step,

but it will matter a lot in the future. Please continue doing your best like

this.'

”Yes, yes...”

Yuri was talking to Amakasu on her cellphone in her room at the Nanao

Shrine.

After returning from school, it was almost dusk. Yuri called Amakasu to

report the day's results and to discuss some concerns.

'In the end, you went with cooking for him, and developing into a heart

racing event of having lunch together. Looks like you have to continue

working hard for this... Ah, did you look at the materials beforehand?'

”Yes, yes, I took a look.”

Back at the Nanao Shrine after school, Amakasu had given an envelope to

Yuri which seemed to contain reports.

In it were a thick stack of doc.u.ments with a suspicious report t.i.tle of 'The

Difficulties of Approaching Males by Females Who Were Not

Straightforward: a.n.a.lysis and Solutions?'

'Those were just some hastily summarized materials prepared last night.

How were they? Any reference value?'

”Are, are these written by Amakasu-san!? I seriously read all the lines and

dialogues written in there, but that kind of method for expressing affection!

How could one utter those shameful words!”

Recalling the content of Amakasu's special report, Yuri's face went red.

—Here, lunchbox. Last night I accidentally made too much, throwing it

away would be a waste.

—Don't misunderstand! I definitely don't like you, there's nothing to it at all!

—You idiot brother, you don't understand how I feel...!

And so on...

'Hahaha, that's very important. Since ancient times, we j.a.panese have

been very subtle in our ways of love. It should feel something like the case

of Lady Aoi in ”The Tale of Genji”?'

”Eh? It should feel something like that?”

'No no. That Genji had inexplicable attributes like Oedipus or lolita

complexes which are no good. A normal male would definitely fall for the

slightly older tsundere childhood friend who was the young mistress of a

high cla.s.s family and betrothed to him. Decidedly, Sakurano Youko was an

adorable existence, but the current trend is towards older women fetishes!'

”I have no idea what you are talking about, could you please translate!”

This kind of idiotic conversation had no meaning at all. Yuri decided to

change the topic.

”So, Amakasu-san, about the grimoire yesterday—”

'Ah ah, about that. Are there any concerns?'

”Yes, if it's possible, could you let me take a second look at that book?”

'...That I don't mind, however, is it related to you fainting yesterday?'

”Yes. However, I can't explain it clearly at this stage, but I seemed to have

witnessed a strange hallucination at the time. Just to be careful, I'd like to

confirm by having another look—”

Things would become serious if the name Sasha Dejansstahl Voban was

mentioned.

Due to these concerns, Yuri only described things in a vague manner.

'Ah, I don't really want to be lectured by the shrine elders for the same

thing two days in a row... Oh well, sure, after all we were the ones who

involved Yuri-san in the first place. Since you agreed to a.s.sist us, I have no

reason to refuse you.'

Unexpectedly understanding, Amakasu appended a sentence.

'Regrettably, I will be busy later so I will arrange for someone else to drive

you there and back in my stead, please wait at the shrine for a little while.'

—Thirty minutes later.

Yuri walked down the stone steps of the Nanao Shrine and headed

towards the shrine entrance.

Wearing her miko outfit, Yuri got on the locally manufactured sedan

provided by the History Compilation Committee that was waiting for her.

Since she intended to return immediately after using her spirit vision, there

was no need to change her clothes.

After being shaken in the back seat for forty minutes, she finally arrived at

the library in Aobadai.

After some polite words with the History Compilation Committee member

who drove her here, Yuri got off and went to the entrance.

—Why?

The building felt even quieter than yesterday.

Precisely because it was a library, having peaceful surroundings was

natural. Was she becoming a little neurotic? With a slightly worried feeling,

Yuri entered the library.

At the reception hall.

Yesterday, there were several bored History Compilation Committee

members sitting around. This was to prevent unauthorized people from

entering, by force if necessary.

However, all these people were absent. Did they all go on a break?

Yuri felt a sense of foreboding and anxiety as she continued onwards.

The s.p.a.cious corridor, the reading room on the first floor, the stairs. There

was not a single soul in sight.

Come to think of it, should there not be a guide to subst.i.tute for Amakasu?

Furthermore, no one came to receive Yuri.

As if trying to dispel the sense of worry and loneliness, Yuri quickened her

footsteps. She tried to find another person amongst the shelves and in the

corners of the reading room that housed tens of thousands of books.

However, there was none. Yesterday there had been a few library staff,

and Amakasu was present. However, today there was no one at all—

Hurrying to the second floor, Yuri felt relieved at the sight of a human

figure.

”Excuse me, what is going on today? I felt surprised that there were no

other people here...”

As she spoke her greeting, Yuri began to lower her voice.

Yuri discovered that the person was white, literally as white as snow—face,

limbs, body, everything was white.

Salt.

—Legends tell of a city which incited the wrath of G.o.d and all inhabitants

were transformed into pillars of salt.

The person Yuri discovered was the same. The roughly thirty-year-old man

was nothing more but a solid piece of salt now.

With intense fear, Yuri began to run.

Without any idea of where in the library she was, Yuri ran with all her

strength.

—And then, she finally discovered.

Pillars of salt stood in the s.p.a.cious reading room. No, there were between

ten to twenty History Compilation Committee members who had been

turned into salt.

Behind them stood a tall old man.

Of course.

Yuri knew. The power to turn live humans into solid salt, the emerald

colored evil eyes which changed the living into inorganic material. There

was only one person in the world possessing such an authority.

”Finally found you, miko. It must be you, the one who had the strongest

wolf's hallucination in this area through the [Wolf]'s book from unknown

origins. It wouldn't have been possible without that kind of excellent talent.”

That wise appearance was probably never forgotten. However, this was

not his true nature.

Ferocious and hideous, with a violent and wild nature. The position of ruler

gave him a very effective disguise to cover up those characteristics.

”How nostalgic, that face, I seem to recall seeing it before—this girl, what's

her name, Kranjcar?”

The one the old man asked was not Yuri.

It was the one waiting quietly by his side, the girl with the slim figure. Her

silver hair tied into a ponytail, a tense expression on her face, and a kind of

rigid eastern European beauty.

”She should be called Mariya Yuri, Marquis. However, for the sake of

obtaining one girl, isn't what you have done here going a bit too far?”

”Hohoho, the Milanese blue knight turns out to be surprisingly stubborn.”

The blue knight—was quite an apt description for her appearance.

Long sleeved black t-s.h.i.+rt and miniskirt with frills. Black tights, a blue cape,

and a jacket with blue and black vertical stripes—the description reflected

these elements well.

Doesn't it feel similar to the red and black jacket that Erica wore?

”Heh, to be honest—I love conflict. Hunting is good, games are not bad,

and I also like random violence. That's why, I just want to do as I like at this

time, do you understand?”

The old man joyfully spoke to the girl who showed a slight dissatisfied

expression.

”Hoho, by the way, I don't like dogs. Seeing obedient dogs who only try to

garner favor makes me want to puke. I love wolves however, I love the way

they bare their fangs as they try to resist. Without a certain level of

ambition, it would be pointless to keep by my side. In other words, you are

one of my favorite wolves, Kranjcar.”

”The honor is all mine, Marquis.”

He smiled at the rigid tone of voice and mannerisms, then turned his body

to face Yuri.

”Miko, from now on you will belong to me, and become part of my property.

Understood?”

The monarch possessing the evil eye and the power to determine people's

life and death. The man who called forth evil wolves and ruled over violent

storms. Sasha Dejanstahl Voban.

To meet the oldest Devil King once again after four years, Yuri trembled

with fear all over her body.

Part 4

It was at Aoyama in the Minato ward of Tokyo.

A grocery shop named Kogetsudou was located in a narrow street

intersecting with the main street in Aoyama.

Within this shop sold all sorts of things from Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland

China, southeast Asia, and India. Even things from the northern and

southern borders of Europe. The shop owner had a habit of buying all sorts

of goods from everywhere and this resulted in them being piled high within

the shop.

”So, that book really came from that place eh, so why did you put up such

a dangerous thing for sale?”

Amakasu Touma spoke as he stared at a shelf near the cash register.

By the way, for some reason it was crammed with all sorts of booklets such

as comics and the like.

”Those? They were rare resources pa.s.sed down by some magi from who

knows where, wouldn't it be a shame for them to go to waste? ...The sale

at the auction was just about complete. It would have gone for a good price

too, if it weren't for the unnecessary intervention of you guys.”

The one answering was the female shop owner in a kimono.

Aged roughly twenty or so, and wearing Meisen silk with a simple cutting.

The cas.h.i.+er was reading Chinese comics published in Hong Kong while

receiving customers.

Amakasu did not know the original name of this shop and didn't care to find

out.

She was the suspicious merchant who used the trademark [Kogetsudou]

as an alias. A mysterious and very skilled wizard. Knowing these details

were enough.

”Anyway, Amakasu-san, how did the appraisal go? We exhausted all

avenues to determine its origin, and we are very interested in what kind of

dangerous consequences came back with the results.”

”Since it is cla.s.sified information, I'm sorry I can't comment.”

”Then, is that rumor true? Isn't there a girl with extremely acute vision

amongst the current Hime-Miko? If we had someone with talent like that,

then we wouldn't have so much trouble finding treasures.”

”Well, what should I say, compared to that, what is the deal with that

grimoire?”

Amakasu tried to evade Kogetsudou's questioning.

The very young but completely complacent woman and the indifferent

young man exchanging information—these two were representatives of

their respective factions.

The History Compilation Committee members are the 'official' organization

for supporting wizards.

As for the 'commoner' wizards—they were the descendants of onmyouji

and curse experts popular before the Meiji Restoration, and many of them

secretly lived around Aoyama.

Kogetsudou counts as a central figure in that faction.

Perhaps possessing even more dangerous rare books than the werewolf

grimoire, Amakasu's visit to the shop also included a hint to warn her to be

careful.

”That, Amakasu-san, please wait a moment. I still have something else I

want to ask, is that fine? If you tell me, you can have the thing you are

currently reading for free.”

”...If it's just the reward for some gossip, then it doesn't really matter. Let

me check out the content first.”

Amakasu replied as he continued to read the battle manga about the hero

armed in steel and the iron-masked genius villain scientist time travelling in

sixth century England.

”Then be my guest—Erica Blandelli, what is that kind of major character

doing appearing in j.a.pan?”

”She just came to study abroad, that's all.”

”There was a ma.s.sive electrical outage incident on the day that girl arrived.

The History Compilation Committee members were all busy manipulating

news sources and even interfered with things written on the internet.”

”Coincidence, it just happened by chance.”

”Destruction of buildings and the Shuto Expressway isn't just some kind of

joke. Do you know how many tens of billions of damages occurred that

night? ...And finally, the seventh Campione turning out to be j.a.panese,

hasn't the joke gone too far?”

”...Well, all rumors, you can't believe everything you hear.”

Admitting it's the truth to himself, Amakasu put the manga magazine away

in his bag.

Looks like there was no need to hide from her the fact that Kusanagi

G.o.dou is the real thing. Furthermore, there was no meaning in trying to

cover up the truth for those in the know. Moreover, if the source of these

rumors became broadened, it may come to be useful.

”Then how about Liliana Kranjcar—the [Sword Fairy] coming to j.a.pan, is it

related to that? Will it develop into another major incident?”

”Liliana Kranjcar? From that Bronze Black Cross?”

Hearing a name he knew but did not expect, Amakasu's expression

stiffened.

The two magic a.s.sociations ruling over Milan's mage scene.

The Copper Black Cross—organization of the red devils, and the Bronze

Black Cross—organization of the blue berserkers.

The former was represented by the young genius Erica Blandelli—the

glamorous young woman deeply involved with Kusanagi G.o.dou. Amongst

those of the same age, it was said that only one person could rival this girl

as her opponent.

Her name was—

”Our sources obtained the latest news that yesterday, Liliana and a gloomy

old man arrived at Tokyo Narita Airport, did you know that?”

The owner of Kogetsudou smiled like a kitten.

At that moment, Amakasu's phone began to vibrate in his pocket.

”Thank you for your valuable information. Anyway, something came up.”

Exchanging a few pleasantries with the shop owner, Amakasu left the shop

and immediately picked up the phone.

”...Yes? Dejanstahl Voban?”

This name rendered Amakasu dumbstruck in shock, even more than when

he heard a witch's name earlier.

Mariya Yuri had been kidnapped by Eastern Europe's Campione.

For an instant, Amakasu felt his mind freeze when he received the news

from the Committee member. How could such a situation be resolved?

Amakasu could not help but look up at the sky and feel compelled to pray

to G.o.d.

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