Vol 1 Epilogue (2/2)

all that. I am sure Erica-sama will enjoy it.”

”Is that so? Aya, but Hong Kong where I haven't been to for quite a while

would also be nice.”

The female faction seemed to be happily discussing summer vacation

plans.

If that was the case, it was pointless to speak out. G.o.dou simply listened

without registering their words.

”G.o.dou you need to express an opinion. Otherwise the two of us will be

making the decision?”

”Sure, that's fine. You two wish to travel, so even if I didn't interrupt—”

However, the response was surprising.

”What are you talking about, this is the plan for the trip before our wedding,

it has to have input from both of us... Through this trip, our love will deepen

and become stronger.”

”What?”

”Having a child during travels sounds nice too. As long as it is G.o.dou and

my child, whether a boy or girl, either will be very strong. Doesn't such a

future sound wonderful?”

”...What?”

G.o.dou sounded like a parrot, repeating the same word again.

Erica with her familiar devilish smile, faced G.o.dou whose mind had been

halted. It was an extraordinarily seductive and devilish smile that could

melt a man.

”Like I said, have a baby, going together on a tour, aren't those kinds of

things natural?”

”E-Erica-sama is truly bold, but it's true, since it is just two people together,

and with such a close relations.h.i.+p, it could very well happen.”

Arianna was nodding vigorously beside her mistress.

G.o.dou felt dizzy and wracked his wits trying to retort. Following such a

plan would be the death of him. His continued struggle up to now would

have been for nothing!

”I-Impossible, that kind of vacation! My family won't agree anyway. If

s.h.i.+zuka knew she will oppose vehemently, that's right, children must have

the blessing of the family, right?”

”No problem, we already have grandfather's approval.”

G.o.dou's bluff was swiftly called by Erica.

”Yesterday when I went to discuss, he agreed instantly saying 'perhaps it is

time for that fellow to have such experiences, please have a good time as

long as it doesn't cause trouble.' Isn't such an understanding grandfather a

blessing?”

”Not at all! d.a.m.n, why would grandfather say such a thing!?”

In the three days after Voban departed.

The ones most busy were the members of the History Compilation

Committee.

Organizing the whole operation to extinguish the Tokyo Tower fire,

tabulating and cleaning up damage caused by the storm, and treating the

residents near s.h.i.+ba Park who had their life force taken and entered a

state of unconsciousness.

Furthermore, they even used wizardry and other methods to manipulate

information.

Thorough investigations on all eye witnesses of the incident, and restricting

their subsequent communications. Many of those witnesses were shocked

while others were extremely excited, or even had nervous breakdowns.

These people were given warnings, letting them know that unnecessary

speech would be inadvisable.

These people will continue to be monitored after returning to their normal

lives, and no matter the number of dissident minorities, the controversial

practice of hypnosis wizardry will be used to perform memory manipulation

etc. —

It was for all these tasks that the members of the History Compilation

Committee have been busy rus.h.i.+ng about.

”Aya, this is why we are labeled as villains. Look at these operatives

wearing all black and running about, hahaha.”

Amakasu spoke proudly while wearing a black suit with the letters 'MIB'

emblazoned on it.

Despite his workload, he had gone to Nanao Shrine to report to Yuri about

the progress of things.

”...Have I not warned you so many times, not to be so frivolous?”

”Please give me a break, I'm already so overworked that I need to have a

little fun... Ever since that day, I haven't even gone home yet, only taking

short naps in the car.”

”S-sorry. I am really sorry that we have brought you so much trouble.”

Yuri bowed deeply in response to Amakasu's complaints.

”However, this is our work so please don't let it weigh on your mind.

Anyway, it looks like Yuri-san and Kusanagi G.o.dou's personal relations.h.i.+p

has progressed very well. To selflessly devote a.s.sistance to each other,

perhaps the red string of fate has already bound the two of you!”

”Red string!? What do you mean?”

”So, I think Kusanagi G.o.dou also likes Yuri-san. Luckily it is almost

summer vacation. To further your relations.h.i.+p, you definitely need to have

four or five dates at least. I look forward to it.”

”D-date!? Please do not say something stupid like that! That kind of

behavior is too early for us!”

Just as Yuri tried to loudly protest against Amakasu's hinted suggestions.

The cellphone beside her rang. Looking at the screen, it turned out to be

the topic of discussion—Kusanagi G.o.dou who had called.

”Oh, that call came at just the right time. Then Yuri-san should take action

as soon as possible. Who knows, this call may very well be asking you out

with just the two of you.”

”Nothing like that! Please do not eavesdrop... Yes, h.e.l.lo~”

Hiding away from the curious Amakasu, Yuri pressed the b.u.t.ton to take the

call.

'Ma-mariya, I am sorry for suddenly calling, I want to discuss something

with you. Can you help me?'

”What is it? Has Marquis Voban resurfaced?”

'No, it's Erica. She wants to pull me along on a pre-wedding trip, and even

got my grandfather as an accomplice, so things are going smoothly her

way. During the summer, if I don't find a place to hide I will be caught and

taken away. Who knows how bad things will get! Do you have any place to

suggest?'

”What? No way, G.o.dou-san, you cannot be deceived by that kind of

invitation!”

'Yes, but if she does it by force I can't do anything about it. Finding a place

to hide is probably the only way.'

”Really, please show some determination. Preparations are necessary, but

G.o.dou-san's att.i.tude is key. You are still so unreliable.”

'S-sorry...'

”I will try to find some suitable location, but please try on your own first.”

After such a conversation, Yuri hung up.

Really, whether the Italian girl who simply had no manners or G.o.dou who

cannot refuse resolutely, they are always bringing trouble. No way around

it, just do your best!

”What is it, Yuri-san, is it another conflict? Let's discuss it.”

Amakasu spoke softly to Yuri who was occupied with her internal ranting.

For example, his manner of speech would be like a con artist, who had

found a good and honest person and would use all methods to snare his

prey. It was that kind of deceptive speech, but Yuri did not notice.

”Ah, sure. Actually it is about G.o.dou-san and Erica-san—”

”Hoho, it turns out to be something like that. But Yuri-san, this is an

opportunity, a great chance... To hide away with G.o.dou-san together this

summer, let us arrange the location!”

”—!? Is this a joke? G.o.dou-san and I, just the two of us?”

Beaming like a (fake) loving elder, Amakasu smiled slightly.

Shaken by that kind of smile, Yuri suppressed her words of protest.

”Then, let me explain in order, traveling as a pair on the run has an almost

magical effect on accelerating male female relations.h.i.+ps—”

The plum rain season was about to end in late June.

It was the early summer dusk heralding the opening of the gates of

summer.

Featuring Yuri who had been hit by an intense culture shock and

manipulated by skillful deception, and the scheming Erica who was not

above using brute force, the season for their intense rivalry was about to

begin.

Afterword

”The protagonist has ten special abilities, I think that's too much. It feels

like an initial whim created a very exaggerated setting, perhaps we should

reduce it by half? To be honest, this is very troublesome to write. Let's just

say it makes things difficult for me!!”

”Just continue with this setting, it will be fine right? Continue writing like

this!”

-- Prior to writing the first volume, that was the dialogue between the author

and the editor.

Greetings. We meet again, or perhaps for the first time.

Thanks to everyone's support of this work [Campione!], the second volume

is now for sale. Much thanks. Please do not overthink the reasons for the

long interval between the first and second volumes. There were absolutely

no careful deliberations over whether to continue the story or not.

Absolutely none. Never thought about it.

If one were to describe the battle between Kusanagi G.o.dou and the

strange mysterious dragon of the Tonegawa (Doni in short), it would be an

intense death match with a strong characteristic feeling -- if such a short

story was proposed, would it be ignored with a response like ”no, that won't

work!”? Was this for real? For this purpose I went and researched the

history of the Tonegawa, and became a bit of a Tonegawa expert!

To readers who picked up the book to browse, attracted by the beautiful

miko ill.u.s.trations of Sikorsky-san, and were dismayed to find it was not the

first volume and wondered whether or not to buy it. That type of thought is

premature.

I believe this work belongs to the genre of hero fantasy, and pays tribute to

Cimmeria's Conan-san and Melinibone's Elric-san. ”The first volume, is not

necessary the beginning of the story” is the idea.

Thus, there is no problem with starting with the first or the second volume.

Rest a.s.sured as you take this book to the cas.h.i.+er. No problem, when I was

looking for original editions of American comics, there were often times that

I couldn't find a previous issue. I got used to it.

...Though that is what I thought, but I am wondering if it is time to write a

”beginning story.”

And so, the next release, Volume 3 will have the themes of the ”joyful(?)

summer” and ”beginnings of the Campione.” The stage will be set on the

ocean, and I will look forward to Sikorsky-san's swimsuit ill.u.s.trations.

Takedzuki Jou, October 2008

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