Vol 4 Chapter 5 (1/2)
Chapter 5 - The Missing Kings
Part 1
s.p.a.ccanapoli - In a small alleyway in the old street of Naples.
Kusanagi G.o.dou and Liliana Kranjcar had met with the G.o.ddess Athena.
”What's with describing me as 'tenacious', stop that. Because of you, I
almost died.”
”You too, stop saying those deplorable things. To be injured in a battle, it
was due to your own inexperience. Firstly, you should be lamenting over
your own weakness.”
A calm reply to G.o.dou, and the mood became heavier.
Unreasonably dragging in innocent bystanders who had no intention of
fighting, this G.o.ddess-sama was the root of it all. Her self-centeredness
evidently surpa.s.sed even Erica's. What a selfish fellow.
”.... Kusanagi G.o.dou.”
Liliana who had been standing at the side, said in a very soft voice.
As though she were looking to him as for what to do next, and awaiting his
order.
G.o.dou shook his head.
He did not intend on fighting the G.o.ddess, only temporarily gauging the
situation. Although unsure if she had understood from that, Liliana lightly
nodded her head.
Counting on this powerful supporter in his heart, G.o.dou turned towards
Athena.
”Hey, tell me one thing. This time round, you were the one who dragged
me into the battle, so would you mind explaining something to me?”
”What is it? Speak your mind.”
”Why was Perseus able to - seal the powers of Verethragna? He, being a
bane of serpents, therefore countering Athena's power, that I can
understand, due to the story of Medusa, right? But, Perseus and
Verethragna have no direct connection, so isn't it strange?”
”About that - ”
Her response to G.o.dou's question was a simple faint smile.
As though she were a.s.sessing them, she stared at them intently. Her eyes
were like that of a predator eyeing its prey.
She was a predator, after all. The aspect of a G.o.ddess of battle and
hunting.
”No matter how I answer it, there will be things that you cannot
comprehend. Indeed, I was the one who dragged you into this, but if I
reveal the answer here, this game would not be able to amuse me as
much.”
”Isn't that fine? I got involved only because of your willful personality.”
G.o.dou snapped back in retort.
”Yesterday... you said that you had wanted to train me. The truth probably
isn't that you had wanted to avoid conflict with that serpent-slayer, thus
dragging me in, correct?”
”Do not sully the name of a G.o.ddess of war, Kusanagi G.o.dou.”
Athena glared at him, her eyes heavy with threat. ”It's true, that I am not in
a hurry to battle with that person. The serpent-slaying words of power are
an extremely troublesome existence to myself. However, the
countermeasures I have against that unfavorable element are far and
many, do not treat so lightly the Queen of the land and darkness.”
”I'd never would have thought... that you'd have a countermeasure?”
Hiding the joy in his heart, G.o.dou asked.
If it were true, then he might be able to use his trump card against
Perseus.
”That's right. If he would use his serpent-slaying words of power, then I
would use the scorching flames to melt his steel... Fufu, while you were in
a deep sleep, I had already awakened the dormant volcano that lies
yonder. If he were to be enveloped by molten lava, even the hero of
«Steel» will fall!”
”It's fine even if you don't fell him! I will go and fight him, so you can just sit
back and watch!”
This guy wants to blow up the volcano! G.o.dou resisted the urge to exclaim
out loud.
Athena was referring to Mount Vesuvius, east of Naples.
During the time of the Roman Empire, Pompeii had been partially
destroyed, and buried under ash and pumice from the eruption of Mount
Vesuvius. The last time that this volcano had been active was back in
1949, and its distance from Naples was nine kilometers.
G.o.dou finally understood.
Why Athena had accepted the truce after her attack on Perseus.
He was not sure how she had done it, but in order to triumph over Perseus,
she had prepared to make use of the volcano, to overcome the
unfavorable condition of fighting against a serpent-slayer.
”But, about using the volcano, are you implying that Perseus is weak
against heat?”
”It must be an exceedingly intense heat, to the extent that even a dragon
would be incinerated. This isn't the only weakness of that guy, either.
«Steel» , after all, is that kind of thing, isn't it?”
Steel.
Hearing that word, his emotions were unable to stabilize, and G.o.dou
returned to that topic.
”Then let me ask again, why was Verethragna's power sealed?”
”I don't mind telling you, but will you pay the price, Kusanagi G.o.dou?”
.... How unreasonable.
”Since you do not want me to personally step in, then wouldn't this request
be natural? Though I have dragged you into this, is it not evened out when
I listened to your request to back out of the battlefield? Now, if you would
like for me to grant you the key to victory, then you will be indebted to me.”
In other words, G.o.dou just had to promise her something. Athena smiled
wryly.
G.o.dou knew for sure that this G.o.ddess would think of something strange
and illogical, poking fun at him, for all he knew she might have been
overjoyed inside watching his troubled expression.
”You're really an absurd G.o.ddess-sama, you know. Fine, what's the price?”
”Hm. I haven't thought that far yet.”
G.o.dou had asked, testing the waters, but this was the answer. Please stop
tormenting me already.
”Fufu, I haven't given it much thought yet - then, in return for my telling of
that secret, you would have to grant a request, a desire of mine some day
in the future. Do you accept?”
Athena asked, her att.i.tude bold and haughty.
That gaze and that way of speaking, certainly was that of a powerful
Queen. As if she were challenging him, testing his courage -
”So, what will you do? You might be gambling away your own life, or even
perhaps the life of the person most important to you. Will you accept?”
G.o.dou pondered his options.
The G.o.ds were not vicious or evil by nature, but sometimes, they could be
a little cruel.
Beings of such power and might, they did not care for the humble humans.
In that case, about Athena's request, what would be the correct option?
He thought about it for tens of seconds, and finally made up his mind.
In this situation, it would be a transaction of both high risks and returns,
even if things turned out to be the worst case, he could always
shamelessly back out of his agreement.
The most important reason actually was - he did not want to give a vague
answer. What comes afterwards would be not to get blindly lead around by
the other party, and maintaining his own pace, but...
”I understand, then...”
”Allow me to answer in the place of the King. Of course, we refuse!”
Just as G.o.dou had wanted to give his answer, he was interrupted.
The one who had been standing by his side and silently watching the
entire time, Liliana, had spoken out suddenly.
”I apologize for my rudeness, Athena. The warrior that protects us humans,
the King, how could he possibly make such a commitment? Please forget
that we had ever said anything!”
That answer, is no fun at all. Boring.”
The total opposite of the Liliana whose head was bowed respectfully,
Athena looked around in disinterest.
”Forget it, if that's the case, then I will be staying at the sea over yonder.
Should you have a change of mind, go to the harbor where we were last
night, and call my name. No matter the time, I will give you the answer that
you seek.... Before that troublemaker returns, any time is fine.”
The G.o.ddess of the land and darkness, with those words, departed from
the alley.
Part 2
”Are we supposed to reject those kinds of offer, in this situation? We could
have gotten some information out of Athena, too.”
On the way back to Diana's abode, G.o.dou complained.
As he understood the reason why Liliana had done that, he wasn't
particularly reprimanding her. He could have snuck out later to meet
Athena, after all.
”When you put it that way, are you perhaps thinking of accepting her offer
after all?”
”Basically, yes, as long as I state some conditions and try to reach a
compromise, it shouldn't be that bad a trade... But, you knew I was going
to accept her offer?”
G.o.dou was slightly impressed.
As he thought, Liliana had guessed his intentions.
”Of course I knew. Although the time we have spent together has been
short, I can understand the feeling that people get before you do
something utterly outrageous!”
”D, do I seem that weird a person to you?”
”Without a doubt. For example, yesterday, when you had summoned the
[Boar] out in the middle of the street.”
Hearing her say that, G.o.dou felt somewhat guilty.
Due to his revival from death, he had slept for half a day, and had forgotten
all about it.
”Kusanagi G.o.dou - although your daily actions are normal, but during
times of crisis, you tend to become reckless, and make impulsive and rash
decisions.”
As they walked along the road of the old street, Liliana chided him.
Though the att.i.tude and speech were wholly different, in some ways she
was as troublesome as Erica and the others. Indignant, G.o.dou retorted.
”I'm not as reckless as you say I am! In that earlier exchange with Athena,
it was already going according to my plan!”
”Negotiations with high-ranking mages or [Heretic G.o.ds], you cannot make
that sort of commitment or promise, for fear of being controlled! Even if you
have the intent to rebel against it, if you had said something like. Til do as
you say', they will have absolute power over your will!”
This was a surprising piece of information.
Liliana was truly angry, glaring at the shocked G.o.dou.
”Because you are a Campione, hence even if it were a mage of the
highest-tier, his magic would have no hold over you, but she is a G.o.ddess!
If you make a pact with Athena, a G.o.ddess of that level, you won't be able
to resist whatever she asks of you!”
”.... I see. Then I must thank you for having saved me.”
Seems a crisis had been averted earlier.
The self-reflecting G.o.dou honestly expressed his grat.i.tude and apology,
and Liliana immediately turned her head away.
”I, it's nothing. As a knight, lending my a.s.sistance to the [King] is only
natural, I've done nothing to deserve your grat.i.tude, don't worry about it.”
She seemed embarra.s.sed.
Her cheeks red, Liliana smiled faintly.
”You shouldn't have fallen for those words in the first place. I had noticed it
since last night, but you are too careless at times, please be careful of
what your powers might do to the environment in the future!”
”I did try to minimize the collateral damage...”
”That's not what I was trying to say. I wanted to let you know that, to the
surrounding people or an organization, a Campione is a being capable of
the greatest destruction, and hence, please be more careful next time.”
After she said that, Liliana turned her head back.
She looked straight at G.o.dou.
”Although I would like you to be more mindful of the surroundings, but
truthfully, it is an unnecessary. No matter how much destruction a
Campione causes, only a being of equal standing, another Campione, has
the right to criticize. It's because of the authority that you possess, that you
have gained the t.i.tle of [King].”
Come to think of it, he had been told something like that by some mage
before.
- What you have attained is power on par with the G.o.ds and devil kings, a
human yet to be above humans, an absolute privilege... for example.
Remembering those ridiculous words, G.o.dou shook his head. Truly, it was
a cruel joke.
”You should know this too, but both Sir Salvatore and Marquis Voban,
neither of their personalities have any praiseworthy aspects. They lack
morals that a normal person should have, but as a Campione, a [King],
whatever actions they do will be forgiven.”
That should not be the case.
G.o.dou shook his head again, that shouldn't be the case at all.
”The only duty a Campione has to bear, is when a [Heretical G.o.d]
manifests, to defend the powerless humans and engage it in battle. This is
the one thing that you have to abide by, the one thing that humankind asks
of you. Anything else is unnecessary, be it a n.o.ble obligation, or a
ridiculous request. Tlie only thing you have to do is to follow your base
instincts, and do battle with the G.o.ds, as a protector of the land.”
”What kind of reasoning is that?!”
G.o.dou a.s.serted his stand.
Facing Liliana who was going full steam about the ways of the world.
”Those guys being useless members of society, it was because of the fact
that they were originally beyond saving to begin with. Because of that kind
of reason, forgiving a Campione no matter what they do, what kind of
reasoning is that? Let me ask you, do you really agree with that? I don't
think that you really do, but at any rate, please don't, Liliana-san!”
Being on the receiving ends of his questions, Liliana lowered her head,
troubled.
This way of thinking had already been ingrained and instilled into her
serious, stubborn, yet gentle self, which is why she could tolerate whatever
ridiculous shenanigans the other Campiones had done.
”Whatever those guys have done has nothing to do with me. I'll do things
my own way. It was only because of a stroke of luck that I have obtained
this unimaginable power. While trying not to cause too much trouble to the
world, I will find the right way to use this power.”
G.o.dou declared loudly.
However, thinking of the constant mistakes that he had made, he decided
to add one more thing, just in case.
”But.... sometimes I might be a little too careless, and make some
mistakes, but I have Erica and Mariya, and also you. Because of everyone
that is lending me their hand, I'm sure that things will work out. I'm counting
on you, once again.”
”M, me too?”
”Didn't you just help me out big time earlier? If you find it to be too harsh,
then just this time would be fine too, you've already done too much for
me...
Thinking carefully and calmly, there probably wasn't anyone who would go
this far for someone else.
Neither Erica nor liinn, would stick tlieir nose tliat far in someone else's
business.
G.o.dou was misunderstanding this, and Liliana shook her head, stopping
and heaving a sigh. And, in a knightly manner, she replied,
”If you - if the [King] desires so, then I am prepared to offer my very being
to you, and to do my very best for you... However, shall we rest for today?
It's getting rather late.”
The serious conversation was abruptly ended.
It was the first time he had seen such a heart-warming smile on Liliana's
face, while speaking with such gentleness.
Seeing that expression, he felt that she was no different from a normal girl.
Discovering this side to Liliana, he felt a little shy, and nodded.
Before they had realized it, they were in front of Diana's bookstore.
When they were returning, the sun had started to set, and darkness began
to cover the sky.
”Ah, that's right, about Perseus' secret, we probably have to figure
something out ourselves...”
The two of them walked into the building, and headed straight for the
kitchen. Neither Karen nor Diana were around, they were alone together.
”I'll go prepare some tea, please take a short rest in the meantime.”
Liliana said, while taking out the necessary equipment from the kitchen
shelves.
All G.o.dou had been drinking so far in Italy was only coffee. It was either
espresso, cappuccino or latte, usually.
Thinking that it wouldn't be so bad to have a change of pace, G.o.dou took a
seat on the chair, and obediently awaited the tea. The unique fragrance of
the herbs began to diffuse throughout the house.
” - Please enjoy your tea.”
A few minutes had pa.s.sed.
From Liliana's hands, G.o.dou received a cup of hot amber liquid.
The fragrant smell of mint wafted across his nostrils.
it was a refres.h.i.+ng aroma, but it felt somewhat queer. He took a small sip,
and felt the taste spread through his taste buds, but it was accompanied by
a bizarre feeling of unease.
”The taste isn't so great, it feels a little odd.”
”That is because of the herbs that are used to brew the tea, rather than the
taste, it is a drink that focuses on the nutritional value.”
G.o.dou had commented without thinking, and Liliana had replied with a
shrug.
So it's that kind of drink, and G.o.dou who had understood that point, gulped
the entire drink down in one breath.
It was after ten minutes of chatting with Liliana before he noticed the
change within his body.
”What... what is this?”
His body had gradually started to feel numb. It had started with his fingers,
but only a few moments had pa.s.sed before his limbs had ceased to
function.
Before long, he had lost all motor functions throughout his body.
”As I thought, if it's an internal cause, even if you are a Campione, magic
would have an effect.”
Liliana said, to the G.o.dou who was unable to move.
Was she forcing him to rest!? G.o.dou was shocked. Why had she done
that!?
”I had mixed a drug that numbs magical energy into the tea... Even though
it had the taste and aroma of herbs, you still managed to sense it, I did not
expect that - ”
So that was what it was, the sensation of drinking a drug?
The enhanced senses of a Campione, detecting the drug being ingested,
had sent warning signals to the body, and G.o.dou swore to himself that he
would not fall for this again.
”It's as you've said, we can obtain tlie needed information if we negotiate
with Atliena. Tliere was notliing wrong witli it, just tliat tine one to negotiate
witli lier sliouldn't liave been you. if our trump card against tine G.o.ds were
to be sacrificed, it would be putting the cart before the horse.”
Unsure whether it were a problem with the five senses or his brain, his
body simply would not obey.
Liliana gently held G.o.dou, and placed him against the wall, in a leaning
position.
”About my going to negotiate with Athena about what was mentioned
earlier, of course, I'll have to make her promise not to harm you in any
way... Because I'm a witch, I should be able to get along with a great
G.o.ddess of the land like Athena just fine. Please leave it to me, I should be
able to obtain at least a little bit of information.”
It had only been because he was a Campione that Athena had offered the
secret, and a [Heretic G.o.d] most likely would not make a deal with a mere
human. This was too risky.
G.o.dou would very much liked to have told her that, but he could not even
utter a single word.
”If you came along, the negotiation might very well go wrong, in some way
I won't expect. Hence, it would best if I went alone. The drug was a last
resort, please forgive me.”
With those words, Liliana left the kitchen.
Only G.o.dou remained in the room. Mustering all of his will and strength, he
attempted to force his body to move, but it did not work.
- 1 am strongest amongst the strong. Truly, I am one that holds each and
every victory.
- 1 care not whom challenges me, whether man or devil; I may face all my
foes and all my enemies. Regardless, I shall crush all those who wouldst
stand in my way.
G.o.dou chanted the scripture of Verethragna in his heart, and his body
began to fill with the power of the Persian war G.o.d. The numbness had
begun to fade little by little.
The effect will wear off if I keep going at this.
Not relying on his physical body, but instead making use of the magical
power, G.o.dou had managed to purge a little of the drug.
Directly channeling the magic into his body, without a doubt, was the most
effective method to use on a Campione's body, but it was a desperate
measure due to his powerlessness at the moment.
Leaving aside the G.o.ds, to lose like this to a normal magic user -
While telling himself that, G.o.dou continued the fight against the numbness
in his body.
Parts
This was the harbor of Santa Lucia district.
It was the location of the confrontation with Perseus the previous day, and
also where G.o.dou and Athena had showed up. Liliana had spent about
twenty minutes to return here, and called out towards the sea,
”O' great G.o.ddess Athena, the humble knight Liliana Kranjcar hereby
requests an audience with you! Please allow me this honor of being in your
presence!”
Liliana's voice resounded across the sea, which was dyed red by the
sunset.
It was only a brief while before a patch of darkness with an outline of silver
began to form at another end of the harbor. The darkness rapidly took the
shape of Heretic Athena, who slowly walked towards Liliana.
”Why did Kusanagi G.o.dou not come? Little girl, my business is not with
you.”
The G.o.ddess said with an air of arrogance, but she had expected that.
No matter what happens later, she had to obtain some information on
Perseus.
Liliana was nervous and tense.
To negotiate not with a blade but with words, it was not her specialty.
Rather, Erica was better at the arts of persuasion, but in this situation she
could only grit her teeth and do it....
”On behalf of the King I have come to make a request, an enquiry on the
principles of Perseus' power which allowed him to seal the authorities of
Kusanagi G.o.dou. Because of our shortcomings, we were not able to
understand the mystery behind it, and thus, I beseech you to grant us your
wisdom - ”
”I've said it before, there is a price to be paid.”
Athena coldly stated, and Liliana hesitated.
She had not been expecting Athena to give an answer easily.
Her aim was to obtain a few tidbits of information from the G.o.ddess. If they
had gone with this strategy earlier in the negotiation by Kusanagi G.o.dou,
they might have been able to get a few clues by now. But from the cold
expression of the other party, the chances of being lied to were rather high,
and thus she said...
”Please, to Kusanagi G.o.dou who is fighting on your behalf, do you not
have any parting gifts?”
”Didn't I say this before too? He could have chosen not to fight, and to let
me fling that troublemaking hero right into the depths of that volcano. If he
had done that, then wouldn't it have been much less troublesome for him?”
Athena's tone had not a single bit of interest in it.
If this willful girl were a human, Liliana would have given her quite the
scolding. However...
Liliana resisted the urge, and was repeatedly reciting, 'Bear with it, bear
with it!' to herself. A normal mage would have given up by then, given such
an unreasonable G.o.ddess.
She had the disposition of a witch, after all.
The origins of the witches of Europe, were the mikos who had wors.h.i.+pped
Athena.
Studying the spiritual senses, listening to the words of the G.o.ddess.
The words of power and divinity of the G.o.ddess of the land granted power
to the witches. The resulting possibility of obtaining the scattered wisdom
of the G.o.ds and revelations were high -
”Though, when I had initially brought Kusanagi G.o.dou here, I did not
expect a G.o.d of that nature to manifest. Perhaps this might be destiny.
Encountering the leader of the ancient east is indeed harsh, but should he
fail to succeed, we can only say that the brat's capabilities were simply not
enough...”
Athena laughed happily.
Leader of the ancient east? Come to think of it, what was it she said
earlier? A troublemaker. She had called that beautiful hero a troublemaker,
or something like that.
Athena had many things to say about Perseus.
All her words continued to spin around in Liliana's head, like a burst of
inspiration through a broken barrier. The G.o.ddess had, from the start, seen
through the hero's origins.
Then, what was that image that she had seen?
A brilliant, golden light. The fragments of the sun that rained down from the
sky. Rays of the sun.
The hero who had combined all of these also had the attribute of steel, one
of the G.o.ds of the sword.
Diana had said that he was 'One who came from Persia'. His name was
Perseus. However, that was not enough. The true name of the G.o.d, no, the
true origin was -
”.... Ho. You, are a miko, aren't you?”
Athena who had discovered that fact, stared at her.
Liliana felt a shuddering chill, as though she were a rodent being stared at
by a snake, an insect being hunted by an owl. She was in the same
situation as those vermin, as helpless as them.
”Speaking of which, Kusanagi G.o.dou has quite the talented miko serving
him, back in his homeland. Fufu, a revelation, from only my words? Now
then, should I allow you to return with the answer in your head...”
Like a predator playing with its prey.
With that kind of feeling, Athena pondered to herself. The sharp eyes of
the G.o.ddess of knowledge had seen through the fact that Liliana had
discovered something tlirougli inspiration - to Liliana, tine situation liad
taken a turn for the worse.
Athena extended her hand to the chin of the taller Liliana, making contact
with the tip of her finger.
If the finger were to turn into a weapon at that instant, it would not have
been surprising.
Liliana instinctively held her breath, in the face of the death and darkness
staring her in the eye. At the very least, she had to find some way to
convey what she had discovered to Kusanagi G.o.dou.
H, hold it right there.”
Out of the blue, a voice was heard.
To Athena, it was a voice of the youth she had been waiting to hear, but to
Liliana, it was the voice of a youth she did not expect to hear here.
”Finally appeared, have you. To have kept me waiting for so long, how
rude of you.”
”Kusanagi G.o.dou! Why did you come here!?”
The precious miracle drug of paralysis - a cow or horse that drank that
amount would have been paralyzed for at least half a day.
But the person, who was swaying and walking with unsteady steps towards
them, was surely Kusanagi G.o.dou. It looked like he had not quite
recovered fully from the effects of the drug.
Given how unsteady he was, it would not have been shocking if he were to
fall over at any time.
Even with his body in this state, he still looked at Athena with a sharp gaze.
”.... What are you planning to do with her?”
”I am still thinking of that. This girl with neither manners nor proper
upbringing, had obtained a revelation from within my words. Originally, I
would simply pa.s.s divine punishment over her, however...”
”A revelation?”
”Correct. In order to discern the origins of tlie one you call Perseus, and