Vol 6 Chapter 5 (2/2)

resist, and, in this kind of situation, an unbelievable power that exceeded

normal parameters.

However, in reality she was just looking at G.o.dou with an incredulous

expression.

”You ask me why? Think about it, this place, how should I put it...”

”This place? Is there a problem with this place? However, I did notice a

number of strange buildings.”

”Eh...?”

”Come to think of it, the map did indicate motels here, but I don't see any

reason to run such businesses in this dismal neighborhood, right? And the

buildings are so unfas.h.i.+onable, though they are quite interesting in their

own way.”

Erica responded in casual tones.

Could it be that Erica... she didn't know that motels had that kind of

connotation...?

That's right, she is completely unaware. Truly the young mistress of the

Blandelli family! Having reached this conclusion, G.o.dou felt as if a heavy

load had been lifted off his back. Great, there was still plenty of buffer time

until the ultimate situation will be reached.

”You don't look too well? If you don't mind, perhaps we could rent a room

around here to take a rest?”

”No no, I'm fine. Continue onwards! Anyway, where are you going?”

G.o.dou responded loudly, and Erica suspiciously stared at G.o.dou as she

pointed to the shrine in front of them.

”That's the place, let's enter.”

Before the row of motels was a little shrine.

A quiet place completely different from the nearby Yus.h.i.+ma Seidou or

Kanda Shrine.

A plaque with the name Tamaura Shrine hung on the entrance torii.

The kannus.h.i.+^ was not there and no one seemed to be there. After

surveying the surroundings, Erica pushed open the door of the front hall

with her hand. Apparently the door was not locked.

”How careless. But even if they forgot to lock the door, we can't go in so

casually.”

”Originally I was just planning on surveying the outside, but it turns out no

one is here... No problem, after all this is a public shrine anyway.”

Walking into the front hall as they spoke, they were surprised to find signs

of habitation in the shrine.

This was easily concluded from the neatly arranged objects in the corner.

Sleeping bag, many magazines and manga, dried bread and fruit and

other nonperishable food — these were all piled up in an organized manner,

but their presence conspicuously clashed with the shrine surroundings.

Erica glanced at these items in the front hall and softly spoke in deep

thought.

”Nothing that can be used as a clue... what a waste of time.”

”Come on, behave, what you're doing right now is against the law.”

After some nagging from G.o.dou, the Italian-born beauty finally left the

premises.

However, she immediately said:

”This place yielded nothing useful, let's hurry to the next destination.”

Hastened by Erica to the next place to visit, G.o.dou was shocked once

again. It turned out to be the high school section of Jounan Academy, the

school that they attended.

”I think G.o.dou's instincts are very good.”

Erica praised him as they walked in the sports ground on this holiday.

There were members of sports clubs engaged in activities on the field, but

the rest of the school was very quiet.

”I think it's very bad actually... since I'm often labeled dense and slow.”

Just a couple of hours ago, he had been scolded severely by this girl.

However, the other party, Erica, simply went ”hmph” and made a gesture

ridiculing him.

”That only applies to the way you treat women. What I referred to just now,

were your instincts towards supernatural phenomenon such as magic and

divinities. Basically, you have acute instincts towards danger just like a wild

beast, that's true right?”

Now that she put it that way, it did feel likely to be true.

After becoming a Campione, it was as if G.o.dou had gained a sixth sense

that sometimes made him aware of things that he could not possibly know

about. But why bring this ability up right now?

”Since I am expecting results from G.o.dou's instincts, I have a question for

you. My sources told me that someone has done something unusual to the

school, probably some sort of spell. Do you sense any signs of

tampering?”

”No, I feel nothing...”

G.o.dou tried to survey Jounan Academy's school buildings, sports ground,

and foundations, but could not sense anything.

The only feeling obtained was the sense of emptiness from the lack of

students on a weekend.

”You need to be more serious. Concentrate and let your senses become

clearer. If you try that, your spirit vision might even end up having a higher

success rate than Lily.”

”Uh, how could that be possible? I don't have any spirit vision to begin

with.”

G.o.dou thought back at Liliana's abilities as both a knight and a witch.

In the battle against Perseus, he had witnessed her spirit vision, and then

Mariya has also shown him the powers of spirit vision many times. He

clearly did not possess it.

”Spirit vision refers to the ability to extract [Memories of the Void] from the

[Boundary of Life and Immortality] in the Astral Plane. The reason why you

often display extraordinary instincts could possibly be due to the

Campione's sixth sense peering into the Astral Plane.”

Erica's words led G.o.dou to think back to a certain buried memory.

The [Boundary of Life and Immortality], it seemed vaguely familiar. But

[Memories of the Void] and such stuff were totally incomprehensible, so

G.o.dou decided to just forget about it.

”Perhaps using that ability, you can obtain something that approaches

spirit vision. Try again... Also, perhaps Yuri's example has misled you, but

even for European witches, obtaining spirit vision is extremely difficult.”

”Is that so? But didn't Liliana say that she had spirit vision as well?”

”That is correct, but the crux of the matter is the success rate. The chance

for a witch to successfully activate spirit vision effectively is at best ten

percent, but from my estimates Yuri definitely exceeds sixty percent.”

”How can it differ by so much!”

”Yes, if a situation required spirit vision from witches, usually they would

gather dozens of them so that the overall success rate is raised through

quant.i.ty.”

G.o.dou finally got the point. Come to think of it, Liliana did explain to him

during the battle against Perseus, that it was the grace of Athena that

allowed her to obtain spirit vision abilities that surpa.s.sed her previous

level.

Now G.o.dou finally understood the reason why Erica has been so

preoccupied with Yuri ever since the first time they met.

”Why don't you ask Mariya for help?”

”Think about why I can't do that? This has political implications.”

”When you said someone... Could it be a member of that whatever

Committee?”

”Wrong, this time the Committee is the side trying to hinder her, but they

cannot help but acquiesce to her actions with frustration — can you

understand?”

”A woman... then it's Seishuuin Ena, looks like Yuri and the rest will have

lots of trouble.”

Finally understanding after much explanation... hearing G.o.dou's

exclamation, Erica shrugged her shoulders.

”Lily and I can still act independently, even if we lose support from the

magic a.s.sociations of our home country, it won't be a huge problem... But

if you look at the girls around G.o.dou from this perspective, then Yuri's

situation is the most delicate. You have to be more observant of these

things.”

”Yes yes, I get it.”

Failing to pay attention in those areas, this was something that needed to

be improved. As G.o.dou thought, he decided to answer Erica's request.

In order to look for anything out of the ordinary, G.o.dou ran throughout the

school.

”...Uh, nothing strange was found.”

”Still didn't work, seems like you're no good for anything outside of battle.”

Hearing his simple report, Erica was exasperated.

G.o.dou felt the same way. Even though his instincts were very good, they

only seemed to work in the heat of battle.

During battle, in the instant when his instincts kicked in, there was always a

feeling like sparks exploding.

G.o.dou tried focusing his eyes on the school walls.

I hate this place. Such a thought flowed into his mind. Enemy, to be more

precise, he could feel the presence of the enemy floating around.

”I found a bad feeling around this area, but other than that, nothing.”

”This wall? Perhaps some kind of barrier was erected?”

Erica and G.o.dou began a serious discussion in front of the wall of the

school building.

However, the answer to their questions came from an unexpected

direction.

”That isn't a barrier, but I won't go into the details. Ama no Murak.u.mo and I

did a little tinkering there, but not just in one location.”

The two turned to look behind.

Seishuuin Ena was approaching from the opposite side of the sports

ground.

Wearing her uniform despite being the weekend, with the familiar long and

narrow bag slung over her shoulder.

”The many-fenced place of Izumo / Of the many clouds rising — To dwell

there with my spouse / Do I build a many-fenced palace: Ah, that

many-fenced palace!' Have you heard of this? This is the enchanted song

of Susanoo, the one I inscribed on eight different places when I infiltrated

the school many days ago. I knew it would come in handy eventually.”

The friendly Yamato Nades.h.i.+ko, innocent and forthcoming.

Though she looked the same as usual, G.o.dou sensed something strange.

”I came to inspect them today. If they didn't take effect in a crisis, I would

be very troubled. But why are you two here? Aren't you supposed to be on

a date?”

Her tone becoming sharp, Ena turned her gaze to Erica. The girl known as

the [Diavolo Rosso], answered with a polite smile.

”We are on a date right now, but we just decided to investigate Ena-san's

prepared pranks on the way, that's all.”

”Really, then I'm sorry. Have I disturbed you two?”

Though it sounded like a calm conversation, an unfriendly atmosphere

seemed to be hanging between the two of them. G.o.dou frowned.

”I don't know what conflict exists between the two of you, but could you two

not cause any strange commotions?”

”Understood, hubby... though that's how I want to address you, it turns out

to be really difficult.”

Ena let down the bag from her shoulder, and opened it dexterously with

one hand.

”Other than declaring myself to be Kusanagi-san's woman, I have one

other goal.”

”Goal?”

”Eliminating me, most likely.”

Erica spoke in a sarcastic tone. The Hime-Miko showed a ”that's right”

expression and smiled.

An expression not seen previously, it was a wild grin that belonged to a

carnivore in the middle of a hunt.

”Kusanagi-san is a super important person, so it is no good allowing a

foreign lady to hang around him all the time. That's what the people back

home say. Hoho, though it's fine for me either way, but...”

The bag fell to the ground, and the sheathed sword was revealed.

”If this mission must be accomplished, there's no way around it. And

hearing that the opponent is an Italian knight has gained Ena's interest. At

the same time, grampsy has also felt amused by the surprise.”

”Grampsy? The one who bestowed the divine sword on you?”

Erica planned to elucidate the detailed situation at that time.

”What detailed knowledge, as expected of Erica-san. Yes, grampsy can be

quite a terrifying person. Let alone the Hime-Miko, even the History

Compilation Committee members have to fearfully cater to his mood.”

Ena drew the sword from its sheath.

The blade was infused with a sacred silvery white light, full of imperial

splendor.

G.o.dou and Erica exchanged glances in response to the emerging crisis.

(Let me handle her first while you observe for now. If you used your

authority, it would probably kill her.)

(Uh, that's right... but don't go too far.)

G.o.dou felt uneasy, but decided to leave things to Erica for now.

The special powers usurped from Verethragna's authority included

monstrous strength, super speed, lightning, solar fire, and others... A

mult.i.tude of powerful abilities, but none of them were suitable for dealing

with a normal human.

Unless the enemy was an immortal G.o.d, G.o.dou would not want to activate

his authority.

Once G.o.dou stepped back, Erica summoned Cuore di Leone in her hand.

The sword with the narrow blade that gave off a chilling brightness.

Watching the red and black knight enter a stance, Ena happily declared:

”Since Yuri won't be at school on the weekends, I don't need to be mindful

of her. Having Kusanagi-san present is a bit troublesome, but I've already

made preparations to handle him, so let's determine the victor right here!”

Having spoken, she kicked the ground once.

With wide strides, Ena made a thrust with her magnificent sword.

Jumping to the side to evade the attack, Erica countered with a thrust from

Cuore di Leone. However, Ena dodged by lightly twisting her body like a

bat.

Erica glared with sharp eyes while Ena stared back savagely.

In the next instant, their swords began to clash intensely.

Erica brandished the lightweight Cuore di Leone, thrusting continuously

without pause.

A series of attacks like a hail of bullets.

But Ena parried all attacks by lightly waving the blade of her sword in a

left-right motion.

Her sword should be far longer and heavier than the magic sword of the

lion.

In spite of that, Ena displayed perfect defense and could even

counterattack while she focused her attention on the blonde female

knight's attacks.

Erica skillfully defended Ena's return strikes, but always in the nick of time.

G.o.dou never expected to find a girl from j.a.pan who could match Erica in

swordsmans.h.i.+p!

Surprised by the unexpected revelations, G.o.dou desperately tried to come

up with a plan.

By the time his thoughts returned to the battle, both combatants' attacks

had become more and more intense.

If this continued, it would likely end with one side heavily injured. How

could their fight be interrupted? He did not have any weapons and cannot

use his authority. Then as a man, he was down to one weapon.

”d.a.m.n it, after all I probably can't die, so let's take a gamble!”

G.o.dou possessed the [Ram] incarnation which allowed him to revive from

near death injuries, but was useless if he died instantaneously. Ignoring his

rational mind, G.o.dou told himself ”I won't die as long as I'm lucky' and

sprang into action.

Erica and Ena continued to exchange attacks fiercely.

G.o.dou used his own body to block the s.p.a.ce in between their swinging

swords.

”—G.o.dou!?” ”— Kusanagi-san!?”

Erica and Ena put away their weapons simultaneously, and prevented a

tragedy at the last instant.

If either of them had been slightly lacking in reflexes, judgment, or

swordsmans.h.i.+p, then G.o.dou would have been sliced apart.

”G.o.dou, what are you doing! There are limits to stupidity!”

”I had no other way. Other than this, I couldn't think of another method to

stop you two...”

To Erica who seldom lost her composure, G.o.dou answered with his

trembling body.

Regardless, he narrowly missed death and the battle was halted. In terms

of results, his decision was correct.

”Y-you shouldn't be so reckless, but now I understand, it's something like

that.”

Ena seemed to have confirmed something. Understand? What did she

understand?

”In order to make Yuri, who is slow to warm up to others, fall for you, I've

always suspected that you must have great manliness somewhere. As

expected, it's that cliche? To protect the woman I love, I can give my life'

kind of deal?”

”Nothing like that. I didn't fully consider before I acted... Also, I was trying

to protect you too.”

G.o.dou's denial made Seishuuin Ena go 'eh?' with doubt.

”Not only Erica, I also don't want to see Seishuuin get hurt. Anyway, to

resolve conflicts with swords is not right. You should have a good

discussion to find a peaceful solution.”

”Really? So I have already been added to your list of 'my women?' Aw

shucks, how embarra.s.sing...”

”No way! How can anyone do nothing when they see someone about to be

sliced to death!”

Watching the Hime-Miko getting a little shy, G.o.dou protested strongly.

But she was unaffected, and continued to speak complacently.

”Looks like as long as Kusanagi-san is present, we can't fight properly.

Then I will heed grampsy's advice, and use that move...”

Ena who had been holding the Ama no Murak.u.mo no Tsurugi with both

hands, let go of the blade with her left and reached into her pocket.

What she took out was a cellphone.

”Oh by the way, I'm not making a phone-call, it's just a habit. In order to

speak with the other world, this is necessary for the dialogue to

succeed — grampsy, even though this happened earlier than planned, but

please use that move.”

As she spoke softly into the cellphone, G.o.dou and Erica became

suspicious, but Ena immediately threw down the phone.

The sky immediately became dark and the surroundings became

dominated by darkness.

Thinking it might be cloud cover, G.o.dou looked up and was quite shocked.

The sun in the sky was entirely darkened, and around the black circle was

a white corona. It was almost like a solar eclipse!

Then strong winds began to blow.

Cold winds that seemed strong enough to blow an entire body away and

cut open skin.

”Whoever is swiftest among the boatmen of the Uji ferry will come to me.^

G.o.d whom I wors.h.i.+pped, exists no longer! If you believe G.o.d once existed,

sacrifice well!^”

Within the world sealed away by darkness, Ena chanted the incantation in

a loud voice.

To G.o.dou, the spell words carried by the chant felt like they were tearing

up the world, and his body was filled with vigor and battle spirit. Was it a

G.o.d? Was a G.o.d coming here?

G.o.dou stared at the wall just now.

In that corner, an enemy's presence could be felt slightly.

Ma.s.sive amounts of divine power were being released, and the same

energy could be felt from seven other locations within the school.

”Ama no Murak.u.mo no Tsurugi, is the divine blade used by Susanoo and

Yamato Takeru... these two heroes. However, they were not only warriors

who tamed their enemies by force but also highly intelligent heroes who

employed deception when necessary. In other words, capricious and

ever-changing G.o.ds of deceit and thievery. Especially Susanoo, he was a

G.o.d who even tricked and covered up the sun itself. Even for you, Your

Majesty, there is no way to escape this trap!”

Ena spoke in a solemn voice for the first time.

Erica tried to prevent the unpredictable outcome by slas.h.i.+ng at the

Hime-Miko.

However, it was too late and the land beneath G.o.dou's feet had turned into

darkness.

The original concrete became completely jet-black in color.

”U-Uwaaaaaaaaaah!?”

His body and limbs sank and disappeared into the darkness.

G.o.dou yelled as he resisted with all his might, but even as he thrashed his

arms and legs there was nothing for him to grab or kick.

The result was being swallowed by the void black s.p.a.ce.

G.o.dou fell into the darkness and vanished completely.

In that instant, Erica wielded Cuore di Leone and slashed at Ena with all

her strength.

But it was blocked by the Ama no Murak.u.mo no Tsurugi.

As the magic sword of the lion and the divine sword pressed against each

other, the two girls began to argue.

”Where did you send G.o.dou away to!?”

”I don't know either, because the one who did it was grampsy.”

Ena responded to Erica who had discarded her usual elegant composure.

Come to think of it, what the Hime-Miko just said.

The G.o.d of trickery and deceit. The ever-changing G.o.d. The G.o.d of

thievery — in other words these ident.i.ties are all con artists! Erica recalled

the [Secret Tome of Prometheus] that could steal divine powers.

Possessing the same qualities — but with a mysterious power many times

greater than the grimoire, G.o.dou was taken away!

”I think His Majesty should now be in the Netherworld, and grampsy isn't

going to release him back to the real world.”

”The Netherworld? Could it be the Astral Plane — the Boundary of Life and

Immortality!?”

”Ah, so it is also called that? I think the Committee members would be

more knowledgeable in these areas.”

Erica shuddered as she watched the Hime-Miko who casually answered

her questions.

One who freely employed a divine artifact that ordinary mortals were

unable to use.

One who communicated with supernatural existences living in the

Boundary of Life and Immortality.

”It looks like amongst the Hime-Miko, there are quite a few girls possessing

extraordinary dispositions.”

”Yes. Ena can hear the voice of G.o.d, and can borrow G.o.d's power slightly.

If I explain it this way, I believe Erica-san can understand?”

A user of divine possession! Erica was speechless.

A miko that possessed such a disposition was even rarer than one who

had spirit vision. If the Hime-Miko were able to recruit into its ranks

someone with such legendary powers, they must be an unimaginably

troublesome organization.

Ena seemed to have tired of answering questions and jumped away from

the state of pointing their blades at each other.

”Perhaps due to being connected to grampsy, some spirits from that side

have filtered over...”

Ena was muttering, and straightened her arm, pointing Ama no Murak.u.mo

no Tsurugi forward.

This resulted in the sword altering its form.

From a straight sword, it slowly turned into a curved blade.

The originally sacred white light from the blade turned black, and the body

of the blade appeared to be burning with black flames — a form that

seemed to herald catastrophe.

”Did you know? The ones who brought the technique of forging curved

blades to this country were barbarian sword-smiths seen as enemies by

the government.”

Ena spoke softly.

Like the dark and icy cold wind blowing across execution grounds.

”If the blade is curved, slicing power will be increased. The forging

techniques of the Ezo^ ^ sword-smiths were inherited by the craftsmen of

Oshu, and from there actively promoted to the rest of the country...

Absorbing the slaughtered barbarian power for its own use, Ama no

Murak.u.mo no Tsurugi also possesses this characteristic.”

Holding the jet-black divine sword, Ena's face revealed a frightening smile.

Rather than a miko serving G.o.d, it was more like the belligerent face of a

ghost of the sword.

”a.s.similating the rebellious barbarian power for its own use — the sword of

conquest, that is Ena's partner, come let us duel!”

Erica took a deep breath.

She could feel Ena's magical power disappearing from her body.

In order to perform powerful magic or use an authority's killing move, most

magi and Campiones will raise their magical power to the maximum. Erica

has witnessed it many times already.

But Ena was doing the opposite. Her power and presence was

approaching zero — almost as if she no longer existed.

And entering the vessel of the Hime-Miko, was a solemn divine presence.

”So which one is your grampsy, may I ask one more time?”

”Uh? What do you mean by which one?”

Erica asked the surprised Ena once again.

”You just mentioned, right? There are two G.o.ds who possess this divine

sword, Susanoo and Yamato Takeru. So the grampsy you keep

mentioning, which one is he?”

”It's Susanoo! But everyone calls him this unbecoming nickname, the Old

One!”

The storm G.o.d of conquest who held the attribute of steel.

Protected by that kind of deity, a user of the legendary divine sword would

be a formidable foe indeed. Erica anxiously looked at the spot where

G.o.dou disappeared.

The jet-black darkness continued to swirl upon the surface of the ground.

It was the deep darkness that swallowed the young Campione that she

loved.

At this moment, a rash idea entered her heart, but she believed there was

value in taking the challenge. What made the [Diavolo Rosso] steel her

determination was that once the darkness disappeared, so will all clues to

track him down.

One of Erica's tenets was to avoid, as much as possible, battles she was

unlikely to win.

If she were to escape now, she will definitely regret it afterwards. Her

decision was made the instant she thought that.

Erica also jumped into the darkness that swallowed G.o.dou.

”Uh, you really did that. Very amazing! But I won't let you escape!”

What on earth is this woman? Erica was speechless.

Seeing her jump in, Ena also followed immediately.

And so, the two girls jumped into the mysterious s.p.a.ce that captured the

Campione.

References

1 . t Rounin(/j|A): rounin was a term for a masterless samurai during

j.a.pan's feudal period. According to the samurai code (bus.h.i.+do), a

samurai was obliged to commit suicide on the loss of their lord, and

was meant to suffer great shame if they chose not to honor the code.

Since these former samurai could not legally take up new professions,

they sought to make a living with their swords. Some worked as

mercenaries or bodyguards while others turned to crime. The criminals

of the Edo period gave the rounin a persisting image of thugs,

cutthroats and vagrants.

2. t Okonomiyaki: a j.a.panese savory fried pancake that contains a

variety of ingredients.

3. t Teppanyaki: a style of j.a.panese cuisine where food is cooked on

a flat iron plate (teppan means iron plate).

4. t Monjayaki: a specialty of the Kantou region, it is similar to

okonomiyaki except the dough is more liquid.

5. t Mandala: a Sanskrit word meaning ”circle,” refers to circular

concentric diagrams with spiritual and ritual significance in both

Buddhism and Hinduism.

6. t Kannus.h.i.+(#^): the person responsible for the maintenance of a

s.h.i.+nto shrine as well as for leading

wors.h.i.+p. en.wi kipedia.org/wiki/Kannus.h.i.+

7. t KojikiCS” Wfl): dating from the early 8th century, the ”Record of

Ancient Matters” is the oldest surviving chronicle in j.a.pan and is a

collection of myths concerning the origin of the four home islands of

j.a.pan. The lyrics quoted by Ena comes from Volume II of the Kojiki.

8. t Man'youshuu(7ylit!i): the ”Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves” is

the oldest existing collection of j.a.panese poetry. The second half of

Ena's incantation comes from poem #406 in the Man'youshuu.

9. t Ezo(4fxM): the name of a native tribe in j.a.pan that was eventually

driven by the government to Hokkaido and the northern part of

Honshu. Scholars are divided on whether the Ezo are the same as the

Ainu.

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