Vol 8 Chapter 1 (1/2)
Chapter 1 - Seeking the Mysterious Devil King, the
Campione
Part 1
This story took place before Kusanagi G.o.dou had gone to Nikkou and
confronted the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, just as the middle of
September was drawing near.
That night, everyone at the Kusanagi house was having a family-only
dinner. Three people were present: G.o.dou and his little sister s.h.i.+zuka, as
well as their grandfather Ichirou. The mother of the siblings, Kusanagi
Mayo, was not there.
Be that as it may, she was rarely at home anyway, so it was business as
usual.
The blond devil from Italy wasn't around either. The silver-haired knight
who unexpectedly caused so much trouble was not there either. It really
was family only.
In this calm atmosphere, G.o.dou put his chopsticks to work on the grilled
mackerel.
”But I feel like I'm forgetting something...”
”You look strange, Onii-chan. What is it, do you want seconds?” s.h.i.+zuka
asked while getting herself another serving from the rice cooker.
”One more bowl, then. ... but I feel like I'm forgetting something event-like.
It's irritating that I just can't remember.” G.o.dou said while holding out his
rice bowl.
A large serving of rice was heaped onto his bowl before it was returned to
him. As it happens, s.h.i.+zuka had given herself the same amount.
Despite being of small build and pet.i.te stature, she was a hearty eater of a
little sister.
Not getting fat no matter how much she ate. Not getting smashed no
matter how much she drank.
These were the special features that the Kusanagis' mother possessed.
Like mother, like daughter; you could sometimes catch glimpses of this in
s.h.i.+zuka as well. If possible G.o.dou didn't want her to inherit her mother's
mental peculiarities like [Femme Fatale] or [Vocation: Queen], but...
”You must be forgetting about Sakura-chan, right?”
”It's been about half a year since she entered college. She had to promise
that she wouldn't visit us here for at least half a year, remember?”
”...ahh, right, there was that...”
Koudzuki Sakura was the Kusanagi siblings' second cousin.
Because of the upheaval accompanying the s.h.i.+ft from the Meiji era^ to the
Showa era^, their grandfather was the only direct descendant of the
Kusanagi (although there were tales of others in Brazil and the New
Guinean archipelago).
But there were a decent number of people left from the branch families.
Plus, the connections that the Kusanagis maintained with their relatives in
the countryside were strong. They'd been close to Sakura for a long time,
even though she was only distantly related.
”Sakura-chan, huh... she should've visited us more since she finally moved
to the city. I wonder why Uncle Koudzuki forbade her to visit for half a
year...”
”If he hadn't, she'd have started freeloading here before the end of her
third day in the capital,” their grandfather responded while sipping his tea.
He might be right; G.o.dou remembered his cousin's personality.
She did her best but at heart, she was shy and often lonely. When
troubled, she often clung in tears to those she was close to. G.o.dou and
s.h.i.+zuka had often been the ones taking care of her. Considering their
respective ages, their roles should obviously have been reversed.
At this point, the doorbell rang. s.h.i.+zuka got up, calling out ”I'm coming!”,
and headed for the front door.
”Sakura-chan! It's been ages! Come in, come in. What happened? You
look so down...”
”Y-yeah. You see, s.h.i.+zuka-chan, there's something I'd like some advice
on...”
Hearing the voices from the entryway, G.o.dou glanced at the oldest person
in the room.
”Didn't I tell you back in the spring? As soon as her six months were up in
September, she'd come here right away. Talk about spot-on.”
He was the very image of an earnestly muttering old man who'd seen
everything in life.
”You see, there's something I'd really like to ask of G.o.doh-kun.” Sakura
said as she entered the living room.
Lined up on the table were grilled mackerel and sudachi^, grated radish, a
salad of bitter melon and tomatoes, miso soup made with nameko
mushrooms, and other dishes, but since they had all known each other for
so long, n.o.body minded when she intruded on dinner.
She'd recently turned nineteen and become a freshman at a famous
metropolitan college.
But because of her cute, yet childish face, it wasn't unusual for people to
mistake her for a middle school girl.
”Can't I help you out, Sakura-chan?”
”W-well, I think it'd be better if I asked a man about this...”
Sakura dispiritedly answered s.h.i.+zuka's question.
At times like these her face resembled a frightened little puppy's.
”If it's something I can help you with, just ask me any time... are you sure
you don't want grandpa to help you?”
He didn't know what this was all about, but besides manual labor, he had
no confidence in being more capable than his grandfather.
Kusanagi Ichirou was famous for his extensive knowledge and was a
master of dealing with people. He would often be consulted for his sage
advice. People even called him ”Sensei”^ or ”Master.”
That wise grandfather smiled gently at Sakura.
”Sakura-chan, who do you want to help you out?”
”Uhm, if you can help me I don't really mind who it is, but if I had to pick
someone, then I'd really prefer, that is...”
Sakura was truly cute as she peered at G.o.dou with upturned eyes.
If she learned to make use of that look, she could probably become a
femme fatale.
”So it's decided. Onii-chan will listen to Sakura-chan's worries and I'll take
care of everything else,” s.h.i.+zuka said without a moment's delay. The
younger sister who played the role of an older one had always been soft
on Sakura.
s.h.i.+zuka was pretty critical towards the band of girls thronging around
G.o.dou, but was rather tame during her interactions with Mariya Yuri. That
sense of vulnerability given off by a sheltered cla.s.sy young lady probably
stimulated s.h.i.+zuka's desire to protect her.
”Alright, just talk it over in G.o.dou's room. I'll bring you some tea later,” their
grandfather casually added.
G.o.dou noticed that he totally dodged the issue.
Their grandfather was often asked for advice, but he wasn't someone
who'd start meddling on his own.
He conversed with people in an aloof and indifferent way. Incidentally, in
his bachelor days, Kusanagi Ichirou had been popular as h.e.l.l with the
ladies, but he had mostly kept it away from home.
His male friends, on the other hand, made themselves comfortable in his
room without his permission.
By allowing Erica or Liliana to come and go as they pleased, his grandson
was completely different.
Well, whatever. G.o.dou shrugged.
He was glad to help his cousin with her problems. Plus, he was obviously a
lot closer in age to Sakura.
”Got it. I don't think there's much I can do but I'll try anyway.”
”It's been so long since I've been in your room, G.o.doh-kun, but it hasn't
really changed.”
”The last time was half a year ago, right? I didn't rearrange anything so
that's to be expected.”
G.o.dou and Sakura faced each other across his six tatami sized room^l
G.o.dou's room was fairly empty. There was a bookshelf and a chest of
drawers, a fold-up table instead of a writing desk, and also a DVD player
and a TV.
He didn't put much emphasis on material possessions.
In his free time he went fis.h.i.+ng or played outdoor sports. He also would do
some part-time jobs from time to time. He didn't have much use for games.
At most, he'd socialize by playing a round of Shougi or Go. He'd rather rent
than buy DVDs and CDs.
He'd read some books every now and then, but he didn't keep a collection
of his own.
The Kusanagi house used to be an antiquarian bookstore and much of the
inventory had never been disposed of. So whenever he felt like reading
something, there were more than enough books lying around to satisfy his
needs.
”So, Sakura-san, what's the matter?”
”U-uhm, you see, that is, I think you could stop with that now.”
”With what?”
”1-1 mean, calling me 'Sakura-san'. You can just call me 'Sakura'. Or 'dear',
if you like.”
Long ago he had called her 'Onee-chan', but at some point that had
changed.
G.o.dou couldn't remember when that transition had occurred, and casually
replied: ”It's fine like this, changing it is a pain... but that's not what you
wanted to ask of me, right?”
”l-it wasn't! I just happened to think of that!”
Sakura responded while turning completely red. But then she seemed to
come to a standstill. Uhm, well... she kept mumbling to herself, and
couldn't get to the point. She had never been very articulate.
It couldn't be helped. G.o.dou changed the topic, trying to help her relax with
some small talk.
”How is life in Tokyo treating you? Have you gotten used to it yet?”
”...only a little bit. I'm quite uncomfortable in crowded places...”
Sakura sounded dejected.
The Koudzuki family's home was in Miyagi 1 J . When Sakura said she
wanted to go to a college in Tokyo, her father had made her obey a single
rule. He had forbidden her to rely on her relatives for half a year.
Sakura had been horrified. She had planned on freeloading at the
Kusanagi's.
”Well you see, I understand father's order that I should try to live properly
without relying on anyone, I'm finally living on my own after all... but being
all on my own in such a large city made me feel really forlorn...”
”Ann... well, if you ever get lonely, just come and visit.”
G.o.dou felt awkward because he knew the real reason Sakura's father had
laid down the law.
In the beginning of spring, he'd spoken with Uncle Koudzuki over the
phone:
'In short, I'm making her a gold digger.'
Upon hearing this unexpected expression, G.o.dou had asked for
clarification.
'As I said, a gold digger. A young girl lives alone in the big city for the first
time... to fill the gaps in her heart as quickly as possible, a man is best,
right? Our Sakura has a nice face and personality, but she's too much of a
late-bloomer. It's about time for her to get used to men and get ready for
marriage.'
'Aren't fathers usually against their daughters finding lovers?'
'Well, yeah, but this is a father's love, too. Sakura's not like your mother.
She can't make a lot of money on her own. But a girl can always go after
her husband's income. I want her to be happy, you know.'
'Uhm, I don't think happiness is decided by money alone...'
'Sure, but that's the most important factor, y'know.'
This irresponsible uncle of G.o.dou's was actually a tough police officer.
On the side, he served as a distinguished judo pract.i.tioner in northern
j.a.pan and was an active role model for the younger generation.
Given all this, most people wouldn't guess what a renegade he actually
was. It might not be G.o.dou's place to say this as the main family's
successor, but his uncle had obviously inherited the Kusanagi blood.
'What are you going to do if some lowlife tricks her?'
'Then we'll make it like it never happened... your mother and grandpa and
everyone else.'
When G.o.dou had asked whether he was joking, just to be on the safe side,
all he received was a villainous laugh.
He pa.s.sed on letting Sakura in on her father's plans. She handled such
matters poorly, and would definitely spill the beans even if he told her to
keep it a secret. His allowance might be frozen as a penalty, so the risk
was too high.
”Did you make friends? Or maybe find a boyfriend?” G.o.dou asked
tentatively. Sakura instantly flushed red.
”1-1 don't have a boyfriend, really! But I made a friend... ah, it's a girl of
course, G.o.doh-kun. Don't misunderstand!”
”I've got it, really. So you made a friend? Good girl.”
He unintentionally spoke as if praising a little kid.
In response, Sakura laughed happily. Her childishness was definitely
unbefitting given her age.
”So you see, my new friend taught me a lot, so I got a bit more
knowledgeable.”
”Hen, what did you learn about?”
His older cousin was delighted. Her expression was terribly adorable.
She was so cute that G.o.dou was at a loss for words after hearing her
answer.
”Ahhh, that's actually related to what I wanted some advice on...
G.o.doh-kun, if I said I learned to do magic, would you believe me?”
c.r.a.p. G.o.dou felt great regret.
It is said that the lonely are easy prey for cults or occult sects. He should
have remembered that. It had been wrong to leave her isolated...
”Don't be stupid, Sakura-san. Let's calm down and be realistic.”
For the time being, G.o.dou kept his appeal calm and sincere.
”There are things people can do and things they can't. And without a
doubt, magic falls in the latter category. Dropping a lump of fire from the
skies, recovering from deadly wounds in half a day or calling forth huge
monsters, that's just not something a human can do!” G.o.dou declared
while having his heart thrown into disarray by countless memories of
having done just that.
Yep, he wasn't saying anything wrong. However, Sakura pinched her lips
like a child.
”It is possible! I really learned how to use magic!”
”Well, even if you say so... if I don't see it with my own eyes I can't believe
you.”
”Sheesh, G.o.doh-kun you blockhead! Fine, right now I can't do anything
because I don't have my tools, so come visit me tomorrow. I'll show you
that I can do magic!”
G.o.dou was startled. Could she actually use magic?
G.o.dou ruthlessly crushed his anxiety that the Kusanagi family, which
should have no connection to magic or G.o.ds, had suddenly awoken to the
occult.
Part 2
After school the next day, G.o.dou headed to Nis.h.i.+nippori.
The apartment building where his cousin lived was a ten minute walk from
the subway station.
It was a nice three-story building with an auto-lock system. It had probably
been built within the last decade.
As soon as he arrived, he got a call from Liliana.
”Yes, h.e.l.lo?”
'I am sorry this is so sudden. After school you were gone suddenly so I
was a little worried. Just so you don't misunderstand, I definitely didn't want
to hear your voice or see your face before you went home. I had no such
ulterior motives!'
Liliana's tone was somewhat awkward.
This was Liliana, after all, so maybe she had wanted to accompany G.o.dou
as his bodyguard.
”Sorry for leaving without a word. I'd promised to meet an acquaintance.”
'An acquaintance... it cannot be a woman, can it?'
”Well, it is, but there's nothing going on between us, okay?”
The silver-haired knight from Milan firmly believed Kusanagi G.o.dou was a
womanizer without equal.
As a result, she answered in a stern voice:
'If you say so, I will believe you. However please be careful. You must pay
meticulous attention so that your womanizing won't lead to future...'
”I said that's not it. I'm hanging up.”
Ending the call, G.o.dou entered the apartment building.
”Ann, welcome-. I'll prepare some sweets and tea right away, okay?”
”It's fine, don't bother. It's not like I'm royalty or anything.”
Sakura's apartment, number 201 , was in a corner of the building.
The interior of the studio apartment was attentively cleaned and neatly put
in order.
”So, G.o.doh-kun. About yesterday...”
Sakura was unusually agitated.
A few suspicious-looking items were placed on the round table in the very
middle of the room.
A thick, leather-bound Western book. A staff about thirty centimeters long.
A crystal sphere that looked like a mail-order special. Tarot cards... all of
the items looked cheap and fake.
But with his sixth sense as a campione G.o.dou picked up minuscule
amounts of magical power.
Although incredibly weak, those items were the real deal.
”I'm going to use magic now, so look closely. Uhm...”
Sakura started flipping through the book. The sentences were written in
some kind of alphabet, but not in English. It wasn't Italian or any other
Latinate language, either.
”What language is that?”
”If I remember correctly, it's High German from the Middle Ages... I think?”
”And you can read that!?”
G.o.dou was surprised. He hadn't realized that his cousin's foreign language
skills were so advanced.
”No, I can't read it. But my friend translated most of the text...”
”You mean the friend from your college?”
”Yep. We are in the same cla.s.s and we sat next to each other on our first
day.”
Sakura was enrolled in the Faculty of Humanities at the renowned
Akinomizu Women's College.
So there were magi like Erica and Liliana attending that school for ladies?
Or was it one of the dozens of j.a.panese hime-miko?
”There it is. I'm starting, so pay attention, okay?”
After finding the right page, Sakura put a matchstick on the table.
And while looking at the opened book, without reciting an incantation she
just said:
”G.o.d of magic, please make my wish come true. Thank youK
She even clapped her hands.
”W-wait a moment, Sakura-san, what are you doing!”
”What? It's magic! Uhm, what's really important isn't the incantation or
whatever, but the spirit you put into it, and clearly understanding what kind
of magic you want to use.”
So one doesn't need to worry about form. Ahem.
While looking at the proud Sakura, G.o.dou remembered. When Erica and
the others used magic, their incantations (the girls called them mantra or
spell words) were quite suitable.
That being said, would this really work? Just as G.o.dou started getting
anxious, it happened.
Crack. With a dry sound, the matchstick broke.
”See! Did you see that, G.o.doh-kun? The magic worked, isn't that
amazing!”
”...is this perhaps a spell to break matchsticks without using your hands?
”It's not just matchsticks. I can also use it on toothpicks and small pieces of
bamboo!”
It seemed like it's Sakura's specialty so G.o.dou kept his reply very
moderate. Which would be more practical anyway, a supernatural power
like spoon bending or Sakura's magic...?
Anyway, Sakura had just displayed a hidden talent that looked like magic.
When she disappeared into the kitchen, saying she'd make some tea,
G.o.dou picked up the Western book. The proof of the pudding is in the
eating, after all, and so he mentally ordered the remaining matchsticks to
break.
However, nothing happened at first. Right after he inclined his head,
wondering if he had failed...
CRACKCRACK. There was a loud noise. Outside the window, a tree
toppled by the roadside. One side of Sakura's room faced the street and
from the window G.o.dou could see that one of the trees had broken off by
its roots.
G.o.dou looked over at Sakura in the kitchen. She was peacefully preparing
the tea.
She hadn't noticed anything, so he nonchalantly placed the grimoire back
on the table as if nothing had happened.
”That was that, G.o.doh-kun. Now that you believe me about magic, there's
something I want to ask of you.”
Sakura came back carrying two teacups on a tablet.
”Right, that's what this was about.”
Trying to break matchsticks and destroying nature instead... The strength
of his magical power coupled with his lack of sensitivity was a cursed
combination. G.o.dou reaffirmed that it was best for him not to learn magic.
”I only learned about it recently, but... apparently there's a fearsome great
devil king in Tokyo.”
”A great devil king?”
Somehow, that phrase seemed familiar to G.o.dou.
Pus.h.i.+ng his anxiety aside, G.o.dou sipped his tea. Calm down. Sakura
couldn't possibly know about campione. As the person in question, G.o.dou
was certain.
”Remember all those scary incidents that happened since the spring: a
highway here in Tokyo collapsed and the Tokyo Tower caught fire, among
other things... all of these were the fault of that great devil king!”
What was it about those incidents that gave G.o.dou a familiar feeling?
Calm down. Right now I need to be composed. I must possess an
unmovable, frozen heart.
”G.o.doh-kun, search for that great devil king with me! I want to ask him to
stop doing these horrible things! Will you help me?”
G.o.dou's attempt to play it cool ended in utter failure.
About halfway through his tea, he started choking. Search for the fearsome
great devil king?
One of the seven devil kings himself? Could the world please stop f.u.c.king
around with him!?
Afterwards, they took the subway to Omotesandou. It was about six in the
evening.
The autumn sun bathed the stylish scenery of the Aoyama Doori^ in
orange.
”So, Sakura, why do you want to meet that, what was it, fearsome great
devil king?” G.o.dou asked as he walked next to his cousin.
Apparently there was a [Magic Shop] in Omotesandou that she and her
friend frequented. The shopkeeper was very knowledgable, so they were
on the way there to ask her for help.
”Ehm, that great devil king person seems to be reeeeally perverted and
constantly l.u.s.ts after girls.”
”NO WAY! Don't believe all those strange rumors!”
G.o.dou accidentally shouted. Sakura shrieked in surprise with a fearful look
on her face.
”W-what is it, G.o.doh-kun? Why are you shouting so scarily?”
”Ah, sorry. I thought you were talking about me, so I just reacted
instinctively...”
”Hehehe, you'd never be so perverted, G.o.doh-kun, you're too earnest for
that. I understand-.”
Sakura smiled gently in spite of his lame excuse. She trusted those she
was close to implicitly. Doubt was unthinkable.
”Y-yeah, right, sorry for saying something so odd.”
G.o.dou was a.s.sailed by pangs of guilt from deceiving his pure-hearted
cousin.
”So you see, my close friend, she is from an ooooold family of magic
practicioners that long ago served His Majesty the Emperor”
G.o.dou thought he had recently heard of another family just like that...
He remembered the background of Seishuuin Ena, who he had gotten to
know a little while ago.
”Apparently there are other families with the same duty. And a little while
ago, the great devil king fell at first sight for a girl from one of those families
and made her his lover. He even forced her against her will!”
”Don't spout nonsense! She did that on her own!”
He shouted without thinking once again.
G.o.dou apologized to Sakura, who was close to tears.
”Again, sorry. I just suddenly felt the urge to shout. Ignore it.”
”O-okay. So you see, my friend is worried. He might also force her to
become his lover. That's why I want to tell him to stop doing horrible things.
If I plead with all my might, I'm sure he'll listen, won't he?”