Vol 10 Epilogue (1/2)

Epilogue

Part 1

It was after the deadly battle and Lancelot du Lac had pa.s.sed away.

On the sh.o.r.e of the conspicuous Floating Island, covered with rocks,

Kusanagi G.o.dou and Alexandre Gascoigne stood facing each other.

”Looks like the curse was lifted.”

”Pretty much.”

Answering Alec's question without paying attention, G.o.dou began to

ponder.

On this occasion, he had made trouble for this guy. The guy was a rather

problematic character, and their temperaments felt strangely incompatible;

nevertheless, Kusanagi G.o.dou's behavior was definitely in the wrong...

Playing dumb and not apologizing was a possible option.

But G.o.dou was not shameless enough to pursue such a course of action.

Instead, he apologized properly.

”I've really troubled you this time. You told me so clearly to act cautiously

and not take rash action, but I added to your woes instead... How should I

say it, I'm really sorry.”

G.o.dou bowed his head deeply. Seeing that, the Black Prince smiled with a

toothy sneer.

Was he surprised by G.o.dou's honest apology? Prior to smiling, he had

shown a perplexed expression.

Even though he loved to put on airs, it was very possible that he was quite

a shy person underneath. However-

”Don't be concerned. As I've said, this is all within expectations. I am not

suffering any negative emotions such as anger or the like. But once again,

I have confirmed it, you are truly a Campione.”

His words struck G.o.dou exactly where it hurt.

”When encountering other Devil Kings, I have met many similar incidents

in the past. I'm used to this kind of trouble, so you have nothing in

particular worth apologizing for.”

”I see. But Gascoigne, I don't consider myself as lacking in common sense

as those guys.”

Deliberately trying to maintain calmness in his voice, G.o.dou spoke up.

”Why are you lumping me together indiscriminately with those unruly

existences?”

”No, after calmly observing, I've discovered reasons to group you in the

same category. There's no problem at all. Kusanagi G.o.dou, you should

start considering the problem rationally.”

”Consider rationally... Then you're in the same category too.”

Replying, G.o.dou somehow felt extremely annoyed by this pretentious man

before him.

These words brought instant effect. Alec frowned as he tried to suppress

his anger.

”Wait a minute, I cannot tolerate such a statement. Let me make a

correction.”

”No, Gascoigne. Indeed, other Campiones frequently rampage around

without consideration. Unlike them, you plan strategically and set the stage

beforehand. To be honest, the style might be different -- but then, there's

not much difference in outcome between you and those others who

rampage. In any case, you are all enemies of world peace.”

”Shut up. You're the one who hides behind hypocrisy while causing chaos

in the world!”

What on earth was this feeling?

While he carried out this fruitless conversation with Alec, G.o.dou realized

with heartfelt intensity.

There was a faint sense that they were poking at each other's

vulnerabilities, exposing ugly truths each was unwilling to face. Even

though their personalities were completely different, the two of them acted

out according to instinct--

Their conversation was terminated by the sudden feeling of ma.s.sive

magical power in motion.

G.o.dou and Alec cautiously turned to face the same direction. This Floating

Island was covered with solid black rocks everywhere they could see.

Located in the center of the island was a protrusion of rock like a small hill.

That was precisely the direction.

”Alexandre, Kusanagi-sama, we have a situation!”

Princess Alice was literally flying in the sky. Using the advantage of a spirit

body, she hovered lightly in midair. Pointing at the hill of rock, she said:

”Guinevere-sama has invoked upon herself a revival spell, and her body

has recovered!”

The instant he heard the report, Alec transformed into lightning and flew

over.

G.o.dou on the other hand, was carried by Alice's flight magic. Arriving at

the peak of the hill of rock in this manner, they found a decrepit iron sword

speckled with rust was being thrust.

The sword being thrust towards Alec, was a set of remains known as the

Divine Sword of Salvation.

A young beauty was wielding the rusted steel. That beautiful face,

resembling an antique doll's, was clouded intensely by a dark shadow

heralding her death.

Even so, or rather, because of this, she was muttering as if in a trance:

”O Master -- please watch. Guinevere is about to use the last of her

strength. Sir Knight too, has exhausted his duties as a [Heretic G.o.d],

peris.h.i.+ng upon the battlefield. We have exhausted all ammunition, our

weapons broken. Hence, we are left with no recourse other than Your

Highness' mercy!”

Naturally, this was Guinevere.

Dead once already, turned into sandy debris, she had apparently used

magic to revive herself. But now, her p.u.b.escent body was crumbling into

sand, like the final moments before a sand sculpture's collapse.

”I beseech you, please descend before Guinevere. Before my life ends, I

beg you. At least, even if it is only seeing your divine visage, or hearing

your voice, it would be fine -- !”

Using the decrepit sword for support, the Divine Ancestor prayed. All this

time, the sand grains continued to collapse.

Guinevere gradually dimmed and lost color, turning transparent.

Immediately after that, she disappeared. Even revival magic, which had the

power to extend a dying patient's life, could only sustain the spellcaster's

life for a very limited period of time.

Thus, Alec, Alice and G.o.dou, the three of them gazed at the Divine

Ancestor's pa.s.sing.

Guinevere desired neither revenge nor battle, but instead wanted to spend

her final moments speaking to the ”King of the End” she had sought all this

time. Consequently, she did not even give her enemy a single glance.

From that sense of despair it was readily apparent she was aware of the

futility of her wishful act.

Alec's lips moved slightly, but G.o.dou could not catch what he was

muttering.

Immediately, a strong gust of sea breeze blew. Completely collapsed into

grains of sand, Guinevere's body was scattered across the sky and the sea

as it rode the wind.

Retrieving the decrepit divine sword, Alec walked down the hill of rock.

G.o.dou tried to ask him what he was muttering about.

”Nothing much. 'Even if you embrace that thing and cry, all will be in vain

so you might as well save the effort' -- was what I was thinking, but I didn't

say it aloud.”

”Alexandre, I never knew you could actually show some tact on occasion.”

Offering praise in response to Alec's confession was Alice who had known

him for so long.

”How touching! You're always saying insensitive things to hurt girls'

feelings. Now that was acting like a gentleman for once!”

”Please refrain from making comments that make me sound like a person

with sensitivity problems.”

Alec responded to the Princess' praise with a face of suffering.

”But isn't it so mean to say all will be in vain? Even Divine Ancestors have

feelings. Perhaps the crying pleas of a past companion might actually

summon sympathies?”

G.o.dou tried to defend Guinevere.

Just very slightly, but G.o.dou felt sympathetic to Guinevere. It was true that

she was a dangerous witch but she did have her own tragic wish,

sacrificing everything she had for the sake of the master she had loved

since her previous incarnation. It should not be wrong to view things this

way.

”Perhaps. If the King of the End' also recognizes Guinevere as his own

companion.”

”What?”

”While immersed in researching the connections between King Arthur and

the Holy Grail, I discovered a number of trails left behind by the 'King of the

End.' I began to wonder, why would those Divine Ancestors fail to find

them? That said, I do consider myself more skilled in unraveling mysteries

than Guinevere.”

Alec shrugged at this point.

”Nevertheless, the Divine Ancestors have immense amounts of time and

magic on their side, as well as knowledge beyond humans. Which is why

they should logically have an edge. However, in the search for the King of

the End,' they have lagged behind us humans instead. The Witch of

Sardinia, Lucretia Zola, also discerned that the King of the End'

transcended oriental-occidental continental boundaries... Or rather, it

would be better to say that he is closer to an oriental G.o.d, and Lucretia has

already grasped clues to a certain extent.”

Hearing a familiar name in this unexpected context, G.o.dou was surprised.

”There's also this hypothesis. The King of the End' does not actually wish

to be revived. It's as if he was sleeping somewhere and deliberately

ignoring the Divine Ancestors' search, preventing them from obtaining

clues.”

”Plausible indeed.”

Alice murmured, half-convinced. G.o.dou thought the same. A [Heretic G.o.d]

who did not wish to be revived?

”In fact, the reason why I brought the remains of the divine sword to j.a.pan

here, was based on considerations of that possibility. Even if the location

was correct, if the one she sought didn't wish to be found, Guinevere was

still doomed to failure.”

”Location was correct? What do you mean?”

G.o.dou questioned Alec's offhand comment. This caused Alec, who was

walking in front, to turn his head back and answer in a matter-of-fact tone

of voice:

”Regardless, the location where the King of the End' sleeps definitely

gives rise to legends about warriors and divine swords. Even though this

Floating Island is a trap, it is impossible to believe the legends are false.

Because they are born due to the 'King of the End.' In that case, one would

naturally think there was an authentic Floating Island somewhere in Tokyo

Bay.”

Engaged in these conversations, the two Devil Kings and the Princess

reached the foot of the hill of rock.

Receiving them were Kusanagi G.o.dou's companions.

”From your appearance, looks like you haven't been injured much, G.o.dou.”

”Safety is more important than anything.”

Erica's cheerful words came first while Yuri smiled as she supported

herself on Erica's shoulder.

”What's wrong, Mariya? Did you actually get hurt somewhere?”

”No, just a little tired. Please do not be worried.”

The Hime-Miko's face continued to smile as she spoke. G.o.dou felt

concerned because she could not stand up by herself.

G.o.dou gave Erica a quick glance. The blonde girl seemed to saying ”She

really is okay” as she laughed to herself. Looks like Mariya really was fine

and not trying to act brave.

As G.o.dou felt rea.s.sured, Liliana gave him a subtle smile.

”Congratulations, Kusanagi G.o.dou. You have finally realized your long

time wish.”

G.o.dou was bewildered at the congratulations. Then the silver-haired knight

said:

”Have you not noticed? Even though you messed up in all sorts of ways,

no part of j.a.pan was destroyed this time.”

”...Ah yeah, now that you mentioned it!”

G.o.dou got it. He had always wished to cause as little trouble to the world

as possible. When fighting G.o.ds and Campiones, the surroundings always

suffered tragic destruction and even severe incidents of widespread

petrification on occasion.

Perhaps they were so fortunate this time because the battlefield was in the

center of Tokyo Bay.

What a cause for celebration -- just as G.o.dou was about to leap with joy,

he felt like he had forgotten something.

”What's the matter, Kusanagi-sama?”

”Ah, nothing really. It just feels like I forgot something...”

Just as G.o.dou replied to Alice's puzzlement.

A flash of yellow light approached, flying across the sky. It must be flight

magic. Clearly a witch other than Alice and Liliana. Could it be a Divine

Ancestor?

As G.o.dou signaled through his eyes, Erica and Liliana nodded in

response.

The yellow light landed before the knights on alert. Appearing before them

was a gla.s.ses-wearing oriental girl. Even though her face was cute, she

gave off a rather unfas.h.i.+onable impression.

”Alec, what on earth could you be thinking to use that kind of monster...?”

The girl's first words interrogated the Black Prince with nagging tones.

Apparently she was Alec's friend.

”What's the matter, Cecilia?”

”Stop playing dumb. It happened almost ten minutes ago. I, along with