Vol 14 Epilogue (1/2)
Epilogue
”It is not working. I cannot see anymore...”
Liliana Kranjcar's shoulders shook in regret as she opened her eyes.
”And to think I finally found Kusanagi G.o.dou after so much trouble — !”
”This cannot be helped. The other side of the corridor indeed leads
somewhere not of this world. Hence, we should already be happy to have
caught a slight glimpse for a brief while.”
Mariya Yuri gently comforted her companion who was biting her lip tightly
in self-remonstration.
Quietly, she placed her hand on Liliana's shoulder. Calming down a little as
a result, Liliana nodded.
”Fair enough. Using my magic and your power, Mariya Yuri, we were able
to explore the situation on the other side. I suppose finding this out is
already an accomplishment.”
”Yes. Now the rescue mission officially begins!”
Yuri spoke with resolve as though to encourage not only her companion
but also herself.
Seeing Yuri acting a little affectatiously, Liliana could not help but smile
wryly. Feeling a little embarra.s.sed, the Hime-Miko also smiled slightly
wryly.
The two girls were currently in the mountains of a place called Casentino,
located in the region of Tuscany.
They were following a stream at the bottom of a ravine. This was the place
where the quartet had disappeared. Namely, the four people: Salvatore
Doni, Kusanagi G.o.dou, Erica Blandelli and Seishuuin Ena.
Yuri and Liliana were standing by the cliffs.
In other words, this was where the ”corridor” had appeared — the darkness
resembling a cave when triggered by the authority that caused magic to go
berserk.
Using spirit vision to find out that the distant endpoint of this pa.s.sageway
led to ”this world on the other side,” Yuri was apparently able to use
psychic sensing to share what she had seen with her companion.
Hence, Liliana had used witchcraft for locating people and flown the
[Witch's Eye] towards the direction indicated.
This resulted in the discovery of ”their companions fighting a dragon-riding
young man” at a castle somewhere.
Using psychic sensing to share their sight, Yuri and Liliana were both quite
happy for this result.
Since they needed to help Kusanagi G.o.dou, the two of them transmitted
their ”power” through the corridor.
However, before they could make contact with him, the [Witch's Eye] and
psychic sensing were both dispelled. Using magic on the other side was no
easy task after all.
Liliana sighed deeply.
”That said, I never expected he would be able to draw out the 'black blade'
for battle.”
”Just to be on the safe side, I unsealed it beforehand. However, that
person who resembles G.o.dou-san so much, what on earth are his
origins...?”
”Would it be correct to recognize him as the eighth Campione...?”
Liliana turned to face Yuri who was clasping her hands together in doubt.
There were too many incomprehensible aspects to this ”corridor created by
Madame Aisha.” Due to too many things happening and rus.h.i.+ng about
hastily, they had not been able to listen to a proper explanation from Saint
Raffaello.
”Speaking of which, having only entered this cave no longer than three
hours... Yet G.o.dou-san appears to have embroiled himself in a conflict
again.”
”And finally, it looked like he was forced to make an emergency crash
landing. Oh well.”
”L-Liliana-san. Please do not say anything like ”he probably survived.”
Although G.o.dou-san is human, even if something were to happen to him,
he will surely be fine!”
”In other words, Mariya Yuri, you and I are in perfect agreement.”
In any case, Yuri and Liliana began to s.h.i.+ft their thoughts from ”confirming
the safety of their companions” to considering ”how to rescue them.”
”Wow, I almost thought I was going to die back then.”
G.o.dslayer Uldin laughed heartily as he spoke.
Holding the reins, Ena was sitting cross-legged on the cargo section of a
cart drawn by two horses. G.o.dou was sitting opposite her and frowning at
Uldin's statement that no normal human would make.
As a side note, Erica was currently riding her horse in a trot beside the
cart.
”How unbelievable that they could survive that...”
”Yes. His Majesty and Uldin-san are truly absurd people...”
Rather than amazed, Erica and Ena's words were filled with a different sort
of overtone.
The two Devil Kings had crash landed several hours earlier.
Cras.h.i.+ng down in the plain somewhere, the pterosaur had slid along the
ground like a aeroplane. After that, the Campiones were tossed off with
countless cuts and bruises as well as broken bones all over their bodies.
Unable to stand up, the pair had fainted temporarily. But they did manage
to survive. After Erica and Ena caught up to them, they were rescued.
”Hey comrade, let me offer another invitation. Will you be king in my
place?”
While rocking from the motions of the cart, Uldin suddenly proposed.
Although G.o.dou was in the same state, the other guy seemed to have
completely recovered his energy.
”How about we build our harems in Rome or over in Constantinople? I
think it would be a great idea.”
”Like I said, stop talking about that. I already told you before our duel.”
In response to G.o.dou's displeased grumbles, Uldin replied with surprise.
”Hey hey. I thought that was a promise only if I lost.”
”What nonsense are you talking about? You clearly couldn't fight anymore.
And I'm the one who put you in that state.”
”But going with that logic, you couldn't fight anymore either, comrade.”
”1-1 was fine. I deliberately made myself like that.”
”No no, don't forget that before the crash, I was the one who thrashed you
soundly.”
The two Campiones were going at each in the spirit of ”an eye for an eye.”
While this meaningless dispute was going on, the cart returned to the
stronghold at Augusta Raurica.
Ruska and Clotilde were scheduled to arrive later. Fortunately, the Roman
army had not returned, thus avoiding an encounter with Uldin.
Since Aisha was with the people of the Roman army, she was probably not
here either.
Just as Erica and Ena stopped their horse and cart respectively before the
castle gates —
”What's going on? He looks like he's in a great hurry.”
”A Roman courier. He probably has urgent news to report to Lugdunum.”
Ena looked out towards the main road ahead and murmured. Staring in the
same direction, Uldin also commented.
Apparently, a Hun's eyesight rivaled that of a j.a.panese child of nature.
”Lugdunum?”
”In modern parlance, that's Lyon in France. During this era, it was an
important stronghold in the Roman province of Gaul.”
Seeing G.o.dou confused, Erica clarified.
The city of Lyon in southern France. G.o.dou had heard of it before but