Vol 15 Chapter 2 (1/2)
Chapter 2 - Journey to Colonia Agrippina
Part 1
Madame Aisha was the G.o.dslayer who had traveled from the twenty-first
century to this era.
Today, she was still dressed in the usual attire she had worn ever since
arriving in ancient Gaul — the white overcoat with the long robe that
resembled a one-piece dress.
The bright and sunny weather of spring was quite comfortable, sending
Aisha's spirits to a crescendo.
Blowing across the water, the favorable wind was smooth and gentle.
Driven by this wind, the merchant's s.h.i.+p that Aisha had boarded was
sailing downstream along the Rhine, towards the north of the Roman
province of Gaul.
Judging by modern sensibilities, the s.h.i.+p would be roughly ”twice the size
of a yacht or thereabouts.”
”The people of this s.h.i.+p are so friendly and helpful.”
Whether the s.h.i.+p's owner or the wheat traders on board, everyone treated
Aisha very nicely.
Four days earlier, at the pier of Augusta Raurica, Aisha had asked them if
she could hitch a ride. They agreed readily.
During the daytime, the s.h.i.+p would sail along the river, blown downstream
by the wind.
At night, she would wrap herself in a blanket and sleep on the s.h.i.+p while it
was moored along towns by the sh.o.r.e.
Then on the fourth day of the journey, during the daytime, the s.h.i.+p arrived
at the Roman colonial city of Mogontiac.u.m.
The s.h.i.+p was only supposed to unload merchandise here and then return
upstream to the city of Raurica.
There was still far to go before reaching her destination of Colonia
Agrippina, which lay much further north.
Madame Aisha disembarked amidst the merchants' smiling farewells.
Everyone saw her off with warm words and smiles.
Finding the world full of benevolence, Aisha felt ”warmth” in her heart.
(In actual fact, this was all due to Aisha's slight invocation of her charisma
authority when she first made her request with a smile. Perhaps their
friendly behavior did not stem from pure benevolence, nevertheless,
Madame Aisha had no wish of being a pessimist who refuted these
people's kindness. She believed that humans must live by supporting one
another.)
After disembarking, Aisha first went to find a meal.
Her special skills included being able to sleep soundly no matter where she
slept and finding all food delicious no matter what she ate. These two
special skills were probably what allowed her to live her life completely
stress free regardless of location.
On this occasion, she chose a cheap restaurant nearby. Her order
consisted of some slightly hard bread and vegetable soup flavored with
pepper. Aisha thoroughly enjoyed these trivial and ordinary pleasures.
”Next, I should find my next s.h.i.+p.”
Leaving the restaurant, Aisha made her way to the pier again. The Rhine
had been used extensively for water transport since antiquity and many
s.h.i.+ps were moored at Mogontiac.u.m's pier.
”Who should I ask...?”
She murmured to herself as she looked around the pier. Instead of
searching for friendly-looking sailors, she was doing the opposite. Since
people always said yes no matter whom she asked, Aisha found these
situations quite troubling instead. In actual fact, there was no one nearby
who would reject her requests —
”Come to think of it, I wonder if Ena-san and the others are okay?”
Perhaps due to arriving at the pier, she recalled what had happened back
when she first set off.
Even at the city of Augusta Raurica, she had selected an suitable s.h.i.+p to
board in the same manner. Seizing the opportunity when the caring but
slightly nagging Kusanagi G.o.dou was away, she had departed on her
journey alone.
At that time, Ena was apparently following Aisha.
Not long after the s.h.i.+p left the city of Raurica, a second s.h.i.+p following
behind suddenly suffered from a fallen mast and the misfortune of a
breached hull. The pa.s.sengers instantly set themselves to throwing water
out of the s.h.i.+p and seemed to be in quite a state of panic.
Aisha had clearly witnessed Ena's speechless appearance at the time.
”Putting me under surveillance and not letting me travel, seriously, that
Kusanagi-san. Is he really that worried about me? That's a bit excessively
protective of him...”
Last time at Raurica, a battle had taken place between Uldin and him.
At the time, Kusanagi G.o.dou had come forward to fight in Aisha's defense,
risking his life and exhibiting benevolence and courage. He was definitely
quite a kindhearted youth.
Nevertheless, whether surveillance or caring, it was still too excessive.
The charisma power did not affect Kusanagi G.o.dou who was likewise a
G.o.dslayer. The chivalry and spirit of self-sacrifice in protecting Aisha all
came from the youth's own free will.
Suddenly, Aisha was taken aback with surprise.
”Could it be, no way, is he actually... in love with me!?”
Aisha wondered while wandering aimlessly at the pier.
Like a strike of lightning, the shock caused her heart to waver, making her
body sway unsteadily. Leaning against the railing by the river, she finally
managed to stabilize herself.
”Is protecting me a means to hide his shyness? Or is he unable to face his
own feelings honestly...? It should be one or the other, right...?”
In that case, everything made logical sense. Aisha seemed to have
glimpsed the light of truth.
”B-But Kusanagi-san has two lovers already. Despite clearly making
righteous speeches, he turns out to be no better than Uldin-san. Quite an
unfaithful womanizer... Without mincing words, he would be human sc.u.m
of a slightly silly variety...”
Shocked by the truth she had divined, Aisha felt her body temperature
rising as though she had a fever. She kept murmuring:
”But he risked his life for me... Also, despite putting up such a serious front
all the time, who knows what scandals are secretly circulating about him
and any number of ladies. This is attractive in itself, a bit of a bad boy
feel — Oh no! This is no good at all!”
Aisha's mind was instantly plunged into all sorts of thoughts. Disapproval
and affirmation clashed intensely, erupting sparks in a battle of light and
darkness.
”This won't do, Aisha. If I allow myself to be carried away by these
emotions and accept him, surely I'll be the one crying in the end, at an
older age to boot... Of course, I can still pa.s.s as his younger sister
perfectly plausibly, yes, a very lively and energetic younger sister...”
”Excuse me, Aisha-san?”
”Oh no, I feel like I'm seeing Kusanagi-san's face before me when my
thoughts are with him... If I don't calm myself down a bit more...”
”No actually, I am right in front of you, in the flesh — Can you hear me?”
”Yes, I hear you— Wah!?”
Aisha was so shocked she fell backwards.
Standing before her and watching in surprise were Kusanagi G.o.dou, Erica
Blandelli and Seishuuin Ena. Unbeknownst to Aisha, they had somehow
gathered here already.
”K-Kusanagi-san, did you overhear what I was saying just now!?”
”Just the last sentence. After going through all the trouble and finding you
murmuring to yourself by the river, I was originally thinking of capturing
you... Were you trying to say something?”
”Pay no mind to it! They were simply murmurs, a maiden's private
thoughts!”
In an effort to conceal the heavy pulsation in her heart, Aisha yelled loudly.
”B-But anyway, how did you catch up to me, Kusanagi-san?”
”Like you, Aisha-san, we came by s.h.i.+p.”
Having traveled downstream on the Rhine by s.h.i.+p, G.o.dou answered
Madame Aisha's question.
It was the only small-size sailing s.h.i.+p that was about to depart, similar to a
yacht in size and appearance. Given a favorable wind, it was capable of
moving rapidly across water.
With an estimated speed of twenty knots, it was comparable to the legal
speed limit of automobiles.
However, having grown accustomed to walking and riding horses, G.o.dou
found it quite fast. Currently on board were G.o.dou, Madame Aisha, Erica
and Ena.
”I was near that Uldin guy's forest when I heard about Aisha-san going
missing, so I went and asked that guy to borrow a s.h.i.+p.”
”Then through various means, we managed to catch up to you, Madame.”
G.o.dou replied, followed by Erica who reported in a courteous tone of
voice.
Not too long ago, G.o.dou had also borrowed a s.h.i.+p from Ruska and
Clotilde to sail downstream along the Rhine.
Like last time, Clotilde had bestowed a water protection spell at their
departure. This allowed them to travel much faster than an ordinary s.h.i.+p.
Furthermore, G.o.dou and Erica both had excellent night vision.
This allowed them to take turns watching over the s.h.i.+p as they advanced
during nighttime, proceeding to pick up Ena at Raurica and chase after
Madame Aisha who had set off first. As an extra precaution, Erica had
taken a hair from Madame Aisha to use for search magic, thereby allowing
them to close in substantially and avoid having to check s.h.i.+ps one by one.
”No other way, I suppose...”
Madame Aisha apparently gave up. She sighed and said:
”I was originally thinking of leaving you behind, Kusanagi-san who is
slightly too naggy, so that I may negotiate with Doni-san first. I'll give up on
that now. So let the four of us do our best together from now on!”
”Agreed. But I don't really nag that much.”
Still getting slightly strung along by Aisha's pace, G.o.dou objected
indifferently.
”I just speak a bit of common sense, that's all.”
”You're saying annoying things again... But I understand. Kusanagi-san,
you feel so concerned about me that you can't help yourself... Isn't that
right?”
”Well, that's because like that idiot Doni, you're someone I really need to
pay attention to.”
In a careless moment, G.o.dou said something he should not have
disclosed in front of this centenarian-plus woman.
Unlike her G.o.dslayer peer, G.o.dou's sworn sister Luo Cuilian, Madame
Aisha was quite cheerful and candid in behavior and personality alike.
Even worse, she was quite p.r.o.ne to gossiping as a result of this
personality.
Meanwhile, for some reason G.o.dou could not fathom, Madame Aisha was
going ”I knew it...” and nodding to herself.
Then looking up, she secretly glanced at G.o.dou's face.
”But Aisha-san, there's something Ena doesn't understand.”
While Madame Aisha was acting suspiciously, Ena asked incredulously.
”In order to chase after your s.h.i.+p, Aisha-san, Ena also hitched a ride on
another s.h.i.+p that was setting sail, but gave up when a hole opened up in
the s.h.i.+p's hull.”
”Ah, so it really happened.”
”The next s.h.i.+p taken was suddenly beached. Then the one after that was
unable to set sail because of the commotion from an old man's stomach
ache. If they're all coincidence, Ena thinks that's a bit excessive...”
Using Ama no Murak.u.mo no Tsurugi as a medium, Ena had contacted
G.o.dou.
After picking up the raven-haired Hime-Miko who was stranded and waiting
at the riverside near Augusta Raurica, G.o.dou had heard about this matter.
Due to three inexplicable instances of trouble, she had been unable to tail
Aisha.
One could not help but suspect an element of human intervention in three
successive instances of misfortune.
Presumably, Madame Aisha must have done something? For example,
little tricks of magic...
”Indeed, it cannot be said to be pure coincidence. I am truly sorry.”
As expected, Madame Aisha answered in an apologetic tone of voice.
She clasped her hands together before her chest, making a pose like a
pious nun in prayer.
”Actually, I was praying before boarding the s.h.i.+p: Please protect me during
this period when I am heading over to visit Doni-san and guide him
towards the path of benevolence so as to prevent more people from
suffering.”
”Praying... Do you believe in some kind of religion, Madame?”
Feeling surprised, Erica interjected. Presumably she found it quite
shocking for a G.o.dslayer to use the word ”praying.”
”Or perhaps, you believe in a deity of some place?”
”Oh no. Actually, there was one time over in China when I had no choice
but to defeat a benevolent guardian of the populace.”
Confronted with this sudden confession, G.o.dou, Erica and Ena exchanged
glances with one another.
In other words, it was nothing as half-baked as ”little tricks of magic.”
”As a result, I obtained an authority of fortune's blessing. It is quite an
insignificant power, only taking effect to help me accomplish my task
whenever I vow to do good...”
”F-Fortune's blessing huh...”
Normally fazed by nothing, Ena could only mutter ”I surrender” in
response.
Most likely, she never would have imagined that such occurrences were
actually the result of a G.o.dslayer's authority.
”So in trying to hinder Aisha-san, Ena encountered weird events...”
”Yes. I pray not to any G.o.d but towards my own authority. — When time is
not ripe yet for good to result, even the benevolent shall encounter
misfortune, when time is ripe for good to result, fortune shall come to pa.s.s,
let the good be rewarded with fortune and evil shall reap what they sow...”
At this moment, the sound of rumbling thunder could be heard.
”It was sunny up until just now...”
G.o.dou looked up into the air. Before he knew it, the thunderclouds had
already spread far and wide, completely darkening the sky.
”Madame Aisha, is this caused by that authority?”
Erica suddenly realized something and asked the terrifying female
Campione.
”Taking effect over the duration it takes to bring a good deed to fruition — In
other words, right now, while making her way towards Sir Salvatore, the
power of fortune is still protecting the Madame!?”
”...Oh, now that you mention it, that's true indeed.”
|/p
The Madame answered readily in the affirmative. G.o.dou and his friends
were shocked.
Within the mere time span of the earlier exchange, a great rainstorm had
already started its downpour. Striking the people and the Rhine's surface
alike, the raindrops actually hurt. In modern parlance, it would be a
guerrilla rainstorm.
Finally, a strong gale began to blow in transverse while lightning struck
down incessantly from the sky.
In merely four or five minutes, a storm had descended. Naturally, faced
with a great rainstorm, the Rhine shook G.o.dou's small sailing s.h.i.+p
violently. The intensity of the s.h.i.+p's rocking was undoubtedly beyond what
amus.e.m.e.nt park rides could offer.
”Hurry and get ash.o.r.e, we must get back onto solid ground!”
”Th-This storm is on a totally different level compared to the accidents that
hindered Ena!”
”Indeed, it must be because of Kusanagi-san. As expected, when a
G.o.dslayer caught up to me, ordinary trials and misfortunes are not
enough.”
”So, because I'm getting in your way, Aisha-san, that's what's causing this
storm!?”
”When clearly Aisha-san is getting swept up in it as well?”
”This sometimes happens when I use this power. Someone's fortune
becomes another's misfortune. Fortune adhered to misfortune, misfortune
lurking amidst fortune. Fortune and misfortune would summon each other.
Perhaps this is the truth that this world conveys...”
On the river's surface, scoured by wind and waves, the water was billowing
turbulently. As a result of the heavy rain, everyone became completely
soaked.
Only Madame Aisha was calmly explaining away.
As the price(?) for using the authority of fortune, she was probably
well-accustomed to getting swept into sudden misfortune and calamities.
In contrast, Erica, Ena and G.o.dou were showing signs of anxiety. In any
case, they started taking action to counter their desperate situation.
But it was already too late.
Produced by the strong gale, giant waves made the s.h.i.+p's body turn a
hundred and eighty degrees — They capsized.
Naturally, all four of them were tossed into the raging winds and turbulent
waters in the middle of the Rhine.
Part 2
Liliana Kranjcar was a witch with outstanding talent.
Being only a teenager, she had yet to reach the level of top experts.
But in this age, she undoubtedly held outstanding promise, a rare prodigy
whom everyone expected to eventually reach the pinnacle along this path.
Furthermore, currently in front of Liliana was the ”top expert” who could
serve as her role model.
Princess Alice — the princess who stood at the pinnacle of the
heaven-oriented system of witchcraft.
As Europe's most powerful miko and highest-ranking witch, she had
brought Liliana and Mariya Yuri to meet ”a certain person who wanted to
see them.”
The trip was a bit different from expected.
Their current location was a hotel that had been converted from an ancient
medieval Italian castle.
Climbing a long and spiral staircase, Alice led Liliana and Yuri to an
observation room at the highest and fifth floor. One of the walls was made
of gla.s.s, providing a view of the ”outside” scenery.
This ancient castle was situated in the Casentino area, a region of forest
designated as a national park.
With trees extending all the way to the horizon, the land was covered white
in snow that had fallen a few days prior. Meanwhile, the bright light of the
crescent moon illuminated the greenery and silver-white snow down below.
Such scenery of fantasy was visible from this observation room.
”Come to think of it, aren't you also my junior, Liliana?”
”Yes, although I am still in training.”
Standing under the moonlight streaming in through the window, the
princess asked. Liliana answered concisely.
This was not because she was unused to interacting with fellow witches,
for Liliana would often address her master or seniors as ”auntie” or ”sister.”
Nevertheless, Liliana was also a knight at the same time and did not intend
to address a n.o.ble princess with too much familiarity.
On the other hand, Alice smiled and accepted Liliana's stubborn
adherence to etiquette, then spoke:
”Wonderful, then there's no issue even if I verbally pa.s.s along the words of
witches. Liliana and Yuri, please note that you must carefully keep what
you hear here a secret, okay?”
Alice brought her index finger to her lips to make a gesture of
confidentiality.
Then Yuri, the j.a.panese Hime-Miko, bowed apologetically.
”Excuse me, Princess... In that case, would it be better if I took my leave?”
”Nothing to worry about, Yuri, so please remain present. You can be
considered the cousin of us witches. Furthermore, apart from the witches,
a select few people are privy to this secret as well.”
The witch, who stood at the pinnacle of the heaven-oriented system,
smiled mischievously.
”Even the Witenagemot's Diogenes Club is also a part of the select few in
the know. There's also North America's premier fairy doctor — the elderly
gentleman who a.s.sists a certain Devil King.”
Indeed as expected. Liliana nodded silently. Princess Alice intended to
share secret knowledge that was only pa.s.sed verbally even between
high-ranking witches.
Right now, Alice was using summoning magic to call forth a perfume bottle
into her right hand.
She swiftly waved this tiny bottle towards Liliana and Yuri. A refres.h.i.+ng
floral scent entered their nostrils.
Having smelled this fragrance before, Liliana and Yuri were shocked. They
remembered the aroma from an incident concerning a certain divine sword
that counted as part of j.a.pan's national treasure.
”O skylark, take me to the furthest reaches of the clouds, your song
resounding in the heavens between the clouds, leading me together in
flight—”
As Liliana watched in shock, Princess Alice chanted spell words.
Considering this in conjunction with the magical presence that exuded
accordingly, Liliana remembered.
Unmistakable. The princess was using ”that witchcraft.” Liliana was
certain. Before her eyes, the observation room's gla.s.s glowed brightly from
the moonlight. In the following instant, her entire view was taken over by
white light...
Once the white light dissipated, Liliana found herself standing on a cliff by
the sea. Looking down at the foot of the cliff, she could see raging waves
cras.h.i.+ng against the rocks. Also, the sky was purple.
Mariya Yuri and the princess were next to her.
Yuri gulped. From the sight of the purple sky alone, it was already obvious
that this was no ordinary place.
”Sure enough, the Netherworld... Princess, you used a spell to cross over
to the Netherworld, yes?”
”Yes, that's right, although we tend to call this realm the 'Astral Plane.'”
Yuri confirmed with the princess who answered with a wink.
The Netherworld, a domain outside of the mortal realm.
An alternate dimension where the mind and ectoplasm ranked higher than
material substance. It was said that j.a.panese wizards called it the
Netherworld while Chinese Daoists referred to it as Youmingjie or Youjie in
short. Known to Persian wizardry as the Menog, Greek mysticism called it
the Idea Realm, etc.
Heretic G.o.ds seemed to call it the [Boundary of Life and Immortality].
The perfume the princess had released just now was a secret elixir
concocted to help human bodies adjust to the Netherworld's air. During the
Ama no Murak.u.mo no Tsurugi incident, Liliana had also prepared the
same elixir to send Yuri to the Netherworld.
The princess did not use it on herself, most likely because there was no
need to.
Instead of using her physical body, the frail Princess Alice apparently went
outdoors by sending her spirit body ”outside.” Essentially, the princess in
front of Liliana and Yuri's eyes was nothing more than a projection,
something akin to a ghost. There was no issue of spirit bodies needing to
adjust to the Astral Plane.
”The person who wants to see us turns out to be in the Netherworld huh...”
”Not exactly? You'll understand quicker if you see with your own eyes.
Let's hurry over to the meeting place.”
After answering Yuri's query, the princess closed her eyes. The
surrounding environment instantly changed.
A Buddha statue stood upright in the middle of a cave, a sight reminiscent
of cave monasteries in India.
Unlike in the earthly realm, traveling in the Astral Plane relied on the mind
rather than walking. Once accustomed to this realm, magi could transfer
instantaneously simply by imagining their desired destination.
”Very regrettably, it's not a place we can fly directly to, because it's a
secret location that cannot be reached except by transferring according to
prescribed rules. As a result, we need to make various stops.”
Then the scenery changed again.
A chalk palace built next to a lake. An endless desert of hot sand with only
an oasis offering respite. A vast plain where a giant bird design was carved
on the ground. Dense forest where all sorts of poisonous insectivorous
plants flourished. Streets evoking imagery from 1920s America in the
Prohibition Era, etc...
The final destination was at the foot of a bare mountain.
Before their eyes was an ancient Greek temple. Stout marble columns
stood upright in a rectangular arrangement with a roof on top. A small
building.
”The appointment was clearly decided here, but the other party is absent.”
No one else could be seen in the surroundings. As their guide, Alice,
frowned, Yuri asked.
”Someone who does not reside here?”
”Exactly. Seriously, how could that person be tardy even at a time like
this...”
” — Princess. Just as you say, I have only 'just arrived.' A minute or two's
delay shouldn't count as being late, right? What do you say?”
A voice Liliana had heard before. Then came the clinking sounds of
iron-studded boots striking the stone floor surrounding the temple.
Although Liliana had been in continuous state of shock all night, this was
the greatest shock of all. The same went for Yuri. In a rare moment, the
prudent Yamato Nades.h.i.+ko raised her voice:
”You are the person who set up this appointment to meet us!?”
”Hoho, how honored I am to know that you are so moved to see me.”
The new arrival was wearing an elegant blue suit with a black cape.
Covering the face was a masked helmet with a visor whose design
resembled an insect's compound eyes. Worn on the feet were iron-studded
boots.
The one who had made the appointment to meet them at the Astral Plane
temple was none other than John Pluto Smith.
The Campione renowned as Los Angeles' guardian saint.
”The whereabouts and exploits of Kusanagi G.o.dou and Italy's handsome
king are not precisely the reasons why I'm here.”
Coming through the mask, the tenor voice sounded as lively as that of a
theatrical performer.
”I heard that they've gone missing due to a certain Madame using an
authority that serves as a 'pa.s.sport.' As a result, a certain old acquaintance
approached me to cry and beg, asking for my help no matter what.”
”Requiring your personal presence as a Campione, Smith-sama...”
”That's very normal. The only ones capable of opposing G.o.dslayers are
their peers — other G.o.dslayers — and the G.o.ds. This is universal truth.”
Reacting to Liliana's murmurs, Smith shrugged.
”Then I got in touch with the princess, hoping she could relay news to me
regarding this incident. In addition, I heard that there were two miko who
were able to 'see' the era where Kusanagi G.o.dou had flown to. That said, I
still haven't decided if I'm going to accept my old acquaintance's request
yet.”
The visor's compound eyes looked towards Yuri and Liliana.
”In any case, I troubled you two to make a visit, hoping you could a.s.sist
me.”
”Excuse me... May I ask who this 'old acquaintance' of yours might be,
Smith-sama?”
In response to Yuri's question, Smith quickly raised his right hand and
pointed a gloved index finger towards the interior of the temple.
”The one who lives inside. Well, this individual is not only difficult to please
but also very neurotic and pessimistic... A most troublesome personality, at
any rate. Let me just add that he is also a man who is troubled to no end
by the commotion raised by my friend, Madame Aisha.”
”Troubled to no end...?”
Liliana frowned, unable to understand what Smith meant.
Yuri's expression suddenly went blank. Her eyes also became
gla.s.s-colored while she began to murmur on her own.
”The sanctuary belonging to the one who carves time... Recording
everything in the world, the library keeping the records of the void...”
”You saw it. Impressive indeed.”
Hearing the oracle Yuri spoke due to spirit vision, Smith nodded. On the
other hand, Liliana was worried about her companion's hypnotized state.
Furthermore, this only served to raise even more questions.
”To my tentative understanding, I take it that this place is not simply a
sanctuary steeped in history. If possible, please answer another of my
questions. Smith-sama, how are you related to the one who lives here?”
”A truly pertinent question, Liliana Kranjcar.”
Liliana was shocked that the black-clad G.o.dslayer knew her name.
She had always thought that Smith was only aware of her as nothing more
than Kusanagi G.o.dou's follower. Seeing her reaction, Smith laughed and
used his left hand to push his cape open.
Revealed beneath was still the blue costume. Carried in the holster on his
hip was that gun.
”I have a number of important connections to the Astral Plane. This is one
of them.”
Smith drew the handgun from his hip.
”This was something forged by the dark elves living in this realm. To me, it
would be something like the magic sword Excalibur.”
The six-shot large-caliber revolver. The magic gun the color of gray steel.
It was the legendary handgun quite well-known as John Pluto Smith's
weapon, a tool for firing the ”magic bullet authority” usurped from the
G.o.ddess Artemis. It was said that the vast area of the entire California state
would be incinerated utterly if the authority's full power were to be
unleashed...
This magic gun was an otherworldly weapon forged in the Astral Plane —
The Witenagemot's report had mentioned it. But hearing it directly from the
man himself, Liliana felt an indescribable sense of emotion, possibly due to
John Pluto Smith's ”masked hero charisma.”
”Come to think of it, I have heard that you are able to travel freely between
the earth and the Astral Plane, Smith-sama.”
”Ah yes, that is one of my insignificant privileges.”
Smith replied to Liliana and returned the magic gun to its holster.
”That's the power I usurped by killing one of the fairy kings who rule the
Astral Plane. Furthermore, I also inherited a king's duties and obligations
from him.”
”Duties and obligations...?”
”Including the Plutarch's Residence here, this entire level is part of the
territory I rule over. Oh well, despite being king, I'm actually nothing more
than an absentee figurehead. But upon receiving a definite request like this
one, I still can't leave things unattended after all.”
Fairy king. Plutarch's Residence.
Hearing unexpected terms, Liliana was overcome with astonishment.
”I came back to this place because I received a desperate plea regarding
Kusanagi G.o.dou, Salvatore Doni and Madame Aisha... To exterminate the
three of them. So, what should I do?”
Straight from John Pluto Smith's mouth came a shocking statement.
Part 3
Kusanagi G.o.dou: G.o.dslayer, Devil King, Campione.
Despite having no desire for them, he possessed numerous abilities
beyond that of ordinary humans. Nevertheless, flying in the air or breathing
underwater were not among them.
Hence, even someone like him would still be plunged into a desperate
crisis once thrown into the Rhine that was almost about to overflow due to
a sudden storm.
To escape this crisis, G.o.dou made use of his greatest weapon.
His physical stamina. After being thrown overboard, he struggled
desperately in the raging and turbid waters, swimming while trying to
search for the capsized s.h.i.+p.
Especially shocking was Madame Aisha who was facing the same situation
as him.
Despite her non-athletic appearance, she was looking for the capsized
s.h.i.+p just like G.o.dou. Meanwhile, the remaining companions —
”Anchor me, Cuore di Leone!”
First of all, Erica Blandelli started summoning the magic sword of the lion
while falling into the river.
Manifesting in her hand, the slender longsword immediately transformed
and turned into an anchor with a chain attached. Erica threw the anchor,
causing it to fly at high speed towards the Rhine's sh.o.r.e.
She was roughly thirty meters from the sh.o.r.e.
Nevertheless, the anchor's flight and the chain's length both allowed it to
reach the sh.o.r.e effortlessly.
The anchor hooked the ground with a clang, forming a lifeline connecting
Erica to dry land.
Meanwhile, the other person, Seishuuin Ena —
”O Great G.o.d of Arms! I beseech you to grant me protection from
drowning!”
This incantation to ward off drowning was magic that had been used
previously on the G.o.ddess Circe's island.
While praying for protection, Ena desperately reached out.
The chain connecting Erica to the magic sword on the sh.o.r.e happened to
be nearby. No, the clever blonde most likely threw the chain in
consideration of the Hime-Miko's position. Ena gripped Cuore di Leone's
chain with her right hand tightly.
Watching this scene, G.o.dou was relieved. He turned to the woman beside
him and said:
”Are you okay, Aisha-san!?”
”Y-Yes. I'm okay for now!”
But just at this moment, descending lightning struck G.o.dou's s.h.i.+p directly.
”Uwaaaah!”
”Kyaaaaaaaah!”
Falling from the sky, the thunderclap completely destroyed the small sailing
s.h.i.+p that G.o.dou and the Madame had finally managed to climb aboard.