Campione! Vol 11 Chapter 2

Chapter 2 - On the Island of Storms Part 1 It was roughly ten in the morning when G.o.dou reached the Cagliari harbor this morning. A mere five hours had pa.s.sed. Nevertheless, "G.o.d-slayer" Kusanagi G.o.dou's surrounding environment had already undergone dramatic upheaval even before then. "Gentlemen, I apologize deeply for summoning everyone here on such short notice. We have gathered here for but one purpose, to announce the birth of the seventh G.o.d-slayer." The announcement was being made in a private function room of Cagliari's best high-cla.s.s restaurant. The current speaker was Erica Blandelli. As everyone's gaze was drawn to the one she pointed to, G.o.dou felt rather uncomfortable. Three other people were present, all middle aged or elderly men. Apparently they were the commanders-in-chief of magic a.s.sociations in the Cagliari region. "A fortnight ago, two G.o.ds had descended upon Sardinia -- the ancient Persian Warlord Verethragna and the Phoenician's G.o.d of the sky, Melqart. Of the two, Verethragna was vanquished personally by Kusanagi G.o.dou. Erica Blandelli hereby presents this report, having borne witness to the fact." Erica explained the result directly, omitting the entire process. But no one pursued the matter. The three commanders-in-chief had received reports of the "black monster" appearing in the Cagliari harbor and that the summoner was apparently a j.a.panese youth. As a result, they listened quietly to Erica while casting doubtful and fearful gazes at G.o.dou. Being stared at, G.o.dou turned his attention to the room. This was a private function room in a high-cla.s.s restaurant. Even though there was no chandelier on the ceiling, there shouldn't be a sense of dissonance, right? G.o.dou examined the meticulously crafted chair he was sitting on, concluding that anyone could tell its high-cla.s.s origins without being an expert. (I never expected I would one day visit a place like this...) G.o.dou sighed at the surprising direction his life was taking. During this time, Erica issued orders as the [King]'s representative. "Gentlemen, Kusanagi G.o.dou's demands are few in number. His only wishes are for you all to handle the Cagliari harbor incident's aftermath and information control, punish the instigator David Bianchi, and at the same time, provide full support in tracking down King Melqart. That's all." After the Cagliari harbor commotion, Erica had proposed: "Given the current state of affairs, it's best to handle the aftermath using the name of the king, announcing to the magi of the world the birth of the seventh Devil King. This will make further action more expedient." G.o.dou made a few amendments and agreed to the plan after some consideration. After that, Erica began making calls and the current meeting was prepared in one hour. "Completely understood. Everything shall be done according to the king's wishes." "The birth of a new king is truly an astounding and joyous occasion. To issue a challenge to the ancient G.o.d Melqart before official a.s.sumption of the throne, such mettle truly foretells a promising future." Summoned to this emergency meeting, the a.s.sociation leaders remarked one after another. They were not entirely convinced the j.a.panese youth before their eyes was really a G.o.d-slayer, but they kept their composure and maintained a solemn expression. "Oh right, there's one more request. Please do not leak news of his birth and the Sardinia incident to the magical world apart from those in Sicily. This is very important." This was G.o.dou's amendment to Erica's proposal of "announcing to the magi of the world." One of the commanders-in-chief nodded. "That is not a problem... But why?" "I don't want unnecessary attention because I plan to continue living an ordinary life." Before Erica could say anything, G.o.dou answered the question himself. The commanders-in-chief showed incredulous expressions as if they had heard something unexpected, but they quickly recovered. They probably thought that rudeness to the [King] would bring dire consequences. G.o.dou's sense of discomfort deepened. He felt rather apologetic that he was forcing elders to treat him in this manner. "If you're going to the island of Sicily, you'll need a plane. Let me make the arrangements." One of the commanders-in-chief spoke up but G.o.dou refused frantically. "Ah, there's no need for special preparations. Any kind of transportation is fine. Either plane or ship will do." Erica glanced out the window and signaled to G.o.dou with her eyes. The seaside restaurant offered a Mediterranean view outside the window. Erica's expression seemed to be saying "I like ships better." But as soon as G.o.dou recalled a certain incident, he rejected Erica's suggestion(?). "But then again, taking a ship should be impossible, right? What with all the chaos in the harbor right now." G.o.dou slumped his shoulders apologetically due to the monster appearing in the harbor a few hours ago. If this had happened at a j.a.panese train station, it would not be surprising for operations to shut down for an entire day. However- "If you wish to take the sea route, it can be arranged." "Eh? But setting sail is impossible today, right?" "Possibly. But if the king wishes, it is a different matter." "Let us contact ship operators to charter a ship." "Eh?!" A plane trip from Sardinia to Sicily would take about an hour or so. Crossing the same distance overnight, enjoying a comfortable and elegant journey over the sea as embodied by the night ferry concept -- the night cruise progressed as the ma.s.sive ship and hotel rocked across the sea. After enjoying the distant night scenery of the Mediterranean Sea, G.o.dou was going to return to his single room to sleep- "I never thought we would really set sail... Just how far can rules be broken?" G.o.dou secretly muttered to himself. In the restaurant of the ma.s.sive ferry, G.o.dou was sitting opposite Erica. Back at the harbor, his first impression had been "So huge!" The deck had six stories of living quarters and was equipped with restaurants, bar lounges and movie theater rooms. The ma.s.sive ferry seemed to have been built to accommodate a hotel. "Today happens to be the weekend, so the weekend-only ship ride from Sardinia to Sicily's port of Palermo is apparently available." Erica explained as she brought the appetizer apple cider to her lips. As a side note, the night's menu included octopus carpaccio, fish soup, botargo pasta and roasted crab. A very marine-centric selection. "It gives me a slightly guilty conscience to think they prepared this unscheduled route for us expressly." "It's too late for guilty consciences!" "Isn't this nice? The ship operators had been troubled over today's commotion, and we come along asking them to set sail, allowing this ship to go out to sea." Erica smiled as she spoke. Other than G.o.dou and Erica, there were a few other groups of pa.s.sengers. Enjoying the Mediterranean night scenery over dinner was quite a unique experience. G.o.dou could not help but think arranging a ship went rather smoothly. "As long as it is the request of the Devil King Campione, all the powerful a.s.sociations of Europe will put forth all effort in fulfilling it. Due to wealth and political power acc.u.mulated over hundreds or even a thousand years, plus the a.s.sistance of local authorities, this is nothing difficult. I don't think you need to be that thankful." "Even if it's an unreasonable request..." "Yes, but they do this only because of the Campiones' power, as well as the existences that only this power can defeat." "G.o.ds?" "The so-called Campiones are warriors fighting on humanity's behalf against the [Heretic G.o.ds] who manifest. They possess the rights and privileges of kings, lording over the world as tyrants and devil kings." In other words, I have to fight Melqart -- G.o.dou looked up at the ceiling. "I have no idea at all how to fight a G.o.d..." "Just treat it as the real version of your battle this morning. G.o.dou's body should already be prepared for battle." "Prepared?" "Think about it, half-baked training isn't going to do you any good in a fight with tigers and bears! Campiones are the same. To you guys, fighting is as instinctual as breathing, otherwise what happened this morning cannot be explained." "Isn't it more wholesome to think that strength is gained through effort?" "That only applies to humans, in a limited sense." Erica's words sliced to the core of the matter. "In the natural world, humans were never powerful existences. Nevertheless, combat strength could be raised through the use of weapons and the blood and sweat of martial arts training -- but that method is neither wholesome nor natural. 'The strong are born strong' is the very natural and animalistic truth." That's the way things went? Faced with G.o.dou's doubtful gaze, Erica said: "If you wish, I can a.n.a.lyze G.o.dou's combat ability even more rationally." "...Try me." "First of all, G.o.dou possesses vitality far surpa.s.sing humans. Bitten by that kind of magical beast, one would usually die after losing their shoulder and arm, but G.o.dou could fight as if it was normal." "Ah... It felt like my body is more st.u.r.dy than I thought." After the battle with Bianchi, Erica had given G.o.dou a mysterious pill. Said to be a magical drug for speeding the recovery of injuries. After G.o.dou took the pill, Erica helped disinfect and bandage the shoulder that had been bitten by the man-eating tiger. The wounds completely healed after being left alone for a while after treatment. It was truly amazing, this unbelievable power of recovery. "G.o.dou's bones are now harder than iron, perhaps even stronger than any metal alloy in existence. Rather than dense, it would be better to say your muscle fibers are now so tough as to be impossible to tear. Furthermore, you have an ability even more powerful than adrenalin which instantly stops bleeding and dulls pain." Erica brought up the conclusions she had observed at her leisure. "Now that it's mentioned, the shoulder injury I suffered a few months ago seems to have healed." After the battle in the morning, G.o.dou had tried throwing stones at sea as a result of recalling his shoulder injury. G.o.dou had lost his prided powerful shoulder to the injury -- that was the original situation. But his stone throws now flew farther and harder than before the injury. "Even injuries suffered months ago were healed along with the rebirth as a Campione, right? The recent injuries were definitely healed together as a result." "My body seems so beyond common logic now..." "Have you noticed? You're currently speaking in Italian." "Eh? That's strange. When did this start? And why?" G.o.dou was shocked by Erica's observation. Without knowing it, he had started using Italian as if it were his mother tongue. Now that he thought about it, the commanders-in-chief earlier had also been speaking in Italian. "We magi train in a special language sense when we are young, allowing us to acquire all sorts of languages in short time. See, haven't you met people who learn foreign languages easily?" "That's right, Erica, your j.a.panese is indeed quite excellent..." "A mage's education includes courses on training this type of trait. Campiones too, are also imbued with this disposition. It's not particularly flashy, but it turns out to be a rather practical ability." "Last but not least, Campiones' greatest weapons are their 'authorities.' Considering what's happened so far, it is likely that G.o.dou has usurped Verethragna's power of the ten incarnations." The ship had set sail at 7:30pm. Due to the abundance of time, Erica recounted everything she had discovered during the battle that day. "I can get ten abilities from a G.o.d?" "Most certainly. North America's Devil King, John Pluto-sama, usurped the authority of [Metamorphosis] from the demonic deity Tezcatlipoca, thereby obtaining five different forms." "It's like that?" "England's Black Prince Alec possesses the authority of [Black Lightning], which not only allows him to move as fast as lightning, but turn himself into lightning and even use lightning as a weapon." "In other words, it's only fitting..." Looks like Campione authorities were rather flexible. G.o.dou began to gain a rudimentary understanding of his body. "Since G.o.dou's authority includes ten abilities, perhaps there will be various strict conditions governing their use." "That sounds plausible somehow, but not entirely correct... By the way, Erica." A thought suddenly occurred to G.o.dou, so he brought it up. "You tricked me that time before I summoned the boar, what was with that 'my chest hurts'!" "Outrageous. Accusing me of tricking you. You were using your powers rather pa.s.sively so I decided to give a final push, that's all." "There was no need to give me a push. Deceiving a comrade is the worst. Do you know how angry and worried I was at the time!?" "I never relied on you!" "Relying or not, it is only natural to be worried!" "I, Erica Blandelli, would never be caught in a crisis because of a spell of that level. If you are clearly unaware of this fact, please do not call yourself my comrade so easily!" A crash of thunder suddenly brought an end to this fruitless argument. Part 2 Earlier during the daylight hours, the Mediterranean sky had been clear and sunny. Although it was still March, the sunlight felt more like early summer. Even at night, the sky was completely devoid of clouds. Illuminated by the moon and the stars, the sea at night offered a wondrous sight. Nevertheless, the crash of thunder just now- G.o.dou felt something strange from the sound of thunder rumbling up in the sky. He felt turmoil in his heart, and inexplicably, he knew that a formidable foe was drawing near. His body brimmed with power and felt hot all over. Including his limbs, down to every digit and even each capillary, all parts of his body were infused with power and heat, as if announcing they had adjusted themselves to a battle-ready stance. "What is going on with this feeling..." Muttering to himself, G.o.dou noticed something about the thunder just now. That. Now that was a real enemy indeed. The mage encountered this morning was totally insignificant in the face of a G.o.d-slayer. Completely worthless as an opponent. Even if the enemy was the genius Erica or an ultimate master who surpa.s.sed her, it would make no difference. Humans could not offer meaningful resistance against a G.o.d-slayer. A G.o.d-slayer's opponent must be a G.o.d -- this was absolute. The instant he realized that, G.o.dou got up from his seat in the restaurant. Walking outside without a word, he climbed the stairs and arrived at the top deck of the ferry. Erica soon followed. The two stopped quarreling and walked along the top deck. There were no other people in sight. Looking up, one could see the sky had filled with dark clouds at some unknown point in time. For some reason, G.o.dou knew there was a "G.o.d" within the clouds. Or at least, a portion of one was inside there. Otherwise, his body would not be reacting so strongly. Crash! A flash of lightning streaked past, lighting the dark sky blue-white as thunder erupted. 'It's been a while, boy. In a matter of days, you have already started to look a little like a G.o.d-slayer.' The deep, rich male voice descended from the heavens. "You are Melqart... Right?" 'Of course. To think you would be unable to recognize the voice of the great divine king. How immature." Cautiously confirming the speaker's name only earned him mockery and derision. G.o.dou shrugged. It was the first time to converse in this manner. Playing it safe was only natural. G.o.dou turned towards Erica beside him, hoping she had something to say. However, she shook her head as if saying "you should be the one talking." Whenever the enemy was a G.o.d, it was Kusanagi G.o.dou's domain... Perhaps that was what she thought? 'Very well. Fate must have brought me to witness a brat like you slay Verethragna. Brat, you and I both awakened on the island I used for temporary shelter. Hence, I shall take up the duty of punishing your sin of G.o.d-slaying. Brat, any objections?' "Absolutely! I have no intentions of fighting you." 'How unlike a G.o.d-slayer! There is no need for unnecessary concerns, after all, it's simply the next step.' "The next step!?" 'This sea was once the territory of the people who served me, but look at what it has become. The people here have the insolence to forget the name of Melqart, and are polluting my sacred domain. As the stately divine king, I cannot allow such foolish behavior of the people to persist.' Every time Melqart spoke, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky. Even though it was only a hunch, [Heretic G.o.d] Melqart was probably absent and simply communicating through the lightning. But then again, there was this strange feeling. Puzzling about G.o.ds, G.o.dou spoke to the sky. "By the way, last time you said you were going to submerge the island." 'Hmm, first I shall sink the island where Verethagna met you, brat, and then it will be the island where I am sleeping now. After that, I shall submerge all my ancient territories.' Melqart declared calmly, causing G.o.dou to tremble in fear. 'I've considered it, I shall execute you, brat, before carrying out divine punishment. But we will not fight here right now. Sinking these islands requires the acc.u.mulation of power. I shall end things in one or two days.' "Did you come all the way here just to tell me this?" 'No truer words. There is still time before the ancient divine king's summons arrive. You may relax for now, and take your time to figure out how to sharpen your sword while you wait. Then I shall send you, brat, on a journey to paradise...' Journey to paradise? It was at this time that G.o.dou realized, Erica once mentioned Melqart as the G.o.d of storms. The current thundercloud should be due to his authority, which meant- "If you wish, go on and cause a storm in this sky and over the sea!" If that happened, neither ships nor planes could leave the island. People would lose all means of escape to find sanctuary. G.o.dou suddenly thought, if storms were summoned right at this moment, all the people on the ship would meet a watery grave... 'Hmph, it looks like you have noticed it, brat. Very well, I shall look forward to the amus.e.m.e.nt you will offer as a warrior. Well then, wait patiently for your punishment!' The surrounding sky reverberated with divine king Melqart's hearty laughter. The thunder and lightning swiftly vanished and the night sky instantly became clear once more. Hoo... G.o.dou exhaled deeply. Though the conversation with Melqart was short, it was rather taxing mentally. The ancient divine king of the Phoenicians. Even fragments of his voice were enough to cause serious pressure. G.o.dou originally planned on returning to his room to sleep. "I don't know what to do yet, but let's replenish my energy first. Now back to the restaurant. This time I will enjoy my dinner properly." "...Wow, you seem pretty well-adjusted to the current situation." Erica exclaimed, causing G.o.dou to feel a bit displeased. Adjusting had nothing to do with it. After that, G.o.dou and Erica returned to their own rooms for the night. Morning arrived the next day. Around 9am or so, they once again returned to the top deck. The sky was bright and sunny, allowing a clear view of the morning Mediterranean Sea. The marine-blue sea and white waves glistened beneath the bright sunlight, and even a harbor was coming into view! The ship's destination was the port city of Palermo on the island of Sicily. Sicily was the largest island in the Mediterranean. Like Sardinia, it was an autonomous region of Italy and a major producer of wine and olive oil. Also a major exporter of fresh fish and gelater 1 ^; advertis.e.m.e.nts for these kinds of goods could be seen everywhere. Palermo was a city that acted as the gateway to Sicily. Historically, it had been the ancient capital famed for its harbor on the northwest part of Sicily. Once the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily, it was now the capital of the autonomous region of Sicily. "Hey, where are we going once we arrive?" G.o.dou asked Erica who still seemed sleepy. Glamorous on all other occasions, mornings were the only times when she seemed a little slow. It was quite amusing indeed. "First let's make a visit to the Palermo magic a.s.sociation, [Panormus]. This is the largest a.s.sociation on the island of Sicily. We have already contacted them yesterday through the commanders-in-chief we met at Cagliari. Palermo is also a city with intimate ties to the ancient Phoenicians." "Like Cagliari, could it be a city built by the ancient Phoenicians as well?" "Yes, that's right. Though the rulers have changed hands many times, its Phoenician origin remains historical fact. Since Sicily is the territory Melqart is most concerned about, let's start our operations with Palermo as our base." Saying that, Erica's face recovered her usual domineering airs. "Once we reach the harbor, members of [Panormus] should be there to welcome us." "Having people to receive us would really be a great help." At this time, a silver-haired elderly man approached. G.o.dou was reminded of the famous movie, "The G.o.dfather." Set in America during 1920s, it told the story of b.l.o.o.d.y struggles between violent gangs of Italian immigrants. The old man gave off an aura that clearly belonged to no respectable man. He was wearing what seemed to be a high-cla.s.s suit. The cigar in his right hand also looked very high cla.s.s. There was a unified sense of solemnity and criminality. Come to think of it, the mafia apparently operated on the island of Sicily... Just as these thoughts crossed G.o.dou's mind, the man had already arrived. "Uncle Zamparini, were you traveling on this ship too?" "Ah yes. I remember we only met once, but what a great memory you have. Paolo Blandelli's niece is indeed as clever as rumored." He appeared to be an acquaintance of Erica's. But Old Man Zamparini's gaze soon shifted away from her. "My name is Walter Zamparini. Perhaps you may have heard of my name as the commander-in-chief of [Panormus]. We of [Panormus] are honored to welcome the youngest king. We humbly pledge our lives at your command." "Eh? But how did you get here? The ship hasn't even reached the harbor yet." "A trivial matter, it's actually very simple. After receiving news from Cagliari that Your Highness was coming to Sicily, I first took a plane to Cagliari and then boarded this ship." It only took an hour's flight from Palermo to Cagliari, so it was entirely plausible. However, why did the old man have to do that? "Thanks to that, I was able to witness Your Highness and Melqart in a conversation between a devil king and a G.o.d. I, Zamparini, am willing to lay down this life in service to Your Highness -- Kusanagi G.o.dou." I see. G.o.dou figured it out. Old Man Zamparini had boarded the same ship for the purpose of observing G.o.dou. In order to discern with his own two eyes whether G.o.dou was a G.o.d-slayer and whether he could duel a G.o.d or not. Having witnessed the events last night, he had confirmed that G.o.dou was a real G.o.d-slayer... "There is no need to go that far for my sake. As long as you help handle Melqart's aftermath, I'll be really grateful." "Not at all. It is a mage's duty to serve a Campione. Please accept our a.s.sistance as much as possible... Ah, and Blandelli." Old Man Zamparini suddenly called to Erica by her family name. "Thank you for your efforts in serving the young king till now. However, your legal guardian, the [Copper Black Cross]' commander-in-chief Paolo Blandelli, has issued an order for your return. I shall serve in your place from this point onward, so please drop everything and hurry back to Milan." This announcement struck G.o.dou and Erica like a bolt from the blue. Part 3 Thirty minutes or so after meeting Old Man Zamparini, the ship reached the harbor of Palermo. Following the old man who looked and dressed exactly like a mafia boss, G.o.dou and Erica got off the ship. "Automobiles have already been prepared. There, that one." Gazing into the distance at the harbor, one could see two BMWs in front of Zamparini. Gazing at the st.u.r.dy-looking exteriors of the luxury vehicles, G.o.dou thought to himself. That's definitely bullet-proof gla.s.s in case of a shootout, right... One of the cars was white while the other was black. Either way you look at it, they did not seem like cars which normal people would ride. "The [King] and I shall ride this one. Blandelli, the other one will take you to the airport." Zamparini made his way towards the black BMW. Both cars had chauffeurs who were wearing sloppy looking clothes. They did not look like "professionals" but these men did have sharp glares... Before G.o.dou could object to the old man's orders, Erica had already lit the powder keg. "I'm sorry, but I cannot return to Uncle Paolo yet." "Such willfulness. Your legal guardian has already requested that you, a minor and a girl, be sent home. Besides, the organization you belong to has also issued orders for your return. Hence, Blandelli, you have no options left." Igniting the cigar on one end and placing the other end in his mouth, the old man spoke. Even though he looked very solemn as he puffed out blue smoke, G.o.dou still felt compelled to speak. "Excuse me, Zamparini-san. Although Erica really should return, I will be very troubled if she's no longer here. At least let her accompany me until the duel with Melqart. It would be a great help to me." "I understand. Though Your Highness may be king, you are still young and inexperienced as a G.o.d-slayer." Exhaling blue smoke, Zamparini said. "I admit a capable person is needed to fill that role, but there's no reason it has to be Erica Blandelli, right?" "Eh?" "There is no need for a young girl like her to serve Your Highness who is about to duel a G.o.d... Though you may feel I am putting this cruelly, it is a risky and difficult mission after all." Risky? G.o.dou realized his stupidity. Indeed, bringing Erica along would mean getting her involved with a dangerous G.o.d. However, he still had great need of Erica's support- "Hence, allow me to take over the role of serving the king as Erica Blandelli's subst.i.tute." "Eh? What are you talking about?" Hearing something unexpected made G.o.dou pose a stupid question. "I, Zamparini, shall support you during battle. Hohoho, despite how I may look, I did survive many dangerous situations in my youth... So please, let me offer my utmost efforts." Zamparini's words were full of confidence. G.o.dou imagined a scene with Zamparini dressed in a white suit, wearing a Borsalino hat, his neck wrapped in a stylish m.u.f.fler, puffing away on a cigar, holding a machine-gun in one hand and dynamite in the other- Perhaps the truth might be unexpectedly close to his imagination. In actual fact, he could sense that the old man was far stronger than Erica. However. "No, even someone like you, Uncle Zamparini, cannot replace me. Fighting beside Kusanagi G.o.dou and advising him is my job, Erica Blandelli's." Erica made a "partners" declaration. That's right, no matter how dangerous the situation, the only one who stood by his side in the face of G.o.ds was Erica. Due to her declaration, G.o.dou realized once again. Just as G.o.dou was about to request for Erica to stay -- at that very moment. "Let's put it this way, it is because I am already Kusanagi G.o.dou's 'woman'... We are lovers. Capable as you are, Uncle Zamparini, you cannot pursue a romantic relationship with him, right? So please give up." What? G.o.dou suddenly heard words he never expected. In any case, the issue of Erica's return was thus cast aside for now. G.o.dou and the rest rode Zamparini's car and traveled across the city of Palermo. Even though G.o.dou and Erica had the rear seats all to themselves, Erica stuck to G.o.dou the whole time like lovers. Sometimes she would lean over, while on other occasions she embraced him, her body tightly pressed against him the whole time. G.o.dou felt really dizzy. Though Palermo was an Italian city, it was heavily influenced by Islamic culture. Consequently, virtually all buildings in the streets had no windows visible. G.o.dou was concerned about Erica's lie, but the sensation of her body tightly pressed against him felt really unsettling. That soft, supple skin of hers, gave off a sweet fragrance akin to perfume, making him feel warm and comfortable. The sensations of the beautiful young blonde sent G.o.dou's mind into a daze. "Hmm, Blandelli... In other words, you and Kusanagi G.o.dou are engaged in a relationship as a couple?" "Yes, exactly, Uncle Zamparini. So please don't do anything so inconsiderate as to try to separate us. It would certainly taint the name of Walter Zamparini, once renowned as the Hero of Sicily." "Well since it's been spelled out to this extent, my hands are tied..." Sitting on the pa.s.senger seat beside the driver, Zamparini conversed with Erica as she sat beside G.o.dou. "I guess it can't be helped. As an elder of an a.s.sociation, I really should do as your uncle, Paolo Blandelli, requested. But as a man, I can't stubbornly refuse to think outside the box. Very well then, I will make things convenient for you and the young [King]." "Wow, I'm really grateful! Come, G.o.dou, you thank him as well." "A-Ah yes, l-I'm really thankful." Erica suddenly dragged him into the conversation, causing G.o.dou to offer his thanks frantically. "Not at all. As long as you're a man, who wouldn't want to enjoy themselves once or twice?" Zamparini's words made G.o.dou freeze. If a guy like him could really become lovers with a beauty like Erica, it would certainly be worthy of celebration. "And Kusanagi G.o.dou, it is rather good news to us magi that Your Highness holds a healthy interest in beautiful girls. After all, the current Devil Kings are all rather rigid in their thinking, with nothing to do with the pleasures of life." Just as G.o.dou was surprised by this sudden topic, the car stopped in front of a seaside park. "Hmm... Let us take a break here for now." At Zamparini's orders, the car stopped. Presumably to dispel the awkward atmosphere. Given this unexpected free time, Erica and G.o.dou took a walk in the park, holding hands. "What do you mean by this!?" "I couldn't help it. There was no other choice." The two whispered to each other as they watched the sea, hand in hand. Zamparini and his subordinates kept away tactfully, allowing them privacy to speak their mind. "Listen G.o.dou, I will now explain in order. First, Zamparini holds you in high regard, probably because he eavesdropped on your conversation with Melqart." "Really? But I didn't really say much that time." "Are you stupid? Simply talking to a [Heretic G.o.d] as equals is already an accomplishment. Furthermore, you are a completely neutral king in the world of magic, with neither supporters, subordinates nor backing. Zamparini wishes to establish amicable ties with you right now." "I don't really mind if all he wants are amicable ties..." "If that's all he wants, fine. But supposing Zamparini wishes to become an adviser akin to being the 'right hand man' of the seventh Devil King, then it's not hard to understand. At least, I believe he is aiming for the lofty power and influence held by kings." Other than the fact that she was holding G.o.dou's hand as she leaned against him, Erica acted identically as before. "Hence, Erica Blandelli by your side is an obtrusive existence to him, which is why he preemptively contacted the [Copper Black Cross] beforehand." "But what does becoming the 'right hand man' have to do with sending you back?" "You finally noticed the key point. Hmm, that's the issue." Erica seemed to have reached a conclusion, as she murmured towards empty s.p.a.ce. "Although [Panormus] is the largest a.s.sociation on the island of Sicily, it only counts as mid to small scale on the entire European stage. But if [Panormus] obtains a Campione's protection, or even becomes his direct subordinate organization, then it can stand toe to toe with bigger and more prestigious a.s.sociations." "On the other hand, prestigious a.s.sociations, like the [Copper Black Cross] which I belong to, will avoid developing intimate ties with individual [Kings] as much as possible. Of course, they will still offer their services with the greatest reverence, but they will not approve of acts such as having their commander-in-chief's niece and future commander-in-chief candidate become an immature Devil King's 'right hand man.' " "So why do you have to call yourself my 'lover?' " G.o.dou exclaimed emphatically, for there must be other ways, right? "T-This couldn't be helped either. Apart from using the name of an a.s.sociation's mage, supporting you on a personal basis would be most ideal. Once a Campione declares 'I will not permit my woman to be taken away,' no one will dare drive me away." Indeed, as soon as she made the lovers declaration, Zamparini became understanding and accommodating. As befitted the pa.s.sionate Latin nation, perhaps they were more lenient when it came to matters of love. However, G.o.dou was a bona fide member of the Yamato nation! "Wouldn't it work if you said we are good friends?" "Idiot, that would only work to Zamparini's advantage!" As their argument escalated as they leaned their bodies close together, their voices grew louder and louder. "...Besides, I believe that a declaration of lovers would better protect my safety." "Why is that?" "You must have felt it to some extent. Zamparini and his [Panormus] a.s.sociation are not just a real magic a.s.sociation, but also authentic Sicilian mafia." "He really is a G.o.dfather!?" "If he deemed me serving by G.o.dou's side to be a hindrance, ordering an a.s.sa.s.sination would just be everyday business for them. Particularly during a battle with Melqart, a bullet to the back followed by a cover up would not be surprising." "What a bunch of people..." "If you have the leisure to panic, why don't you put some effort into looking more pa.s.sionate..." Erica finally concluded. "That is why I called myself your lover. As the girl upon whom the Campione bestows his full affections, I will be safe from their foolhardy attempts. Consequently, please treat me as your most beloved woman, understood?" And thus the secret conversation ended. The pair tried their best to look like "lovers" as they walked back to the car. Thereafter, Zamparini took them sightseeing to various attractions. Ancient Greeks, the Roman Empire, Arabs, Normans and various tribes had conquered Palermo in the past. Its history carried a certain exotic flair that distinguished the city from many others. Along the old city streets along the sh.o.r.e, there were many ancient buildings. Churches and chapels flashed into view. Then they were taken to the Palazzo dei Normanni -- a palace that was constructed by Arabs in the ninth century then later rebuilt as the Norman king's residence in the twelfth century. "Very well, time to go." It was 5pm when Zamparini declared in the car. Exhausted from all the sightseeing, G.o.dou asked lifelessly: "...Where are we going this time?" "To my home, Kusanagi G.o.dou. It's about time for Your Highness to rest. Tonight, please accept my invitation to be a guest at my home." G.o.dou was shocked. Going around acting like lovers with Erica all day had completely drained him and he wished to have a good rest in a room by himself... Soon after, they arrived at Zamparini's home located in a high-cla.s.s residential neighborhood within the city of Palermo. Numerous servants were hard at work in this s.p.a.cious and luxurious mansion. All over the premises were people who appeared rather disreputable. They were most likely mafia as well as magi belonging to the [Panormus] magic a.s.sociation. G.o.dou and Erica were taken to the most grand and luxurious room in the house. That in itself was certainly nice, but G.o.dou's problem was that he was not the only one sleeping there. With a matter-of-fact tone of voice, Erica informed G.o.dou they will be sleeping in the same room. Part 4 Night had fallen and dinner time had arrived. But the only occupants of the stately and magnificent dining room were the master Zamparini, G.o.dou and Erica. Three people. It was not yet time to start eating, but the table was already piled full of high-cla.s.s dishes and sumptuous offerings. Due to Erica's public declaration of a "lovers' relationship," G.o.dou could only eat mechanically despite facing the most luxurious feast he encountered to this date. Thanks to that, G.o.dou completely failed to register what he ate or what anything tasted like. Then G.o.dou was taken to the bedroom. Naturally, Erica accompanied him. Willing or not, they could not tear their gazes away from the ma.s.sive canopy bed. Obviously, there was no other bed either. "I-I'm gonna sleep on the couch over there." "T-That's right. Even if I declared ourselves to be lovers, there is no need to go so far." Just as they reached consensus, the telephone in the room started to ring. "This happens to be one of my hobbies." A ma.s.sive bath was located in a corner of Zamparini's home. Thus declared G.o.dou and Erica's host and master of the house, with great pride over the phone. "Often I feel that modern Europeans over neglect the customs of the bath... Hence, I decided to have craftsmen recreate an ancient Roman bath right here." Mesmerized by the sight of the bathing facilities, G.o.dou answered with a simple "Huh." Inside were three ma.s.sive bathing areas, each wider than any swimming pool G.o.dou had ever seen. Two were filled with hot water while the third was cold. The place was filled with giant columns like the Parthenon temple in Greece, giving a serene sense of solemnity. Naturally, the facilities were also equipped with sauna rooms and a smaller Jacuzzi tub. Indeed, this ma.s.sive bathing facility did feel like Roman baths from the times at the height of their popularity. "It must have been fate that allowed me the chance to entertain the young king and his lover. Surely, Your Highness and your lover over there should take the time to enjoy yourselves here." " "Eh?" " Zamparini's sudden proposal left G.o.dou and Erica dumbfounded. "Hoho, it's only natural for two young lovers to indulge themselves in pleasure at a place like this. I apologize for my boldness, but I have taken upon myself to make preparations for the two of you. --Come." The old man smiled knowingly and clapped his hands to summon. With the sound of voices asking "Are you calling us, Master?" coming from inside, ten-odd women emerged. G.o.dou was stunned by their appearance. All the women were merely clad in sheer fabric. The level of skin exposure was virtually equivalent to full nudity. Amongst the young women were Caucasians, Negros, as well as girls of oriental descent. Every girl was outstanding in face and figure. All were young beauties without exception. "These are my maids. They are here to serve your every command." "N-N-No such thing! This is not my cup of tea, spare me please! I-I-I'm going to the ordinary bathroom--" "Well, Uncle Zamparini, thank you very much for your kind offer." As G.o.dou refused on reflex, Erica restrained him with a look from her eyes and proceeded to express thanks. "Fufufu, isn't this marvelous, G.o.dou? Don't be shy, you should properly accept Uncle Zamparini's generosity at a time like this." Erica leaned herself against G.o.dou as if on purpose. Seeing this amusing scene, Zamparini respectfully took a bow and exited the bathing facility. "Young master and mistress, please come over here." A couple of highly exposed maids approached. Do I have to get naked right now? Just as G.o.dou stood stunned ~ Erica immediately stepped forward between them. "Hoho, wait a second. I have no intention of robbing you of your job, but the privilege of undressing him belongs to no one but me alone. Excuse me, but please give us some private time alone for now." Then she gently and elegantly led G.o.dou away by the hand. Undress? His mind in a state of suspension, G.o.dou was thus pulled towards the changing room. Along the way, Erica released G.o.dou's hand. "What's going on?" "Quiet. Those maids are here to investigate. They must have been sent on Zamparini's commands to verify if we are lovers or not." Erica spoke softly and G.o.dou whispered back. (Investigate?) (He is probably suspicious about our relationship. Think about it, Zamparini must have been observing us since last night.) (Now that you mentioned it, we were having an argument... d.a.m.n it, what should we do now?) What could we do now to resemble lovers even more? Hating himself for knowing nothing of romance, G.o.dou racked his brains to no avail. (No other way, G.o.dou, we must prepare ourselves.) (Prepare ourselves?) (Ah yes, even though I said "give us some private time alone for now," the maids will run after us immediately and Zamparini's doubt would only increase. We must switch over to offense starting now.) Erica declared like a knight with decisive valor. I see, I get it now. G.o.dou nodded. In the world of duels, running away from risk would only lead to greater danger. (I got it. So what should I do specifically?) (W-Well then ~ first undress, both of us need to take off all our clothes, and then walk out there in front of those girls.) Her earlier valor seemingly a lie, Erica's face had gone all red. "Eh?" asked G.o.dou foolishly. (T-This is the plan for breaking out of our predicament, and it's the only plan! So G.o.dou, you must suppress your l.u.s.tful thoughts and focus on carrying out the plan. Swear that you will erase from your memory everything you see starting this moment! Swear you'll forget it all, do you understand!?) Returning from the changing room, G.o.dou was wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. Likewise, Erica was naked aside from the large bath towel she used to cover everything from her hips up to her bust. "Let me help you wash." Just like before, several girls stepped forward. "Sure... But limit your efforts to washing me alone." Erica replied elegantly to the beautiful girl who appeared to be the maids' representative. "What about the young master?" "Hoho, perhaps he does want to be washed by you girls... Hohoho, nevertheless, I will be driven mad by jealousy if I see him touched by any woman apart from myself. Perhaps I might even be driven to murder him and the women around him." "Fufu, that would be terrible, wouldn't it? I understand." Erica's mischievous expression and tone of voice stood in stark contrast to her dangerous declaration. Smiling in response, the maid representative gestured to the others with her eyes. Thereafter, the highly stimulating girls, clad in sheer fabric, distanced themselves from G.o.dou. G.o.dou recalled Erica's instructions. 'Act casual. If you panic and lose composure, it won't work!' Consequently, G.o.dou had no choice but to desperately pretend to act natural. Like some sort of incantation, he repeatedly chanted "mind over body, mind over body" to himself. As the maids laid their hands on Erica's bath towel, the piece of cloth was taken away to reveal a young maiden's magnificent nude body, the most alluring and seductive that G.o.dou had ever known. Then G.o.dou saw. Appearing before G.o.dou like a queen surrounded by maids, Erica's body was as bare as the day she was born. G.o.dou already knew her figure was outstanding, but that notion was simply too naive. She was more beautiful than he could ever imagine. Her gracefully shaped b.r.e.a.s.t.s, voluminous yet perky, did not show any impression of sagging. On the other hand, those rosy flower buds, on the front of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, exuded such purity and loveliness. Her waist was extremely taut and without the slightest fat. Furthermore, that round voluptuous body part below the waist traced out a most wondrous curve- In addition, Erica's pale complexion was unparalleled. Immersed in the steam of the bath, her alabaster skin showed a tint of redness against its pristine paleness. The mere sight of her skin was enough to deal a devastating blow to G.o.dou's rational sense of mind. "Hoho, G.o.dou is so... You've clearly seen me so many times and yet you still gaze upon me with such crazed and intense eyes. This pa.s.sion of yours is what I find truly adorable." Erica spoke, smiling as she endured G.o.dou's gaze. c.r.a.p, I forgot all about Erica's earlier instructions to "Watch me as if you were admiring a familiar work of art." G.o.dou concurred with Erica's words and said: "T-That's only because you are so full of charm." G.o.dou recited the line that was prepared beforehand. Due to Erica's strict orders of "Speak as little as possible to avoid blowing our cover," G.o.dou immediately kept his mouth shut. During this time, the maids poured water over Erica's body. Instead of using a shower head, they carried water directly using wooden buckets. After being washed, that perfect skin of hers seemed even smoother than before. As if trying not to harm a beautiful yet fragile work of art, the maids washed cautiously with reverent motion. Guided by the maids, Erica, with her beautiful silky skin, entered the hot water bath. Like a mistress of the house enjoying her exclusive bath, she stretched her legs out with an air of satisfaction. The bath was filled with floating flowers of red camellia that the maids poured into the bathwater along with scented oil. This filled the entire bathing facility with a rich sense of fragrance. "G.o.dou, when are you going to stop staring at me? Lacking patience is one of your shortcomings. Please hurry over then." "Ah, uh yeah." At Erica's behest, G.o.dou responded immediately and stood up to enter the bath, wading over to beside Erica. Erica leaned her back against G.o.dou's chest. The blonde female knight was not only a master of the sword but also the owner of a magnificent body with a slender figure and skin that felt as soft and smooth as silk. G.o.dou now entered a posture of embracing Erica. --Hmm, my entire body feels so hot, it must be due to the hot water. --Hmm, I feel kind of like I'm drunk. This too, must be due to the hot water. "Really... Are you still peeping at me? G.o.dou sure is a bad boy, or is it because I am too attractive..." Under the hot water, Erica turned herself around, coming face to face with G.o.dou. Of course, G.o.dou maintained his posture of embrace. Feeling Erica's bouncy bosom pressed against him, G.o.dou could not help but scream "Mind over body!" over and over to himself. But Erica continued to press the offense. She lightly kissed G.o.dou everywhere across his face, chin and neck except for his lips, then stared at him with eyes of craving. G.o.dou could feel his sanity flying away to the heavens, but he desperately held on. In the predetermined manner they had agreed on earlier, G.o.dou stared at the maids and began whispering with Erica. As the mastermind of the farce, the beautiful maiden went "Ah, I see" and smiled. Like a princess accustomed to issuing orders, Erica proceeded to turn her gaze to the maid representative. "Isn't it about time for you all to be dismissed?" "May we?" "He tells me he feels self-conscious in front of other women, so leave us alone for now, we... will 'enjoy' ourselves a bit, understood?" "Understood. Very well then, we shall be dismissed." The maid representative immediately smiled and bowed her head reverently. With great swiftness the maids all made an exit. Most likely, they did not fail to understand the behavior Erica meant by the word "enjoy." Of course, all this was achieved without any merit on G.o.dou's part. It was clearly such an embarra.s.sing situation and yet Erica's acting was so natural and convincing. G.o.dou once again recognized Erica's skill in performing on the public stage. Even though the maids had left, the two of them remained in tight embrace. Several minutes later, Erica slowly chanted spell words softly to use investigative magic. "How are things?" "There's no one around the bath, and no one hiding in here using magic either." Having confirmed it was safe, they both exhaled deeply out of relief. Erica immediately separated herself from G.o.dou's body and distanced herself away from him. Soaked in the water for so long, both of them were almost about to faint. That night, G.o.dou and Erica spent the night in one bedroom. Furthermore, they were sleeping in such outrageous conditions -- on the same bed under the same blanket. Hearing from Erica that the bedroom was free of investigative magic she had used in the bath, as well as non-mechanical but magical means of voyeurism and eavesdropping, G.o.dou originally intended to sleep alone on the couch. However... "How can we sleep separately while we are under suspicions? There are servants outside the room. If we sleep apart, our cover will be blown immediately!" Erica snarled angrily. Indeed, it would be most unnatural for a pair of lovers who had displayed such pa.s.sion in the bath to sleep separately. Thus the two of them marked an "invisible boundary line" across the s.p.a.cious bed. Having established a treaty of absolute inviolable territory, the two of them laid themselves on the same bed under the same blanket, becoming bedfellows. G.o.dou slept on the left side while Erica slept on the right. In order to avoid trespa.s.sing into Erica's territory, G.o.dou slept with his back towards her. Likewise, Erica slept in the same posture, both of them keeping their distance with their backs towards each other. In any case, let's sleep first. Fall asleep quickly. Trying to dispel unnecessary thoughts of temptation, G.o.dou kept his eyes tightly shut, desperately summoning the arrival of sleep. Suddenly, he heard sounds of sobbing. With great surprise, G.o.dou found himself hearing extremely quiet sobbing noises. "...Erica, are you crying?" "...l-lmpossible, I'm just a little sad over my loss of purity, that's all." Erica whispered in a domineering yet exhausted voice. "W-What loss of purity, in actual fact, we didn't really do anything..." "You're such an idiot! For me, my completely naked body was seen by you. Acts that no virgin should engage in have taken place, and even now, I am sharing a bed with you ~ furthermore, the things we've done are known to many others." "K-Known to many others?" "The Campione and his lover who happens to be the daughter of the prestigious Blandelli family. In our world, this is sensational news whether politically or as gossip. Very soon, it will propagate everywhere." "Is that how it works..." "Anyone who hears of such rumors will never believe me to have remained untainted in body. Apart from myself, no one will think I am a pure virgin." Sobbing noises. Faint sobbing was heard once more. "Anyway, it's okay, I have no regrets." "Really?" "Certainly. I, Erica Blandelli, will never ever do anything I regret afterwards, absolutely never. Please do not misunderstand, I did this for other reasons and not because I liked G.o.dou." G.o.dou fell silent. The fact that he did misunderstand for an instant must be kept secret. "Listen carefully, this was simply a.s.sistance offered by the heroic knight who pitied and took mercy on the man who suddenly became king. Doing things to such an extent was simply part of my perfectionism, make no mistake about that." "I see... Thank you, Erica, it is impossible for me to properly express my grat.i.tude to you." This was a time when proper thanks were necessary. Thinking that, G.o.dou suddenly spoke up. His back having crossed the boundary, he could feel Erica squirming awkwardly, most likely due to embarra.s.sment. "N-Not at all. If you and I had never met, the current situation would never have happened, so pay it no mind." "But I mind. Yes, about the matter of your purity." Feeling embarra.s.sed, G.o.dou asked: "If you don't mind, l-l really have to take responsibility, right?" "Idiot, there's no need to take responsibility. After all, I did everything under my own will. But you have to keep your promise and forget everything that happened in the bath, got that!?" Due to sleeping in the same bed, the two of them continued to chat throughout the night for a very long time. Even though he was utterly drained in mind and body, G.o.dou could not close his eyes, unable to sleep because he was overly conscious of the person sleeping beside him. The next morning, G.o.dou immediately got up and looked out the window as soon as he woke up. Heavy rain poured down, accompanied by strong gusts of wind and occasional roars of thunder. Truly, a storm was coming. From the rumbles of thunder, G.o.dou heard a voice. '--Long you have waited, G.o.d-slayer! Come! In the real battle, I shall demonstrate clearly to you with lightning the ancient king's magnificence as the hunter of dragons. Head east, and I shall await you in the ruins of the eastern decayed city!' As the raging winds and roars of thunder pa.s.sed on this message, this was a voice which G.o.dou alone could hear, because the divine king Melqart recognized no one but G.o.dou. "...Could this be Melqart?" "Yeah, he's calling me." Erica asked from bed with a sleepy voice and G.o.dou answered. Not even seven in the morning, this was far earlier than Erica's usual time to rise given her morning feebleness. Nevertheless, the roars of the violent wind together with the divine presence filling the atmosphere must have woken her up. "Finally time for a proper battle... Right." "What?" "Nothing major. Just as I thought, it's better to wear less while I sleep, or else it feels too stuffy..." "What is with you girl, how do you sleep normally?" Without leaving the room, Erica began to change into lighter sleepwear. Due to Erica's strange behavior in her sleepy state, G.o.dou continued to stare outside the window. "Melqart said he's waiting for me in the ruins of the decayed city to the east. Where on earth is that?" "Probably Soluntum, seventeen kilometers east of Palermo. It was once a front line outpost of the ancient Phoenicians and now a district of ruins..." Hearing the approximate location described by the divine king, Erica whispered softly. "Go ask Zamparini to send out [Panormus] magi to scout it out. Once the [Heretic G.o.d]'s presence is detected, start moving out in that direction." Hearing the answer of his "partner," back to her usual reliable form, G.o.dou nodded. Part 5 "An image is appearing in my mind... A weapon of light." G.o.dou answered in the car en route to Soluntum. Sitting beside him, Erica had asked "Try imagining what power would be effective in a battle against Melqart the G.o.d of storms?" G.o.dou had pondered for a while but came up with nothing. After further contemplation, he still had no idea. This was only natural. A week ago, G.o.dou was just an ordinary person completely uninvolved with the world of magic and G.o.ds. After three minutes of thought, G.o.dou gave up, certain in the futility of further thought. Then suddenly, inspiration struck his mind. "Hmm, I get the feeling I need to use a bright and shiny weapon." "Could your hint get any more ambiguous..." G.o.dou shrugged at Erica's sarcasm. "As expected, in a fight against a [Heretic G.o.d], all one can do is make a proper entrance to the stage." Zamparini spoke from the driver's seat. He was driving the white BMW. Due to the storm, they were taking an eastbound national route which had lower traffic. -Three hours after G.o.dou got out of bed, a ma.s.sive spiritual presence was confirmed near the Soluntum Archaeological Park, just as Erica predicted. After receiving the report, Erica had said: "We are going to battle Melqart now, please lend us a car and driver." "No problem, it will be ready right away." After hearing Zamparini's polite reply, G.o.dou and Erica headed to the entrance of the mansion. The old man, both Sicilian mafia boss and magic a.s.sociation commander-in-chief, made his reappearance driving the white BMW. "Hoho, excuse me for saying so, but I'm quite confident in my skills." G.o.dou listened to Zamparini's boast with an annoyed expression as he sat in the rear seat. As a side note, there was a black attache case on the pa.s.senger seat next to the driver. "...Can I look at what's inside?" With an ominous premonition, G.o.dou opened the case to confirm. Inside was a sleek black submachine gun. The Thompson M1921 , commonly known as the "Tommy Gun." Even for someone unfamiliar with firearms, G.o.dou recognized it as one of the world's earliest submachine guns, and one that had been favored by a.s.sa.s.sins in the movie "The G.o.dfather." Furthermore, it was fully ready to fire, with a drum magazine attached to the gunbarrel... "Uncle Zamparini is active as a mage in various militant factions across Europe and America. While I use swords to manipulate 'iron,' Uncle uses guns and ammunition to manipulate 'flames,' you see." "So... So that's why I had that kind of feeling." G.o.dou nodded at Erica's explanation. The trip from Palermo to the Soluntum ruins required roughly thirty minutes. Soluntum was a town constructed in the fourth century BCE by the Phoenicians in the mountains along the sh.o.r.e. It fell into decline after coming under Greek and Roman rule, and was eventually destroyed by Islamic Arabs. In modern times, the site was being run as the Soluntum Archaeological Park and Museum. Thanks to Zamparini's preparations, the park and the museum were immediately shut down as part of emergency measures. But under such weather conditions of roaring wind and torrential rain along with lightning descending from dark clouds, it was unlikely there would be any visitors to the museum anyway. Nevertheless, G.o.dou was gratified to know that park staff were helping with evacuating visitors. "G.o.dou, I will leave for a moment to remain on standby somewhere else. Leave the role of support to me." Getting off the BMW, Erica yelled out over the roars of the wind. "Okay! I am relying on you!" Before Zamparini could get a word in, G.o.dou swiftly gave his permission. G.o.dou recalled Erica mentioning the night before that "Fighting together in one place will pose certain difficulties..." Although it could be unnecessary worry, it was better to be safe than sorry. "Hold onto this, it might come in handy." G.o.dou held out his hand to receive the object Erica gave to him. The object was a lion-shaped ornament that felt quite heavy despite being palm-sized. After putting it away carefully, G.o.dou entered the archaeological park together with Old Man Zamparini. Umbrellas were pointless in such weather since they would be instantly blown away. Whether G.o.dou, Zamparini, or Erica who had just taken off, all of them were wearing raincoats. But to little effect, for G.o.dou found his lower torso almost completely drenched. Feeling that the hood obscured his vision too much, G.o.dou simply took it off instead. The strong wind, heavy rain, loud thunder and various noises made it impossible to speak to each other. Without saying a word, G.o.dou and Zamparini made their way towards the interior of the park silently. Then G.o.dou felt his entire body filling with power. It had happened before back when he heard Melqart's "voice" on the ship. This was power surging forth for the sake of battle. In order to fight a G.o.d, this power was produced instinctively by a G.o.d-slayer. The five senses of the body as well as a sixth sense, down to his fingertips and every capillary, all were filled with heat and power. After that, G.o.dou finally arrived at the deepest part of the ruins. This was a little hill on the seaside, with two columns erected like deer or goat horns. Other than these upright columns, there were no other structures. However, this lack of structures was not due to the ravages of time. Even eons ago in the distant past, only two columns existed here. As taught by Erica previously, G.o.dou knew these two columns were the symbols of the Phoenician sky G.o.d Melqart. Then G.o.dou felt it -- his presence! Melqart was located directly above the two columns! Manifesting tangibly as violent winds, fierce rain, and scorching lightning and thunder in the air, the sky G.o.d Melqart was making his appearance in the form of the storm. 'Huhahaha! We finally meet again, young G.o.d-slayer!' "On the contrary, I am not only a civilized person but also a pacifist. Even if my opponent is a prestigious G.o.d, I have no wish to accept a dangerous fight." 'What G.o.d-slayer is this, to make such a weak statement? No matter, whether a brat like you agrees to fight or not, there is no problem. To me, it is entirely irrelevant. But are you sure? There are only six days left, eh?' "Six days? What do you mean?" "Kuku... In order to better smash this land,