Campione! - Volume 17 - Chapter 1.2

Part 2 

The state of Tirol in western Austria was where alpine skiing originated.  

Naturally, the Alps would bear the onslaught of blizzards whenever winter  arrived, turning the mountains into a pilgrimage site to where skiers flocked,  professionals and amateurs alike. After all, this was a land where people could  have fun at skiing grounds set up on mountain glaciers even during the summer.  

On this day, a girl was visiting the alpine valley of Ötztal in Tirol.  This was a region of deep snow surrounded by the Alps.  

Naturally, settlements were concentrated in the lowlands of the valley. However,  the girl's destination was neither a village nor a town of that sort.  

From the municipality of Umhausen, she set off on a four-wheel-drive vehicle.  

After an hour's drive, she reached a snow-covered forest and alighted on her own.  Putting on the skis she had brought, she switched to traveling on foot.  

"Thank you for bringing me here. Please send my regards to everyone in town."  "Are you really sure it's okay for me to leave you in this kind of place?"  

In response to her cheerful gratitude, the middle-aged man, who was running a  forestry business, asked with slight worry.  

He was one of the frequent customers at a small cafe at the town of Umhausen.  She recalled that there had been six or seven others there. She was on excellent  terms with each and every one of them. 

Using her customary smile, she had conversed with them, becoming friends  within five minutes.  

Asking "could one of you please drop me off somewhere close to that place?" at  an opportune moment, she was brought to the mountains where only skiers and  locals could enter.  

Parting ways with the worried middle-aged man, she made her way to her  destination alone.  

Actually, it would be much easier if she could be dropped off at the destination  itself, but that would incur the displeasure of the master there.  

His forgiveness was only afforded to a single exception—In other words, it was  okay for her to arrive alone. He was a problematic character who subjected others  to violence and cruelty except for her.  

Thus, she traveled along the snow-covered ground without roads for dozens of  minutes.  

In contrast to her frail appearance, she was quite outstanding in both stamina and  athletic ability. Effortlessly overcoming the arduous journey, she finally arrived  at the mountain villa that was her destination.  

Built with a stylish design using a great quantity of white timber, it was an  elegant building embodying the style of a winter mansion.  

"Excuse me, is anybody home?"  

Arriving before the entrance and knocking with the door's knocker, she called out  in an adorable voice.  

Five minutes later, the wooden door opened with a heavy creaking sound. Out came an old servant who worked at the mountain villa.  

"Please pass this message along to Onii-sama. Recalling nostalgic feelings of the  past, I have come to pay a visit." 

"...Understood, Milady Aisha."  

The old man knew her identity without her saying so.  

Presumably, he had been present the last time she visited this mountain villa.  

On the other hand, Aisha did not remember his face. However, she recalled that it  was something like the 1980s on the western calendar. Most likely, his face must  have changed greatly in the meantime.  

Hence, Madame Aisha was taken to a great hall with a fireplace.  

"Onii-sama" was currently next to the fireplace that was crackling with flames.  Sitting on a wooden armchair crafted by a famous artisan, he had his legs crossed arrogantly.  

Furthermore, hanging on his pale face was what could only be described as a  scowl.  

"...I must have said so before. Don't visit my residence for no reason."  

"If you insist on such words, no one will come here to play. After all, you don't  have many friends to begin with, Onii-sama."  

"...And I have said this too: Don't shamelessly claim to be my friend."  

"What friend? Nonsense! To you, Onii-sama, am I not your 'precious little sister'?  Like family♪" replied Aisha to the old Devil King who kept uttering cold words.  

A smile akin to a spring breeze adorned her face throughout.  

Always clad in a solitary shadow, even though he had subordinates and  worshipers, he had neither family nor friends. He should feel happy from the  bottom of his heart for a reunion with Aisha. Probably.  

He—Dejanstahl Voban—shook his head in annoyance.  

"...To think you knew the location of my abode." 

"I only found out after visiting so many people who used to serve you, Onii-sama.  The third one happily told me."  

"You used your charm authority. Happily my foot."  

The Marquis addressed as "Onii-sama" replied with irritation.  

Despite his intellectual appearance as an old gentleman, his propensity to speak  discourteously remained the same as always.  

To Aisha, Marquis Voban the oldest Campione had already been her ally since  days past—Right, before the twentieth century.  

During these past decades, he kept moving his residence between hotels and  secluded locations in Europe.  

Marquis Voban had been a wanderer since childhood. Like Aisha, he was  unaccustomed to a settled life.  

As the Marquis' temporary residence, this mountain villa was one of the assets  managed by a subordinate of his.  

"...I have said this before too: there is nothing to be gained in a protracted  conversation with you. Hurry and be done with it. What brings you here today?"  

"Oh fine. There is something I wanted to tell you, Onii-sama."  Finished with introductory words, Aisha immediately spoke:  

"A great event is about to happen. It's a long story and various reminiscences are  in order too... Please allow me to stay over, Onii-sama."  

"Didn't I just ask you to hurry and be done with it?"  

Onii-sama responded with a face of irritation, but Aisha still smiled with delight.  

"Don't say such cold words. Actually, there are currently three heroes of steel on  the move to revive the 'king who manifests at era's end'." 

"Hoh."  

As expected, a sharp gaze flashed in the eyes of the old man who stood as the  most vicious godslayer.  

"Naturally, although I do not regard you as a sister or a friend at all—"  

Then he sat up slightly. Sitting steadily on the chair, his posture leaned forward a  bit towards Aisha. 

This was a fierce motion very similar to the way a crouching wolf slowly got up.  "Would it be possible to tell me, Aisha?"  

"Certainly. Oh, excuse me. My body is a bit stiff from the cold, so could you get  me something warm to drink?"  

Aisha spoke to the old servant who was waiting on hand in a corner of the great  hall.  

"Also, please prepare comfortable heating in my room."  

"...Do as she says," said Voban rather unhappily.  

The old servant cautiously bowed his head and retreated out of the room.  

Now with that, she had secured the night's lodgings and Onii-sama's curiosity.  Feeling happy that her desire for a good long talk was going to be satisfied, Aisha  beamed radiantly.  

"Did you hear about it, Iceman?"  

Alexandre Gascoigne was speaking to the knight, his trusted subordinate.  

"A suspicious commotion started over in Greenwich yesterday. Those people in  the Witenagemot are frantically gathering data about the Asian region while those  geezers of the Diogenes Club are pushing their old bones to hold meetings  throughout the night."  

"Hoh," muttered Sir Iceman, the premier knight serving Alec.  

They were at a private museum located in the outskirts of Cornwall, a rural town  at the southern tip of England. This conversation was taking place between the  two of them in the museum's entrance hall. 

Having just returned, the young Devil King called out to stop Iceman who  happened to be passing through.  

As a side note, this museum was the headquarters of [Royal Arsenal] under their  command.  

"It reminds me of what happened six years ago. When [Heretic Arthur]  manifested, it made you decide to cooperate with that princess."  

"Ah yes. Also, just like last time... That woman is still not around."  

The superior and subordinate were talking about Princess Alice in their respective  ways.  

Alec went "hmph" as he started to talk about the beauty, his old enemy.  

"Her body apparently remains in the mansion at Greenwich while the ectoplasm  continues to wander all over the place. That woman must be chased down to  gather information about this incident."  

"If memory serves me correctly..."  

After Alec declared his decision as the association's leader, Iceman responded  sarcastically.  

"Alec, you went away for a month without telling anyone and only came back  three days ago. But now you're talking about another personal expedition?"  

"That's neither here nor there. I can also sense quite an intense smell of  gunpowder from this incident."  

Dismissing his trusted subordinate's opinion rather readily, Alec made his  declaration:  

"There's nothing to lose in taking immediate action just to err on the side of  caution. Although I'm sorry you'll have to continue holding the fort here, I'll be  counting on you for the rest." 

On this day, Godou received unexpected news through his cellphone.  

After picking up the call which had no caller ID, he heard an old friend's  nostalgic voice.  

'I heard you went on a rampage in the world of the past, Kusanagi Godou.'  "It's you!"  

He was hearing John Pluto Smith's voice again after many months.  

The Campione of Los Angeles with an excessive penchant for self-performance.  Although Godou was unable to see his masked face over the phone, that gentle  tenor voice was still the same as before.  

"Oh right. I've returned the borrowed item to Annie-san."  

'Yes, I have already received it. That gun is in my hand right now.'  "You helped me out a lot in various ways. Thank you."  

'Do not pay the matter a second thought. One day, you will pay me back with  interest.'  

—How do you know my phone number when I've never told you? Godou  decided that this was an unnecessarily and tactless question, so he expressed his  thanks for the magic gun instead and Smith graciously accepted his gratitude.  

This was a conversation taking place several months after they last parted at  Nikkou.  

However, Godou was able to chat fluently with Smith as though making  smalltalk.  

Among the ranks of the Campiones that were filled with problematic characters,  this man was the only one with whom Godou could build a positive relationship. 

But John Pluto Smith was definitely not a respectable person. After all, he was  eccentric in name and in fact, someone who devoted his efforts to a cosplay  hero's activities every night.  

Realizing this fact, Godou smiled wryly.  

'Apart from that, I've heard many rumors. About the "King of the End," about  Athena, about that noblewoman and the handsome Italian man going missing—'  

"So Annie-san and Alice-san are your sources...?"  

Annie was the American woman who served as Smith's collaborator whereas  Alice was the duke's daughter with the blonde curls. Godou had also received  plenty of help from them during the ancient Gaul incident.  

'Then allow me to clarify my policy beforehand. At the current stage, I have no  intention of heading over to intervene in Japan. That's that.'  

"I really appreciate that."  

'Indeed. Considering it's you, I knew you would answer like that.'  Smith's way of putting things made Godou laugh.  

The masked eccentric intended to assist Kusanagi Godou through non intervention.  

During the battle at Nikkou, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong, was  able to amplify his own power so long as he was facing two or more Campiones.  The "King of the End" also possessed the same ability. If he were to do the same  thing again— 

In light of that, Godou did not wish for any Campione to visit Japan on whim.  

This was Godou's honest opinion. The same thought presumably occurred to  Smith too. 

'However, since our two peers' whereabouts are currently unknown, it is possible  that my policy of non-intervention might end up meaningless and will be  terminated.'  

"Seriously. I really hope those guys can read situations a little."  'So it is decided. May fortune stay by your side.'  

Thus ended the phone call with Los Angeles' guardian saint. Still wearing a wry  smile, Godou hung up.  

"Your Majesty, was that America's [King] who called just now?"  "Yeah, that Smith guy."  

Asked by Ena who was present, Godou briefly described what the conversation  was about.  

They were currently at the study in the Sayanomiya residence at Area 3 of the  Chiyoda ward. Sayanomiya Kaoru, a member of the History Compilation  Commitee's core leadership, as well as the two premier Hime-Miko—namely,  Seishuuin Ena and Mariya Yuri—were present.  

"So Smith-sama expressed that kind of opinion—"  

"Indeed, it is very helpful of him."  

Yuri spoke softly with an expression gratitude while Kaoru nodded happily.  

"The arrival of Pallas Athena and the three heroic gods is already the biggest  disaster. If the various Devil Kings make their way to Japan successively, the  islands of Japan are surely going to sink."  

"..."  

Godou originally wanted to answer Kaoru's lighthearted joke, but could not think  of anything to say, because somewhere in the back of his mind, he considered the  possibility of that really coming true. 

"However."  

On the other hand, the Hime-Miko of the Sword started speaking again in her  usual carefree attitude.  

"On further thought, both King Salvatore and Aisha-san already know about that  Devil King-exterminating authority. Shouldn't we take precautionary actions in  this area?"  

The Great Sage Equaling Heaven had also imitated this authority of divine power  amplification.  

It was said to be a power invoked by the gods for the sake of slaughtering their  mortal enemies, the Devil Kings, wiping them off the entire earth. The power of  the ordained hero, only conferred upon a certain pale-haired aristocrat.  

"Definitely true, that's the only piece of information that's clear so far."  Godou nodded in agreement.  

"That idiot Doni is only good at tactical planning while Aisha-san's ability to  survive is quite outstanding. There shouldn't be any problems from Gascoigne  and old man Voban, so the only real risk turns out to be—"  

Recalling a certain haughty character, Godou muttered.  

A certain character who had participated in the battle against the Great Sage  Equaling Heaven, personally experiencing the power of Devil King extermination.  

Furthermore, she was touted as lacking in neither valor nor intelligence. Even so,  it was hard to imagine her fighting cautiously just because of that ridiculous  power up.  

"It's Nee-san after all, I guess..."  

"Her Eminence Luo Hao... Umm, Godou-san. Actually, there is something I need  to tell you." 

Hesitating for an instant whether she ought to speak, Yuri then continued:  

"Although I am unsure whether it pertains to Her Eminence Luo Hao, recently, I  have felt this kind of feeling. An aura of calamity—It is currently approaching  Japan from the southwest direction."  

An oracle spoken by the Hime-Miko with the highest level of spirit vision power  in the world.  

Godou felt greatly surprised. His sworn elder sister, Luo Cuilian, made her  residence at Mount Lu in China's Jiangxi province. Simply stated, it definitely  was southwest relative to Tokyo.  

Could this be considered coincidence? Meanwhile, Kaoru spoke up:  "Actually, I've already asked Lu-kun for a favor just to be safe."  "What did you ask Yinghua to do?"  

"In order to prevent news regarding this incident—Pallas Athena, the three heroes  as well as the 'King of the End'—from reaching Her Eminence's ears at all, I  asked him to secure the cooperation of those involved on that side."  

That side. Kaoru was referring to the Holy Cult of the Five Mountains that  revered Luo Cuilian as the Holy Cult Leader, as well as the Chinese martial arts  circle that pledged allegiance to her as the most powerful martial artist of all time.  Godou jumped in fright.  

"She is someone who isolates herself from the mundane world and makes her  residence deep in the mountains that resemble a wonderland. With Lu-kun first  and foremost, there are only a handful of individuals who are able to make  contact with her. If it works out, this method should be able to prevent Her  Eminence from intervening..."  

This was an arrangement very much in Sayanomiya Kaoru's wise style. Yuri and  Ena's faces instantly brightened up. 

Nevertheless, Godou's cellphone rang at this time. He had received a text  message. Feeling a sense of foreboding, he checked it and saw that it was from  Lu Yinghua.  

"Nee-san has disappeared... She can't be found anywhere on Mount Lu?"  An ominous report had suddenly arrived.