Campione! - Volume 17 - Chapter 5.1

Chapter 5 - You, the One Shouldering the Fate of Eternity 

Part 1 

"There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another."[1]  

"There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead."[2]  

The two knights, Erica Blandelli and Liliana Kranjcar, were cooperating on a task together while chanting spell words at the same time, for the sake of accomplishing a certain magic.  

Their location was the garage of a detached home in the Bunkyou Ward where Liliana made her residence.  

The garage was large enough to park two large vehicles but neither Liliana herself nor her maid and housemate Karen Jankulovski could drive, hence the garage was merely an unused space at present.  

"It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body."[3]  

Erica was chanting spell words for metal manipulation magic.  

Placed in the center of the garage, the object made metallic clanging noises with splashes of scorching sparks, meanwhile changing its form slowly.  

After all, this type of work was not quite suited to undertake at home.  

This was iron alchemy, the magic for manipulating iron and steel. Erica's area of specialty.  

"And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible.."[4]  

Liliana was also using witchcraft.  

Through the passage of time, women who served as priestesses for mother earth goddesses became known as "witches. Hence, users of witchcraft were experts skilled in the manipulation of earth spirits.  

On the other hand, iron was the symbol of harm to the earth. Digging the earth required hoes crafted from iron. Chopping down trees required axes of iron.  

As the incarnation of iron swords, the heroes of steel seized nations through martial valor, annexing land. Defeating the dragons and snakes controlled by the earth mothers, they turned goddesses of the land into their wives and lovers.  

—Consequently, compatibility was very poor between Erica's iron alchemy and Liliana's witchcraft.  

That being said, the two of them were melding magic from two different systems together, like mixing water with oil, cooperating to create a certain object.  

The slightest mistake and this magic would fail.  

Furthermore, the spell would still fail even from merely irregularity in breathing or instability in magic power.  

This was a task of extreme difficulty. Completing this project without issue in spite of that, this stood testament to Erica and Liliana's skills as prodigy level.  

"It has finally taken form. It should be fine as long as it accomplishes the effect."  

"That would be Godou's job, not ours. This is as far as we can achieve within our power."  

The two Great Knights conversed while looking at the center of the garage.  

Placed there was a short sword, whose blade measured 50cm or so in length. The blade's color was dull like lead and inscribed with the words "the one who is, and who was, and who is to come."[5]  

This was the magic sword they had just forged using a number of magical ingredients.  

The ingredients used were respectively: a former iron sword that was now a piece of metal all covered in rust, a pottery fragment unearthed from ancient Libyan ruins, salt, mercury, a blue lump of solidified lava, etc.  

Made in an emergency rush after all, this sword would probably last for no more than one or two uses. However, that ought to be sufficient.  

Ever since Kusanagi Godou and the two Hime-Miko departed last night, the two knights had been working nonstop on this task without resting.  

Fortunately, it was Saturday so they did not need to be excused from school.  

"I wanted to go along to the Netherworld originally..."  

"No helping it. Although it doesn't matter who are the ones making this, you and I are the most adept, after all."  

"It does not seem like your personality to accept things so readily."  

"Oh my, didn't you know that I am the woman who can sacrifice everything for Godou any time? But now that you brought it up, Lily, aren't you the one who is accepting things with unbelievable readiness?"  

Erica put the lead-colored short sword into a leather sheath and placed it on a table in a corner of the garage while Liliana cleared away the fragments of ingredients leftover from the forging magic.  

While their hands were working away, the two girls started testing each other.  

"Lily, lately it has come to my attention that you haven't shown the slightest hesitation towards becoming Godou's woman."  

Erica was still speaking with a noblewoman's elegance as usual.  

"Stealing credit whenever certain circumstances arise to allow you time alone with Godou, having tasted pleasure and satisfaction multiple times, your heart has grown confident... Perfectly spot on, am I right?  

"You are the one I must denounce, the sly vixen through and through."  

Liliana did not change her strict demeanor of a female knight's either.  

"Absolute refusal to miss any opportunity. The recent visit to Sardinia with Kusanagi Godou was a rare and excellent chance. Precisely because you accomplished results accordingly, that is why you are so calm—Am I right?"  

The two girls have always been prodigies from magic associations in Milan as well as childhood friends and rivals.  

Although they were in the same faction now, they were still competing against each other over the man of their most beloved affections. Staring into each other's face, they observed the other's reaction for now.  

In the end, they both sighed and slowly relaxed their shoulders.  

"Regarding this matter, Kusanagi Godou really ought to be questioned thoroughly. There should be quite a lot of new information of interest."  "Indeed. After all, he is not one who can keep secrets."  

After exchanging nods, Erica continued:  

"When suspicious points arise in his female relationships, those are generally discovered after something happened."  

"This type of premonition always comes true. After all, he is someone impossible to predict. Most likely, the ritual will be completed in the Netherworld this time as well."  

Criticizing Kusanagi Godou was their shared special talent.  

To go even further, they were much better at it than Yuri and Ena with their benevolent personalities. Although their king was kind and a bit dense in personality, he was excessively problematic on the matter of conduct.  

"Actually, Erica, judging from common sense, I would expect Mariya Yuri to be the partner... But this alone is probably insufficient to satisfy him."  

"What a coincidence. I happen to agree with you completely."  

"More than becoming undisciplined, lately his mind has gradually decayed."  

"However, do note that we are the accomplices in this regard."  

"In a certain sense, the people responsible for him awakening into such a monster are the four by his side—us..."  

"For him to have developed to such an extent, how unexpected. Or rather, a godslayer never fails to impress."  

Just as they really got into the topic, delving deeper and deeper into the matter, Liliana's cellphone on the table in the corner started ringing.  

The caller was Sayanomiya Kaoru, presumably to inform them of an emergency gathering.  

The two Great Knights nodded at each other.  

A few hours after the forging magic's success, it was two in the afternoon.  

Erica and Liliana were heading to the mountains in the Bousou Peninsula again. 

But instead of Minamibousou, this time it was Ichihara City in the Chiba Prefecture. Their current location was a service station near Ichihara on the Tateyama Expressway crossing the Uchibou region in the mountains.  

The History Compilation Committee had reported discovering the "King of the End."  

Arriving in the car provided by the Committee, the two Great Knights were greeted at the scene by Lu Yinghua.  

He was probably conducting the search operation together with the History Compilation Committee in order to accomplish the task set by his master.  

"Oh well, finding that guy isn't actually hard."  

Saying that nonchalantly, Lu Yinghua frowned. The arrogant youth's handsome face was casting a grim gaze towards withered trees.  

"It's obvious from first glance, because their are suspicious trails left all over the place."  

"The land becomes barren wherever the 'King of the End' passes... Is that what is going on?"  

Liliana murmured with worry.  

The Bousou Peninsula's mild climate meant that its mountains and forests were full of greenery even in winter.  

One could even call it early spring by February. That being said, the mountains near the Tateyama Expressway had already lost their verdant color.  

Leaves were withered while trunks and branches looked dead as though dehydrated.  

Trees were literally standing there with all greenery and nourishment sucked out of them. The weeds growing under the trees were not only withered but also pulverized and destroyed.  

The soil was dry as well. Due to the strong wind today, clouds of dust were blown all over the place.  

Fortunately, this was not the state of the entire mountain. Only the area from the foot to the middle of the mountain had lost its greenery.  

"Looks like this guy walked here on foot from Minamibousou. Everywhere he passed through looks like this. All the grass and trees are withered, looking like a single lane's worth of tire tracks."  

"Indeed it is so..."  

Liliana nodded in response to Lu Yinghua's report. Before arriving here, she had used the [Witch's Eye] to confirm the surrounding situation.  

Looking down from above, it looked like a faded one-way road had been marked on the Minamibousou landscape.  

As though the grim reaper's carriage had left these tracks behind, it was a terrifying scene.  

"On the other hand, there are many golf courses nearby and a small number of homes, isn't that right? Is it possible that the 'King of the End' has not made any contact with humans?"  

"Well, about that... I think it'd be quicker for you to have a look."  

Puzzling Erica with his answer, Lu Yinghua motioned with his chin.  

The noise of engines kept coming from the direction he indicated.  

This noise from operational engines was clearly different from that of vehicles traveling on ordinary roads and highways. Quite distinctive. There was a motor race track behind the mountain they were at.  

Although called a race track, this place was not as grand as the venues for Formula One racing or the like. This place was exclusively used for training, car shows and official races with small race cars.  

That said, the course length was roughly a kilometer.  

The main grounds was 160m wide, quite a large facility.  

A number of teams were practicing today. Several small cars were speeding away. There were also people watching from the grandstand. The sandy run-off area also had staff doing work.  

A quick glance of the surroundings revealed roughly thirty or forty people present.  

The surprising thing was that the "King of the End" was mixed among the crowd. Sitting at the most forward part of the grandstand, unbelievably, he was watching the race cars going at high speed.  

With a serious expression on his face, the sacred aristocrat was staring at the cars driving rapidly with thunderous noises.  

This could be described as the graceful and noble airs of "royalty whose curiosity was piqued when confronted with rare and unusual tribute or offerings."  

Furthermore, he was even chatting with people beside him.  

After listening to their answers, he would nod with a look of comprehension. A crowd gradually gathered around the "King of the End" in the grandstand. In addition, they were explaining all kinds of knowledge to the Devil Kingexterminating hero, offering snacks and drinks to him, gazing into his handsome face in a trance.  

As a side note, the "King of the End" was dressed in the same attire as he was last seen.  

A blue tunic and white cape. Taken down from his back, the scabbard carrying the divine sword was stood up next to him.  

The handsome face with its pale complexion was clearly not Japanese. Despite this appearance of his, none of the surrounded people were bothered at all.  

"That's essentially the attitude this great hero takes towards humans."  

Lu Yinghua explained.  

Erica and Liliana were watching the "King of the End" from afar, at a corner of the grandstand.  

"He seems to have come into contact with seven or eight people during the last two days. When Committee members asked around, everyone replied saying they 'met a very handsome foreigner who was extremely friendly.' Also, they were all speaking with a face of rapture, hoping sincerely to meet him again."  

"A hero who makes contact with ordinary humans huh..."  

Liliana remarked with mixed feelings stirring inside.  

"Even in this regard, he is quite an exception among Heretic Gods."  

"Also, he is probably the same as Madame Aisha. I believe he possess a charm authority."  

Currently, all those people were treating the "King of the End" with sincere well wishes and admiration.  

Having witnessed the same scene many times in ancient Gaul, Erica pointed out this fact.  

"Try imagining this, a virtuous and revered king who could be called a 

Bodhisattva's reincarnation. Or rather, it would be more apt to consider him the originator. If he were to go to heavily populated urban areas—"  

"Undoubtedly, he would be a cause for massive chaos just like the Madame in ancient Gaul."  

"Unbelievable. By gathering fanatical believers, he could probably turn them into his own army. Even with a gentle disposition, he is also a god whose actions cannot be predicted..."  

"Well, my two Nee-sans, about that..."  

Lu Yinghua interrupted the conversation between the two Great Knights.  

"Are we really going to make a move? There is the option of hiding and continued monitoring, right?"  

"You definitely make a good point. But even if the charm authority could be released, I believe the 'King of the End' must not be allowed to enter cities. If he were to go on a rampage as before, who could predict the extent of damage and casualties..."  

"Also, Lu Yinghua, you still have your master's orders."  

"In that case, I can't find any words to retort."  

The trio nodded at one another. Resolving themselves, they started to move.  

They walked from the corner in the grandstand over to the circle of people that were gathered around the "King of the End." Squeezing through the charmed crowd, they approached the hero of salvation.  

The trio were the only people gazing at the pale-haired aristocrat with calm eyes. Presumably because of that...  

He apparently figured out their identities. With a calm voice, he called to the people around him.  

"My apologies, everyone, but let us call this a day. I hope you will leave as quickly as possible to let me be alone. Thanks."  

The effects were immediate. The people around him packed away their things quickly and left the seating area, disappearing towards the exit.  

Also, there was a lot of human noise at the race track and the run-off area.  

Originally driving smoothly, the cars stopped one after another. The racers got out of their cramped driving seats while the recording crew at the maintenance station also began preparations to withdraw.  

But unlike the spectators at the grandstand, these people were showing displeasure and agitation in their words and behavior.  

The History Compilation Committee had contacted the race track's management to close down the track for today in an emergency (possibly using magic in the process as well).  

Glancing sideways at the people leaving, the "King of the End" stood up.  

Turning his dignified and handsome face towards Erica, Liliana and Lu Yinghua, he slowly walked over to them.  

"You are affiliated with the godslayers of the present generation—Kusanagi 

Godou and Her Highness Luo Hao, aren't you?"