Campione! - Volume 19 - Chapter 1.5

Part 5 

Hamarikyuu’s Onshi Garden. 

It was one of the battlefields where goddess Athena and Kusanagi Godou confronted each other. 

Originally it was the garden of the villa of the house of Shogun Tokugawa. After Meiji Restoration it was turned over to the imperial household and later on it was opened for public. 

The place was facing at the mouth of Sumida River, the pond inside the garden was drawn in from sea water. 

Godou arrived once more at that Hanarikyuu two hours after he visited the hideout of Hong Kong’s Lu family at Kabukichou. 

He came there not because of nostalgia. 

As rendezvous point, this place was the most convenient. 

「You arrived, Godou.」 

「The preparation over here is all finished. What’s left is depending on the will of the goddess. If she plan to depart following her declaration then――」 

「So there is no problem at all then.」 

When Godou entered inside the ground of Onshi Garden, Erica and Liliana called out at him. 

Erica was wearing a wine red coat like it was only natural as the replacement of her rossonero(red and black). The coat’s length was rather short until her waist. 

That outfit was completed with white top and black denim jeans. 

As for Liliana she was the heaven-sent child of nerazzurro(blue and black). On top of her grey short blouse was a combination of blue coat and black tights, it was then added with white muffler and knitted hat. 

Of course, Seishuin Ena was still accompanying him right from Kabukichou. 

However, there was no figure of Mariya Yuri here. The princess shrine maiden who boasted of the greatest spirit sight was still separated from Godou all the time since Godou’s decisive battle against prince Rama. 

At the occasion when Yuri went to the realm of the dead for the sake of ascertaining the true name of the『King of the End』, she then stayed behind there. 

Even now she was watching over the battle of Kusanagi Godou from the other side……. 

「But it’s unexpected isn’t it. For that goddess-sama to so suddenly give in.」 

Ena murmured seriously. 

They were in the middle of walking deeper inside Onshi Garden. 

「True it’s really unexpected. Even though she wouldn’t agree even after Godou had recommended to her to move to astral world many times after the battle against prince Rama.」 

「And today, she suddenly said『I don’t mind to do that』like this.」 

Liliana also nodded at Erika’s words. 

Moving to realm of the dead/astral world――perhaps it should be called as『retirement』to be more accurately. 

It was something that was done once in a while by some heretic gods. A heretic god would grow tired of days of wandering on earth and chose to live quietly in astral world……. 

Even the guardian of Ena, the “gramps” Susanoo also one of the retired gods. 

And then this time the goddess in question would also―― 

「That Athena, even though until yesterday she was saying things like『Rather than leaving the battlefield with half-baked feeling, I’d rather suicide』, that she wouldn’t mind even if she die anytime or whatever.」 

Godou spoke the name of his long time enemy the goddess with whom he had a deep tie with. 

The goddess Athena had died once, but even while she was reincarnated into divine ancestor Palas Athena, she recovered her previous divinity and memory and returned to earth. 

But when prince Rama was revived she lost most of her life force and currently she was in a state that was in the verge of death. 

It was to the degree that she wouldn’t be able to last even for a few days――. 

If she abandoned her dying flesh body and retired to the realm of the dead, perhaps it would be possible for her to prolong her life. Betting on that possibility, Godou recommended to her『 Leave this world』many times. He was starting to be giving up thinking that there was no way the highly proud Athena would agree. 

「……Looks like she arrived.」 

Strength was brimming inside his body, so Godou spoke. 

When gods approached near, a Campione’s heart and body would immediately adjusting in battle preparation. With conviction Godou looked up at the night sky of Onshi Garden. An owl traversed though above his head. 

It was without doubt the avatar of the goddess. Since after the showdown against Rama, Athen completely hidden herself. 

But when he called her name, she would suddenly manifest out of nowhere with her figure transformed as little snake or owl. 

And then this morning, she appeared in front of Godou at a roadside where there was no presence of people and informed him. 

『About the matter thou have been talking about――that I should depart to the boundary of life and immortality. I won’t mind to respond to that. Mine feeling changed a little.』Was what she said to him. 

There was a wharf right after walking from Hamarikyuu. 

It was at the bank of Sumida River. Usually there would be several civilian ships anchored there, but tonight all the ships had been taken care of. 

It was the arrangement of the history compilation committee and its person in charge, Sayanomiya Kaoru. 

This wharf and Hamarikyuu’s Onshi Garden were blockaded, and it was arranged so that only Kusanagi Godou and the people related could use the place. 

That was why right now, here there were only Godou and――a silver haired girl. 

Athena. In Greek Mythology she was a goddess of wisdom and war, but at an older mythology she was made as a mother earth goddess that governed over death and life. 

She was a girl that looked in her early teens possessing short silver hair and eyes with color of darkness. 

That was the material body of Athena on earth. In addition, it was unknown from where it was provided, but tonight too she was wearing an outfit of the designated uniform of a school that she at times was wearing at the past. 

「This night, I will depart from here.」 

「Yeah. We also have cleared away the people from here, my companions purified the air around this area, they are adjusting the surrounding to make it easier for you to use your power.」 

A goddess and godslayer who had repeated several duel where their life was at stake. 

Now they were exchanging words between the two of them calmly, as though all those duels were lie. 

「This morning you suddenly said things like you are okay with retirement, because of that it seemed that it was terrible to make the preparation so suddenly you know. You still haven’t change your feeling right?」 

「Yes.」 

「In the first place, just why did you change your mind so suddenly?」 

「……I felt an omen.」 

There was a distance around three meter between Godou and Athena. 

However, none of them tried to close the distance. It was fine like this. If they felt like it, they could close the distance right away and began to grapple each other in a mortal combat. Athena could even change her breath into curse of death and blew it into the mouth of Kusanagi Godou. 

It was a delicate sense of distance, where it felt close yet far, felt far yet close――. 

This distance itself was exactly the relationship between the two. 

「If you don’t mind, then teach your reason to me so even I can understand.」 

「It’s an unusual omen. I still don’t understand the particulars. But, at this metropolis――the outside of this metropolis where the battle between fellow godslayers will begin, something unusual is starting to move.」 

Obtaining a lot of wisdom and knowledge in the shape of divine revelation, intuition, and so on. 

That was also an authority of Athena. It was because of that that she was a goddess of wisdom. 

「Unusual? As expected that’s……」 

「First there is no doubt, that the main cause will be someone among you the seven godslayers. Perhaps it will be even something perpetrated by the seven of you.」 

「The dispute that will be happening at outside this metropolis――Tokyo, something is?」 

After Godou said it by himself, he immediately realized. 

「By any chance……that unusualness, it will happen at the realm of the dead? That place that you all called as the boundary of life and immortality.」 

「Fuh.」 

Athena only smiled coldly. 

But, he had associated with this goddess for long in regard of one thing or another. Godou discovered her affirmation from the slight movement of her lips and he finally understood. 

「And it’s because of this, that you suddenly okayed the retirement talk.」 

「It’s unclear how much that unusualness will influence the war against crown prince Rama. But, if it doesn’t cause any influence, then I can just do a trick to make it have influence……. Though I cannot read how much mine body that almost run out of life can accomplish.」 ‘kukuku’ Atena chuckled. 

「Perhaps it will be mine last chance to deal an attack of revenge to that person. Then, it will not be bad to use up――the rotting life of Athena for that.」 

Even when she had reached this stage, she still hadn’t lost her fighting spirit. 

This goddess would depart not for prolonging her life, but for the sake of taking a chance of revenge. Godou nodded, thinking that it was really like Athena for her to do this. 

「I got it. Then, you can do whatever you like. At the other side Mariya……my companion is there. The time that dangerous unusualness or whatever happen, please protect her if you can. 」 

「It’s not mine business. There is not a single reason, about why I hath to rack mine brain for such trivial matter.」 

「…………」 

Perhaps he should say that it was only to be expected. She didn’t compromise even in this kind of matter. 

Godou didn’t request her more than that and he shrugged. And then, Athena spoke concisely with a really smooth intimation. 

「Let me say these words in this occasion. Farewell, Kusanagi Godou.」 

Last time, when Athena was vanishing she said this. That she wouldn’t speak any farewell. 

This change was exactly because of something that was like a bond created between Godou and the goddess――perhaps it was something like that or not. Or possibly, this was merely her whim. 

Either way, the body of Athena was changing into dust from the edge. 

The thin tips of her silver hair, the fingertips of her white slender hand, and so on, they were all starting to crumble rustlingly, that collapse was immediately spreading to her whole body, she was losing her girl shape in the blink of eye. 

And then, from between the dusts dancing in the air riding the night sky, a ball of bluish white light came out. 

Perhaps it was the soul of goddess Athena. 

At any rate the ball of light was flying out toward the mouth of 

Sumida River and like that it flightily drifted toward Tokyo Bay――toward the sea. 

In ancient time, the territory of sea seemed to be also the metaphor of another world. 

The nirvana in regard to this world. The world over here in regard to the world over there. Legends in many countries were talking that there was Sukhavati (Amitabha’s Pure Land) at the end of the sea――. 

Godou recalled the knowledge that Amakasu Touma taught him from his extensive knowledge. 

That was why the place for the departing was prepared at the seaside, so that it would be easier to go to the realm of the dead. 

As though to endorse that theory, the ball of light was getting smaller bit by bit as it was flying toward the offshore, before long it suddenly vanished completely. 

The soul of the goddess was right now departing toward the world beyond. 

「She is gone already isn’t she.」 

The one who called out to Godou was Amakasu Touma. 

He was a member of history compilation committee who liked to talk about extensive knowledge. He was wearing his usual worn out business suit. Even he who was in possession of abundant experience was keenly gazing toward the sea. 

「I am greatly wishing that it’s the end with this and I can receive a break though.」 

「As expected is it impossible?」 

「Yes. Kusanagi-san’s colleagues are arriving in Japan one after another you know?」 

Black Price Alec. 

King of Sword Salvatore Doni. 

Madam Aisha. 

And then the one who should even be called as the star performer, Marquis Voban. 

Amakasu reported that it had been confirmed that the four godslayers had already arrived in Japan, 

There was the addition of sect founder Luo Hao and Kusanagi Godou here. It was only John Pluto Smith whose whereabouts could not be confirmed yet from the report. 

The agent of history compilation committee spoke with deep emotion. 

「Oh dear, this happen even though there is no pervious arrangement beforehand among all of you, that’s why the gentlemen and ladies of Campiones are truly existences that has railed off the proper track.」 

「I can sympathize but, I want you to not mix me among them there……」 

「Hahahaha」 

While glancing at Amakasu who was laughing evasively, Godou suddenly inserted his hand inside his coat pocket. 

There he noticed. Something was inside his pocket. Even though at the very least before he arrived at Hamarikyuu, there was nothing inside this pocket at all. 

When he took the thing out, it was a folded up paper piece. 

「A letter huh……」 

On the paper piece that he unfolded, a short piece of writing with beautiful penmanship was written there. 

It was a message from a certain person that was addressed toward Kusanagi Godou.