Campione! - Volume 20 - Chapter 3.1

Chapter 3 –The Chaser and The Chased

Part 1

「As expected, the fortunes of war are with you.」 

Her grandmother Ran said that with her usual curtness. 

She was wearing a kimono of subdued brown leather color. The time was already past seven at night. However, there was no atmosphere of a happy family circle post dinner here for even a bit. 

Emergency situation was in the middle of progressing right now. 

The talking grandmother was sitting in seiza posture with her back stretching straight.

「The godslayers including Kusanagi Godou-sama materialized in Okutama Mountains from a while ago, even now they are in the middle of fierce battle――! That report had arrived from some time ago.」 

The main residence of the samurai family was at the urban area of Chichibu city. 

The secondary residence they were at right now was something used for resting the body in the spare times of rushing about the steep sacred mountain. Naturally, it was located far away from bustling human habitation. 

It was in the middle of mountain that was separated within ten kilometer from the preeminent sacred precincts of Kanto, Mitsumine Shrine. 

It was a famous shrine even though it was placed at elevation of a thousand meter. Because it was surrounded by Shiraiwa Mountain, Myohougadake Mountain, and Kumotori Mountain, the name『Mitsumine(Three Peaks)』. 

Recently a secondary residence became completely rare, it was an idyll old Japanese-style house. 

Grandmother and granddaughter was facing each other in seiza posture on the dirt floor here. 

This time, even the grandmother was accompanying the granddaughter’s “special”seclusion in the mountain was surely because of the unprecedented time of emergency as expected. 

The grandmother further spoke right beside the burning sunken hearth.

「For the mountain that ought to be called as sacred ground to be on the verge of danger of ruin, truly it can be said as the height of misfortune. However, our family is a military family. The battlefield itself was moving until right before the eye of you who got a late start. Grandmother believe that there is nothing more fortuitous than this.」

「Yep! This too must be because of Ena’s good habitual behavior!」

「……Hou!」

「Sorry. Perhaps just now was too much exaggeration.」

「……Then let’s continue! Of course# even if the battlefield is at the end of Japan, I have the intention to send you until there no matter what by surmounting all difficulties. By putting our family’s dignity on the line! However# for it to be nearby without any necessity for that……」

The grandmother emitted uncommon pressure just by slightly narrowing her eyes. 

But, the granddaughter wasn’t overawed by that! She straightened her back like the grandmother, and kept her upright seiza posture without even any small shaking. Elegantly displaying beautiful manner no matter what kind of time it was. That was exactly the etiquette of Yamato Nadeshiko that had been disciplined thoroughly into her to this point.

「Raise deeds of arms without fail. Everything begin from there.」

「Roger. Well, just leave it to me.」 

She undertook it by lightly clapping her chest. 

In order to raise the child of the youth who would become her husband someday, she was in a position that ought to play a very active role as mother. When she realized that, she added more to her speech.

「Also, it would be no good unless the heir of our family is created between Ena and his majesty. Ena will absolutely protect his majesty, and we will safely return back, so Baa-chan also just watch!」

「Ena.」 

Seishuuin Ran――Ena’s grandmother spoke without delay! Of course# she wasn’t a woman who would rebuke the granddaughter with line like ‘even though you are a maiden# that’s vulgar’ and the like!

「Something like winning without fail and returning home alive# for a warrior……no# for someone who fight# that’s an unworthy line. What you should say there is『Even if I die I’ll become a spirit, and swear to protect my master even then』.」

「Ah, I see.」 

The grandmother talked with resolution about the disposition of warrior to her optimistic granddaughter that would go on her path. 

For Ena who learned numerous heroic saga regarding the chaotic period and rapid growth period after Second World War by hearing, she could accept her grandmother’s words without even feeling any particular repulsion.

「Then# Ena will do well about such matter# so I’ll be going now!」

「Do just that.」 

The talk was fast because she was strict and not fixated with trifling matters. 

Receiving her grandmother’s nod# Ena stood up 

After putting her hand――on the katana that was put at the side. The size of the whole thing appeared to be around 121 centimeter. It was an object that wasn’t entered into sheath, instead it was wrapped with white cloth. According to the oral instruction, it seemed that it was a treasure that was entrusted to the ancestor of Seishuuin family by a household that was connected with Mononobe lineage.

「So you, took that out from the basin under the waterfall of Isonokami……」 

The grandmother whispered with deep feeling.

「Perhaps sensing the arrival of the fearsome god of war, even the spirit of the divine sword conferred a response to you.」

「Ena also think that it might be something like that. After all when I attempted it before, the spirit completely disappeared, it didn’t even show out its figure!」 

It might also because Seishuuin Ena’s spiritual rating had also grown up slightly compared to before. 

By fighting together with Kusanagi Godou, and struggling through verge of death of a level that was normally impossible, her strength as princess shrine maiden had been increasing little by little until now――! 

Ena had such self-awareness. 

For that reason, she went toward the hidden waterfall of inner Chichibu that was known only by very little number of ascetics. 

There was a secret cave behind the flowing down water. 

Ena was making prayer wholeheartedly before getting into there. She prayed, in order to face the trial Japan was under, please grant the divine protection to the princess shrine maiden of the sword. 

When the spirit of the divine sword responded, it would be possible to face the cave behind the waterfall. 

But, if there was no response then nothing would be found. In fact# when Ena attempted it three years ago# she couldn’t even discover a short sword. But, this time was different. 

With the “trump” that she promised Kusanagi Godou in her hand, Ena finally departed for the battlefield. 

Devil king civil war, it was already at the night of the second day. 

She should still make it in time if it was with her nimble¬footedness.