Campione! - Volume Ex - Chapter 5.1

Chapter 5 – Devil King And Holy Grail
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Year 1858, January.

Marseille was the number one city throughout southern France.

It was a port city that was facing the Mediterranean Sea and the center of the Provence region. It was also in the top category as a port city. Its location was great for trade in the Mediterranean Sea.

Marseille’s main street was Canebiere Street.

It was equivalent to Champs Elysees in Paris. The citizens and also the travelers were naturally gathering there, shops of every type were standing in a row, creating vitality of the city──.

In the terrace seat of a café that was operating in that main street.

Sunlight was showering the location fully. It looked really pleasant there.

It was because the sky was sunny and there was also no wind. But, as expected from midwinter even when wearing a thick coat, cold air was still cold as expected.

There was only one group of customers drinking tea while enjoying the open air’s freshness.

Three gentlemen with nice attire were sitting around a table in the corner. They all had dark faces while exchanging information in whispers.

「Yo, last week was a disaster huh. I heard, “the said beast” also descended at the headquarter of you guys Old Lady in Torino.」

「Yeah. Thanks to that we were very tired.」

「It’s not just Torino that got visited by misfortune. The other day, in our France’s Cannes that monster──the “beast of disaster” also appeared. From the sky along with lightning……」

「In these three months, the cities that became victim of disaster were Torino, Cannes, Genoa, Barcelona──」

「Don’t forget Nice and Avignon too. This is truly an alarming situation.」

「But fortunately, in our city there was a savior……no, a person who introduced himself as devil king who came to our assistance. Thanks to him the damage could be limited to minimum.」

「Then, you intentionally came to Marseille for “expressing your gratitude”?」

「Correct. With this our association the Old Lady will also be placed under those newcomers──the Campiones. As the leader of a long-established prestigious organization of the righteous faction, this situation also makes me want to bite my handkerchief in vexation. But──」

「But, what?」

「It can’t be helped. After all his absurdity is the real thing……」

「Him, huh……」

「Is it true? What they said that he murdered a god and usurped the god’s sacred authority?」

「There is no way the like of me understand that! Well, if I can say my personal opinion……I don’t think that it’s a false information at all. If there is a person in this world who is worthy for the title of godslayer, it’ll be nobody else than Caesar.」

「The godslaying devil king. Caesar Blandelli, huh……」

「Come to think of it, if I remember right there was also a noble family called Blandelli in Milano’s Copper Black Cross. Is he from that house?」

「I think not. When he is concerned, from his appearance he’s absolutely not someone born around here.」

「How do you know that?」

「Because I had met him directly.」

「You! You’ve experience meeting Caesar face to face!?」

「Yeah. Last week, at Torino that became a battlefield. I’m going to “express my gratitude” after this will be my second audience with him.」

「What kind of person he is!?」

「If you want to know that, then you guys can visit Caesar’s mansion directly. In the first place, you came to this Marseille with that intention right?」

「「…………」」

「White Giant and St. Germanus, two prominent organizations in regard to Europe sorcery. For the leaders of those two organizations to become this engrossed with that person. The growth of influence of Lord Caesar is still not going to stop at present eh!」

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The period of 1850 reached its latter half where a commotion swept through Europe’s sorcery society.

It was because of the descend of the beasts of disaster that started since around half a year ago.

The sky would be covered with dark clouds without any portent, then a giant magical beast would descend──. Such mysterious and absurd big incident would occur twice or thrice a month.

The beast of disaster sometimes could be deer, but sometimes it could also be bull or horse.

There was also case when it was fierce beast like wolf, lion, or tiger, and there was also example of pig or bird.

In all the case the beasts would possess an abnormal size and fierceness. The beasts would rampage around without discrimination using their huge size, destroying town and city.

The beasts of disaster mainly descended on Europe’s southern part or eastern part.

But sometimes they would also appear at the western or northern part of Europe. The danger could occur anywhere.

──From time immemorial, it would be the obligation of the magicians to face such supernatural phenomenon.

The students who investigated the path of magic ought to shoulder the “duty of the noblemannoblesse oblige”. They shouldn’t just inherit the knowledge of the mystery and magic, but when those wisdoms became harmful to society then they should protect the populace using their body as shield. That was the good sense of the world of sorcery.

However this time the magicians were gnashing their teeth and clenching their fists in anger and regret.

Because they couldn’t oppose the greatness of the beasts at all.

Even when the egoistic high ranked magicians reluctantly joined hand and combined their strength to subjugate the beasts, it was mostly useless.

Against the out of norm disaster, their efforts were equally not working.

Whether it was weapon that was enchanted with magic power, or magic art of offense, or the martial arts of the templar knights. Or even when several hundred practitioners solidified their organization like an army and exerted their whole force, everything ended with the same result.

But──the magicians had choices.

Would they face the giant beast that suddenly descended with their own powerless art? Or, would they recite the name of the devil king that burst into fame half a year ago?

Right now, almost all the magicians in Europe knew that rumor.

──When their life was in danger, if they were in a place where the wind was blowing, that would be a good opportunity to summon him.

Chant the great name of that king. The name of Caesar Blandelli.

The commander-in-chief who was leading the rising magic association Campiones, the one who was said to have killed a god.

No matter where the beast of disaster appeared, the devil king Caesar would arrive together with a whirlwind. And then, he would chant the words of power of victory.

『The one unblunted and unapproachable! Oath breaking sinners be purged by the iron hammer of justice!』

『For victory, hasten forth before me! O immortal sun, lend me a quick shining steed!』

『O guardian of the righteous, I invite you and offer sacrifice. I will perform justice, please grant me the right path and light!』

Each time miracle would occur.

A divine beast boasting jet black fur and brawny giant build would rush on the ground, from the sky the heated light of sun would come down like a spear. Thunder clouds that could swallow even a metropolis like Paris or London would fill the sky and strike everything with inexhaustible lightning bolts.

The populace living in Europe didn’t know the name of devil king Caesar.

It was a secret that was only told to those who walked the path of sorcery, a part of the royalty, nobility, political, and the wealthy.

And then those who knew the name of Caesar would be afraid of the threat of the beasts of disaster while also feeling awe to the terrific existence of the godslayer that could handily defeat such threat…….

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「Kusanagi Godou. A messenger from Bohemia’s king comes.」

「Hmm. Then, bring him here.」

In a new high-end residential area that was also close to Marseille’s port.

In a stylish mansion located at the neighborhood where recently the bourgeois class and the like of traders would often move into.

Godou received a report from Liliana Kranjcar inside a big greenhouse of the mansion and easily gave a quick reply.

Seishuuin Ena grinned smugly while holding scissors she was using to trim flowers like roses or camellia.

「That’s no good your majesty. It’s not like a devil king to readily allow a mere messenger to have an audience. In this case shouldn’t the king himself or a retainer with authority of a prime minister be the one coming here?」

「I, isn’t that putting on air a little bit too much?」

「But, Godou-san right now is Caesar Blandelli so──」

This was Yuri’s comment.

The graceful Yamato Nadeshiko was carrying a silver tray. She was helping with the gardening by picking up the branch’s or tuft of flowers that Ena snipped down.

「Shouldn’t you make an appeal with the appropriate dignity? It’s Erica-san’s plan to give impression that the godslayer Caesar is an extraordinary existence and establish an influence that cannot be matched by anyone within a year……」

「So even Yuri is getting carried away.」

Godou smiled wryly. When it came to the girls, they gave out ideas one after another to produce the 『Devil King Caesar!』 with Kusanagi Godou as the front man.

By the way everyone was stylishly wearing the outfit of this era.

Yuri was wearing a long sleeved blue day dress. It was a clothing of the modern era’s but the fringe of the skirt was reaching all the way until the ankle and expanded out gently.

Liliana was dressed in a male outfit in the style of gentleman. She was wearing a blue frock coat, white shirt, and black long trousers.

Ena was wearing a waistcoat on top of a shirt, and a knee-length trouser that was similar to knickerbockers.

As though to represent the girls who had gotten really used even to this environment, Yuri who was clad in a dress, chuckled.

「I’m sorry. The plan is going better than expected that I’m somehow enjoying it. But, Godou-san right now is like──Marquis Voban in his younger days that I learned from hearsay.」

「It’s indeed like that.」

Liliana boasted with a triumphant look.

「The role model of Caesar Blandelly is exactly that person. Kranjcar House had served the marquis for many years. Because of that I understand really well in regard to that aspect of him.」

Godou right now was placing his headquarter in Marseille, France.

Not just magicians, even business leaders, royalty, and government VIP’s were seeking to meet him. Just like how Marquis Voban was in Europe’s 18th century──.

Two hundred magicians in total had already gathered under Kusanagi Godou and swore their fealty to him.

That organization for the time being was named as Campione’s Association.

Erica and others sometimes would call Godou as Campione. That nickname was added with “s” before they noticed and it was settled as the organization’s name.

The one managing this newly rising association was Liliana Kranjcar.

The female knight who was the devil king Caesar’s aide, secretary, and even his “lover”. Liliana was entrusted with the full authority to take the rudder of the organization along with such titles.

Thanks to that the boss Godou was living a leisurely life that was free from the worldly cares.

He would only go to business trip sometimes when it was time to advocate the name of Caesar and fought giant creature as Campione. He would also have audience with the important people of various countries in Europe and the authorities of the world of sorcery. It was enough with that.

Other than that he would leave various matters to others, for them to do as they saw fit.

Today too he was relaxing, drinking coffee in the greenhouse and admiring the brilliantly colored flowers.

Yuri and Ena were taking care of the flowers in turn. Perhaps thanks to the two them having knowledge in flower arrangement, they were tidying up the flowers skillfully.

These several years, he was living from journey to journey.

Godou was enjoying the peaceful time after so long while feeling admiration.

「However, the avatar of Gale can be used even when I was called using my alias huh. I never tested that before coming here so I didn’t know……」

「But even the gods has various names.」

「If the person who call the name is conscious of Godou-san’s existence, then that will be enough.」

The princess shrine maidens spoke together. Liliana was also grinning.

「It was fortunate to notice that in the early stage. Thanks to that the organization’s influence increased easily.」

Caesar Blandelli. It was Godou’s alias.

They didn’t know what would happen to this world where Mithra was the King of the End in the future.

But, a mysterious easterner grasping the hegemony of the underworld in 19th century Europe──not leaving behind such information as much as possible would lower the effect to the history.

With that judgment, Godou used Europe’s name even though his outer appearance was oriental.

The Blandelli family name was chosen randomly by Erica. After all Caesar was 『a name that didn’t exist in the family tree of the real Blandelli House』.

「……But you know. Those beasts of disaster, what are they?」

Ena suddenly said.

「In the end, we don’t understand at all the true identity of them. I wish we can get information about them quickly. Ah, but Yuri, you said that you felt something about them?」

「Yes. It was when I happened to be present at the site where those beasts descended.」

Yuri taught them her oracle with a serious face.

「The beasts are always born from dark clouds and descend to the land……. I sense that those clouds are also a 『source of life』.」

「I see. So they are clouds of life.」

Yuri nodded at Liliana’s reply.

「Yes. If we can find the place where the clouds of life is created──I feel that we’ll also be able to discover the source of this commotion there.」

「Got it. Let’s try increasing the number of people to investigate it.」

「We also have to search for Aisha-san. This is just my guesswork but, perhaps that person is also involved with the commotion this time.」

Liliana folded her arms after hearing Ena’s arbitrary assumption.

「That’s more an unjust suspicion rather than guesswork, but it’s just too possible to be the case……」

「If it’s okay then perhaps Ena should also take a look here and there? Recently we are staying in Marseille, so Ena is slightly unable to calm down.」

Seishuuin Ena repeatedly spent her days secluding herself in the mountain even while being raised as a daughter of a high-class family.

Liliana nodded at the proposal that was really fitting for the beautiful child of nature.

「So you will do that for us. That’ll help. ……Also there is something I wish to request from Mariya Yuri──」

Normally it was Erica’s position to put this group in order.

But there were various situations that right now Liliana was the one taking the manager role.

……Godou was watching the exchange of the girls with a smile, but he suddenly noticed. He took out his pocket watch that was made by the Swiss.

He opened it. It was three PM. It would soon be the appointed time.

「My bad. I’m going to take a look at how Erica is doing. See you girls later.」

As soon as he said that, Godou left the greenhouse with light footwork.

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