Camp 21

Introduction

The summary until now

Since killing a god and became Campione by usurping that god’s authority, Kusanagi Godou had fought against Heretic Gods and Campiones of other countries.

Through the battles, Godou came to know the existence of the King of the End who possessed the power to kill godslayers.

A plan to prevent the resurrection of the King of the End was executed but it too came a step short and the resurrection was realized, where Godou was overwhelmed by the King of the End’s strength. However he determined the true name of the King of the End, Rama which became a trump card, and he barely won. But, as long as Campione existed, Rama would come back no matter how many times, and he would become stronger in proportion of how many Campione there was.

Accepting that fact, in order to decide the last Campione who would fight Rama, a civil war between seven Campiones began. Godou who was assaulted by the alliance of Luo Hao and Voban joined hand with Doni who rescued him from that predicament, furthermore they made Madam Aisha into their ally and succeeded in dragging in all Campiones into the Fairy Corridor.

And then Godou got the better of the fierce battle that was the most severe even among all his battles until now, and he became the last Campione remaining──.

Thus the Campione Kusanagi Godou faced the last battle…….

Chapter 1

Part 1

Thus the devil king civil war was over──

The battle that was concerned with the end of this world was finally going to start.

The location was the end of Astral World.

There was an ancient Greek style shrine built on green grassland. However, most of its roof and pillars were destroyed from receiving the gust of the fierce battle.

Right beside it──

Kusanagi Godou was confronting the white monkey god Hanuman and the Divine Sword of Salvation he was carrying.

"I can see a familiar face inside that sword."

"Fufufufu. Don’t get a misunderstanding. This gentleman is not crown prince Rama. He is the younger brother, his majesty Lakshmana."

"I know. I’ve met him before."

Godou answered shortly to the chuckling Hanuman.

The divine sword had a blade with length that reached a meter. Pure radiance was dwelling in the blade. The face of a handsome young man was emerging inside the resplendence of that blade.

The face was exactly the same with the hero Rama. His skin was dark brown. And then he possessed ominous evil countentance.

Inside the blade of the divine sword, Lakshmana’s face glared fiercely at Godou.

It was a hatred that he didn’t even try to hide. It was as though that thought was corroding the divine sword,. A black stain was spreading from the middle of the blade until the sword guard…….

Furthermore, the face of Prince Lakshmana that was emerging on the divine sword yelled.

"Die, Kusanagi Godou!"

The evilness of that expression didn’t resemble the upright face of the older brother no matter how similar their face was.

The “distortion” that was characteristic of Heretic God was wholly received by this little brother, perhaps that was exactly the cause of this discrepancy between the two siblings──. Godou made that conjecture while thrusting out his right hand casually.

*GAKIiiiiN-!* Steel and steel clashed and a high pitched metallic sound was produced.

"What!?"

Hanuman was shocked.

The divine sword the white monkey god swung, the right hand that Godou thrust out──that palm firmly blocked the sword, in addition the metallic sound just now also resounded from that.

"My bad. This guy is inside my right hand."

Godou brushed away the Divine Sword of Salvation with the back of his right hand while boasting.

High pitched metallic sound *KIN!* also rang out at that moment too. Currently, Kusanagi Godou’s right arm was in possession of hardness that rivaled even the divine sword of Rama.

And then, from Godou’s right hand ──divine sword, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi suddenly manifested.

Godou grasped it and stared at Hanuman.

"Sword fighting isn’t my hobby though. But I’ll keep you company."

"How impudent, godslayer!"

The war god who boasted godspeed and agility──swung his lord’s sword in succession.

A slash from right. A slash from left. A jump then a slash toward the crown of head. Five stage thrusts while falling. Getting on all four after landing while also slashing toward the shin──

*KIN, KIN, KIN, KIN, KIN, KIN, KIN, KIN, KIN, KIN, KIN!*

Godou warded off everything using Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi.

His sword handling was natural and smooth, not inferior even compared to any kind of famous swordsman.

It wasn’t that he had learned sword art. The pinnacle of Japan’s divine sword from the start was making Kusanagi Godou’s right arm as its 'sheath'. In that case, couldn’t it be said as the extension of his right arm?

The moment Godou noticed that, he felt like he was able to handle sword freely.

The rest was simple. Beginning from his right arm, he entrusted the control of his whole body to Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, the blade that possessed its own will──

"Splendid, Kusanagi Godou! You didn’t show any opening even in the face of my sword technique!"

Hanuman stood up from crawling on all fours and gave a praise.

Godou lightly turned that praise aside.

"It’s not my own achievement, so it’s okay even if you didn’t praise me. Besides as expected, I cannot grow to like swords or katanas. This kind of thing doesn’t suit my nature."

That was why, he sent his thought to the blade in his right hand. He told it ‘we are doing that’.

"Ama no Murakumo! With the wisdom that Circe bestowed, remove the lock of the black sword!"

Godou swiftly swung Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi along with words of power that gave order.

It wasn’t to cut the enemy. It was to clash against the divine sword the white monkey god was holding.

*KIiiN!* There was the sound of sword impacting sword. Godou horizontally swung Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi in large arc. The divine sword of Japan──sucked the Divine Sword of Salvation like a magnet.

"Oo!?"

Hanuman blinked in amazement once more.

The Divine Sword of Salvation was separated from his hand that was covered with white fur.

Hanuman’s grip strength lost against the “suction strength” that Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi displayed. The monkey god with immense and unparalleled strength that could uproot a mountain, the superhuman strength of that stout arm was──.

Godou activated the secret sword <Black Sword> just for a bit.

He used a small trick at Salvatore Doni when they were in ancient Gallia. This was the reproduction of that.

Godou swung Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi *BUN!* while turning the suction power into zero. The Divine Sword of Salvation was immediately sent flying to far away. The enemy was empty handed──

"Hahahaha. Unfortunately, you cannot say that my weapon is taken away with that!"

The moment Hanuman lost the divine sword, he unleashed a left fist strike.

That speed was exactly like a flash. It was a godspeed fist strike. However, Godou also activated the same godspeed using Verethragna’s seventh avatar, the Raptor.

He lightly jumped backward to dodge the left straight of the white monkey god that was fired toward his face.

In addition Godou swung Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi horizontally in a flash. It was like the principle of a slugger’s swing hitting back the baseball.

He didn’t use his arm strength, but the rotation of his waist and the transfer of body weight to produce power──!

"Muuuh!"

Hanuman groaned from getting his torso scythed down hard.

The slash just now could also be said as the culmination of the one year that Kusanagi Godou spent as godslayer.

The ten avatars of Verethragna.

Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi.

The secret sword <Black Sword> that the witch Circe and goddess Athena left behind.

This sequence of offense and defense was possible exactly because he had grasped all the authorities he had for more than enough.

But, Godou didn’t let his guard down. Because although he was pouring a killing stroke at Hanuman, not a single drop of blood trickled out from that wound!

"What are you going to show me next, Hanuman!?"

"Something like this!"

Hanuman’s torso was wearing a golden chainmail shroud.

A horizontal straight line of sword wound was carved there. With that wound as the boundary──the upper body and lower body of the white monkey god suddenly became separated!

Furthermore the upper body flew to the sky and circled behind Godou.

The lower body bent its left foot like a whip and let out a high kick. It kicked toward the side of Godou’s head.

"What the hell!"

Godou leaped far to the side and escaped from the pincer attack.

He activated godspeed only at the moment he dodged, so it looked like he teleported instantly. But there was no way Hanuman was surprised. He stretched out his right hand right away.

"O Sword of Salvation!"

Rama’s beloved sword came flying and settled inside Hanuman’s right hand.

Furthermore, the upper body and lower body of the divine monkey──moved out simultaneously with godspeed.

The upper body flew above Godou with speed that was like wind and swung down the Divine Sword of Salvation. The lower body attacked Godou from the front with drop kick.

"Shit!"

Godou activated his godspeed once more in full throttle.

He slipped through the “above and below” attack with a speed that was like instant teleportation. Without pause he began to sprint with all his strength like a lightning.

But, Hanuman was also moving around with the same speed.

His lower body was flying in the sky, his lower body was running on the ground, chasing after Godou’s full power sprinting!

"Even if you’re an invulnerable monkey, this is still foul play!"

The war god of steel who was a child of wind god and boasted the attribute of invulnerable body.

That was why even with the upper body and lower body separated, he could continue fighting like that. Hanuman’s outrageous hidden trick caused Godou to click his tongue.

"Ama no Murakumo! Give me power to fly in the sky too!"

The divine sword that was a national treasure was the symbol of Japan’s conquest.

It ended numerous different race, and plundered their riches, people, technology, and knowledge. Therefore Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi could copy the enemy’s ability.

This time Godou made it mimic the power to fly and he flew away to the sky.

"If it’s like this, then I’ll escape until the end of earth!"

'Ou!'

Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi responded shortly to Godou’s command.

Godou was also in the middle of activating godspeed using Verethragna’s Raptor avatar, so he rushed through the sky of Astral World with a genuine lightning speed.

However, Hanuman was also chasing behind closely.

His upper body and lower body connected once more and soared in the sky while riding on the tailwind.

"As expected, he won’t easily let me go huh……"

Kusanagi Godou had just finished the devil king civil war.

He used up the avatar of Gale, Warrior, Goat, Boar, and White Horse in that battle. It was hard to say that he was in flawless condition.

If possible he wanted to avoid fighting more than this.

–

Part 2

In the end, the ability that Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi copied didn’t have considerable strength.

Even though it could mimic a power that could allow Godou to fly alone, it was impossible to copy the ability or authority that was higher class than that.

That was why, it was fine to escape to the sky but──he couldn’t take a countermeasure further than that.

"You too are a obstinate fellow huh, Hanuman!"

"Hahahaha. If I let you get away here, it will be troublesome to corner you once more. Right now when you are weak is the best time for battle!"

"Well that’s not wrong!"

Godou escaped using godspeed flight, with Hanuman in pursuit.

They rushed through the sky with a speed that was equal with descending lightning and they were already flying around through a distance that could cover circling earth twice or thrice.

During that time, the white monkey god of wind was following behind all along.

It was a hot pursuit that was just like a racer in second position was desperately tailing his rival at the first position, trying to overtake him.

If possible, Godou wanted to attack or obstruct the opponent somehow.

But, if he took action to do that, his control of the source of his godspeed, the Raptor would get disordered. His speed would drop in that case even though it was only slightly. At that moment, Hanuman would surely plunged on Godou’s back──.

Or perhaps, he would control the atmosphere as the son of a wind god and strike Godou down from the sky.

"Shit!"

Godou cursed.

For now he had no other option except to escape with his highest speed.

In that time Hanuman was also forced to concentrate flying at full speed, there was no worry of him starting any kind of strange trick.

However, the limit would arrive in due time if he only continued to escape──.

(Should I try using that soon?)

In Astral World, one could move to “different layer” just by thinking it.

But, it seemed that Godou didn’t have the magical sense to make use of that skillfully. He wouldn’t know where he got teleported, and there was also the possibility that Hanuman would pursue him easily.

"Should I think of a different method……"

When he was unconsciously muttering that

Godou noticed──a voice in his ear calling his name.

(Godou-san!)

Right. Even if he was far away, he had a comrade who could reach out to his heart. The moment Godou recalled that, he immediately yelled.

"Do it, Mariya!"

A certain image was sent to Godou’s heart.

It was something sent to him from Hime-mikoprincess shrine maiden, Mariya Yuri who had returned to the surface a little while ago. Using the spiritual power of mind telepathy, she conveyed the 'place that should be headed toward' to Godou.

Godou accepted it wholly──

And his figure vanished.

–

"Oo, how!?"

Hanuman was shocked when he suddenly lost sight of his target.

He halted his flight in a hurry. He floated still in the sky, sat in the lotus position, and sharpened his awareness. He searched for the godslayer’s presence but he wasn’t anywhere……?

"To be able to move through “layer” by only thinking it is the principle of Astral Plane. Does Kusanagi Godou posses the talent to quickly use it like that?"

It wasn’t something that man could accomplish alone.

Hanuman tilted his head. And then, he immediately switched his thinking.

"There is no use lamenting it now that I have allowed that fellow’s escape. Since it has come to this, I have to wish for Prince Rama’s second advent as fast as possible and prepare for the arrival of this world’s end……"

Because that was exactly the meaning of his existence.

The white monkey god of wind Hanuman. As the vassal of the hero Ramachandra, he was a companion that exceeded even the biological brother Lakshmana.

–

And then, on the surface at about the same time──

"Godou-san, he somehow escaped from his predicament."

Mariya Yuri finished his long mental concentration and murmured.

She was at Sanbanchou, at Chiyoda district at Tokyo Metropolis. It was the villa of Sayanomiya house, the head of History Compilation Committee. Yuri was sitting on a sofa inside the house’s reception room.

"Godou-san won through the battle against other devil kings, and also slipped through the attack of Prince Lakhsmana and war god Hanuman──for now he is moving toward a safe place."

Yuri said after letting out a relieved sigh.

She was wearing shrine maiden outfit. After returning back from Astral world, she immediately came here. It was for the sake to have discussion with her comrades about the matter from hereafter.

Beside her there was also her childhood friend in uniform appearance, Seishuuin Ena.

"As expected from his majesty. He perfectly arrived at the last big match!"

Ena talked in admiration happily.

"Besides, Yuri also raised great accomplishment. You aligned your heart with his majesty using telepathy to confirm the situation and even gave him guidance to escape!"

"That’s because I’m worried what is the result of the battle."

Yuri also smiled and nodded to her fellow Hime-mikoprincess shrine maiden.

Before they parted from the seventh Campione──. In order to grant the knowledge regarding fairy queen Niamh, Godou exchanged kisses with everyone.

At that time Yuri also applied the magic of telepathy.

She assimilated a part of her spiritual power with his soul so that she could construct spiritual joining anytime.

"About that, Yuri."

The one who asked was Erica Blandelli.

"What image did you send to Godou? There is also a risk that he could be found out and pursued if it’s an escape route to a bad hiding place though."

"After all when talking about war god Hanuman, he should be excellent in tracking too after all."

Liliana Kranjcar also muttered.

The pair of red and blue knights naturally were also there.

"In order to search for Prince Rama’s kidnapped wife, Sita, Hanuman flew all over India before he finally pinned down her location. Hanuman also has that kind of legend you know?"

"I think……that it will be okay, perhaps."

Yuri answered the silver haired female knight. Then Ena’s eyes sparkled.

"About the place, could it be you saw it with your spirit vision?"

"No. Actually right after we returned to the surface, a telepathy about a certain place──telling me to guide Godou-san there reached me. I was told that they would do something somehow after that."

"Eh, is that so!?"

Ena’s eyes opened wide. It couldn’t be helped. Everything was done through mental conversation using telepathy, so it was natural that even they Hime-mikoprincess shrine maiden of sword didn’t notice.

On the other hand, Erica spoke with the air of a know-it-all.

"……A person who can send telepathy from far away place and converse directly with Yuri. Furthermore, that person is really knowledgeable about the situation. That means that the princess has also recovered a bit."

While Seishuuin Ena and Liliana Kranjcar were surprised at the side, only the daughter of Blandelli house solved the riddle before the situation was brought to light.

Yuri smiled at Erica’s usual wisdom.

"Yes. The person who is exactly on Erica-san’s mind was the one who taught me."

"Then, it looks like it will be fine even if we left Godou alone for now."

"And then Erica-san. That person──Princess Alice told me."

Yuri talked toward Erica who had reached comprehension.

"Godou-san, he might……need help from us who has returned to the surface. We should prepare for the sake of that time. That is what I was told."

"Preparation?"

Erica frowned questioningly.

At the same time the door opened. Two people entered into the reception room. They were the owner of this villa and an agent of History Compilation Committee.

First Amakasu Touma spoke with his usual characteristic way of speaking that wasn’t standing out.

"Yaa, everyone, you are all here."

"We got a bit troublesome information. It looks like the decisive battle is approaching."

The beautiful woman in man’s clothing, Sayanomiya Kaoru too was speaking seriously which was rare for her.

"The signs of Ramachandra’s revival are appearing everywhere. The temperature rose two degree higher than yesterday, then the volcanoes, not just in Japan, but even the volcanoes throughout the whole east Asia are increasing in activity. The eruption of the submarine volcano in the middle of Pacific Ocean also cause the formation of new land──"

"Even the thing chasing after me and Ena-san got steamed."

Amakasu’s grumble surprised the mentioned Ena.

"What’s that? What did Ena and Amakasu-san do again?"

"Remember. At Chiba’s Kisaradzu──it’s the thing when we came across Divine Ancestor Guinevere. 'Queen Oto tachibana-hime, jumping into the sea embracing a sword to sacrifice herself'."

"……Aah!"

The stage of the battle was Astral World.

However, it seemed that at the surface it also couldn’t be tranquil and peaceful by any means.

–

Part 3

"Somehow this become a strange line up……"

Kusanagi Shizuku murmured.

She was in a hamburger shop at Shinjuku, Kabukichou district, Yasukuni-dori street.

She was facing a young man with sour look at the seat’s corner. His stature made him appeared to be in middle school, about the same age with Shizuka.

The young man──Lu Yinghua spoke with a displeased look.

"Indeed. At least if honored un──no, your big brother is here, it will be far better than this."

"Hmmm, as expected."

Shizuku smirked because it was as she expected. Lu Yinghua made a sullen look.

"What are you on about?"

"You, despite being re-ally crabby, but you seem obedient with my Onii-chan aren’t you? Ah, but don’t worry. It’s not like I’m thinking to “associate” with you by using my family’s big brother as pretext after all."

"It helps if you will do that. Well, but"

Lu Yinghua, the Chinese young man shrugged his shoulder.

"Your big brother──Kusanagi Godou surely won’t allow something like that. He will be like, don’t use my name as you please, or something. After all he is a person who properly distinguish between associate and friend."

"Hmmm."

"What?"

"You quite understand about my Onii-chan."

"Well yeah. I have several special skills and connections that I cannot boast to other people though. My “closeness” with you big brother is also one of those. Aa, by the way. This kind of call──you’re going to refrain from it as much as possible right?"

Lu Yinghua turned his gaze at the girl sitting beside him with a glare.

It wasn’t Shizuka who was at the opposite side. There was a girl who looked like she was in upper grades of primary school. For Shizuka she was her tea ceremony club’s senior’s──little sister.

Mariya Hikari smiled sweetly and faced Lu Yinghua.

"But Lu-san. Shizuku-san expressly──said that she want to have a chat with us. Isn’t this fine just for a bit?"

"Then, it’ll be fine if you two fellow woman just chat with each other alone."

Lu Yinghua was indifferent even against the insistence of a cute girl younger than him.

Actually around an hour ago──

Here in this Shinjuku’s roadside, Shizuka unexpectedly came across Mariya Hikari.

It was a coincidence. They had only met once before, at the party that was held in Kusanagi family’s home at Christmas last year.

Mariya Hikari was quite an “able” grade school student.

'Long time no see. Thank you for looking after me at the Christmas party last time. I am Mariya Yuri’s little sister, Hikari. Do you remember me?'

Hikari greeted first before Shizuka could say anything.

She smiled sweetly and even bowed her head quickly.

She was quite a reliable person for a third year middle school student──. Shizuka had that kind of self-awareness. But, it seemed that Mariya Hikari was also in no way inferior to her.

It was a good contrast with her big sister, Mariya Yuri who was a young lady sheltered from the world.

And then, they entered a nearby hamburger shop for chatting a bit. When they talked about the time at Christmas, Shizuka suddenly spoke.

'Come to think of it, that time, there was just one boy who was mixed in. Recently I also met that boy by chance and talked with him a bit but……he was gone right away.'

'Lu-san is it? I know about that person contact information.'

Hikari took out her mobile phone.

Furthermore, she smiled mischievously and added this suggestion.

'Let’s call him for a bit. If I mention Onii-sama’s name to him, I think he won’t act hard-heartedly in reaction.'

Thus thirty minutes later. The Chinese young man whose residence was somewhere in Shinjuku joined them with a discontent look.

At the corner of the hamburger shop, Lu Yinghua spoke with displeased look.

"Besides, where did you got my phone number from?"

He complained at the sweetly smiling Mariya Hikari.

"I’ve got a bit of connection with your big sister but, I didn’t exchange phone number or anything with her."

"Fufufufu. Actually it was Erica-san who taught me."

"So that Nee-san is the source of leak. Shit, she is exposing it so casually like that."

"Because, it’s better to know it rather than not after all."

Hikari continued without breaking her amiable sweet smile.

"Like this, we can easily meet if for example there is the unlikely chance of an emergency situation. Especially right now──it’s a time when there are various disturbances."

"Chih"

While she was a grade school student, what Hikari was saying sounded like a fair argument.

Lu Yinghua clicked his tongue and made a scowl.

This young man, Shizuka had guessed it somehow but, as expected it seemed that he was quite a problem child. On the other hand, Mariya-senpai’s little sister was a really able child.

Although, looking at how she was calling this young man Lu to this place half because it was amusing, she wasn’t a simple good child.

Could it be that she was hiding quite a mischievous heart? Shizuka was harboring such suspicion while suddenly changing the topic.

"Speaking about disturbances. A few days ago there was a great commotion around here right? Remember, like a dangerous contagious mushroom got scattered around or something──"

"……Ah, yes. Now that you mentioned it, there was such thing."

"If I remember right, the imperial garden at Shinjuku is still quarantined even now isn’t it?"

"It’s not just the imperial garden. The whole neighborhood is included. Well, it must be something that people with really problematic personality did."

For some reason Hikari threw an appropriate response with delayed reaction, while Lu Yinghua was speaking with a satisfied look for some reason.

"Such heinous scoundrel should just get divine punishment──ah, no. I guess such punishment has been handed down already."

"Eh? The culprit is captured already?"

Shizuka was surprised at that news she only heard for the first time.

There, young man Lu suddenly leaned forward. Until now he had been sitting with a fed up look, but now it was as though such thing was just a lie──it was a really quick change of attitude.

He spoke with a grin.

"The culprit wasn’t arrested, but it looks like the two main offender were banished from Japan. It’s really something to be able to do that much toward those fellows who won’t just die even when they are killed."

The way he was speaking sounded as though he couldn’t suppress his emotion.

Furthermore he murmured "As expected from honored uncle" with small volume. Looking closer, Lu Yinghua was squinting his eyes smilingly like a satisfied cat.

Shizuka couldn’t really hear the murmur just now, so she tilted her head in puzzlement.

When she was going to ask what he meant, Lu Yinghua spoke earnestly before she could.

"I’ve got to treasure this rare peace and freedom that I’ve obtained. It’s unknown how long this situation will continue, I’ll spread out my wings as far as possible while I can."

"Putting aside peace, what do you mean by freedom?"

"It’s fine, it’s fine. Don’t mind me. It’s my own circumstance."

Shizuku stared with suspicion, which Lu Yinghua responded with an extremely good mood. It was at that timing.

A ringtone rang out. It came from Shizuka’s smartphone that she put at the edge of the table.

"This mail again. Really, it has been coming since this morning. How persistence."

"What’s the matter, Shizuka-san?"

"A spam……something like that? This has been the fourth time in just today. What’s more, all of them got the same content. As expected this is really irritating."

Shizuka complained indignantly when Hikari asked.

She showed the screen of her smartphone. The content of the mail was displayed there.

'The legendary hero will resurrect soon ♪#&! He who hold the sword of world salvation is scheduled to appear majestically in order to eliminate the seventh devil king *+?!'

Unexpectedly──

Lu Yinghua and Hikari who saw the mail made a grave expression together.

"……Something similar also came to my phone."

"……Me too. The hero of devil king slaying will resurrect, that person have the divine sword of salvation──the content is also exactly the same."

The two of them exchanged glance with each other.

Nonsensical spam mail. However, the new friends of Kusanagi Shizuku looked like they were discovering a serious problem from that mail content.

–

A few months ago──.

This kind of folklore became talked in some part of Kanto region.

'Queen Oto tachibana-hime, jumping into the sea embracing a sword to sacrifice herself. The destination that sword is drifting too isn’t a place on the land, it also not a place at sea, but a floating island.'

It was a tale about a holy sword and its possessor.

The agent that was like a midday lantern, Amakasu Touma said this.

'History Compilation Committee and its predecessor organization had buried this folklore into darkness for several hundred years.'

'If there are people who are told, their memory will be erased, if there are record of it written it will be altered.'

'But, it’s no good. When several dozen years passed, someone will start spreading the same folklore again. It’s as though someone is secretly spreading it.'

Divine Sword of Salvation──.

This was one of the unusual phenomenon that was caused by that sword and Prince Rama.

And then a similar phenomenon occurred this time too. Spam mail that told of a legendary sword and hero──actually such thing was sent out repeatedly to the mobile phones throughout Japan.

It was to quietly make apparent──the existence of the mystique sleeping in a certain place at Japan.

The legendary hero would accomplish resurrection before long.

This was a phenomenon that was the sign of that.

–

Part 4

Godou finally shook off Hanuman’s pursuit using layer transfer.

Right now a gray colored space was spreading before Godou as far as his eyes could see. There wasn’t even any ground. He was merely floating in the grey space.

Not even horizon existed, it was an empty space.

"This is a really dreary place."

Godou murmured then asked his guide in this trip.

"So Mariya. Where should I head to after this?"

There was no reply from the reliable Hime-mikoprincess shrine maiden.

Godou felt dubious. He had already experienced the telepathic communication using Mariya Yuri’s spiritual power and mental telepathy many times.

During that communication, he would always feel Yuri’s presence near him.

However currently, the sense of security when his mind was connected with her mind──couldn’t be felt at the slightest. He wondered what was going on.

"Kusanagi-sama."

Suddenly Godou heard the voice of an acquaintance and he was surprised.

Princess Alice had appeared right beside him when he noticed. Her appearance was a combination of elegant pink dress and a shawl. Godou immediately guessed the situation.

"Alice-san, are you using the usual──the power of body and soul separation?"

"Yes. Even my body that got weakened from Prince Rama’s manifestation has also recovered a good deal……from here on, I will serve as guide in the place of Yuri."

The'princess' that was connected to prominently distinguished family in Europe smiled gracefully.

"To say the truth, I asked of this to Yuri. I told her that I wish for her to move Kusanagi-sama to this place. Because ahead from here──there is something that I wish for you to look no matter what."

"Me?"

"Yes. Perhaps it will be unnecessary but──just in case, I wish to notify Kusanagi-sama……of the place where the mastermind that is controlling the King of the End is located."

"Mastermind!?"

After Godou felt shocked, he immediately noticed.

Now that she mentioned it, he had heard of it several times until now.

"Do you mean, the originator who entrusted the fate of devil king extermination to that guy?"

"As expected of Kusanagi-sama. It’s exactly as you guessed. What I wish for you to take a look at, that is──nothing else but the territory where the god of fate is reigning."

Princess Alice spoke solemnly.

God of fate! Godou felt a strange deep emotion when he heard those words.

"I see──. This is the guy that can push the fate of devil king extermination to Rama who is a god, so even an exaggerated title like god of fate won’t be strange……"

"Yes. It is as you say."

"But that’s amazing Alice-san. You even know something like this."

Wizengamot, the organization that was headquartered in Britain’s capital, London.

She was a former speaker of that organization, and possessed the nickname of'White Hime-miko'.

She was the human with the most prominent spiritual power in the world. She gave induction of spiritual power to Mariya Yuri who possessed similar disposition with her, and made her potential greatly bloomed──.

Godou once more reconfirmed how prodigious Princes Alice was.

But the person herself chuckled and spoke mischievously.

"If I have to confess, I too didn’t know about it until an hour ago."

"Eh? Then, how do you know it now?"

"Even though I look like this but I’m the miko who represent the surface world……that’s how it is. I also often came to Astral World, and I also have acquaintances there. One of them gave me the instruction of this matter."

"I see."

Godou too had only met with the fairy kings of Astral World not long ago.

Surely one of the knowledgeable person among them whispered this information to the princess’s ear. And then, as expected this noble lady was also an outstanding talent to be able to be visited by such existence too.

"Then Alice-san."

Godou stared still at the young lady.

"Please take me to this territory of god of fate."

"Unfortunately, I cannot do that."

"Eh?"

"The strength of the like of me has no hope to step inside such place──it’s a holy ground. If there is human who isn’t a god that can trespass into there, then most likely it will only be the devil king of godslaying……"

"…………"

"Kusanagi-sama. If it’s you who are a Campione, it should be possible for you to see through what kind of place that holy ground is. I led you until this place for the sake of that."

Princess Alice gestured to display the surrounding space.

Everything was filled with grey color. For Kusanagi Godou who in the end only possessed human senses, it was a dreariness and coloring that only made him felt the nihility.

"This is the end of Astral World. The place that is nearest to <Domain of Immortality> where the gods lived. It’s a space that is the worthiest for the name of <The Boundary of Life and Immortality>."

"……I get it."

Godou nodded at the princess’s words.

"I also noticed just now. I have come here several times. Called by the fooling around goddess──who introduced herself as the mother of us Campiones."

It seemed that they, Campiones were called as Ephimeteus’s illegitimate child.

The titan that appeared in Greek mythology.

And then, Ephimeteus’s wife was──also named Pandora.

She was created by the blacksmith god Hephaestus due to the order of the chief god Zeus.

This girl was granted with various disposition by gods as present.

Woman charm from the goddess of beauty Aphrodite. Weaving skill from goddess Athena. Beautiful singing voice from the sun god Apollo. The power of transformation from the sea god Poseidon.

Cunningness and curiosity from god of thieves Hermes, and moreover the so called Pandora Box.

It was a container that was considered something that must not be opened no matter what.

After that, Pandora opened “the box that must not be opened” due to a sudden impulse.

From inside the box, hatred, jealousy, greed, death, sickness, and so on, every kind of disaster came out and spread on the world. But there was only one thing that remained for the girl, 'hope'──.

……That was the mother of godslayer, Pandora.

The memory when Godou met her in Astral World was forgotten all the time when he was in the real world. However, if he returned to this world, that ban of forgetfulness would be gone.

When Godou talked with Pandora a few months ago, he certainly came here.

"Then Kusanagi-sama. With strong heart……please look forward."

"Forward?"

"Yes. Ahead of the space that is painted out by grey color──see through all of that. Think of that strongly and stare still only to the front……glare……discover the end of the world."

"The end of the world, what is ahead of it."

Godou was able to imagine what he should do from Alice’s words.

He concentrated to both his eyes with the intention of breaking through all divine power, sorcery, and curse obstructing his field of vision. He also fully activated his magic power.

Gradually──the 'gray color' spreading before his eyes was thinning.

Godou saw something in exchange.

"Carpet!? Is that made from cloth!?"

When he noticed, a tremendously vast 'carpet' was spreading before his eyes.

The end couldn’t be seen at all by Godou’s eyesight.

A single carpet was spreading without end. And then, if Godou advanced for three hundred steps more, he would be able to step on it.

That carpet──was brilliantly colored to extreme degree.

It was weaved using string of every color.

There were colors that Godou knew, and also colors that he didn’t know. It was a carpet that was weaved with tens of thousands color.

The strings of abundant colors were forming geometrical pattern.

Not just one. Ten, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, a hundred million──no.

Patterns in a colossal number that couldn’t be counted were drawn on the carpet’s surface. And then, not one was the same with other.

A fabric──in the shape of carpet spreading boundlessly possessing myriad of colors.

"Alice-san. What is this thing!?"

"This thing is exactly <fate> itself."

Princess Alice spoke quietly.

"Does Kusanagi-sama know of the three sisters, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos from Greek mythology?"

"Only that I heard of their name somewhere, I guess."

"They are called as the three goddesses of fate. They are goddesses who designed and created the grand fabric of <fate>……. The three of them together are also called as Moirai."

Not just spiritual power, it seemed that Alice’s knowledge was also standing out.

She faced Godou who was overwhelmed by the vastness of the carpet (?) spreading before his eyes, and the noble princess continued talking of the myth.

"Their authority is nothing more than manipulating the thread of fate.

First the eldest sister Clotho spin the thread,

The second sister Lachesis decide the length of the thread,

The third sister Atropos cut the thread.

Like that, magnificent and diverse fabric of <fate> is completed──. That is the definition in the world of Greek mythology.]

"Fabric……"

"It’s said that these three sisters’ name each has meaning, Clotho who spin the string is 'creation', Lachesis who decide the “length of string” that also mean the life span of humans is 'preservation', and Atropos who cut the string is 'destruction'."

Godou never imagined that something like fate would be given such analogy.

It was an image that Kusanagi Godou’s poor power of imagination wouldn’t be able to come up with at the beginning. He spontaneously admired it. However, Godou noticed something and he tilted his head.

"But, Rama is a hero from India mythology isn’t he? And yet god of fate from Greek mythology is the mastermind?"

"Fufufufu. Kusanagi-sama, the story still has continuation."

Alice smiled mischievously once more.

"Actually, similar god and myth──also exist in other regions. For example in the Roman Empire that should be called as the successor of ancient Greece, there are Nona, Decima, and Morta who are called as <Three Goddesses of Fate>, they are similarly weaving fabric of fate……"

"There is still more!?"

"Yes, in Norse mythology too, they have the three goddesses of fate called Urd, Verdandy, and Skuld. In Celt mythology there are Morrigan, Macha, and Badb who can be applied to this. There is some degree of difference, but everyone of them possess an episode related with 'fabric of fate'."

"There is that many……"

"By the way in Greek mythology, there was one goddess called 'Moira' who came before the three goddesses who was shouldering the role as god of fate by herself. But it is also told that the concept of <fate> has existed even before she was born and even the gods were manipulated by it."

"……"

"And then in India mythology, the divinity that qualify as the three goddesses of fate──is not clear. But, the concept of 'The Trinity God' who created, preserved, and destroyed the world existed clearly. Later the wives of the supreme deity Shiva……Parvati, Kali, and Durga, these three goddesses are existence that govern the things that is extremely close to fate──'time'."

"Now that you mention it"

Godou suddenly recalled.

"I have heard something like……. three goddesses like what Alice-san mentioned who are governing 'Past, Present, Future', there are goddesses like that isn’t it?"

"Yes. And then, mythologies that liken time and fate as 'fabric' could be seen here and there all over the world."

Princess Alice fluently told him of mythologies.

Here she caught her breath and stared still at Godou.

"Kusanagi-sama. The “god” who manipulated the King of the End Ramachandra was the prototype of such three goddesses……so to speak that god could even be called as the very first god of fate all other gods of fate originated from. The one who dispatched the strongest war god in order to control time, eternity, fate──"

"I see."

Hearing Alice’s words, Godou muttered.

"So that guy is my……true enemy."

Chapter 2

Part 1

My──true enemy.

When Godou tried to speak it out loud, it felt really fitting.

Hero Rama was someone who would annihilate all devil kings. He was a destined arch enemy of Kusanagi Godou, was how it should be. However, no matter what Godou couldn’t accept that.

Because that man, he might not be fighting by his own will.

That was the decisive difference with all the opponents he had confronted until now.

Whether it was god or fellow Campione, for good or bad they all challenged him into a battle energetically.

Rama wasn’t like that. Perhaps that was why.

"Other than the decisive battle against that guy, there are also other enemies that I have to fight no matter what. Perhaps, it’s something like that, Alice-san."

"……How mysterious."

Princess Alice smiled when she heard Godou’s mutter.

"I had the feeling that if it’s Kusanagi-sama, you will say something like that."

"Is that so."

Godou smiled wryly knowing that he was seen through by a woman older than him.

"My mind is really simple after all. Erica and everyone else also often guessed right at what I’m thinking."

"Fufufufu. Actually there is one other person who also anticipated this."

"Is it my acquaintance? Perhaps Pandora-san?"

"No."

The self-proclaimed mother who hadn’t contacted for a while.

Godou was surprised when Alice denied that name. He thought that possibly the mother Pandora was the one who was most concerned with the confrontation of King of the End versus the victor of the devil king civil war.

Princess Alice spoke.

"That person──wished to meet with you. Actually, the one who taught me about the territory of the god(s) of fate was also the same person."

"Hee!"

Godou’s eyes opened wide.

"I don’t understand why that person want to meet with someone like me. But I guess I want to say thanks for teaching important information. Is that person in Astral World as expected?"

"Yes. If it’s alright with you, I will show the way until there. And then"

The White Hime-miko bowed gracefully and said this.

"O our king. Will it be fine with you if I return to the surface ahead of you?"

"I don’t mind at all even if you don’t check with me like that."

Godou answered even while feeling bewildered at the sudden respectful attitude of the princess.

"But, I’ll go saying thanks to that well-informed person or god, so isn’t it fine even if Alice-san goes back together with me?"

"I cannot. I have one other work to do."

Princess Alice spoke with a chuckle.

"It’s because I understand Kusanagi-sama’s mind. Next time you won’t only look at the territory of the god of fate──you will surely enter into it. I am thinking to advance the preparation for that on the surface. I will also have Erica and others to help."

"……Can I leave that to you!?"

"Please leave it to me, king. For the sake of the one who will fight as the representative of us mankind, I swear we will open the path without fail."

–

And then, they began moving once more──.

Moving from place to place using instant teleportation through the layers inside Astral World.

Princess Alice and Godou repeated that method of transportation around thirty times, and finally they arrived at the destination.

It was a confined land that had the most importance even in Astral World.

Because it was impossible to directly teleport there, they needed to take that many detours.

"Then, farewell Kusanagi-sama. I will be waiting for you at the surface."

The princess’s figure vanished.

With this, it was Kusanagi Godou alone who entered this layer.

"So this time it’s a place full of rock……"

The wind was terrifyingly cold.

The bared rock surface emphasized the coldness even further.

Above his head was a heavy cloudy sky. He was on the middle of a mountain road. There was about one hundred meters until the peak of the mountain, furthermore there was only one path.

Perhaps the altitude was really high, because it felt like he was freezing from the cold.

It also felt like the air was thin. At this rate he might even got altitude sickness.

Although, he had Campione flesh body that boasted absurd toughness. Godou only felt slight difficulty in breathing before he got used to it immediately.

"Is this telling me to go until the summit as expected?"

Right after he muttered, he could hear a scream.

──uuuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah…….

It was a male voice. It came from the summit.

Godou resolved himself and started climbing. He soon arrived on the summit.

There unexpectedly──he found a bare naked man with robust body, lying down on the ground spread-eagled.

"uuuaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

The man was shrieking in anguish.

There were two hawks. They were frequently eating the stomach of the naked man. They tore his flesh, pecked at the intestine inside his body, and in the end they pulled out his guts.

Looking closer, the naked man’s arms and legs were linked to chains.

The chains were thick and looked really heavy, they were nailed to the ground with stakes.

With that the man should be unable to escape. Driven by righteous indignation, Godou rushed forward. He raised his fist toward the hawks that were fishing the entrails of the naked man and yelled angrily.

"You two, go away somewhere now!"

At that moment, the two hawks and the naked man vanished──.

Godou was standing alone on the summit of the unknown tall mountain.

It seemed that the sight just now was an illusion or something. Godou wondered what kind of meaning the episode just now had. He tilted his head"?" in puzzlement, it was then a voice suddenly called to him.

"O child of man who should be dead, and yet were reborn into beast of godslaying."

The naked man just now suddenly appeared beside Godou.

He was already wearing clothes. His clothes was a single long garment that was wrapped around his body in the style of ancient Greece. And then he was wearing round glasses with a silver rim.

His face wearing that glasses looked really unconventional and intellectual.

"You’ve done well coming here. My name is Prometheus."

That was the man’s introduction.

"Rather than having long introduction, I thought that showing the torture that I once tasted──would be quicker. Do you also know of it?"

"……I, know it well."

Godou nodded.

It was nearly one year ago already. He was taught by Erica who now became his irreplaceable comrade. It was along the way when they were chasing after war god Verethragna at Sardinia Island. It was nostalgic.

At that time, Godou was in possession of the grimoire'Secret Tome of Prometheus'.

It was a mystical tome that could steal god’s authority and then reuse it. In the middle of the strategy meeting in order to decide how to effectively use that power──

Erica and Godou exchanged this kind of conversation.

'Prometheus is a god that made appearance in Greek mythology……he is a descendant of the Titans. The meaning of his name is “forethought”. In other words he was a wise man who posses wisdom of foresight.'

'If I remember right, Prometheus was the god that shared <fire> to humans right?'

'Yes. The king of gods Zeus had no intention to grant excessive knowledge to humans. But, Prometheus who pitied their foolishness stole <fire> from heaven.'

It was a conversation of just a year ago.

It was an event at the journey where Kusanagi Godou killed a god. He remembered it really well.

Prometheus granted the stolen <fire> to the human race. As the result, although mankind developed civilization rapidly, the thief was captured by Zeus──

Godou narrated the outline of the legend in front of the person himself.

"As the punishment Prometheus was tied to Caucasus Mountain, and the inside of his stomach was pecked at while alive. But, he was an immortal existence. When the sun set his wounds would be completely restored. Prometheus tasted eternal torture until he was pardoned by Zeus."

"Perfect. You remember it well, Kusanagi Godou."

Prometheus praised like a teacher praising a test paper. And then, the wise man of Greek mythology slowly held out his right hand.

"Shake hand with me. I wish to show respect to you who will challenge the King of the End and fate."

"I’m not……I’m only doing what I want to do."

Godou grasped Prometheus’s hand while speaking matter-of-factly.

"There is nothing in it that need to be shown respect."

"Then, I’ll rephrase it. I first discovered a seed. My little brother picked it up and planted it into the ground. I thought of the seed lowly, that the possibility of it blooming and bearing fruit is nonexistence, it would only rot pointlessly inside the soil but──. Right now, I am finally able to meet the fruit that is you."

*Gu-* Prometheus put strength into his grasping hand.

"I am really thankful. Surely my little brother also feel the same. Well, I’m aware that all the fruits including you are bringing about much mayhem in the universe but……I won’t mention it. Beast of godslaying, Kusanagi Godou. Please share this excitement with Prometheus."

"If it’s something like that……. By the way , Prometheus."

Godou also returned a strong grip while asking.

"If I remember right your little brother is──Epimetheus? We are called as that person’s illegitimate child though."

Godou naturally started talking without polite language. For some reason he was able to feel conviction, that the man before him could be trusted unconditionally.

Prometheus grinned and spoke powerfully.

"Yeah. This is a good chance, so I’ll tell you about the seed of godslaying──the <Circle of Usurpation> that we discovered."

Circle of Usurpation. Godou was startled.

He remembered hearing it from somewhere. Come to think of it, the witch Circe whispered at the her dying moment.

──Half of her life was stolen by Alexander Gascoigne. Only the remaining half of her life could be circulated in the <Circle of Usurpation>, or something.

In front of Godou who was blinking in wonderment, the wise man Prometheus suddenly began to talk…….

–

Part 2

"Big bro. You saw? That bastard died."

"Looks like it. For a god who should be everlasting to lose his life like that, it’s a wonder."

The two siblings whispered to each other.

They should be a resident of the world of god or Astral World. The big brother’s name was Prometheus, while the little brother’s name was Epimetheus.

Prometheus was “a person with forethought”. He spoke with discernment.

"However, it should be called a fortune for the humans in this world. After all a god that is reduced into a heretic god and roam the surface in the end will call great disaster to the world of human."

That day, both of them were staring at the 'surface' from the world of gods.

The domain where the mortal humans were living──.

Knowing that a certain war god roamed the surface whimsically, they tried to search for that god’s whereabouts.

And then, the big brother Prometheus who was “like human” since the past frowned.

The god roaming the surface was a 'god of war'. At the places where he went, the humans there erupted with belligerence and lust for power, and they would attack the neighboring country without any reason.

Also──it was an era when humans were fighting war with bronze spear and shield, and wooden shield and the like.

Compared to far in the future, it was also simple to cause a war.

A 'god of war' was roaming on the surface at such era.

Well, when he chased after the god’s whereabouts, estimating that it wouldn’t turn into anything decent, it was just as expected.

The seventh war was occurring in the region where the war god in question was roaming, and several thousand people lost their life in just that incident this time.

The siblings were currently staring at that gruesome killing of each other from the world of god.

"But big bro. This kind of good luck won’t come for the second time."

"I completely agree."

Madness that was growing violent while wandering on the surface.

That was the nature of “Heretic God”. This time that became advantage for the humans.

The war god in question got greatly stimulated seeing the war of the humans, his longing for blood erupted. He sought for even more bloodshed──furthermore it was the sacred blood of god that he wanted.

The god suddenly put his divine sword on his own neck and cut.

Thus, the mad god of war’s head fell.

He wouldn’t bring any further calamity on the surface with that. Well, he had already scattered around chaos and bloodshed more than enough though…….

"Big bro, look at that human."

"Hou."

The little brother Epimetheus pointed, to which the big brother nodded.

The battleground at the surface. There a human soldier was approaching──the war god who decapitated himself. That soldier picked up the divine sword from the corpse of the collapsed war god.

He lifted it up and escaped from the battlefield with a desperate look.

"Did he saw the sharpness of the divine sword? Quite a sharp sighted guy."

"Perhaps that’s not all, little brother. A part of dead hero, or great man……by making those people’s very possession or flesh into “their own”, they wish to make the power of the dead into their own. That kind of belief exist amongst the humans."

Wisdom and knowledge were also the <authority> of wise man Prometheus.

Taught that by the older brother, the little brother Epimetheus suddenly got heated up.

"Such thing, so that means that human, by obtaining the blade of god, won’t he become a new monster!?"

The little brother spoke further with a passionate tone.

"A monster that threaten the surface instead of god. Hero, king, dominating those humans far and wide……"

"No way that could happen."

In contrast, the intelligent Prometheus was indifferent.

"Mortal human will not be able to use god’s tool by any means. For them even divine sword is just a mere stick──it will be great if it end up just that, but……"

"But?"

"If that human try to use divine tool poorly, he will immediately die."

"Hurm"

The little brother Epimetheus, his name’s meaning was “afterthought”.

He prioritized action rather than consideration. His body would move faster than his thought, driven by intuition and instinct. Prometheus spoke toward the little brother who was his exact opposite.

"In the first place even if it’s another god who steal that tool, it will be just the same thing you know? Do you think that if a graceful goddess of love steals a divine sword, she will be able to make it useful?"

"Doesn’t……seem so."

"Right? If big brother can use the <Circle of Usurpation> that I saw before, then it might be a different story though."

"What’s that thing?"

"A divine tool to plunder authority from the corpse of a dead god."

"Hou! That’s amazing!"

Epimetheus’s eyes sparkled.

"Hey big bro. We have no hope to be able to interfere with things on the surface easily right?"

"Yeah."

"Don’t you think that it will become something interesting if we send that circle thingy to the surface? Before a new Heretic God wander out over there."

Prometheus shrugged his shoulders hearing his little brother’s suggestion.

"You won’t think that if you listen until the end. That divine tool──is something that reproduce the attribute of <gods of steel> that nowadays is well known."

"Big bro, do you mean that thing? Chasing after other goddesses with sword in hand, and make them submit with strength……"

"Indeed. The steel gods snatched the authority and power of the opponent they subdued, and made it their own. They stropped arms from the corpse of the enemy they defeated, and made it their possession. Like that they are increasing their own strength──"

Prometheus’s voice was dark because it wasn’t a pleasant topic.

"But see, a certain condition has to be fulfilled in order to rotate the Circle of Usurpation."

"What is it?"

"The opponent who you will strength from──has to be killed by your own strength. The <Circle> will only move for the first time after you offer sacrifice of the life of the god you murdered."

"……Certainly, it’s meaningless if that’s the case. There is no way human can kill god."

At this time, the “brother of afterthought” nodded in firm agreement.

But, he immediately spoke this.

"So, big bro. Where is that divine tool?"

In the end, Epimetheus crossed over seven holy precincts and nine realms of dead, and at the end of the difficult journey, he discovered the divine tool, Circle of Usurpation.

Finishing his long quest, the little brother asked his wise elder brother.

"Now big bro! Think of the most interesting way to use this thing!"

"……Call your wife. 'The all-giving woman' is the one most worthy to be its bearer."

Prometheus, the person of forethought.

But, it was only at this time he thought of the result after taking action.

And then, his little brother of afterthought was grinning widely with a truly thoughtless expression.

His face was a mischievous one, like an expression that someone like Salvatore Doni would make. It made Godou who was watching the whole story from beginning to end to feel complicated.

–

It was unknown whether it was several thousand years, or several tens of thousands years ago.

But, the scene that definitely happened once between Prometheus and Epimetheus was shown to Godou in the shape illusion like a playback image.

When he noticed, he had returned──back to the grey colored domain.

The end of Astral World that was the nearest to the domain of god. The mother, Pandora also often came here.

Here Godou heard “the usual voice”.

"How is it? The happening of the night before the birth of all of you godslayers?"

"Pandora-san."

"You should say mama or Okaa-sama there, Godou."

The mother Pandora was there in the form a beautiful girl with her blonde hair tied into twintails.

In addition of her usual goddess styled attire (well, she was a real goddess though), she was holding a large disk that looked like shield with both her hands.

It was a disk made from steel that looked profoundly heavy.

A carved seal that seemed to be modeled after 'dragon’s head' was drawn on its surface. Around it was the carved seal of eight 'swords'.

"Fufufufu. This thing is the genuine Circle of Usurpation. We bestowed a new name to this divine tool that was once crowned with the name of pillage. The usurpation of god’s power and authority by humans who was turned into godslayer……. This is the vessel for the sake to realize that."

While her appearance looked like she was at the first half of her teens, Pandora was bewitching like usual.

She was a devilish goddess who fascinated man not only with beauty, but also with charm as woman. She was the wife of Epimetheus, and the girl who opened the Pandora box.

"Godou, you are the first godslayer who has seen this."

The mother of all Campiones winked mischievously.

"This is a prize for you who will settle the fight with the King of the End after this. What do you think? The true shape of the power that resurrect you as 'beast'──"

"This thing is……. But Pandora-san."

Godou asked in this rare chance.

"Why did Prometheus entrust this to you? If I remember correctly, Pandora-san was──"

"Aa, eh? Onii-sama called me as the 'all giving woman'. That is exactly the meaning of my name 'Pandora'."

The Circle of Usurpation vanished from the hand of the chuckling goddess.

She spread out her empty hands and twirled around as though dancing, greatly displaying her own existence.

"It’s told in the mythology of Greece. Pandora is a woman who was bestowed with every “woman charm” from the gods. And then, she is a bad woman who opened the box Zeus gifted to her, and foolishly scattered all kind of disaster on the surface. Fufufufu, that’s not all there is to me!"

Instantly, the girl figure of Pandora──was overlapped with another figure.

It was the figure of a mature female who looked around twenty years old. If the girl before him someday passed through time and achieved growth, she would surely look like that.

Her arms and legs were also lengthened, and her figure possessed enough of voluptuousness and cleverness as woman──.

"Pandora was an earth godess even before the gods of Olympus planted their root in Greece. A goddess who bestowed every kind of grace to gods and humans!"

"So that’s why you are 'all giving woman'……"

"Yes, correct. That’s why──for me this isn’t difficult at all. Whether it’s controlling the Circle or granting the authority of the dead god to the achiever of godslaying. Or even blowing breath of life to a new “child of mine”, and also heightening the wildness of those children to maximum."

‘I see.’ Godou nodded.

Pandora too was 'once a mother earth goddess who possessed even more powerful authority and wisdom'. Just like how Athena was once like that.

Perhaps that was exactly the reason she was taking the side of the mortal humans.

As expected she cooperated with her brother-in-law and husband who were like human──.

But, however.

"But Pandora-san. Is our existence a plus for the world and mankind?"

"Well, there are also times when it would be better if you all don’t exist."

Pandora spoke while cackling.

"But isn’t it fine? All of you are humans beyond the pale who accomplished the absurdity of slaying god. Even if you all act a bit──no. Even if you all act terribly barbarically and made preposterous messes repeatedly, Okaa-sama will forgive you!"

It was a declaration that really wasn’t suitable for a goddess to make, actually it was a selfish line to say.

The step mother Pandora spoke to Godou who was staring wide eyed.

"Right after my husband found the Circle of Usurpation, I and also my brother in law arranged various preparations while thinking like this. There is no way the like of mortal human will be able to achieve the great exploit of slaying a god, all these preparations will absolutely end up in vain──"

"…………"

"But, all of you splendidly came to be. Even after that one more, and then one more godslayer were born in succession. Even if other gods and humans won’t approve of it, just from that we favor the achievers of <godslaying>, and watch over them……"

This time she turned and spoke in a way that was overflowing with motherhood.

The step mother who was a goddess who gave everything told the son who wasn’t connected to her by blood.

"That’s right Godou. If you win against that child──Prince Rama who is the arch enemy of our camp, the godslayers for a long time, I will especially give you something that you wished for. Anything is fine."

"Hahah. Something like that, I don’t really──"

He was about to smiled wryly and said he didn’t need anything.

Godou suddenly thought. That by any chance, perhaps he would need this kind of thing.

"……Then, perhaps I’ll make a request."

Thinking about the matter that would come after winning.

Perhaps it was an act that wasn’t fitting for Campione. After all as expected, they were the illegitimate children of Epimetheus, “the person of afterthought”.

Even so right now Godou deliberately gazed at what came after victory.

–

Part 3

The Divine Sword of Salvation.

The length of its blade was nearly a meter, it was an extraordinarily long sword.

It was double edged, the thickness of its blade closely resembled a hatchet. And then, the unblemished sword blade that contained clear brilliance and majestic dignity.

That was its original appearance.

A peerless sacred treasure overflowing with dignified elegance despite its boorishness──.

However, through long months and years, the divine sword was losing radiance.

The time it was covered in rust was also long.

There was even period where let alone rust, it even ended up rotting and worn out, as though it was merely a steel pole.

After the owner Ramachandra was defeated by Kusanagi Godou, a black stain was spreading on the blade that was containing Prince Lakhsmana.

And then, just a bit of time ago──.

The white monkey god Hanuman let the great enemy Kusanagi Godou to slip away in a corner of the Astral World, then he muttered to himself how he must hurry the revival of hero Rama.

It was right after that.

Hanuma threw the Divine Sword of Salvation to the air.

The divine sword that was dyed black vanished *fuh* in the air, and the next moment it flew in the sky of the  surface world like a gale.

The Divine Sword of Salvation flew straight for a while, and then in fell in arching orbit.

It was aiming at the “center” of Japan that would become the land of Rama’s resurrection.

That place was the top of mountain that only had rock and sand.

*Za-!* The Divine Sword of Salvation stabbed at a moderately big rock.

There was a worn out <ruby>torii<rt>shrine archway</rt></ruby> nearby. This mountain summit was at the vicinity of the caldera of a huge volcano. If a human was walking around the caldera by foot, they would surely need more than an hour.

The sacred mountain, Mountain Fuji──.

It was the most powerful spiritual land in Japan, a spiritual center.

Right now, the Divine Sword of Salvation was stabbed on the summit of the sacred Mountain Fuji.

……If a Japanese person was in this place by chance, they would surely think of it as bizarre. It was February, the mountain Fuji was right at the height of winter.

And yet despite so──

There was almost no snow piling up on the mountain summit.

No, not just that, the amount of snowfall on the whole Mountain Fuji was nearly nonexistent.

If someone gazed at the majesty of this sacred mountain from afar, it would be obvious in a glance. Even though a white blanket of snow should be covering the surface in this season for sure.

Right now, it was the 'bare' mountain Fuji that should be visible only in the summertime.

Of course, it was because Ramachandra’s revival was near. The increase of geothermy and atmospheric temperature brought about the odd phenomenon of “early snow melt” to the sacred Mountain Fuji.

The divine sword stabbing the summit of the sacred mountain──.

The blade that should be clear and pure had a black stain still spreading on it.

But a whole day and night passed. When the summit of mountain Fuji welcomed sunrise, the stain vanished from the Divine Sword of Salvation. The filth had fallen.

The aura of purity filling sacred Mountain Fuji was said to awaken god’s majesty.

……Then, what about swordsman who should wield sword?

About a week ago, hero Rama was defeated by godslayer Kusanagi Godou.

The place was Pushpaka Vimana. A gigantic flying ship with a size similar like a city. It crashed on Pacific Ocean nearby Japan’s Kanto region and sunk into the sea……

Then, was the corpse of the great hero also sunk into the ocean depth together?

No, his soul melted into air, at times it rode the wind, at times it opposed the wind while moving toward the spiritual ground that was the purest in Japan.

The soul unconsciously felt that ground was the most fitting place for his resurrection.

"Aa. My elder brother Rama is the supreme noble birth who should be pure."

Prince Lakhsmana materialized into human form once more and kneeled.

He was in front of the divine sword stabbing into the rock──his elder brother’s real body.

"A holy ground that purify and cleanse every worldly filth……. This little brother believe that the solemnity of this place is the most worthy for your body!"

Lakhsmana’s skin was dark brown despite looking exactly like Rama.

His love and respect toward his clear white elder brother turned into words of power and he wholeheartedly chanted.

"Right now is exactly the time, for the hand of salvation to bring these last days……oh elder brother!"

"Indeed, Prince Rama."

The one who muttered with serious tone was Hanuman.

He suddenly appeared beside Prince Lakhsmana and kneeled.

"Right now there is only one devil king remaining in this world. The wolf king of storm, the chivalrous queen of martial art, the queen of disaster, the king of black lightning, the king of mask, the king of sword──all of them is gone. In order to bring down the last remaining one, Kusanagi Godou──realize your second coming right now!"

Hanuman kept kneeling while straightening his back, and recited sonorously.

"In order for us to cut apart the darkness of the last days and exterminate the godslaying devil king, we wish the rebirth of the sword. Aa, the most noble sword among swords, blade among blades. Thy art the blade of devil king annihilation. Thy art the white light of salvation. Thy art the one born for the sake of massacring all the Rakshasa!"

That was the scripture to dictate the second advent of the King of the End.

Instantly──the beautifully clear sky clouded and thunder clouds filled the sky.

*GOooooooooOOONN-!*

*GOooooooooOOONN-!*

Two lightning fell in succession and the flash of lightning dyed the sky white.

That light reflected──a shadow of a person on the ground. It didn’t come from both Lakhsmana and Hanuman. It was the shadow of a third person.

"Oo"

"Oo, tiger among human! O holy king who accumulate splendor on top of splendor!"

Hanuman was deeply moved while Lakshmana yelled passionately.

The third person slowly grasped the Divine Sword of Salvation, and pulled it out from the rock──

"I have made the two of you wait."

"Elder brother!"

"My lord Ramachandra."

Prince Rama nodded toward his kneeling little brother and loyal vassal.

Bluish white long hair. The features of graceful handsome man. But, that resplendent beautiful look──was added with accent from tiredness that was like a rust and virility.

Similar like before, he was wearing simple blue shirt and trouser, and pure white mantel.

Rama sheathed the long divine sword inside the scabbard on his back and he muttered.

"……To think that my second advent can come true this fast. As expected it is different after using the Great Law of Covenant. The restoration of my strength and flesh is really fast……"

There was no happiness in his voice.

There was only the melancholy from heading toward a new conflict. However.

"On that subject during my termination, the godslaying ladies and gentlemen carried out a competition correct? And then the one who remained until the end is……"

"It’s Kusanagi Godou."

"I’m aware."

Prince Rama’s lips burst into smile hearing what Hanuman said.

"Fufufufu. To think that they themselves will crush their fellow godslayer in order to oppose my great law. What a really simple, and bold plan that they chose. Good grief, this is why they cannot be underestimated……"

Even Rama himself didn’t know since when it happened.

However right now, he was stimulated by an urge that was hard to describe──

He was smiling. The man who should be completely exhausted from long battles was chuckling with shaking shoulders. He was desperately suppressing how he actually wanted to laugh loudly like an idiot…….

His loyal vassals stared at their lord with bewildered gaze.

"Lord."

"E, elder brother."

"Aah, my apology Hanuman, Lakhsmana."

Rama somehow suppressed the urge to burst into laughter and he smiled.

However, the shock of witnessing how this King of the End who was brooding a lot of the time to be almost breaking into loud laughter seemed to be really big. The two vassals were staring at the extraordinary great hero with startled eyes.

Rama faced them and spoke.

"Perchance……it might be fine this time."

"What could you mean, my lord Rama?"

"Fufufufu. Forgetting all the troublesome this and that, and simply fighting earnestly."

"Elder brother! Doesn’t that sounds like you are going to do the same thing──like those hateful godslayers!?"

"Isn’t that fine, my little brother."

Lakhsmana remonstrated with a flustered look, but Rama told him with a refreshed tone.

"Even I have time when I want to simply go wild as a mere warrior. If the opponent is Kusanagi Godou, then I have nothing to complain about."

Prince Rama closed his eyes just for a moment and recalled the past.

"I confronted him twice a thousand years ago in Gallia. It’s also twice in the occasion of my previous advent. If combined with the next confrontation, I will have fight Kusanagi Godou five times."

He spoke further after muttering that.

"Five times battle. I won’t even mind calling him a worthy opponent at this point. He is my opponent from opposite fate."

"Absurd! Something like a powerful enemy who could rival elder brother doesn’t exist!"

"Is that so? In the first place looking back at all the confrontation until now……The score is one loss and three defeat for my side. I’m far behind in the number of victory, what’s more it can be said that it’s me who is in the position of the challenger."

"Elder brother!"

"I’m saying nothing but fact here, Lakhsmana."

"For the most noble here to grant such evaluation toward the like of Rakshasa Raja──is unacceptable! That is an act contrary to the underlying principle of heaven!"

"Fufufufu. If that is so, then that means I’ve become the same kind of those godslaying ladies and gentlemen."

"Lord!"

"My apology, forget what I said just now. It was a joke."

The loyal little brother and monkey god were bewildered. In contrast Rama was smiling mischievously.

And then unfitting for the King of the End──the hero of devil king extermination said.

"My strength and body are completely recovered but……it’s still a bit lacking. I will take a bit more rest and prepare a flawless condition."

"My lord. As you will."

"I am going to face my powerful rival of opposite fate. This is manners."

"…………"

Hanuman bowed his head hearing the declaration of his master who was unusually laying bare his fighting spirit.

Both he and Lakhsmana kept kneeling. The white monkey god of wind rubbed his forehead on the ground and appealed to his awe-inspiring lord.

"In that case lord. I have one request."

"What?"

"Please allow this lowly self to depart for the front. Your ardor to put everything into the confrontation with Kusanagi Godou, it has been engraved into the heart of this Hanuman. That’s why"

The vassal, subordinate god with unswerving loyalty Hanuman, wished like this.

"I will be the vanguard, while lord is resting──I wish to challenge Kusanagi Godou."

"Ridiculous."

Rama curtly rejected his loyal retainer’s direct appeal.

"Fighting with him using all my strength is my dear wish you know? There is no way I will yield that chance to you. That’s too impertinent of you, Hanuman."

"Your rebuke is the most correct. However, if lord is wishing for a duel with him"

The white monkey god lifted his forehead from the ground and looked up at his lord’s handsome face from the posture of prostration.

"Please, allow this lowly self to depart."

"……What do you mean?"

"I am lord’s vice general. When the last decisive battle begin, I will surely assist lord without fail. That’s why. The result of this Hanuman’s departure, whether it’s life or death, victory or defeat, either I or Kusanagi Godou will be terminated──"

"O loyal warrior Hanuman."

Rama directed a stern gaze toward the prostrating white monkey god.

"If you win, won’t I lose my turn?"

"That is well, something that cannot be helped. Please lament it as the inadequacy of that lowly Kusanagi Godou."

"You who will be a hindrance──I won’t hesitate to cut you down here you know?"

"I have resolved myself of that from the beginning. Rather than merely being a spectator to lord’s decisive battle like this, being personally brought down by lord is just what I wish."

"──Fuh. So you too are saying similar thing with those godslaying ladies and gentlemen."

After sternly scolding, in a complete change Rama lightly smiled.

This too was also something rare for him to do, as though his tiredness that was like rust was blown away.

"Fine then. To comply with my chief servant, I will allow the departure of warrior Hanuman."

"I am grateful and joyful!"

"Elder brother. This Lakhsmana also wish for the same role!"

"Good. Go, both of you."

Rama didn’t object anymore. He also allowed his little brother’s departure.

He understood the feeling of his vassals. They wished to become useful for the sake of their lord who was trying to begin a decisive battle that was wholly unrelated with the mission of devil king extermination──.

"Head to the battlefield as the vanguard of I, Ramachandra. Challenge the devil king, Kusanagi Godou and come back with magnificent victory!"

It was a majestic command that was worthy for the radiant great hero of ancient India.

–

Part 4

"Now everyone! Please prepare the thing that I will say after this ASAP!"

It was the first voice that she said right after she returned to the surface.

The head court lady who was sitting beside the bed, and a former private tutor, Miss Ericson stared wide-eyed with a surprised face.

"Pri, princess?"

"Miss Ericson. Begin preparation right away. There is no much time!"

"Ce, certainly. However princess, please first return to your body. Your exhaustion must be terrible after separating from your real body for a long time."

Miss Ericson gestured at the sleeping “real body” on the bed.

That body was the sleeping princess Alice.

In contrast, the “spirit body” that gave the order was floating lightly inside the room. Alice skipped the step of returning to her real body and called out to her retainers.

To Miss Ericson who looked like a strict private tutor, and the maids standing by inside the room.

This place was the private residence of the daughter of Duke Goddodin, that was to say the home of Alice.

"We, welcome home princess."

"I, It’s very great to see your safe return."

"Thank you. I too am very happy to be able to see everyone’s face once more. But, please leave the scolding and greeting for later."

Alice casually warded off the maids’ words and spoke.

"Even things that aren’t in this mansion, most of them should be possible to be obtained if we call out to the old people in Diogenes Club."

"Ye, yes-."

"What you all should prepare is first──a fragment of deer’s skull prepared by the priest of Chuvash people. The stone of praying for rain, lapis manalis. The dried branch of holy tree worshipped in Gilgit. The crystallization of lifeblood squeezed out by Tahiti’s shaman. Also……"

Alice smoothly recited the item names.

Hearing that, Miss Ericson fixed the positioning of her glasses with her index finger.

"Princess. Are you intending to mix a secret medicine?"

"Exactly. Although the devil king civil war of the Campiones is over, the disturbance hasn’t ended. There is necessity to prepare for the “last battle”."

"I see."

Miss Ericson murmured.

She had slender face wearing glasses with slender frame.

Her hair was pulled back into a bun. Her looks that was a combination of intellect and sternness possessed no showiness. Her knowledge in sorcery was also deep and until now she had served as Alice’s advisor for many years.

The woman who whether in public or private could be called as Alice’s partner spoke with a subdued tone.

"In other words, it’s that thing……that princess often spoke about."

"Yes. 'It’s the danger to the world that has become familiar each time'──"

"Acknowledged."

Although Alice said it jokingly, but in the end Miss Ericson accepted it seriously. She was really her advisor.

Miss Ericson told her mistress who was secretly nodding.

"Then, I will also prepare. I will go change."

"It will be helpful if you do that. I will give the instruction of the mixing method, so for the mixing itself──please take care of it, Miss Ericson."

"Please leave it to me."

Princess Alice’s flesh body was far from being healthy.

She had weak constitution, on top of that she would be completely exhausted just from walking a bit. She would also get exhausted after using a lot of spiritual power and would stay in bed for a long time.

That was why, she couldn’t immediately return to her real body while she still had work to do.

Well, she could also handle every kind of medicine ingredients while still in spirit body using “telekinesis”, but it was a work that might resulted in explosion or toxic gas just from a bit of mistake in ingredient’s amount.

If there was a more delicate and skillful 'hand', then she would want to depend on that by all means──.

"I want to finish this before Kusanagi-sama return to the surface. Now, everyone. Please hurry!"

When the secret medicine was finished, they would immediately transfer it to Japan using mailing magic.

Actually she also asked the other side to mix a different medicine. Their side would create the remaining two kind of secret medicines to entrust to Kusanagi Godou.

In order to send him──to the 'true battlefield'.

–

"As expected from Princess Alice."

Liliana Kranjcar was in admiration.

"Combining three kinds of witch’s secret medicine to make a an effect that will dramatically sharpen a Campione’s──spiritual grounding is it……"

After the devil king civil war came to an end, half a day had passed.

Tokyo──. Kusanagi Godou’s comrades who had returned to his hometown also strived to mix a 'secret medicine'. The White Hime-miko entrusted that task to Mariya Yuri.

She told her that she wanted them to prepare for when he would need it.

"I didn’t know at all that there is this kind of mixture."

"If even Lily who is first class as witch is like that, the princess’s knowledge must be terrifying. Could it be that this is the princess’s original creation?"

Erica also nodded beside the impressed Liliana.

"Lucretia Zola of Sardinia Island, the witch who mastered the echelon of earth. The witch who rivaled her is only one, that is Princess Alice who mastered the echelon of heaven. Isn’t that right, Lily?"

"Yes. This is something magnificent."

"It seems that originally this was Prince Alec’s idea, and then a few years ago it was mixed in an attempt."

Yuri joined the conversation.

"In fact that person consumed it and the result had also been confirmed. That was what the princess told me."

The mixing of the secret medicine was progressing with the witch Liliana as the center.

The workplace was an area where there wasn’t any sign of humans even though they were at the city center of Tokyo. Koutou ward of Toyosu area. They were in a corner of a multipurpose building that was constructed to become a new market.

The site was also excessively spacious, to the degree it would make one wonder if it was some kind of factory.

Hearing that even a little bit of mistake when mixing could become a 'state of emergency', the History Compilation Committee arranged this place for them.

It was a place that was near the city center that was the standby spot, and the space was also spacious.

In the first place it was a reclaimed land of bay area, the character of the place was filled with nothing by warehouse or empty lot, the coming and going of people and vehicle traffic were also few. It was an ideal place.

They were at a floor that was excessively spacious, and had almost nothing placed inside.

The work table that was brought inside was teeming with numerous tools and ingredients.

Experiment apparatus like alcohol lamp, beaker, flask. They were things that accomplished the same role of refinement that was used by alchemist of old.

Furthermore the bulb of secret grass Moly that was said to be discovered by the god of travel and thief Hermes.

Carnivorous plant Nepenthes, the petal of black lotus, aconitum that might even become deadly poison, etc, etc. All of them were nothing but sorcery ingredients that ordinary people wouldn’t even know the name of.

The comrades of Kusanagi Godou were surrounding those things.

Erica Blandelli. Mariya Yuri. Liliana Kranjcar. And then──

"Saying this kind of thing before the decisive battle is surely still too early but"

Seishuuin Ena spoke.

"Supposing that his majesty win this big battle, what will happen to him I wonder?"

"What could you mean by that, Ena-san?"

"The other devil kings are all gone now. The hero of devil king slaying will also be gone. In that case, our king will be the world’s strongest both in name and reality won’t he?"

"……Now that you say that, certainly that’s true."

Erica made agreeable response. Ena spoke further.

"As Ena thought, as the sole devil king his majesty will be elevated in status even higher than now, he will be worshipped like a monster that make the world prostrate before him by everyone that is in the know."

Ena laughed innocently from a desire that obviously wished for it to be like that.

The serious hime-miko gracefully reminded her close friend who was being like that.

"But Ena-san. Won’t other Heretic God appeared again somewhere and endanger the only devil king somewhere down the road?"

"If that happen then it might be convenient instead."

Ena grinned and spoke with an expression like a mischievous child.

"There will be only our king who can be asked to defeat that god. Perhaps everyone all over the world will have no choice other than to prostrate before Kusanagi Godou."

"Well. It’s a big dream."

"Erica. Don’t call this kind of idle gossip as dream or anything. No, well, if Kusanagi Godou really wins against the King of the End, it’s a future that might come into reality with quite high possibility though."

Liliana also muttered that after remonstrating her old friend and rival.

By the way, her hand was moving even while talking.

She was grinding medicine ingredient inside a mortar, then mixed only the necessary amount following the prescribed procedure, and then she further sent witch’s sense into it.

Her performance was good but she didn’t rush by any means, progressing the mixing with a fixed pace.

She wanted to finish it as fast as possible, but the ingredients were all precious items without exception.

There was also the concern that if the work failed, it might not get completed in the end. The process had to be done swiftly and also carefully…….

Yuri suddenly went "!?" and lifted up her face.

After that she lowered her voice and whispered to all her companions.

"Everyone──something is coming."

It seemed that she sensed an omen through spirit vision. The hime-miko’s expression stiffened.

Erica and Ena were taken aback, then immediately after Yuri’s words became words of premonition.

An explosion occurred. The whole building that someday would become Tokyo’s kitchen, new market was──swallowed completely by an explosion.

"Let’s begin, prince-dono."

"Yes. In order to spectacularly color elder brother’s battle──"

Hanuman who was flying with his own power and Lakhsmana who was driving the flying war vehicle Vimana.

The two gods flew from the sacred Mountain Fuji to Tokyo. They arrived at the capital in this country’s center and began attacking.

In this capital, towers made from stone were packed in dense formation on profusely narrow land.

There was nothing but ugly townscape continuing without end.

Although, the town at coast spreading below still had some leeway. There was quite some space between building and building. Well, it didn’t change how ugly it was though.

"Disappointing."

Lakhsmana spoke regrettably.

"By all rights, this ugly capital should sink into sea of flame as the signal of outbreak of war."

"Prince, you promised not to say that. It will make the kind hearted Prince Rama sad. We should hold back to the degree of luring out Kusanagi Godou. Most likely that man is still wandering around somewhere in the netherworld……"

Hanuman responded with discernment.

War vehicle Vimana and the white monkey god of wind were hovering together in the sky.

Prince Lakhsmana was readying his bow with red arrow being nock on it, aimed to below──at the odd building on the ground.

The scale of the building’s structure was similar to a'castle'…….

"This is the flame of purification. Receive the judgment!"

Lakhsmana fired the red arrow.

The target was big. There was no way the prince who was an expert bowman could miss.

The moment the arrow stabbed on the wall, suddenly the whole'castle' was enveloped in a great explosion. Fierce flame also spread out in the blink of eye. The ugly and imposing building was completely swallowed.

The flame was blazing brightly as though to scorch the sky.

Prince Lakhsmana was also similar with his elder brother, a bowman who used mystical arrows.

In his hand, this bow attack was just a child play.

Chapter 3

Part 1

It wasn’t just Godou who had accumulated experience in this one year.

His comrades who accompanied him through battles and adventures were also the same.

His first partner, his “lover” Erica. The owner of incomparable spiritual sight power (Spirit Vision), Mariya Yuri. A witch and a knight, excelling in the techniques of both, Liliana. The hime-miko of the sword and wielder of Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, Ena──.

An unexpected attack came down from above them.

What’s more, it was an'Arrow of Flame' that was fired by war god Lakhsmana.

Normally, anyone would be trampled by explosion blast and flame together with the new market building that was targeted. Unable to do anything to resist, they would be annihilated without leaving even a bone behind.

But, the girls possessed experience and methods.

"Everyone──something is coming."

Mariya Yuri’s warning.

The voice and expression of the hime-miko who excelled in spirit vision more than anyone was filled with urgency. The moment the others saw and heard that, first Erica called her beloved sword Cuore di Lione to her hand.

"In order to maintain the order of Rome, the senate counseled the tearing down of imperiumthe right to command the whole army!"

The magic sword of lion transformed into a long chain and moved automatically.

The metal chain was moving with jingling sound while drawing pentagram in the air. It was the sacred mark that was also used by King Solomon to repel evil.

"O lion’s steel. Senatus Consultum UltimumSenate Last Counsel, announce!"

It was the greatest protection magic that Erica learned from being affiliated with the Copper-Black Cross.

If it was only for a short time, it could form a barrier that could even endure divine power to a certain degree. The degree of its effect had been proved in the battle against divine king Melqart and god of good harvest Saturnus.

"Lily, hide the secret medicine!"

"Of course, I know!"

Liliana was moving even before Erica was speaking.

Her right hand quickly waved above the work table. Just with that the medicine that was near completion immediately vanished. It was “hidden” using magic.

It could be summoned back with the technique of <Summon> anytime she needed it.

Also, Yuri who gave warning at the beginning was──

"I offer prayer to the gods of Kamimusubi, Takamimusubi, Ikumusubi, Tarumusubi, Tamatsumemusubi, Oomiya no Me, Oomiketsu no Kami, and Kotoshironushi. Answering the quelling of diviner calming the spirit of the dead, please display tranquility……!"

She joined both her hands in front of her chest and prayed.

White light was starting to be emitted from her whole body that was clad in shrine maiden outfit.

It was the dharma <Spirit of the Dead Quelling> for the sake of suppressing unruly divine power and spirit of the dead. A white light gently enveloped the four girls.

Likewise this too could display miraculous efficacy of protection even against holy authority of a god, even for a short time.

And then, the hime-miko of sword also accomplished'things that was ought to be done'.

"Your majesty, lend Ena Ama no Murakumo!"

Even if the other party wasn’t on this earth’s surface.

There was a bond between the two that couldn’t be severed due to the divine sword that was equivalent to Japan’s national treasure. When Ena yelled, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi immediately appeared in her hand.

Ena lent the spiritual power of the divine sword to Erica and Yuri, cooperating with the secret arts of protection while──

Ena called the name of her beloved youth one more time.

"Your majesty, Kusanagi Godou! In order to protect all of us……come here quickly!"

The first incarnation of Verethragna, Gale.

If his name was called by someone who was approached by mortal danger, he would be able to arrive there instantly.

The condition to activate this incarnation was completely arranged. The countermeasure to rescue everyone from the fury of the Arrow of Flame was also perfect.

That was why, the girls didn’t commit any mistake at all.

When Godou accomplished his return using instant teleportation by Gale incarnation from the Astral World──the location of the mother Pandora, all four of his comrades on the surface were falling down.

Rather, it was something natural that couldn’t be helped.

After all in the first place, someone who was able to be safe after getting exposed to a god’s fighting spirit and malice was the strange one.

"……Erica. Mariya. Liliana. Seishuuin."

Godou called everyone’s name when he witnessed the disastrous scene.

The four of them──were lying on the ground.

Perhaps because of the benefit of their overlapping defensive spell, their clothes and body didn’t look scorched or scalded.

Godou dashed toward Erica who was the nearest and tried touching the cheek of her face that still looked beautiful. It was cold like ice.

He also tried to do the same to Yuri, Liliana, and Ena. Everyone was cold.

Godou looked around.

It was a burnt field. Surely there was a large facility on this unduly wide empty plot. However right now what survived from the fire was only few building framework made from rebar──.

Two war gods were there at the fire-devastated area that was smoldering here and there.

"So you come, Kusanagi Godou."

The white monkey god of wind Hanuman spoke.

"You too are a user of wind. Furthermore, you are a godslayer who blow the wind of protection and salvation. I thought that when danger approaches your companions on the surface, you will surely come running."

"So it’s you who did this to everyone, Hanuman?"

"No way. Something like the life and death of lowly people isn’t even in my mind.

"It’s just as Hanuman-dono said. What I did is nothing more than firing the arrow of scorching heat and──the arrow of frozen land which I borrowed from elder brother’s quiver."

Lakhsmana calmly spoke with a long bow made from wood in hand.

"These people, it seemed they somehow endured the first arrow. But as expected they were only mortal humans. It’s obvious that they couldn’t endure the second arrow too."

Lakhsmana repeatedly showed a distortion that could even be said as evil.

However, at this time he was aloof. He had a dignity that was really worthy for a'god'.

Surely he thought of the likes of Kusanagi Godou’s comrades as nothing more than a bell to call out the target. ……Such thing ignited Godou’s rage.

"For victory, hasten forth before me."

Godou muttered.

"O immortal sun, I beseech thee to grant radiance to the stallion. O stallion that moveth godlike with wondrous grace, bringest forth the halo of thy master."

The words of power for the sake of calling Verethragna’s third incarnation, the White Horse.

The chanting was calm instead. However, from far above──the sun shining at the zenith vomited out a flare from its rim──

Godou was immediately convinced. He further chanted this too.

"It’s your turn, Lancelot du Lac. Fight as my lance!"

The White Horse that compelled sunlight to become the javelin of annihilation.

The full power and full speed knight’s gallop by a war god of lance.

It was a drastic move of which Kusanagi Godou simultaneously through the two strongest “projectile weapons” he possessed.

–

Part 2

The flame of White Horse could only be fired when attacking a great evildoer who harmed the populace.

Prince Lakhsmana who received all distortion and stain that his big brother Rama ought to bear possessed enough qualification to be targeted by it.

"GUuuuuuoooOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!?"

The handsome look that resembled the pure elder brother twisted in anguish.

Swallowed by the pillar of fire that descended from the sky, he suffered being burned alive.

"U──nuuh! I have to stake my life for the sake of elder brother!"

"You are noisy. In the first place, a guy at just your level is butting in too much."

Godou felt no fighting spirit or instinct welling up.

Godou muttered with cold fury. His voice that sounded looking down at enemy of lower status from far “above” was truly in the style of a'devil king'.

"Stop crashing uninvited anymore into the match between me and Rama."

"Kuuuuuuh!"

Lakhsmana’s figure was vanishing inside the pillar of flame.

He was killed──not. He didn’t deem it acceptable to get burned to death like this and personally chose to retreat. It was due to his tenacity of devoting his life for the sake of his elder brother.

……Well, it didn’t matter.

Godou emotionless nodded after taking care of one opponent.

His rage toward the lot who hurt his beloved girls was too big that instead of being violently emotional he entered a state of calmness.

──He had to scatter this kind of bunch even for a second quicker and then stayed close to his companions.

When he looked to the sky, two war gods were performing an even fight.

"You! How dare you forget your obligation to the prince and side with a godslayer!"

The god Hanuman who was soaring freely cursed in the air.

"It’s an act unbecoming for a god, Lancelot du Lac!"

"You are speaking nonsense. If you want to preach about the path of loyalty, then do it at another place. I am a god of knight, but at the same time a queen of horse-riding Amazon people, a chief of bunches of ruffians!"

Lancelot mocked the white monkey god who was unwavering in his loyalty.

"I will spur my horse following my heart’s want, and freely decide the enemy who I ought to bury!"

"Nuuh!"

"Right now you are my target, Hanuman!"

The war god Lancelot du Lac who at present became Godou’s 'lance'──

She spurred her flying white horse while readying her lance and shield.

Knight and horse was moving in a zigzag with speed that was equal like lightning chasing after Hanuman. In order to pierce him with the tip of the spear.

The monkey king who descended from wind god dodged with sharp turn and tried to circle behind the horse.

However, the moment the opponent approached her back, Lancelot and her white horse suddenly accelerated, took a steep climb, nose dived, she escaped the predicament with her air mobility.

And then, the repeated dog fight between the monkey god and knight god──.

Wind and lightning, the respective heaven-sent children of those elements were chased and be chased alternatively. Looking up at that spectacle, Godou was satisfied. In such situation, it wouldn’t be a problem even if he didn’t immediately give reinforcement.

"Yosh."

Godou moved to his companions’ side.

Erica, Yuri, Liliana, and then Ena. First he took the wrist of the Italian girl who had the nickname of Diavolo Rosso. She had no pulse. She was cold like ice. The other three were surely the same.

But, Godou wasn’t perturbed anymore by only this much.

He had conviction. That ‘they can be saved if it’s me’.

He had a feeling of omnipotence. That ‘I am the one and only savior’.

That was the conceit of 'chosen one' that was only allowed to hero or saint.

Yes. When the war god Verethragna of the ancient Persia──of the orient descended to the surface, he chose “a certain form” as his preference and protected the innocent populace.

A radiant fifteen years old youth. The sixth incarnation of Verethragna.

Godou chanted the words of power in order to awaken his own authority.

"I come for victory. I come for the sake of support, for the sake of healing, for the sake of justice, for the sake of good life. Welcome my coming with adoration!"

Salvation and protection could be shared to the people who risked their life for the sake of Kusanagi Godou.

That was the authority of Youth.

A few months ago was the last time he invoked this authority in the battle against Sun Wukong in Nikkou. Right now, white──sacred light was emitted from Godou’s whole body.

The power to display justice and miracle to the world became an overflowing splendor.

"O my retainers"

Godou kneeled, first he lifted Erica inside his arms.

"I disapprove of death without my approval. The divine protection of the sacred god of war won’t recognize even the tranquility of death. Savor the special privilege and suffering of the chosen, together with me……!"

He kissed the blonde haired girl who was dear to him.

Through the exchange of lips, the 'divine protection' was sent in.

It was a blessing that he had given twice to Erica before. The same like before, and the time before that, with this immense vitality was breathed into her heart and body. In exchange of granting severe pain to her.

But, however.

"Nn……Godou──my Campione……"

Erica’s closed eyes opened in intoxication.

Her lips let out enraptured breath and sweet whisper.

Different from the previous two times. Erica’s heart and body had grown accustomed to this glorious ritual, she was already able to receive ecstasy and power of a chosen one without tasting pain.

However, there were still other three companions who collapsed.

Godou kneeled in front of them one after another, and repeated the kiss.

"I feel it, Godou-san’s power……. It’s really……amazing……"

"My king──. I swear I will repay this blessing so, i, is it fine……if I beg you to kiss me a bit more……?"

"Do. Don’t, your majesty-. It’s embarrassing to be seen in this kind of place……face that wa──"

With this everything was arranged.

Godou determinedly lifted his face and turned his gaze once more to the midair battle.

–

"I noticed it, war god of lance-dono!"

Hanuman finally stopped running away.

He came charging toward Lancelot and her beloved horse. While the monkey arms that were covered with white fur were swinging around a steel stick──with heavy weight attached on its tip.

*GAaaNN-!*

Lancelot lifted her shield and blocked the white monkey god’s stick above her horse.

"Ku……-!"

The queen of horse-riding people grimaced after receiving Hanuman’s great strength.

At the time when she was protecting Guinevere, her face was completely hidden by a full face helmet. Right now she was wearing a helmet that exposed her beautiful face.

Exposing one’s face and displaying one’s ferociousness were also the duty of a battle queen.

That Lancelot exposed an impatient look just for a moment──.

The war god Hanuman saw it fully and he chuckled.

"Fufufufufu, as I thought. I was thinking if this is actually the case since I saw your fighting style after you served Kusanagi Godou. It seem that you──are bound by time limit."

"How sharp, white monkey-dono."

The two war gods began a contest of strength using shield and stick.

When Haniman pushed, Lancelot also pushed back. When the stick with weighted tip was slowly pushing with more power, she also similarly applied strength to her diamond shaped shield…….

"The time you can fight freely to your heart’s content, it’s not long by all means from what I’ve seen, am I correct?"

"Fuh. So it’s meaningless even if I dodge the question."

The war god of the lance smiled bitterly and nodded sportsmanlike.

Lancelot could only be active with her full strength and full speed in 'about ten minutes' in human’s sense. The current her was in the end a subordinate god that Kusanagi Godou summoned.

"And then monkey-dono. You are turning into brute force approach because you estimated that my limit is near."

"Indeed. The time for battle is ripe now……"

‘Guh!’ Hanuman pushed his stick even more.

The diamond shaped shield couldn’t push back against this. Lancelot’s remaining strength was running out. But she wasn’t losing mentally, the war god of the lance impudently grinned.

"Sun Wukong──you are different from that relative monkey of yours, you are intelligence huh!"

"Please don’t misunderstand. It’s because the legend of this humble one and King Rama, the anecdote of 'the guiding saint and the monkey companion' was circulated in eastern countries, that the tale of such monkey-dono with single celled brain──that immature model was born. It can be said that he is a terribly distant relative of mine, but we have no direct connection."

Perhaps there was something that he couldn’t yield as a serious and loyal vassal.

Hanuman was speaking with dissatisfaction which was unusual for him.

"I’m asking you to not compare Sun-dono with me too much."

"Pardon me. At the dawn of my success in cutting my way through you, I will surely teach that to other people."

"Aa──I say, that will be unnecessary."

*BUN-!*

With brute strength, Hanuman swept his stick horizontally.

The shield was sent flying away from Lancelot’s left hand. It flew toward the empty air far away.

"I have not the slightest intention of letting you get away. If I let you go free, it will be unknown in what kind of form you will assist Kusanagi Godou. I will bring you down here with certainty."

"Chih!"

The queen clicked her tongue, before her Hanuman called the wind.

*GOU!* Wind was groaning around the two war gods and began to rotate. The wind became a great vortex of air. It gave rise to──a tornado that was howling thunderously.

The white monkey midair and the goddess riding a horse, both sides were completely swallowed by the tornado!

"Farewell, god of lance. With this you have no path of escape."

"Yeah. ……The same goes for you."

"!?"

The impatience and bluff changed completely, into a warrior’s smile convinced of victory.

Witnessing the change in Lancelot, the white monkey god Hanuman was taken aback. The next instant, a howl that oppressed the growl of the rumbling tornado──resounded to the sky.

–

"Thus speaketh the lord. The sinful shall be met with justice."

The air battle between the soaring Hanuman and the war god who was entrusted with role as decoy.

In order to seal the withdrawal of Lancelot du Lac, Hanuman produced a tornado high to the sky that was like a prison. It that timing, Godou’s words of power were chanted.

"The one unblunted and unapproachable, oath breaking sinners be purged by the iron hammer of justice! May spines be crushed, may bones be broken, tendons torn, hair, brains, and blood mingled and trampled together with the earth!"

*OOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooNNNNNNN-!*

From the burnt field ground that came to being from Arrow of Flame, a muscular huge beast flew out. It was the Boar that was twenty meter long.

The fifth incarnation of Verethragna that also ought to be called as Godou’s other self.

Without the black huge monster──leaped.

Aiming to high at the sky, it jumped using its whole body like spring. It was ascending steeply to the sky like a launched rocket.

It had became night unnoticed, the full moon was illuminating the ground with growing light.

The boar made a big leap as though flying toward that moon. The divine beast continued to climb steadily, and finally it growled in the air and charged into the tornado──

*OOOOOOOOooooooooNNNNNNNNN-!*

First, a howling voice containing ultrasonic waves negated the whirling of the tornado and dispersed it.

Furthermore the Boar’s large body didn’t stop its high speed steep climbing that was like a rocket, powerfully carrying the white monkey god of wind Hanuman to even higher height in the sky.

"NUOOOOOOH!"

The Boar was piercing Hanuman’s body with the two tusks on its nose.

Surely it wouldn’t become a lethal wound. The monkey who also excelled in supernatural power enlarged his own body and became a size that didn’t lose with the Boar’s large body.

"My father, wind god Vayu, please lend me the physical strength that can move even mountain!"

Hanuman yelled.

He wrung out all his physical power and flying power and attempted to push back the steep climb of the Boar. But, there Lancelot and her white horse charged.

The tip of the lance thrust into the forehead of the enlarged Hanuman!

"A knight’s gallop in full power and full speed──tonight we will gallop toward the stars, my friend!"

*NEEIIIIIIGHHHH-!*

*OOOOOOOOooooooooNNNNNNN-!*

The horse and the Boar responded to the command of the queen Lancelot. The three who served Kusanagi Godou poured all their magic power for flying and rising up.

The skewered body of Hanuman was pierced by fang and lance and rushing power, in order to grin him down!

Higher and higher──the gods and divine beasts were galloping to the night sky like a genuine rocket. When they reached super high altitude that likely crossed over the stratosphere, more than a hundred kilometer from the surface, it was then.

A conviction of "Got him!" welled up inside Godou’s heart.

His retainers had consigned the white god monkey Hanuman to oblivion. And the in order to confiscate his divine power, the mother Pandora should be rotating the Circle of Usurpation in the far beyond.

For a moment Godou’s shoulders became profoundly heavy.

Next power welled up through his whole body. It was the prize from murdering a god.

–

Part 3

"Hmmm……"

After the fight ended, Godou strained his eyes.

It was for the sake of checking the surface──of the moon hanging in the night sky.

"No good. I cannot see it at all……"

"What’s the matter with the moon, your majesty?"

Seishuuin Ena who came to his side made a wondering face. Godou answered.

"No. Just, I’m worried if there is gash created on the moon somewhere."

"Gash, on the moon?"

This time it was Mariya Yuri who made a dubious face.

"I said gash, but in the first place the moon is littered with holes though……"

The planet’s satellite, moon is constantly facing the earth with the same surface.

This was already a common knowledge. Usually, the back side of the moon that earthling had never saw was extremely ugly with holes littered all over it.

In contrast, the front surface that people often saw was vividly beautiful.

Of course, crater and lunar mare and the like also existed on the front surface. However, it instead gave accent to the inorganic whiteness and could be called a 'pattern' wasn’t it?

However, well, what Godou was concerned about wasn’t “that kind of thing”.

As expected, it was Erica who noticed it first.

"Could it be Godou"

The Italian girl sighed while staring at the beautiful moon’s surface.

"The Boar that you called out just now……could it be that you told it something like this? Something like 'Beat up Hanuman midair, and wreck up the moon while you’re at it'──"

"Aa"

"You did that didn’t you, Kusanagi Godou……"

When Godou was at loss of how to answer just for a moment, Liliana also guessed it.

The silver haired girl who was in 'serious group' with Yuri murmured with great regret.

"The condition to use the incarnation of Boar is to make that divine beast destroy some kind of big object. But sometimes──it can also be thought as evil spirit that can be employed in exchange of the permission to destroy……. Should I say that it’s just too flexible, whether in the aspect of its action after getting called out, and also in the aspect of its ability."

"I’m of the same opinion with Lily."

The comment of the blue knight was approved by the red knight Erica.

"Even though it’s more or less a land mammalian creature, but it can fly until that high."

"Right about now it might be arriving for real until the moon. Come to think of it, in the past I once read a sci-fi novel that was like this. Both the main character’s side and the enemy’s side were towing an enormous planet with beam like thing and smashed it against each other’s base."

"My? That sounds so ludicrously flashy, something that is a bit of my taste."

"It was too preposterous which doesn’t really match my preference. But, the way the Campiones are fighting, it’s quite similar in some aspects……"

"Yes. That Boar especially has that kind of tendency clearly."

The heaven-sent children of blue and red nodded to each other.

As expected from the protectors knight who were his trusted confidant. They were also gradually noticing the doubt Godou was vaguely sensing──.

"Moon is it. As expected even Ena never thought of smashing the moon!"

On the other hand, the hime–miko who was in the 'uninhibited group' together with Erica laughed.

"As expected, the thinking of a person who killed a god isn’t normal!"

"……Actually, it’s vague but, when I’m looking at that moon, I’m feeling subtle sense of discomfort. It feels like there is small, subtle difference somewhere in it──compared to before."

In contrast with the cheerful Ena, Yuri spoke worriedly.

Because she was an owner of unparalleled spirit vision, hime-miko Mariya Yuri’s 'vague' was more reliable compared to the deduction of any kind of genius physicist.

It was already a common sense among Godou and co. Ena laughed further.

"Ahahahaha. There is really a new 'hole' created somewhere on the moon."

"I cannot think of anything that can deny that possibility."

"As expected the Boar surely cannot display destructive power in the level that can destroy the moon, but it feels like it can do the feat of reaching until the moon by its own strength. No, if Kusanagi Godou seriously support it and even Lancelot help out, then even the destruction of moon might not be a mere dream……?"

"Godou also still has the trump card of White Horse which is still unclear how powerful its maximum destructive power is."

"I retract my previous statement. It’s not a dream, it should be called as nightmare instead."

Erica and Liliana also spoke unanimously.

Everything was the seed that he planted himself, so it was hard for him to comment.

Godou spoke what should be said the most right now to avoid even further allusion.

"Well, anyway I’m glad that everyone is saved. I’m relieved."

"That’s really thanks to Godou. But"

Erica shelved her usual elegance and frowned with a depressed look.

"I wonder, at the end was we only in the 'critical state at the verge of death'? Or perhaps we really did──"

"Don’t think about it too much. Anyway, the condition of you all was “in the degree that can be healed by my and Verethragna’s power”. Isn’t it fine to look at it like that?"

"To accept that explanation, a sketchiness in the same level like Godou and others, the Campione will be necessary……"

"If your majesty say that then Ena won’t think too much about it though."

Ena cut in with a baffled look.

"We were attacked by two of that prince Rama’s arrow. It’s already a wonder that we got away with only that level of condition. Rather, it wouldn’t be strange even if we were blown away until no trace of us was left──"

"The same like how Tokyo’s bay area ended up."

It seemed that Liliana was also similarly unable to come to a grip with it.

Godou who somehow guessed the trick behind it put an end to it with a murmur.

"It must be that. Perhaps there was this “surmise” thing in those arrows toward my feeling."

"Surmise?" (TN: I’m not really sure about the meaning of this part, but I interpreted it as Rama surmising Godou’s feeling, that’s why his arrows didn’t blow the girls into ash. Credit to Sparhawk6 and his friends for their help)

Erica who boasted an outstanding wisdom tilted her head in puzzlement.

It was a matter that had to do with things like 'pride between fellow men' or 'something between man to man', that was why as expected even this red devil also unusually had difficulty in understanding it.

Well, it would be uncouth for him to talk minutely about such thing.

Godou deliberately closed his mouth. Just, only Yuri alone exchanged look with him with an expression that noticed something. As expected from her.

It seemed that she alone somehow guessed it with an intuition that exceeded logic.

"Anyway. I could settle it with Hanuman before fighting Rama. The preparation for the last battle is perfect. It’s enough like that."

Godou purposefully spoke carefreely.

"Even that nonsensical internal dissension──wasn’t useless it seemed."

"What do you mean, Kusanagi Godou?"

"In the middle of that battle royal, Hanuman got driven away to twelve thousand years ago right? Perhaps that guy was greatly weakened because of that."

Godou answered Liliana’s question right away.

This time he ended up bringing down the white monkey god of wind Hanuman with leisure.

Previously, when he was confronting his elder sister Luo Cuilian──it felt like Hanuman was a tough powerful enemy. That was before he got sent to super ancient period far away.

Yes. Toward the unimaginable far away past of twelve thousand years ago or something.

It was to the degree that Perseus and Sun Wukong’s souls got abraded and they vanished somewhere along the line.

Even for the immortal gods, it wasn’t a short time by any means. In the first place there was even gods who “retired” in Astral World after getting tired of passing through eternity.

What was Hanuman doing during the twelve thousand years?

By any chance he might even did 'hibernation'. That was what Godou thought. If that was the case then it would explain why in ancient Gallia and devil king civil war there was no “two Hanuman” in participation.

A dormant of more than ten thousand years──.

His objective must be to prevent the abrasion of his soul and the dulling of his self as much as possible.

The source of Heretic Gods’ vitality and fighting spirit was a firm identity after all.

However, even a “sleep that was too long” that reached a super long period would slowly weaken war god Hanuman’s soul in its own way.

That was why he was unable to persist to the end in the fight this time against Godou…….

"Everything is just my own imagination though."

"Even if that’s the case Godou, it doesn’t change that you had grown greatly. To the degree where you can crush a powerful enemy like Hanuman easily."

Erica nodded.

"You should have enough qualification to fight against the King of the End."

–

After that, Godou moved away from the burnt area.

When he said to the members of History Compilation Committee who came running that he'wanted to rest somewhere', they prepared a hotel in city center for him.

"It’s fine even if it’s not a place this extravagant though."

Godou spoke to Amakasu Touma who sent them by car.

He only asked for different place to rest because it felt like Shizuka would be noisy if he returned home.

Even if it wasn’t a hotel with more than three stars, he wouldn’t mind even if it was something like sauna in pub area, and yet──.

"Well, it’s our committee who paid. Please relax there at ease."

Amakasu smiled in front of the hotel room.

"Kusanagi-san got seriously involved with 'the fate of the world' aren’t you? ……But, can I ask one thing?"

"What is it?"

"It felt like it would be fine even if you begin the last battle immediately after that. Aah, I’m sorry. I really don’t have intention to hurry you on, I’m just purely curious. Of course, taking a bit of rest will also make it possible to reuse Verethragna’s incarnation after all. I understand about that."

"It’s fine."

Godou smiled to reassure him.

"Even if the start got delayed by half a day or more──we won’t mind it."

"We?"

"Yes. Rather if the fight begin with my condition still not in order, that guy would dislike it more."

"Hahaa."

Amakasu blinked in surprise hearing Godou’s words. Perhaps it was a state of mind that was hard for a'ninja' who prized knowledge and quick wit more than fighting to sympathize.

In any case, Godou’s heart was calm.

He wasn’t impatient. There was also no feeling of wanting to delay the fight.

Tomorrow, he would settle it with that man. He was convinced of that while taking shower and then fell asleep. Right now, he should rest more than anything else.

If Godou was an athlete for boxing or the like challenging a fight for world title.

If at that time he had no uneasiness whatsoever with the amount and content of training he had accumulated until then.

Then perhaps he would be able to reach his current state of mind in that case. Godou’s heart was mysteriously serene before the decisive battle. What’s left was only to fight.

When he turned on the TV, the recent affair of the world was reported.

'The rise of temperature that is unusual for late winter──'

'The sign of volcanic activity is reported from everywhere in Japan──'

'An unprecedented measure from meteorological agency of simultaneously raising the alert level of eruption in the whole country──' and so on.

His heart wasn’t especially moved even from watching the various news.

Some sort of conclusion for everything would be reached after he had a showdown tomorrow with that man.

By the way at the same night.

In a new workplace that the committee prepared, Liliana seemed to complete the desired secret medicine.

The next morning, when Godou was eating breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant, all his girl companions came bringing it. And then there was one more guest.

"Alice-san."

"We also made it in time from our side, Kusanagi-sama."

As expected from a high class hotel in a metropolitan area, there was no out of place feeling even with a graceful Caucasian woman (spirit body) being here. Godou nodded at Princess Alice’s smile.

There was three glass bottles put on Godou’s table.

Each one was filled with red, blue, and black liquid. Everyone was vividly colored that it looked poisonous. But what was important was their effect.

Godou drank up the three bottles in succession without hesitation.

Everyone of them tasted terrible. But, the drunkenness and the abnormality in his vision that he experienced right after it were more terrible.

Not only his head felt dizzy, his whole field of vision was warping like jelly and the view of the restaurant was changing into a surrealism landscape painting.

In the end, that condition somehow settled down after around two minutes…….

When he noticed Erica had came before his eyes and asked him this.

"How is it Godou? Do you feel anything strange?"

"I still don’t really notice. Well, I’ll understand it right away if I try various things for real."

"That crudeness is as expected from you."

Erica was in admiration. Beside her Liliana spoke in vexation.

"I have something to report. According to the princess, when you embark into the 'true battlefield', it seems that only one person can accompany you."

"Only one person?"

"Yes. The princess said that she obtained that kind of spirit vision."

This time it was Ena who spoke with dissatisfaction that she couldn’t clear away.

Beside her, Yuri also spoke sadly.

"There last night we talked about it……about who will come together with Godou-san but……"

"In the end we didn’t reach any conclusion. It couldn’t be helped so we drew a lottery."

"It should be called as the guidance of bad luck. The one who drew the winning lottery was this female fox. From my view the doubt of foul play cannot be denied, so it’s hard to accept."

"You’re being a poor loser, Lily. I swear to the heaven that I didn’t do anything I will need to feel guilty about."

"Aa……"

Yuri, Liliana, Ena, the three people were making a gloomy face together.

In exchange it was only Erica who was keeping her elegance from the beginning. Godou comprehended, but he immediately tilted his head.

"But, drawing lottery huh? I think that Erica drew the short end of the stick instead though because we are going to head to a dangerous battlefield."

"My, Godou, there is also this way to look at it you know?"

Erica spoke with a composed expression.

"A great match where the fate of the world is on the line──the invitation ticket for the ringside seat was splendidly drawn by this Erica Blandelli."

"Is that so?"

"In any case be thankful. I will accompany you in your battle until the very end."

"Yosh."

After coming this far, he wouldn’t say anything like he wouldn’t allow her to come or anything.

Godou immediately nodded. Erica too brazenly smiled like a female lion.

And then together with his companions he returned to the room where he was staying last night. He exchanged glance with Princess Alice, in order to have her to begin the transfer ritual to Astral World.

Two hours later──.

Led by Alice’s spirit body, Godou and Erica arrived in the grey colored domain.

The end of Astral World, the entrance to the domain of gods.

"Hey Godou. There was also report that there was a war god on Fuji Mountain who seemed to be Prince Rama though. Is it fine to ignore it?"

"No problem. If it’s that guy, he will surely notice my movement."

"……Somehow I feel jealous. You are talking about that person as though he is your lover of the heart."

"Well then Godou-sama. Please follow the procedure that I taught you before this──"

Urged by Princess Alice, Godou immediately began.

Previously he discovered the territory of the god of fate with the intention of seeing through the farthest end of the world. This time Godou sharpened his senses with the intention to embark into it.

Godou’s senses for magic were nonexistent, but this time there was the effect of those three nasty miracle drugs──

And then, Godou began to transfer.

Erica quickly hugged his arm and she became the only one accompanying him.

The final battle would finally begin.

Right now, Godou obtained──the conviction that the gong of a title match rang out.

Chapter 4

Part 1

And then, the time was flowing.

The spring break was over and it became a new school term.

There was a row of cherry blossom trees on the school route from Kusanagi house heading to Jounan Academy.

From the time when cute flower buds were starting to grow, and then bloomed beautifully, and before long they reached full bloom, and in the end scattered into a cherry blossom storm, the whole sequence of events could be enjoyed to one’s heart content.

The season of cherry blossom had also completely ended.

"Hey Shizuka."

This morning he was unusually going to school with his little sister.

Godou called out to Kusanagi Shizuka who was walking beside him.

"Recently, you made Hikari into your henchman I heard?"

"Don’t say it in a way that sound bad in other people’s ears, Onii-chan."

Shizuka childishly puffed up her cheeks and objected.

"I am taking care of new club member of tea ceremony club who came from middle school. That’s all, that’s why don’t say it as if though it’s something strange."

"I never thought that Hikari would enter your club."

Godou talked seriously.

Mariya Hikari. The little sister of Mariya Yuri who was close with Godou. She had just entered into the middle school of Jounan Academy this spring.

And then, the little sister of Kusanagi family also publicly became first year in the same high school with him this year.

Of course Godou also managed to advance a grade. He somehow overcame the one year that was full of all kind of conflict without end and now he had started his second year in high school.

Really, it was a wonder that he didn’t die during this one year.

"It’s really, deeply moving."

"Geez Onii-chan, why are you acting like that just from rising a grade?"

"Don’t say that. I have my own circumstances after all."

"Well, I guess. Since Onii-chan enrolled into high school, your relationships with girls became especially absurd. There is no change even now right? Like the big sister of Hikari, or Erica-san, or Liliana-san, or the people other than them."

"Hahahaha."

At this time it was better not to talk too much.

Godou smoothly laughed it off, and then he used the technique that he learned recently. If an aggressive person was made to focus on defense, their threat level would decrease considerably…….

There was a topic that was just right.

"You say that but you are also calling Yinghua frequently right?"

"What are you saying? I didn’t do anything like that. Besides, Lu-kun hates girl a lot despite his good look doesn’t he?"

Well, she wasn’t wrong. Godou agreed inside his heart.

Lu Yinghua working hard in a love relationship with a girl would be as unexpected as the sun rising from the west, and not to mention this little sister──.

"If you don’t think of Li-kun as romantic interest, he is an interesting boy. He has a lot of strange connections or dodgy special techniques. But, the other day a girl who is a friend of me saw Li-kun by chance──it looks like she has an interest to Li-kun."

"That Yinghua, his appearance is exceptional after all……"

"But, there is no way I can introduce her to him."

"That’s the only thing you absolutely mustn’t do. It will be happiness for both sides to not meet each other for their whole life."

"Agree. I also thought so."

–

──'power' was gathering in the depth of his body even while he was walking and talking with his little sister.

–

The class began.

He got in the same class with Mariya Yuri at this second year.

Their seats inside the class were also near with each other. In the middle of class their gaze often met each other by accident.

At that kind of time, Yuri would smile gracefully to him. Godou could taste happiness spreading inside him just from that. It was mysterious.

His heart was fulfilled just by sharing the same space and the same time.

There was a partner who he was building such relationship with near him. Surely that was the happiest thing.

"Godou-san."

It wasn’t like she would come to Godou’s side every time it was break time.

However, Yuri coming until near him, talking to him a bit, and above all else when their eyes met and they shared something more than words could convey, such chances were happening quite frequently.

That feeling of satisfaction made Godou said this after school.

"Even though it will be great if this kind of carefree life can continue forever."

"Fufufufufu. I wonder about that."

It was when they arrived at the shoe rack from the corridor.

Yuri who was going home together with him heard his muttering just now and smiled.

"In Godou-san’s case, you will say such things while plunging into a storm by your own initiative after all……. Perhaps it’s that Godou-san cannot be satisfied just by living carefree."

"I took the leap because it was necessary okay, Mariya."

Godou seriously appealed with his all.

"It’s because there is trouble that cannot be solved unless I do that, so at that kind of time I generally…"

"Fufufufu"

Yuri didn’t say anything more and she only smiled.

Godou was feeling a bit dissatisfied somewhat while going outside the school. It was then the gentle hime-miko took out a letter from her school bag.

"That’s right. I was entrusted with this from Ena-san."

"That girl, even though she isn’t replying my email at all."

It was really like Seishuuin Ena to go against the current of time and used analog instead.

Godou accepted the sealed letter while smiling wryly. Godou was unconsciously feeling admiration at the address’s skillful writing of 'To Kusanagi Godou-sama'.

"Seishuuin’s writing is really good huh."

"If you say that to Ena-san, it feels like she will say that pens and swords are similar."

"That’s a cool statement like master swordsman in the past but, is that actually true?"

"I wonder? I too only dabble a bit in calligraphy, but I don’t understand that sense at all."

"Isn’t that right"

–

──'power' was thoroughly gathering even while he was conversing with the fair hime-miko.

–

Godou separated from Yuri who went to Nanao Shrine.

He hung around the school for a bit more.

After a while, there was a crowd formed around the martial art dojo. It seemed they were peeking inside from the window and entrance.

……At this kind of time, he was acquainted with the center of the commotion.

Even when he was first year, this was a situation that he experienced often. Godou also became one of the onlookers and peeked inside the dojo.

An outrageous match was in progress inside.

*Hyun-. Hyun-. Hyun-.* Bamboo swords cut through air in succession.

‘Haa, haa, haa, haa’. The breathing of the kendo club members was wheezing behind the face mask. The member was wearing full equipment of bamboo sword and protector set.

The kendo club member was obviously a boy from his body build.

The one who was lightly toying with him was a fencer.

That white costume and mask. Thanks to the tight outfit, her excellent body style as girl could be clearly seen whether one wanted it or not.

The fencer’s right hand was holding a thin sword used for this match, a saber.

The male kendo club member fiercely rushed the fencer girl and swung around his bamboo sword hard. He was letting out a desperate fierce offense.

The fencer girl moved to left and right lightly and avoided the kendo club member.

It was a footwork that Godou recalled seeing before. Well, he already had the rough idea of the girls’ identity by the time he saw her body line though.

"That Erica, what is she doing?"

*Prick. Prick. Prick. Prick. Prick.*

Erica who was fencing wasn’t just “dodging” the boy. She swung her sword like whip while dodging at the same time, hitting the protector of Japanese kendo.

The spot she was hitting was the mask, glove, and torso. She was continuing to hit those three spots repeatedly.

Each time Erica’s strike hit, the audiences would cheer"OOOOOH!" joyfully.

Mask, glove, torso. OOOOH! Mask, glove, torso. OOOOH!

When this loop was repeated for around the seventh time, the boy who was completely exhausted sat down hard on the floor.

When Godou thought that it was the end with that, there was a change of players.

"So it’s Liliana this time."

The entrance of a new male kendo club member and a fencer girl caused Godou to feel exasperated.

He didn’t know who was the kendo club member, but the slender limbs that were snugly wrapped in fencing outfit undoubtedly belonged to Liliana Kranjcar.

She toyed with the kendo club members with light footwork. The same as Erica.

She beat up the opponent with repeated strike using brilliant slashes. She was doing the same thing as Erica.

What was different was how the kendo club member lost his patience and charged forward as though it was a tackle. Liliana lightly dodged with a composed sidestep ──

In a flash, her leg swept the opponent’s leg. It was close to a judo technique to make the opponent stumble outside the ring.

With that the judo club member splendidly flew in the air and rotated once midair. He got stuck acting a disgrace of falling back first on the floor of the dojo.

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!"

The audiences raised the loudest cheer of this day.

In order to respond to that, Erica and Liliana finally took off their mask.

The Diavolo Rosso was of course spreading around her lovely smile. The serious blue knight too──she didn’t look that dissatisfied seeing the audience’s enthusiasm despite her calm expression.

……And then thirty minutes later.

The two knights who had finished their shower and changing clothes came to the schoolyard.

"We were asked to help with the launching of a fencing association. They asked if I and Lily will join even if only in name."

Erica spoke right after they rendezvoused with Godou.

"But, it’s not really stylish to finish it with only lending our name."

"And so it led to the match just now huh."

"Yes. A demonstration."

A sword match between two different sword art of kendo and fencing. Furthermore it was done with spectators present.

Godou grumbled. It was a really ludicrous event, but the students gathered to watch it and got heated up. He would say that it was as expected from Erica Blandelli.

"But, to think that even Liliana will go along with it."

"How naïve Godou. Even Lily is somewhat of a show-off."

"I, I was just, trying to answer the feeling of everyone who want to make an association! I have not the slightest impure motive in this-!"

"Fufufufu. But, you aimed for a winning style even more showy than me right?"

"No way. That was just my body moving by itself-"

The red and blue girls quarreled with each other livelily.

Different from his association with Mariya Yuri, when he got involved with these two, the school life that should be peaceful immediately turned loud.

Even the serious Liliana had appearance that was like a fairy, a silver haired beautiful girl.

Anyway she was standing out. And then when the blonde haired Italian girl was also added there, they stood out even more. Well, it couldn’t be helped.

Godou smiled and gazed at the exchange between the girls.

–

……Godou was gathering 'power' even during that time.

Power. Of course it referred to magic power.

It was the source of strength when gods and Campiones wielded their authority. When they were attacked by hostile magic or authority, heightening magic power would become a countermeasure.

Because the more powerful magic power a person had, they would be able to display strong resistance against other people’s magic power.

–

In a corner at the schoolyard of Jounan academy.

Erica and Liliana were talking cheerfully while Godou also with them.

The schoolyard were crowded with students striving hard in their club activity and students going home. It was a really peaceful scene of school life.

However.

Enough magic power was finally gathered at the depth of Godou’s body.

He fired up his body and heart with that and thought strongly. ‘I’ll smash this strange “illusion” for sure’ like that. The students were vanishing one after another from the schoolyard.

One, then one more. At the end Liliana vanished from in front of him.

The remaining people were only Godou and Erica Blandelli.

But Erica wasn’t wearing school uniform anymore. Her rossonerired and black outfit was formed from the combination of bright crimson long T-shirt, a black leather jacket, and pants.

"……We received this kind of attack before right?"

"……It’s when Saturnus manifested. At that time even our memory got rewritten and it turned into something outrageous."

"Well, setting that aside."

Godou nodded at his beautiful partner.

"We have reached the territory of the god of fate."

–

Part 2

The territory of the god of fate.

After saying that, Godou got doubtful.

"……Even though this is the enemy’s center, why is it our school?"

The students and Liliana had vanished, but the schoolyard and school buildings were still there.

It didn’t bear the slightest resemblance with 'the domain of fabric that was like carpet continuing endlessly' Princess Alice showed him yesterday.

"Let’s look around for a bit, Godou."

Godou returned inside the school building once more together with Erica.

They didn’t change their shoes and entered inside with their dirty shoes but they paid it no mind. They passed through the very familiar corridor, climbed the stairs, and arrived at the classroom that they visited almost every day.

Class 1-5. It was the class Godou and Erica belonged to.

Naturally, there wasn’t any of their classmates inside. The inside of the building was completely empty from people.

"Our classroom──it should be so, but this place doesn’t look like it."

Godou murmured.

On the entrance of the classroom, there was a tag of '1-6' attached.

Appropriate for the classroom of a new first year students, there were few things pasted around the wall and blackboard.

Even when they peeked inside the many desks lining up, there was almost no student who “left behind things in school” like textbook or notebook. It was fresh.

"It really felt like we have advanced to second year until just now. It’s a strange feeling."

"Could it be, that this might be the 《future》."

Erica suddenly spoke which shocked Godou.

"Future!?"

"Yes. The few months later──that Kusanagi Godou and us all would welcome a few months later. That’s in case we somehow pass the confrontation with Prince Rama and recover the world peace."

Erica spoke while pondering.

"Actually, I was begged around two months after starting school. Some people said that they want to create a fencing association, so can I at least lend them my name. Our future was simulated even taking that into account. Or perhaps the very future itself was brought here──"

"Hee……"

"Actually this is different from that time with Saturnus, there was no out of place feelings at all. I accepted that situation really naturally."

"Me too."

The life as second year high school student they experienced just now felt really natural.

It could even be said that the completion rate of the virtual world was 'perfect'.

But, Campione had strong resistance against magical attack. Furthermore, Godou had finished experiencing attack of the same kind once. Godou wasn’t even fully immersed into the “imagination life” and in a corner of his head he was looking for the chance to counterattack all that time──.

Godou sat down on nearby desk and slowly looked around the classroom.

And then he smiled wryly. Well, if this was a tactic to make Kusanagi Godou who was fired up with fighting spirit to taste unexpected flow and reduced his momentum, then it really wasn’t a bad tactic.

"This god of fate guy is also really a shrewd one huh."

He had to strive so that his concentration wouldn’t be disturbed by something like this──.

Fortunately, the fighting spirit in his heart still hadn’t withered. It was smoldering like bonfire while silently waiting for the time to explode.

Perhaps because Godou was in that state, without him noticing his lips warped into a fierce shape.

He was smiling. Then, Erica came to his side as though aiming for that timing. She sat down on the same desk with Godou and leaned on him.

"Are you listening, Godou? What the god of fate is interweaving is of course 'the very fate itself', but"

Erica looked up at Godou’s face with an inviting gaze.

"Past, present, future──. You also cannot forget that this is an existence that also governs over 'time'. Have you heard? Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, the three sisters from Greek mythology. The three sisters Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld from Norse mythology. The three goddesses Parvati, Kali, and Durga from India mythology……"

"That three sisters of fate thing huh."

Godou plugged up Erica’s lips while speaking.

Should it be called as plundering, or being plundered. It was a short and deep kiss. When their lips separated from each other, this time they stared at each other passionately──

"Erica, please."

"Yes. I’ll offer you everything that you need!"

Their lips met once more.

This time it was long. Their mouth melted toward each other, indulging greedily at each other’s lips as though trying to become one, their tongue entangled, and exchange of saliva was repeated.

And then, knowledge was flowing into Godou.

It was the beginning of 《Instruction》 by means of magic.

First was regarding the hero Ramachandra. The content was the same like what was taught to Godou before.

But, the knowledge that Godou truly sought wasn’t that. It was being sent into his brain one after another by Erica’s magic.

They took breather between the kisses while Erica was also talking with her voice.

"Just like what the princess taught you, the three sisters of fate and the god of fate that conform to it──exist throughout the world……"

"There is one common feature among them. That point is really important……"

"”That race” will become the key to solve the mystery of everything……. The event that happened even farther in the past then when Prince Rama’s heroic tale circulated far and wide to the east and west continent──"

The incessant kisses with Godou caused Erica’s breathing to grow rough.

But her voice and breathing were growing sweeter accordingly. Her body was also getting heatedly flushed, gluing close on Godou’s body.

In order to offer everything to Kusanagi Godou, and above all else to make Godou victorious.

In order to respond to Erica Blandelli’s feeling, he received all of those──.

"Erica. Stay by my side no matter what."

Godou spoke after who knew how many hundred kisses.

"Perhaps the world will meet its end like this, I also absolutely cannot say cool things like I’ll protect you for sure. But in exchange, I’ll show you how I fight with my all……!"

"Yes, of course."

Erica spoke intoxicatedly inside Godou’s arms.

"Just like I vowed before. I’ll be together with you until the end of this world──. That’s why Godou, don’t worry about me, use all the strength you have for the sake of victory!"

"Leave it to me."

The long rite for the sake of love and victory──was finally over.

With the trump card for the decisive battle was arranged, Godou and Erica exchanged glance. When Godou looked outside the classroom’s window, Erica nodded.

Thunder had been booming loudly since a bit of time ago.

When they noticed──the sky was turning dark.

The sky was fully covered by dark clouds that sent rain and lightning. The stage was set up as though to say that the preparation for the decisive battle was finished.

Perhaps. Godou noticed a certain possibility.

"Perhaps I was thrown into this school was also to buy time."

"So it’s to call Prince Rama from the surface. Certainly, lightning is the symbol of a war god of steel."

Godou and Erica got up and started walking to outside.

–

The two came out to the schoolyard once more.

Before this the weather was a clear day in spring, but right now the wind was blowing as though a spring storm would begin. Thunder roared and lightning flashes also flickered.

Amidst such weather, Godou and Erica took position in the middle of the schoolyard.

And then──

A male student was approaching them. Even though there should be nobody else except Godou and Erica inside the school.

"……It unexpectedly suits him."

"……It’s also unexpected that he got the motivation to dress up stylishly like that."

Godou and also Erica were taken by surprise.

The male student wearing a blue school uniform approaching them of all people was the hero, Ramachandra!

"I finally can meet you."

"I too has been waiting impatiently all this time for this reunion."

The conversation between fellow arch enemy was started very naturally.

The hero Rama, wearing blue school uniform was smiling. His bluish white hair and divinely handsome look were too unbalanced with the school uniform that was too mundane──.

And yet, he easily wore it stylishly.

Godou laughed.

"What the hell with that huh. Surprising me like that."

"When I knew that you are in “this kind of place”, I tried scheming a bit. After all when you are in Rome do as the Romans do."

"I’m also entertained by Prince Rama’s outfit."

"Yo, so it’s you. It also has been a long time with you."

Rama also smoothly greeted Erica who entered the conversation.

He was skilled in communication like usual. It was to the degree that was unthinkable for a heretic god. Gus refreshing words choice and bright expression──.

(ED: Gus definition: Very sweet and caring. Very understandable. Loves unconditionally)

Was it just his imagination? Godou went "?" and he tilted his head.

Fatigue that was like rust was always clinging on Rama’s handsome look, and yet.

"Is it just my misunderstanding? You are showing a good face."

"Even I myself don’t understand. But if that’s true, then that’s a good thing."

Fatigue and intensity from long battle were tagging along Prince Rama like rust that wouldn’t come off.

The same was true whether it was at the ancient Gallia or when he was resurrected in 21^st century Japan. However right now, the noble youth’s face was sprightly unlike in the past.

Just like a child before summer vacation, or a Campione before a battle──.

"Come to think of it Rama. You held back against Erica and the others right?"

Godou suddenly spoke.

"That Lakhsmana guy, he said that he borrowed arrows from his big brother’s quiver. Then he shot my comrades with them. ……But, everyone was in the state that I barely could save. You, did notice that your arrows were brought out──and applied a trick to it?"

"I don’t deny that. In the first place it was something of mine. It wasn’t a difficult thing."

Erica was taken aback hearing Rama’s reply.

Yesterday, the reason Godou’s companions were saved from Lakhsmana’s arrows. The cause why the whole area wasn’t blown away. Surely it was because the true owner reduced the power of the arrows──.

It seemed that it was just as Godou imagined. Rama spoke.

"Forget about it. It wasn’t for the sake of selling favor to you. Just, to put a damper on our battle with such thing is……I believed it wouldn’t be something really pleasant, that’s all."

"I get it. This match should be a duel between you and me."

Godou nodded.

"Perhaps it’s behind the times in this age, but this is a serious battle man to man after all."

"Hmm. For me who was born in the ancient times, it’s a completely novel conception. A man to man match……looking back, until now I have never done “that kind of fight”."

"Well, I guess that’s true for you."

When Godou smiled wryly, the opponent’s expression also turned the same.

The fate of the world was at stake. The great hero who only repeated decisive battles of devil king extermination. Naturally this kind of low level match should be unrelated to him.

Godou’s hand reached out and touched Erica’s forehead. And then he made a thought.

Just from that Erica Blandelli’s figure──instantly transformed into a 'crimson jewel'. It was a technique that was once shown by the old god Susanoo in his hermitage at the Astral Plane during the time of his battle against Sun Wukong.

At that time the Mariya sisters were changed into combs.

If it was now when his magic aptitude was raised by the unknown miracle drugs, he should be able to imitate it.

He trusted that conviction and transformed the 'Erica’s jewel'. Godou put it into his pocket. That place should be the safest for her──should be.

His preparation was finished. Godou faced Rama and proclaimed.

"Let’s start this soon."

"I accept."

"Something like the end of the world, the devil king or fate, there are a lot of outsiders saying troublesome things. But in the end this match is only about who is the winner between you and me. If you cannot use that Great Law of the Covenant, then we can make the result clear for sure this time."

"Don’t worry about Lakhsmana too. His wound from you isn’t healed yet."

"Really? I’ll believe you."

Godou grinned and stared at Rama’s eyes.

The matchless great hero also stared straight back.

"Until now I have been defeated by you many times. Allow me to fight you as someone challenging an opponent of a higher skill."

"How can you say that without shame even though you are far stronger than me huh."

Accepting Godou‘s wry smile, hero Rama’s attire changed.

From school uniform to his usual swordsman outfit clad in white mantel. The long Divine Sword of Salvation was sheathed inside the scabbard on his back.

This large sword──Rama finally pulled it out. Godou also took his stance.

"All my fights with you kept ending with half-baked result but……this is going to be the last."

–

Part 3

Rama who unsheathed his divine sword and the barehanded Kusanagi Godou.

The distance spanning between the two was around five meters.

Godou couldn’t predict at all how this last decisive battle against this great hero would develop but──only this should be absolutely necessary.

Godou called the name of the divine sword.

"Ama no Murakumo"

The divine sword that was a national treasure of Japan appeared in Godou’s right hand.

The length of its blade was a bit more than a meter. The color of the blade was jet black. The blade was curving gently, it could be classified as a curved sword so to speak. Looked from the side it was the very picture of a Japanese katana.

But, that was because the grip’s workmanship imitated Japanese katana.

The period when Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi was “active” was the era of ancient Japan. Japanese katana’s still didn’t exist then. But, the sword that would become its prototype, 'Warabitetou' was created at that time. (TN: Warabitetou = type of iron sword with curved pommel (Nara period))

The imperial court of Yamato commanded the blacksmith of Emishi to forge the ancient katana. (TN: Yamato is the ancient name of Japan. Emishi = Historical term for non-Yamato peoples in northern Japan)

The battle of Japan’s unification that united the different races including Emishi. As though to symbolize the blood soaked military tactics, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi possessed a “black blade”.

It was truly a marked contrast with the Divine Sword of Salvation that Rama owned which was shining divinely.

Godou didn’t take a stance with this black sword, instead──

He stabbed the ground of the schoolyard.

"We will go with that one, let’s go. Do the 《Black Blade》."

'Ou!'

Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi responded bravely. The aura of magic power was rising up from that blade.

The color of power that was surging out from the black blade──was purple that was nearly black. Furthermore the ground was starting to rumble. Shaking and *GOGOGOGOGOGO-!* such heavy bass sound were transmitted from the depth of ground.

The secret technique that was bequeathed from two goddesses, the witch Circe and Athena.

It could even be called as the greatest trump card of Kusanagi Godou.

Seeing that activation, Rama grinned fearlessly.

"As I thought, you’re releasing that great technique."

Rama lifted the tip of his beloved sword toward the sky.

Above his head, a platinum──halo appeared. Its size was around the size of a globe, but it should enlarge immediately. That too was the certain kill weapon of the hero Rama.

"O light of salvation, shoot down my arch enemy!"

"So you also go with that as expected!"

Godou howled.

Now that Rama couldn’t use the Great Law of Covenant, the lightning strike of salvation was Rama’s greatest weapon. Including the time when Lancelot wielded the holy lance Excalibur, Godou had been tormented several times by it.

The most certain method of defense was by using the incarnation of Raptor to escape.

However, Godou didn’t do that.

"The name of mine father is Vayu──"

In exchange he chanted words of power and swung his right hand.

A sudden violent gust of wind was suddenly created from Godou’s back. It blew toward Rama.

"What the!?"

The shocked Rama was greatly blown away. That was how strong the gust of wind was.

However, although he fell on the ground back first, the noble youth who was an expert at using every kind of weapon showed a brilliant recovery technique from the fall while his mantel bellowed behind him.

It wasn’t even ten seconds of him falling before he immediately got up and stood on his feet.

His body motion looked like a smooth flow. A martial art that could only be called as beautiful. However Rama focused hard on Godou with wonder and compliment surfacing on his dignified handsome face.

"Kusanagi Godou, that authority, could it be──"

Rama lifted up the Divine Sword of Salvation while muttering.

The globe of platinum color appeared once more above Rama’s head.

It steadily rose in altitude and the sphere that was about as big as a globe inflated in the blink of eye. It immediately grew into huge luminous body with diameter that reached a hundred meters.

Furthermore, this ball of light began to discharge electricity and scattered platinum lightning at random!

The manifestation of White Star that Godou had seen before several times.

Its activation time was far shorter than Godou’s Black Sword. However.

"Until now that thing has thoroughly become a bother for me, but!"

Godou yelled boldly.

Next what he chanted was, as expected, the words of power of the wind god──

"The name of mine father is Vayu. Mine name, his child, is Hanuman. Oo, I seek for that far away light and heat, now I dash up the celestial path!"

The authority that he usurped from the white monkey god of wind, he used it for the first time.

Wind was born from Godou’s back and it blew fiercely. With strength that was incomparable from the gust of wind before this, it became a roaring storm.

*Gou, gou, gou, gou, gou, gou, gou, gou, gou!*

The raging storm was starting to turn round and round counterclockwise just like a typhoon as though to surround the giant ball of light Rama summoned. Furthermore it wasn’t just a storm.

There was even a giant shadow in the form of monkey manifesting and clung on the White Star!

This shadow was──sucking thte electricity. The lightning of salvation that was scattered at random by the platinum ball of light was completely sucked in.

Rama looked up at the “shadow” that Godou summoned and he whispered.

"My vice general Hanuman was said to attempt to steal the sun at his childhood. He flew up to beyond the sky aiming toward the sun, but he was struck down to the surface by the hand of the angered lightning god Indra……. This is like an authority to reproduce that tale."

"Though other than sun, this authority feels like it can also used at fire and also lightning──basically at anything shining."

Godou summoned storm and Hanuman’s shadow and made them absorb the heat energy.

To summarize it, it was that kind of authority. One day someone from the Witenagamot something surely would think up of an exaggerated name for it.

But, well, Godou himself felt that a temporary name like'Hanuman’s Shadow' was enough.

"If it’s with this guy, then your lightning attack can be suppressed for a while!"

"Then, I’ll commence with my own hands!"

Rama lightly dashed and closed the distance.

He swung down the Divine Sword of Salvation from upper stance. The sword should bisect Godou into two from his head. The sharpness, speed of that slash caused “that” to become usable──.

"Fear of the winged!"

Verethragna’s seven incarnation, Raptor was invoked.

Obtaining the movement of godspeed, Godou dodged the divine sword while circling to Rama’s back.

But, the great hero who was able to easily use even the mind eye wouldn’t lose sight of Kusanagi Godou with just that much. He swung his sword in a horizontal slash while turning around──.

Godou dodged it too with godspeed.

Rama’s sword, sword, sword came chasing after him. Dodge, dodge, dodge.

While doing that, in the air above Hanuman’s Shadow became unable to absorb the lightning attack completely and it was tragically terminated. The fiercely raging storm also stopped.

But in exchange──the darkness colored sphere manifested in the sky.

Finally the Black blade’s activation was beginning.

That darkness was a giant sphere that rivaled Rama’s White Star, the wind that sucked in all creation──it caused a gravity storm.

From the storm of monkey god Hanuman to transformation of absorption power of darkness that would swallow everything.

However, there was nothing unusual from the'storm' that Kusanagi Godou caused. In order to escape from its effect, Rama burned magic power through his whole body and brushed aside the absorption power.

"Fufufufu"

Rama smiled for some reason.

"How strange. Right now, my confrontation against you is unbearably enjoyable."

"That’s not the case at all for me. No way I can enjoy something like a match against a guy whose strength is a magnitude higher than me."

"Is that so?"

"Obviously. You are a guy who says strange things huh."

"No. In that case, why are you also smiling?"

"…………"

"It seems, both of us unexpectedly reach the same state of mind. To be able to share this kind of hard to obtain experience with you, I’m feeling happy from the bottom of my heart."

"In that case, I won’t mind even if you go easy on me!"

"That’s a talk that I cannot agree with!"

Above, huge black and white spheres collided.

The White Star was randomly scattering lightning attack. The black star swallowed all creation and scattered gravity storm.

Both the stars emitted energy that shook heaven and earth.

The clash of black and white, the rivalry was mostly equal. But, as for Godou and Rama who were fighting on the ground──

"Haa!"

Rama unusually let out a yell of fighting spirit and cut in.

With a shuffling feet that was like sliding on the ground, Rama approached Godou who tried to escape using godspeed and hammered in slashes after slashes that were like raging waves.

Rama wasn’t fixated with upper stance anymore, he also slashed from middle stance. He also aimed at Godou from low stance.

There wasn’t even an instant of rest, Rama’s slashes and thrusts were repeated.

Whether it was his sword handling or body handling, everything was like the flowing of a great river. It was splendorous and elegant. Several hundred sword strikes were unleashed toward Godou, every single one of them was exceptionally powerful──.

As for Godou, he couldn’t do anything except continuing to dodge earnestly using godspeed.

He also thought of escaping to a distance that the sword couldn’t reach, but if he did that, that troublesome bow and arrows might come after him. Rama was a warrior who mastered bow even more than the sword.

He wanted to avoid that──in that case!

"Ooh!"

Rama was in admiration.

Because the two-handed sword thrust aiming at the throat, its tip was blocked by Godou using his left shoulder. Not the vital spot of throat, he deliberately made the sword thrust into the shoulder──.

"Upon my mighty self……I shall bear the symbol of the raging camel!"

"Nuuh!"

Along with the words of power, Godou dealt a powerful blow on Rama’s torso with a right spinning kick.

As expected even the great hero couldn’t endure it and let out an anguished groan. He was sent flying back for seven, eight meters. Furthermore the Divine Sword of Salvation was still stabbed on Godou’s shoulder.

Finally the shining divine sword was separated from Rama’s hand──.

The incarnation of Camel that increased the kick power and endurance, this result came from that.

"Take care of this okay!"

Godou wasted no time to pull out the divine sword from his shoulder and threw it to the sky.

Riding the wind of gravity storm, the sword that had thoroughly tormented Godou was getting sucked toward the dark star of Black Sword…….

Well, it might come back immediately but, he was able to buy time for a while.

Godou glared at Rama once more.

The King of the End who became empty handed threw off his white mantel at that time.

"My bare handed fighting skill──isn’t poor by any means. Allow me to exhibit my fist martial art."

"Of course, I thought that you are going to do that."

It was already a pre-established harmony. Godou smiled wryly. Rama also smiled.

A Campione and the hero of devil king extermination, both walked toward each other empty handed then at the same time, both sides unleashed right spinning kick aiming to the head!

The legs of the two rivals──shin and shin clashed. They crossed each other depicting the shape of'X'.

The second round was starting.

–

Part 4

Rama’s subordinate, Hanuman, he was a master of a unique fist martial art.

He unleashed fist and sent out kick with nimbleness like a monkey leaping around.

He would almost never stop moving and repeatedly jumped and leaped many times. It was a novel martial art that was free, fast, and daring.

In contrast, his lord was──

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

He approached Godou right from the front. When he was afar he would unleash a kick, when he was near he would charge in with a fist.

Furthermore when the distance was closed he wouldn’t hesitate to cling close and grappled the opponent like in wrestling. He would try to throw Godou or slam him on the ground.

Kick, punch, grapple, he was coming at Godou with diverse techniques that came out flowingly.

What’s more, he would use technique that would be the most effective in that situation. He wouldn’t do anything like suddenly carrying out a strange attack to take Godou by surprise.

Until the end he would attempt breaking through from the front with righteousness, nobleness, and frontal attack──.

"Shit. Ain’t that, pretty cool!"

Godou spontaneously cursed.

It was the genuine'king’s way of fighting' compared to them who were called as devil king.

Compared to Rama’s martial arts, even something like Salvatore Doni’s sword of blank mind was heresy all the same. The only one who might be able to rival Rama’s king’s dignity might be someone like Godou’s step elder sister Luo Cuilian.

Even now Rama was unleashing a middle kick with flexibility that was like a whip.

Godou defended against it by becoming a 'beast'. The kick should gouge out his flank, but he dodged it by getting on all fours on the ground.

Without delay Rama dropped his kicking leg to right below.

It was in order to crush the back of Godou who was bending down on the ground with his heel. The attack right from above somehow missed by Godou rolling around on the ground.

And then while still lying down on the ground, Godou rotated his whole body with a twist and let out an irregular spinning kick!

The attack aimed at Rama’s lumbar vertebra.

The hero who walked the path of righteousness didn’t back down, he struck down Godou’s kicking leg with right elbow strke.

By all rights, it wouldn’t be strange even if Godou’s leg was destroyed by that strike but──

"Kuh! What a kick!"

"You yourself, what a tenacious guy!"

The elbow strike met the kick.

But the leg that was strengthened like steel by the [Camel] and was unharmed. In exchange Rama’s right arm was paralyzed by the impact and it wouldn’t be usable for a while. Although he was the great hero that used all his limbs as weapons, it should become a handicap at the very least.

Perhaps it would be time to commence soon──.

Godou who sent out a kick while still lying down slowly stood up.

However, he wasn’t standing straight. He was slightly leaning forward, his waist dropped, and the right leg that was at the front stood on its toes. It was the way of standing that was like a cat just before it leaped. From that stance Godou could step forward or back away. He also could leap aside or go down on the ground once more. It was that kind of stance.

Godou didn’t know anything like a legitimate martial art.

It was a style that was derived from his fighting spirit and instinct. Well, it would be no use even if he competed with frontal attack against Rama who overwhelmingly surpassed him in technique. It was the best to immediately rolled down on the ground when push came to shove to avoid normal offense and defense.

Seeing such Godou, Rama smiled.

"That’s truly the way of fighting of a beast, Kusanagi Godou."

"It’s not something that cool. I’m simply desperate, that’s all."

In contrast with Godou, Rama was standing with upright posture.

His center of gravity wasn’t leaning anywhere to front, back, left, or right. It was a way of standing that was like a pillar that was towering straight to heaven. He could move feely to every direction from that posture. A feat that was possible exactly because he had diligently polished the foundation of martial art in'standing/walking'.

Thinking back, the ruler of martial world Luo Cuilian was also a martial artist that had mastered walking technique──.

"You’re really an outrageous opponent."

Godou smiled wryly.

His left shoulder was throbbing painfully. It was the wound from receiving the divine sword’s thrust before this.

The pain in his head was also getting worse. As expected the chance would be just once……. Godou took a deep breath with the intention of betting all his fortune in the next roll of dice.

"Could it be……you’re intending to launch an attack of all your strength?"

Godou nodded at Rama’s question.

"Something like that. Please go easy on me."

"In other words you mean there is no need to hold back? Fufufufu, even I have come to mostly understand──the unique roundabout way of speaking of you all godslayers."

"Don’t misunderstand as you pleases like that. My feeling is exactly like the words I’m saying."

"Let’s just say that I believe you."

"Hmph."

Even during the silly talk, their fighting spirit was straining up.

And then it burst. Godou suddenly started running. Furthermore it was with godspeed. Not just the incarnation of Camel, even Raptor that he invoked before this──had been continuously in use all this time.

He had to pay compensation of hard to endure headache for using two incarnations at the same time.

However, even so Godou didn’t stop using both simultaneously.

Because he would be able to commence a surprise attack using godspeed at Rama somewhere down the line like that.

(Using it more than once──feels impossible anyway!)

But, even if he had to gamble everything he got in that one chance, there was worth to take that bet.

A full power dash of godspeed toward Rama. Godou jumped toward him and aimed at his head with midair right spinning kick that was boosted by Camel’s leg power.

Rama still couldn’t use his right arm. He wouldn’t block or intercept using his right arm. However.

"I can see it, Kusanagi Godou!"

"Of course you will!"

The user of mind’s eye saw it through. Godou also recognized it.

In fact, Rama was stepping back just a bit, trying to withdraw from the range of the godspeed kick just for a few centimeter. He would make Godou’s kicking leg cut through empty air with the slightest possible evasion. Godou wouldn’t be able to dodge the retaliation attack Rama would unleash right after that, that should be so.

Go no sen. Attack right after defense. It was a divine skill that was truly attack of defense as one. But. (TN: Go no sen, ahead of after, the phrase for counterattack in kendo)

"DAAAAAAAH!"

Godou howled, he made the godspeed midair spinning kick hit.

The top of foot where the kick’s power dwelled at the most struck Rama’s forehead.

"Guah!?"

A clean hit. Rama fell.

……Until this point, Godou had showed Rama his movement in godspeed several times.

However, rather than using his genuine highest speed, everything until now was about 5% “slower” than his top speed. It was the way of controlling the godspeed’s tempo that he learned from Black Prince Alec.

Rama who was continuously seeing the 95% got a surprise attack of 100% godspeed set against him.

It was a type of gamble whether this trick would go without a hitch or not. However, the kicking leg that was slightly faster compared to everything until now splendidly disarrayed the great hero’s mind’s eye──.

Thus, the hero Ramachandra fell back first on the ground.

There Godou straddled him. *GAN!* He swung down his right fist and hit right beside Rama’s face──in other word on the ground.

"……Your kick, it was weaker compared to before."

Rama talked suspiciously while Godou was still bending over him. As expected from a war god, he was nonchalant even after getting hit on the temple.

"I am already defeated by your kick twice."

"Both of them were because you were dog tired from only just getting revived, or when you lost control, so they cannot be used as reference. More importantly"

Godou spoke while looking down on Rama.

"I’m thinking……of settling this with a more refreshing result than any of the fights before this."

Straddling the enemy──in mixed martial arts this was called as mount position.

However, Godou didn’t pin down the opponent, he also didn’t hammer in his fist at the opponent. He was only looking down on Rama.

The noble youth who was the most sagacious on earth spoke dubiously.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I could also say it before we started fighting. But as expected, I got the hunch that you won’t be able to obediently accept 'something like this' without battling it out first."

"?"

"It’s something like this you know, Rama."

Godou──lightly stroked the cheek of the King of the End.

It wasn’t a punch or choking the neck. But a mere skinship.

"Can’t you become my friend? I think that both of us can make it work out though."

The lying down Rama, and Godou straddling him.

At the sky above the two, the black and white spheres that were like twin stars were clashing, the gravity storm of absorption and the lightning strike of salvation continued their contest of strength.

The storm that dragged in everything into the darkness star blew fiercely, the lightning of certain death radiated repeatedly.

Under such sky, the devil king and the war god stared at each other.

Chapter 5

Part 1

"You and me as a friend……?"

"Yeah. It’s enough after we fought each other five times. Let’s come to an agreement soon."

Godou moved away from Rama’s body and said.

He wasn’t in the mount position anymore. Now he was in half-rising posture with his right hand offered.

"And, we are going to say 'Something like fate should just eat shit' together, then go to pick a fight with the guy fancying himself as spectator from high above. If it’s us two, then we can surely win."

"You mean about my guardian──the one who governs fate?"

"He isn’t protecting you or anything."

He wouldn’t concede only this point. Godou spoke it clearly.

"You are just getting slaved around by that guy’s say so."

"Hahahahaha."

Rama laughed. He laughed long and loud.

He laughed, and laughed for some time while still laying on the ground. Tears were gathering in his eyes while the great hero who was born at the ancient India finally spoke with a thrilled tone.

"No! Actually I myself also faintly──feel that!"

"Right? I don’t know how many millennium you have fought the devil king extermination battle, but haven’t you fulfilled your duty enough?"

"Hahahaha. So there is also that way of looking at it."

Rama laughed brightly and he reached out his hand while still lying face up.

It was his right hand. It was finally freed from the numbness. This hand wasn’t for the sake of fighting, it was something stretched out in order to grasp Godou’s right hand.

Of course, Godou firmly grasped it and helped Rama to get up.

The two of them stood up together with their right hand still grasping each other’s.

"Something like fate should just eat shit. That’s a roundabout way of speaking that is like you all."

"It’s a bit vulgar for a prince though."

"No. In contrast with that rudeness, it become vital words for the sake to strongly express emotion. The likes of fate can just eat feces──. Certainly, those are words that I should say."

Rama muttered after expressing it in different words of his own style.

"What a marvel. If you said it to me before the battle, your advice……I don’t think that I would listen to it obediently. But now is different. I don’t understand why but……"

"Perhaps, that’s because your a 'man'."

Godou spoke driven by the sense of vulgar human.

Man. Boy. Or perhaps it would also be fine to reword it as 'human'. The King of the End was really humanistic because of his straightforwardness and sagacity.

Godou spoke without reserve.

"Also, it’s not like it has to be a fight. The murky heart can also be refreshed by any kind of special event. Without that──things like stubbornness or duty will get in the way and you won’t be able to take action following your 'true feelings'."

"Those words are rich with significance. Magnificent."

"That’s just second hand telling, so it’s fine even if you don’t praise me."

"Hou. What kind of wise man from which era who said that wise saying to you?"

"A regular customer at where I was working part time who was employed at a black company. These days, there are a lot of people in human society who are in the same environment like you." (TN: Black company, company that is exploiting its employees, like making them working overtime without pay, etc.)

"Hahahahahaha!"

It was unthinkable that a hero of ancient India would know modern terms.

However, Rama’s extraordinary skill in communication seemed to grasp the nuance from the flow of conversation just now. He burst into a loud laughter.

He and Godou were standing side by side now.

Rama was about five centimeter taller than Kusanagi Godou who was 180 centimeter tall.

The two of them together looked up, at the black and white spheres that were at contest midair. However at present the two stars stopped emitting gravity storm and also lightning strike, they were floating quietly in the air──.

By the way.

As the result of the jet black star and the white star colliding repeatedly, the false space that copied Kusanagi Godou’s hometown and alma mater was mostly turned into an empty lot.

The school building and surrounding homes, the buildings were thoroughly destroyed.

It was now only a space with soil ground and asphalt road continuing endlessly.

But, such dreary scenery was suddenly transformed. When they noticed, the ground that Godou and Rama were stepping on became fabric that was like carpet.

It was the “territory of god of fate” that Godou saw yesterday with Alice’s guidance.

This fabric was continuing endlessly until beyond the horizon. Most likely there would be no end to it no matter how far one went.

The territory where the true enemy should be located at finally returned to its proper form.

And then──

The Divine Sword of Salvation flew out from the dark star Godou created.

It flew straight like a living bird and settled down on the hand of a girl who was waiting at one point in the air. The girl looked very childish appearing with the age of seven, eight years old. She was completely naked. Her blonde hair reached until her shoulders. Her skin was white──.

"That’s!?"

"The one who was once my supporter──the general manager of fate."

Rama who was looking up to the sky together with Godou taught him.

Godou recalled the words of Princess Alice. The people who governed fate were three sisters, and there was also a goddess even farther in the ancient past.

The goddess of fate raised the sword overhead while receiving the gaze of the two men.

The Divine Sword of Salvation. Its tip pointed at the White Star.

Immediately, the electrical discharge resumed again.

Beside the darkness star, the white star that should have reached reconciliation scattered lightning of salvation──or it tried to. However.

"O my protector in the past, the bearer of fate."

The electrical discharge immediately ended.

Because Rama faced to the sky and called out.

"The sword that is bestowed with the name of salvation is in the possession of I, Ramachandra to the bitter end. Certainly, it was a tool that served for your sake for long but……just that won’t serve as cause for it to get stolen."

The girl floating in the sky, 《The Bearer of Fate》.

The divine sword that was temporarily settling down in that hand suddenly moved by itself.

As soon as it flew to the air, it descended to the ground like lightning and pierced down before Rama’s eyes. On top of the fabric that was like a carpet.

The hand that originally should wield the divine sword quickly pulled it out──.

"At this chance, Ramachandra will direct the blade of salvation to none other than you. Not for the sake of saving the world, but driven by my heart that is seeking conflict."

The king that appeared in the end of this world proclaimed solemnly.

Hearing that, the Bearer of Fate was expressionless to the end. Her eyes were also empty. However, around the girl innumerable number of 'blades' appeared.

The blades’ shape and size were about the same with short sword.

The number must be more than a few thousands. She was a girl who also severed the string of fate, perhaps, she had always blades in reserve for the sake of that role.

And then several thousands of blades, all of them swooped down to the ground.

They were aiming at Rama and Godou. In order to stab the hero and godslayer over and over and consigned them to oblivion!

In that case Godou──

"Manifesting justice in this world through these spell words of mine!"

Finally chanted the words of power of the Sword.

He summoned countless light sphere that filled the air.

"The gods and goddesses governing over fate and time. Their myth exist all over the world. Clotho, Lachesis, and then Atropos of Greek mythology. Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld of Norse mythology. These girls are mostly three sisters who are each allotted with the role of creation, preservation, and destruction."

It was the activation of Verethragna’s final incarnation, the Warrior.

The spheres shining golden were crowded close around Godou and Rama.

Every single one of the lights was 'Sword', blades for the sake of cutting apart god of fate. So to speak it was like forming up lines of spears to make it their defensive wall.

And then, the several thousand blades coming down from the sky──

Were entirely repelled by the golden spheres.

"What cannot be forgotten above all else, is that their roots that came exactly from the ancient India, the fact that they have prototype. Greek, Rome, Europe, India……. In the region where goddesses related with time and fate appeared in myth──one common feature clearly exist."

The Swords Godou crated amounted almost the same with the blades of the so called god of fate.

The Bearer of Fate who kept floating in the sky expressionlessly waved her hand quickly. The several thousands of blades that were repelled just now rushed.

However, Godou who was in the receiver side muttered with extreme calmness.

"That is how all those places are region with culture that was developed by the India – Europe family of languages. With the ancient India as birthplace, from there it passed Caucasus and reached until Greek, southern Europe, northern Europe, and finally the islands of Britain that is the end of the west. The concept of god of fate that govern time and fate was disseminated by this race──Indo-European languages to the whole world!"

The spell words, words of power for the sake of cutting part the god of fate.

With this the golden spheres possessed even sharper edge and repelled back the several thousand of blades raining down from the sky once more──and that wasn’t all.

This time the blades were smashed into pieces without leaving a single intact one.

The blades flying from the command of the god of fate, several thousands of them were all pulverized!

"By the Indo-European languages of the far ancient era, the image of the prototype of 'goddesses who govern time and fate' was invented and scattered, before long──it was spreading to all over the world. It was told even until region that didn’t posses any direct relation with Indo-European languages. That is the proof of just how many the people who felt empathy with this myth……!"

The blades the goddess of fate unleashed were entirely crushed.

Every single one of the blade was turned into pieces like a glass that was crashing onto an iron plate with fierce speed.

However, Godou tilted his head. Of course, he would be concerned if the Sword was useless but──he suddenly spoke.

"The weapons of your former boss, aren’t they too frail?"

"Well, it’s understandable."

Rama’s answer was concise.

"In the first place she is an existence that was specialized to control the enormous fate. Something like confronting a godslayer as a god──is not her duty."

"So it’s something like that."

Godou nodded. Rama further spoke to him.

"If, your godslayer soul that is seeking for even more powerful enemy is dissatisfied, then you can rest assured. Of course, the Bearer of Fate won’t end with just this much."

"No, strength of this level is completely enough for me just so you know."

"Then I have bad tidings for you. It seems that she is calling for a helper."

The Bearer of Fate who was floating in the air suddenly vanished at the same time with Rama’s words.

In exchange, a giant surged out from the empty air.

It was a muscular large man in the prime of his life, overflowing with wildness.

That giant body had height that reached ten-odd meter. His unkempt hair left an impression. His outfit was a worn out mantel, dirty old rag, a leather breastplate, and sandal.

But, in contrast to his crude attire, he was also clad in intense majesty of 'King'.

This giant descended down to the ground──on the carpet interweaved by the god of fate with *ZUSHIN!* sound.

"That guy……!"

Godou was struck with wonder from the bottom of his heart.

To think that he would be reunited with this guy in this kind of place.

"You──aren’t you Melqart!"

"Kukukuku. It has been a long time, young godslayer."

The giant’s snickering voice resounded just like thunder.

The nostalgic adventure at Sardinia Island, and then the battle at Sicilia Island after it. This god became involved with Kusanagi Godou at both those places.

His name was Melqart. Or else Baal.

The god king that was worshipped by ancient Phoenician people and also by many race of Semitic family of languages.

–

Part 2

"Just why are you here?"

"I was guided here by the string of fate or something."

The giant god Melqart was grinning widely at the shocked Godou.

His voice was like a roar of thunder, but that wasn’t all. His voice became blowing wind that jauntily rushed through the territory of god of fate.

"Brat. The string of opposite fate that was tied between you and me──the so called Bearer of Fate noticed its existence and she plotted a plan. That is to say, she reeled in this thread and manifested me before your eyes, preparing the place for a rematch……"

Perhaps it should be said as expected from the god of storm.

Melqart’s long winded speech became raging wind and began to shake the space thunderously.

Striking wind. Swirling wind. Surging wind. Cross wind. Whirlwind. Wind. Wind. Wind. Wind. Finally they became genuine storm *byuu byuu* and bellowed.

Bathed in the fiercely strong wind, it became hard to even stand straight──!

Undaunted by that wind, Godou yelled.

"The king of the world of god──is doing as he is told by something like string of fate, getting intentionally called just to fight me, you are okay with that!?"

"Hahahaha, isn’t that fine. This too is a side entertainment!"

Melqart laughed heartily with a broadmindedness that was worthy for the tile of god king.

"After all getting a draw against the like of you is a stain in my honor. That is something certain. Erasing that dishonor in this chance is also not bad!"

The ancient Phoenician’s god king stood imposingly in the center of the storm.

Magic power surged out from his whole body while he yelled with conspicuously sonorous loud voice.

"Look, I’ll allow you to get hit after a long time by my weapon. Come Yagarish! Hasten here Ayamari!"

From beyond the empty space, giant clubs almost as big as Melqart came flying.

Furthermore, there were two. The magic clubs Yagarish and Ayamari. Either of them was looking like scrap of wood getting picked and then shaved half-heartedly into disordered shape.

But, they were divine tool that murdered Yam Nahar that was a dragon and also sea god.

There was no way they were just mere club. The same like Rama’s divine sword, they were incarnation of 'lightning'. And then, lightning descended from the sky together with the flight of the two clubs!

*GOoooooooOOOOOOOOONNNNNNN-!*

*GOooooooOOOOOOOOooooNNNNNNNNN-!*

Lightning descended from the heaven, and not just one.

The fabric of fate that was spreading as far as the eye could see was regarded like land, several thousand lightning rained down incessantly like rain or hail. The fierceness, amount, and thickness of the surging lightning flash and lightning strike weren’t inferior even against the 《Mandala of Divine Sword》 that Rama controlled.

Rain and gale also blew there.

Godou heightened his magic power with all his might and raised his resistance against lightning. And then.

"It’s coming!"

He immediately lied down.

He kept his head down so lightning wouldn’t hit it, but it didn’t end there.

In a span of less than half a second the weapon that resembled a giant mass of rock──the flying club Yagarish passed through overhead. Its speed was like a squall.

Rama also lowered his body and the flying Ayamuri passed through.

However, there the loud laughter of the giant god Melqart resounded.

"Fuhahahaha! In exchange of being small like bug, you guys are nimble huh!"

*Gyun! Gyun!*

The magic clubs Yagarish and Ayamuri that formed a pair swiveled vertically in the air simultaneously and swooped down to right below. This time the two were aiming at the same target!

Godou yelled in worry of his ally getting targeted.

"Rama!"

"Kuh──then I’ll do this!"

Rama still hadn’t gotten up.

But, white lightning crackled from his whole body too. It repelled back Yagarish and Ayamuri back altogether.

The war gods of steel possessed the attribute of immortality, and they were also the heaven sent child of lightning.

Even the clubs Yagarish and Ayamuri that were also similarly incarnation of lightning could be forced back to some degree with the same power.

Both of them nodded to each other while standing up together.

"It’s going to be bad if we don’t stop those things somehow, Rama!"

"Agreed. Then let’s join our strength!"

If the other side had two weapons, then there was also a comrade at this side.

First Rama lifted the Divine Sword of Salvation toward the sky. Its tip pointed toward the White Star that had stopped radiating lightning attack──.

"Under my heroic name, crush the assassin dispatched by the king from the west!"

Countless lightning surged from the white star.

It was the magic club Yagarish that became the target of all those lightning. Due to the trump card of the King of the End, the weapon that possessed the legend of dragon slaying was greatly blown away.

Godou too commanded to the darkness star floating in the sky.

"Like fly flying into fire! I’ll leave it to you!"

The release of absorption power that swallowed all creation.

The rotation of gravity storm began. Wind blew violently toward the star of darkness.

It had the strength in the level that oppressed the king of storm Melqart’s storm. And then, the flying course of magic club Ayamari was twisted, it was completely swallowed into the darkness star.

And then Godou──

"Manifesting justice in this world through these spell words of mine!"

He chanted words of power and glared at the giant god Melqart.

Deeply discerning the enemy’s nature and comprehending it. That too was also the ability of Verethragna’s tenth incarnation the Warrior. Godou noticed because of that power of observation.

"I can see it, the string of fate!"

The giant god with height of ten-odd meters, his limbs and burly torso were entangled by strings.

They were extremely thin strings of light.

Those strings were growing out from the ground where the giant god was standing──from the fabric that was made by the god of fate. It was as though vines of vegetation were creeping out from the ground.

"My bad but this is it for you!"

Several thousand light spheres, the spell words of Sword that were waiting behind his back.

Godou launched a part of them one after another to attack Melqart like shotgun firing. Of course, those Swords didn’t have the miraculous effect to cut apart the god king of Phoenician. However.

It was easy to cut apart all the strings of fate entwining around the giant god.

"Kukukuku. So you have become an astute warrior huh, godslayer."

Melqart grinned broadly. His figure was suddenly turning blurry.

"Come to think of it, I also said it at the end of the previous battle. Between me and you, there is no opposite fate so great that I would thirst for a rematch with you no matter what. My connection with you originally should be in such shape. Even after getting in board with the so called guidance of fate, well, this degree should be fine."

Melqart’s giant body suddenly vanished.

The storm blowing violently also calmed down immediately. The white star and darkness star above also lost sight of the opponent they should confront, and they turned inactive once more──.

Godou frowned and whispered.

"It’s somehow taken care of, but as expected, hoping that this is the end is──"

"Doesn’t look like it, my comrade in arms. A new opponent is coming. Furthermore, it will be an old acquaintance of both of us too.!"

"What!?"

The moment Godou was shocked by Rama’s warning.

Godou felt a hunch. Killing intent and fighting spirit were rapidly approaching with speed and momentum that were like lightning!

"Hahahaha. It has been a long time you all! It must be some kind of destiny to be especially invited like this, Son-sama is personally descending here!"

"Fuh. This a strange event to direct my blade toward the man who I once looked up as a leader!"

The Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong was roaring with laughter, while the hero Perseus smiled coolly.

Together they greeted at each their opponent with Ruyi Jingu Bang and large curved sword respectively. The Great Sage Equaling Heaven faced the godslayer, while Perseus faced his fellow hero of steel.

*GAKIiiiNN!*

The sound of steel clashing against steel.

The slash of the man who was also an ancient sun god was splendidly blocked by Rama’s Divine Sword of Salvation.

And then, the Ruyi Jingu Bang that attacked Godou was──

"Your wit isn’t working as always. To forget that I am here."

"Nuuh! Being nuisance at the good place!"

The swung down Ruyi Jingu Bang was firmly blocked by a shield.

A diamond shaped shield. This shape was easy to be managed above horse. The moment Rama gave his warning, the war god shield flew out from behind Godou.

The guardian god, the knight of the lake, Lancelot du Lac.

The Great Sage Equaling Heaven charged with godspeed along with Perseus. This surprise attack could be defended against exactly because of Lancelot’s prowess.

"Fufufufu. Forgive my intrusion here, master."

"Preposterous. I should be thanking you here for saving me!"

Godou spoke to the coolly smiling female knight.

At the same time he focused his eye. Thin strings of light──the strings of fate that connected them were entwining around the body of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven and Perseus too.

As expected this was the guidance of opposite fate by the god of fate. However it was strange.

"Just why are you two here? Hanuman said it. Both the Great Sage Equaling Heaven and Perseus were extinguished after getting sent to twelve millennium in the past──!"

"Your question is only natural, Kusanagi Godou. However"

Hero Perseus smiled with the face of a masculine warrior.

"That is the mysterious work of the Bearer of Fate. She is also an existence that govern over time. Both of me and monkey-dono──were called here from the past period where we were in good condition."

"What did you say!?"

"Kukukuku. It’s a secret power of god that the likes a human couldn’t possibly understand. It’s pointless even if you try to think desperately with a brain that you don’t have."

"Shit!"

The Great Sage Equaling Heaven who was smiling with a self-satisfied look was irritating.

Godou sent several Swords flying once more and severed the strings of the Great Sage and Perseus who were summoned from the past. The figures of both war gods vanished.

It was the minimal salvation that the strings’ severance was easy.

"Fufufufu. As expected Kusanagi-sama’s──no, war god Verethragna’s Sword is a troublesome tool. In that case, a master of technique to seal it will be necessary."

A girl’s voice descended from empty air.

When Godou looked up in surprise, another god who was also his old acquaintance was floating in the air.

She was a beautiful girl with shining silver curly hair. Her cheeks were rose colored, her lips were the color of cherry blossom. A long female garment splendidly wrapped around her limbs.

But, the girl’s two arms and her lower part starting from her waist──were made from brass.

"Circe!"

"We met again, Kusanagi-sama. My dear lover!"

The witch goddess who once stole the incarnations of Verethragna from godou.

Her nickname was the Witch of Dawn. And then above her──blazing mass of flames suddenly appeared and emitted light and heat like a sun!

Godou immediately yelled.

"Riding the wind of my father Vayu, I Hanuman steal the sun!"

"My, a new authority is it!"

Hanuman’s Shadow flew toward Circe who was floating midair.

The darkness in the shape of monkey had large built to the degree that could completely envelope the witch and that flame. However, the words of power of fire were breathed out.

"O those who enjoy fire, drown in that pleasure!"

It was Circe’s spell.

The flame blazing in the sky──the opponent’s combustion that was grappled by Hanuman’s Shadow was flaring up with increasing vigor, making it difficult to absorb it.

Furthermore, Godou suddenly felt suffocated.

"This is……!?"

Crest that was drawn from light came out from Godou’s shoulder.

It had a simple design, but it was certainly something that was a design of 'warrior with sword'. And then, the crest flew toward Circe in midair.

"At this chance──I’ll receive this golden sword!"

"That thing again!"

Godou was vexed.

The sorcery to steal the power of hero and war god. It was put into the air and sneaked into inside the body of godslayer. It was an attack that tormented him before in a solitary island of South Seas.

The several thousand light spheres waiting behind Godou until now, the Sword to tear apart the god of fate.

All of those suddenly became useless!

"Leave this to me, Kusanagi Godou!"

"I’m disinclined to point my sword to a goddess but──it can’t be helped!"

Lancelot and Rama were going to rush forward. One with spear and shield, while the other one with the Divine Sword of Salvation in hand.

Yes. This wasn’t a labyrinth like island. Right now Kusanagi Godou had reliable comrades. However, an unexpected formidable enemy stood in the way.

"In front of my shining eyes, I wonder how far you all can pretend to be tough?"

It was the voice of a girl that could even be said as childish.

The moment they heard this voice, Lancelot’s whole body and Rama’s legs until his waist became stone. Godou’s lower body also went through the same, it was petrified.

"What the!?"

"Thi, this power it’s……"

Rama and Godou looked at the direction the voice came from.

A girl at age around thirteen years old was standing there. She was wearing a uniform that seemed like from a school somewhere and also a hat. Her silver hair reached until her shoulder. The color of her eyes were black like the night’s darkness.

……She was goddess Athena. The arch enemy of Kusanagi Godou that he couldn’t possibly forget.

Her eyes were the same like the female monster Medusa, they would change anyone that saw them into stone altogether.

Godou and Rama endured the petrifaction until only half their body, while Lancelot was suddenly wholly petrified was because of the difference of the total magic power amount that their heart and body contained. No matter how powerful she was, as expected the current Lancelot du Lac was just a subordinate god.

"Shit. That fate fellow line up troublesome enemies for us huh……!"

Godou cursed and glared at Athena.

Athena also glared back at Godou. They glared at each other. Stared at each other. The two focused heavily on each other for about ten-odd seconds. To think that even a goddess who should have died completely and a goddess who was retired in Astral World could also be summoned. It surpassed every inexpedience and absurdity──

And then.

"Fuh. It looks like you are troubled, Kusanagi Godou."

Athena smiled fearlessly, after that she murmured.

"Being seen like that feels quite pleasant for me. After all is said and done, you are my lifelong arch enemy. However"

She averted her eyes and glanced at far beyond.

The fabric of fate that was like ground was continuing everywhere to the ends of space. It didn’t feel like the place where the horizon was interrupted would be found no matter how far one walked.

"To push me and the princess over there into the battlefield like this, the Bearer of Fate too has done a crude gambit. Something like this cannot be said as the reproduction of my opposite fate at all."

The silver haired goddess murmured that and then she didn’t try to look at Godou anymore.

"Eh──?"

Ignoring the perplexed Godou, Athena looked up at the witch who was still floating in the air.

"Honored daughter of sun god Helios, the master of Aeaea Island. I believe that we are somewhat out of place here but, how about you?"

"Perhaps……it’s as you say."

When Godou noticed, the witch Circe was pondering.

The blazing mass of flame above her head vanished, at the same time, the Hanuman’s Shadow that was clinging on it was also terminated.

"My bond with Kusanagi-sama is certainly fastened in a sorrowful shape once. But that wasn’t the final destination by any means……I have recollection of that. In that case"

Circe’s figure suddenly blurred.

She was a beautiful girl who looked shining, her crushed lower body was compensated with brass artificial body. The nostalgic princess goddess of South Seas. As expected, she too was called here from the 'past' but──

The Witch of Dawn Circe vanished. She left behind these words.

"Fare thee well, Kusanagi-sama. I’ll pray for your fortune in war!"

"That’s how it is, Kusanagi Godou. Know that if you are defeated by this kind of petty trick, than you will have no qualification at all to introduce yourself as mine arch enemy."

The goddess of wisdom and war and a mother earth goddess, Athena’s gallant figure also vanished.

The crest of 'warrior with sword' descended from the sky, entering into Godou’s body. The petrifaction of his lower body was also dispelled when he noticed.

"Those girls, they are really okay not fighting me……?"

"It must be because you and those goddesses──you all aren’t connected by only opposite fate, but also by favorable fate."

Rama addressed him. His petrifaction was also dispelled as expected.

"God and godslayer are fellow arch enemy since the age of mythology……you aren’t a slave to such antiquate and walked the path that you believe. This is the result from that."

"……Perhaps that’s so. Certainly, those fellows aren’t my enemies anymore."

The two of them nodded at each other. Immediately after.

A new god suddenly manifested again. A giant about as big as Melqart just now. However, it was also an unreasonably strange giant god.

It was different from any of the old enemy that Godou knew. He reflexively yelled.

"Wha, what the hell is that!?"

It was an armed warrior clad in golden armor.

However, the weapons his hands had, sword, spear, bow, arrow, chakram, club, Buddhist tower club, shield, war fork──well, there were about twenty kinds of weapons. His arms were also twenty in total.

Not just from his shoulders, from right below his shoulders until around his waist, there were ten arms growing in each side.

And then, it was his face above all else.

A stern face that should be called as a demonic look.

Furthermore, there were four of exactly the same demon face at the side of the right ear, and another four at the side of left ear, they were connected like a skewered dumpling.

In addition, there was also a demonic face attached on the back of his head too!

"Ravana! So you are also guided here by fate!?"

"Fuhahahahaha! To think, that I can reunite with you like this!"

The grotesque evil god laughed loudly with shaking shoulders.

He possessed ten heads and twenty arms. A grotesque shape that could even be called as excessive. However at the same time, he was also clad with the majestic domineering aura of a king.

"Not my enemy, but Rama’s enemy huh."

"Yeah. The Bearer of Fate too is finally setting about in earnest to corner us."

Rama answered Godou’s murmur.

Raksasa Raja Ravana. The last enemy who appeared in the epic poem 'Ramayana'. In front of this powerful enemy, Rama broke off into a run.

"I still remember vividly the dreadfulness of the demon king Ravana, and also how to fight with that person as an opponent. First I will serve as the vanguard!"

"Yosh. I’ll also help──"

‘You out’, saying that, Godou was going to follow behind Rama.

Godou was dumbfounded. Because a new enemy appeared. He was small statured, wearing a coat that was like old rag, a young boy with lovely face. Most likely he was fifteen years old──.

"This is the guidance of the string of mysterious fate, godslayer."

"……So she used this way."

Godou took a stance even while being overwhelmed by shock.

"To think, that I’ll be able to meet you again."

"Fufufufu. I seeked defeat. However, the outcome was a splendid lose from you. Furthermore you wield the 《authority of victory》 that you usrped from me and reached as far as the territory of fate……"

The shining fifteen years old youth grinned.

"I certainly remember your name. Kusanagi Godou."

The war god Verethragna. The war god of the east that Godou first murdered.

–

Part 3

"Soar o Vimana! We are commencing the war to overthrow Ravana!"

"Ka ka ka ka ka ka ka ka! Blood and soul ought to be burned to exhaustion in the battlefield. As usual, King Rama is a man with pointlessly good manners!"

In order to oppose the enemy’s huge size, Rama called the soaring war chariot.

The rakshasa raja Ravana was laughing ‘ka ka’ loudly. It was really boisterous because his ten demonic faces and mouths were all laughing.

Rama was finally aiming his iron arrow toward that bitter enemy.

The divine arrow became a mass of flame and flew. Ravana deflected it with a large shield that corresponded to his giant body. The arrow immediately exploded fiercely, but the shield and the ten-headed and twenty-armed great evil god weren’t even shaken──.

It was truly a grand battle of demon king versus hero.

In contrast, the “duel” of Godou and Verethragna was silent.

"It’s strange to say something like this but"

Godou spoke.

"You look healthy huh."

"Fufufufu. It’s all thanks to you."

The invincible war god Verethragna smiled with the nostalgic young boy face.

Godou was lured by that and he also smiled.

"How can it is thanks to me?"

"It’s a simple reasoning. Without your battle with the Bearer of Fate, I also wouldn’t be called here. In that case, my second advent is thanks to you."

"So it’s like that."

This time Godou smiled wryly. Verethragna kept smiling.

Come to think of it──Godou recalled the encounter and travel of one year ago.

He saw it several times during that travel. How this young boy showed an archaic smile that was like smoke with his slender almond eyes narrowed even further.

Though Godou mostly never saw it again after he sunk into the madness of heretic god.

……Godou glanced at his side.

The chief of Amazons and his protector knight, war god Lancelot.

Her whole body was still turned into stone from Athena’s evil eye. Different from Godou and Rama, the subordinate god Lancelot didn’t seem like she would recover.

It couldn’t be helped. Godou gave up the female knight.

He made Lancelot’s stone statue to vanish. The protector knight returned into a spiritual body.

"So it’s one on one, boy."

"The last time was also like that."

Verethragna smiled. Kusanagi Godou stared at him.

God and godslayer. The killed and the killer. A miraculous reunion──.

"As the one who holds all victory in my hand, I am the strongest."

The one who chanted was Verethragna.

"Man and devil, all enemies, all who harbor enmity will be vanquished. I shall smash through all enemies in my way. By the divine protection of Mithra and the skills with which I wield spell words, may justice of the world manifest."

The words of power that Godou too had chanted many times until now.

The spell words of victory that he usurped from war god Verethragna. However right now, the one who chanted this spell once more was its original owner.

The youthful god who controlled ten incarnations grinned fearlessly.

"Word is power. Spell word is light. Therefore, o light, o spell words, become mine sword……"

A long golden sword manifested in Verethragna’s right hand.

The blade was thick, heavy, and straight. The boorish make was accompanied by golden light. The tip of this blade──Verethragna pointed it at Godou.

"O my foe, my enemy of opposite fate. Now we shall fight."

"It’s me who killed you huh……"

Godou sighed.

The spell words of Sword, several thousand light spheres were still waiting behind him.

However, everything was blade for the sake of cutting apart the god of fate. It wouldn’t be effective against war god Veerthragna. Godou faced the darkness sphere that was still manifested overhead and his partner and he sent his thought. ‘Come back’.

"……You came."

Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi appeared in Godou’s right hand. The darkness star vanished from the territory of god of fate.

However, the jet black giant sphere that controlled the super gravity still hadn’t vanished. The secret law of the Black Blade, all of its strength was now residing inside Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi.

Golden sword and black blade. The two swordsmen confronted each other──.

"Here I come, Kusanagi Godou!"

"Yeah. I accept your challenge!"

Verethragna swung down the golden sword from the front.

Godou also struck Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi toward that sword.

*GA──KIiiiiiiiiNN!* Fellow mystique metals collided with each other and a high pitched sound was produced, the two swordsmen began a sword locking contest right away.

*GI-. GI-. GI-. GI-. GI-. GI-. GI-.*

The golden sword and the divine sword creaked.

The war god Verethragna exerted a herculean strength that was unimaginable coming from that slender body. Godou too used the second incarnation Bull to oppose it.

Both sides were wielding great strength that could shake the mountain and continued the sword locking contest──but.

"Fufuh"

Verethragna suddenly smiled.

With that archaic smile that was like smoke.

"Boy. You only swing your sword with mere brute strength without any tricks. Aren’t you too complacent even though you are facing the god of victory?"

"You said that but you yourself are just using brute strength."

Godou glared at the youthful god with the two swords between them.

"You’re okay not using your prided incarnations here?"

"Fufufufu"

Verethragna continued to smile even now, after that, his expression suddenly turned serious and he casted his gaze down. Furthermore even his golden sword──was lowered.

Godou also lowered Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi and stabbed it into the vast fabric that was like ground.

"It’s lackadaisical of you to lower your sword by yourself, boy."

"You are talking as you please without looking at the mirror huh."

"Hmph. It’s fine for me. After all as a proud god of war, I behave──in order to not cross a line that I absolutely won’t concede."

Verethragna asserted with a face that vaguely looked like a mischievous rascal.

……It was similar with the face that he saw a year ago, at the seashore of Sardinia Island. Godou and the youngsters of the island who met him by chance began to play beach soccer together.

And then, the small god of war sent a sharp gaze toward beyond the empty space.

"Let me be frank, o Bearer of Fate. 'I don’t wish for this kind of rematch'. Something like crossing swords with my destined foe in the like of an arena that you prepared──"

Verethragna’s voice resounded through the territory of fate bellowingly.

"Preposterous."

Gallant words of power filled the space.

The war god of the east spoke further while Godou was watching him attentively.

"I won’t recognize the intervention of anyone toward my rematch with him. Know that even without the manipulation of the like of fate, Verethragna will challenge Kusanagi Godou once more! Without fail!"

Verethragna wielded his golden sword once more.

He cut apart the space before his eyes crosswise. Godou immediately understood. Verethragna didn’t cut empty air. The valorous war god of the east──severed a string.

The string of the god of fate, that led him here.

Yes. The sword that Verethragna created just now was the same like Godou’s Sword.

A weapon for the sake of cutting the god of fate and their divine power──.

"Farewell, Kusanagi Godou. I shall meet you again one day."

A breeze blew together with those words. The figure of the youth vanished.

In exchange, a golden sword was stabbing before his eyes. Similar like Godou, the sword was piercing above the ground that was the fabric of fate.

"So the real revenge will be at that time huh……"

Was this also thanks to the favorable fate that existed between him and Verethragna? Or perhaps, was this a parting exactly because the opposite fate was taken to the extreme?

The likes of Godou couldn’t understand it, and it didn’t matter which it was anyway.

There was only one thing that he ought to accomplish here.

"……Got to use anything that can be used."

Godou murmured and grasped the hilt of the golden sword.

The sword that war god Verethragna left behind. Was it a parting gift? Or else, was it a provocation'Can you use this well?'. Anyway was fine. He was thankful no matter which it was.

Godou turned his gaze toward the far beyond.

The White Star showered countless lightning toward the gigantic Rakshasa Raja Ravana.

Furthermore, Rama was also firing arrows continuously from the flying war chariot.

Godou Swung the golden sword toward there. He had the confidence that he could cut even from this distance. The thing that called the ancient India’s Rakshasa Raja──the string.

The giant god Ravana disappeared with a terrifying suddenness.

"You go too, Ama no Murakumo."

A golden sword in the right hand. His left hand pulled out Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi.

The light spheres that had been waiting all this time behind him, the spell words of Sword that Godou created were called into the black divine sword of Japan, and they were unified──.

The blade of Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi that was shining jet black was transformed into golden with this.

"You saved me there Kusanagi Godou! My gratitude for your assistance!"

"You came Rama. Let’s settle this soon."

Godou called out at the hero who was driving Vimana.

Rama quickly jumped down to Godou’s side, "Yosh!" then he swung down the Divine Sword of Salvation. Toward the fabric of fate that was spreading endlessly.

Matching that action, the White Star was also falling down from the sky.

In order to pierce, and crash all the lightning energy toward the Fabric of Fate──the vast land of this territory.

*GOGOGOGOGOGO!*

The sky trembled, the fabric where Godou and Rama were standing on was also rumbling fiercely.

"This thing too together!"

Godou stabbed the fabric with the golden sword of Verethragna and the golden Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi together. With this all the spell words for the sake of cutting apart fate, and the power of gravity storm were unleashed altogether.

The rumbling of the sky and the ground was becoming increasingly fiercer. In that moment.

"ｕ――ｌｉｌｌｌｌｌｙｉｉｉｉｉｉｉｉｉｉｉｉｉｉｉｉｉ！"

A naked girl came flying while yelling the song of battle.

The lovely and troublesome great enemy, the Bearer of Fate. The girl was holding a large scythe with long handle in her hands. She wasn’t planning to sever the string of fate, but Godou and Rama.

In order to meet this attack, Rama prepared his iron bow and arrow of light.

He intended to shoot his former guardian. However, Godou immediately spoke.

"Don’t get involved anymore! I’ll face her!"

It wasn’t because of belligerence or ambition.

Godou yelled for the sake of his new 'friend'. Rama was taken aback and lowered his bow. It was fine like that. There was something──that had to be obtained no matter what!

"For victory, hasten forth before me. O stallion that moveth godlike with wondrous grace, bringest forth the halo of thy master!"

Godou chanted the words of power of light and righteousness.

──Fate sometimes was merciless and also unjust. The requirement to use the White Horse, that the target had to be a great sinner who troubled the mass was fulfilled without any problem at all──.

The territory of the god of fate, the sun suddenly rose from the end of the horizon.

It was the arrival of the brilliant sunrise.

Flare with scorching heat was fired from the sun that was called by Verethragna’s authority.

It wasn’t just a mere flame. It was a flame explosion in the scale of the universe.

The endless territory of god of fate was thoroughly filled with the world-destroying conflagration of judgment. The fabric that was the manifestation of the concept of fate was annihilated in vain inside the flame.

–

The destruction of a world was starting.

It was the proof that Kusanagi Godou and the hero Ramachandra obtained victory.

Chapter 6

Part 1

And then, everything was burned to nothing.

That boundless fabric wasn’t there anymore in the territory of the gods of fate.

There was only empty space of darkness stretching on and on. However, Godou noticed. Even though it should be a domain without anything existing in it, there was “ground”.

Even now he and Rama were firmly stepping on something like this──.

It was something transparent and firm, and most likely it had existed unchanged for eternity.

"Hey Rama. You said it right?"

Godou called out to his dignified partner.

"Several times you called her the Bearer of Fate. Not the creator of fate or anything else."

"Yeah. In the end, the concept of fate──is something that has continued to exists from the ancient past when the race called human and their soul were created. The girl we defeated just now interweaved the string of fate and weaved up a grand fabric but……it wasn’t her who created the string."

"Could it be, that this is a bundle of string of fate?"

Godou kicked the “ground” hard.

Before they knew it, it wasn’t transparent anymore.

White. A pure white ground surface was spreading endlessly until beyond the horizon. Pure white fabric that wasn’t unlike a white canvas was continuing endlessly everywhere.

Rama finally sheathed the Divine Sword of Salvation into his scabbard and muttered.

"The Bearer who dispatched me to the surface and her creation were wiped out. However, the fabric made from the string of fate──will continue to exist even from now on. Someone among the multitude of gods of fate will become the new Bearer, and weave up a new pattern."

"You mean a new fate huh."

"It will be like that. Well, the raw materials are the same like before, it’s hard to imagine that the fate and its writing style will be greatly different from before……"

Rama smiled wryly.

Until now, he was a warrior who was entrusted with the fate of devil king extermination.

Around the ground the great hero was stepping on──red string, blue string, black string, yellow string, a pattern made from strings of various color was emerging.

It was ten-odd sheets of picture that was drawn using string.

──The picture of people being tormented by monster that seemed like demon spewing out fire.

──The picture of a gathering of people yelling to the sky seeking for salvation.

──The picture of a character that descended from heaven, the mass lifted their hands and cheered…….

"They are tales!"

"Looks like it……. Surely in some era somewhere in the world, people were seeking for messiah. And then, the new Bearer of Fate seemed to leave that role to me."

'Pictures' were increasing one after another around Rama who was smiling wryly.

Before they noticed the number of pictures became more than a hundred, becoming a composition that was like a mandala with the hero of salvation right in the middle of them.

Godou tilted his head.

"There is only me left as the devil king in this world, and I’m not thinking of doing anything to the world. I am a 'demon king-sama with low awareness', so something like the job of messiah should be gone though……"

"Just now, you spoke a fragment of the answer aptly."

Rama smiled thinly.

"Certainly you are the only devil king in this world. However, perhaps there are others in other worlds."

"──Is it that? The parallel world thing!"

Several parallel worlds existed in this universe.

The world where Kusanagi Godou lived, and different world with different history, and different exploit accumulated. It was a fact that John Pluto Smith mentioned, and it was also clearly recognized by the goddess of wisdom.

Rama spoke further to Godou who recalled the underlying principle of the world.

"Yes. Most likely, a world somewhere is in the verge of danger by the hand of godslayer, or a devil king that is similar to that……"

The messiah who descended to the surface many times as the King of the End.

He smiled gently, then he suddenly let out a small sigh. After that he crouched and stared at the illustrated tale that was drawn on the ground.

And then, he gently caressed the picture of the mass of people that was nearest to him.

"As expected, there is also no way I can ignore them."

The hero Rama muttered gently.

But, it was also a fact that a shadow like a rust was resurrected on his dignified handsome face.

"…………"

Godou was silent, he was staring at his new friend.

The sword wound on his left shoulder that he suffered from him was throbbing painfully. Other than that, his whole body also felt hot here and there. It seemed that he was carrying small wounds without him noticing.

They were obtained from the battle against the god of fate.

There was various things that should be done but──

First Godou took out a red jewel from his pocket.

He thought of the figure of the girl he loved. Just from that the jewel instantly returned into Erica Blandelli. She smiled bewitchingly from beside Godou.

"You finally did it, Godou."

"Yeah. However, let’s talk about that for later."

Erica guessed what he thought just from the brief words and an exchange of glance.

She glanced at Rama. Ahead of the gaze of the Diavollo Rosso, the great hero was kneeling and continued to gaze gently at the illustrated tales that appeared on the ground.

"It seems that prince Rama, intends to begin a trip again."

"Yeah. That guy is that kind of man."

When Godou answered Erica’s whisper.

Finally──

The person Godou was waiting anxiously for arrived.

"That was a splendid victory, Godou! As expected from my son!"

The first thing the goddess Pandora who suddenly appeared did was to say that smilingly.

Rama stood up in response to that cheerful behavior.

"Oo. You are the step mother of godslayer that I heard from rumors."

"That’s right, legendary prince-sama. For a long time you had fought against my children. But, thanks to this child the end is brought to that relationship……"

The step mother Pandora walked briskly while speaking to Rama bluntly.

She came to a stop in front of Godou and nodded.

"Looks like Godou’s instinct hit the mark."

"It’s not like I want it to hit the mark though."

Through the various things that happened in these few days, Godou had came to open his heart quite much with this self proclaimed mother.

Godou continued to speak without polite language anymore.

"When I was anxiously thinking if the fate itself will get shattered after defeating the god of fate──it was just as I thought."

The illustrated tales that were newly drawn by the string of fate.

The former hero of devil king extermination was going to accept it.

The thing that Godou was vaguely apprehensive of since before this decisive battle was proving to be right. Godou leaked out a sigh. He asked the step mother of godslayer once more.

"And, how about that promise?"

"Actually it’s no good, but it’s fine just for this time. After all it was me who said that I’ll give you reward."

Above the head of the all giving goddess Pandora, a steel disk appeared.

There was an engraved seal of a dragon’s head around it. The engraved seal of eight swords was surrounding it. It was the mechanism that produced Campione.

Divine tool, the Circle of Usurpation.

The steel disk was beginning to rotate in high speed.

"Now Godou. Steal as you please the authority from the god of fate you defeated! It’s your liberty to choose which power possessed by that woman that you will steal!"

Pandora spoke loudly.

This was exactly the 'reward' that he wished from the step mother.

The authority obtained from murdering god, it was completely uncertain which authority it would be.

First it would vary which of the authority would be stolen from the several authorities that were possessed by the gods. After that, there would be further arrangement based from the nature and ability of the murderer, the godslayer.

At the end, what kind of power it would become was left to chance──.

The truth was something like god’s authority didn’t matter to him. However, he couldn’t say that only this time. There was an ability that he wanted no matter what in case of his anxiety was proved to be true.

It wasn’t for his own sake, but for the sake of the man who was bound by the unreasonable fate.

"Think it in your mind. The power that you wished for."

"My wish is──"

Urged by Pandora, Godou closed his eyes.

He concentrated his mind and heightened his magic power. When he consigned the Bearer of Fate into oblivion just now, the divine power filling the heart and body, he overlapped a certain image onto it.

Spinning the string of fate, deciding the length of the string, then cutting the string.

Unfastening the string, and unraveling the fetters.

If there was still persistent string, then it would be retied to somewhere else──.

"Come apart."

Godou’s murmur. It was simple, but it was words of power to control the authority.

He suddenly lifted the palm of his right hand over the ground. Above the white fabric of fate, the illustrated tale of mankind salvation was drawn like a mandala. However.

Those illustrated tales were vanishing one after another.

Kusanagi Godou’s authority, 'the power to oppose fate' was unraveling the string of fate.

"Certainly, there are times when human want to depend on god. And, if some virtuous god helps out such humans, then they will be really happy. But see"

Godou talked toward the kind hero.

"There is no need for you──to be treated like a slave by a strange god for that. You can just do that following your own feelings without the ties of obligation from fate or whatever."

"My own feeling……?"

"Yeah. When you don’t want to do it then you don’t need to do it. Conversely, when you want to do it no matter what, you can do it without the involvement of fate or anything. But, if I’m allowed to tell you something from the position of humans."

Godou pointed out with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Someone like you who revitalize the volcanoes all over the world isn’t suited for the work of 'hero that saved the world' though. It will help if you can contend yourself with a smaller scale of helping people."

"Fufufufu. That’s painful to hear."

Rama smiled wryly. Godou too also grinned.

"Well, in your case, it’s because you are burdened by the fate of devil king extermination thing. Like this time it cannot be helped that the hero work is drowning you. And, when I see that, how the serious and compassionate prince-sama cannot have a good time……"

Godou who was using the authority could see it.

The thing entangling around the hero Ramachandra even now──several dozen of string. Those strings were connected to the heaven far above.

That was exactly the fate of devil king extermination.

When Godou’s hand waved quickly, several dozen strings shined.

He made them visible so that even those who weren’t a god of fate could see it.

While Rama, Pandora, and Erica were gazing in amazement, Godou thrust his index finger toward the hero of salvation, then he swung his finger to the side strongly.

"Snap"

*Snap, snap, snap.* Several dozen strings were cut off one after another.

The fate that was restraining the great hero of ancient India was severed right now. "Oo!" Rama himself opened his eyes wide. However.

Perhaps it should be praised, as expected from the string of fate that summoned the hero of salvation.

The dozen of strings meandered like living tentacles. They were entwining around Rama even now, trying to entangle on his limbs──.

They were really persistent. Rama sighed.

"The fate seeking for the warrior who will appear at the end of this world……it’s as heavy as the truth of the world, a tenacious existence. Most likely, it’s as everlasting as that divine tool."

The Circle of Usurpation that had stopped rotating above Pandora’s head.

Rama spoke while looking at that. In fact, a “certain voice” could be heard in the ear of Godou who had obtained the authority of god of fate.

……Come Prince Rama. The king who manifested at the end of this world.

……O savior. O warrior of perpetuity, who repeat the devil king extermination. O warrior.

……The wielder of the divine sword. The owner of the shining sword. Come. Come. Warrior of perpetuity, come.

"They are trying to call the hero huh."

It was a call that reached from the far beyond.

The fate that guided the hero Rama to a world somewhere that wasn’t here. Godou’s fighting spirit was stimulated by the persistence of that existence and he made an awfully fierce grin.

"Then, I too have my own idea. ──Come."

Godou beckoned toward Rama.

It wasn’t him, but the dozens of strings that were trying to entangle him that headed toward Godou. Godou used the authority to oppose fate and he ordered clearly.

"You all are already……mine."

All the strings of fate, twined around Kusanagi Godou.

Right now the fate of devil king extermination, became the possession of that devil king himself.

–

Part 2

"What are……your intention, Kusanagi Godou?"

Rama asked in astonishment.

"Don’t tell me, you are planning to fight──in my place to exterminate all the devil kings!?"

"I’m not going to go that far. But, I’m planning to try going along with this 'fate of savior' for a while in your place."

Godou laughed calmly to soothe Rama’s agitation.

"Though till the end it will be in my own way."

"However……"

"Don’t say anything more. I’ll be your replacement. That’s why rest without worrying. If you like, you can retire somewhere. You won’t be punished even if you do that."

"…………"

"Don’t worry. I can 'go against fate'. I have no plan to accept a work of savior that I don’t like. The world might get wrecked in exchange for defeating the devil kinga. ……Aa, that will be the same like you I guess."

Godou spoke jokingly.

However Rama didn’t laugh, in exchange he muttered with a voice that was filled with flood of emotions.

"Aah. A man like you really is──"

He didn’t talk further and presented his right hand instead.

Godou also grasped back that hand wordlessly. The hand of the hero Rama who had buried a lot of devil kings. The hand of Kusanagi Godou. The conclusion of this decisive battle that concerned the 'end of this world' was the handshake of the two.

–

"Then, farewell Kusanagi Godou."

"Fare thee well, my elder brother’s friend."

Godou and others got out of the territory of the god of fate and returned to the end of Astral World.

It was a world where everything was colored grey. And then, seeing the back of Prince Rama and his younger brother Lakhsmana who were leaving slowly──.

Godou didn’t know where they were going.

However, the elder brother and the loyal younger brother were making refreshed face.

Lakhsmana who wholly received the nature of heretic god was afflicted with distortion and madness.

But right now, except his skin color, he had become a pure handsome young man who looked exactly the same like his elder brother. He was accompanying the hero Rama from behind.

The younger brother of the great hero finally recovered his ideal form back.

And then, when their back was gone from view.

"Then, I’ll be going too. Let’s meet again, Godou."

The step mother Pandora spoke lightheartedly and she even winked at him.

And then she vanished *fuh* like that from that place. It was a casual exit that was just like her personality.

Just, until this point she sent only a glance at Erica who was only an ordinary person until now. Until the end her stance was a heartless goddess toward humans who weren’t godslayers.

As expected, even that mother had a part that was like a god in her.

"……Perhaps, I won’t forget her anymore after this."

"Is that because Godou obtained the authority of the god of fate?"

Asked by Erica, Godou nodded.

"Yeah. I come to understand the underlying principle of the world thing a bit better now compare to before……I think. Well, in the first place I was wholly ignorant in that field anyway, so in the end it’s only to the degree of 'a bit better' though."

"It’s fine like that."

Erica said with a smile that was exactly like usual.

"If someone like Godou got cocky saying 'I’m the god of fate!', I’ll surely get amused and laugh to death."

"No way that kind of death can happen."

Godou smiled wryly. In respond the Diavollo Rosso returned to a serious expression and whispered this.

"But, now that it turn out like this what I’m curious about is──that thing, the Great Law of the Covenant. I wonder if Godou too can use it now?"

"Perhaps it’s impossible. The authority of fate that I received is mostly only a part of it."

Godou easily said it, then he added "Besides".

"If I use that kind of foul play against those guys, just what kind of complain they will say to me……"

"Those guys?"

The extremely intelligent Erica was unusually puzzled.

Godou noticed, she was unable to perceive them. He concentrated his mind.

The scenery that only had grey color at the surrounding immediately changed. The fabric of fate that was like white carpet became a domain that extended everywhere.

The current Godou could reach to this place anytime if he was in Astral World.

Godou spoke to his partner in order to inform her what he felt in the territory of god of fate a little bit of time ago.

"Try to see it, this."

"My."

When Godou pointed at the “carpet”, Erica was surprised.

Illustrated tales were unfolding again. Pictures were drawn one after another with Godou at the center, a single tale was progressing.

──The picture of people being tormented by a monster that seemed like demon spewing out fire.

──The picture of a gathering of people yelling to the sky seeking for salvation.

──The picture of a character that descended from heaven, the mass lifted their hands and cheered. However.

"I also saw it before, but this time there is a new development."

"Wha-"

──The picture of the descended savior wielding a sword, defeating the demon.

──But, this time the savior spewed fire and attacked the city. Such picture.

──The demonic swordsman who spewed fire became the lord of the castle before long, and the army obeyed him…….

"Hey Godou. This main character, isn’t his hair blond?"

"As I thought, you also think so huh."

The hair of the demonic swordsman was drawn with golden string.

Furthermore, the pictures of him swinging sword around, splitting giant rock or castle into two were also emerging here and there.

Erica spoke after surveying the illustration tales in general.

"Actually it was really puzzling. Why is a parallel world that is outside 'this world' suddenly came with an appeal for a savior to prince Rama?"

"It’s something that never happened until now I think."

"But thinking back, just slightly a while ago, a lot of godslayers departed this world. Those people acting docilely──should be impossible……"

"They absolutely will cause some kind of trouble."

"Then, that world come with a demand to 'our world' that became the origin of such 'world danger', to quickly deal with the source of the problem……"

"It’s not strange at all isn’t it?"

Godou and Erica reached the same conclusion and they sighed simultaneously.

However, his lovely partner immediately made a fearless grin. It was the smile of a female lion that he had seen continuously for a year already.

"And, what are you intending to do, my lord?"

"I’ve got to bring back those guys, so it’s nice timing. Like this I’ll go take a quick look at the 'world at the other side' for a bit."

Godou spoke to the nodding Erica.

"What are you going to do? Will you return to Tokyo for now?"

"To ask something like that to me, you still have some way to go. Of course I’ll go together with you."

"Yosh."

"Later let’s somehow try to call everyone──Yuri, Liliana, and Ena-san. Surely they will be needed."

Erica’s words were heartening. There would be nothing more reliable than her strength, knowledge, and above all else her wisdom even in an unknown world. He had finished experiencing it in the ancient Gallia.

"Then, let’s try going for now."

"Yes. I’ll follow you no matter where it is."

Godou and Erica started walking together.

Of course, it was in order to depart to the world in the illustrated tale that was being afflicted by the appearance of a devil king──.

Final Chapter

Part 1

"Hey, Ojii-chanGrandpa."

Kusanagi Shizuka spoke with a frown.

Her voice became even more displeased than expected.

"That Onii-chan, this time when will he get back──does Ojii-chan know?"

"Who knows? When I talked with him at the phone before, I heard that he is flying here and there for an university’s assignment or something."

The grandfather, Kusanagi Ichiro sounded really carefree.

"He didn’t say at all the schedule of his return back to Japan. That guy too must be busy."

"What busy, he is still a student!"

Shizuka unconsciously raised her voice.

Tokyo metropolis Bunkyou ward, the shopping street at the third block of Nedzu district──in the living room of Kusanagi residence.

Originally an antiquated bookshop was ran in this house. But, it was already five years since the shop was closed. And then, the eldest son of this house hadn’t returned home for nearly two years already…….

"That Onii-chan, suddenly studying abroad to a place like Italy! There is no sign of him coming back to Japan at all you know!?"

"Well, I think there is also the factor of the flight price. It will be a waste to keep paying it."

"Even if that’s the case, it’s problematic that he almost never sent mail or calling home-"

"Hahahaha. Regarding that, I cannot defend him at all."

"In the first place even when Onii-chan decided to study abroad, it was really sudden, and he didn’t talk about it at all. What’s more, Onii-chan at that time was still a second year in high school!"

"In the world of sport, it’s not that unusual to already decide one’s future in high school you see."

The grandfather was carefree till the end.

"In the first place Godou was also involved in that kind of world. Perhaps he had various thoughts that made him decide the course of his future."

Two years ago──.

Her big brother, Kusanagi Godou advanced to second year of high school at May of that year.

Then he suddenly spoke.

'For a number of reasons, it feels like I can go study abroad in the school at Milan. This is a good chance, so I’ll go there for a bit.' He said.

Shizuka immediately asked. How long he meant by a bit?

'I’ll also enter university there, so until I can graduate……or perhaps, it might be longer.'

Her big brother spoke really vaguely.

Shizuka was irritated by that, then when she asked him whether he really could study abroad while still in high school, Godou immediately gave her a concrete answer.

'See, Erica’s uncle has connection with the student exchange over there with Japan. He would speak up for me. That person──Pablo-san will also act as my guardian there, he will also let me stay at his home, so there won’t be any problem.'

The fluent explanation was also something irritating.

……Their childhood friend Tokunaga Asuka would sometime say, ‘Shizuka-chan might have broconbrother complex tendency’. But, that was absolutely not the case. She was harsh toward her big brother was because even though his atmosphere from a glance looked like a sincere and honest youth, but a “good-for-nothing” aspect could be glimpsed from him at every opportunity.

"Look Shizuka."

The grandpa spoke to his granddaughter who was in a bad mood.

"If you honestly say that you are lonely because your Onii-chan is gone, I think that perhaps, Godou will unexpectedly come home."

He pointed out while smiling mischievously.

"That guy is caring in such a matter after all, and his footwork is also light."

"Do……don’t say stupid thing! There is no way I’m lonely from Onii-chan being gone──just for two years! I’m not a child!"

"Is that so?"

"Obviously that is so-"

"Hmm."

The grandfather leisurely brought a cup of green tea into his mouth at the other side of the tea table.

His looks was shapely like always even in his advanced age. His appearance of a business shirt and slacks was also neat even though he was at home.

He was a worldly wise man who got a lot of reputation as philanderer at his younger day.

Perhaps because this grandfather also had the bad habit of 'frequently walking outside the home for days', it seemed he wasn’t even bothered with the semi-break of contact of the eldest son of Kusanagi family.

Such “good-for-nothing family head” changed the topic with a really easygoing attitude.

"That’s right Shizuka. There is something that I should tell you."

He wasn’t consulting or asking for permission.

The grandfather was casually informing her of a “decided matter”.

"I’m going to be away for a while starting from tomorrow. I’m thinking to visit the place of my old friend in Australia."

It was often said that 'Kusanagi family’s grandfather and eldest son are similar'.

In fact, their looks were similar. However, their personality was fundamentally different.

In contrast with the grandfather who at his core had a disposition that ought to be said as unconventionally gentleman, the big brother was more simple and didn’t put on airs.

But, certainly they also had similar aspects.

Like how they easily created friendship without any concern of distance or gap of culture.

And then, if they heard that a friend was troubled or wanted to meet, they would unexpectedly visit them with light footwork and rekindle their old friendship.

When necessary they would even give help that they could possibly do following their chivalrous spirit──.

Seeing how her grandfather and big brother were birds of the same feather personally like this, Shizuka sighed ‘haa’.

–

Thus, the grandfather Ichiro was also gone from Kusanagi house.

In the first place Shizuka’s father wasn’t at home because of the divorce. The mother also tended to be absent from home. She had a lot of henchman to the degree that it was generally accepted that she had the'Occupation – Queen', she would go bar hopping with such people, aided with their work, gave them consultation, she was a busy person.

"This is like I’m living alone."

Shizuka muttered in indignation.

Although, generally she could manage housework and also cooking by herself.

In this December Kusanagi Shizuka too turned 18 years old. She was third year in high school in preparation for going to university. She was far from the age of being unable to do house-sitting by herself.

There wasn’t any problem at all. But grumbling came out unconsciously from her mouth even while coming to such clean determination.

"It seems a normal family would be considerate towards a student concentrating to take their exams though……"

"Ahaha. As expected even Shizuka-chan has the self-awareness that you all 'aren’t normal'."

She was laughed by her older childhood friend who she unexpectedly met at the shopping street.

The daughter of a sushi restaurant, Tokunaga Asuka. She stopped wearing twintail hairstyle when she enrolled into a university in the metropolis. Right now she let down her long hair as it was.

Shizuka answered decisively.

"I’m not Onii-chan after all, so that’s only natural. In the first place even if I’m not preparing to take test, a normal family won’t leave a high school girl alone in the house in the state of a family breakup."

"Everyone in Kusanagi family really has light footwork."

Asuka nodded ‘yep yep’ in agreement.

"Shizuka-chan too, even though you are preparing for test, you are going out to here and there, playing with your friend, or even doing part time work sometimes, you feel really light on your feet yourself."

"Now see here Asuka-chan. I am different from Okaa-san or Ojii-chan or everyone else. I am living diligently on a daily basis, and I was also able to pass the exam by recommendation, so I have some leeway, that’s all."

"Then, you aren’t a student preparing for exams aren’t you?"

What Asuka pointed out was the most correct, however, Shizuka objected.

"Soon I’m planning to take TOEFL test. I also have interest in other country’s language, like Chinese language, or something else. As expected, I’m like a student preparing for a test right?"

"Hmmm"

Asuka stared at Shizuka fixedly. Shizuka faltered seeing that.

"Wha, what?"

"I’m wondering, could it be, that Shizuka-chan is also planning to go to Europe too? To chase after Godou……"

"The, there is no way I’m going to do such thing!"

"Well, let’s leave it at that……. Ah, but. Speaking of 'chasing after Godou', about those people. Erica-san and Liliana-san. I heard that the two of them aren’t in Europe right now. Even though I thought that they surely would follow Godou and return back to their country."

"Ah, yep. Looks like it."

The topic that was hard to respond to was over, so Shizuka easily answered.

"According to Hikari’s story, both of them are at Shanghai."

"Hika──aah. The girl who is your junior in tea ceremony club? The little sister of Mariya-san."

"Yes. And, she said that her big sister is at Kyoto. It looks like the people who were close with Onii-chan in the past are now really scattered all over."

"Hee~"

–

Shizuka returned home after finishing the idle talk with her childhood friend.

The month was December, approaching the year end. At 6 p.m., Shizuka opened the postbox in her home and checked for mail. Here she wasn’t so naïve that she would expect letter from her big brother.

While staring at the direct mails, Shizuka suddenly noticed.

"Ah. It come again from abroad."

It was a sealed letter. An air mail.

The addressee’s name was only 'Kusanagi'. There was no individual name, a strange way of writing. The name of the sender was 'Lucrezia Zora'. Her address was── (TN: Lucrezia Zora here is written exactly like that in the raw, in alphabet.)

"Italia huh. It’s from Sardinia, is it a province……"

Shizuka’s big brother should be pretty much at Italy too.

And then, there was one other strange point. This was written at the back of the envelope.

'To the people of Kusanagi family. Even if you aren’t Mr. Ichirou or Godou-dono, open this letter quickly and deal with it following the instruction. The matter need urgency.'

It was completely in Japanese language. Furthermore the writing was skillful.

"I wonder if she asked some Japanese person to write this."

Or perhaps, this Lucrezia Zora character was really knowledgeable about Japan.

Shizuka entered the living room. He turned on the light of the dark room and took out a scissor. Making decision, she tried opening the strange envelope.

'Open the package that was sent to Kusanagi Ichiro/Godou a while ago. Please ensure that each family member carry the charm inside it everywhere at any time. If possible, I recommend the family to travel abroad for three to four months.'

Such letter in Japanese language was inside.

"Package──is it that?"

It arrived from abroad two days ago.

Certainly, it was addressed to 'Kusanagi Ichiro as well as Godou'. But at that time her grandfather already departed, so it was left alone at the corner of the kitchen.

"Wait"

Shizuka closely ascertained the back and front of the envelope.

"There is no postmark anywhere……"

Could it be, that it was mailed from Italy without going through the post office?

Like a witch riding broom was carrying the letter and sending it until the mailbox at Bunkyo ward.

"Well, thinking normally, this is a prank that feign a mail from abroad isn’t it?"

Shizuka carried the package in question and put it on the tea table at the living room.

Thinking back, this was also strange. There was no delivery slip from shipping company or post office. There was only a normal paper with the name of the sender and recipient written on it that was simply stuck on the package.

This package──actually it was put in front of the home’s entrance while Shizuka wasn’t at home.

She thought that surely it was her mother who received it, but this was too suspicious. Could it be that it was simply left there at the entrance?

……Even while thinking that, she couldn’t resist the temptation to open the package.

Kusanagi Shizuka, somehow she was full of curiosity.

"This is a charm?"

There were eight accessories in the shape of cross made from black metal entered inside.

It was small sized that could be snugly put on one’s palm. It must be made from iron. When she toyed with it, the scent of iron was ingrained into her hand.

There were also two letters enclosed inside. Each was for 'Kusanagi Ichirou' and 'Kusanagi Godou'.

"……The matter need urgency, the letter said that."

Shizuka had no hobby of stealing a peek at her relative’s letter.

But, for an accessory this was just too ambiguous. First she opened the letter that was addressed for her grandfather. However, she was getting even more bewildered by the letter’s content.

"What’s this?"

The letter’s content was like this.

–

'Do you remember about the wrathful god in the past, Ichiro?

I saw the dream of that guy starting to move once more. He would return to the place where that lithograph was placed for a long time, and he would do mischief.

I cannot foresight it, so I enclosed charms in the package.

I don’t know how many people are there, but make it so that all family members carry the charm.

1. I don’t think that he will be there, but just in case. There is no need to hand over the charm to your grandson Godou.'

–

Wrathful god. Dream. Foresight. Charm.

The consecutive occult words caused Shizuka to frown.

However, she immediately pulled herself together. She had known for long that a lot of her grandfather’s friends were strange people. Besides, in the first place.

"Even our family is in the outrageous side if seen from the view point of other household."

She muttered so, then she opened the enveloped for her big brother.

But, the content startled Shizuka, and then it enraged her.

"O──Onii-chan, just what is your relation with this person!?"

The mysterious character, Lucrezia Zora wrote this for Godou.

–

'This is you so I don’t think you are at home, but just in case, I put a private message for you.

When meeting with important people in the business circles, allude more at your relation with me, Lucrezia Zora. There are still a lot of people who don’t know about the information that I am your local wife.

Make the information became even more thoroughly well known, so I can reap a lot of benefit from it.

About the detail of the charm, I wrote it in the letter for Ichiro.'

–

The letter was concluded with 'To my beloved boy'.

–

Part 2

Thus the next morning.

Kusanagi Shizuka dragged out about twenty percent more bad mood than usual from inside herself while going to school.

Private academy Jounan, the high school section.

That was the high school Shizuka was attending.

It was an academy with integrated middle and high school system. She had been commuting to this school by foot since her first year in middle school. The distance was around ten-odd minutes from the shopping street of Nedzu district’s third block.

By the way, her big brother enrolled here starting from the high school.

Regardless of that, he suddenly rushed out to foreign country after attending for only slightly more than a year, and got admitted into a high school in Milan. And then surprisingly, he skipped a grade after that and advanced into a university in the same city (the high school in Italia had five years system. Originally he would need to be high school student until 19 years old).

The school route from Kusanagi house until Jounan academy was a scenery that Shizuka was used to look at.

However, since her big brother became high school student, there were also mornings where they went to school together sometimes, it was also a fact that from that there would be strange stimulation while walking this route that she had gotten completely tired of but──.

"Hmph. I don’t know and don’t care of any big brother like that!"

Shizuka muttered in bad mood and she switched her feeling.

The Kusanagi clan that was a gathering of eccentrics. A lot of them had the tendency of 'Heat will be forgotten after passing through the throat', they wouldn’t persist in feeling anger, negative emotion, irritation for a long period of time……well, to put it bluntly they were nothing but easy going people. Shizuka was also moderately inheriting that disposition.

She pulled herself together and continued going to school.

Naturally, around her there were only young boys and girls wearing the same uniform──.

"Good morning, senpai. Can I walk together with you?"

"It’s fine. Good morning, Hikari."

Shizuka nodded when her junior in middle school department greeted her politely.

Mariya Hikari.

When they first met, she was in sixth grade of elementary school. But, now she was already in the third year of middle school. Her height and limbs also grew out, in this one year she had became considerably adult-like in appearance. That must be why.

It felt like she had become a bit similar like her big sister Yuri-senpai.

But, compared to the senior who was like a noble lady with her long hair and elegance, the little sister cut her hair until her shoulder, and her gentle atmosphere made it easy to talk to her.

"Come to think of it, Hikari. I heard you retired from the student council?"

"Yes. I’m finally liberated from the chores."

Hikari smiled mischievously. This one year, she served as the vice president in the middle school’s student council, and a little bit of time ago she yielded her post to her successor.

Shizuka turned a broad grin toward such junior of hers.

"What do you mean by chores. I heard you know? At the middle school’s student council, it seemed that on the way Hikari became an 'empress'."

"Wha, what’s with that nickname!?"

Shizuka spoke to her gentle junior who was panicked.

"Isn’t that referring to a person of authority? Well, certainly Hikari is skilled in managing and coordinating various things. Not just in student council, I also happened to hear that club members and the teachers would rather rely on the vice president Hikari rather than the president……"

"I, I won’t deny that such thing happen but-"

As expected, Mariya Hikari had a 'good personality' that she wasn’t denying that.

She wasn’t simply a 'good kid'. And then, Shizuka was pleased with that side of hers. Hikari pleaded at the broadly smirking Shizuka.

"If that’s the case then at least, it will be better to call me an attentive person instead……"

"Ahahaha. There is also that way of calling it I guess."

"Besides, if it’s speaking about empress or queen, then it’s Shizuka-senpai who is more “appropriate” for it."

"……Why!?"

"Because, even now you are like this."

The two girls were walking through the school route.

It also wasn’t rare for them to be overtaken from behind by boys walking with quick pace or riding bicycle.

And then the number of sports-minded boys who greeted or nodded at them casually like "Senpai, mornin’""Yoo" and the like also wasn’t few. Those were directed toward Kusanagi Shizuka.

Hikari smiled pleasantly at the side.

"Shizuka-senpai, even though you only joined tea ceremony club, you are also widely known among the sports club members aren’t you?"

"Aa……that. Sometimes I was asked to help out in cheering party or cheerleader club, so somehow I was able to go along with them……"

"Even at that kind of time, before anyone know it senpai has become the leader."

"Call it being a mediator. I was only collecting everyone’s opinion and making it so the group action moved smoothly."

"Senpai, you never held any meeting or discussion at that kind of time right? You said that kind of thing is too sluggish."

"…………"

Since the past Shizuka was a person who was good in managing groups.

She would give out appropriate instruction when it was necessary. She would lead the group with her vitality and dynamism. It could even be said as Kusanagi Shizuka’s secret special skill. But, because she would then getting told that she was similar with her mother who had 'Occupation – Queen', it was an evaluation that was really hard for Shizuka to accept.

*Cough*

Shizuka cleared her throat to change the subject.

As expected, the “capable junior” Hikari immediately smiled.

"That’s right senpai. Next time Onii-sama came back, how about we all have an outing together? I have been pestering Onii-sama since some time ago about it."

For some reason Hikari would call Kusanagi Godou who was a total stranger for her as 'Onii-sama'.

However, well, because of her character that was 'the younger good girl who is able to act considerately but she is just a bit impudent', certainly that way of calling suited her. There was also no out of place feeling hearing her saying that.

Perhaps this was what they called as little sister attribute.

Shizuka remembered the description from the reading material that was oriented towards maniac that she once looked over from the possession of her friend Lu Yinghua who told her that 'this too is learning'. She recalled it while saying.

"I don’t really mind. But, Hikari?"

"What is it?"

"It’s fine even if you don’t flatter that kind of big brother by calling him with '-sama'. After all, he is also not really staying in contact with Hikari right?"

"I……guess. Yes."

"I’m not planning to tell him to diligently call or send letter. But these days, as long as one can access internet you can even send email easily, you should even be able to phone through it without paying telephone bill, and yet…… Really, my stupid big brother is just lazy."

"It can’t be helped senpai."

Hikari spoke with wry smile.

"Onii-sama started helping out with ruin excavation in Romania or Macedonia──the places in eastern Europe or something, it seems he is unable to even really go back to the lodging so……. I was told that many of his expedition’s destination has no phone or internet."

Hikari tried to defend the big brother lovably.

While thinking that she also wanted this kind of little sister, Shizuka rephrased her saying.

"You must not believe his vague excuse. Right now is the 21^st century. Even people in region that is described like 'The deepest area of savage land, the last unexplored region!' is using smartphone with apple stamp on them you know? Though it will be a different story if he is in a real conflict area or something."

"Pe, perhaps that’s true buuut"

"Good grief. It’s because he is like that, a strange package came from Italy."

Shizuka recalled the matter yesterday.

"In addition there was that local wife or whatever."

"? Did something happen?"

"Nnn. It’s nothing big though. Actually……"

This too was a conversation material. Shizuka told Hikari about the summary of the situation.

Shizuka taught the immoral and suspicious misconduct of the big brother. She thought that as expected even Hikari too would surely declare how regrettable such conduct was, but contrary to her expectations.

Her junior from third year middle school pondered seriously for some reason.

"Senpai, are you bringing the charm that was sent to your home?"

"Yes……more or less."

Surely it was someone’s stupid prank.

Even while thinking that, Shizuka put the aforementioned charm inside her pocket.

A black cross made from iron. Its size was snug to be placed above the palm. When she fiddled with it, for some reason her hand felt spreading──warmth.

It wasn’t at the level of the warmth from hand got transmitted to the metal, the warmth was like a portable pocket heater.

It was to the degree that she felt like she would get low temperature scald from continuing to carry it in its exposed state.

She was surprised by the wonder of the item and brought it with her unintentionally. Also, the warmth emitted from the so called charm felt strangely pleasant, it gave her a sense of secutiy.

Actually──before going to school, she also tossed one of the charms into her mother’s favorite bag.

It wasn’t that she believed the letter. She wasn’t, but she thought that perhaps it had some kind of real beneficial effect, and so she concealed it inside the hand bag.

Shizuka took out the charm in question and said.

"Here. Want to try holding it?"

"Please."

Hikari answered immediately. She pinched the charm and stared at it fixedly.

"It was sent from Italy wasn’t it? Does senpai know the sender’s name?"

"It’s Zora-san something. Lucretia, I think."

"Is that so……. Senpai, come over here a bit."

They would reach the school gate soon.

They were walking right beside the wall that separated them from the school ground. Hikari guided Shizuka to beside that wall and stopped in a spot where they wouldn’t obstruct any passerby──

Hikari strongly grasped the iron cross, then she murmured something.

"Cleanse bad luck, repel calamity, drive away evil. This is namely, the miraculous virtue of a blessed person……"

Shizuka couldn’t really hear Hikari’s murmur. She tilted her head in puzzlement.

"Hikari? Just what are you speaking there?"

"Senpai is especially carrying this charm, so I too tried to pray into it, I wish that divine protection of good fortune will be with Shizuka-senpai, like that."

"Pray!?"

"Yes. It should be really effective."

Hikari spoke with a cheerful smile.

"Even like this, I’m a shrine maiden after all!"

"Aa. At that place where you were doing part time work together with your Onee-san, Mariya-senpai……"

Mariya sisters who were daughters from high class family with ancient and honorable origin.

Shizuka recalled their unexpected part time work history and she nodded.

"Also senpai, I have a suggestion."

She wasn’t merely a junior who was like a cute little sister──.

As though to prove that, Mariya Hikari said this.

"Today……let’s skip school. There is a place I want to show to senpai♪"

"Eeh!?"

–

Part 3

Shanghai──.

Needless to point out, it was a prominent metropolitan city of China.

And then, there were two girls staying in a high-rise condominium near an old France concession. Currently they were in the middle of cohabitation.

Both of them were 19 years old. Their origin was from Milan.

They were Erica Blandelli and Liliana Kranjcar.

It was already two years since they left Japan’s high school and stopped wearing the ready-made uniform. Right now, Erica was wearing the combination of a black sweater on top of white shirt, and then red coat. Liliana was wearing black down vest on top of fleece, and blue denim.

Foreigners weren’t rare at the neighborhood of old France concession.

There were also a lot of roadside trees and nice western-style house there, the traffic volume also wasn’t that much. It was a suitable area for strolling leisurely.

Erica and Liliana were sitting at the terrace of a café in such neighborhood.

The two of them were having leisurely girls talk, not. Erica was talking into the smartphone that she was holding with one hand, while Liliana was in the middle of doing clerical work using a laptop.

'How are your situation over there, Erica-neesan?'

"It’’s extremely excellent. The people you introduced are also useful, although Kusanagi Godou is absent, our 《Round Table Alliance》 is without the slightest opening."

'That’s great.'

Her talk partner was Lu Yinghua. The young master of Hong Kong’s Lu family and the direct disciple of the mystical sect founder.

A few years since his master vanished from “this world”, the order of the martial art world where the devil king Lu Cuilian once reigned at the top was temporarily shaken greatly.

It then developed into Erica and Liliana heading there.

'Well, it would also be fine if I butt in as my master’s direct disciple though.'

Lu Yinghua laughed haughtily at the other side of the phone.

Even now he was staying at Shinjuku’s Kabukichou. He was in the middle of having his fill of living in Tokyo.

'I can visit the branch factions that are going to cause problem in turn, beat up the so called great leaders or leading disciples utterly, and make them docile.'

"I guess. If it’s you then perhaps you are able to do that."

Erica recognized his ability while enjoying coffee’s aroma in the café’s terrace.

"Based from what I’ve seen, it doesn’t appear likely that the experts of China mainland can “use martial arts” even half as well as Lu Yinghua. But, doing what you said just now is no good."

'I get it. It’s that political consideration thing right?'

"Yes. What’s necessary is the placation to persuade the great leaders of each faction. While we are at it we are also bringing them in under the umbrella of the Round Table Alliance with Kusanagi Godou at the summit, to strengthen the great order and our hegemony……"

'As expected from Nee-san. You are really a female fox.'

Lu Yinghua praised in a roundabout way that was typical of him before changing the topic.

'By the way, about that thing, that story, is it true? That in a parallel word somewhere honored uncle──caught news about master’s whereabouts?'

"It seems that it’s true."

Erica chuckled with a smile and taught him the information.

"About a week ago, a letter from Godou arrived from the 《corridor》 that was made in Blandelli residence in Milan. My maid Arianna confirmed it."

'And, what did honored uncle said?'

"He will be back temporarily soon. Also he missed the person who seemed to be sect founder Luo Hao only by slightly. It required investigation……"

'Seriously!?'

"The letter was really short and no detail was written on it."

'Aa. The bottom of my stomach suddenly got heavy……'

"Isn’t it fine? After all you were able to rejoice in your freedom for two years."

'It’s that. After knowing the taste of freedom, the feeling of not wanting to return under the rule of my honored master after so long is acutely growing stronger inside me……'

"Give up. After the good health of the sect founder is confirmed like this, it’s inevitable that someday you will be reunited with her."

'Uuuuuh. Nee-san, You can speak comfortably like that just because it’s other people’s problems.'

"Fufufu. You understand?"

'Obviously, damn it.'

"By the way, Lily and I came to China as your proxy, that’s why, take care of the things in Japan properly okay? Specifically the people of Kusanagi family."

'You mean about babysitting that little sister right? I get it already──oh'

"What’s the matter?"

'It’s a coincidence. There is a message from the little sister of Mariya-neesan through my private handphone. She is bringing honored uncle’s little sister here? What the hell is she thinking!'

"My. It’s quite something."

'What is it?'

"Hikari and Shizuka-san, I don’t know whose achievement this is, but to be able to encroach to some extent into Lu Yinghua’s private phone……It’s something amazing I think."

'Don’t get annoying about every single thing. Then, I’ll end the call here. Contact me again soon.'

Like this the call with the child prodigy of martial arts world ended.

Liliana Kranjcar was listening to the conversation from the start to end with an intelligent look.

Coupled with the silver rimmed glasses that she recently used when working with PC, she truly gave out an atmosphere of a “capable woman”.

"Looks like Lu Yinghua is still the same as ever."

"Yes."

"I’ll finish with my work in just a bit……. Kuh. This computer thing, just why is it this hard to handle!?"

"……Surely people who are looking from outside won’t even imagine this."

Erica commented earnestly at the grumbling of her friend and housemate.

"Lily who is facing the convenience of civilization looking like she is really capable──is actually hopeless when it come to things digital and is at a loss even at the basic operations. Even now she is in the middle of a hard struggle against it, such thing……"

"Shu, shut up-"

Liliana’s slender fingers were dancing above the keyboard speedily with *tap tap* sound.

The device was an ultra thin laptop from an American manufacturer. It was comparatively hard to be witnessed inside a trendy café like this, it was even commonly said that this laptop the most expensive type.

Such laptop was being operated by a fairy-like beautiful girl with unruffled air and prim posture.

It was a picturesque scene, but the actual circumstance wasn’t pretty by any means.

"Say Lily. How about you give up and use paper ledgers and……that’s right, a calculator? If you use that, the degree of difficulty isn’t that different from the cellular phone in the past. You are also not using your smartphone other than for phone calls, email, and photo’s correct?"

"No. If I can overcome this, my work efficiency will increase drastically, should be."

Liliana spoke words that were filled with conviction.

"Besides, didn’t you say it-, that the old people over there can use PC and smartphone better than me!"

"It was a slip of my tongue that time, I’m a bit regretful saying that."

"Anyway Erica. This is within part of my responsibility. I ask you to not meddle needlessly──oh? A new email is coming……"

"From who?"

"It’s Lucrezia Zora. How unusual."

"You’re right. Please lend it to me a bit. I’ll look at it."

"It’s fine. There are also other emails, nearly twenty of them coming. I’ll check them slowly after I finish my current work."

"And, around what time your so called work will be finished I wonder?"

"Soon. Eerr, the operating procedure for this is……I should have recorded it in my memo if I remember right……"

"As I thought, you aren’t suited for digital at the point you are habitually using paper notepad nowadays……"

Erica sighed deeply seeing Liliana searching her bag.

It was at that timing. A man who was still young──around the same age with the girls was approaching them. And then he called out to them casually.

"Yo"

In front of his carefree smile.

Erica stood up, while Liliana brushed her PC aside.

–

Part 4

Two and half a years after Godou succeeded the fate of devil king extermination from the hero Rama.

Since then, he received call from parallel worlds all over. If he accepted the call, it became possible to do Plane Walkingtravel between dimension effortlessly.

"Well, actually it’s something like a curse though."

However, it all depended on how he looked at it.

He rather viewed it as a privilege that was given to the eternal championwarrior of eternity, and each time he was called he would visit that parallel world.

He was “summoned” once a month, so he was really busy.

Thinking that he wouldn’t even have free time to attend high school like this, he arranged the appearance of studying abroad in Europe and left his home at the third block of Nedzu district.

His present address was in Milan, Italy.

However, he had no recollection of staying by more than a week at Blandelli residence where he was lodging.

There was something he understood from this busy livelihood.

Although there were many of parallel worlds that were waiting eagerly for the hero of devil king extermination, it was rare for a world that looked like it would really perish immediately.

Most of the worlds were only getting alerted by 'A devil king suddenly appeared!' and they wanted a bodyguard.

That was why──he wandered from parallel world to parallel world one after another with peace of mind (Of course, there was also the rare case where he fought with the world’s existence at stake).

Naturally, he encountered devil kings in his travel destination.

There were also a lot of times where it wasn’t godslayer but apparition, demon, or evil god and the likes who carried such role of being danger to the world.

But, sometimes he would confront his “fellow race”. There were times when they were called Campione, and there were also times when they were crowned with different titles.

(As expected, the most simple way of calling them was 《godslayer》.)

The Campiones, or godslaying devil kings who he happened across the parallel worlds.

Fundamentally they were all people who were “born” in their own respective world, but──occasionally he would happen to meet his old acquaintances. He had already reunited with Salvatore Doni and John Pluto Smith, and he succeeded in 'returning' them back.

He also had finished getting reunited with Alexander Gascoigne.

However, the Black Prince said 'I also want to try observing here and there' and refused going home, he was aimlessly wandering the parallel worlds as he pleased.

As might be expected from an expert of exploration, he completely mastered the way to travel parallel worlds by his own strength.

With this he and Black Prince Alex, the two of them became Plane WalkersDimension Traveler.

But recently──he found out that it seemed there was one more person like them.

He was still unable to directly face that person. However, he would sometime hear rumor. A heroine who boasted ultrasonic waves singing voice and unparalleled superhuman strength would perform an equal or superior battle against god, spreading chaos and salvation in parallel worlds all over…….

"No matter how I thought of it it’s surely Nee-san."

His step sister, Luo Cuilian. As expected from the heroine, the supreme ruler who was unparalleled in history.

It seemed the great mystical sect founder also became able to travel parallel worlds by her own effort.

"Sooner or later I will surely encounter her somewhere."

Knowing that his step sister whose life and death was unknown seemed to be in good health, he was able to feel relieved at least.

Well, the whereabouts of Madam Aisha who was the greatest grounds for concern was still unknown. He wanted to discover her before she perpetrated something outrageous again though.

Although perhaps, it might be──too late already…….

–

He would also return to his original world sometimes in between this kind of travel.

While he was over here he would relax all the time──was something he couldn’t do. In order to manage the peculiar miscellaneous affairs of someone who was called as devil king and the like, and then, in order to meet his comrades and friends who were all over the place, he would busily fly around everywhere through the world this time.

This time, it was Shanghai that he visited on a very strict schedule.

In the end, he was staying in Erica and Liliana’s room that day. It was a tryst with the two of them after two months. That was why, surely it couldn’t be helped that he was somewhat doing as he pleased.

Yes. For example.

"Really, what a terrible person. To neglect this me all this time……nh"

Like──He forcefully blocked the lips of Erica who was sulking on the bed.

On top of that he started making excuse to the Diavollo Rosso who was being cranky.

"My bad. But after we all went to the other side with everyone, you understood right? If I don’t leave people I can trust at this side, it would become terrible."

"Yes. If Lord Salvatore attempt to become a new Plane Walker, then various maneuver will need to be done."

"Smith too also began to battle against new society of evil sorcerer it seems……"

Like──they restlessly kissed repeatedly even while exchanging words.

Of course it was while he was pinning down Erica’s magnificent limbs while pressing his body closely with the girl who wasn’t wearing anything except perfume.

"Of course, I would refuse such gentle persuasion in advance, unlike her it’s unnecessary for me."

"I guess you would say that."

Like──he also exchanged a passionate kiss with Liliana who cut in between the two.

"But, as your adjutant who take charge during your absence, performing the exhausting work is……truly difficult. I will not be able to continue at all with the due reward."

"How about something like this?"

"Nnh……I don’t want, just on my lips."

Like──he naturally crawled his tongue on the pleading Liliana’s nape of the neck, he tasted her shoulder, upper arm, he tasted her conservative breast, the pink colored bud blooming on the tip.

"Geez-. Entertaining the like of Lily……nnnh"

Like──he did the same thing to Erica, drawing out a sweet sigh from her.

"Aa──nnnnnh"

"I’m……no good already. A, wait, don’t, stop……nh!"

Like, he enjoyed the figures of Liliana and Erica gasping and writhing in agony to his heart’s content.

Like, he fulfilled everything that he should do after that.

Like, a few hours later, the two knights were laying down on the spacious bed without a single string enveloping their body──he was observing their satisfied and joyful expression even with all their exhaustion.

And then, Erica suddenly murmured.

"It’s like this again……in the end it became……having fun with everyone."

"I, it can’t be helped. Our lord……he is busy. He cannot really stay for long, so it became like this, it can be said as inevitable……"

"But Lily. You, at this kind of time you are mysteriously looked happy……"

"……It must be your imagination."

"I wonder……? Could it be Lily, your body and also your heart has been completely accustomed to this kind of perverse and degenerate act……?"

"Sto, stop saying it in a way that invite misunderstanding like that……"

"It’s a mental state that I who am the lady of Blandelli house cannot understand……"

"What are you saying? You yourself, at this kind of time, should I say that you will be more absorbed than usual into it or something……"

"Do, don’t say stupid thing……"

There was no thorn inside the tone of the two arguing girls.

Rather their breathing and words were nothing but sweet and lovely, that it caused him to want to savor their everything thoroughly once more.

However, as expected he couldn’t spend all his time only doing such thing.

"Fuu"

He suddenly lifted up his body on the bed and smiled at Erica and Liliana.

The two responded to him with a satisfied smile. As someone who wasn’t a hero but a devil king, he felt so much satisfaction that he wanted to shiver.

Erica suddenly muttered.

"Perhaps──we should think of a name soon……"

"Name for what?"

"Obviously it’s for the child of you and me."

"…………"

"I think to give our child the name of Caesar if it’s a boy. It’s a name that is relatively common in Italy, but actually in Blandelli house──there is no child who was given that name until now. It’s also the name of Caesar Borgia, an accomplished villain of turbulent times after all, it’s a suitable name four our child. But, what should the name be if a girl is born?"

"Child’s name huh. Should I also think about it……"

"You should certainly do that, Lily."

"However, there is also the option of choosing Japanese name. In that case, rather than us, we should have the gentleman who will be the father to think of the name……"

The pillow talk continued amidst the relaxed atmosphere after the deed.

It was like the everyday of only adventure and chaos was a lie──it was a brief time that was terribly tranquil.

–

Part 5

The message from Mariya Hikari that had 'After this I’ll bring Shizuka-senpai to Lu-san’s place☆' written in it and of course Lu Yinghua replied to it without delay.

'Don’t screw with me. I won’t tolerate my nest getting assaulted by that woman. For now, bring her to the shrine at your place. I will join you there later.'

Until then he was at a multi-tenant building in Shinjuku’s Kabukichou.

It was the dwelling of Yinghua and the Tokyo branch of Hongkong’s Lu family. He was having a phone call with Erica Blandelli at Shanghai inside his room in this building.

He was wearing a black T-shirt and similarly black blouson before he went outside with a sour face.

──The little sister of Mariya Yuri now wasn’t an apprentice anymore, she had formally become a hime-miko too. She was entrusted with Nanao Shrine as the replacement of her big sister who moved to Kyoto.

However, Lu Yinghua didn’t head to the tiger’s gate that was at that shrine.

Instead her went to Sanbanchou in Chiyoda district.

The detached residence of Sayanomiya family. Although it was old, but it was a refined western-style mansion.

It was the headquarters of History Compilation Committee.

But, the master of this mansion was a long time devotee of Kusanagi Godou, she restarted the committee as a lower branch of Round Table Alliance where that devil king reigned at its top.

Lu Yinghua entered this western mansion as though he owned the place and headed to the owner’s office.

"Yo."

"Hey, this is curious. For Li-kun to come here by your own initiative."

"Usually it will be us who intrude on your shop or your building after all."

The beauty, Sayanomiya Kaoru was dressed stylishly with man clothing as usual.

Amakasu Touma’s worn out business suit was also as usual. Different from Lu Yinghua who grew taller by five centimeter in this two years, the two of them didn’t change much.

Lu Yinghua didn’t beat around the bush toward the pair of master and servant who had become familiar faces to him over these several years.

"About the trouble that dragged honored uncle’s little sister into it, you guys have grasped the detail anyway right? Give me the short of it."

"As expected from Lu-san, you are sharp."

Amakasu grinned cheerfully. Yinghua showed a grimace.

"There is no way that Mariya Hikari will skip contacting you guys. That woman is so obstinately diligent after all, she was often a bother to us."

"Wahahaha, is that so."

Beside the laughing Amakasu, Sayanomiya Kaoru spoke.

"At present Shizuka-san is being brought to Nanao shrine with Hikari protecting her. During that time, we the committee tried to contact the witch Lucrezia Zora in Sardinia."

It was a name that he heard for the first time. Yinghua asked.

"Who is that?"

"She is a witch who is a contender for the top spot even in Europe, a person who created the cause of our lordship, Kusanagi Godou to be able to become a Campione. More specifically, it was her who left behind the Secret Grimoire of Prometheus──the lithograph that can steal god’s power in Japan."

"Hee"

"In order to deliver that lithograph to Madame Lucrezia, Godou-san went all the way to visit until Sardinia in Italy and got dragged into a great adventure where he fought the war god Verethragna. And then, our Amakasu here tried to talk with her through phone call."

Kaoru sent a glance to Amakasu. He then opened his mouth once more.

"That lithograph, when miss Lucrezia came to Japan dozens of years ago, she left it at a small wayside shrine……at a village that now was abandoned in Noto Peninsula."

"For what?"

"It seems that it was to calm down the curse of a dangerous revengeful spirit──a wrathful god……. Due to her chivalrous spirit, miss Lucrezia stole the divine power of the wrathful god using the Secret Tome of Prometheus that she was carrying by chance, and turned the god in question powerless. And then, in preparation of the time when the god would be revived──"

She dedicated the Secret Grimoire of Prometheus at the wayside shrine.

However the time flowed, the land where the wrathful god resurrected became an abandoned village, and the lithograph then lost its place to go back to. Thus it was sent to the house of Kusanagi Ichiro who was the “acquaintance of the former owner”…….

"So honored uncle ended up murdering a god through that kind of circumstance."

"Around ten days ago, it seemed Miss Lucrezia obtained a spirit vision. The wrathful god at that time will resurrect, and he will attempt to cause a calamity in the world. But, he will also know that the lithograph that sealed him had been sent outside the village──. That is why he will search for it to destroy it……"

Amakasu shrugged his shoulders at this point.

"The wrathful god in question should chase after the lithograph’s whereabouts and appear at Kusanagi residence. This is the oracle from Miss Lucrezia. She sent charms to protect the people in that house, and she had also sent message to the people in Shanghai and Kyoto."

"But, the two Nee-san in Kyoto are shutting themselves inside mountain right?"

Yinghua said after hearing the detail of event from Amakasu.

"Phone call and internet cannot be used, so isn’t it pointless even if she contacted them?"

"It’s exactly as you said. And then, for some reason there is also no response from the two at Shanghai, so it’s troubling."

"Roger. Anyway, if that’s the case"

Yinghua pondered for a bit and made a suggestion.

"Even if you called it a wrathful god, it’s just a type of revengeful ghost or spirit right? Then, how about we call that Hikari here? Then she along with me and big bro Sayanomiya will stand guard at honored uncle’s house."

"You are planning to lie in ambush, Li-kun? And then subduing the wrathful god with brute force, is that it?"

Yinghua nodded at Kaoru’s question.

"Yeah. It will be enough with me and two hime-miko there."

"Certainly. But, it’s unexpected that you who are in hand-to-hand combat faction will willingly participate in a fight against this kind of “monster that they eye cannot see” as the opponent like this."

Kaori smiled and glanced at Amakasu.

"No, you see, I’m in the middle of consideration of how to persuade Amakasu-san, to show his stuff here as a master ninja!"

"Ninja art won’t be useful in the front line against a dangerous opponent like a wrathful god!"

Of course Amakasu refused with all his might, but his boss pointed out mildly.

"You say that again. You should also be able to repel back possession right? Amakasu-san is also capable in the way of Onmyodouway of Yin Yang too."

"Lu-san has especially spoken his aspiration to participate just now, so I think I should leave it to him!"

"Well, after hearing about master’s reappearance again, I now want to recover back my instinct in real battle. Exterminating a spirit after so long isn’t bad."

The prodigal child of martial art world, Lu Yinghua had also turned seventeen years old.

His height was around 175 centimeter. It would still take a few more years until his body build and physical ability matured completely. But, the growth of his body was remarkable compared to when he was fourteen years old.

And then, although his master was absent, for the growth of his technique to stop was──impossible.

For an expert who had reached the mental state at the level of Lu Yinghua, if they tempered their techniques, accumulated hard training, and exercised their ingenuity, they would be fine with that. Through long days of training they had learned the groundings and foundation where they would be able to reach new heights just by their own effort.

In the extreme story, people who had reached this territory were able to improve even just by sleeping.

They felt the flow of wind from lying down, even just from gazing at the flow of clouds they would obtain some kind of enlightenment by themselves, which would become an impetus to polish their technique even more exquisitely.

However, it was only in regard to 'battle instinct' that it would dull down no matter what.

In these two years, he didn’t receive any absurd task from his master, he devoted himself in the activity of the outlaw group 《Hong Kong Lu Family》 in Tokyo. As the result his chance to head to the frontline decreased.

Lu Yinghua finally resigned himself and resolved to “return to active duty”.

–

Part 6

Deep in the mountain of Kyoto prefecture.

However although it was called at Kyoto, but the mountain was at the prefectural border that also extended to the Shiga prefecture.

The head temple of that Tendai sect, Enryaku temple also possessed shrine precincts. This was the “seclusion area” that Seishuuin Ena chose.

Right now, the hime-miko of the sword was looking down at the mountain in evening time from its peak.

A cedar tree with the age that likely had reached four digits. She made use of her nimbleness to climb until the tree’s peak like a monkey.

"Just as Ena thought, high place feels good as expected……"

Even the coldness of the winter wind felt pleasant. Ena muttered.

……When she was staying for long inside a mountain, a lot of the time she would be alone. Although she was Seishuuin Ena, a child of nature, she had grown to find solitude to be too much for her sometimes.

By the way, Ena’s attire right now was a shrine maiden outfit.

White garment and red hakama, furthermore she was also wearing a chihaya like a coat, matched with tabi and zori as her footwear. (TN: Chihaya = thin, white ceremonial haori worn by miko. Tabi = Japanese socks (with split toe), Zori = Japanese sandals)

However, to make it easier when she was hopping around in the mountain’s wilderness, she tucked up her sleeves with her tasuki cord. Her hakama was combined with leggings so it was easy enough to run with.

Her hand was holding a monk staff. Her appearance looked like a combination of a shrine maiden and an ascetic disciple.

"Oh. That’s must be our place isn’t it?"

The smoke of cooking was rising up from a corner inside the mountain.

She was spending daily life together with Mariya Yuri in a shabby hermitage. The smoke’s direction was from that temporary residence. Surely her partner was exercising her talent right now to cook a modest dinner.

"It’s not like I’m bringing her here for that, but I’m glad that Yuri is together with me at this kind of time……"

She murmured earnestly.

She wasn’t even doing abstaining from the five grains (wheat, rice, beans, millet (awa and kibi)) right now, so she could freely eat even rice or wheat.

Although the ingredients were meager, the Yamato Nadeshiko who boasted her cooking skill would exert her ingenuity to add variation and makeup to the dining table. She was a reassuring ally.

Furthermore──

Both Ena and Yuri had become students in a certain women’s college in Kyoto.

However between their university life, every few months they would seclude themselves in the mountains, because of that they couldn’t be said as diligent student by any means. It was a university with connections to the History Compilation Committee, which they chose because it was an 'educational institution that would suit the convenience of hime-miko'.

The objective of Ena and Yuri wasn’t to study.

It was to coordinate all the hime-miko of the west, that was to say from Shizuoka and westward.

Seishuuin Ena and Mariya Yuri together were at the top of all the hime-miko.

However, both of them were people of the 'east'. The chief of History Compilation Committee and one of the top hime-miko, Sayanomiya Kaoru was also from the east, from Tokyo.

In these two and half a years, Kaoru wielded her shrewdness and drastically changed the organization structure of the committee.

What made such thing possible was the authority of “the only remaining godslayer in the world”.

But, a backlash was created from the reformation that was too drastic. Especially in the 'west territory' that was far physically and mentally from Tokyo.

"Actually it would be better if his majesty personally came to the west though."

There was no way they could ask that from him who was busy.

That was why, Seishuuin Ena and Mariya Yuri came to Kyoto.

They were the top of the hime-miko and the spouses of the godslayer. If these two showed their presence in the 'west'the Japan magic world that was centered in Kyoto, naturally the backlash should be decreasing.

With that judgment, they moved to Kyoto taking the opportunity of advancing to the university.

And then, it didn’t take one year for this scheme to be showing success.

"If it’s like this, then perhaps we soon will be able to go to “the other side” together with his majesty……"

She must not neglect her training for the sake of that time.

Not just Ena, even Yuri was also secluding herself in the mountain was for that sake too. They was intending to polish their mind and body with the spiritual aura of the deep mountain──

"Eh?"

Standing on the peak of the thousand years cedar tree, Ena had the unbroken view of the mountain scenery.

However Ena felt “a certain out-of-place feeling” and she tilted her head.

Their mountain seclusion this time had been continuing for nearly half a month already. Thanks to that she had completely grasped the geography of this area. It felt like something nostalgic was slipping inside it…….

It wasn’t a matter of sight or even instinct.

Her bond with the divine sword, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi was informing Seishuuin Ena of that.

"Your majesty!"

Ena rushed down the thousand year cedar tree with the nimbleness of monkey and she broke into a run inside the mountain.

She ran, and ran. Seeking the aura of the nostalgic divine sword. She was able to encounter the person who was her aim in the middle of the steep mountain path.

"When I thought just what is approaching, so it’s you as I thought."

"I’ve been waiting, all this time!"

Ena leaped with teary eyes and hugged him tightly.

However, because she put too much momentum into it, he was pushed down. Ena was in a straddling posture while Godou had his back on the ground .

But, with this the bodies of the two were glued to each other, their gaze entwined with each other passionately──

"Ena……"

"I wanted to meet you, your majesty……wait, it’s no good, not yet!"

Hearing the voice of her beloved lover, Ena’s lips leaned forward, but she then got suddenly taken aback. (TN: The lover here could also mean lord or husband)

"Even though Yuri is nearby──I almost stole a march on her."

"Is that so?"

"Ye, yep. As expected it’s better to do it at where Yuri is……"

"Even though at this kind of time you tend to want for it to be just the two of us…"

"Eh, is that true?"

"That’s how I see it but, let’s put that aside. I also want to meet Yuri quickly. Where is she?"

–

A simple hut made from wood that was for living in mountain.

It was the temporary residence for Yuri and Ena. There was no water service, gas, or electricity. They would have to draw water from a clear stream, and light the fire using a match. It was a livelihood with a lot of hardships.

However, the aura of this deep mountain gave purification to the heart and body of hime-miko like Yuri and Ena.

The two of them lived together in seclusion here for that. Because it was a part of training, Yuri was also wearing shrine maiden outfit. She was wearing a chihaya on top of her clothes.

The dinner tonight was a hotpot of mountain vegetable and mushroom, and then miso rice gruel.

Yuri murmured after finishing the basic preparation.

"Ena-san, she is still not coming back?"

Her companion Seishuuin Ena.

She would always set out before dawn, and came back together with sunset. But today her “returning home” was late. She was starting to get worried that Ena might had met with some kind of danger when,

"My?"

An envelope was tumbling on the corner of the hut without her noticing.

The methodical Yuri wouldn’t let such thing to lie around over there like that. Her sloppy roommate might do that, but she had also finished cleaning and keeping things tidy and in order after her friend set out.

In other words, it was something sent by the magic of mailing──.

"That envelope……Kaoru-san?"

It was an envelope with rare light reddish-brown color.

It was something that was frequently used by Sayanomiya Kaoru when she sent private messages.

‘What kind of notice could it be?’ When Yuri was about to pick it up, the door of the hut was opened suddenly. Thinking that it was surely Seishuuin Ena returning home, Yuri turned around──

"!?"

Yuri was speechless.

The youth who shouldn’t be here was standing there.

"It has been a long time, Yuri."

"Fufufufu. His majesty jumped on an airplane going to Kansai Airport from Shanghai, and then came here just for the two of us."

Seishuuin Ena was also smiling cheerfully right behind him,

However, Yuri’s mind was completely blank, she was lost of what to say. In the end she blurted out something that was slightly off topic.

"E, err, it’s just the right timing. I have just finished the dinner’s preparation──. E, Ena-san too, please wait a little bit okay? I’ll immediately start……"

"Rather than that, I’ll prefer this."

"Eh……-"

"Yuri."

When she noticed, she was being embraced tightly by him. And then when she noticed even further, her shrine maiden outfit had been wholly taken off and thrown away, and she was together with him on the mattress.

Ena was also together with the same appearance, their posture became one where they shared the youth they loved from left and right.

"Finally we can do this with his majesty……I’m happy──"

"This Ena, she insisted that it’s no good if Yuri isn’t together."

"Geez, Ena-san……"

They both received the loving caress of his lips in intoxication. They writhed and gasped ardently. The white limbs of the two held him between them, enveloping him with their skin’s softness and warmth──.

But, that wasn’t all.

"Ah. Don’t play mischief, Yuri──!"

Even with that entreaty, Yuri paid it no mind and crawled her lips on Ena’s back.

Caressed by Yuri, the hime-miko of the sword leaked out "Nn……-" such moan. She was adorable when she was trying to endure desperately like this. Yuri smiled.

"Please stay still okay, Ena-san."

"Ge, geez-. Nn──nnnh"

Perhaps it was because the two of them had known each other for long, as childhood friends, and as best friends.

When sharing bed with her lover the youth, together with Seishuuin Ena, the feeling of reluctance to join skin together with her would naturally disappear. Her childhood friend who was usually proactive would writhe weakly in pleasure, at that time she would also join him to caress her dearly.

"If you are like this then──your majesty, help out."

"Yosh"

"Ah. Ena-san too, that’s……nnnnnh!"

Ena somehow lifted up her body, then she smoothly circled on Yuri’s right side, and kissed her earlobe and nape of the neck. And then he circled to the left side, and did the same thing──

Unnoticed the sun had set completely, and the night was approaching.

The cold air of the deep mountain was gradually entering the hut that was covered all over with gaps.

Just the burning fire in the sunken hearth wasn’t enough to raise the temperature at all. However, the three were getting overly fired up with the tryst after so long.

The time was passing without them feeling the cold in the slightest──.

–

Part 7

The night came.

It was a time period when the things of the ominous realm becomes active.

"There is no one in honored uncle’s house tonight right?"

"Yes. I had Shizuka-senpai call so that the mother of Kusanagi family will spend the night somewhere else."

"Yosh. So I can do this without reserve then."

Lu Yinghua nodded hearing the reassurance from Mariya Hikari.

The third person was standing by right at their side.

"Hahahaha. It’s the first time for me to go wild with this lineup so──it feels really fresh."

"Kaoru-san doesn’t really go out to the “actual scene” after all."

"That’s how people in responsibility are. Just, seeing how the opponent this time is something like evil spirits, ghost, or a wrathful god, there is no one else more suitable than us."

Sayanomiya Kaoru winked in respond to Hikari’s saying.

Third block of Nedzu district at night past 10 o’clock──. The location was at the back alley there.

There was possibility of attracting public attention, so the three were wearing their casual clothes. However, it was only Hikari who was wearing uniform of Jounan academy. And then as a 'beauty in male clothing', Kaoru was wearing a male jacket and also a male black coat on top of it.

Tonight, Kaoru came as a hime-miko. She grinned cheerfully.

"This too is some kind of fate. I’ve got to intrude, risking my life for a bit."

"Amakasu-san, he looked really happy didn’t he."

"That Nii-san, it’s because he was always worked hard by Sayanomiya-niisan after all."

"By the way Lu-san, you are interacting normally with Kaoru-san aren’t you? Even though Kaoru-san is also a woman."

"Because, this guy is already like a man right?"

"As more or less an unworthy maiden who can make even flowers blush before my beauty, I’m lost whether to be angry or sad toward that statement. Even I happen to possess one or two earnest woman’s hearts that are really──"

"Annoying-. Don’t say something that you don’t even mean!"

Yinghua sharply retorted at the jesting Kaoru. Hikari was laughing seeing that.

They weren’t really nervous──was only on the outside. The three were immature/childish, but all of them possess of experience that far surpasses the standard.

If they were tense all the time while lying in ambush, they would only get tired first.

In order to wield their strength when the time came, they should relax instead for now.

Besides, above all else the three weren’t letting their guard down. Their talking voices too were small in the end, the two hime-miko were sharpening their spiritual sense, searching for the presence of evil.

Lu Yinghua possessed a hearing that was sharper than anyone due to his deep knowledge in Nei Gong.

If there was even the slightest suspicious sound, he would immediately sense it. And then tonight, the prodigal child of martial world was taking out his family’s treasured weapon after so long.

"Lu-kun. You’ve prepared that thing right?"

"Yeah. Look at this."

*Chara-*. He took out a folded weapon from his pocket, held it with both hands from end to end, and quickly unfolded it. It was a 'metal whip' so to speak.

Its length was around 110 centimeter. Thin metal sticks were connected to each other with ring.

At the end, there was a 'blade' that was like a spear tip mounted on it.

It would move flexibly like whip if it was swung and struck the enemy, cutting them apart. On top of that, if it was folded the weapon would fit snugly inside the hand.

It was a weapon of Chinese martial art called nine-section whips.

Kaoru was impressed.

"So it’s this. The weapon you used against Erica-san at the devil king civil war in the past."

"The Raihouben has the miracle of driving evil away inserted into it. It will cleave demon, beat down evil, and negate any curse or magic neatly."

The metal sticks that configured the nine-joint whip were all jet black like obsidian.

Right under the sharp tip, the eight characters of '百邪斬断・万精駆逐Hundred Evils Bisecting – All Spirit Extermination' were engraved finely and precisely as though they were written with a writing brush.

This was Raihouben, the treasured article of the Hong Kong’s Lu family.

Previously it was used to erase Erica Blandelli’s magic, but its use originally was for exterminating apparitions instead.

"Now that you mentioned that it reminded me, did you manage to contact Erica-neesan?"

"No, unfortunately. We are also unable to contact Yuri and Ena in Kyoto. Perhaps something happened on their side?"

"But, in any case this is a matter that ought to be dealt by us who are staying in Tokyo. Even without asking confirmation to all the Onee-chan for every single thing──"

Hikari was about to say something cheerfully before her face turned serious.

"Kaoru-san."

"Yeah. It’s coming it seems."

"I’m also sensing it. It feels like something chilly is running through my spine……it reminded me of the past when I was tossed by master into a cave that was choke full with ghosts, god damnit."

It felt like there was a really ominous presence mixing into the air of the night.

Ordinary people wouldn’t be able to see it or even sense it, a monster was creeping soundlessly toward the home of Kusanagi family.

However──the three people assembled here weren’t anxious.

Mariya Hikari who excelled in spiritual power and purifying calamity, Kaoru who mastered the highest level of spiritual power and magic as one of the top hime-miko, Lu Yinghua who had even learned the ritual implements of attacking apparitions.

The aforementioned resentful spirit possessed no might in the level that could defeat this lineup.

The three had already sensed it from the extent of the approaching ominous aura.

And then thirty minutes later, it was proven as fact, but──

–

Part 8

"Eerr, can I ask something?"

"Of course I don’t mind, Kusanagi Shizuka-san. However, from the view point of personal information protection, please be merciful from asking my address and phone number."

The person who introduced himself as Amakasu spoke grinningly in respond to Shizuka’s question.

He was a young man around the early of his thirty, wearing a worn out business suit. His appearance looked like he wouldn’t even harm a bug, but for some reason he didn’t look like a honest office worker relatively to that.

(It might be that. He is a person with atmosphere that resembled a detective in casual clothes……)

Shizuka thought such thing.

They were at Toranomon of Minato district. The shrine where her junior Hikari would sometimes worked part-time at. However, there was not a single shrine staff in the main building, on the shrine ground, or in the office.

On the grounds covered with gravels──

There were only Kusanagi Shizuka and the young man called Amakasu there.

"Around what time I will be able to go home?"

"After the ghost extermination is over."

"Just where are Hikari and the people of this shrine going……?"

"To avoid the worst scenario from happening, we asked them to take shelter."

"What do you mean by worst scenario?"

"That’s if the wrathful god in question followed the aura of its target and appear at your location."

"I am being targeted by that person!?"

"I think it will be more accurate to say that the wrathful god is targeting the lithograph that sealed it in the past. Our staffs are lying in wait at Kusanagi residence that once temporarily became its storage site. They are in the middle of dealing with it exactly right now. It’s also possible that it will follow the presence of the house’s residence and chase after the trace of you or your mother."

"Haa"

The young man Amakasu who was fluently speaking of his peculiar logic looked somewhat happy.

Perhaps he had a personality that would feel happy when teaching a person something. A few hours ago when Shizuka was made to wait in this shrine, he appeared in front of her and said this.

'Nice to meet you. I’m a specialist in ghost extermination. I will protect you for a while.'

Furthermore,

'This shrine left everything to our agency, I came from the Shinto shrine agency.'

It was a really arrogant declaration.

Shizuka once more asked the young man who was mysteriously in a good mood since the first time they met.

"Just how high is the possibility that I will meet a real danger?"

"I am accompanying you just in case but──I believe it is only ten percent at most. The team that is working in your residence consisted of the most prominent people in their field at Japan. However, if there is one factor that is worrying, it’s about how a person at the level of Lucrezia Zora had to use “that lithograph”……"

"?"

"No, you see, the lithograph in question is an article with outrageous pedigree. It’s not something to be used unless the opponent is really tough or tenacious. Perhaps, in the most unlikely event, the possibility of the wrathful god slipping through the encirclement of those three by a hair’s breadth isn’t zero, something like that──"

When Amakasu was speaking torrentially of an incomprehensible explanation.

*Shiver*. Shizuka suddenly felt a chill.

It felt like her body was freezing until her core. It was unthinkable for Tokyo in December. It was as though she had come to a winter mountain with piling up snow.

And then, Amakasu was looking dumbfounded. He was staring at a spot inside the ground.

Shizuka was also shocked. Over there──mist of indeterminate shape was squirming. Something that was like a lump of cloudy air was hovering murkily!

"Wha, what, is that?"

"The possibility that is less than ten percent completely happened……. The wrathful god-dono estimated that the lithograph would be brought out, and he desperately chased after the presence of the inhabitants of Kusanagi residence──"

"The, then, it’s something like a ghost as expected!?"

"It’s an existence of a bit higher class. Please back away."

The young man Amakasu quickly threw a paper talisman.

Some kanji and pattern were drawn complicatedly on it. Amakasu then formed a handseal with his right hand and chanted this.

"Kyuukyuu NyoritsuryouUrgent and emergency tathata vinaya order──. O talisman, go swiftly in haste to where I commanded."

The paper talisman instantly blazed *boh* with blue flame. And then amazingly it stuck on the mist of indeterminate form, stopping the wriggling of the ghost something. Shizuka yelled.

"I saw that once in Onmyouji movie once!"

"That’s, it helps that I don’t need to explain. Just, I don’t have supernatural power as great as Abe no Seimei, so I don’t know how much effective it is──guhah!?"

"Eeh!?"

The burning blue talisman sticking on the mist of indeterminate form.

It suddenly flew at Amakasu and clung on the back of its owner. The blue flame changed color to black. Young man Amakasu fell down with a flop, then he was starting to twitch all over.

"Amakasu-san!?"

He didn’t respond. It seemed he fainted. Shizuka was astonished.

And then when she noticed, the murky thing──the lump of cloudy air had surrounded her. She was assaulted by shuddering chill, and that wasn’t all.

(……I can’t breathe──?)

It felt like the air was thinning down and her consciousness was getting distant.

She became unable to stand, and both her knees followed her. The texture of the gravels was painful. Furthermore a severe feeling of terror welled up inside her heart.

(I will, die like this……?)

It was a terror she felt for the first time in her eighteen years of life.

Vague malice and hate were keenly conveyed from the mist of indeterminate shape. It considered everything in this world as hateful and scattered its curse around. Shizuka abruptly comprehended that it was that kind of existence.

This thing didn’t think of particularly anything about Shizuka as an individual.

That was why, it would kill her as easily as plucking a flower──. She didn’t want that. Driven by terror, Shizuka yelled.

"Help me, Onii-chan! Kusanagi Godou!"

Come to think of it──

Two years ago, just before the departure to Milan, the destination of the study abroad. Her big brother, Kusanagi Godou said this to her.

'In the future, if there is time when you feel that your life is in danger, try to call my name when you think you have nothing more to lose. Perhaps, I’ll come running to save you at that time.'

When she heard that, 'Don’t say something stupid!' she angrily yelled.

But, right now she instinctively yelled just like her big brother hinted.

How foolish. However, there should be no chance anymore for her big brother to know that his little sister really did something like this. In that case, perhaps it was okay…….

Her consciousness was getting further, in that moment.

*Whoosh* Shizuka felt a strong wind blowing.

"……Are you all right, Shizuka?"

She suddenly heard her big brother’s voice. There was no doubt about it. It was Kusanagi Godou’s voice.

"Onii-chan!?"

"Yo. You look energetic──you aren’t huh."

She was carried in her big brother’s left arm when she noticed.

And then, the big brother swung his right arm in a big move as though to stir up the air. There was no way such gesture would do anything──the mist of indeterminate form vanished completely…….

"What happened?"

Her consciousness rapidly cleared up. Shizuka murmured.

The wind she felt just now was still blowing. Perhaps it was bringing fresh air to her surrounding, because the wind showering her felt strangely pleasant.

She wondered if this wind also blew away even the revengeful ghost (wrathful god?)──.

Shizuka was thinking of unrealistic thing while she stared fixedly at her big brother’s face.

"……Did you get taller?"

"Just a bit. It’s only two or three centimeter at most."

"Even though I didn’t grow at all."

"Looks like it. Your appearance almost doesn’t change from when you were in middle school."

"That’s where you should say that I have become adult-like! Even if it’s just a transparent flattery!"

"Hahahah. Is that so."

Kusanagi Godou laughed brightly and let go of Shizuka’s body.

And then──he helped Amakasu who was still lying down to stand up. It seemed that he didn’t faint, the young man in business suit smiled weakly.

"It’s really unexpected to be reunited like this."

"Long time no see. Is your body okay?"

"Yes, somehow. Hahaha, to be able to see the miraculous effect of Kusanagi no Tsurugi after so long, it’s really something."

Young man Amakasu laughed wryly after getting helped to stand up by her big brother.

It seemed that these two were fellow acquaintances. Besides Kusanagi no──what? When Shizuka tilted her head, Amakasu smiled pleasantly.

"It’s other name is Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi. There is a divine sword that accidentally has the same name with Kusanagi-san’s family isn’t it. Well, it’s something trivial. And then"

"It seems that Hikari-san contacted you, am I right?"

"Aa, something like that. It’s nice timing, so I also want to meet that girl. Also Kaoru-san and that Yinghua too."

The two men exchanged glances, looking like they were secretly exchanging words through the implication.

However, the big brother approached toward the suspicious Shizuka──.

"But for today, I’ll go home after so long. I’m also worried about this girl too."

"I, it’s not like I have done anything that will make Onii-chan worry about me──!"

"None at all? But as expected I’m concerned, so obediently depend on your elder brother. Let’s go home for today. How about everyone else?"

"Both Ojii-chan and Okaa-san aren’t at home today though……"

"What, so it’s just the two of us. Then, let’s go eat dinner somewhere. In the end I flew here without eating dinner, so I’m hungry."

Shizuka began to walk beside her big brother, Kusanagi Godou who was muttering a complaint.

It wasn’t just his height that grew up a bit. His face looked from the side was also a bit mature. Perhaps he went various hardships over there.

Shizuka lightly sighed ‘fuu’.

She would forget the baffling matters for a while.

She shelved up various things inside the shelf of her heart by her own convenience──. The special skill that the elder brother of Kusanagi family boasted was actually a skill that the little sister had properly mastered too.

"How long you are planning to stay in Japan, Onii-chan? Or rather, give notice beforehand if you are coming back. I also have my own schedule that I got to clear up."

"Are you planning to stick close to me while I’m at Japan huh?"

"Is that bad? It should be fine. After all I’ve been waiting all this time until now for Onii-chan to come home──. I think it’s only normal that Onii-chan accompanied me once in a while."

"Eh? You, were waiting for me?"

"Yep."

Perhaps because it was right after various kind of trouble. Shizuka nodded with extreme honesty.

The elder brother, Kusanagi Godou unusually showed a meek──apologetic expression to such Shizuka.

"I see……. Then, I’ve got to compensate you for a bit."

"Not just me, even Hikari and Lu-kun was waiting for Onii-chan’s return after all. Take care of that too properly okay?"

"Roger."

"Well, there is a mountain of things that I want to say but, I’ll shelve them for now. We are going eating somewhere. After that let’s go home quickly."

"Ou"

Big brother and little sister──the two went home together for the first time after a few years.

Shizuka smiled cheerfully at the one whose return she had been waiting continuously all this time.

"Welcome home, Onii-chan."

–

–

–

Thus, the tale of Kusanagi Godou closed its curtain.

Regarding his new adventure, and then the oath of reunion that the war god of the east spoke about, perhaps the day would come someday where they would be told, but──

The writing brush would be put down here for now.

Afterword

At the endgame of a tale, the great detective would gather the people involved, said "Now then everyone" and began solving the riddle. It is the beautiful style of good old mystery story.

But, in the case of book series, the answer of the puzzle in general has been talked throughout the story.

This is thanks to all of you readers who had kindly chased after this story until this far.

Let me express my thanks once more.

In this last volume, even the material related to Pandora-san that has been alluded to bit by bit throughout the volumes was released. "To be able to expose everything until this far", I got a distant look while writing.

When I tried looking back, I dare say that the first volume of the series was the first full-length novel that I wrote. If there was actually something, "I felt like I wrote something, a book before it, but when I searched, far from even text file, I couldn’t even find the idea memo!" like that. Don’t even mention about it is nowhere to be seen, even my memory about it is hazy. To count it as something I wrote, well, let’s just stop (wry smile).

I’m an irresponsible writer like this.

Naturally, with my personality that cannot be said as strongly persevering by all means, it’s truly amazing that I was able to continue a full-length series until 21 volumes.

On top of that it was turned into anime, I was blessed with fortune that I couldn’t even imagine.

……I started writing work in a doubtful small game company that will become Yuuentai Company, after that, with Shinjou Kazuma-san’s invitation I went to similar company that will become Elseware. My acquaintances from that period will then do similar work with me here and there at this industry.

Everyone, and me too, are really obstinate (wry smile).

When I noticed even Mareni-san whose existence was like my senior in former Liar Soft also became a novelist, and right after I was told that, my coworker at that time, Mr. Itou Hiro too also published a book at the same month and from the same label with me.

For some reason the timing of the publication overlapped with him. Why? (lol)

Now then. As the result of stacking up battle through twenty volumes, for the first time in this series I was able to depict a theme of 'Main character who had grown and become strong!'.

With this last battle, 'Campione!' has become completed more or less.

Although I say more or less, our main character’s life and adventure are still continuing, certainly there is ground to arrange a supplemental story, there is also support from the editing side that gave me positive comment, and I myself also think that perhaps I should consider this seriously.

Speaking of it, was it the advice from my first editor who now has transferred to weekly Shounen Jump?

"The most beautiful way to end this series is like this I think."

When I was told that, certainly I was thinking "I see".

Furthermore at the last volume a new flag was raised, and the implementation of 'Additional story – The war god once more (temp)' feels possible somehow.

Although it won’t be soon, but it surely can be said as a subject that I ought to give serious consideration to.

……And, to change the topic suddenly.

With next month as the earliest, I have a light novel that is planned to be published.

The novelist named Takedzuki Jou you see, plant to try to boldly publish a new work by working with the illustrator BUNBUN-san.

The themes are 'journey' and 'myth'.

In order to change the plot of myth, it will be a story of boy and girl traveling the world of gods.

The boy will feel relatively useless, a frivolous person who fundamentally will rely on others to solve trouble, but he said this. If necessary I’ll kill even god.

The girl companion will struggle hard with such him in the world of myth, that’s the content.

……I will tell in advance just in case, this is a work unrelated with Campione.

Just as spoken by the masked devil king-sama in volume 21.

"Perhaps that world will be an earth where mankind wasn’t born, perhaps it’s a world where dinosaur didn’t extinct and became the ruler of the world. Perhaps it will be a new world where Jesus Christ wasn’t crucified and he realized the ideal country as messiah!"

Naturally, world unrelated with Campione exist all over the place.

The new title of my new work will be 'Campiones of Sanctuary'.

The title will remind you to something, but Kusanagi Godou won’t appear there, the other Campiones too also won’t. But, well, if that’s alright with you.

The aforementioned supplement story might be a work with that tendency.

For the curious reader, please follow the new work by all means.

……To everyone who has accompany Takedzuki Jou for more than twenty volumes, you might have seen through what I was planning to do when you read the latter half of this volume, but please look over it with warm gaze at that time (wry smile).

Actually in this chance of the series completion, I also have feeling of wanting to try opening a tedious idle talk.

Like the talk about the material of war god Verethragna, or why the title is Campione, or the complete version of Campiones’ profile.

However, the page amount is a bit──no, it’s completely (wry smile) insufficient.

At my work 'Chronicle Legion' that was finished a little while ago, I inserted things like that as glossary of the last volume, but it was really a handful. It was necessary to ask the designer-san to tamper with it, then in order to forcefully secure the space for it, a lot of sentences that I should write tediumly were whittled.

Then, I got an idea that perhaps it would be fine if that kind of story is done in internet but──

"It’s a bit awkward to approach blog or Instagram or Facebook isn’t it!"

You see, I never made use of SNS and the like until now was because my private life isn’t fate to be reflected in Instagram, and it would only become "It feels like it will only become notification for new book!" in the end.

If it’s Twitter, well, it’s possible I think, but it’s not suited for publishing long sentence (wry smile).

Although, thinking back, sometimes there were also voices from readers saying they want to see things like Campione’s setting, or idle talk that is related with extensive knowledge. Perhaps it will be fine to experimentally try making use of place to respond with such niche request.

I tried preparing reading material in the shape that jointly use Twitter and note or something at the same time, so those who are interested please try to search for the account of Takedzuki Jou.

For the last, to everyone who has accompany this series until this far.

Really thank you very much for everything until now.

Side Story

Shopping street of the third block in Nedzu district, Tokyo.

The seventh Campione, Kusanagi Godou and his family were living there.

Erica Blandelli also moved here. Soon one year would pass since then.

For the girl who was born and raised in Milan, a metropolis of Italy, the traditional Japanese shopping street that was slightly unsuitable for her. However, well, this was what they called as ‘home is where you make it’. Currently, Erica was enjoying living here without any inconvenience.

And then, at evening in a certain holiday.

Erica was gallantly walking through the shopping street while gathering a lot of attention.

She was a beautiful girl with reddish blond hair and outstanding style, of top of that she was clad in charisma that she didn’t even try to hide.

Because of that, it was usual thing for her to gather the attention of the passer by.

There were many gazes of longing and good will and searching for chance. Erica let those gazes passed her by as though they were just molecules in the air while enjoying her evening walk in her own pace.

"My?"

Erica opened her eyes wide. A café that seemed like it had been opened since Showa period (1926-1989 CE). She noticed an acquaintance sitting near the window in there.

Of course, she wouldn’t be Erica Blandelli if she only walked away here.

*Clang cla~ng*. When she opened the door, the bell sound to notify a customer entering was ringing. It drew a line between this shop and the shop nowadays that would have insipid buzzer sound in the bell’s place.

Erica headed toward the spot of her acquaintance along with that refined sound.

"How do you do, Shizuka-san. What a coincidence to meet you in this kind of place."

"Erica-san!"

The one who was there was Kusanagi Shizuka.

The little sister of Erica’s partner, the seventh Campione, Kusanagi Godou.

'Relationship like sisters' didn’t exist between her and Erica Blandelli at all. Rather little miss Shizuka was harboring slight enmity to “Godou’s partners” beginning with Erica. However, Erica couldn’t become a lover and right hand of the devil king Campione if she faltered against such thing.

Erica smiled to her future little sister with perfect grace.

"If you are waiting for someone here, then of course I won’t be a nuisance and withdraw. But, if that’s not the case──I think it will be an enjoyable time to have talk with Shizuka-san just the two of us occasionally. Will you mind if I sit with you here by making use of this incidental encounter?"

"Eerr"

Kusanagi Shizuka pondered slightly.

She wasn’t a timid girl by any means. It was the opposite. Even her big brother who were extremely unprecedented in his action despite behaving like a man with common sense was in admiration "This girl will be terrifying in the future" by the degree of hearty mind residing inside the small body of the girl of Kusanagi family.

As expected, Kusanagi Shizuka spoke without delay.

"I don’t mind. It looks like it will be a bit interesting."

"Fufufufu, thank you. I believe you will say that if it’s Shizuka-san."

With a flowing motion, Erica sat down face to face with Shizuka.

Right after ordering coffee to the waiter who approached, Shizuka suddenly spoke.

"Actually, I have appointment to meet with someone."

"And yet you accepted my suggestion. Shizuka-san, it looks like you are scheming something."

"Rather than scheming, it’s more like I’m curious. If that person who is like that vagabond Tora-san meet Erica-san, just what kind of face he will make."

"Tora……if my memory doesn’t fail me, he is a main character in Japan’s traditional performance art, right?"

"Uuumm. 48 books of it even became film, so certainly it might be a traditional performance art."

Shizuka fell into her thought after hearing Erica’s statement, it was at that timing.

"Shizuka. My beloved daughter."

Suddenly a voice called out from the side.

"Who is the woman over here……?"

The voice’s owner was a male of unidentified age. He wasn’t young. However, he also didn’t look like that he was advanced in age. He was a fairly handsome man, the amount of hair on his head was also moderate. He was slender. His look was awfully aloof.

If his age was estimated, then perhaps it would be between the latter half of his thirty until the early half of his fifty──.

Erica had conversed many times with a lot of men and women of all ages for sixteen years old.

And such her was unable to predict this person’s actual age. However, it felt like this person had a vestige that resembled a certain character, or not…….

"Could it be, you are"

Erica asked smoothly.

"Shizuka-san and──Kusanagi Godou’s father?"

"It’s just as you say, but……you are──"

"Erica Blandelli. The person who will become your son’s wife in near future."

Erica spoke frankly to the puzzled middle-aged man.

His attire was rough, and he didn’t seem like business suit would match him. And then his looks was common of someone with unknown occupation and didn’t belong to any proper organization which was scandalous for his age.

However despite so, his features was vaguely familiar with Kusanagi Godou──.

Erica’s words came from the analogical reasoning through that. And then, the reaction of the person in question was something that was too unexpected.

"……Son of a bitch!"

He suddenly cursed in this café corner!

As expected, even Erica who was used to eccentric and oddball stared wide eyed. The customers and staffs inside the café were also staring. It was only Shizuka alone who was staring with a tired look while her hand was supporting her cheek.

But, the father of Kusanagi family spoke without even feeling bothered of the surrounding’s reactions.

"God damn it, son of a bitch! How many years has it been since I’ve felt this vexed!? Shit-, even though he is just my son, there is a limit even in being cheeky!"

"Otou-sama. If you don’t mind, can I ask you to please tell me the reason why you are saying such thing?"

"Uu-, Otou-sama! The words sound really good in my ear but, it’s really vexing that I cannot honestly feel happy about it!"

"Don’t mind him, Erica-san."

Little miss Shizuka commented while staring at her biological father coldly.

"This person is only vexed that Onii-chan has a girlfriend this beautiful after all."

"Vexed?"

"For some reason he is trying to compete with Onii-chan unbecomingly, even though he is a father."

"Because Shizuka. When it come to that stupid son, he is always being a nuisance between the relation of me and Shizuka!"

"We are blood-related siblings brother and sister after all, so it’s not a nuisance or anything isn’t it? Ah, that’s right. About going to hot spring in Hokkaido somewhere after this that Otou-san mentioned? Bring Onii-chan together too okay?"

"Why!?"

The father of Kusanagi family yelled as though he was going to vomit blood.

"Even though Shizuka and I can finally have fun time together without any outsider present!"

"Even with Onii-chan coming, it doesn’t change that there won’t be any outsider there. When it come to Onii-chan recently, when I took my eyes off him juuuuust for a bit, he will ensnare a beauty like Erica-san using that opening, he will ensnare even more beauties, then he will ensnare even more other different type of beauty, he will be doing as he please without me there, so I’ve got to restrain him with an occasional family trip."

"Shit-! That damn guy, why is he spending a happy springtime like that!"

Seeing the father of Kusanagi family getting indignation unbecomingly, Erica felt it.

She wondered why. This impression of “I’ll walk my own path” without paying the slightest mind at the surrounding’s gaze, it reminded him of a certain person. Come to think of it, that person’s appearance somehow seemed similar with this person too.

(Godou’s Otou-sama, he)

Erica thought.

(He is also like Godou and……Lord Salvatore added and subtracted to each other.)

Could it be, the reason why Kusanagi Godou felt depressed with the Italia’s king of sword was……

A familial hatred toward a person who vaguely resembled his father, such line of thought might be possible. Perhaps Kusanagi Godou didn’t notice it himself.

Erica was thinking of such thing aimlessly.

"Forgive my rudeness. I’m Nanzenji Ryuuzou."(TN: I read somewhere before that his name is Genzou, but from his name’s kanji, I don’t know if it really can be read as Genzou)

The father of Kusanagi family taught Erica his overly unique name. (TN: The meaning of his name’s kanji is, south great monk dragon treasury.)

He also put a business card on the café’s table. Erica confirmed the hard to spell kanji characters of the name on the business card, then she recalled.

In Kusanagi family, it wasn’t just the son, the kanji characters of father’s name also consisted from a lot of stroke count──. (TN: Here is the kanji, of the father’s name, 南禅師龍蔵)

Previously, Godou’s childhood friend, Tokunaga Asuka spoke that information to her.

"Godou and Shizuka’s surname followed their mother, but I’m genuinely the father of that stupid son and this cute Shizuka. In other words, I’m undoubtedly the man who will become your father-in-law in the future."

"Of course I understand, Otou-sama."

"Uumm. How nice, it really nice."

"Why are you getting that indecent look, Otou-san……"

"If I pretend not to know that uncute son might marry this kind of beauty, then I can also look forward to the future where this kind of girl will become my daughter."

"By the way, Otou-sama."

"What is it, Erica-san who might become my daughter?"

"These business cards, which is the one that I should receive?"

"Please take them all. I’m using all four in my work."

"Otou-san, your new business cards are increasing again huh……"

"About that, it’s because I started a new trade. Next time come to my shop okay?"

Representative director. Food producer. Shop manager. Room designer.

There were four business cards with different title in each of them. Furthermore, the company name, design, and even the phone number were all different from each other. When all four were lined up together, it painted a suspicious picture.

Come to think of it──according to Kusanagi Godou.

'My father is a speculator, my mother is a queen' He said. (TN: Speculator here could also be interpreted as adventurer, imposter, prospector)

The parents of the Kusanagi siblings were really interesting. It was Erica Blandelli’s style to prize conspicuous individuality rather than common sense or properness. Erica secretly nodded.

"By the way Shizuka……. It’s about that matter though."

"Ah, the matter of Okaa-san?"

"!?"

As expected, even Erica was taken aback when the mother was mentioned.

It was already nearly one year since she lived near Kusanagi Godou. However, perhaps because of the guidance of many coincidences, until now Erica had never met the mother face to face even once.

Well, that was just how often the mother of Kusanagi family went out in succession and wasn’t at home.

"Is it really no good unless I meet Mayo-san? Honestly, I’m thinking that perhaps it will be fine even if I skip this appointment if it’s okay to not meet her."

The father pleaded with a terribly serious face.

"These days we can also make contact with email or communication applications, you know."

"That’s no good. Sometimes both my parents need to meet face to face, to at least talk about my future course."

"Something like that, it’s obvious what both I and Mayo-san will say. 'Unless it’s being a murdered, you can do anything you like' Like that."

"There! It’s not just murder that is prohibited in this world, narrow down the range some more there!"

"Haha, being “someone” is something that you won’t even know what they will become five years later. It’s not something that us parents should meddle in. Ah, how about I talk again about the part-time work that I did while traveling in Asia while still being a student? Look, it’s a travel story that will make you cry when you hear it. I almost died several times at that time, but the time when I got a handgun pointed on my head, I almost peed myself then."

"That talk is about getting involved with smuggling or something, that was mostly Otou-san getting what you deserve!"

"That’s not all. Various things happened and I even helped out in the farmwork of poppy fields for more than two months. I also searched for legendary phoenix until the source of Mekong river. Haha, it was a great adventure that did Te●uka-sensei’s 'Phoenix' did in real life you know? At the end I got dragged into the civil war there where I was isolated smack dab in the middle of guerilla warfare……"

As expected from the father of Kusanagi Godou, it seemed that he had a lot of anecdote to share.

Furthermore, if murder was the only thing the parents prohibited, then Kusanagi Godou who was a 'godslayer' was still safe, perhaps. Though if it was this father, it didn’t feel like he would really consider it as problem……. (TN: There is a play in words here. The kanji for murder used here has two kanji of human and killing, while the kanji for godslayer used the kanji of god and killing. So killing god literally cannot be considered murder due to the kanji choice here)

Erica was deeply impressed.

While he was an ordinary person, the father of the Kusanagi family didn’t give off the smell of ordinary household at all. The saying of 'The apple didn’t fall far from the tree' really applied here.

And then, when Erica readied herself with the possibility that she might be able to finally meet the rumored mother of Kusanagi family.

*Clang cla-ng*.

The door of the café opened and someone entered inside.

The father of Kusanagi family was taken aback and his body stiffened, while Shizuka looked at the door’s direction with a face that said 'Finally came huh'. Right after that, Erica shrugged her shoulders.

She elegantly addressed the approaching person.

"It has been one day since we last met, Godou."

"Yo Erica. It’s a really strange combination with you being here too."

The son who was the person in the talk topic, Kusanagi Godou spoke casually.

"Let me guess Godou, are you acting as proxy for your mother who became unable to come here?"

"Right in one. Seeing you like that, it looks like it’s fine even if I don’t explain the circumstances of our family huh."

"I won’t mind even if you do, you know?"

"No. Your sharpness in that kind of place is helpful instead, so let’s just continue the talk like this."

Kusanagi Godou smiled wryly in front of Erica Blandelli’s wisdom.

"Just as you imagined, our mother felt it troublesome to meet the old man, so she went out to drink. She said that if you want to talk with her directly no matter what, then come to the Akabane’s shop."

"What’s this Mayo-san. Did she go to my shop to drink?"

"It’s like that but, what are you going to do old man? It’s okay even if you invite me, Shizuka, and also Erica to have dinner somewhere though."

"Hmmm. My stinky son who only have tallness going for him is a needless extra though."

The father of Kusanagi family confronted his son really naturally while muttering.

"If Shizuka and my future daughter come along then, well, it’s fine I guess. There is a restaurant of halal cooking in Minamikasai that I wanted to try since some time ago. Let’s try going there with everyone."

The father of Kusanagi Godou who was exuding the air of not ordinary person the more he talked.

Perhaps because he understood that the rumored 'mother' wouldn’t come, he made suggestion with a composed stance.