Campione! Vol 12 Epilogue
Epilogue
G.o.dou was aware this was occurring within a dream.
After spending a lively Christmas Eve with his friends, he was supposed to
be sleeping soundly on his bed. But instead, Kusanagi G.o.dous
consciousness was currently wandering on a wide plain who knows where.
Looking up at the sky, he saw a waxing crescent moon.
Other than that, this was a desolate land without anything of note.
Neither creatures nor buildings were present. If anything, the scene
amounted to a sea of tall silver gra.s.s growing haphazardly where one
could vaguely sense a mysterious atmosphere of incoming autumn.
G.o.dous attention was drawn to the sounds of a stringed instrument
reverberating across the desolate plain.
The tone color did not resemble that of the j.a.panese zither known as the
kin. Undoubtedly, this wondrous melody was filled with exotic foreign
flavor. Regardless where the tune was first composed, it must have
originated somewhere far to the west of j.a.pan.
Otherwise aimless in the dream, G.o.dou could not help but begin to wander
across the wilderness in search of the musical performer.
Less than half a month had pa.s.sed since he last listened to Luo Cuilians
yueqin performance in a corner of Mount Lu. Perhaps because of that,
G.o.dou was certain that the person playing the melody was definitely not
his sworn elder sister.
Perhaps the performer was someone whose heart was burdened with
inextinguishable sadness and regret?
Such an image surfaced from a corner of his mind. The delicate and
persisting tune was infused with emotional pulsation, thereby causing
G.o.dou to feel uncharacteristically sentimental.
At this time, a voice reciting a poem could be heard extremely close by.
In yonder days, there was an evil dragon in the sea. The king immediately
drew his bow and shot an arrow, wounding the dragon right in the chest —
The instant this voice entered his ears, G.o.dou could not help but tremble.
The feeling was as though he was hearing a song in praise of an enemy
for whom he was destined for an inevitable encounter. A song that filled
him with a sense of hostile, oppositional and compet.i.tive spirit.
In any case, G.o.dou quickened his pace and approached the owner of the
voice.
Pushing the tall silver gra.s.s apart, G.o.dou was finally able to see the singer
playing the instrument.
"Its you!"
G.o.dou was struck with surprise, for the person on the opposite end of his
sights was someone he had seen before.
Sitting upright and dignified amidst the vast wilderness of the plain, gently
caressing a trapezoid zither on her lap was a princess dressed in a
magnificent Juunihitoe kimono with long, gorgeous, flaxen-colored hair and
eyes as clear as crystal gla.s.s.
The Princess of Gla.s.s whom G.o.dou had encountered multiple times in the
Netherworld.
Noticing G.o.dous arrival, the princess stopped plucking the instrument in
her hand and a faint smile appeared on the corner of her lips.
"I have been waiting for quite some time, Rakshasa Monarch. As for the
impertinent act of appearing in Your Highness dream without prior
consent, I do humbly beg forgiveness."
"Thats completely not an issue. But why are you in my dream!?"
Faced with G.o.dous confusion, the Princess of Gla.s.s gradually brightened
her smile.
"In actual fact, I received a request from your adoptive mother, the
G.o.ddess who urged me to deliver this message to you no matter what and
bestowed upon me in the Netherworld the technique of dream encounters."
"Adoptive mother — in that case, it must be Pandora?"
The one who proudly declared herself his adoptive mother with excessive
frivolity. As might be expected within a dream, G.o.dou swiftly recalled
memories from the Netherworld.
The Princess of Gla.s.s politely confirmed G.o.dous question with an answer
of "Indeed."
"Come to think of it, I cannot see her easily unless I use that [Ram]
something or other. But anyway, why did she ask you to deliver her
message? Are you very close with Pandora or is there some other
reason?"
"My former self and that G.o.ddess ancestor... If you trace back to their very
roots, one could consider them as sharing the same homeland. That is the
nature of our relationship."
The princess brushed the issue aside with a vague answer. G.o.dou did not
pursue the matter any further.
After all, it was probably a long story. Instead, G.o.dou chose to cut straight
to the chase.
"So, what is the message?"
"Yes, King Perseus, whom you recall, was recently slain in preparation for
when the Kings Arrowhead shall enter the battlefield. Please be extra
careful."
"Perseus slain!?"
"Indeed. The Arrowhead is the divine childs blade which stands equal to
the Divine Sword of Salvation. A blade that shall one day tear you apart
and bring forth destruction to the land. For the sake of the soon impending
day of battle, please bear this firmly in mind."
The princess bowed her head deeply. G.o.dou expressed understanding.
Indeed, this should be a warning of the "King of the End," the strongest
[Steel].
"Very well, I will try my best to remember this, to suddenly beware of a guy
whom Ive never even seen before. But then again, wont I forget
everything in the end once I wake from the dream, just as always?"
G.o.dous question for confirmation caused the princess to suddenly smile
and answer cheerfully.
"Please rest a.s.sured. Even if you were to forget the words, your ferocious
soul shall never forget any precautions related to battle — Moreover, this
applies even more to Kusanagi-samas words compared to mine."
"So this is really a warning?"
"No, you are simply being informed of a premonition. However, perhaps
something unexpected may happen?"
At some point in time, the Princess of Gla.s.s had started gazing gently at
G.o.dou.
Her word choice also shifted subtly, showing slightly more affection.
"The inevitable encounter with the arriving Arrowhead will undoubtedly
prove to be a threat. However, ill fate is not everything it entails. Although it
is not a certain G.o.ddess box, when all disasters are over, hope will surely
appear."
"Hope huh."
Watching G.o.dous face as he muttered to himself, the princess nodded.
"Fufu, among all G.o.d-slayers in history, your att.i.tude towards power is
especially free and unfettered. Perhaps because of that, you might obtain
power instead. I — once known in the past as... The G.o.ddess Daughter,
pray for your victorious fortune in battle, Kusanagi-sama!"
The Princess of Gla.s.s smiled as she spoke these words.
Unfortunately, G.o.dou did not catch her words clearly because his
consciousness was rapidly getting hazy.
As he gradually woke up from the dream, surely early Christmas morning
was arriving. After waking up, memories of this unexpected gift would
surely vanish.
Be that as it may, G.o.dou thanked from the bottom of his heart this modest
gift delivered by these female acquaintances.
Afterword
This series has finally reached the publication of its twelfth volume.
The story that began in spring has finally reached winter, while the
interpersonal relations between characters are approaching completion.
Furthermore, in accordance to the current volumes theme of the "winter
festival," it would be great if everyone could enjoy the story... And ignore
the fact that the actual season differs rather substantially from the
publishing date (wry laugh).
Also, that particular exalted person makes a long-awaited reappearance.
Within the story, she mentioned she had defeated a certain G.o.d in the
past. At the time, she acquired an authority conferring strategic and Feng
Shui properties, thereby "ma.s.sively raising the agricultural productivity and
economic power of the town where she resides." So long as she remains
present at a location, the shocking truth is that the city will develop without
hindrance!
Were she a feudal lord or general in an SLG simulation game, this would
definitely be considered cheating. "Possessing greatness beyond all
emperors" is something only a person like her could boast.
Oh, by the way, this ability does not activate without a minimum threshold
population. Hence, it is completely useless at her current residence (deep
in an uninhabited mountain)...
Well then, the TV anime gradually approaches with the pa.s.sage of time.
Production is going smoothly! ...I am praying for the best while I work on
promotional activities (laughs). Broadcasting is set to begin July on various
channels including Tokyo MX, Sun TV, TV Aichi, BS1 1 and AT-X.
The PV has already been released to the public at the promotional event
as well as the anime website.
Whether or not it is due to author bias, I think that everyone will definitely
look forward to the anime once you watch the PV, so please show your
support and check it out everyone.
The next volume is scheduled for release during the summer. However,
the storyline is still set in midwinter.
That said, since it is the summer season after all, missing out on oceans,
swimming pools and similar settings and the various naturally
accompanying outfits would be too much of a shame.
Hence, Ive come up with a story idea that allows summer and winter fun to
be enjoyed simultaneously. If possible, please look forward to the arrival of
the vacation story in the next volume.