Campione! Vol 4 Epilogue
Epilogue
The night in Naples had not quite ended yet, and after the [Boar], the one
who played the leading role in crushing Perseus had disappeared, the
unconscious Kusanagi G.o.dou had been sent to the hospital.
When G.o.dou awoke, he had a great shock finding himself lying in the
hospital bed.
His bandaged abdomen that had been pierced by the sword, inexplicably
did not hurt a single bit, most likely because the wound had already been
healed. After asking, he then found out that it was a little present left
behind by Athena.
Hence, G.o.dou asked Liliana to arrange for his discharge. However -
"The stab wound was very deep! Even if Athena had healed you, you
should be obediently resting! Please have a good sleep!"
Liliana got very angry, and forced G.o.dou to continue lying down.
His injuries were minor, but he was trapped in the hospital. G.o.dou who
was lying on the bed grew restless, looking around all the corners of the
ward. Because it was a single room, he was alone with Liliana.
- Come to think of it, what happened with Perseus?
G.o.dou suddenly thought of that problem.
Since his authorities were not transferred over, then he must have
definitely survived the [Boar]s attack. As expected of a G.o.d, his will to live
was tremendous.
As he did not appear, this meant that he was probably recuperating
somewhere.
G.o.dou set aside his care for that matter, and looked at Liliana who was
sitting next to him.
She was carefully using a small knife to peel a pear, if it were Erica, she
would definitely get her maid Arianna to do it.
"Could it be that you can even do normal housework?"
"That is only natural. Though I know who youre comparing me with, but
please dont compare me with that vixen. Putting aside the fact that were
knights, as a woman, knowing iiow to do tliese tilings is normai. Im aiso
ratlier skiiied at cooking, and better than the average person at housework,
too."
Liiiana replied, to G.o.dous rude question.
With a pained smile, G.o.dou nodded. Because he saw that she had a maid,
he had lumped her together with Erica.
"I, if its fine with you, one of these days, Ill personally cook for you, how
about it?"
"Wow. Ill be looking forward to that. When that time comes, Ill be in your
care."
"In that case, then allow me to conveniently cl, clean your room, and wash
your clothes as well. Since its just conveniently, please leave it all to me."
"Eh? No need for that, actually its fine if you dont go to those lengths..."
"No, this is also the duty of a knight! Because you are a [King], you do not
need to mind such trivial things!"
"I, isnt that wrong!?"
Just when their conversation was developing in a strange direction...
With a clang, the door opened, and two girls entered the room.
Erica Blandelli and Mariya Yuri, his companions that he had parted with for
a day and whom he had come from j.a.pan with.
"Ah, whats this, you purposely came all the way here for me? It would
have been fine even if you had waited for me back on Sardinia."
Without thinking, G.o.dou greeted them immediately.
Instantly, his insides froze over. First, Yuris clear and dignified eyes had
raised up, and glared straight at him, while Erica had revealed a gentle
smile.
"G.o.dou-san, youve let others worry for you this much, and yet you dont
show any signs of repentance. Not having any news of you, worrying over
your safety, do you know how much worry and anxiety youve caused us? -
Please do a little soul-searching."
Yuri had suddenly started preaching.
G.o.dou, being pierced by her eyes of the Yasha, felt a sense of terror.
"To make matters worse, it had really turned out like this, exactly as what
Erica had foreseen..."
"I, Im really sorry, Mariya. I tried to get in contact, but I couldnt get
through. B, by the way, what do you mean by like this?"
Apologizing in a panic, G.o.dou tried to change the topic.
Yuris eyes then became like a blizzard in the frozen mountains, looking
towards G.o.dou who was lying on the bed and Liliana, what exactly was
she worried about?
Then, it was Erica, who had been smiling that gentle, beautiful smile ever
since she walked in.
A graceful, yet terrifying smile, like a devil.
- Danger, this was a super huge danger, his instincts as a Campione told
him.
"Yuri, dont be too hard on him. He is a King after all, you have to forgive
his slightly mischievous actions. In the end, he got through healthily, and
even defeated the [Heretic G.o.d]."
Spoken like an understanding, sensible lady.
But he could not let himself be deceived, this was a f.a.gade, made to
conceal the true attack.
"About G.o.dous brave, heroic deeds, weve heard everything from that
witch named Diana. Its really impressive how you managed to discover
the G.o.ds true ident.i.ty without us, even using the incarnation of the
[Warrior] to that extent."
Tense with nervousness, G.o.dou listened to Ericas piercing compliments.
When? When did she begin her a.s.sault? This ward should only be on the
second level, if necessary, he only simply needed to break the window and
jump down, he would not die anyway.
"I have to thank Lily too, seems youve taken good care of G.o.dou..."
An elegant smile, towards her silver-haired childhood friend.
The moment had finally arrived - a flash of steel. A shortsword had
appeared in Ericas right hand, and she stabbed towards G.o.dou in an
all-too-natural action.
"W, whoaaaaaa!"
He had already sensed that Erica would do something, but he did not quite
expect it to be this serious.
G.o.dou shouted, hastily escaping from the bed.
The trajectory of the shortsword was evidently straight towards his chest -
was his heart the target!?
"Have you gone mad. Erica! Isnt that too disrespectful, towards our lord!"
Liliana shouted out loud, blocking Ericas shortsword with her small knife.
Gakin!
Gan, gan, gan, gan,^^^ went the sharp clashing sound of metal, both sides
using ingenious sword techniques, exchanging intense blows with the
small knife and shortsword.
And then. Erica finally lowered her shortsword.
"As I thought, youre sticking up for G.o.dou, Lily. You dont have any
intention of hiding anything?"
"Erica, I do not have anything to hide. If you understand, then refrain from
such violence in the future. No matter how many times you go mad, I will
defend him."
The two female knights looked at each other with sharp gazes, exchanging
words.
"E, Erica, your jokes gone a little too far, spare me..."
Though he had shrunk back in fear by that piercing gaze, G.o.dou still said
it.
"If I dont scare you a little, it wont be considered as a punishment, dont
you agree? In any case, Lily is covering up for you, something like this will
definitely not do."
"Pu, punishment!?"
Erica looked at the shocked G.o.dou with a pure smile.
As cute as a little girl, a smile like the sunflowers blooming during the
summer, somehow he had seen it somewhere before.
"Ive told you this before, Im very generous, yet I am also a girl who will not
control herself. If I have even the slightest bit of loathing for you, I will
punish you. Theres no problem, even if I had really stabbed you, you wont
die anyway, and on the contrary, itll even be beneficial to you."
"Dont be absurd! Why do I have to be treated this way!?"
"Ara, if I dont spell it out for you, you wont understand? ... You used the
[Sword], right?"
- !? The shocked G.o.dou sucked in his breath.
He had thought that if he didnt speak the truth, they would not find out.
G.o.dou had been counting on that, but it was simply too naive of him, he
had underestimated her ability to gather information.
(The truth was that, Erica and the others, upon reaching Naples, were told
by the witches duo who had welcomed them that: Ara Erica-san, Im sorry
to have made you come all the way here on purpose - dont worry, just
leave supporting Kusanagi-sama to us, theres no problem!, The words of
power to sever Perseus will be used to his hearts content. This is proof
that, even if Erica-sama is not by his side, Kusanagi-sama will definitely not
feel inconvenienced! becoming their source of information. Of course,
there was no way that G.o.dou knew this.)
"The one who gave you the knowledge for the words of power was Lily,
right?"
"Thats correct. Because Im the most suited person for doing that."
Erica used a humorless expression to look at the silver-haired Liliana who
was very at ease.
Meeting with an enemy that had a ma.s.sive growth in strength, which set
off the warning bells - that kind of expression.
"The me who excels at the sword, who is proficient in magic, and also
possessing spirit vision, my meeting with my lord, perhaps it might be
destiny. If its me, I will be able to a.s.sist my lord in any aspect."
"My lord, did you say?"
"Yes. With this incident as a catalyst, Ive decided to become Kusanagi
G.o.dous personal knight, and Ive even sworn an oath. Erica, even though
you are my senior, but I do not intend on particularly respecting you for it.
Because, if you compare the both of us, I think that in every single way Im
the more capable and talented person."
Liliana proclaimed thus, and...
Erica started to smile with a fufu, and G.o.dou began to break out in cold
sweat.
Behind that cute smile was hidden a terrifying presence, G.o.dou could feel
it, he would have preferred her usual devil-like smile over this one.
"Really, such a hopeless person... Didnt I tell you that besides your legal
wife, you could only have one lover? Furthermore, you didnt even get my
permission before laying your hands on someone else. As I thought, I
should give you a good stabbing, its better if I teach you a lesson."
"Dont use such a cute expression while telling such jokes, its seriously
scary!"
"Seriously, when I tell a joke, Ill at least be cla.s.sier about it. Right now, Im
simply stating the things that are floating through my mind."
"Calm down and listen to me! Liliana doesnt want to become my lover, she
wants to become my knight!"
"G.o.dou, those two phrases have the same meaning, you ought to learn
some rhetoric and debating skills. These shallow excuses of yours for your
infidelity, arent interesting at all."
"What infidelity are you talking about! Mariya, dont just keep quiet, say
something!"
It was impossible to win an argument with Erica.
It was a little late when he noticed, but G.o.dou had turned his words to
another girl. No matter how angry she was, the righteous and composed
Yuri would help him...!
"Thats true. Just as Erica-san has said, maybe if we let you get stabbed
once, G.o.dou-san might regret and repent for the sins he has committed.
For the sake of doing battle with the [Heretic G.o.d], that kind of reason,
stealing a maidens lips is simply too vicious, that kind of action is just like
that of a s.e.xual offender, a path of evil."
No help was granted.
Like a princess that sentenced a criminal to death, Yuris tone was icy-cold.
He never expected the miko-san to use Buddhist-like speech to reprimand
him, but even so G.o.dou decided to resist to the bitter end.
"B, but just think about it... Mariya and I... the time when we did that, isnt it
the same as the situation that happened this time? Isnt it fine if you didnt
describe it like that?"
"No. That time was a completely different situation."
"Eh? Thats not it?"
"Definitely different. Anyway, your actions this time and our actions then
are as different as the sky and the earth. The raving lies you are giving as
excuses, are only to downplay the severity of your crimes."
Even Yuri had said that, G.o.dous mind became a mess.
He had escaped from the jaws of death during his battle with Perseus, why
did he have to fall into a crisis even worse than that now? Why!?
"Seriously you all... really, such a severe lack of respect for our lord and
King, but dont worry, Kusanagi G.o.dou, Im the only knight that will be
eternally loyal to you, becoming your blade and shield, to stand by you no
matter in life or death."
Only Liliana had made that kind of oath for him.
However, the more the extent to which she became his supporter, the
greater and stronger the feeling oppression and pressure he sensed from
Erica and Yuri.
- G.o.dou had recognized the level of danger of the status quo, and realized
the fact that he had become a player in this terribly delicate power game,
and that he was lacking both time and experience.
Right now, he could only sit in front of the three girls, nervous and helpless.
The hot night in Naples would not be ending anytime soon.
References
1. t Weapons clashing sfx.
Afterword
[After I finish writing this afterword, Ill go back to my hometown to get
married.]
If I put up such a flag, maybe Ill be forgiven even if I dont write the
afterword.
There are times when I think that.
Its been a while, if youre a first-time reader, then this would be our first
meeting. Im Takedzuki Jou. The main point Im trying to make is, writing
an afterword, its slightly troublesome-, teehee, just that, but it had no
effect on the Super Dash Editorial Department, so I have to obediently
write this.
Well then, Ive succeeded in completing four volumes of this work.
In this volume, a famous figure on the level of Athena from the first volume
had arrived.
To the ladies that were mesmerized by the handsome hunks Sikorsky-san
had drawn, please spread this message, draw even more beautiful
characters to him.
No, actually Im very ignorant, Ive never heard of any of the readers being
female, but this is just in case, Ill pretend that there are.
That being said, if this turns out to be more popular than I thought, maybe
Ill release a [Campione! Sengoku Basara Version] or something like that, I
await the fiery letters that I will receive.
By the way, Im still considering [Campione! Tonegawa Origins Version]
and also [The Hakone Hotsprings filled with Bishoujos, porori also included
Version], I hope to see the readers responses for that!
Also, Volumes three and four have their stages set overseas, its about
time to return to j.a.pan.
The prologue is almost done, and the next volume will get right into the
thick of action. Though the plan is for it to be a [School Version], but plans
are not set in stone, itll be fine as long as I inform everyone before
autumn.
If its fine witli you, please continue to look forward to the next volume. We
shall meet again.