Campione! Vol 11 Chapter 6
Chapter 6 - An Alliance Once More
Part 1
Kusanagi G.o.dou fled from Salvatore Doni using divine speed.
The seventh incarnation, the [Raptor]. Using this incarnation not only
increased his speed, but also lightened his body and vastly increased
agility and jumping ability. Even though it could not fly like a bird, it was still
able to perform leaps that rivaled or even surpa.s.sed cats and monkeys.
G.o.dou ran up a buildings wall and moved between rooftops.
Sometimes he stepped on car roofs and trains on the road instead of
buildings and ordinary houses, racing across Milans main roads like a
flash of light.
In any case, he had to run as far as he could. If possible, leaving the city of
Milan would be best.
Although his pierced abdomen was feeling intense pain, G.o.dou did not
even consider going to a hospital. Shaking off Donis pursuit was of utmost
priority. Hence, G.o.dou simply ran with reckless abandon.
...Thanks to the lightness of his body, the burden of running was greatly
decreased.
There was no sense of exhaustion. No matter how hard he dashed, his
breathing did not interrupt, nor was there any effect on his stamina.
Hence, he was able to ignore the pain on his flank in this manner. Just as
he left the boundaries of Milan city, he ran into trouble as he entered an
area with many trees and green fields.
Suddenly, his heart was struck with intense pain.
"T-This is?"
G.o.dou was filled with doubt but he did not halt his footsteps. Nevertheless,
the sense of pain was intensifying.
It felt like his heart was being stabbed by a murder weapon like an icepick.
Rather than repeatedly stabbing, it felt like someone was digging
relentlessly. Gradually, his legs and then his whole body became
increasingly difficult to move.
"By the way, didnt this chest pain happen that time in Sicily as well? Could
it be the side effect of using this kind of speed!?"
On further thought, this level of speed was truly ridiculous.
In fact, it was only reasonable to expect repercussions sooner or later
given prolonged use of such speed. It was now imperative to find a place
to rest. Finding a park before him, G.o.dou entered with unsteady footsteps.
The park was filled with flourishing trees, like a little forest.
Halting his steps in a thicket, G.o.dou took a break -- he finally reached his
limit.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
The pain in his heart reached a maximum. G.o.dou became completely
immobilized.
He could not even lift a single finger, as if tied down and restrained
completely. G.o.dou collapsed, leaning his back against a tree trunk.
There was nothing he could do except wait for time to pa.s.s while he
endured the excruciating pain in his heart.
Furthermore, the pain and bleeding continued from the flank of his
abdomen. Only at this time did he realize another terrifying aspect of
Donis. To be frank, he was expecting the abdominal wound to heal simply
through a Campiones natural recovery. But such wishful thinking was too
naive. The wound on his flank was not healing at all.
This must be part of the "magic sword"s formidable power. Unlike ordinary
swords, it was a completely magical slicing attack-
Blood flowed nonstop while G.o.dou continued to be tormented by the pain
in both his heart and his abdomen.
G.o.dous exhaustion became extremely severe and his consciousness
gradually became fuzzy. Soon after, his heart pain vanished and the
restraints were released. But still, his body could not move. Due to the
ma.s.sive blood loss, he was completely drained in strength.
A figure was gradually drawing near. On the verge of death, G.o.dou
summoned his remaining strength to call out:
"Yo."
With no more strength, all he could manage was a simple greeting. To his
great surprise, the one who approached was Erica.
"Serves you right, G.o.dou. This is your punishment for destroying Milans
scenery."
"This I am powerless to deny."
Faced with Ericas angry accusation, G.o.dou helplessly acknowledged his
wrongdoing.
"H-How did you find me?"
"Didnt Bianchi mention before? Magic can be used to search for and track
down the presence of Campiones, you included. To think something like
that existed. Just for fun, I took a strand of G.o.dous hair when we were at
the Zamparini mansion."
It was a spell which allowed one to track down the approximate location of
the target given any portion of the body.
Erica explained thus. She was meticulously prepared as always.
"Clearly we were trying to resolve this incident in a peaceful manner... But
you came along. Are you sure you didnt usurp the authority of a G.o.d of
pestilence and destruction?"
"I warned you explicitly not to come to Europe, right? But you ran all the
way to Milan to cause trouble. In the end, you even got injured by Sir
Salvatores sword."
"I had no choice, I needed to talk to you."
Due to the blood loss making his head dizzy, G.o.dou could not speak
fluently.
"You also want to complain about the a.s.sa.s.sin incident?"
"Thats included, but its not the only thing. I was also concerned whether it
caused great trouble for you. I thought that guy Doni was going to give you
a hard time."
"Of course I feel troubled. In fact, your coming here makes me even more
troubled."
"Im very sorry, but I didnt want this."
"What?"
"When a conflict arises clearly because of me, and yet I stay out of it
despite being involved. Neither do I want our relationship to end like this."
"What? We are separated by the vast distance separating j.a.pan and Italy,
you know? Besides, even if our relationship did end, it shouldnt affect
G.o.dous life that much, right?"
"Wrong. I said it before, all it takes for us to meet is half a days journey.
Also, if I clearly know youre in trouble, I cant accept feigning ignorance to
continue living a carefree life in j.a.pan."
A busybody who wont mind my own business, or a stronger sense of
heroism and chivalry than average? Overwhelming curiosity or
recklessness? Or perhaps, I am just a natural born trouble maker?
Even G.o.dou had no idea himself. Perhaps he was all of those.
"Then lets change the subject. Are you going to take me to the idiot?"
Erica did not answer immediately, for she had turned her face away.
Without looking straight at G.o.dous face, she spoke:
"Actually I had been thinking ever since I bid you farewell on the phone.
Precisely because Kusanagi G.o.dou is a great fool who came expressly to
Italy despite the situation, I should not care about him this time. It has
nothing to do with a knights merciful heart of compa.s.sion."
"Well, cant blame you..."
"But for some reason, I cant do it. To think there existed a man who
completely disregarded his own safety and rushed straight into the country
of the most dangerous enemy, and even ran into a crisis. Not to mention,
with absolutely no hope of victory or survival. I cant abandon such a man
to his fate."
Erica slowly turned to G.o.dou and said:
"I have already bid my uncle and the a.s.sociation farewell before I came
here. I am no longer a knight. I am nothing but an ordinary girl -- 1 would
never say this even if it meant tearing my mouth open, but I am just a girl
who knows how to use magic and a sword. So thats the situation, you
dont mind, right?"
"No longer a knight, whats going on?"
"Nothing much. Because I am joining you -- the faction of the youngest
Campione, that is what I must do. So G.o.dou, you have to take
responsibility properly."
"Responsibility!?"
"D-Dont get any strange ideas. All I meant was that you must take
responsibility by dueling Sir Salvatore and resolving the matter properly!"
Is that so? No, it must be so. How could I make that kind of
misunderstanding...
G.o.dou felt embarra.s.sed by his stupidity as he frantically promised:
"l-l know that of course. Even the matter of Doni is fine. I will see this
through to the end. Im gonna teach that willful idiot a lesson."
"Oh my, youve said something reliable for once. But your pacifist banner is
weeping."
Was she finally back in form? Erica jested lightly as if her mood had
improved.
Although G.o.dou was happy to notice that, he still forced himself to pretend
to be displeased.
"What can I say. Because my opponent is an unbelievably great idiot. If the
enemy was simply an idiot, there might be room for negotiations. But for a
great idiot, nothing of that sort existed from the very beginning. So I might
as well steel my determination and go all out in a fight."
Hearing G.o.dous a.s.sertion, Erica shrugged her shoulders as if amazed.
"Just so you know, a real pacifist doesnt make that kind of exception ...
But lets overlook that or else itd be kind of foolish. So G.o.dou, let us form
an alliance once more. Is that fine?"
"Thats actually what I was going to request."
G.o.dou forced his exhausted body and extended his right hand weakly
towards Erica.
"Can you help me for a while? I did come up with a plan when I came to
Italy alone, but to be honest, Im at my limits."
"Youre hopeless. Even though its a sinking ship, I suppose getting on
board in the first place counts as some kind of destiny. I will try to use my
own methods to keep the ride going."
Erica also extended that gorgeous right hand of hers and held G.o.dous
hand in turn.
They had already embraced, had intimate skin to skin contact, and even
kissed, but holding hands was their first time. G.o.dou smiled wryly at this
unusual sequence of progression and said:
"By the way, you probably know this already... I cant hold on much longer.
Im entrusting things after that to you. You handle it so well every time..."
"Yes. I dont know if you can call yourself fortunate or not, but theres no
mirror here."
Watching G.o.dou with an amazed expression, Erica sighed.
"If you had a mirror, you could look at that dying face of yours. Completely
pallid beyond belief, with these incredibly deep black circles beneath your
eyes... You look exactly like youre about to bleed to death."
I see, as expected. G.o.dou felt his consciousness slipping.
Like the last two times, he mentally called on the image of the golden
sheep and used the [Ram] incarnation. Entirely defenseless while he slept,
all he could do was believe in his "partner"...
"Enough! Youre always giving me trouble, you know!"
Erica grumbled as she looked down at the sleeping G.o.dou. Nevertheless,
she realized she was smiling for some reason.
Most likely, it was due to her realizing his vulnerable state stood as
evidence of his trust in Erica Blandelli.
"Well, whatever. In any case, it is imperative to secure a safe sanctuary."
Murmuring to herself, she thought of an idea. Their current location was a
little commune outside of Milan called Monza.
Taking the train from Milan would take roughly twenty minutes. As the
location of the closest F1 racing circuit within the greater metropolitan area,
it was extremely well known to motorsport fans. Come to think of it, this
area was--
Settling on a solution, Erica took out her cellphone.
Part 2
Impatiently, she could not wait for a night on the weekend to arrive any
faster.
"Without any prior engagements for tonight, I should be able to focus
completely on my project."
Liliana Kranjcar murmured quietly to herself.
Her current location was her own room at the Kranjcar residence in Milan.
"Tonight my thoughts seem imbued with particular clarity... I should be able
to produce great work on such an occasion."
Liliana sat before an old-fashioned desk, her fountain pen scratching
noisily as she wrote.
Letting her inner imagination soar unrestrained, she wrote essays, weaving
them into masterpieces. Sometimes she wrote novels while on other
occasions she wrote prose poetry. This was her secret hobby.
"Oooh -- Did I mess up? It came out a little different from what I imagined."
This was a romance novel in progress. The steady love between an
unsophisticated heroine with a heart of gold and the perfect gentleman, a
heartwarming story ~ That was clearly the setting.
But gradually as she continued to write, the young mans nature began to
shift subtly.
The young man who was supposed to be extremely gentle in the
beginning, shockingly showed an unexpected savage side.
I picked this specifically for you... Now that you have nothing else to wear,
why dont you give up your futile resistance and put it on?
T-This shameless attire, l-l cant!
To think that she wrote this kind of scene without realizing it.
The plot frequently placed the heroine in threatening situations at the
mercy of the s.a.d.i.s.tic young man. Nevertheless, she secretly felt
excitement in her heart, realizing she derived pleasure from being
dominated in such a manner-
Unwittingly projecting her own feelings onto the heroine, Liliana halted her
pen, lost in thought.
"Oh well, masterpieces tend to take on a life of their own... This is not bad
actually."
She continued to write. Could it be possible? Did she also harbor the same
desire to be toyed with by the opposite s.e.x? Secretly, her heart raced...
At this very moment, her cellphone at the edge of the desk started ringing.
Glancing at the call display, Liliana sighed and picked up the call.
"I am very busy right now. If you have something to say, please make it
brief, Erica."
Greetings to you, Lily. Given our relationship, such cold words surely
wound me in the heart.
This was the voice of her rival dating back to childhood, Erica Blandelli.
"Do not act so familiar. We are simply acquaintances of the same age and
belonging to different a.s.sociations in Milan -- more appropriately, we
should be called rivals and enemies."
Showing such obstinacy towards your childhood friend is really your
shortcoming, Lily. I feel like the bonds cultivated between the two of us
amount to much more than that.
"We are not childhood friends, it is simply ill fate! Stop fabricating
friendship between us on your own accord!"
Having expressed her objections, Liliana asked acutely:
"By the way, you have been quite busy lately, is that not so? I heard that in
order to seal a [Heretic G.o.d], you were sent over to Sardinia."
Erica Blandelli, went south on an expedition--
This news had reached Lilianas ears. However, the details were lacking.
The detailed happenings regarding the G.o.ds who appeared on the islands
of Sardinia and Sicily were strangely unpublicized. It was as if someone
had intentionally blocked the flow of information.
You should be aware that a little while back, Sir Salvatore refused to leave
Milan and even issued vile orders to the [Copper Black Cross]. Also there
is todays incident of Sir Salvatore slicing Castello Sforzesco to pieces...
Ah yes, and finally the suspicious matter of the seventh Campiones birth.
Campiones appeared where G.o.ds manifested. This was common sense in
the European world of magic.
Hence the rise of such rumors was not unreasonable.
"If we are really friends as you say, then I hope you can provide me with
information regarding that man."
Lily, friendship and work are separate matters. Mixing the two together is
really unlike you.
Just as expected, Erica was playing dumb.
Well, putting our relationship aside, let me tell you this. The news that is
about to be publicized, will surely shock all of Europe. Anyway, I simply
called today to chat about casual matters.
Really? Liliana felt suspicious.
She did not believe that the devilish woman would call for something of
that sort. Perhaps this was simply the first step in her trap -- just as Liliana
warned herself, Erica spoke up.
Recently, I started liking this female authors romance novels.
"Lies. How could you suddenly awaken that kind of interest?"
She knew Ericas tastes very well. Even though she liked to pose with
elegance, any work of entertainment would fail to hold her interest unless it
contained all three elements of action, explosion and murder.
Oh my, I am in the flower of maidenhood after all. Its not so unusual to
enjoy that genre. But the stories Im talking about, that particular novelists
style, feels a little predictable recently.
"Predictable?"
Yes. Every single time, the heroine feels deeply conflicted about the man
in the lead role, but the story always ends in her complete submission.
Liliana was greatly shocked.
This was exactly the same scene she had just written. Come to think of it,
all her recent works followed the same model. Could Erica have read them
all!?
Her hand shook intensely as she gripped the phone.
Calm yourself. The finished works are all kept in this bedroom. Even
someone like Erica could not possibly have laid eyes on them -- thought
Liliana to herself. Probably. Liliana began to cough.
"C-Cla.s.sic developments always follow the same plot. Nitpicking on
something that trivial would be a bit childish, no?"
Thats true too. To me at least, it does seem a little childish. However, itd
be nice if the author herself could realize shes been rehashing the same
plot. But based on the content, it feels like she is writing out her own
hidden desires. Without realizing it, she released her thoughts on paper.
"Ack."
Feeling like she was being talked about, Liliana was utterly terrified.
"B-By the way, is that all you wanted to talk about?"
No, theres one more thing. Im currently around Monza. The Kranjcar
familys atelier should be in the area, right? Id like to borrow the place for
one night. Just use a mailing spell to send the key over.
The atelier mentioned by Erica was a specialized workshop for restoring
antiques.
When one made a living through magic, one would inevitably collect all
sorts of antiques and artwork unearthed from archaeological sites. In order
to perform private restoration without relying on university organizations,
the Kranjcar family sponsored their own workshop.
"For reasons of your convenience or whatever, I --"
Will not refuse, right? Given my relationship with Lily.
Liliana sighed lightly.
Impossible to deny, this was her meddlesome childhood friend, Erica
Blandelli. Highly skilled, talented, unscrupulous, and broadminded like a
salon hostess.
Searching through her memories, Liliana recalled owing four or five favors
to her.
"Well, I do not mind, okay. But for what reason? Facilities of this level
should be available on your side, right?"
In terms of prestige and wealth, the Blandelli family ranked several grades
higher than the Kranjcar family.
Realizing Ericas object was not the equipment at the workshop, Liliana felt
suspicious.
Sorry, I cant disclose anything regarding that. Besides, Im sure news
about it will spread like wildfire within the next couple of days, so spare me
for now. Well then, Lily, take care. I will be quite occupied for the time
being, but I believe things will settle down gradually.
Thus the conversation ended. Seriously, what was that woman thinking?
Liliana angrily put down the cellphone.
Night had fallen completely by the time Kusanagi G.o.dou awakened.
Naturally, Erica was by his pillow, watching him as one would gaze upon
some kind of lab animal.
"By the way, the current time is late at night after 11 pm. Every time you
use it, the revival time seems to be shrinking."
"A power up, but incredibly annoying anyway... So, where is this place?"
"An atelier borrowed from a friend. Even though weve been friends for so
long, on the surface we appear to be hostile rivals with a complicated
relationship, so we need not worry about pursuers finding us here. In fact,
the time spent waiting for G.o.dou to revive was very peaceful."
The place was rather messy and felt like some kind of workshop.
On various racks were numerous tools, chemicals, shattered earthenware
and statues, lying around without any sort of central organization. Rather
than a bed, G.o.dou was lying on a long workbench. The rug beneath him
must have been a thoughtful gesture from Erica.
"So, now that G.o.dou has revived, lets discuss our direction from now on?"
Just as Erica said, the abdominal injury had already healed completely.
His blood soaked clothes had also been taken off. G.o.dou was now
dressed in khaki work clothes. Probably something from the workshop.
Looks like Erica was the one who helped him change.
G.o.dou was gratified by her unexpected thoughtfulness, but he expressed
his objections.
"Lets eat first. Im famished."
"A statement characteristic of simple animals on the verge of death. Well,
since I havent eaten either, I shall second the motion, however --"
"However?"
"This area has no shops that stay open this late."
G.o.dou went "Hmm" softly. Come to think of it, this was Italy. Even though
there should exist restaurants that remain open for business during
midnight hours, there seemed to be none in the area as suspected from
Ericas words. Supermarkets and grocery stores would all be closed by
now.
"I havent seen twenty-four-hour convenience stores or the like in this
country..."
"Thats right. But they exist in Hong Kong. I thought it was a joke when I
first heard about stores that stayed open for business twenty-four hours a
day, three hundred and sixty-five days a year nonstop."
"Well, it cant be helped. Well just have to borrow without asking."
Discovering there was a s.p.a.ce resembling a kitchen, G.o.dou muttered.
...Twenty minutes later, the two of them had discovered instant noodles, a
kettle and a pot so they started boiling water using the gas stove.
Available in both cup and packet variants, they decided to take both.
"I knew that a workshop like this would stock some kind of food. But finding
j.a.panese manufactured food sure is surprising."
The noodles G.o.dou discovered were all imported products from j.a.pan.
Although the language on the packaging was Italian, the designs were
identical to products in j.a.pan so he recognized them instantly.
"As expected, demand for this kind of food exists everywhere."
Even though Italy was a great nation renowned for slow food, its
supermarkets did carry frozen and instant foods. Even multinational fast
food chains flourished in business.
G.o.dou muttered as he was struck deeply by this revelation. Erica watched
him from the side in amus.e.m.e.nt and said:
"Hmm, so its ready to eat once you pour in the boiling water? Ive heard
rumors about this before, but Im only seeing it for the first time."
"Youve never eaten fast food? Youre really a sheltered high cla.s.s lady."
Once again, G.o.dou experienced the difference in upbringing between
himself and Erica.
As a side note, the tasks of pouring hot water into the cup noodles and
boiling the packet noodles in the pot were all performed by G.o.dou. They
also found biscuits and candy in the cupboard.
Despite the haphazard menu, at least the meal was prepared within
expectations.
"...This is unexpectedly tasty. Thats not very fun."
"If you believe having these products taste bad would be interesting, then
they wont be popular all over the world."
The cup noodles were flavored with consomme.
The packet noodles were packaged with soy sauce flavored powdered
soup, the same as in j.a.pan. While preaching to Erica the deliciousness of
various instant and junk foods, G.o.dou ate everything.
Also, while they were eating, the two of them discussed their plans for the
future.
That said, the exchange did not amount to much.
"So G.o.dou, regarding your counterattack against Sir Salvatore. Do you
intend to return to Milan next?"
"Not yet. Itd be a little reckless. Continuing to fight that idiot on the
battlefield he prepared would not be a wise choice."
"What do you mean?"
"Ive been too pa.s.sive. I think its better if we start taking action from our
side. We have to take back initiative in offense, right? Well, maybe its a
matter of feeling, but lets regroup here and do things my way."
During the daytime battle, G.o.dou had been pressed so far as to be unable
to strike back.
That kind of image must be vindicated. In order to take up the next
challenge with renewed spirits, G.o.dou intended to start the battle only
when he firmly held initiative.
"In that case, I have a suggestion. Ill explain it after the meal."
"Great, Ill be relying on you."
Thus ended the discussion. However, it was sufficient. At some point in
time, the two of them had developed the kind of relationship where they
understood each other without much being said.
Part 3
After finishing this late meal, the two of them spent the night at the atelier.
Since there was a bathroom as well as blankets prepared for naps, there
were no inconveniences as temporary shelter. Sleeping under the same
roof was no longer an issue that G.o.dou and Erica harbored much
objection to.
The next day, G.o.dou and Erica waited until the time for shops to open
before venturing out for new clothes.
The bloodstained clothing had already been taken care of, but G.o.dou did
not really want to be wandering the streets in work clothes.
They visited the mens corner in a three-story department store. Without
much deliberation, G.o.dou bought a white shirt and well-fitted pants.
Originally, that would have accomplished his objective.
However, for some unfathomable reason, Erica was also picking clothes in
the womens corner.
"It feels uncomfortable to be wearing the same clothes I wore yesterday.
Since were already here, I might as well have a look. But so far none of
the styles are to my liking."
That was Ericas response when G.o.dou wanted to leave.
Girls took forever to shop. That fact had been drilled into G.o.dous head
through his countless experiences, forced to accompany Asuka or his little
sister in their shopping. It could very well take an hour or more... G.o.dou
had this ominous feeling.
But Erica finished her purchases in ten minutes or so. However.
"Can you wrap this all up for me? Oh, this one Im going to change into
right now, but please send the rest to this address here."
Most casually, she selected five or six days worth of clothing before
ending her shopping with those instructions for the salesperson.
"Hey you, didnt you leave your uncle?"
G.o.dou asked Erica as she returned from the fitting room. She had
changed out of her red long-sleeved t-shirt and was now dressed in an
elegant black jacket and matching lower garments of the same color.
"In other words, youre running away from home, right? Where are you
planning to send these clothes?"
"No problem. The delivery address is a place registered under my own
name. Its part of the estate I inherited from my deceased parents."
"Eh, really!?"
"Yes. Even though I lived at the Blandelli main residence in Milan because
Im still a minor, I do have a number of houses in my possession. As long
as I dont spend too extravagantly, its enough to live comfortably."
Come to think of it, her clothing bill just now had been settled through the
transparent accounting practice of the bank debit card.
Or should he say, as expected of Erica? G.o.dou was deeply impressed.
Despite being a sheltered high cla.s.s lady who did not even know how to
prepare food, she possessed ample sense of economy. Even if there was
no need for her to deal with the problems of balancing a home budget, she
was probably not negligent in the management and application of wealth.
"I mentioned yesterday a stage for your decisive duel with Sir Salvatore.
That place is located near a villa in my possession. The clothes were also
sent there, so dont worry."
Finished outfitting themselves, the two head to the station. Even though
they were wanted figures, they did not try to hide themselves or display
any furtiveness. Instead, they openly walked along the main streets.
"We only hid last night to prevent G.o.dou from being attacked by Sir
Salvatore while you were unconscious. Now that youve recovered, G.o.dou,
theres no need to do things in a sneaky manner."
"Really? Wouldnt it be bad if another attack happened on the streets?"
This conversation took place earlier in the morning.
"Dont worry, you wont be attacked. Even if anyone from the [Copper
Black Cross] discovered us, they wont make a move so readily now."
Why? G.o.dous question made Erica burst into laughter.
"Sir Salvatores orders are to track you down, not to capture you. Hence,
the foolish act of a deliberate attack is not a command that would be
issued, whether by my uncle or Clarens -- my former colleague. It would be
dangerous and meaningless to them."
"I see. So all theyre going to do is report our movements back to that idiot
Doni."
"So lets send a Duel Invitation to Sir Salvatore, exactly the way he likes it.
Tell him to meet you at a certain place in a few days time. If we do that, I
believe our chances of being attacked along the way will be essentially
zero."
Since discovery only meant being monitored, the two of them openly
walked to the station and took the train.
Before they went to catch the ride, they had already sent letters to Donis
hotel and the [Copper Black Cross] headquarters.
Erica had used a [Mailing] spell. It seemed to be a kind of magic that could
deliver a sealed letter to a specified location as long as the exact
destination was known.
The letters contained a message along the lines of Wait for me on the
sh.o.r.e of Lake Garda tomorrow after dusk and signed with the name of
Kusanagi G.o.dou.
The train ride took about an hour and a half.
Lake Garda was located right on the border between the region of
Lombardy, where Milan was located, and the region of Veneto, which
contained ancient cities such as Venice and Verona.
Italys largest lake, Lake Garda, was elongated in shape, extending 50km
in the north-south direction.
G.o.dou and Erica arrived at a town on the southern sh.o.r.e of Lake Garda.
They decided to have lunch before taking a taxi to their destination.
"Somehow it really feels like Im at the seaside..."
Sitting on the backseat of a taxi as it raced along the lakesh.o.r.e, G.o.dou
muttered to himself.
Lake Gardas surface area seemed to be roughly half that of Lake Biwa in
j.a.pan. Along the lakesh.o.r.e were scattered towns and villages that
welcomed travelers as vacation spots. These towns all had a kind of
seaside feeling to them.
The lakefront had a port where many yachts and ferries were moored at
the pier. Although it did not really count as a beach, there was a lakeside
cove covered with gravel.
"You can go swim, go yachting, and even windsurf, so its not much
different from a sea."
G.o.dou nodded at Ericas comment. The lakewater here was amazingly
clear and pristine. For sure, he could enjoy a good swim here.
A little while later, the scenery outside the taxi changed. The cla.s.sic
lakeside tourist destination scenery up until now gave way to lush green
mountains overlooking the lakesh.o.r.e. This seemed to be a place offering a
picturesque mountain and ocean view.
After about thirty minutes, the taxi arrived at the destination.
The Blandelli residence -- or more accurately, the lakeside villa belonging
to Erica.
On normal days, cleaning and inspection was entrusted to a caretaking
company. This elegant log house, most suitable as a villa, offered a wide
view of beautiful Lake Garda.
Erica used the key she had obtained from the real estate office in front of
the station to unlock the door.
"How should I say it... This is essentially a rich mans villa."
G.o.dous mutterings reflected his commoner mentality.
That was his conclusion after a cursory tour of the villa, as he finally exited
the garage.
The log house itself was neither very large nor was it especially luxurious.
However, two vehicles, a small car and a motorcycle, were kept in the
garage as if they naturally belonged there.
The car was a mini 4WD vehicle while the motorcycle was a 400cc
mid-sized scooter.
"Is there also a boat on the lake?"
"Oh my, how knowledgeable of you."
"Given how well equipped this place is, I thought it wouldnt be strange to
have that as well. Since theres no need to do any cleaning, how about we
prepare some food?"
This was proposed by G.o.dou who had experienced group training camps
during his days as a baseball player.
As an ordinary commoner, especially one raised by a mother who
subscribed to hands-off parenting, G.o.dou always did everything personally
by himself. If the occasion demanded, he was capable of performing
decent cooking.
Besides, he did not naively expect this "partner" to contribute in this area.
As expected, Erica, who had been acting completely like a sheltered high
cla.s.s lady since morning, asked incredulously:
"If you want to get food, there are restaurants and eateries nearby, you
know?"
"Since visiting this place is a rare opportunity, preparing food by my own
effort fits the mood better. Tomorrow will be critical, lets eat as healthy as
possible."
"Oh... Im rather confident in my ability to handle most situations flexibly."
Erica spoke with a serious expression as if deep in thought.
"As for the area of cooking per se, it is completely foreign territory to me.
Oh well, a situation like this, which challenges the possibilities of me, Erica
Blandelli, sounds rather interesting... To be honest, Ive always wanted to
create new tastes that have never existed in this world."
"Its simply outdoor cooking, theres no need for that kind of dangerous
resolve."
G.o.dou said no to the beautiful young lady who was more interested in
tastes marked by individuality compared to safe but mundane tastes.
"Dont worry, I dont need your a.s.sistance. I can handle this alone."
"That statement makes me subtly angry for some reason..."
"By the way, who uses these vehicles here? Or heaven forbid, Erica, you
can drive?"
"No, but if you need a horse, its not a problem. Do you want me to bring
one over from the ranch nearby?"
If someone could drive the motorcycle or the car, buying things would be a
lot easier. Which was why G.o.dou ventured to ask, but the result was an
oblique answer. Since this was Erica, her answer was probably not a joke
and should be half serious at least.
Riding a horse on the main road would be a bit too much, so G.o.dou turned
to the bicycle in the corner of the garage.
"So, lets use that..."
Hence, G.o.dou biked his way to the nearby shops.
After shopping for ingredients, he set to work preparing dinner. Once
complete, he went to the terrace which offered an expansive view of Lake
Garda. The guest had already arrived -- Erica was enjoying the lakeside
scenery.
"So, lets first discuss tomorrows duel. It should be quite a severe
challenge, but do you have a plan yet?"
Erica suddenly asked at this time.
Part 4
"Well, you cant really call it a plan, but through yesterdays battle, I figured
out which powers dont work against that guy. Thats kinda important, I
think."
"Are you talking about the [Raptor] incarnation you used at the end?"
"Yeah. Totally ineffective. It doesnt really work when were exchanging
blows and sword strikes. Yes, its excellent speed is great and all, but Doni
seems to be able to see through it. Also, my movements are severely off
target."
G.o.dou recalled what happened yesterday and explained to Erica.
Trying to punch but Doni easily evaded his fist. This was most likely due to
G.o.dous excessive speed. After that, G.o.dou had tested things out while he
was running away using divine speed.
When the target was stationary or G.o.dou was moving slowly, there was no
problem.
But as soon as he tried to attack a moving object while he was going at
those kinds of speeds, his eyes always judged incorrectly. For example, if
he reached out to catch a dove flying in the sky, he would grab nothing but
air, dozens of centimeters off target.
"Now that you brought this up, Princess Alice also touched upon it before...
When Black Prince Alec was just starting out, His Highness was also in a
great conundrum over how to control [Black Lightningjs speed."
Erica spoke as she seemingly recalled something. G.o.dou nodded.
"Thats also speed on a level thats like cheating. If it could be used freely
with perfect control, then that whatever prince would have become some
kind of invincible monster, right? But that kind of thing should not be
possible. From the way I cant hit anything with this sort of speed, that
should be proof enough."
"Well said. But His Highness the Black Prince has succeeded in controlling
his lightning speed to some degree."
"Since my power is different from that mans, it doesnt mean I can do the
same thing just by copying. I think its best not to place too much hope on
it."
G.o.dou felt neither fondness nor attachment to a Campiones authority.
Hence he could completely disregard his own powers -- in other words,
a.n.a.lyze calmly and objectively.
"Anyway, first show me the stage for the duel before it gets dark."
Shelving the most pressing problem for now, G.o.dou made his suggestion.
Ericas villa stood solitarily on the lakeside. But slightly further away, there
were other houses and villas, little shops as well as piers with moored
yachts.
Also, even further back in the distance, there was a mountain with a flat
ridgeline.
Lake Garda was a glacial lake -- a lake created from melt.w.a.ter gathering in
a valley when glaciers retreated at the end of the Ice Age, resulting in
encirclement by mountains.
Following Erica, G.o.dou reached the top of the mountain.
"This hike is really pleasant... But Id imagine itd start feeling like a ha.s.sle
if I had to do this every day."
G.o.dou commented as he enjoyed the sudden outing.
This was a smooth and gentle mountain path full of lush greenery. Even
though it demanded little physical exertion, the time spent hiking could be
better used elsewhere.
"Thats exactly the reason why my parents abandoned this villa."
Erica spoke as she walked in front of G.o.dou.
She had told him that the stage for the duel would be an abandoned villa
that belonged to the Blandelli family. Not only was it no longer used, but
even the electricity, gas and water mains had been dismantled. She
promised that it could be destroyed without any concerns.
"Not only is it extremely old and decrepit, its also huge. A ma.s.sive
inconvenience, all things considered. But this kind of remote mountain villa
happens to be my preference too."
"Oh well."
Even though it was a long journey on foot, it would only take a brief drive
by car.
G.o.dou began to imagine as he concurred.
A western mansion built on a remote island in a faraway ocean, a
mountain villa hidden amongst snowy peaks, isolated locales where locked
room mysteries^ 1 * could occur were surely to Ericas liking...
"If it werent for G.o.dou saying no, I couldve simply taken the car from the
garage."
"Then why did you say no when I asked if you could drive?"
"Not an issue. You do know there are spells to make iron and metal move
according to the casters wishes, right? Given a cars scale and
dimensions, no problem at all. Its simply an iron box on wheels with two
people sitting in it. Then all I need to do is move the whole thing forward
using my spells. I cant do any complicated maneuvers, but simply moving
back and forth on a mountain path would not be a problem. Definitely."
"To think the urban legend of the driver-less autonomous car was narrowly
averted, lets not go there..."
After hiking for thirty minutes, they finally reached the destination.
It was a majestic stone-built mansion in the mountains.
A cloister(!) surrounded a garden overgrown with weeds.
The buildings walls were almost a meter thick, with elaborate carvings on
the top of the stone pillars. Based on the style of architecture, this place
was at least eight centuries old.
Especially the one-story lobby in the center.
It had an atrium with a stained gla.s.s ceiling that one admired by looking
up.
Deep in the back was a platform resembling an altar, with a seven or
eight-meter-tall statue of Madonna and Child.
Basically convinced that this was no ordinary building, G.o.dou spoke up:
"This place, could it be some kind of especially ancient and precious
building?"
"Not precious, but ancient for sure. This was formerly a monastery built
during the Middle Ages. Many generations ago, ancestors in the Blandelli
family bought this place."
"Using this kind of holy place as a personal villa would be sufficient cause
for divine retribution!"
"Oh my. This kind of villa, may not be abundant, but neither is it very rare.
Other than wealthy descendants of n.o.bles, many other people own similar
buildings."
"Ah... So these are villas where n.o.bles live..."
Catching a glimpse into the lifestyles of the European upper cla.s.s, G.o.dou
exclaimed emphatically.
"In this current time and age, there are no practical uses for these places
other than converting them into hotels or museums. But this location at
Lake Garda isnt very ideal from a business point of view, and its rather
doubtful whether the investment would pay off. Precisely because its this
sort of place, please use it any way you like. Any level of destruction is
fine."
Listening to Ericas generous offer, G.o.dou surveyed the interior of the
building.
Considering the unreliability of his authority and the difference in combat
ability between him and Doni, G.o.dou wanted to avoid fighting in open
country with nowhere to hide. On a battlefield without any cover, he would
most likely be sliced to death in short time.
Not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth, especially from Erica, G.o.dou
decided to make the most of it with grat.i.tude.
As G.o.dou nodded, Erica responded with a n.o.blewomans broad-minded
smile.
"If you wish, G.o.dou, I could also teach you basic swordsmanship. Even
though a days learning might not have much effect, at least itll feel safer."
"Really... But no thanks."
Erica watched with an amused expression as G.o.dou refused indifferently.
"Just as you say, using a day to do things at the last second would not be
very meaningful. Rather than that, itd be more productive to consider more
fundamental strategies."
"Such as?"
"Areas where that guys sword cannot reach... However, that alone wont
be enough to win either."
As a batter, how to conquer a troublesome pitcher? As a catcher, how to
guide the pitcher to defeat the batter? G.o.dou began to ponder along these
lines.
Rather than using sword skills acquired last-minute, he was going to fight
that idiot in his own personal fashion.
This was the duel between high school student Kusanagi G.o.dou and the
monster Salvatore Doni. Hence -- this is going to be done my way.
In order not to repeat the failure during Melqarts battle, he must remember
to respond craftily and avoid carelessness...
"How courageous! Fighting Europes ultimate swordsman without even an
inkling of how to wield a sword!"
Saying that, Erica laughed delightfully.
"But looking at your situation, perhaps that might turn out for the best. After
all, simply using the [Camel] incarnation transforms yourself into a warrior
even stronger than me. And unlike Sir Salvatore, you even possess
incarnations with long range attacks... Furthermore, theres the [Sword] of
spell words."
"That so? But Doni and I are both Campi-whatevers."
"Anyway, the fact that you both possess divine authorities remains the
same. Two of Sir Salvatores authorities have clear origins. The [Ripping
Arm of Silver] usurped from the Celtic divine king Nuadha, as well as the
[Man of Steel] from the Norse hero Siegfried."
As Erica explained fluently, G.o.dou nodded with a helpless expression.
"Well... I was able to sever just Melqarts power of [Storms] last time. I
should be able to do it again with the same sort of feeling."
Verethragnas final incarnation, the [Warrior], wielded the blade of spell
words. In order to obtain it, G.o.dou needed to do that again with Erica-
Pondering to this point, G.o.dou fell silent.
"Thats... right. After all, Im expecting..."
Erica also seemed to have recalled the same thing and suddenly began to
be at a loss for words. Their gazes meeting briefly, the two of them
instantly blushed at the same time.
"A-Anyway, lets prepare dinner first, its about time to get back."
"Y-Yes. Please indulge me with your cooking skills."
Unable to dispel the awkward atmosphere, they continued their way down
the mountain path.
G.o.dous choice of dinner was curry.
Considering this was the result of his careful selection in an unfamiliar
repertory as he browsed through food corners in shops, it was pa.s.sable.
That was what G.o.dou thought. But unlike shops in j.a.pan, curry powder
was not available.
Stirring flour into a paste, he added all sorts of spicy seasonings into a pot,
and adjusted the taste.
There was one camp where they had run out of curry powder, and G.o.dou
ended up learning how to make it from someone.
The other ingredients for the curry was chicken as well as spring
vegetables he found in the supermarket.
He also prepared a large plate of salad. Using olive oil and wine vinegar
mixed with salt and pepper, he improvised a dressing. There was also
bread with hard crusts. Bought cheese and sausages, etc.
"...How unexpectedly ordinary, this food is so uninteresting."
"Stop having these weird expectations in this area..."
Bathed under the rays of the setting sun, Lake Garda was illuminated
orange.
Despite their differing views on the food, G.o.dou and Erica finished all the
prepared food without waste.
G.o.dou was not adventurous enough to expect Erica to do the washing up,
so he cleaned up by himself. After that, there were no other ch.o.r.es to be
done. They had already bathed before dinner. (As a side note, the villa
contained two bathrooms, thus there was no need to take turns.)
With nothing to do, the two of them sat down in the s.p.a.cious living room of
the villa.
Recalling the "ritual" they had performed before the battle with Melqart,
G.o.dou maintained a slight distance from Erica. He had a feeling something
strange was going to happen.
Keeping his distance away from Erica who was sitting at a table, G.o.dou
sat down alone on a sofa.
"The first G.o.d Sir Salvatore defeated was Irelands Nuadha, the king of the
Tuatha De Danann.^ A G.o.d with a silver-crafted arm to replace a severed
arm, he is a war G.o.d who wields the sword of light which slices through all
existence."
Erica suddenly spoke words of great learning.
"The second one defeated was the hero Siegfried. Bathed in the blood of
the evil dragon Fafnir, he became the invulnerable warrior. He is
well-known in Richard Wagners operatic works, so G.o.dou should have
heard of him, right?"
Only on the level of having heard of the name. G.o.dou listened silently as
Erica proceeded.
"Other than these two, Sir Salvatore also seems to have slain one or two
more G.o.ds, but the details are unclear. Since his favorite authorities in
battle are the magic sword and the protection of steel, it can be deduced
that his remaining authorities are most likely unsuited for direct combat."
"Eh? Those kinds of authorities exist?"
"Prince Alecs labyrinth-creating authority would be a typical example...
Anyway, Sir Salvatores primary weapons consist of the sword and
invulnerability. Given a choice of which one to seal, Id choose the sword."
"Yeah, Id pick that one too. But isnt it meaningless to raise these
hypothetical situations?"
Unable to understand Ericas intentions, G.o.dou felt troubled.
It almost felt like she was making preparations to forge the [Sword]. In that
case, engaging Erica in that kind of behavior was required -- no good no
good.
G.o.dou frantically dispelled thoughts of temptation and spoke quietly.
"I already have a basic idea on how to win this battle. So, lets retire early
tonight for a good nights rest. Hows that, Erica? You should be quite tired,
right?"
But no matter how early they should sleep, the current time had not even
reached seven in the evening.
Definitely too early. But there was no other excuse to end the conversation.
"No, Im not particularly tired."
"1-1 see."
"Hey G.o.dou, dont we currently look like were eloping?"
"Eh!?"
G.o.dou was rendered speechless by Ericas sudden description.
"Ever since yesterday, weve been fleeing together just the two of us.
Living under the same roof in a matter-of-fact manner. What else could you
call this other than eloping?"
"N-No, even though you could look at it that way, but were not actually
doing that."
While G.o.dou stuttered in denial, Erica had already approached. Swiftly,
she sat down next to G.o.dou on the sofa.
"Isnt it more like friends or close comrades...?"
"Yes. As well as partners for life. Lovers bound by promises of eternal
love."
What the heck was with this a.n.a.logy!? Erica drew near as G.o.dou entered
a state of panic.
"G.o.dou, if you could come to a profound realization and regard Erica
Blandelli as your one and only woman... I could consider staying with you
forever and ever till death do us part?"
Ericas beautiful face was approaching G.o.dou head on from an extremely
close distance.
By this point, G.o.dou finally realized. Or rather, he was forced to realize.
Kusanagi G.o.dous destiny was currently at a major crossroad!
Part 5
"T-Thats overly intense, I think we need to calm down and consider things
carefully first."
"Who do you take me for? Before speaking to you, G.o.dou, Ive already
undergone careful consideration. Precisely because I understand the
irrepressibly intense pa.s.sion in my heart, that is why I am turning my
feelings into action."
Not only beautiful but also intelligent, the young beauty confessed clearly
and directly.
Why? Why was Erica saying such things to Kusanagi G.o.dou!?
"B-But no matter how I wrap my mind around it, we dont really match,
right?"
"Oh my, are you saying that I, Erica Blandelli, am not qualified to become
the spouse of the seventh Campione, Kusanagi G.o.dou?"
"Idiot, I mean the opposite. Im not good enough for you!"
"In that case, youre the idiot. Foolishly worrying about the issue of
matching when we should be softly whispering words of love and pa.s.sion
to each other. What a boorish person you are!"
Finally, the words of love and pa.s.sion came directly from Ericas mouth.
At this rate, misunderstanding her was impossible. Erica smiled gently as
she drew her face near the utterly shocked G.o.dous ear.
"However, I happen to like that boorishness of yours. A different kind of
fool from Sir Salvatore. Honest to a fault, clumsy, boorish, brilliant on
occasion but essentially naive most of the time -- Kusanagi G.o.dou, that is
the man I love most of all."
Despite the accusations of fool, these soft whispers were filled with loving
pa.s.sion.
"On the other hand, trying to justify love with myriad reasons would be truly
boorish instead. Hey G.o.dou, have you always thought of me as an
arrogant woman? I hope you can answer me properly and give me an
appropriate response."
"A-Appropriate?"
"You could say things like I also feel the same way about you, a woman
like you is not my type, etc etc. Regardless, please tell me in no uncertain
terms whether you accept or reject my proposal."
G.o.dou almost fainted from these sweet whispers by his ear.
"B-But this is too sudden. Something like this happening should be
impossible!"
"Really? I too, was previously unwilling to admit to my feelings no matter
what. Indeed, I was not sufficiently forthright with my affections... But now
that I have made up my mind, I can easily understand that sort of feeling.
Besides, if I truly didnt like a boy, would I really offer my lips to him?"
Even though Erica displayed slight embarra.s.sment, she continued to talk
happily.
If everything was as she described, then Kusanagi G.o.dou was truly blind
and insensitive.
"R-Really?"
"Correct. So, I shall now pose a series of questions to Kusanagi G.o.dou.
--To you personally, am I special? Or in fact, you feel like I am no different
from any other woman?"
"T-Thats not right. You are definitely special to me in all meanings of the
word."
G.o.dou ended up confessing unwittingly. Erica instantly smiled tenderly. So
cute!
"Well answered. So, how was life in j.a.pan without me by your side? Were
you lonely? Did you recall each and every one of our exciting days
together?"
"I guess I did recall..."
Another confession. c.r.a.p!
"Here comes the final question! Do you like being together with me? Or
perhaps not? Which is it?"
"If I disliked you, I wouldnt have crossed oceans to see you!"
d.a.m.n it. His thoughts revealed by that unruly tongue, G.o.dou was filled
with terror.
This was a first experience. These words which his rationality forbade him
to say, were all being uttered as a result of Ericas pa.s.sionate advances!
...But wait a minute. Why did he even need to refuse?
G.o.dou suddenly realized that neither Erica nor himself had a
predetermined lover. Even if they got together, there was nothing wrong
with it.
Ultimately, this was simply a matter of decision. He finally realized clearly.
"Ah... But its only been a month at most since we first met. Isnt it a bit
rushed to make such a huge decision given so little time? Maybe we
should spend more time to gradually confirm each others feelings?"
"Pa.s.sion strikes like lightning, while love endures forever."
Faintly smiling, Erica spoke poetic sounding words.
"Even if all it takes is an instant to fall in love, the loving relationship can
persist for the rest of our lives."
Not good. This forthright blonde beauty belonged to the pa.s.sionate Latin
nation.
In situations like this, the Yamato nation was completely outcla.s.sed in
decisiveness!
Not to mention Ericas overwhelming appeal. Those excessively direct
words of courtship. In fact, G.o.dou had secretly felt himself attracted to her
ever since they met in Sardinia.
He could not find any reason to refuse her.
Nevertheless, G.o.dou was not the womanizing type to enter a lovers
relationship given such short time. Besides, it would feel kind of insincere
to respond to Ericas promises of "forever" without a thoughtful answer.
"Hohoho. If G.o.dou cannot decide yet on our relationship, I wont mind for
now. If my judgment is correct, you are acting the same way as I was
yesterday. I can see that all youre lacking is the final resolve."
Tenderly smiling, Erica casually a.s.serted.
G.o.dou could not find words to refute her.
"Then lets put the matter aside for now, and resolve the most pressing
problem? In order to prepare for the fight against Sir Salvatore, we must
forge the [Sword]."
"W-Wait a minute. If thats the case, it means we have to do that again!?"
"Certainly. But theres no longer any problem, right? No matter how our
relationship evolves in the future, we have already confirmed the
connection between the depths of our hearts. Without any awkward
excuses, let us enjoy the ritual properly now?"
"E-E-E-Enjoy!?"
"Isnt kissing a loved one the most natural thing in the world? Hoho, to be
frank, during the ritual last time, my heart was actually racing so fast, I
completely lost myself. It felt like my mind became blank as I was brought
to ecstasy by our kissing."
M f ii
"T-That was my first experience, you know. Hey G.o.dou, could you bring
me to ecstasy once more? For the sake of prevailing over Sir Salvatore, let
us do our best."
Saying that, Erica brought her cherry lips to G.o.dous mouth.
Some time after dinner, she had reapplied lipstick. Those brightly l.u.s.trous
lips held terrifying fascination. Furthermore, having fully savored the taste
of kissing her lips before, simply recalling the memory further intensified
the situation.
Their lips were only one or two centimeters apart now. G.o.dou felt his heart
beating loudly like some sort of continuous alarm.
The desire to respond to Ericas pa.s.sion. The desire to understand Ericas
determination. The desire to not lose against that idiot. All these desires
mixed and scrambled together.
He also noticed-
Ericas offered her lips in a kiss and G.o.dou accepted.
"I-Im gonna beat up that guy. Can you a.s.sist me?"
"Of course. This is the duty of your attendant -- or rather, your spouse!"
It was pretty much like a dam on the verge of bursting.
Erica acted with unusual ferocity. Sucking intensely on G.o.dous lips, it felt
like she was trying to obtain G.o.dous entire being through a kiss.
Keeping their lips in superposition, they pressed together even more
tightly.
Ten seconds, twenty seconds pa.s.sed in this fashion. Still, Ericas lips
remained in position. Only when out of breath did she finally release her
lips, panting heavily for air.
But very quickly she offered another kiss.
As if putting forth her full strength, a kiss full of pa.s.sion.
Overwhelmed by this sweet pleasure, G.o.dou felt his mind going numb.
As a result, he too, gradually responded to the intensity of Ericas pa.s.sion.
When Erica sucked on G.o.dous lips, G.o.dou sucked Ericas lips in turn,
licking each other.
Gripping the others lips with his own, he savored that sense of softness,
wetting it with saliva.
The air echoed with the sound of wet kisses. In short time, the two of them
were kissing each others lips with ever increasing intensity. Before they
knew it, even their teeth were colliding together.
This time, the sound of teeth crashing could be heard.
To be honest, it was kind of painful.
Hence, their tongues started to tangle with each other. Sliding their
tongues into each others mouth, probing for the other tongue, they each
tried to encircle the other persons tongue.
The area around their mouths became all wet and sticky from saliva.
"l-lts about time for me to start teaching you the most important
knowledge. Sorry, I was lost in ecstasy."
Erica whispered softly as if she had recovered her senses.
"For someone like me to completely forget something crucial like that, my
current state must be really strange. And kissing so much more intensely
than last time... G.o.dou, its you who changed me."
Grumbling with dazed eyes, Erica began to weave spell words together.
"The G.o.d Sir Salvatore defeated was Nuadha, the king of the Tuatha De
Danann. This divine clan consisted of deities worshiped by Celts living in
Ireland."
Erica kissed G.o.dous lips as she continued to whisper.
"People generally have the impression that the Celts were indigenous to
the European continent, and later driven out by the invasion of the
Anglo-Saxons."
Taking a breath from time to time, Erica continued to engage in either
kisses or low whispers.
Sweetly pleasurable beyond compare, this was also a frantic and awkward
exchange. Better yet, G.o.dou could feel something connecting together in
the depths of his heart.
"But if events were traced all the way back, the Celts are the actual
invaders. Migrating over vast distances, they traveled from India to Europe,
eventually crossing from the continent to the British Isles. The Celts who
arrived in Ireland battled the natives, undergoing countless victories and
defeats, finally succeeding in making the island their territory."
Before they knew it, kissing no longer offered sufficient satisfaction.
Embracing Erica tightly, using his entire body to affirm her supple
sensations, G.o.dou immersed himself in these thoughts with rapture.
"Bearing a silver arm and the sword of light, the G.o.d Nuadha was also the
king of the Tuatha De Danann. His myths clearly depict the figure the
ancient Celtic king who commanded his people in their conquest of Ireland.
Understand all this and forge the knowledge into the G.o.d-slicing blade,
G.o.dou!"
Like a gushing torrent, knowledge of the Celtic divine king Nuadha was
transmitted through Ericas mouth and tongue.
G.o.dou could feel the [Sword]s completion with conviction.
Thus was born the golden blade for slicing apart a G.o.d he had never
encountered before.
References
1 . t Locked room mystery: a sub-genre of detective fiction where a
crime is committed under seemingly impossible
conditions. http://en.wi kipedia.org/wiki/Locked_room_mystery
2. t Tuatha De Danann: Irish clan of deities. Later they moved
underground and became fairy-like
beings. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuatha_De_Danann