Godou made a few amendments and agreed to the plan after some consideration. After that, Erica began making calls and the current meeting was prepared in one hour.
"Completely understood. Everything shall be done according to the king's wishes."
"The birth of a new king is truly an astounding and joyous occasion. To issue a challenge to the ancient god Melqart before official assumption of the throne, such mettle truly foretells a promising future."
Summoned to this emergency meeting, the association leaders remarked one after another.
They were not entirely convinced the Japanese youth before their eyes was really a god-slayer, but they kept their composure and maintained a solemn expression.
"Oh right, there's one more request. Please do not leak news of his birth and the Sardinia incident to the magical world apart from those in Sicily. This is very important."
This was Godou's amendment to Erica's proposal of "announcing to the magi of the world."
One of the commanders-in-chief nodded.
"That is not a problem... But why?"
"I don't want unnecessary attention because I plan to continue living an ordinary life."
Before Erica could say anything, Godou answered the question himself.
The commanders-in-chief showed incredulous expressions as if they had heard something unexpected, but they quickly recovered. They probably thought that rudeness to the [King] would bring dire consequences. Godou's sense of discomfort deepened.
He felt rather apologetic that he was forcing elders to treat him in this manner.
"If you're going to the island of Sicily, you'll need a plane. Let me make the arrangements."
One of the commanders-in-chief spoke up but Godou refused frantically.
"Ah, there's no need for special preparations. Any kind of transportation is fine. Either plane or ship will do."
Erica glanced out the window and signaled to Godou with her eyes.
The seaside restaurant offered a Mediterranean view outside the window. Erica's expression seemed to be saying "I like ships better."
But as soon as Godou recalled a certain incident, he rejected Erica's suggestion(?).
"But then again, taking a ship should be impossible, right? What with all the chaos in the harbor right now."
Godou slumped his shoulders apologetically due to the monster appearing in the harbor a few hours ago.
If this had happened at a Japanese train station, it would not be surprising for operations to shut down for an entire day. However--
"If you wish to take the sea route, it can be arranged."
"Eh? But setting sail is impossible today, right?"
"Possibly. But if the king wishes, it is a different matter."
"Let us contact ship operators to charter a ship."
"Eh?!"
A plane trip from Sardinia to Sicily would take about an hour or so.
Crossing the same distance overnight, enjoying a comfortable and elegant journey over the sea as embodied by the night ferry concept -- the night cruise progressed as the massive ship and hotel rocked across the sea. After enjoying the distant night scenery of the Mediterranean Sea, Godou was going to return to his single room to sleep--
"I never thought we would really set sail... Just how far can rules be broken?"
Godou secretly muttered to himself.
In the restaurant of the massive ferry, Godou was sitting opposite Erica.
Back at the harbor, his first impression had been "So huge!" The deck had six stories of living quarters and was equipped with restaurants, bar lounges and movie theater rooms.
The massive ferry seemed to have been built to accommodate a hotel.
"Today happens to be the weekend, so the weekend-only ship ride from Sardinia to Sicily's port of Palermo is apparently available."
Erica explained as she brought the appetizer apple cider to her lips.
As a side note, the night's menu included octopus carpaccio, fish soup, botargo pasta and roasted crab. A very marine-centric selection.
"It gives me a slightly guilty conscience to think they prepared this unscheduled route for us expressly."
"It's too late for guilty consciences!"
"Isn't this nice? The ship operators had been troubled over today's commotion, and we come along asking them to set sail, allowing this ship to go out to sea."
Erica smiled as she spoke.
Other than Godou and Erica, there were a few other groups of passengers. Enjoying the Mediterranean night scenery over dinner was quite a unique experience.
Godou could not help but think arranging a ship went rather smoothly.
"As long as it is the request of the Devil King Campione, all the powerful associations of Europe will put forth all effort in fulfilling it. Due to wealth and political power accumulated over hundreds or even a thousand years, plus the assistance of local authorities, this is nothing difficult. I don't think you need to be that thankful."
"Even if it's an unreasonable request..."
"Yes, but they do this only because of the Campiones' power, as well as the existences that only this power can defeat."
"Gods?"
"The so-called Campiones are warriors fighting on humanity's behalf against the [Heretic Gods] who manifest. They possess the rights and privileges of kings, lording over the world as tyrants and devil kings."
In other words, I have to fight Melqart -- Godou looked up at the ceiling.
"I have no idea at all how to fight a god..."
"Just treat it as the real version of your battle this morning. Godou's body should already be prepared for battle."
"Prepared?"
"Think about it, half-baked training isn't going to do you any good in a fight with tigers and bears! Campiones are the same. To you guys, fighting is as instinctual as breathing, otherwise what happened this morning cannot be explained."
"Isn't it more wholesome to think that strength is gained through effort?"
"That only applies to humans, in a limited sense."
Erica's words sliced to the core of the matter.
"In the natural world, humans were never powerful existences. Nevertheless, combat strength could be raised through the use of weapons and the blood and sweat of martial arts training -- but that method is neither wholesome nor natural. 'The strong are born strong' is the very natural and animalistic truth."
That's the way things went?
Faced with Godou's doubtful gaze, Erica said: "If you wish, I can analyze Godou's combat ability even more rationally."
"...Try me."
"First of all, Godou possesses vitality far surpassing humans. Bitten by that kind of magical beast, one would usually die after losing their shoulder and arm, but Godou could fight as if it was normal."
"Ah... It felt like my body is more sturdy than I thought."
After the battle with Bianchi, Erica had given Godou a mysterious pill.
Said to be a magical drug for speeding the recovery of injuries. After Godou took the pill, Erica helped disinfect and bandage the shoulder that had been bitten by the man-eating tiger.
The wounds completely healed after being left alone for a while after treatment. It was truly amazing, this unbelievable power of recovery.
"Godou's bones are now harder than iron, perhaps even stronger than any metal alloy in existence. Rather than dense, it would be better to say your muscle fibers are now so tough as to be impossible to tear. Furthermore, you have an ability even more powerful than adrenalin which instantly stops bleeding and dulls pain."
Erica brought up the conclusions she had observed at her leisure.
"Now that it's mentioned, the shoulder injury I suffered a few months ago seems to have healed."
After the battle in the morning, Godou had tried throwing stones at sea as a result of recalling his shoulder injury.
Godou had lost his prided powerful shoulder to the injury -- that was the original situation. But his stone throws now flew farther and
harder than before the injury.
"Even injuries suffered months ago were healed along with the rebirth as a Campione, right? The recent injuries were definitely healed together as a result."
"My body seems so beyond common logic now..."
"Have you noticed? You're currently speaking in Italian."
"Eh? That's strange. When did this start? And why?"
Godou was shocked by Erica's observation. Without knowing it, he had started using Italian as if it were his mother tongue. Now that he thought about it, the commanders-in-chief earlier had also been speaking in Italian.
"We magi train in a special language sense when we are young, allowing us to acquire all sorts of languages in short time. See, haven't you met people who learn foreign languages easily?"
"That's right, Erica, your Japanese is indeed quite excellent..."
"A mage's education includes courses on training this type of trait. Campiones too, are also imbued with this disposition. It's not particularly flashy, but it turns out to be a rather practical ability."
"......"
"Last but not least, Campiones' greatest weapons are their 'authorities.' Considering what's happened so far, it is likely that Godou has usurped Verethragna's power of the ten incarnations."
The ship had set sail at 7:30pm. Due to the abundance of time, Erica recounted everything she had discovered during the battle that day.
"I can get ten abilities from a god?"
"Most certainly. North America's Devil King, John Pluto-sama, usurped the authority of [Metamorphosis] from the demonic deity Tezcatlipoca, thereby obtaining five different forms."
"It's like that?"
"England's Black Prince Alec possesses the authority of [Black Lightning], which not only allows him to move as fast as lightning, but turn himself into lightning and even use lightning as a weapon."
"In other words, it's only fitting..."
Looks like Campione authorities were rather flexible.
Godou began to gain a rudimentary understanding of his body.
"Since Godou's authority includes ten abilities, perhaps there will be various strict conditions governing their use."
"That sounds plausible somehow, but not entirely correct... By the way, Erica."
A thought suddenly occurred to Godou, so he brought it up.
"You tricked me that time before I summoned the boar, what was with that 'my chest hurts'!"
"Outrageous. Accusing me of tricking you. You were using your powers rather passively so I decided to give a final push, that's all."
"There was no need to give me a push. Deceiving a comrade is the worst. Do you know how angry and worried I was at the time!?"
"I never relied on you!"
"Relying or not, it is only natural to be worried!"
"I, Erica Blandelli, would never be caught in a crisis because of a spell of that level. If you are clearly unaware of this fact, please do not call yourself my comrade so easily!"
A crash of thunder suddenly brought an end to this fruitless argument.
Part 2
Earlier during the daylight hours, the Mediterranean sky had been clear and sunny.
Although it was still March, the sunlight felt more like early summer. Even at night, the sky was completely devoid of clouds. Illuminated by the moon and the stars, the sea at night offered a wondrous sight.
Nevertheless, the crash of thunder just now--
Godou felt something strange from the sound of thunder rumbling up in the sky.
He felt turmoil in his heart, and inexplicably, he knew that a formidable foe was drawing near.
His body brimmed with power and felt hot all over. Including his limbs, down to every digit and even each capillary, all parts of his body were infused with power and heat, as if announcing they had adjusted themselves to a battle-ready stance.
"What is going on with this feeling..."
Muttering to himself, Godou noticed something about the thunder just now.
That. Now that was a real enemy indeed. The mage encountered this morning was totally insignificant in the face of a god-slayer.
Completely worthless as an opponent. Even if the enemy was the genius Erica or an ultimate master who surpassed her, it would make no difference. Humans could not offer meaningful resistance against a god-slayer.
A god-slayer's opponent must be a god -- this was absolute.
The instant he realized that, Godou got up from his seat in the restaurant.
Walking outside without a word, he climbed the stairs and arrived at the top deck of the ferry.
Erica soon followed. The two stopped quarreling and walked along the top deck. There were no other people in sight.
Looking up, one could see the sky had filled with dark clouds at some unknown point in time.
For some reason, Godou knew there was a "god" within the clouds. Or at least, a portion of one was inside there. Otherwise, his body would not be reacting so strongly.
Crash! A flash of lightning streaked past, lighting the dark sky blue-white as thunder erupted.
'It's been a while, boy. In a matter of days, you have already started to look a little like a god-slayer.'
The deep, rich male voice descended from the heavens.
"You are Melqart... Right?"
'Of course. To think you would be unable to recognize the voice of the great divine king. How immature."
Cautiously confirming the speaker's name only earned him mockery and derision. Godou shrugged.
It was the first time to converse in this manner. Playing it safe was only natural.
Godou turned towards Erica beside him, hoping she had something to say. However, she shook her head as if saying "you should be the one talking."
Whenever the enemy was a god, it was Kusanagi Godou's domain... Perhaps that was what she thought?
'Very well. Fate must have brought me to witness a brat like you slay Verethragna. Brat, you and I both awakened on the island I used for temporary shelter. Hence, I shall take up the duty of punishing your sin of god-slaying. Brat, any objections?'
"Absolutely! I have no intentions of fighting you."
'How unlike a god-slayer! There is no need for unnecessary concerns, after all, it's simply the next step.'
"The next step!?"
'This sea was once the territory of the people who served me, but look at what it has become. The people here have the insolence to forget the name of Melqart, and are polluting my sacred domain. As the stately divine king, I cannot allow such foolish behavior of the people to persist.'
Every time Melqart spoke, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky. Even though it was only a hunch, [Heretic God] Melqart was probably absent and simply communicating through the lightning. But then again, there was this strange feeling. Puzzling about gods, Godou spoke to the sky.
"By the way, last time you said you were going to submerge the island."
'Hmm, first I shall sink the island where Verethagna met you, brat, and then it will be the island where I am sleeping now. After that, I shall submerge all my ancient territories.'
Melqart declared calmly, causing Godou to tremble in fear.
'I've considered it, I shall execute you, brat, before carrying out divine punishment. But we will not fight here right now. Sinking these islands requires the accumulation of power. I shall end things in one or two days.'
"Did you come all the way here just to tell me this?"
'No truer words. There is still time before the ancient divine king's summons arrive. You may relax for now, and take your time to figure out how to sharpen your sword while you wait. Then I shall send you, brat, on a journey to paradise...'
Journey to paradise? It was at this time that Godou realized, Erica once mentioned Melqart as the god of storms. The current thundercloud should be due to his authority, which meant--
"If you wish, go on and cause a storm in this sky and over the sea!"
If that happened, neither ships nor planes could leave the is
land.
People would lose all means of escape to find sanctuary. Godou suddenly thought, if storms were summoned right at this moment, all the people on the ship would meet a watery grave...
'Hmph, it looks like you have noticed it, brat. Very well, I shall look forward to the amusement you will offer as a warrior. Well then, wait patiently for your punishment!'
The surrounding sky reverberated with divine king Melqart's hearty laughter.
The thunder and lightning swiftly vanished and the night sky instantly became clear once more.
Hoo... Godou exhaled deeply. Though the conversation with Melqart was short, it was rather taxing mentally. The ancient divine king of the Phoenicians. Even fragments of his voice were enough to cause serious pressure.
Godou originally planned on returning to his room to sleep.
"I don't know what to do yet, but let's replenish my energy first. Now back to the restaurant. This time I will enjoy my dinner properly."
"...Wow, you seem pretty well-adjusted to the current situation."
Erica exclaimed, causing Godou to feel a bit displeased.
Adjusting had nothing to do with it.
After that, Godou and Erica returned to their own rooms for the night. Morning arrived the next day.
Around 9am or so, they once again returned to the top deck.
The sky was bright and sunny, allowing a clear view of the morning Mediterranean Sea. The marine-blue sea and white waves glistened beneath the bright sunlight, and even a harbor was coming into view!
The ship's destination was the port city of Palermo on the island of Sicily.
Sicily was the largest island in the Mediterranean. Like Sardinia, it was an autonomous region of Italy and a major producer of wine and olive oil. Also a major exporter of fresh fish and gelato[8]; advertisements for these kinds of goods could be seen everywhere.
Palermo was a city that acted as the gateway to Sicily.
Historically, it had been the ancient capital famed for its harbor on the northwest part of Sicily. Once the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily, it was now the capital of the autonomous region of Sicily.
"Hey, where are we going once we arrive?"
Godou asked Erica who still seemed sleepy.
Glamorous on all other occasions, mornings were the only times when she seemed a little slow. It was quite amusing indeed.
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