Halting his steps in a thicket, Godou took a break -- he finally reached his limit.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
The pain in his heart reached a maximum. Godou became completely immobilized.
He could not even lift a single finger, as if tied down and restrained completely. Godou collapsed, leaning his back against a tree trunk.
There was nothing he could do except wait for time to pass 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 Doni's. To be frank, he was expecting the abdominal wound to heal simply through a Campione's 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 Godou continued to be tormented by the pain in both his heart and his abdomen.
Godou's 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 massive blood loss, he was completely drained in strength.
A figure was gradually drawing near. On the verge of death, Godou 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, Godou. This is your punishment for destroying Milan's scenery."
"This I am powerless to deny."
Faced with Erica's angry accusation, Godou helplessly acknowledged his wrongdoing.
"H-How did you find me?"
"Didn't 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 Godou's 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 didn't usurp the authority of a god 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 Salvatore's sword."
"I had no choice, I needed to talk to you."
Due to the blood loss making his head dizzy, Godou could not speak fluently.
"You also want to complain about the assassin incident?"
"That's included, but it's 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."
"I'm very sorry, but I didn't 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 Japan and Italy, you know? Besides, even if our relationship did end, it shouldn't affect Godou's life that much, right?"
"Wrong. I said it before, all it takes for us to meet is half a day's journey. Also, if I clearly know you're in trouble, I can't accept feigning ignorance to continue living a carefree life in Japan."
A busybody who won't 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 Godou had no idea himself. Perhaps he was all of those.
"Then let's 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 Godou's face, she spoke:
"Actually I had been thinking ever since I bid you farewell on the phone. Precisely because Kusanagi Godou 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 knight's merciful heart of compassion."
"Well, can't blame you..."
"But for some reason, I can't 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 can't abandon such a man to his fate."
Erica slowly turned to Godou and said:
"I have already bid my uncle and the association farewell before I came here. I am no longer a knight. I am nothing but an ordinary girl -- I 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 that's the situation, you don't mind, right?"
"No longer a knight, what's going on?"
"Nothing much. Because I am joining you -- the faction of the youngest Campione, that is what I must do. So Godou, you have to take responsibility properly."
"Responsibility!?"
"D-Don't 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...
Godou felt embarrassed by his stupidity as he frantically promised:
"I-I know that of course. Even the matter of Doni is fine. I will see this through to the end. I'm gonna teach that willful idiot a lesson."
"Oh my, you've 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 Godou 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 Godou's assertion, Erica shrugged her shoulders as if amazed.
"Just so you know, a real pacifist doesn't make that kind of exception ... But let's overlook that or else it'd be kind of foolish. So Godou, let us form an alliance once more. Is that fine?"
"That's actually what I was going to request."
Godou 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, I'm at my limits."
"You're hopeless. Even though it's 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 Godou's hand in turn.
They had already embraced, had intimate skin to skin contact, and even kissed, but holding hands was their first time. Godou smiled wryly at this unusual sequence of progression and said:
"By the way, you probably know this already... I can't hold on much longer. I'm entrusting things after that to you. You handle it so well every time..."
"Yes. I don't know if you can call yourself fortunate or not, but there's no mirror here."
Watching Godou 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 you're about to bleed to death."
I see, as expected. Godou felt his consciousness slipping.
Like the last two times, he mentally called on the image of the go
lden sheep and used the [Ram] incarnation. Entirely defenseless while he slept, all he could do was believe in his "partner"...
"Enough! You're always giving me trouble, you know!"
Erica grumbled as she looked down at the sleeping Godou. 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 man's 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 don't you give up your futile resistance and put it on?'
'T-This shameless attire, I-I can't!'
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 sadistic 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 sex? 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 associations 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 God], you were sent over to Sardinia."
Erica Blandelli, went south on an expedition--
This news had reached Liliana's ears. However, the details were lacking.
The detailed happenings regarding the gods 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 today's incident of Sir Salvatore slicing Castello Sforzesco to pieces... Ah yes, and finally the suspicious matter of the seventh Campione's birth.'
Campiones appeared where gods 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 author's romance novels.'
"Lies. How could you suddenly awaken that kind of interest?"
She knew Erica's 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. It's not so unusual to enjoy that genre. But the stories I'm talking about, that particular novelist's 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-Classic developments always follow the same plot. Nitpicking on something that trivial would be a bit childish, no?"
'That's true too. To me at least, it does seem a little childish. However, it'd be nice if the author herself could realize she's 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, there's one more thing. I'm currently around Monza. The Kranjcar family's atelier should be in the area, right? I'd 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 Erica's object was not the equipment at the workshop, Liliana felt suspicious.
'Sorry, I can't disclose anything regarding that. Besides, I'm 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 Godou 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 11pm. 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 we've 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 Godou 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, Godou was lying on a long workbench. The rug beneath him must have been a thoughtful gesture from Erica.
"So, now that Godou has revived, let's 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. Godou was now dressed in khaki work clothes. Probably something from the workshop. Looks like Erica was the one who helped him change.
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