Campione 14

by The Eighth Godslayer

  Reportedly, the custom of only girls giving away chocolate was entirely a Japanese creation.

  For example, in places like Italy, the men would send cards to express messages of love. While Godou was recalling this fact, Liliana was talking with a know-it-all expression:

  "The difference in details is just a trivial problem. What is important is the attitude of expressing your love to those who are important to you."

  "But putting love aside, the custom of courtesy chocolate is really a pain in the ass..."

  "Having fun like this would be nice once in a while, would it not?"

  Godou was reminded of White Day[3] every year when Shizuka would always start a noisy argument by going "Take me out somewhere."

  Recalling this annual affair, Godou had expressed his opinion but Liliana's attitude was not swayed at all.

  "Sorry, let me make a correction. Confirming one another's thoughts is not only fundamental to interpersonal relationships, it is of ultimate importance. Trampling this principle will lead to people getting hurt—"

  Liliana glared at Godou with reprimanding eyes.

  "In order to prevent a problematic Valentine's Day, I will make proper preparations as your knight."

  "A-As a knight?"

  "Yes, confectionery recipes for making chocolate are fully prepared. I have already cleared my schedule for that day and made myself completely available."

  Liliana's slender face, reminiscent of a fairy's, swiftly drew close.

  Godou could feel his heart racing in response to the girl whose face was not limited to stern beauty.

  "I believe you are obliged as a king to respond appropriately. For example, take me to a place where we can admire a beautiful night view together. You can also prepare a card filled with passionate feelings as a gift."

  "T-Together with you, Liliana?"

  Godou felt intimidated by this proposal which seemed more suited to close couples rather than between a king and his knight.

  Liliana was leaning so close that they seemed like they were about to embrace. However, Godou was reminded of all the behavior they had engaged repeatedly at this kind of distance.

  Perhaps because of that, Godou could not help himself from nodding involuntarily.

  "I-Indeed you have a point, I guess I have no choice but to consider these types of activities... Right?"

  "Y-Yes, we are king and knight. I believe that these events are very important for affirming each other's contract of lord and subordinate."

  Liliana spoke with a shyness that had replaced her serious expression.

  Her stern gaze, which had been focused on Godou, weakened slightly and felt more womanly. To go even further, there was also a sense of connection between accomplices privy to each other's lies.

  Perhaps due to embarrassment, Liliana shifted her gaze away slightly.

  "Besides, apart from me, there should be others whom you need to show your care towards, right?"

  "Uh..."

  "Before indulging Sayanomiya Kaoru in her games, please handle things properly on this side."

  "G-Got it."

  It really seemed like the advice a capable adjutant and grand chamberlain would provide. However, Godou could feel subtle sarcasm in her words.

  Feeling stung, Godou nodded.

  "I think it'd be quite fun to do silly things with guys only on occasion, okay..."

  "Although I can understand the importance of spending time in the company of male friends, your timing is wrong. Consider doing things with them next time, please."

  Godou and Liliana's conversation deliberately ignored the gender of the person who had planned the gathering. But suddenly, Liliana displayed a pondering expression on her face. She was muttering to herself, something like "Wait a minute, if that is the case..."

  "What's up, Liliana?"

  "Oh, nothing, I was just contemplating something for a bit. Alternatively, Kusanagi Godou, you could come to my home late at night after attending the gathering—"

  "Late at night!?"

  "Y-Yes. If my home is no good then how about somewhere else outside..."

  The muttering female knight, whose personality was prone to delusions, suddenly became startled.

  She probably realized her ideas were going too far. As the notion of spending late night on February 14 with Liliana alone flashed across his mind, Godou yelled loudly:

  "There are so many things wrong with that, in all sorts of ways, look at it, come on!"

  "I-Indeed you are right. Please pretend you did not hear what was said just now."

  Because both of them were serious people, it was very easy to reach an agreement during times like these.

  Discarding the memory of the proposal from just now, the pair began the "aftermath."

  Since Godou was the only one remaining to sweep, there were still a few places to clean up. Then he had to return various things such as the brooms to the equipment room. Filled with fallen leaves, the garbage bags needed to be thrown in the dumpster of course.

  Once everything was handled, the sun had already set completely.

  "By the way, Mariya Yuri said she would visit the tea ceremony club before going home."

  "Is that so? Then let's wait for her and leave together."

  Godou took out his cellphone in response to Liliana's information.

  He tried calling Yuri and found out she was just about to leave school and head home. Hence, Godou and Liliana stood at the front gates to wait for her—Roughly fifteen minutes later, the Yamato Nadeshiko came out with a deeply troubled expression. Clutched tensely in her hand was her cellphone, the tool she ought to be using only when communicating with Godou.

  "Godou-san, Liliana-san! I have a special matter I wish to discuss with you two."

  As soon as she saw them, Yuri made an unexpected request.

  Part 3

  As a result, Godou, Yuri and Liliana arrived in Akihabara shortly after.

  The school they attended, Jounan Academy, was located in the Nezu neighborhood of the Bunkyou ward. Taking the train to Akihabara took half an hour and was a simple detour on the way home from school.

  The trio were now at the first floor of a large scale consumer electronics store.

  "So, what are you looking for, Mariya?"

  "Y-Yes, I believe it is called... a laptop computer."

  Yuri responded to Godou's query as if she were rather unsettled. Even unspoken, it was obvious that technologically incompetent as she was, Yuri had trouble understanding the concept of laptop computers.

  "There are so many types here..."

  "Apparently so..."

  After looking at the products displayed at the counter, Yuri sighed.

  The first floor—the level attracting the most customers—carried many different models of cellphones, laptops and desktops, the main products of this type of store.

  "But Mariya Yuri, why are you suddenly interested in computers?"

  Feeling intrigued, Liliana asked. Just earlier at the school gates, Yuri had made a request, saying "T-This time I-I need to buy a computer, could you accompany me to have a look!?"

  Wanting to ask the same question, Godou immediately nodded.

  "It really doesn't add up. Mariya, you're not good at using these things, right?"

  "Y-Yes. Actually, my father promised to buy a gift for Hikari to celebrate her elementary school graduation. She said a computer would be nice."

  "Speaking of which, she will become a middle schooler starting in April."

  Liliana mentioned softly. The Mariya family's second daughter was currently in sixth grade.

  As a side note, Godou's younger sister was also set to graduate to Jounan Academy's high school division in April.

  "Then just now I was talking to my father on the phone... He said he wanted to buy me the same gift. Although I said it was not necessary, he replied that it will eventually come in handy."

  This conversation happened after she had received Godou's phone call.

&nbs
p; Which explained the gloomy expression Yuri displayed when she was clutching her cellphone earlier. Yuri sighed.

  "Your father is so generous, Mariya."

  "Actually, back in middle school, I sometimes had to leave home to undergo Hime-Miko training and missed out on graduation blessings as a result. That said, I never intended to have it made up for."

  The Mariya sisters' father seemed to be the type to indulge his daughters. As a fellow man, Godou could understand the feeling. He nodded.

  "Although I can understand his kindness, it feels quite troubling because I am absolutely certain I will not be able to use this thing."

  Gazing at the counter with troubled eyes, Yuri suddenly asserted resolutely.

  As someone technologically incompetent to the point that even writing text messages on the cellphone proved to be tough battles for her, the declaration sounded very convincing coming from her. Thinking that to himself. Godou laughed.

  "P-Please do not make fun of me, okay!?"

  "Sorry my bad. But it's true, it sounds quite convincing when you're the one saying it, Mariya."

  "Seriously... You are the most annoying whenever you make comments like that, Godou-san."

  While speaking, Yuri deliberately turned her face away as if sulking.

  Godou felt happy to see Yuri's recent displays of this kind of attitude and behavior in spite of her upbringing as a sheltered Yamato Nadeshiko. He considered it a sign of intimacy between them.

  Despite being teased, Yuri also smiled in secret.

  Finding their dispute a little strange, the pair gazed into each other's eyes and smiled. Meanwhile, Liliana suddenly walked away with an awkward smile.

  The silver-haired girl was approaching the tablet computer corner.

  Apprehensively, she pressed a tablet's LCD touchscreen with her index finger.

  Then her finger slid across the LCD with a "whoosh," tapped and began to try out various things.

  Finding it interesting, Liliana moved her finger nonstop as though playing with a toy.

  Yuri and Godou walked over and spoke up.

  "Speaking of which, you don't use computers very much, Liliana."

  "Because Karen is responsible for using this type of tool at home."

  Karen Jankulovski was the Kranjcar maid as well as an apprentice witch.

  Mentioning the name of the girl whom Godou recognized, Liliana continued to manipulate the tablet.

  When Liliana discovered how she could use two fingers to zoom in and out inside a map application, she went "Ooh!" with her eyes glimmering brightly. Completely unlike her usual sternness, Liliana's child-like behavior was very much her style too.

  "Wouldn't it be easier to write using computers?"

  "Karen has also tried to persuade me before, but that is not true at all. Only by writing with one's own hand can words carry power and soul."

  Writing novels was Liliana's secret hobby.

  Her multiple works apparently contained her various feelings.

  After that, because Yuri was taken aback by the excessive variety of laptop computers, Godou and the girls went over to the household appliance area for a walk.

  He could tell that the two girls were very interested in electric stoves, rice cookers and other products.

  'Steam heating mode!' 'Uniform heating on the stone kiln's dome!' 'Vacuum pressure cooking!' 'Genuine earthenware pot!' With great passion, the girls read out the various advertising slogans.

  Not exactly mad about home appliances, Godou was bored out of his mind. But upon further thought, deciding it was fine as long as the two girls were enjoying themselves, he proceeded to follow them. Just at this moment, Yuri almost collapsed.

  "Mariya!?"

  "Are you okay, Mariya Yuri!?"

  Yuri suddenly tripped herself and almost fell down.

  Entering a panic, Godou and Liliana immediately rushed over to support her. Yuri went "N-Nothing serious..." softly and mustered her vigor with resilience. Without allowing Godou and Liliana to support her by the arm, she stood up by herself.

  "I am just a little unsteady on my feet... Perhaps it is because of the crowd."

  Although it was a week night, this was a large scale consumer electronics store quite close to a terminal train station after all.

  There was indeed quite a crowd in the store, noisy and bustling.

  "Although I do not feel tired at all, this happens occasionally."

  "Speaking of which, you have been absent from school due to illness a few days in the past month..."

  "Can it be because you forced yourself too much that time on the island?"

  Liliana frowned with worry while Godou recalled the past incident.

  On Circe's island in South Seas, Yuri had used spells and magical power beyond her limits.

  "No. That was already a month ago."

  "But didn't Lucretia-san have to sleep and rest last time because she overused her energy?"

  In response to Yuri's denial, Godou asked again. There was one time when Lucretia Zola had exhausted her magical power because she was caught up in the fight between the war god Verethragna and the divine king Melqart.

  Perhaps because Godou and Liliana kept staring at her intently, Yuri gave up and sighed lightly.

  "It really is fine normally, but only when I go to crowded places do I feel exhausted and dizzy..."

  "Perhaps it is the downside to awakening the power of psychic sensing."

  Liliana looked with concern at the Hime-Miko whose psychic sensing ability had grown in strides recently.

  Psychic sensing was a rare spirit power allowing hearts and minds to be linked together.

  Princess Alice was the one who had instructed Yuri in this power. However, the White Miko-Hime had also overstrained her body due to excessively potent spirit powers and had to spend the majority of her time resting in bed.

  Recalling Alice's condition, Godou and Liliana exchanged glances.

  "Although I do not think the symptoms are serious, let us switch to a different location for now..."

  "Yeah, since it's close by, let's head over to Yinghua's place."

  Inside a certain multi-tenant building situated in Akihabara, there was a maid cafe named the "Peerless Statesman."

  Godou, Yuri and Liliana paid a visit there together. The entire group entered the VIP room located in the depths of the shop. Immediately, they were met with frivolous greetings.

  "Ah, it's been a while, everyone."

  On closer examination, they found Amakasu Touma sitting on the couch, clearly in the middle of slacking off again.

  "Oh, you often come here too, Amakasu-san?"

  "Occasionally. Sometimes I grab a quick cup of tea here in between jobs."

  In contrast to Yuri's surprised reaction, Amakasu was smiling nonchalantly.

  Openly admitting he sneaked out to slack off, this agent seemed as useless as a lantern in broad daylight. On the other hand, the Hime-Miko's condition did not seem to have any further problems. Godou immediately motioned with his eyes to his silver-haired grand chamberlain.

  Liliana was able to stop worrying as a result. She nodded lightly in response.

  Deciding to have Yuri take a break here, Godou seated himself on a nearby stool. Yuri and Liliana also sat down on a couch opposite to Amakasu. Then the staff, dressed as maids, served coffee.

  This VIP room was also outfitted with game equipment such as a billiards table or darts. Visiting for the first time, the two girls looked around inquisitively, touching this and that.

  "Your special visit fills me with honor and trepidation, Honored Uncle. I am truly overjoyed to be able to meet you here."

  Soon after, the owner of the business, Lu Yinghua, arrived.

  He was the young member in the core leadership of Hong Kong's Lu family. At the same time, this youth was also the direct disciple of the demonic cult leader. A person of his stature could not possibly be stationed at this sort of cafe franchise all the time. Since Godou did not expect to see Lu
Yinghua here, the pleasant surprise brought glimmers of joy to his eyes.

  "That's so true, it's been a while."

  "Maybe half a month ago since the last time?"

  Despite being a slender and handsome youth, Lu Yinghua happened to be an arrogant misogynist.

  He greeted Yuri and Liliana indifferently as if deliberately avoiding eye contact with them. Godou could only smile wryly in response to his unchanging arrogance and obstinacy.

  "By the way, Liliana-san, sources from Italy report that a certain Devil King is undertaking some kind of suspicious project."

  "How informed of you, Amakasu Touma."

  Answering Amakasu, Liliana sighed. Yuri widened her eyes.

  "Devil King... In other words, Sir Salvatore?"

  "Yes, a few days ago, Sir Salvatore sent out summons to the prestigious associations in northern Italy. This time it is for participation in a 'divine beast hunt' in Tuscany."

  The sixth Campione, Salvatore Doni, belonged to Italy.

  "By hunt, he means hunting down a prey similar to my boar?"

  Hearing something unexpected from Liliana, Godou blinked.

  "It apparently lurks in the mountainous area in the region of Tuscany. After receiving pleas to help slay the beast, Sir Salvatore seemed uninterested in an opponent on the likes of a divine beast—"

  "So he thought up this stupid plan instead?"

  Liliana explained with a gloomy expression. Godou was astounded. As expected of an idiot who could not be handled by conventional means.

  On the other hand, Lu Yinghua, who had been listening with a bored expression, slowly spoke up:

  "Speaking of Sir Salvatore... He is apparently searching for a certain young woman in Italy."

  "You're saying Doni is looking for someone?"

  Hearing this unexpected news from Italy, Godou was surprised again.

  On the other hand, Liliana, who belonged to a Milanese magic association, was inclining her head in doubt.

  "I did not hear anything about this from the [Bronze Black Cross]."

  "Oh my, well, the Italian king actually has an acquaintance in Rome's Chinatown. His Majesty sometimes relies on him for intelligence gathering and underground jobs that must be performed covertly."

  Lu Yinghua answered readily with a shrug.