Campione 14

by The Eighth Godslayer

  "The Lu family has relatives over in Rome. Thanks to this connection, we sometimes receive information from that person."

  "Sir Salvatore and the Chinese syndicates!?"

  Syndicates were a term used for Chinese secret associations. Liliana was dumbfounded to hear this unexpected news.

  Come to think of it—Godou remembered. Despite giving off the impression of someone clearly not diligent in gathering intelligence, Salvatore Doni was surprisingly informed.

  Probably because she recalled related information, Liliana nodded.

  "Sir Salvatore became a godslayer four years ago. Roughly at that time, he was hired as a bodyguard by antique dealers of Chinese ethnicity, which led to the incident of his visit to Turkey. Could it be a relationship forged from that time?"

  "Looks like it. Since those guys engage in the dangerous field of grave robbery, they would want to have bodyguards."

  Yinghua shrugged with a cursory answer.

  "Thanks to that incident, that kind of person was born... Seriously, give me a friggin' break."

  "Could it be, Yinghua, that you've actually met that guy Doni?"

  Lu Yinghua had been speaking in a tone of voice as if he knew the idiot.

  Godou's question brought forth an immediate nod from the demonic cult leader's direct disciple.

  "Just once, a couple years ago. That was back when I was serving as Master's attendant."

  "Come to think of it, Nee-san also knows Doni."

  "Well, it was a most unfortunate encounter..."

  Deliberately emphasizing unfortunate, this seemed to be a message straight from Yinghua's heart.

  "Although it's really nothing to be proud of, I've personally met and even conversed with all seven Devil Kings of the present generation."

  "That truly is... impossible to envy."

  Amakasu commented with a profound sense of reality.

  Very regrettably, Godou was also one of the seven. He had already met five of the other six. Speaking of which, what was the name of the final Campione he had yet to meet?

  Liliana also seemed to be thinking of the same person. She turned to Lu Yinghua and asked:

  "If you say seven, then that means you have met her as well? Madame Aisha who has lived in seclusion for a long time now, the most mysterious of the Campiones?"

  "Ah... Yeah, how should I put this? She is a good person."

  Recalling the past, Yinghua's gaze began to display exhaustion.

  "We only spent half a day together. If I had to attend to her for three days, I'd rather serve Master for ten days instead."

  "Someone even more troublesome than Nee-san, it's a bit hard to imagine..."

  "Even someone like Marquis Voban seems to be quite versed in worldly matters and would visit hotels across Europe all year round..."

  Godou was at a loss for words while Liliana was quite surprised.

  The Campione with the worst personality flaws was probably Her Eminence Luo Hao.

  Her eternal rival, the old Marquis of Eastern Europe, would still travel by train and plane like a normal person.

  But that would be impossible for Luo Cuilian. Godou was convinced she might kill all the "lower beings" on the same flight and destroy the plane with a strike of her palm.

  "Excuse me... I felt something when I heard about Sir Salvatore's affairs."

  "What did you see, Mariya Yuri?"

  "It was not to the level of seeing but just a feeling. This 'hunt' might perhaps be the starting point of something—"

  That was Yuri's response to Liliana's query.

  The Yamato Nadeshiko had remained in polite silence all this time, possibly because conversations about the rumors of Campiones inevitably led to badmouthing them. Hence, she probably kept silent to avoid making inappropriate statements.

  However, Yuri, who possessed the clairvoyant ability of spirit vision, had just delivered an oracle.

  Part 4

  'I, Sir Salvatore's butler Andrea Rivera, hereby issue a gathering invitation to you sirs in the exalted name of my lord. A hunt shall be undertaken against the divine beast confirmed several days earlier, I look forward to your valor and gallantry, sirs—"

  Reportedly, this "letter of summoning" was delivered to all of the Great Knights selected by Doni's butler.

  Without exception, every single one of them belonged to a prestigious association in northern Italy.

  "The gathering venue is Casentino Forest National Park in the Tuscany region."

  Holding a copy of the letter of summoning in her hand, Erica spoke.

  Not only Godou but also Yuri and Liliana had gathered at the Jounan Academy courtyard after school.

  "Sir Salvatore apparently wanted to flee the country instead of fulfilling the request to fight the divine beast, even though that level of an opponent should be a piece of cake for him as a Campione."

  Yuri's spirit vision had occurred the previous night.

  After that, Godou had contacted Erica, who then obtained information from the Italian side.

  "But strangely enough, as soon as he heard that the place was Casentino, Sir Salvatore's attitude changed completely, saying he will "standby in case of an emergency."

  Liliana commented quizzically, for she had contacted Milan's [Bronze Black Cross] as well and obtained detailed information.

  After listening to the knight's reports, Godou began to ponder.

  "In other words, there's some kind of secret hidden in that place..."

  "Hey Godou, do you still remember? You've been there before."

  "Eh, I have?"

  As Godou reacted in surprise, Erica continued.

  "Yeah, after your first duel with Sir Salvatore, didn't you visit Tuscany to slay a divine beast? That's the place, you know."

  "...Oh! Come to think of it, that did actually happen."

  Finally recalling, Godou nodded.

  In his recollections, the incident was extremely troublesome, so his memories ended up quite vague.

  "Based on the recent eyewitness accounts, it is speculated that this divine beast is the same as the last time's."

  "That dinosaur thing reappeared!?"

  "Coincidence, or not? For a divine beast to manifest twice in the same place, I find it extremely unnatural..."

  Yuri's doubts were not unreasonable. Also, Godou recalled something else. In order to win Doni's wager to decide who was going to slay the divine beast, the scene that had occurred in the town of Siena—

  "Speaking of which, that guy Doni really wanted to go there last time."

  "Yes, regarding this incident, Sir Salvatore has acted incomprehensibly in many ways."

  Erica concluded.

  Godou fell into deep thought. Salvatore Doni was undoubtedly a fool. But he was a surprisingly powerful eccentric and possessed unprecedented initiative.

  Even if insulting him as an idiot was acceptable, one could not underestimate him as a threat.

  "Then let's investigate a little..."

  Godou proposed softly and took out his cellphone.

  The number he looked up was one he had entered a while ago, because Erica said it might come in handy some time. However, when it really came time for it to be useful—

  Making an overseas call required performing a particular sequence of steps before dialing.

  It was currently 3pm in Japan. Given the eight-hour time difference, it should be morning over on the other side.

  'Ah, my friend and eternal rival, to think the day has finally arrived when you would contact me from your end. I am so happy, it's been a while.'

  Salvatore Doni picked up after five rings, with a useless-sounding voice as always.

  'It happens that my birthday is coming up and I was just thinking of inviting you to my party. Are you free next month?'

  "Even if I were free, who would go all the way to Italy to attend a birthday party!?"

  Godou responded gruffly to the other side's jest. How long ago was the last time he spoke to this guy?

&n
bsp; Nevertheless, the conversation flowed naturally. Without any hindrance at all.

  In actual fact, the two had only met a limited number of times. That said, Godou and Salvatore Doni's closeness did not change. Neither becoming more intimate nor more distant. To each other, they were the most familiar of kin—

  Realizing this annoying truth, Godou frowned and changed the subject.

  "Putting that aside, I have something to ask you, Salvatore Doni."

  'What do you want to ask?'

  "For the 'hunt' that is going to be held in Italy, the location is the one I once fought a monster, right? You initially wanted to go there yourself especially."

  'Eh, that's pretty informed of you.'

  Doni laughed wryly in response to Godou cutting to the chase directly.

  'However, well... Speaking of coincidence, this is perfect timing. Why don't you join in? I welcome you very much.'

  Doni seemed to have started smiling with joy during the first half of his response.

  Godou was certain. It was that foolish but definitely not frivolous smile, the one displayed only when the dark warrior was delighted, an acute and fearless smile.

  For Doni, whose face was actually decent, only during these times did he actually give off a handsome impression.

  "So you really do have some sort of motive behind this hunt."

  'Nothing at all, it's just a game. Game, I repeat. But now that the game has started, look forward to it. It would serve as excellent insurance if you came too.'

  "Insurance?"

  'In case something happens, Godou, a duel against you would be quite delightful, wouldn't you agree?'

  "Stop screwing around. As if anyone would play like that."

  'As expected of you, Godou, quite the tsundere, aren't you?'

  "Shut up and stop misunderstanding Japanese culture. Other than that, Salvatore Doni, you're searching for a certain woman?"

  Godou dropped another bomb to end the fruitless exchanges.

  Then Doni sighed.

  'If even that is known, it must be a leak from the Chinese side. Then speaking of which, you're on pretty good terms with Her Eminence over there.'

  "You also seem to be on pretty good terms with China town over there."

  'Good enough, I suppose. Before I became a Campione, I was earning a living by doing bodyguard jobs there.'

  That was when Salvatore Doni was still a Templar Knight fallen on hard times.

  If it were Erica or Liliana, that was undoubted a "job" they would never do.

  'I still keep in touch with them and receive news leaked from the industry. Sometimes they lend money. Sometimes they help do almost criminal things like kidnapping.'

  "It's not 'almost,' okay? Kidnapping is completely criminal. Anyway, cut this out, back to the main topic."

  After retorting against his ridiculous words, Godou went straight to the main topic.

  Although Doni was a veritable fool, Godou did not expect him to answer honestly. However, Godou still hoped he might leak hints through slips of the tongue.

  "You said it's a game, what is it exactly?"

  'Isn't it no fun if I tell you now? Oh well, but since you took the effort to call me, I guess it's okay to talk a bit about it? Recently in fact, I started playing a game, one of those online games.'

  "You're competent enough to use the internet? My view of you is completely revised."

  'No no, you don't have to praise me. I left all the setting up to Andrea.'

  "I take back what I said."

  'Even in a virtual world where monsters are fought, I still play the game with a swordsman character. But it's so weak. I lose whenever I encounter slightly stronger monsters or other players.'

  "I'm not really sure, but there aren't very many PvP games out there, right?"

  'Apparently, the guy I played against was already the strongest dating back long ago. I completely couldn't defeat a guy who had devoted his life to a game. It really pissed me off.'

  "Time spent on a game is different. It can't be helped."

  This type of maniac would be called a waste of a human being. Doni apparently lost to him.

  Completely unsympathetic, Godou remarked coldly:

  "Stop making a fuss and go back to the real world. You won't lose on this side, right?"

  'That won't satisfy me. As a result, I want to play a more exciting game, one that I can win.'

  "......"

  Was this why he wanted a 'divine beast hunt'?

  Also, who was the woman Doni wanted to find? Putting all sorts of mysteries aside, it was unknown which of the two Campiones hung up first. No more words needed to be said by this point. Both sides naturally reached consensus.

  Indeed. This was the type of person Salvatore Doni was. Despite his jovial appearance, he was a man who never cooperated with anyone. That was a line he absolutely would not cross. Particularly when he recognized the other person as a "formidable foe."

  Then again, the Campione residing in England was the same. Capable of provoking an inexplicable sense of hostility in Kusanagi Godou, he was a maddening man that could not be ignored—

  After the conversation ended, Godou already made his decision.

  He would head to the scene next. It was most important to prepare for what was surely going to happen. Believing that there was no better plan than this, Godou motioned with his eyes to his companions.

  Having been listening to the conversation just now, Erica, Yuri and Liliana nodded immediately.

  The final examinations began the next day after the phone conversation with Doni.

  Thanks to sufficient studying, Godou and his companions passed without any serious mistakes. Then the three-day long weekend in early February approached as the break after exams.

  Calling out Seishuuin Ena who had entered the deep mountains for purification, preparations were complete.

  Very soon, the exam break during the Valentine's period would arrive.

  Kusanagi Godou and friends departed on a journey.

  Chapter 3 - A Tumultuous Opening

  Part 1

  Florence was once known as the city of flowers.

  It was currently the capital of the Tuscany region. During the medieval period, the Medici family ruled the city and led to its development into a leading center of the Renaissance.

  "There are quite a few tourist attractions. The must-see sights includes palaces, churches, cathedrals, the Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno, and the Piazzale Michelangelo square overlooking the entire city..."

  Watching Erica introduce the city like a tour guide, Liliana chimed in.

  "Speaking of must-see, visiting the museums is also a good idea. You get to admire the works of great masters in history such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo."

  "But I basically have no chance of seeing all this. Even though it's my second time here."

  As the two girls introduced the sights fluently, Godou muttered softly to himself.

  Everyone was currently sitting in the back seats of a black limousine.

  The plane had arrived in Florence the previous night. After spending the night in the city, this car came to receive them in front of the hotel at noon the next day. Everything was arranged by the hosts.

  The car was currently speeding its way across the Florentine countryside.

  The destination was supposed to be one hour east of Florence.

  Although Godou could have chosen to find some free time to go sightseeing, he decided against it in the end. It was impossible to predict what would happen next, so it would be prudent to conserve his energy. He also worried whether Yuri might collapse from exhaustion.

  The limo's back seats were oriented opposite each other, so everyone was sitting face to face.

  "When it's time to go home, I really hope to go sightseeing for a day or so."

  "That's probably wishful thinking."

  Seishuuin Ena was the one who interrupted Godou's mutterings.

  After the trip to Malay
sia, this was another overseas expedition. Consequently, Ena was dressed casually instead of her usual uniform. Her attire consisted of a checkered shirt, a black flounced skirt and leggings.

  "After all, Your Majesty is going to cause another major incident on this journey. A trip with time to spare is definitely not gonna happen!"

  "The future is not set, don't go asserting so strongly, Seishuuin..."

  "Although what's gonna happen is unknown, don't forget that Italy's king is over there as well. Things cannot possibly end well."

  Casually ignoring Godou's displeased protests, the Hime-Miko of the Sword smiled as she spoke.

  Even Liliana and Erica nodded in agreement.

  "Indeed. When two Campiones meet up, something will definitely happen."

  "Her Eminence Luo Hao and Godou. Prince Alec and Godou. All encounters so far have followed the same mold. What remains are only the questions of whether Godou's presence spells fortune or disaster and who is going to be affected."

  "W-Wait a minute. I came for the purpose of monitoring that guy Doni, okay!"

  Feeling compelled to object to the girls' preconceptions, Godou interrupted.

  Having said nothing so far, Mariya Yuri cast him a glance as though she wanted to say something.

  "What is it, Mariya?"

  "Oh nothing. Of course, precautions against Sir Salvatore goes without saying, but I believe that the saying, 'to go for the wool and come back shorn,' often applies to you, Godou-san."

  "G-Going for the wool?"

  "Yes. In terms of pouring fuel on the fires of conflict, your accomplishments are no inferior to Sir Salvatore in any way, Godou-san."

  The graceful Hime-Miko expressed her opinion humbly.

  "While taking up a monitoring role, Godou-san, you may end up inciting new commotions instead..."

  "Mariya, you're saying you believe in that possibility!?"

  "Yes."

  Hearing her instantly answer in the affirmative, Godou went "Guh" and could not find words to answer.

  Furthermore, the other girls were nodding away vigorously in agreement!

  "Wait a minute! Saying that I'm equal to that guy or whatever, I definitely cannot believe that!"

  "Godou. Could you please review everything you've done so far and say that again with a straight face?"

  "Ah, uh..."