Campione 14

by The Eighth Godslayer

  Stemming from that, momentous changes could occur in the future world—

  Indeed such a possibility existed. If penicillin had been invented back in the Edo period, there would be great changes in history and medicine from then on.

  "Was Saint Raffaello referring to this when describing Madame Aisha as the most troublesome...?"

  Clearly a cut above the other six Campiones, the troublemaker who traversed time and space.

  Realizing this meaning, Godou sighed.

  "There are far too many unknowns. Avoid doing anything rash, Godou, okay?"

  "Yeah, that's really true... I will remember that carefully."

  Godou nodded deeply to acknowledge Erica's advice.

  Just at that moment, a giant shadow flew overhead in the night sky. It was one of the pterosaur-type divine beasts in Uldin's service. Only a single pterosaur was flying swiftly.

  "Is it returning to the castle?"

  "Perhaps it's scouting. According to rumors, [Tyr's Sword] Uldin has set his eyes on Augusta Raurica as his next prey."

  "What's that Augusta whatever you just mentioned?"

  "It's the Roman colonial city closest to here. Uldin has already visited that place many times over the past month, ordering those dinosaurs to attack in a half-playful manner. All of the city's elites have already fled. The defending soldiers have lost all their morale."

  "That's only natural. No matter how you put it, summoning dinosaurs in the ancient world is cheating."

  Godou remarked emphatically, prompting Erica to smile wryly.

  "Who knows if it's a blessing or a curse, but there are no authorities on biology in this time period. The dinosaurs have all been categorized as 'dragons.' Ah, however."

  Erica smiled mischievously as she spoke.

  "There was one piece of notable news. There is someone in Raurica whom the people call the 'Holy Maiden' and she has bestowed her protection upon the city—That is how it managed to barely pull through."

  "They defended against the attacks of divine beasts?"

  Ena was shocked by the news Erica revealed.

  "If it's true, then that's really amazing. The only ones capable of that are gods or godslaying kings—"

  Ena stopped midway. Godou also remembered a certain fact.

  "Since the 'corridor' is connected to this place from the very start, the chances of Madame Aisha being in the area are quite high."

  Erica smiled at Godou's mutterings. The Diavolo Rosso must have realized it a long time ago.

  Godou nodded hard, clear where they needed to go next.

  Part 4

  It was the night they decided to head towards the city of Augusta Raurica.

  Godou, Erica and Ena paid Old Man Furius a visit and exchanged parting pleasantries. Then they set off from the plantation during morning the next day, after receiving several "gifts."

  "Rather than gifts, it feels more like robbery..."

  "Oh my. All I said to them was how wonderful it'd be to have these items. Very kindly, they prepared them for us before we set off..."

  Erica responded to Godou's grumbles in a sleepy voice.

  The blonde girl, always vulnerable during early mornings, had not wakened completely. Nevertheless, she still mounted her chestnut horse in one gallant motion and started riding with complete stability.

  Erica's horse, saddle and the full set of riding equipment were part of the gifts.

  Godou and Ena were sitting on a four-wheeled, roofed, wooden carriage that was drawn by two horses. Over their modern clothing, the trio had a cape draped over each of them.

  As a side note, they had also received some clothing native to this time period.

  In terms of comfort and ease of movement, they all preferred their original clothing, however.

  "Well, it shouldn't matter, right? It's not like we robbed the poor."

  Holding the reins as she sat on the driver's perch of the four-wheeled carriage, Ena remarked nonchalantly.

  Riding the chestnut horse, Erica also nodded in agreement.

  Seeing the two girls acting like this, Godou was impressed instead. In a certain sense, they were exhibiting a dependable and flourishing ability to survive.

  Were the combination of Yuri and Liliana present instead, they definitely would not have accepted things so easily.

  In any case, the horse and the carriage began their idyllic journey.

  Horses would tire and collapse rapidly if they galloped at horse racing speeds. Hence, it was common sense to have horses trot at a sustainable rate. Naturally, this speed was quite slow. Compared to modern travel, there was no contest at all.

  However, it did allow one to admire the scenery along the journey in great detail.

  Godou and company were traveling along roads built by the Roman Empire's army. The empire's road network covered all of Gaul and allowed for efficient travel.

  "If we wanted to travel quickly along this route, there is also the option of riding a boat along the Rhine."

  "So that city called Raurica really is located along the river?"

  "The shores of the Rhine have been home to many cities since antiquity. Strasbourg, Mainz, Bonn, Cologne... All the cities in that region were originally Roman colonies. However, they had different names during this time period."

  With Erica as their travel guide to recount the past(?), the trio continued on their way.

  Along the way, Godou and the girls had to spend one night outdoors.

  Using the roofed carriage to serve as a tent, they took turns keeping watch as they spent the night.

  Thanks to Old Man Furius' care, they had ample stores of food. Since Erica and Ena were able to conjure large amounts of water through magic, drinking water was not an issue.

  If Godou really had to complain, there was the carriage's shaking that his body was unaccustomed to, which caused fatigue in his back and various joints. That was all.

  Then the second day of their leisurely journey arrived.

  Just as the sun began to set, Godou and his entourage could see the city just ahead of them.

  They reached the city of Augusta Raurica. However, it was merely the size of a small town by modern standards.

  Thousands of homes were lined in rows along the Rhine's shore.

  Naturally, the road Godou's group followed led towards that direction. But compared to the town, the stronghold two kilometers ahead was far more important. The stronghold was surrounded by walls roughly five meters tall.

  In terms of structure, this greatly resembled Uldin's castle.

  Furthermore, Godou and the girls saw it. A creature circling the skies above the castle, the same type they had seen before. The black pterosaur. The Deinonychus-form divine beast that could suddenly grow wings.

  However, this pterosaur had a rider.

  A black-haired young man was mounted on a saddle on the pterosaur's back.

  "So he's that Uldin person of rumor?"

  "It's very likely. Just as the old man at the plantation said, he's very similar to His Majesty!"

  As Erica wondered, Ena also made a surprising report using her excellent vision.

  Very similar to him—Kusanagi Godou the Japanese?

  As Far Easterners, Godou and Ena should be quite conspicuous existences in ancient Gaul whose population was virtually pure Caucasian.

  Feeling intrigued, Godou's group spurred their horses to go faster.

  However, before they could reach their destination, the pterosaur's rider made a move first. He tossed several small, white objects towards the ground.

  They were seven teeth from some carnivore.

  As soon as they landed, the teeth changed in shape. They transformed into forms shaped like the Deinonychus, except with bodies measuring roughly four meters in length.

  The mini-Deinonychuses were equipped with well-developed hind legs and vicious, hooked claws.

  They started running on their two hind legs, leaning forward such that their head, back and tail were in a str
aight line parallel to the ground. Their speed was akin to a steed's.

  Born from teeth, the army of mini-dinosaurs instantly reached the castle gates ahead.

  The few soldiers on standby in the lookout above the gates began to look nervous.

  "Those things intend to attack the town!?"

  The seven mini-Deinonychuses kept crashing into the castle gates that remained tightly shut.

  On every impact, the wooden door would shake intensely. While this intense clash continued without pause, the heavy timber creaked noisily. About to break, the castle gates managed to hold.

  Just as Godou was thinking a breach was only a matter of time if this continued—

  Ten odd defending soldiers appeared on the castle walls.

  Apparently, the walls were quite easy to mount from the inside of the stronghold.

  They swiftly drew their "weapons" and prepared to attack. There were several massive crossbows mounted at regular intervals on top of the castle walls.

  "W-What are those?"

  "Ballistae—siege crossbows!"

  As expected of a knight, Erica answered immediately.

  The soldiers used roughly ten ballistae to fire without pause. They targeted the seven miniature dinosaurs. It was a sight akin to watching infantry fighting against tanks.

  "Amazing. They look completely unafraid!"

  "Rather than courageous, it's probably better to describe them as foolhardy. It won't be that easy for them to escape."

  As Ena expressed her amazement, Erica was also surprised.

  If they were the ones launching the attacks, the two girls would probably inflict fatal blows to the enemy with single strikes.

  However, the Roman defenders also displayed great battle prowess. Using the ballistae—siege crossbows—they kept firing massive arrows that pierced the skin of the mini-Deinonychuses.

  Accompanied by the splattering of blood, the dinosaur army groaned in pain.

  Also, one of the arrows skewered a mini-Deinonychus' eyeball!

  GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

  Its eyeball destroyed, the dinosaur roared. It shook its head violently as if the pain were unbearable and rolled away from the castle gates along the ground due to the suffering.

  YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAH!

  Seeing this, the soldiers on the castle walls cheered with full fighting spirit.

  Their morale was astounding, despite clearly having such monsters as opponents.

  "I keep getting the feeling that it isn't actually courage. It looks more like their sense of fear has been numbed."

  As Godou muttered, the situation took a new turn.

  A man in his prime mounted the lookout over the castle gates.

  He was wearing metal armor with a helmet decorated with striking feathers. It appeared to be equipment that expressed exalted status.

  "Barbarian Uldin! Stop these barbaric acts that threaten our cities and towns, right this instant!"

  He yelled across the glowing evening sky with his deep voice.

  As a result, the black pterosaur landed near the lookout. It was Uldin. Until just now, he had been watching from the sky as the soldiers fought valiantly.

  "Don't say such inconsequential things, commander. It's been quite a while since I last found prey of value, I'm just about to enjoy this joyful feeling."

  A young man's voice. However, it was unbelievably filled with imposing solemnity.

  Without being shouted loudly, it was still transmitted clearly to one's ears naturally. This was the mysterious man commanding the flying dragons—Uldin.

  Godou could not help but listen intently to the man who spoke as he ordered his pterosaur to glide away.

  "An easily defended castle that is difficult to besiege. Soldiers who remain fearless in the face of dragons. Furthermore, a valiant general to lead the soldiers—An apt description, wouldn't you agree? How fares the beautiful Holy Maiden, may I ask?"

  "Shut up, barbarian! Stop subjecting this town to your violence and scram! Back to your dog's lair!"

  "Hey hey. I am absolutely not a man who is difficult to communicate with, you know?"

  In the face of the angry commander, Uldin replied with a regretful expression.

  "By all means, if you'll swear loyalty, I don't mind being your king for now. All you need to do is fight courageously for two years and you'll surely accumulate sufficient wealth and victories."

  "By that you mean you will take away the empire's citizens!?"

  "Mmm hmm. Although it's a little much for me to say this myself, I am already quite used to this type of job. I'm actually quite good when push comes to shove, you know? I also want that Holy Maiden as my woman."

  "Vile creature! You unreasonable, lecherous villain!"

  While listening to their conversation, Godou nodded.

  He was getting an idea of what kind of man Uldin was. He was very likely a man who commanded the masses and ordered others around as if it were second nature.

  Hence, his words and actions naturally displayed authoritative solemnity.

  On the other hand, Godou's two companions had different impressions.

  "Indeed. This man is quite similar to His Majesty, right?"

  "Making use of one's own authority as the godslaying conqueror, living a life surrounded by beautiful maidens. However, the man over there is quite candid about his desires."

  "S-Stop lumping me with that kind of man..."

  Godou could not help but grumble. Uldin took new action.

  He suddenly whistled loudly, causing the rampaging mini-Deinonychus army to disappear like a puff of smoke.

  "Very well, partner, I'll rely on you to go wild for a bit."

  Uldin called to his pterosaur.

  In that very instant, a commotion erupted in the lookout. Despite the commander's yells of "Engage!", the surrounding soliders forcibly dragged him down from the lookout.

  The soldiers manning the ballistae on the castle walls also fled.

  These soldiers had been fearless even against the Deinonychuses. They probably reacted differently now because they were familiar with Uldin's terrifying ways.

  The soliders scattered like spiders, leaving no defenders to protect the gates.

  "Smash it!"

  The pterosaur's master, Uldin, gave simple instructions.

  As his mount, the pterosaur opened its jaws wide and spewed out scorching lighting. The wooden door of the castle was instantly destroyed, blown away by the violent impact.

  Although this was indeed terrifying power, Godou simply watched with eyes of appraisal.

  Uldin should be capable of easily destroying this sort of stronghold.

  Godou clenched his fist tightly. He should avoid changing history as much as possible. However, he could not accept leaving that man unchecked—

  Should he act? He deliberated. However, it was only a moment's hesitation.

  By the time he realized, Godou had already jumped down from the driver's perch of the carriage.

  With that, he was able to move his body freely. Then Godou chanted spell words:

  "For victory, hasten forth before me... O immortal sun, I beseech thee to grant radiance to the stallion!"

  Godou had long realized the man was the people's enemy.

  Hence, he was a suitable target for Verethragna's third incarnation, the [White Stallion]. The time was currently dusk. Sinking in the western horizon, the orange sun gave off radiant light.

  This was the spear of fire and light released by Verethragna as the heavenly child of the sun god Mithra.

  "Hmm...?"

  However, the instant the setting sun quivered in response to the spell words, Uldin also took action.

  Frowning in surprise, he picked up a small-sized bow from his saddle with his left hand while an arrow with a golden arrowhead suddenly manifested in his right hand—

  The instant Verethragna's [White Stallion] was released, the ancient Campione called out:

  "O arrow of Rudra[10], grant unto me the radiance
of the sun's halo!"

  These were spell words to control a sacred authority. Next, the arrow of gold was fired towards the setting sun.

  At the same time, a second sun appeared in the eastern sky.

  It was the sun that was supposed to rise with the morning glow. However, the glow of dawn was currently coloring the brilliant red of the dusk sky into a rosy shade.

  Then a sword of fire and light was released from the second sun.

  "Godou, be careful! Like the [White Stallion], that's an authority for controlling the sun!"

  Erica's warning made Godou understand completely.

  Uldin was also a Campione who used the sun as a weapon. As a user of the same power, his instincts had alerted him to danger, prompting him to strike in response!

  The sun god's flames flew from the east while the [White Stallion]'s flames approached from the west.

  Godou's group watched as the two fiery masses clashed violently overhead, colliding with each other and mutually annihilating simultaneously.

  "Oh, I knew it..."

  Uldin muttered as he watched the battle of flames.

  He looked down from atop the pterosaur, obtaining a bird's eye view of the land. His gaze stopped where Godou's group was positioned. Then he gazed straight at Godou.

  ...Despite Erica and Ena's presence.

  Uldin made the pterosaur descend and landed in front of Godou.

  "Yo, comrade. Godslayer whom I am meeting for the first time. You must be the one who obstructed me, right?"

  This was the very instant of the encounter between two Campiones, one ancient and one modern.

  Chapter 5 - The Godslaying Holy Maiden

  Part 1

  Uldin was riding the black pterosaur as though it were a horse.

  On the ground, Godou gazed up at him, sitting there on the "dragon" saddle. However, Godou did not feel any sense of inferiority. He shrugged and asked:

  "How did you figure out so easily that I am your kin?"

  "All I needed to do was to find the most arrogant person around here apart from myself. The only one present who is not afraid of me, that's you and no one else!"

  The term "Campione" did not exist in the ancient past.

  Hence, Godou had not used the term. Uldin replied unceremoniously.