Campione 14

by The Eighth Godslayer

  "If he disappeared, the effects on history would be unimaginable..."

  "Assuredly. I am currently starting to consider the possibility of Uldin becoming the future Attila. However, he seems to have said he had no desire to become king..."

  This speculation was fairly bold but also quite convincing.

  Godou began to agitate. Although he could not fight Uldin in his current state, Godou wondered if he should fight when he regained the ability to do so.

  "No one can guarantee that Aisha-san's idea of a corrective force is true. In a work of science fiction, this would probably be a parallel world instead, right? Yeah, so even if history gets changed, it'd generate a second world, leaving the original unchanged."

  "In that case, have you considered this? The Madame did not tell us, but in actual fact, she may already know something that could prove the correctness of her hypothesis—"

  "I see. Deducing in reverse huh."

  "Your Majesty. Ena has brought something for you!"

  Just as Godou nodded in agreement with Erica, a cheerful voice called out to him.

  Ena happened to be entering the hall at this time. There was also someone accompanying her. Like the Japanese Hime-Miko, she also had black hair.

  But unlike Ena's extremely long hair, hers was cut to shoulder-length.

  The woman was the blooming beauty who had ridden a pterosaur along with Clotilde yesterday. She seemed to be oriental in race, perhaps born among the Huns or somewhere in Asia. Godou greeted her:

  "I remember you are Uldin's wife, is that correct...?"

  "Yes. I am Ruska. Since he is not here today, allow me to care for your needs. Are there any inconveniences you would like to be addressed?"

  "I'd like to leave this castle."

  "Hahaha, unfortunately, this request is denied."

  Ruska was a black-haired beauty whose eyes gave off an air of weariness. She spoke concisely and her mood seemed inexplicably depressed. However, she reacted to Godou with laughter and a low-tension. She did not seem like a cold person.

  Ena was carrying a large plate of fruit while Ruska held a jar of drinking water in her arms.

  "Ruska, where did your husband go?"

  "No idea. He is a man who seldom leaves word on where he's going."

  "Ah, got it, got it. Ena is also the type who doesn't tell people where she's headed."

  Erica and Ena were already able to converse intimately with Uldin's other wife. In this regard, they really had first class social skills and natural instincts respectively, having established excellent interpersonal relationships without any apparent difficulties.

  "Anyway, Why is His Majesty unable to to use his power?"

  "It's the divine artifact. Delilah's Razor."[15]

  Ena stared blankly in response to the curt answer, but Erica went "just as expected" and nodded.

  "In the Book of Judges in the Bible's Old Testament, Samson was a man with unparalleled, supernatural might. His source of strength, his hair, was lost because he was betrayed by his lover, Delilah. So this is the divine artifact that recreates this story?"

  "Yes. Samson's head was shaved clean during his sleep, thus he lost his power."

  Ruska gave a grinning smile to Godou whose bangs were cut off a little.

  "Uldin had suffered the same before. But he deserved it. Because that razor is a tool that only women can use."

  "Was Uldin-san also betrayed by one who shared his bed?"

  Ena stared wide-eyed as she asked. Ruska nodded in response.

  "He's always behaved like that. Out of my sight, he'd immediately get friendly with other women. On occasion, he'll even take them home and add them to his troupe of lovers."

  "But provided it's only 'on occasion,' perhaps there's still hope for him."

  Chiming in sarcastically was Erica.

  "A certain someone somewhere would 'always' make his target his lover..."

  "Based on His Majesty's situation, it's not like his affections wander wantonly. He's always very serious in each case. But only thanks to that, Ena was able to get along so harmoniously with everyone as the fourth, so no complaints there."

  In contrast to the critical gaze Erica was giving Godou, Ena was smiling somewhat wryly.

  Nevetheless, both were acting in a way that would lead others to misunderstand Kusanagi Godou.

  Just as predicted, Ruska's lethargic gaze turned towards Godou as she murmured.

  "'Always'... 'The fourth'... Sigh, I knew it..."

  "Oh no, that's not true. Although I have no idea why so many girls gather around me, I definitely don't engage in Uldin's problematic behavior."

  "Hmm... You are very similar to him—Uldin."

  Finding Ruska's words shocking, Godou went "!?" and froze.

  "Probably, your personalities are fundamentally similar. Bold and unusually prone to willful unruliness, yet unexpectedly adept at taking care of others... And skilled in reading people..."

  Murmuring with a hollow gaze, Ruska's eyes turned into the color of glass.

  Godou was shocked.

  This was a change that he had often witnessed in Yuri—a Hime-Miko who had strongly inherited the blood of the Divine Ancestors. In other words, Ruska was also a distant descendant of the Divine Ancestors!?

  Erica and Ena exchanged glances. They must have realized it already in the previous day's battle.

  That was why Erica had said she was "not sure of the details."

  "The number of girls accepted is different... The world you were born and raised in is different huh. Hmm?"

  Ruska murmured as if receiving revelations through spirit vision.

  However, she was suddenly puzzled as she gazed directly into Godou's face.

  "A man from a different world... A godslayer who could not possibly exist here... Who are you?"

  "Yeah, I came from somewhere quite far away."

  Godou nodded emphatically to agree with Ruska's description that he "could not possibly exist here."

  Indeed, he really should not linger too long in this era. Wasn't it the same for Salvatore Doni and Madame Aisha?

  Should he discuss this with her? —Just as Godou wondered...

  "So you're here, Ruska."

  Another person arrived. This time it was Clotilde.

  "Uldin-sama cannot be found anywhere... Do you know anything?"

  "No, I have no idea. No one has seen him since this morning."

  "Really? That guy came over to visit me early in the morning."

  Godou recalled what had happened a couple hours earlier.

  Morning came very early in ancient Gaul for there were many who rose with the sun. Although Erica remained tardy in rising from bed, Godou was already accustomed to rising at 5am back in the modern world. Nevertheless, there was nothing to do here even if he got up early.

  Uldin had visited at that time. After a brief chat with Godou, he had left.

  Clotilde demanded forcefully:

  "Did he say anything about where he was going!?"

  "No, nothing about that... However, he was a bit annoying in the way he kept asking me about Aisha-san—the Holy Maiden in the town we were living in."

  Godou had no intention of obediently coughing up information about Madame Aisha.

  Hence, he had answered coldly and sloppily as though he were dealing with Salvatore Doni, thus sending Uldin away. Hearing about this, Ena suddenly murmured to herself.

  "Just maybe. Uldin-san headed by himself to Raurica, intending to bring Aisha-san back here by force? Uldin-san really lusts after women, right?"

  Rather than a deduction, Ena's suggestion was more of a cheeky joke.

  However, Clotilde's reaction was considerably intense. Her shoulders shook as she went "Guh" and stared straight at the Japanese Hime-Miko.

  "Only with someone like my husband, Uldin-sama, would that sort of thing be... That sort of thing—"

  "Oh sorry. Ena wasn't serious just now. It's completely baseless, don't you worry."

 
In a rare moment, the innocent Ena was actually panicking.

  She seemed to be saying "What a disaster, I never intended to bully her like that" with troubled-looking eyes as she gazed at Clotilde whose power had vastly overwhelmed her in battle.

  On the other hand, Erica crossed her arms in thoughtful contemplation.

  "But now that you mention it, I do feel like he is the type who might do something like that. Coincidentally, it happened precisely after he resolved the pending issue of capturing Godou."

  Clotilde suddenly looked up as a result of Erica's words.

  She was staring into space with a terrifying expression. Her whole body was shaking intensely.

  Ruska looked at her with a lethargic gaze. Soon after, she sighed as if finding things troublesome.

  "If it really bothers you that much, why not go and have a look?"

  Thus spoke the witch who wielded unfathomable powers.

  Part 3

  Although the honorary title of "Madame" was dedicated to Aisha, she was not of noble birth.

  She was born in northern India during its British colonial era and grew up as a daughter from one of those ubiquitous families of low-ranked castes.

  Her turning point in life occurred when she was seven years old.

  At the time, she was hired as a maid and entered the household of an Englishman who ran a diamond mining business.

  As an adolescent girl, Aisha was deeply loved by the master's young daughter. When it came time for the family to return to England, she convinced Aisha with repeated entreaties to accompany them home overseas.

  However, given Aisha's humble origins, her life as a maid in England was not completely happy.

  She frequently suffered hardship and all sorts of discrimination.

  Nevertheless, Aisha was naturally born with a cheerful and optimistic personality. To go even further, in contrast to her slim and delicate figure, she possessed the resilience in mental strength to survive in any sort of country.

  Not treating hardship as hardship was precisely Aisha's characteristic.

  But when Aisha reached seventeen years of age in England, a series of tragedies befell the family she served. First, the master suddenly passed away. After that, even the daughter who inherited his estate died as a result of illness.

  However, the daughter made very considerate arrangements for Aisha.

  She bestowed her massive funds and stockholdings to "the wonderful friend who had served her over the long years."

  However, Aisha had lost her maid occupation and was all alone without any relatives.

  How was she going to live the rest of her life henceforth?

  Not dwelling too deep into pessimism was another of Aisha's good qualities. After that, hoping to calm her tumultuous feelings through traveling, she set off enthusiastically on a trip to Greece. This happened to be the time of the great commotion from Heinrich Schliemann and his wife's discovery of Troy.

  Aisha was originally a servant girl who never had a chance to be educated.

  However, thanks to the deceased master's generosity during his lifetime, she was able to read the books in his library. Furthermore, while helping the daughter in her studies, Aisha also learned the corresponding knowledge and more.

  Aisha particularly loved history and geography.

  Hence, she chose the land of Greece as her tourist destination.

  There, she had encountered the [Heretic Goddess], Persephone. Left without a choice, Aisha managed to slay her first deity—

  Dating from her time as a nameless girl, over a hundred years had already passed.

  And now, Aisha was situated in ancient Gaul.

  She was an adventurer who traversed gaps between countries and eras. However, her adventurous journeys were always accompanied by disaster. Augusta Raurica was facing an unprecedented crisis.

  At noon of this day, black pterosaurs flew over the skies above Raurica.

  There were three in total. As their master, Uldin was riding on the back of one of them. Ever since Kusanagi Godou had set off for Uldin's main base, a number of days had already passed.

  "Looks like Kusanagi-san did not succeed..."

  To resolve conflicts peacefully. That was what Kusanagi Godou had said before he left.

  However, the young Campione from the modern age had failed. Perhaps he had lost his life in a battle against Uldin. Maybe the same fate befell the two girls who were his companions.

  As soon as Aisha imagined their unfortunate fates, tears overflowed from her eyes.

  "We had become friends through such rare circumstances... Kusanagi-san, I shall avenge your regrets for you...!"

  Clenching her fist tightly, she looked up into the sky.

  Were it nighttime, she would have sworn an oath to the stars. However, there were currently two pterosaurs flying back and forth, freely over Raurica's airspace. Furthermore, they were making high-pitched shrieks.

  KAAAAAAH! KAAAAAAH! KAAAAAAH! KAAAAAAH! KAAAAAAH!

  Overwhelmed and intimidated by the pterosaurs' flying and shrieking, the citizens on the ground were trembling nonstop.

  Augusta Raurica's population was roughly twenty thousand. During this time period, that would have been quite a large-scale city. All the citizens were terrified by the divine beasts' arrival and were cowering in fright.

  On the other hand, the pterosaurs' master, Uldin, remained casual and composed.

  Only the pterosaur he was riding did not make a racket. With its wings spread wide, the pterosaur glided slowly through the air above Raurica. Mounted on its back, Uldin surveyed the city's condition from above in a unhurried manner.

  It was as though he were appraising the value of treasure that had already fallen into his hands.

  Feeling a weight in her heart, Aisha began to ponder.

  Now that Kusanagi Godou was not present, there were no warriors capable of engaging Uldin in battle. Although she was a Campione like him as well, Aisha was not skilled in fighting.

  —At the very least, she had to assist the Roman army in the stronghold.

  She must encourage them in their fight against the pterosaurs and heal their injuries.

  Deciding that, Aisha quickened her footsteps. She had just left town and was heading towards the stronghold. She was about a kilometer away.

  In contrast to her frail appearance, Aisha was actually quite athletic and fleet-footed.

  As she increased her running speed, the path ahead was suddenly blocked. A black pterosaur had made a rapid descent from the sky. Furthermore, there was a rider on its back.

  "I've been searching for you, Holy Maiden. If I couldn't find you, my original plan was to break every house here, one by one."

  The man speaking from the pterosaur's saddle was Uldin of course.

  Aisha glared at the pterosaur's rider sharply. However, due to her inborn gentle temperament, she was not very intimidating.

  "For what reason do you seek me?"

  "Nothing much. I just wanted to have you in my grasp before I attacked the town seriously."

  "I-In your grasp!?"

  "Yeah. I want to make you my woman no matter what. It'd be a shame if you escaped during the chaos of battle, so I wanted to get it done beforehand."

  As always, Uldin made a shocking declaration with a cheerful tone of voice.

  "If you refuse, I won't force you to become mine. But you still need to come with me. Once you start living by my side for a while, I'm sure you'll change your mind."

  "Well well... That's really quite some confidence you have there."

  "That's basically how it always goes. Those women who hate me at first, they pretty much end up falling in love after a while. They desperately cling to their obstinacy as though they are trying to hide their change in feelings."

  As Uldin laughed with joy, unbelievably, his words did not sound especially repulsive.

  He was not putting up a front or bragging. It felt like he was talking about things in a matter-of-fact manner. Aisha realized t
hat Uldin possessed undeniable charm.

  However, faced with the crisis of her chastity, Aisha could not possibly give in so obediently.

  "My utmost apologies. I have no intention of joining anyone's harem."

  "Not even mine?"

  "Indeed. Granted you may be a rare hero, godslayer Uldin... But considering our status, you and I are equals. Hence, there is no reason for me to follow you!"

  Aisha tried to speak as sternly as she could.

  In addition, she began to increase the magical power in her Campione body with a cry of "Yah!"

  If this continued, she was going to be taken away by force. Despite the fact that Aisha did not possess authorities suited for fighting, she did not want to submit without resisting. If she did not oppose with all her might—

  "This power... Are you..."

  "Kusanagi-san and you are not the only godslayers. Besides, I already have over a century's experience since I first slew a deity. Some have even called me 'Queen.'"

  In actual fact, Aisha had no confidence at all that she could defeat Uldin in a direct confrontation.

  Nevertheless, Aisha still held her head high and puffed out her voluptuous chest, giving her best effort to look strong. No weapon could seize instantaneous victory in a situation like this. This was the wisdom she had acquired in her century-plus life as a Devil King.

  In response, Uldin glared down sharply at Aisha from his saddle.

  "I knew you were no ordinary person from the start... So you call yourself a godslayer."

  The pterosaur flapped its wings forcefully and began to soar once more.

  Returning to the skies, the Hunnic Devil King declared loudly to his peer on the ground.

  "Indeed, I can sense that sort of presence. However, that alone is not enough to convince me. Let me test your powers, how's that?"

  Uldin smiled fearlessly and reached out.

  He took an arrow from the quiver hanging on his saddle and threw it towards the ground. The arrow flew with a "whoosh" as though it had been shot by a bow, embedding itself into the earth. Right before Aisha's eyes.

  Immediately, the arrow suddenly burst into flames.

  The resulting fire instantly turned into explosive flames, incinerating Aisha's surroundings intensely.

  A fire god's authority—This must be the power he had used to counter the sun god's spear that Kusanagi Godou had summoned several days earlier.