Campione 16

by The Stirring of Heroes

  "Ohoh, that reminds me. Kusanagi Godou, I have a granddaughter who just turned two."

  "A granddaughter? She must be very cute."

  Of course, Godou had never seen this granddaughter of Old Man Zamparini's.

  But in the grandfather's eyes, surely she must be cuter than anyone else in the world. Taking commonplace preconceptions into account, Godou expressed agreement matter-of-factly.

  "Hehe, excellent judgment, Your Highness. Yes indeed, it is as you say, it would not be an exaggeration to call my granddaughter a peerless beauty... So, what are your thoughts?"

  "What do you mean by that?"

  "In other words, will you accept her as your lover? Kusanagi Godou, I have also heard that you choose to have many beauties serving by your side, thus building a splendid harem. Hohoho, as expected of the promising young Campione whom I, Zamparini, hold in high regard. Now that is truly a Devil King's style of magnificence!"

  "H-Hold on. That's a misunderstanding!"

  "You are too modest. In my view as the grandfather, my granddaughter is definitely a beauty worthy of serving you. Please do consider it!"

  "Come on, you can't actually tell if a two-year-old baby is a beauty or not!"

  Met with a reunion with this old man from Sicily whom Godou had not seen for so long, the night gradually grew late amidst a lively atmosphere.

  Part 5

  Despite insistent urging from the host, Godou finished his dinner without drinking a single drop of alcohol.

  Although Erica had drunk many glasses of wine, she did not show any signs of drunkenness.

  Meanwhile, the two adult men, Salvatore Doni and Zamparini, kept opening vast numbers of bottles with hearty splendor. In this manner, the banquet held in the restaurant came to an end.

  "Since the person he's going to see is Lucretia-san, I guess it should be okay to leave Doni unattended."

  Godou muttered. Currently, he was in a private room in the hotel.

  Zamparini had also booked rooms in this hotel where the restaurant was located. Hence, Godou decided to gratefully accept the old man's kind offer.

  The next day's plans involved keeping Doni under supervision and heading over to visit Lucretia's residence.

  "Since he waited until now to find Lucretia-san for information, then I guess he really doesn't know anything about the 'King of the End.' Looks like it's okay even if I leave him alone."

  Salvatore Doni had gone missing during daytime.

  At the time, Godou and Erica had felt worried. Perhaps the Campione of Swords had secretly obtained important information from ancient Gaul about the "King of the End." Furthermore, using this knowledge, he was very likely planning to reawaken the Devil King-slaying hero in the modern era.

  But standing next to Godou, Erica was frowning with an expression of deep thought.

  "It might be risky to believe it's okay to leave him alone. Consider this. Aren't you people the race that frequently digs out the roots of conflict? I believe that chances are not entirely zero for Sir Salvatore to suddenly come across important information regarding the 'King of the End' purely by accident..."

  "Maybe. But I don't want to tie myself to that guy, that's all."

  Objecting dryly, Godou then said:

  "In any case, I'll keep Doni under watch for now. I also want to see Lucretia-san again after such a long time."

  "I phoned her just now but she seems quite reluctant. She said she doesn't want you two to come."

  "Why!?"

  "Isn't it perfectly natural? It's no exaggeration to call it a disaster when Campiones are trying to visit your home. Rather, it's something to be avoided even if it requires pretending you're away from home."

  Erica smiled with a chuckle, causing Godou to feel at a loss.

  The people around him always touted Kusanagi Godou as "one of the typical Campiones," a heaven-sent child of disaster. Yes, it could not be helped that there are areas contributing to this image but come on, at least don't lump me together with Doni—

  That was how Godou wanted to retort but there were more important things than raising objections right now.

  "Hey Erica... Aren't you acting a bit too casual?"

  "Oh my, why would you think that?"

  Having just exited the bathroom, Erica was dressed in a bathrobe.

  Indeed. After taking a shower in Godou's room for some reason, she had dried her wet hair with a towel then started walking around in the room in this unguarded state.

  Since Erica was wearing nothing except for a white bathrobe, the lines of her slender body were clear to see.

  Even her cleavage was visible. Thus, Godou frantically averted his gaze.

  Just hurry back to your own room already, isn't this putting me in a weird state of mind? Godou agonized in his mind.

  Unaware of his internal thoughts, Erica sat down on the bed, crossing her legs.

  She even went as far as to openly display her beautiful legs of pristine white.

  Feeling his heart pounding uncontrollably, Godou turned his gaze away again.

  However, he also noticed a certain detail. Erica was sitting on one of the beds in the room whereas Godou was currently sitting on the other bed...

  Indeed. This room contained two beds.

  Was this actually a double room meant for two people to stay overnight...?

  "...Erica. Isn't it time for you to go back to your own room—"

  "Listen, Godou. You must have realized by now, haven't you? This is also the room where I'll be staying."

  "In other words, we'll be spending the night in the same room...?"

  "That's really slow of you. Do note that Zamparini is the one who arranged for this room. Didn't we sleep in the same room last time when we were staying overnight at his mansion?"

  "......"

  "His original intention was to book a suite that even had Monaco royalty making their stay in the past. But thinking that you'll surely refuse, Godou, he changed it to this room."

  "Well, that kind of suite would be a total misfit for my status as a high school student..."

  That being said, the current room was also plenty spacious but at least it was still within range of a double room's standards.

  As expected of Erica, she understood Godou's way of thinking quite well.

  Ever since meeting her, not even a year had passed. Yet the two of them had already survived numerous battles together, becoming comrades who knew each other's temperament thoroughly. Moreover, they were special partners as well.

  Even so, if he had to spend a night with a girl in the same room—

  Godou suddenly realized. Speaking of which, he had already done this sort of thing many times in the past.

  "You know, Godou."

  Also, Erica had come up before him by the time he knew it.

  Getting off the opposite bed, she gazed into Godou's face.

  "You should have experienced spending nights with a number of girls apart from me already, haven't you? Isn't it time for you to grow accustomed to this sort of thing?"

  "......"

  "Any objections?"

  "None... I guess."

  "Very well. Now that's my Godou. His Majesty the Devil King whose bestial desires cannot be satiated by me, Erica Blandelli, alone, but must repeatedly extend his poisonous fangs towards other girls."

  Erica sat down beside him. Now the two of them were sitting shoulder to shoulder on the bed.

  "Although you've already surprised me many times, Godou... This is still the most surprising thing. Despite clearly being a blockhead who has no idea how to get along with girls, you somehow end up causing Yuri, Lily and Ena-san to fall into your hands."

  Sighing once, Erica shrugged.

  "I suppose this is a time when I could say something along the lines of 'You always fail to understand my feelings—' But that would run contrary to my style, Erica Blandelli's. It's already too late to say that sort of thing. It would be undignified. Although I am definitely a slightly vaingloriou
s woman, perhaps this type of personality ends up the worse off during times like these."

  Naturally, Kusanagi Godou had no right to complain even if he were stabbed by the girls faction, with Erica first and foremost. Apart from listening respectfully, he had no other choice.

  No wait, perhaps it would not be too much even if he knelt on the floor...?

  While Godou could not help but enter deep thought, something kissed him on the cheek. A light, teasing kiss from Erica.

  "Let's end that subject here. However, in return, you must promise me this. Please, even if you're just going through the motions, please do not ever say that you wish to escape me—escape our feelings."

  "Erica..."

  "If you would promise me that, I could turn a blind eye to your deplorable behavior. How about that?"

  Godou did not answer the girl who had expressed her feelings in such a calm and resigned manner.

  Instead, he drew his face close and sealed Erica's lips with his own. Erica accepted him without resisting. Although the two of them had engaged in passionate kissing many times in the past, they did not covet each other's lips or entangle their tongues together this time.

  Simply pressing their lips together, they kissed quietly.

  Nevertheless, the emotions involved were perhaps even more powerful than usual. This was true whether for Godou or for Erica.

  "May I stay here now...?"

  "Yeah."

  Seeing Erica ask uncharacteristically in a cute manner, Godou nodded slightly stiffly.

  She picked up a slender slab-shaped object, peeling off the wrapping paper and the foil beneath.

  "I have a present for you, Godou. Open your mouth."

  "...Ah."

  Godou obeyed without a fuss because he already knew her intentions.

  Holding the slab-shaped object in her mouth, Erica bit through it with her teeth. Roughly one third of the slab remained on her lips. Furthermore, out of all everyone Godou knew, the most gorgeous and beautiful maiden was drawing her face close once again—

  Using a kiss, she delivered the slab-shaped object into Godou's mouth.

  The sweetness of chocolate expanded in his mouth. Erica was feeding the slab-shaped chocolate to Godou via mouth-to-mouth. In addition, her action was not limited to simply feeding the sweet confectionery to him.

  Along with the chocolate, Erica inserted her tongue inside as well.

  Cautiously, she used her tongue to feel for the chocolate inside Godou's mouth, even going as far as to lick Godou's tongue thoroughly together with the slightly saccharine taste, savoring everything patiently.

  In turn, Godou savored Erica's tongue together with the chocolate.

  While kissing in this manner, the two of them began to eat chocolate together.

  Using the tips of their tongues, they began to push the chocolate around. Moving from Godou's mouth into Erica's mouth then back to Godou's mouth again. Stirred by their tongues and saliva, the chocolate gradually melted, staining their lips.

  Godou thoroughly savored the flavor while licking the sweetness in Erica's mouth.

  Likewise, Erica moved her tongue and lips, licking the sweetness in Godou's mouth. It was only natural that their lips would get stained by chocolate, but together with its taste, they licked each other clean with their tongues.

  In the end, it took the two of them wholly three minutes or so to finish the piece of chocolate.

  "Hey Godou.... How about... we eat a bit more...?"

  Hearing Erica whispering softly before his eyes, Godou felt incomparably excited inside.

  "Fufufufu. Although I am aware that it is customary for Japanese girls to present gifts of chocolate to boys this time of the year, I originally had no intention of giving you any. This sort thing fails to interest me. But after hearing that Hikari had already succeeded in giving you chocolate, I changed my mind."

  The young beauty, always radiant with intellect, was now showing a smile full of bliss before his eyes.

  This was proof that she had entrusted her heart to Godou and heightened his desire to shower Erica with tender affection.

  "Although Hikari is a cute junior, it would be a taint to the name of Erica Blandelli if she always steals the first move. What are your thoughts, Godou...? I think this should be enough for me to prevail over her."

  This was most likely a piece of chocolate that she had simply bought in a nearby shop.

  Nevertheless, Godou experienced a mind-numbing feeling after savoring that taste. Erica was probably feeling the same way. Gazing into each other's eyes, they began to kiss again, this time without the chocolate.

  "Erica...!"

  "I could continue to feed you, Godou? Or perhaps, after the confectionery, let us carry on by making love? So long as you wish, I shall—"

  "Erica!"

  Seeing as she had said this much already, there was no point in suppressing himself any further.

  Besides, the two of them were sitting on a bed to begin with. Driven with passion, Godou pushed Erica down on her back. As a result, her bathrobe fell open, revealing the valley between her breasts.

  "Godou...!"

  Pushed down, Erica cradled Godou's neck in her arms, hugging him tightly.

  Godou not only felt her body's warmth but also the heavy and elastic sensations of her breasts, pressed tightly against his body, causing his excitement to soar even further.

  Immediately, Godou took her lips. In turn, Erica accepted Godou's intensely passionate kiss.

  As a result, locked in mutual embrace in this manner, the pair repeatedly pressed their lips together in ecstatic fervor, sucking on each other's mouth, caressing tongue against tongue lovingly again and again. Exchanging light bites on the earlobes, they even sucked on each other's neck.

  In this manner, the two of them repeated such behavior nonstop for five or six minutes—

  Finally, Godou pushed his body up.

  Separating from Erica's body, he interrupted the embrace. Rather than recovering sanity, it would be better described as a feeling of unstoppable momentum. Honestly speaking, he definitely felt inclined to embrace Erica and continue.

  "Is this where we stop, Godou?"

  "Th-That kind of thing is too early for us..."

  He had rejected Seishuuin Ena's request with the same reason in the past.

  Kusanagi Godou was undoubtedly a lucky bastard. These girls were all so adorable that they were irresistible. Be that as it may, if he were to accept them at this stage, his fangs were going to be dulled—

  This type of worry stemmed from his own willfulness and selfishness.

  "Seriously. Clearly I am ready any time..."

  Although Godou's behavior was quite impolite in a certain sense, Erica still remained smiling.

  It was the same smile of bliss that he had seen earlier. Noticing Godou's puzzled gaze, she spoke in an intoxicated tone of voice:

  "Naturally, Godou, I do wish you could carry through to the very end. However, I shall forgive you tonight. Knowing you desire me greatly in turn is enough to fill me with joy already."

  "Erica..."

  "Ah yes. As your punishment, I shall sleep with you tonight."

  Erica declared, still bearing a smile of happiness on her face. Godou went "Eh!?" in surprise. Seeing Godou in a panic, Erica chuckled and continued to announce malevolently:

  "It's because you won't accept my willful demands, that's why. When clearly I hope with sincerity to deepen our relationship, Godou, to make my body and soul yours."

  "......"

  "I won't be satisfied unless you agree to this level of compensation."

  "I-If I sleep together with you, I might not be able to hold back!"

  "When that happens, please dispense with your worrying, go ahead and whisper your love in my ear. I shall entrust my body to you immediately. Fufu, wouldn't it be wonderful if we could share the same dream tonight, Godou!?"

  This was a declaration Erica issued in unusually high spirits.

  Neve
rtheless, Godou was ultimately unable to refuse this decree—utterly shocked, he was unable to raise further objections.

  Part 6

  "I see. So you would like to investigate the mystery of the 'King of the End', Sir Salvatore?"

  Lucretia Zola murmured in her usual, aloof tone of voice.

  Oliena was a town in Sardinia's interior, a small autonomous community almost on the same scale as the town of Poppi that Godou and Erica had visited the previous day.

  The Witch of Sardinia had made her residence precisely in this town.

  Godou, Erica and Doni were currently facing Lucretia while she was sitting casually on the living room sofa.

  As a side note, although they had spent the previous night at Cagliari, that city was actually quite far from Oliena. Even traveling by car would take substantial time. Consequently, Zamparini had rented a helicopter(!) to send Godou, Erica and Doni here.

  Moreover, saying he had things to do, the old man had returned to Sicily early in the morning...

  "Truly what a disaster for the world, to think that another Campione after Prince Alec has appeared to track down the hero king's trail. Oh well, since you wish to obtain all available information regarding the 'King of the End,' Sir Salvatore, how could a mere witch as I possibly have the right to refuse..."

  "Oh no oh no, don't say that."

  Doni waved his hands in response to Lucretia's sarcasm.

  "I don't care about mysteries and stuff like that. I just want you to tell me the fastest way to revive the 'King of the End.' Can you do that?"

  " "......" "

  "It's not a question of can or can't. Rather, I am not privy to the greatest riddle. I am unable to respond to your demand, Sir Salvatore."

  Despite calling Godou "young man," Lucretia used polite speech towards Doni. Nevertheless, her lethargic gaze clearly displayed her regretful sentiments towards the foolish king.

  As a side note, the two who were listening to the conversation from the side, Godou and Erica, remained silent throughout.

  Rather than a wish to avoid getting involved blindly, it would be better to say that they found oral intervention to be troublesome too.

  "I see. Then if there's any summarized info on the 'King of the End' or something like an introductory book, please deliver it to my butler."