Campione 10

by War God of the Lance

"Dear sir must be feeling the same. Feeling that I am your fated rival, with my existence stirring excitement in your chest, surely your blood must be boiling? Hohoho, I know."

  No matter how much Godou wished to deny it, her ostentatious manner of speech was greatly reminiscent of the gods.

  Nevertheless, Godou's body and mind of a Campione's did not show any of the usual signs of encountering a god. Could she be a comrade of that particular Divine Ancestor instead?

  "You... what's your name?"

  "What? No idea. Or rather, I have forgotten it."

  The mysterious girl replied calmly to Godou's question.

  "Forgotten?"

  "Ah yes. In actual fact, my origins, the reason I am here... All have been forgotten. I've been wandering here for days, with nothing but passion for sustenance, yes."

  "What the heck is that?"

  "I was thinking there was someone I was predestined to meet. That person is my fated rival. This sense of certainty has been seething quietly all along."

  Extending her arm out from her cloak, the girl pressed her hand against her chest.

  Despite being obscured by the thick fabric, the contours of the bountiful bosom were still highly conspicuous. Even with such an obvious slender physique, her feminine characteristics were so voluptuous.

  But anyway--

  The self-proclaimed amnesiac girl should be no ordinary mortal. Who on earth could she be?

  A Divine Ancestor? Godou stared sharply at the girl--

  "W-Wait a minute, Godou. Are you sure you are meeting this girl for the first time?"

  Asuka interrupted, as if suspicious of something.

  Godou frantically nodded, trying to defend himself:

  "Uh yeah. Whether seeing her or speaking in person, it's the first time."

  "Clearly then, isn't this a case of intense passionate courtship? In other words, love on first sight? And a foreigner too! Unbelievable, all these inexplicable people everywhere!"

  "Eh? Love on first sight?"

  "That's exactly what the girl's words sound like!"

  Really? Godou was surprised by Asuka's furious accusation.

  Why didn't I think of that. Put it this way, if this mysterious girl's declaration--

  Godou stared at the girl.

  The girl with neither name nor memory stared back.

  Gaze met with gaze. Sight clashed with sight. Soul collided with soul. Indeed, Godou felt his heart stirring with excitement. He was bound in some mysterious way to this woman, that was what Godou sensed.

  "Hoho... How embarrassing. Dear sir's gaze is unbearable. For there to be an existence that causes me to burn passionately from inside, this fact... truly brings shivers down my spine."

  Flames of passion shimmered in the girl's eyes like a lover's burning desire.

  But that was only a superficial resemblance. Godou knew. He had noticed what she truly desired.

  But Asuka probably did not. If this misunderstanding persisted, things could get troublesome. Just as Godou considered various appropriate explanations, he was shocked.

  What shocked him was the childhood friend's question.

  "...Hey Godou. It's just a hunch, but you're not going to get into a fight with this person, right?"

  As befitted the longtime friend known since kindergarten.

  She was gradually garnering a vague sense of Godou's excited state from his attitude and demeanor. Just as Godou choked at the astuteness of Asuka's perception, he said:

  "Nonsense. This person seems to be in a complicated situation, so I'll chat with her for a bit. If necessary I will call the police or ask people I know for help. Why don't you go home first?"

  In order to avoid getting Asuka involved, he came up with this quick plan out of worry.

  "By people you know, you mean your grandpa or your weird friends?"

  "Ah yes, that's right... Wait a minute, grandpa aside, I don't find my friends that weird."

  "Yes yes. Let's ignore that for now."

  Asuka sighed and said:

  "Well, I also have friends I wouldn't want you to meet, so I'll take my leave with this thing. But Godou..."

  The paper bag held the gift for Shizuka they had just bought.

  Snatching it away from Godou's hands, Asuka declared:

  "You once described yourself as a pacifist. It's fine if you go overboard a bit in desperate times, but please be mindful overall. Okay, absolutely do not get involved with any messy conflict! Please bear this in mind!"

  From the childhood friend came gratifying and honest advice.

  But, can it be fulfilled -- Godou raised his chin at the amnesiac girl, motioning "Let's go over there." Smiling sweetly, the girl followed silently.

  "Hey you. Could you be a god?"

  "Yes or no? I have not a single clue."

  "Or a Divine Ancestor? I've heard that they always look like little girls."

  "...And so?"

  Godou fired off abrupt questions in succession as he walked.

  Any normal person would be rendered speechless by such questions but the girl listened calmly, simply giving meaningless answers in the end.

  In this manner, the two came to Ueno Park. This plot of land included Ueno Zoo, the National Museum of Nature and Science, the National Museum of Western Art, the famous Shinobazu Pond, etc. This vast expanse of a park was an imperial gift to the city.

  "I remember virtually nothing."

  There were very few pedestrians in the park at night.

  Walking side by side with Godou, the girl murmured:

  "However. In the very depths of my blank memory, I can recall a few scant scenes... I am guided by the white star, while a certain someone is guided by the black star. That person is the one destined for a decisive duel with me, for we are ultimate arch nemeses who ought to lead each other towards death. This has been branded onto my battle-scarred soul."

  "...Eh?"

  Hearing the unexpected subject of her murmurs, Godou unwittingly halted his steps.

  The girl stood still and gazed sharply at Godou in opposition.

  "The one shrouded by the black star is my destiny. And my soul tells me you are that one. Your life and death and mine are intimately linked and inseparable."

  "Perhaps... It can't be, you're Lancelot...?"

  The deadly battle where the divine sword of the white star faced off against the divine sword of black annihilation.

  Godou asked in shock in response to the girl's descriptions of that unforgettable scene.

  "Lance -- lot...?"

  Immediately, the otherworldly girl's face froze.

  An intense domineering presence entered the girl's deep and mysterious eyes. Aloof solemnity surfaced on that beautiful face that was like the cool breeze blowing across great plains of pastures. Then her lips shaped themselves into a smile.

  Godou felt power surging through his mind and body. Reacting to the divine presence, Godou entered a battle-ready state.

  "Ho, hohoho... Yes. Rather, I believed in my destiny. That you would surely remember my name as a knight and call it out. Thus the enchantment I cast on myself has been lifted..."

  "What!?"

  Godou was greatly shocked to learn he was the one responsible for awakening her.

  Lancelot du Lac. The white war god who appeared before others with an impressively cool and masculine image. Guinevere's Sir Knight who had killed Athena... That was the way it should be.

  "Wait a minute! Even your voice is different, don't give me nonsense!"

  In the past, the voice coming from the white armor had been a man's beautiful voice.

  But now Godou was hearing a beautiful female alto voice. A girl's voice inviting of tender affection.

  "This is not a battlefield, and one's armor has been removed. Displaying this Knight's original voice on occasion is condoned, is it not?"

  "O-Original!? This is your natural voice!?"

  Met with Godou's shock, the girl who answered to the name of Lancelot nodded "yes."
<
br />   Indeed, it was a solemn gesture very reminiscent of the war god.

  "Eh? Umm, but shouldn't you wear female attire!?"

  "How rude. Having taken off one's armor, the beautiful queen of the equestrian tribes stands before you. There is no obligation to dress up as a woman. Kusanagi Godou, you are truly an uncouth fellow foreign to proper etiquette for treating a lady."

  "Eeeeeeeeeh!?"

  As the beauty angrily aired her grievances, Godou began clutching his head in his arms.

  Taken completely by surprise. But then again, the fact that she was no ordinary person had been apparent from the start.

  But he never expected to be told something like this!

  However, there was no disbelief or suspicion. The actions, words and presence of the beautiful girl before him -- truth be told, everything was consistent with Lancelot du Lac.

  "Until just now, why didn't I get the usual restless feeling when I encounter gods!?"

  "In order to slip past your wary senses, the [Insane Rush] enchantment was used to seal away one's memories -- this Knight cursed oneself to lose one's divine name and memories until you were encountered."

  Beautiful Lancelot smiled with sweetness.

  "Used an enchantment to seal away memories... What kind of magic is that?"

  "Hohoho, an enchantment for provoking a rampage from a heart filled with dormant desire. Originally it was merely a trick to make someone berserk. Forsaking reason and dignity, consumed with rushing forward with insanity, more or less a minor adjustment to one's innermost heart. Like this time."

  Godou understood. It was probably something similar to mental manipulation or hypnosis.

  He did not expect such a hand from Lancelot whom he originally thought was only skilled at charging like a knight... But then again, going berserk from desire could be considered a sudden charge in a certain sense.

  "A ruffian like one is not suited to be a palace knight. This Knight has enchanted oneself on occasion, thereby breaking out of the palace. Hohoho, it has been a long while since one last did this."

  Lancelot smiled as she spoke, prompting Godou to recall a name.

  That's right. Verethragna was the same.

  "The myths of the 'Knights of the Round Table,' have you heard of them? Those were the stories engineered by the first Guinevere and spread by monks and friars. They even devoted so much effort to elevating one to the 'greatest knight.' Oh well, even so, there is no way to disguise one's identity as a berserk warrior."

  In Godou's first encounter with the god, Verethragna had also lost his memory and divine qualities.

  The one who placed the Persian Warlord in such a state was the divine king Melqart of the Phoenicians. Through her own authority, Lancelot had done the same thing.

  In the instant Godou understood, Lancelot approached in a flash.

  Just like that, Godou entered her embrace. Wrapped by the fabric of her cloak, Godou could feel the touch of Lancelot's hand against his head.

  "This Knight even forgot one was a god. However, one believed in you, the fated enemy, and wandered without pause, certain one shall encounter you again. And so, the wish is finally realized..."

  Oh crap. Godou smacked his lips.

  Due to excessive surprise, he had let down his guard. Godou instantly tried to struggle out of Lancelot's restraints, mustering all his strength, but it was too late.

  Lancelot's beautiful face gradually drew near -- and immediately the unexpected act occurred.

  The refreshingly cool beauty seized Godou's lips with her own.

  "For the sake of the beloved child, one must vanquish Alexandre Gascoigne. However, he is a formidable foe difficult to grasp. One cannot boast lightly of assured victory against such an enemy. So, Kusanagi Godou, combine your strength with this Knight and crush Gascoigne. Once the mission is accomplished, our deadly duel of destiny shall commence!"

  Was this the curse of [Insane Rush]--? Godou gulped down a mouthful of air.

  His mind and body of a Campione's was being ensnared by Lancelot's authority.

  What a terrifying power of coercion. Reason and dignity were accelerating towards insanity. Impossible to resist. Blood was boiling disorderly, and his heart burned like a flame.

  That's right. Defeat Gascoigne first. Then duel decisively with this woman afterwards.

  Having made his decision, Godou twisted his lips into a savage smile.

  "Take me to Guinevere. Let the show begin."

  "Acknowledged, one's destiny."

  Ending the kiss of the covenant, the white war god smiled gracefully and answered.

  Chapter 5 - Black Prince versus Kusanagi Godou

  Part 1

  Alexandre Gascoigne was a god-slaying Devil King.

  However, he did not have the kind of overwhelming vitality that allowed him to subsist on air. Neither did he have the lifestyle preference to endure living outdoors in the wilderness.

  ...But in actual fact, Alec displayed substantial survival skills in crisis situations. With that kind of ability, going so far as to build shelter on an uninhabited island, skillfully foraging and making fire, it was very possible to establish a new life of comfort.

  Nevertheless, Alec was an adult male born in modern society.

  He never wanted to emphasize that kind of vitality in particular. When staying abroad for extended periods of time, it became kind of customary for him to establish a local stronghold.

  This time, he chose to lurk at the Yokohama Chinatown in Japan.

  "Alec, what kind of Campione is Kusanagi Godou?"

  "In short, a person who brings tons of trouble to his surroundings... Anyway, it's obvious I'm busy right now. If you want to chat, save it for later."

  Alec quickly replied to Cecilia Cheung who was waiting in the living room.

  He was in the kitchen, noisily stirring a Chinese wok, heating leftover rice to drive out the moisture.

  "I consider my question more important than preparing lunch..."

  The bespectacled girl who remained majestically expressionless by default, spoke indifferently as always.

  "I hate being disturbed when concentrating on a specific task. It's almost ready anyway. Just be quiet for a moment."

  Stir-frying the rice until individual grains were distinctly separated for a fluffy texture was the secret to authentic fried rice--

  Wearing an apron, Alec stared only at the wok without even glancing at his subordinate.

  The [Royal Arsenal] association's commander-in-chief and its Taiwanese member were currently in a luxury apartment at Yokohama's Chinatown -- in a room on the ninth floor of the eighteen-story building.

  This was where Alec lurked.

  The port city of Yokohama, facing Tokyo Bay, was not a place worthy of being called a stronghold.

  Locked away by the labyrinth authority, the little island was merely a piece of rock. Even someone like Alec was not curious enough to want to live there.

  As a side note, the two of them were not using a rented unit.

  Cecilia Cheung -- as one of Chinese descent, she had asked a relative to provide her with this apartment.

  Naturally, the relative in question was no ordinary person but a core leader of the Chinese wizardry association, the [Nine Heavens Syndicate]. This relative was partial to the renown of Black Prince Alec.

  Had they chosen to lurk in the imperial capital's confines, the History Compilation Committee would likely have pinpointed their residence's location.

  Hence Alec made a request to the [Nine Heavens Syndicate], thereby obtaining accommodations in Chinatown, a place known to the Japanese wizardry world as the "Concession."

  "Here... Take these to the table over there."

  "Got it. Hey Alec, I've wanted to say this a long time ago, you really are a diligent person."

  Cecilia sighed as she spoke. She surveyed the unit as she carried out the crab fried rice, Chinese chicken soup and seafood salad that was portioned for two.

  This 4LDK[9] unit ha
d been kept neat and tidy without a speck of dust.

  The unit had already undergone extensive cleaning in preparation for the Devil King Campione's arrival. But in addition to that, Alec himself devoted time every day to clean and tidy up the place.

  'Servants and chefs? I can take care of myself. I don't like strangers buzzing around in my surroundings. Also, please keep your comments to yourself.'

  That was the order he had issued with a stiff poker face.

  As a side note, given sufficient living standards, Alec did not bother with making effective use of every room.

  All he needed was a single bedroom with a bed, closet and a desk. Researching or contemplating deep into the night, it was common for him to lie on the sofa when suffering from insomnia. This was enough. Whether a 4LDK or a 1K unit, having space to live was sufficient.

  Even so, he still tidied up every nook and cranny in all the rooms. That was the kind of disciplined life Alec led.

  Thirty minutes earlier, Cecilia who was staying at a relative's house, had just returned with food she bought from Chinatown--

  'You call this crab fried rice!? The rice grains are soggy and they used frozen crab meat -- not only that, it's poor quality stuff that's been frozen and refrozen multiple times. Let me show you how authentic fried rice is done!'

  Saying that, he began firing up the wok. At the same time, he started preparing the soup and salad with great familiarity.

  "Even though I seek expediency, there are things I cannot compromise on. If a residence is uncomfortable, I will personally improve the conditions. If I want delicious food, I will cook it myself. That's all there is to it."

  "That is one thing amazing about you -- a philosophy that works equally well whether in a city or an uninhabited island..."

  Boss and subordinate sat face to face at the table, chatting as they enjoyed their meal.

  "Well, that Kusanagi guy sure brings troubles to others."

  Satisfied with the fluffy texture of the fried rice, Alec chatted in an equally fluffy mood.

  "That guy's modus operandi is to go around claiming to be a pacifist. That's how he catches others off guard. If he is regarded as a dangerous object from the start, then people will notice as soon as he approaches. However, since he successfully disguises himself as harmless, people relax and he uses the opening to cause mass destruction."