Campione 06

by Flying Phoenix of Divine Mountain

  As for Erica, she was smiling with a satisfied expression.

  Though it wasn't "mission accomplished" exactly, she seemed very happy. Of course, that was the devil's smile that always enjoyed ridiculing Godou.

  Chapter 3 - Converging on the Holy Sanctum

  Part 1

  It was after school on the next day after encountering Mariya Hikari.

  Godou was heading towards Nanao Shrine at Shiba Park. After the Kuhoudzuka gentleman had left yesterday, Godou decided to discuss the issue of taking up the Hime-Miko post once again.

  "Saitenguu[23] is a shrine on Nikkou mountain in the Tochigi prefecture. The Hime-Miko stationed there requires a certain special disposition, but it is an extremely rare power, so the post has been vacant for almost a century."

  Leaving the subway on the way to the shrine, Yuri was explaining to Godou as they walked together.

  Erica and Liliana were not present. Godou decided having them present would not be appropriate for handling matters related to the Hime-Miko and the History Compilation Committee, so he did not tell them he was going to Nanao Shrine.

  "A century? Then she must be amazing."

  "Yes, simply possessing this ability makes Hikari a rare apprentice Hime-Miko of the century. A long time ago, the Kuhoudzuka family discovered my sister and ever since, they have been trying to arrange for her to move to Saitenguu. Nevertheless, we shielded her from knowing any concrete details until recently because of her young age and powers that had yet to mature."

  Yuri displayed a rather depressed expression as she discussed the matter.

  "Most likely because her current spirit power has approached the level required to take up the responsibilities of the Saitenguu Hime-Miko, Mikihiko-san began coming a month ago..."

  "Ah yes, having her talents and ability recognized isn't necessarily a bad thing."

  Back in elementary and middle school, Godou had been very serious about playing baseball.

  Had he continued, perhaps he could have entered one of the strongest high school teams in Tokyo. However, Godou was presented with the decision at the age of fifteen. For Hikari who was just a twelve-year-old elementary school student, wasn't it a bit too early?

  "Just as Mikihiko-san said, it is actually quite common in the Hime-Miko world to leave home to undergo training at my sister's age. Back when I was her age, I had already left home for two years."

  "Eh, Mariya also left home before?"

  "Yes, to undergo miko training with Ena and Kaoru together."

  Yuri named two other Hime-Miko that Godou also knew.

  "However, the significance of Hikari going to Saitenguu is different. To the Kuhoudzuka family, she is the rare Hime-Miko of the century. She will have very little opportunity for time off from her post and will probably be forbidden to go home. She could very well spend decades there just like that."

  "...This kind of lifetime decision, how could they let a child decide --"

  The two of them reached the front steps of Nanao Shrine.

  This set of stone steps was the tallest in Tokyo and very steep. Adjusting himself to match the pace of Yuri who was not very athletic, Godou slowly climbed up.

  The struggling Hime-Miko, with large beads of sweat appearing on her face, seemed even more beautiful than usual.

  "Mariya, are you able to endure? Come, hold on to my hand."

  "G-Godou-san, thank you very much."

  Because she looked like she was having a tough time, Godou naturally extended his hand, and very naturally Yuri held Godou's hand -- after which the two of them began to realize.

  "D-Do not misunderstand, there is no deeper meaning to this!"

  "Yes, I-I know that of course!"

  Feeling like he should have let go straight away, Godou relaxed his grip as his heart raced.

  In his heart he still worried about Yuri who forced herself despite her poor stamina. There was a feeling like he couldn't bear to let go of her hand, probably because of this reason? Godou waited for her to let go.

  "H-How troubling. Doing this in such a place... If anyone saw..."

  Yuri lowered her head slightly, shyly murmuring to herself.

  However, she didn't let go either. Godou had already relaxed his grip, so in order to separate, all she needed to do was withdraw her hand.

  "Y-Yes. Since Mariya looked so exhausted, I wanted to assist you a little..."

  "Y-Yes... If that is the case, continuing like this is fine. Just as you said, I am very exhausted..."

  Godou suddenly felt like his mind had gone blank, and he said something incomprehensible --

  Awkward and feeling shy, Yuri somehow wanted to maintain the current situation --

  In the end, the two of them went up the stone steps hand in hand.

  Godou pulling Yuri, as they climbed the steps.

  Successfully reaching the end of the steps, the two finally released their hands.

  Godou forced himself to ignore that feeling of reluctance, and stole a glance at Yuri's face. Her head was bowed down, and her cheeks were bright red.

  But still she remained standing close to Godou's side, walking beside him, it was a rather unsettling distance.

  Godou felt that Yuri was exceptionally adorable, but just at that moment, he heard a cheerful voice.

  "I've waited for so long for you, Onii-sama, Onee-chan!"

  The short and cute little girl wearing a miko outfit consisting of a white top and red hakama[24], was approaching Godou.

  It was Mariya Hikari of course, and Godou forcefully suppressed and calmed his wavering heart.

  Having just returned from school, Godou and Yuri were still wearing their uniform.

  In order to wait for Yuri to change into her miko outfit at the shrine office, Godou and Hikari sat down in the yard and began to chat.

  "Every time I come here I have this question. This place is always so peaceful even though it is in the city center."

  Godou surveyed the shrine which was empty except for himself.

  It was a weekday afternoon, and furthermore this shrine wasn't a famous tourist destination. Considering these conditions, of course there wouldn't be any worshipers. But wouldn't it be better if there were more people?

  "Most people have not heard of the shrine at Nanao, because it is located on important spiritual grounds. In order to prevent disclosure of information about this place, the History Compilation Committee has put in a lot of secret effort in the background."

  Yuri replied.

  She had likely calmed herself while changing, and was back to her usual Hime-Miko attitude.

  "That is why, the only people coming here to worship are nearby residents."

  Hikari added, that this shrine was also used for training sometimes.

  When other shrine staff occasionally passed by and saw Godou, they nodded politely and immediately went on their way. Godou was very concerned about how those people viewed him.

  "...Anyway let's not talk about that, continuing yesterday's discussion."

  Godou decided to put other concerns aside and went straight to the main point.

  "Nikkou's shrine's compelling reason for having you as a miko, what is it exactly?"

  "That is because I can use [Disaster Purification]. The Saitenguu Hime-Miko must be someone who is skilled at using this power... By the way, let me demonstrate. Onee-chan, please use some spell of your choosing."

  Hearing Hikari's request, Yuri took out from her outfit a white square piece of Japanese paper[25].

  Folding with her slender fingers, she immediately reproduced the form of a familiar animal -- the crane. Using origami, Yuri had folded the piece of paper into a white crane.

  The paper crane sitting on the palm of the Hime-Miko, began to float lightly up into the sky.

  "It floated!?"

  Godou watched in amazement, as Yuri grabbed the paper crane and tore it into two.

  Releasing the torn pieces of paper, Godou expected them to fall to the ground, but the two pieces b
egan to fly and turned into cranes like the one before.

  Yuri repeatedly increased the number of paper cranes in this way, stopping when there were twelve.

  "This is nothing really, just a very simple spell..."

  Yuri smiled shyly. The paper cranes drifted slowly in the air, but in the instant when Hikari grabbed one of them, all twelve cranes vanished.

  Left in Hikari's hand was a single white sheet of Japanese paper.

  Though complicated fold creases remained, it had lost its crane shape and returned to the original square.

  "Onii-chan, this is disaster purification! However, it's not a very flashy ability."

  "Simply stated, it can dispel spells and magical power. Hikari can erase all those nonexistent supernatural powers."

  "Because I am still in training, it only works through direct contact."

  Hearing the sisters' explanation, Godou nodded to express understanding.

  Describing the ability as not very flashy, true, it was quite unassuming. However, it should be an extremely convenient power instead.

  "Could it erase the power of gods and us Campiones? If that's possible, then it should be able to reduce the damage when a crisis occurs!"

  Godou suddenly thought of this, and directly brought it up. Such a meaningful ability, should best be used against those who threatened world peace. (But quite regrettably, Godou could not exclude himself from that group.)

  "Umm, as for that... It's actually not possible~~"

  "A Campione or a [Heretic God]'s authority, consists of extremely powerful magic. No matter how much we try, it can only erase a small portion, or weaken it for a very short period of time."

  Godou's wishful thinking was immediately refuted by the sisters.

  "If that's the case... What a shame. So why do they need a miko with this kind of power?"

  "They did not explain to us either, why the Saitenguu Hime-Miko requires the power of disaster purification."

  Yuri was a little troubled, and Godou frowned.

  "Not even telling the candidate and her family the reason for being selected, that's going a bit too far."

  "It cannot be helped. Saitenguu is a part of Nikkou Toushouguu[26], and an important spiritual site where the divine monarch is guarded. Information about this place is top secret amongst the secrets of the Kuhoudzuka family. Even though we are Hime-Miko, the stature of the Mariya family is not enough, and they have no obligation to explain anything to us."

  Speaking of the divine monarch, that should be Tokugawa Ieyasu[27], right? Godou recalled what he knew about Nikkou Toushouguu.

  After the death of Tokugawa Ieyasu, a shrine was built as a mausoleum where his remains were kept and venerated. The deity worshiped there was, of course, the deified Divine Monarch Lord Ieyasu. As a god, his name was Toushou Daigongen.

  "I really cannot be at ease letting you go over alone to those suspicious characters... To be honest, I feel that they are completely untrustworthy."

  "But Onii-sama, Mikihiko-san is not a bad person."

  Hikari answered Godou with a troubled expression.

  "According to Ena-neesama, amongst the heirs of the Four Families, he is the most earnest and serious!"

  Seishuuin Ena actually had the self-awareness to know she took things too lightly eh? This revelation made Godou deeply impressed.

  "If he was such a serious person, why does he have to undertake such a problematic recruitment?"

  "Saitenguu was built three hundred years ago, and the Kuhoudzuka family has been guarding it all along. For that kind of prestigious family with roots in ancient wizardry, there must be many unreasonable rules passed down. Most likely Mikihiko-san is bound by something like that, and lost his freedom."

  Yuri explained.

  "Just like those troublesome family rules in those ancient clans that frequently occur in history books?"

  "S-Should be. Ah--?"

  Responding to Godou's rough analogy, Yuri suddenly began to look around.

  "Mariya, what's with you?"

  "Ah, nothing, it just feels like someone has been staring at us all along."

  Though Yuri dismissed it as her imagination, Godou disagreed. If the Hime-Miko who possessed outstanding spirit vision said she "felt something" then there was very little chance of it being nothing.

  "Onee-chan, let's use the birds just now to investigate?"

  "Right... Just to be safe, let us do that."

  At her younger sister's suggestion, Yuri used the same method from before to make ten-odd paper cranes. The paper cranes flew within the boundaries of the shrine area, all in different directions.

  With the sound of paper shredding, one of the paper cranes was suddenly torn apart. At the same time there was a yell.

  "Wah!?"

  The sound came from a corner of a nearby pine tree, where the paper crane broke.

  After pondering for a moment, Godou turned to Hikari.

  "Umm... That move you did just now, could you try it on the tree over there."

  "Ah, yes, I got it, Onii-sama."

  Hikari walked over to the tree Godou indicated and touched it.

  Suddenly, a person's outline appeared on the bark of the pine tree, and soon the outline turned into the beautiful form of a girl of Eastern European descent with a silver ponytail.

  "Liliana... What are you doing in such a place?"

  Hearing Godou's voice, Liliana Kranjcar nervously explained:

  "J-Just acting as a bodyguard, I was worried about you."

  The expected answer.

  This female knight always called herself Kusanagi Godou's bodyguard and followed him.

  "Didn't I tell you before, not to do anything so overboard?"

  "Not overboard at all, this is a necessary precaution for protecting the lord, it is a knight's duty."

  In order to hide her embarrassment, Liliana answered seriously.

  Part 2

  Liliana Kranjcar was very talented at illusionary spells. When used, she could make her body one with the bark of a tree, it was a spell that worked like camouflage.

  "This is called disaster purification, right? To be able to disrupt my [Concealment], that is quite capable of you. A similar kind of spell can be obtained through the blessing of good fortune borrowed from the fairies, but it requires accumulation over long periods of time. Overall, yours is the most excellent form of anti-magic techniques."

  After her spell was neutralized, Liliana explained.

  "Fu, that's quite amazing. Anyway, Liliana."

  "Y-Yes."

  "No matter what, secretly following me is going too far. Give me a break."

  Godou had already become accustomed to dealing with this silver-haired female knight.

  She was not a dense person, rather, one should describe her as oversensitive, causing her to appear meddlesome sometimes. In situations like this it was best to communicate properly with her, letting her know she doesn't need to go so far in taking care of him.

  However, Liliana replied with a worried expression:

  "But today you are seeing another woman behind my back!"

  "Not a woman, a girl! Besides, isn't her sister Mariya coming along with me!"

  "Kusanagi Godou, your explanation has a little bit of merit. But I understand very well, Japanese people have always held an interest in young girls even back in the Heian period. Like that Hikaru Genji[28], also deceived a very young girl to become his wife."

  Lucretia Zola was the same. Do they both want to make trouble for Murasaki Shikibu[29] so much?

  Seeing the doubt on Godou's face, Liliana continued:

  "The probability of the younger Mariya sister becoming your underaged bride is definitely quite high. Statistically, males will automatically fall for young females who approach and offer themselves willingly."

  "Onee-chan, is this true!? Does Onii-sama plan on having me as a concubine!?"

  "N-No such thing, and you are not allowed to use a term like concubine!"

  Seeing th
e honest Hikari surprised, and Yuri scolding her, Godou made his decision.

  He cannot allow this misunderstanding to persist. He must take this opportunity to make things clear.

  "Don't use a term like underaged bride. Now is a good opportunity, I will make myself clear."

  "Yes, I understand."

  "Liliana, don't misunderstand, I am not the playboy in your imagination, and I have never been popular with girls. If you really need a description, I am the very serious type who has never gotten used to dealing with females."

  Telling her his sincere opinion, Liliana listened and nodded deeply.

  "Kusanagi Godou, I understand very well, I already know what kind of person you are."

  "Though you say that... You always act like a loose cannon."

  "I do everything I do because I understand you. In contrast to your massive web of female relationships, you prefer a modest and simple life, right? Though your actions are those of an advocate for a life of pleasure under polygamy, on an intellectual level you insist on monogamy..."

  "Yes, yes... But take out the redundant parts about the massive web of female relationships and a life of pleasure."

  "Is that so? About that point, I have actually done some investigations."

  What did Liliana investigate? Godou pondered in puzzlement.

  "Recently, I have found it rather unbelievable. Having followed you closely during this time, I have come to understand your personality and preferences. However, I have found it completely impossible to reconcile the fact that you are somehow managing a harem containing Erica and Mariya Yuri. How on earth was it possible... In order to solve this mystery, I have investigated all your female relationships over the past few years."

  For her to have done such a thing. But even if one were to investigate the female relationships of Kusanagi Godou, whose age equals the number of years without a girlfriend, nothing meaningful should be found.

  As Godou felt that things were becoming increasingly unbelievable, the silver-haired knight asked him: