Campione 06

by Flying Phoenix of Divine Mountain

Like those very simple and modest ancestral shrines often seen on the side of country roads.

  Short trees grew in the area, probably peach trees.

  The shrine and the surrounding peach trees were enclosed by shimenawa[56], giving off intense magical power. The rope itself was probably the barrier.

  "This is the shrine of the monkey divine monarch. So, Hikari-san, please do as I explained just now."

  The Kuhoudzuka gentleman stepped back, leaving just the shimenawa in front of them.

  Godou stole a glance at the interior of the shrine. Nothing could be seen. Though the gridded windows were in poor shape, the interior was in complete darkness.

  "T-The shrine requires a Hime-Miko in order to weaken the seal of the [Keeper of the Horses], then it can be opened."

  Hikari's voice was trembling.

  The unabashed apprentice Hime-Miko began to get nervous. Since they were going to meet a [Heretic God], nervousness was only natural. Come to think of it, what did [Keeper of the Horses] mean?

  Under Godou and her elder sister's gaze, Hikari placed her hand on the shimenawa.

  The rough straw-braided rope fell to the ground, and the surrounding magical power vanished.

  "Amazing, so the shrine is open from now on?"

  "No way, this is a barrier that seals away a deity. It cannot be dispelled completely, and once the effect wears off, it will automatically restore itself."

  Yuri explained from beside him. Only temporarily weakening strong magical power, along the same principles, there was little lasting effect on a Campione or a god's authority.

  "T-Then I am opening it...!"

  Hikari declared in a shaking voice as she opened the gridded door to the shrine.

  The inside was still very dark. That said, they had already come this far, so there was no choice but to keep going.

  "I will enter first. Mariya and Hikari follow after me -- Kuhoudzuka-san, my apologies for making all these willful demands."

  "Don't mention it. It is my honor to be of assistance. Please watch your step."

  The Kuhoudzuka gentleman answered in an almost monotonous voice.

  And then became silent. His body was also motionless? Somehow he felt like a clock that had run out of batteries. Though Godou felt the youth's appearance was quite strange, he still stepped into the shrine and had the Mariya sisters follow him.

  After walking in the darkness for a while, it felt like the ground had become hard and solid like concrete, and was unexpectedly easy to walk on. But visibility remained poor, and they couldn't see anything around them. It was completely dark.

  The only things that were certain, were the presences of the two sisters following behind him.

  "Everyone, please do not get separated, let's hold hands together, here, grab on to me."

  "Y-Yes. I know!"

  Yuri replied to Godou's call.

  Extending his hand backwards, Godou found himself holding a gentle and soft hand.

  "Hikari, hold my hand. Right, that is fine, no problem."

  The older sister's gentle voice directed her younger sister.

  In other words, the hand Godou held was Yuri's. For some reason, he suddenly found his face getting hot, and there was an inexplicable heart racing feeling. Perhaps Yuri also felt the same way.

  Every time he became aware of the touch of her small and frail hand, Godou could not stop his mind from wandering into unnecessary thoughts.

  Having walked for a few minutes, or perhaps ten-odd minutes, the sense of time was completely lost.

  "Godou-san... Have you realized it?"

  Yuri suddenly questioned seriously.

  Godou straightened his back and sobered. She seemed like she had something important to say.

  "We have arrived in the Netherworld, that realm we entered last time... The path in Saitenguu's shrine, most likely is a corridor between the real world and the Netherworld!"

  "Onee-chan. By Netherworld do you mean that Netherworld?"

  "Yes, the Boundary of Life and Immortality, the void kingdom between the human world and the divine realm. The gap world called Yomotsu Hirasaka.[57]"

  Hearing the sisters' exchanges, Godou wanted to hold his head in his arms and yell.

  "The barrier sealing a deity away... On further thought, this is possible after all. However, Mariya you two appear to be fine. Are your bodies feeling any discomfort?"

  Remember Erica's painful experience, Godou couldn't help asking them.

  His Campione identity aside, ordinary humans cannot adapt to the environment of the Netherworld, right?

  "Thanks to the power it bestows upon us, I think this corridor allows us mortals to get used to the Netherworld. That is what I feel."

  Using the power of spirit vision, Yuri confirmed it.

  Looks like there was some meaning to this slow walk through the darkness.

  "...Wait a minute, for us to be in the Netherworld again, can't we use that instantaneous transfer like last time?"

  He recalled the method of transfer he made so many attempts last time and suffered much for it.

  Godou aside, Yuri with her talent in spirit vision could probably accomplish it without problems.

  Well... Teleportation was probably meaningless when meeting the monkey divine monarch. But Yuri's answer was negative.

  "No, it appears not. I just tried recalling the view of the Netherworld from before... But was unsuccessful all along. It looks like there is no way to teleport outside of here."

  "What is the situation?"

  "This place is isolated from the rest of the Netherworld, for it is the cage imprisoning the divine monarch."

  Once again hearing Yuri's confident report, this must also be a hint obtained through spirit vision.

  "Got it... But I really don't feel like staying in this place for long."

  In the instant he sighed, the exit appeared. At around ten-odd meters away (the distance that Godou's eyes could reach), there was a rectangular hole where light was entering.

  The three of them quickly walked over there, hand in hand.

  Everyone had arrived safely, and they squeezed themselves through the rectangular hole. There was a little worn-looking shack with no inhabitants. It was probably the stable, just like the one they saw just now at Toushouguu.

  Outside there was a brightly shining sun under a very refreshing blue sky.

  In the distance was a very grand looking structure. A huge building... No, it should be called a city or a palace. In addition, it was not Japanese style in construction, but resembled a Chinese palace like the Forbidden City.[58] This was the stables within the territory of the palace.

  Watching the outside scenery, Godou suddenly became aware of the delicate feeling in his hand.

  He was still holding the Hime-Miko's hand even after the Mariya sisters had let go of each other. Making eye contact with Yuri, the two of them blushed and quickly turned their face away, immediately releasing their hands.

  "...Ah, there's a monkey over there."

  Without noticing her older sister and Godou's behavior, Hikari pointed to a corner of the stable.

  Upon the hay was a lounging monkey.

  It did not look like a Japanese one, for its face was not red and the fur was very bright. Its body, covered with golden fur that approached a shade of orange, was about 80cm in length. Seeing the appearance of the monkey, Godou was certain.

  This guy was a [Heretic God], for Godou's body and heart had already entered a battle-ready state, that was the best proof.

  "Welcome to my palace, it's been so long since there were guests. And to think there's even a god-slayer!"

  The monkey spoke in a clear and bright voice as it got up. Its motions were very human-like, like a nimble little child jumping up from bed.

  Godou was already beyond the fact that the monkey could speak, so he calmly asked.

  "So, you are the monkey divine monarch?"

  "That's what the fellows who shut me in here call me. I should have a
much cooler title, but it's being sealed currently."

  Amongst all the deities Godou ever met, this one was the most friendly and outgoing in personality. No, that's not right. Though Godou had no memories of having met a god as frivolous as this, he still felt there was some deity similar to him. Who could it be? As his head began to hurt, Godou gave up for now.

  "Actually, the smaller girl here, has been agonizing over whether to become your miko or not, so today I brought her here just to have a look at the environment."

  "Oh that's right. Now that you mention it, no miko had come over to play recently."

  "Play?"

  "Yes. The various miko who come to play with me. Sometimes we chat or play games like hide-and-seek or Sugoroku.[59] I like things to be fun and lively oh, so if they know how to sing and dance, I give them better ratings."

  It appeared that the vacant position of the Saitenguu Hime-Miko, involved spending time like a shepherd. Except taking care of a monkey instead of sheep.

  No, instead, it should be described as a monkey handler.

  "Excuse me, could it really be enough to just play with Divine Monarch-sama? I thought it was a very important mission that only I could accomplish, so I am feeling quite lost right now..."

  What? Hikari actually said it out loud.

  Not a single sign of shyness, however, this was probably because the other guy didn't display any solemn majesty of a god.

  "Come on, don't say it like it's just playing around with me, that's a little rude, you also need to help me groom my fur oh... That's all I ask for. On the other hand, it's you guys who keep making troublesome requests for me to fulfill."

  "We... You mean the Hime-Miko?"

  "Yes, like asking me to chase that snake, or drive away that dragon. Sometimes they come begging with tears? So every time I had to leave this old nest, and go rampaging outside like before."

  "Drive away dragons? Aren't you supposed to protect dragons?"

  Godou suddenly interrupted with the explanation he heard just now at the place with the three monkeys.

  "I protect them alright, but that's after I beat them up and make them my flunkies. Don't judge me by appearance, I am also a member of [Steel], so handling dragons and snakes is just business as usual... To this date there have been one, two, three commotions now. The last one was probably the time I quarreled with you?"

  After hearing the monkey divine monarch's response to his question, Godou was left pondering in puzzlement.

  I've never quarreled with you. What on earth was that?

  "I was beating up some earth dragon in a certain city, and then you came along to pick a fight. But before a victor was decided, my time limit to return to the old nest had arrived. Weren't you planning on kicking down the door of the shrine back then?"

  "Yes, because I thought doing so would allow me to reach your habitat."

  This time Godou was completely shocked.

  Suddenly a woman's voice was heard, carrying a melodic grace, it was a refreshing and beautiful voice.

  "In the end, I blew away the shrine and the surroundings, but was unable to enter the corridor... Counting by our calendar, it was a hundred years ago. However, your exquisite methods -- the godly skill you employed to subdue the dragon god that laid waste to Tokyo, are still fresh in my memory."

  Godou followed the monkey god's gaze.

  In the stable, a lizard had somehow entered without him noticing.

  Clearly just a mere lizard, but its stately and dignified posture gave a great presence of solemnity. Just the sight of it was enough to make one feel like cheering out in admiration. What could this reptile be?

  The one talking to the monkey divine monarch, was this guy without a doubt!

  "It cannot be, it cannot be you -- !? How! Why have you appeared in such a place!?"

  Yuri cried out as she covered her mouth.

  The Yamato Nadeshiko[60] with her excellent upbringing and high class manners, was actually losing composure to such an extent.

  "What is it, Mariya!?"

  Yuri's face paled and her lips trembled as she kept staring at the lizard.

  She was shaking incessantly from fear, and Godou approached the Hime-Miko hoping to comfort her.

  "G-Godou-san. The one over there... The one there is --"

  She saw something with spirit vision? Trembling and tongue-tied, Yuri appeared to be overcome with terror. In order to calm her down, Godou placed his hand on her shoulder.

  "Oh, looks like a Hime-Miko, I see, as expected of the distant relatives of the divine ancestors. For you to be able to discern my true nature, I commend your vision."

  White smoke was coming from the lizard's body.

  In the next instant, the tiny reptile transformed into a beautiful girl.

  One worthy of the description transcendent beauty, a girl with black hair and wearing ancient Chinese attire -- Han clothing.[61] Her upper garment had very long sleeves and a lower hem that hung low. The lower garment was like a long flowing robe which resembled a kimono due to its style of overlapping the left portion over the right.

  "What is your name? It should be fine to ask your name, right, god-slayer of my homeland?"

  "I must have been too immature back then. How regrettable for me to fail in branding my name deep into your memory. Then I shall present my name once more, and proceed to sentence you to death for the crime of forgetting it."

  The beautiful lips declared coldly to the monkey divine monarch:

  "My surname is Luo, with the given name Cuilian, and style name[62] Hao. The leader of the holy cult, the one standing astride the martial pinnacle."

  The fearsome demonic cult leader, Luo Hao, who was also called Luo Cuilian.

  The third one to appear after Salvatore Doni and Dejanstahl Voban. The newest Campione for Godou to encounter, was a maiden as intense as burning flames.

  Part 3

  Choosing to act separately, the knights came to Futarasan Shrine, a very peaceful site surrounded by cedar trees. In contrast to the bustling Toushouguu, this sacred domain was very quiet, and could be described as full of an ephemeral sense of wonder. An excellent place for one to calm their mind and find peace.

  However, this clearly didn't suit Erica Blandelli's character very well.

  "This place is not bad, but too boring. Let's go somewhere more exciting next."

  "You still like the hustle and bustle so much? I prefer this kind of quiet place."

  Liliana laughed. As a side note, that "somewhere" Erica referred to, was of course Toushouguu with its gold leaf decoration and golden colored Buddhas.

  "I still prefer the mood over there. Lily's tastes are so strange, you're aging too fast oh, I hope the place we're staying tonight won't have the same feeling?"

  "Not like we are staying at a group room in a monastery, besides, how could such rooms exist in the first place!"

  A conversation that could not be described as arguing or chatting.

  The free-spirited Erica Blandelli and serious Liliana Kranjcar. Though their personalities appeared to not get along, they often acted as a pair together. Even so, initiative in their private lives was held firmly in Erica's hands.

  This was clearly the way things were, but recently Liliana had been wanting to reverse this situation.

  What on earth happened to her? Testing her, Erica said nonchalantly:

  "By the way, Lily, how is it going with your trying to become Godou's premier knight?"

  "Not bad at all, though I personally do not wish for certain things to happen, but overall everything is advancing as I expected. One day, I will be Godou's right hand for sure."

  Liliana answered with a hint of sadness in her voice, but no clues were yielded at all.

  Erica knew very well, that this blue knight's confidence easily wavered. Using all sorts of methods to disrupt her composure was the fastest way to conquer this old silver-haired friend.

  "I see, but I still think you're unsuitable. It is true that Lily is a perso
n who pays great attention to details, but for better or worse, you always miss the big picture."

  "Miss the big picture? Are you insulting me?"

  "Not an insult, but simply rational criticism. Think about it, rushing into things without consideration and leaving everything to your natural potential, barely scraping by to overcome trials and tribulations, that is your true character, right? Therefore, trying to force yourself to be an all-rounder strategist just doesn't suit you well at all."

  Even though she was joking around, Erica spoke the truth.

  It might be harmless if you told someone who was gradually slimming "did you get fatter?" But on the other hand, it would be great shock if you said it to someone who was slightly fat.

  This type of criticism usually angered Liliana, thus accomplishing the first step in shaking her confidence --

  However, Erica's plan was foiled by the following answer.

  "...Up until now, perhaps it is as you say."

  What was going on? Liliana was nodding with an exceedingly serene expression! Usually she would have denied vehemently saying "no such thing!" but with her confidence greatly shaken!

  "But Erica, for the sake of helping Kusanagi Godou -- my one and only lord, I must change myself. Therefore, even for the things I have been unable to do so far, I must strive to overcome them."

  A declaration made in an extremely easygoing tone.

  "This is not like you... Lily, what happened exactly? Did Karen tell you something unnecessary, or did you receive strange orders from the Bronze Black Cross headquarters?"

  "Nothing like that at all. It is nothing, I simply had a change in mood, that is all."

  Liliana smiled.

  It was apparent that finding out her secret agreement with Godou was imperative. Erica stole a glance at the expression on the face of her rival and long-time friend, greatly displeased at her calm demeanor. These were early signs that warranted investigation.

  --Humans were not the type to change themselves so easily.

  Of course, it was not that uncommon for people to set new goals or find new determination when prompted by some cause.

  However, those who persevered to the end were few and far in between. Habitual smokers who declared "I will quit starting tomorrow!" most likely break their promises within a week. If the person was Liliana, would it be any different? What if her purpose for change was for the sake of Kusanagi Godou?