by The Hero
Some were drinking beer and juice.
Some, it might have been due to the unusable machines that they were unable to work, were simply stoning and daydreaming.
Others were outside simply because it was too hot inside, napping beside the road or beneath the eaves.
Erica and Yuri moved to and fro between these people. There were no bars or restaurants as it was a minor street, but there was still a supermarket.
What surprised Erica was that familiar face she saw walking out from the supermarket.
A blond youth, skipping and humming as he left the supermarket, wearing an aloha shirt. Hugged to his chest was a bag from the supermarket, most likely filled with beer and snacks.
He was singing something along the lines of 'My ~ sun ~ 'o ~ sole ~ mio'[22].
"W, why is that person here.... What's going on?"
"Erica-san, an acquaintance of yours?"
"Um, I guess so. If it's just the name, I think Yuri should know it too."
The two of them immediately hid themselves, exchanging whispers.
Erica told Yuri the name, and she responded with an 'Eeh!?' in exclamation.
"I think that this incident - the culprit behind the barrier, is very likely to be him."
"E, Erica-san! It's very impolite to be suspecting people with no proof or evidence. Doesn't he come here occasionally, too!?"
"No, Yuri. If that person is here, then any strange incidents in the area, usually will have something to do with him.... I'll follow him. And put an end to this right away!"
From then, it was smooth sailing.
Paying extra careful attention, using magic at times, that youth did not even realize that he was being shadowed.
As he was walking, he saw a bicycle that had been left at the side of road. He simply hopped onto it and rode off, placing the supermarket bag onto the basket at the front of the bicycle, while humming, 'Santa ~ Lu ~ cia', heading northwards.
At once, Erica broke the lock of a nearby bicycle.
With great difficulty, she placed the angry Yuri at the backseat, and went in hot pursuit, behind the youth who was riding the bicycle on the coastal road.
It was a relaxing trip, a journey accompanied by the sea breeze and sunset, and lasted for about twenty minutes.
- A swimming area of a beach, with a parasol rental service.
Perhaps it was due to the strange phenomenon that the beach was almost deserted. In the sea that was dyed a fiery red from the sunset, there were still quite a few people playing around, it was not completely devoid of activity, at the very least.
The youth walked towards the beach.
He headed towards a parasol that was at the edge of the beach. For some reason, there was a youth that had been tied up with ropes and an icebox.
"That's Sir Andrea! As I thought, he's up to no good! Yuri, follow me!"
"Y, yes!"
The youth being bound by the ropes was Andrea Rivera, the person they had spoken to this morning.
Erica dashed towards them, yelling.
"Sir Salvatore! Has this all been your doing!?"
"Fufufu, since you've already made it here, yes, you're correct, I am the mastermind behind this incident! The culprit behind this strange phenomenon!"
The blond youth slowly turned his head, replying in a bold manner.
This was of course, the [King of Swords] Salvatore Doni.
"Godou seemed to be of the impression that I didn't have any other tricks besides knowing how to swing a sword, but in actual fact I still had this up my sleeve. Shocking, isn't it?"
"Rather than being shocked, it's more of a sense of defeat, you gigantic moron...."
The tied-up Rivera revealed a disgusted expression.
It's been hard on you, Erica sincerely felt sympathetic towards him.
Even someone at the level of Genaro Gantz or the [Old Dame] of Saint Pintoricchio would not easily escape.
"That reminds me, Sir Andrea, which authority was the cause of this phenomenon?"
"It was meant to be a closely guarded secret, but since this much had already happened, there's no choice - it's all this moron's... ugh, with the authority Sir Salvatore had gained from the god Vulcan, he is able to regress the level of civilization in the area back to the Middle Ages, for about half a day..."
In the middle of calling him a moron, Andrea had suddenly changed the topic.
The Roman fire god, Vulcan.
The god of fire and blacksmithing, and in Greek mythology he was known as Hephaestus - the divine attribute of invention.
Salvatore Doni possessed four authorities, the first was a demonic sword that cut through all, the second, an undying body of steel, and not much was known of the third and fourth authorities.
Likely, they were trump cards to be used as a last resort, hence they were top secret.
"Erica-san, please look at the area under Sir Salvatore's feet."
Hearing Yuri's small voice, Erica did as told, looking at that spot.
Doni smiled gleefully as he stood on a revolving board that was carved with the Latin words [nudus ara] and [sere nudus]. The meaning of those words were [Plow nude] and [Sow nude]. Words of the poet Hesiod.
Was this the source of the phenomenon?
She glanced aside at Yuri, who nodded. As I thought.
.... Afterwards, this authority came to be known as [Return to Medieval Style].
Ironically, this was an authority obtained from a god of invention, yet its effect was to seal modern inventions. Erica was stunned, but glared at the [King] anyway.
"My lord. I've heard that a [Heretic God] has descended upon Naples, and Kusanagi Godou is in the midst of fighting it, would you happen to know the details of it?"
"Ah - about that, I think it's at a stalemate right now. That's what Andrea told me."
"Miss Erica, that's the same thing as what we spoke about on the phone this morning. The [Heretic God] Perseus has retreated temporarily, and it would not be long before battle broke out once more."
Erica was a little relieved, but this news was too old.
She had to hurry and meet up with Godou and confirm his condition, hence she had to quickly think of a way to deal with this person, returning the surroundings to a normal state.
"Sir Salvatore, to begin with, for what purpose have you come here?"
"Nothing important, really. I was swallowed up by the waves back in Naples and got swept all the way here. Speaking of which, Andrea, for the purpose of checking on Godou's movements, had come to Sardinia yesterday. The moment I was washed up here, I managed to contact him immediately and subsequently met up with him."
After which, Doni had begun coming up with this plan, to prevent Erica and the others from leaving this place.
He had found out about Rivera who had tried to warn them, and disabled him.
When he had thought of restricting the communications and transportation means, he used the authority of Vulcan, and then brought the tied-up Andrea to the beach, and had some vacation time.
What happened afterwards was the current situation.... just hearing about this rendered one speechless, it was just absurd.
"Then, since this plan has been exposed, I only have one thing left to do."
Doni suddenly said.
He stood up sluggishly, his arms hanging loosely.
Though he did not hold any swords, but there was no doubt that this was the [King of Swords]' combat stance. Erica swallowed a breath.
"Sir Salvatore, why do you wish to stop us?"
Erica began to utilize her magic while asking.
She opened the palm of her right hand, and summoned her beloved sword Cuore di Leone.
"Because I would like Godou to become even stronger faster.... If you're by his side, it would bring a lot of conveniences for him, hence I would like him to fight this difficult battle alone... It is only in a solitary battle that a warrior can grow the fastest, that's how it is."
Doni smiled wryly.
His ev
er-present carefree attitude, twisted logic, it was this side of him that people could confirm that he was not a normal youth.
"Hm, at any rate, I'll just cause you to be unable to stand up for one, two hours. And as for the lady from Japan there, maybe I'll give her a special service, so she won't have to suffer any pain. Shall I start, or will you?"
It was as though he were asking you how much sugar you would like in your coffee.
Erica heaved a sigh. The [King of Swords] before her eyes was the strongest swordsman in Europe, there was no chance of her winning. Though she had accepted that fact in her heart, she still charged forth fearlessly.
Employing small tricks against him had no meaning, even if he had said that he'll go easy on her, he was still a formidable foe.
In that case, she decided to go all out right away, and she closed in for the attack.
Fast, and nimbly -
Like a flash of lightning, Cuore di Leone was thrust forward, straight towards the body of the [King of Swords].
"You, and also Liliana Kranjcar, aren't quite there yet, huh...."
Simultaneously, as those words were whispered in a quiet voice, Erica suddenly found herself flying through the air.
Her body drew a parabola curve as it flew through the air, finally collapsing in an undignified heap on the sands.
"Ugh...!"
She wasn't sure when she had been thrown, but when she had thought of finding something to break her fall, she had already hit the ground, the impact spreading throughout her body.
Completely unaware of what he had done, it was a godlike technique.
Erica wanted to get up, but she could not find the strength.
It was as he had said, she was unable to move for the time being. She could not detect any broken bones or heavy injuries, seems that even the degree of damage had been perfectly controlled.
Seeing the defeated lioness Erica glaring at him, Doni waved his hands.
"Well, that's about it. Since I've been discovered already, it's about time I return to Naples. I want to watch Godou's fight with the god up close - who is he fighting? Athena?"
"It should still be Perseus, I think Athena is only tagging along."
Rivera replied with a very troubled look on his face.
Nodding, Doni turned his attention to Yuri. He quickly pulled out his remaining length of rope while humming, and walked towards her.
"Eh? S-Sir Salvatore, what are you going to do to me!? If you are a King, then please be - ah, please stop!"
"I said I won't let you get hurt, that's why I gotta do this. Don't worry, ropes are one of my specialties, there won't be any marks."
"K, KYAAAAAAAAAAA!?"
And thus, Yuri's hands and legs were tied up.
Doni then stomped the revolving board with Latin words written into pieces.
"With that, we'll return to a civilized life once more.... And next, I'll simply board a random boat and head for Naples. You guys can take your time to come, there's no need to rush!"
Doni left that last sentence with the knight lying on the ground and the tied-up Hime-Miko.
All of the above, were the exact details of the turmoil that he had caused on the island of Sardinia.
Chapter 6 - Knight's Oath
Part 1
Even after hearing that name, Godou could make neither heads nor tails of it.
".... I totally have no idea, what kind of god that is."
"That is not surprising. This is a name that even the Europeans have forgotten, an ancient name of the god. As a Japanese, it would be shocking if you did."
Liliana explained.
It had been an hour since they separated from Athena, and Godou who had been under the effects of the drug, walking unsteadily, had since been brought back to the guest room in Diana's house, and was lying on the bed.
And then began Liliana's lecture.
"This divinity, in modern times, is lesser known, but with regards to history, it bears quite an important meaning. He is Sol Invictus, known as Heliogabalus, reigning over the Roman Empire."
"Eh? Not Greece?"
Though he had previously heard that Perseus originated as a hero from the east, why was the Roman Empire suddenly mentioned? Liliana continued explaining to Godou, who was totally confused.
"Isn't Apollo the sun god of Rome? If it's Greece, shouldn't it be Apollo..."
"No, that's not the case. Indeed, Jupiter and Neptune were both ancient Roman gods too, however - there were no records of similar sun gods being conquered in the ancient times. Using modern terms, it would have been known as the start of a new religion."
"You're saying a new religion started in the Roman Empire?"
"That's correct. The religious ideologies of the Romans, to put it nicely, were tolerant, to put it in a not-so-nice manner, would be to say that it was messy. Compared to the indigenous gods of Rome, the new religions that came out of nowhere were more popular with the people... Regardless, their gods were a combination of the original and the Greek."
"In other words, Rome was a country which housed countless gods."
Thinking back, in some countries, Jupiter was replaced by Zeus, and Neptune by Poseidon.
It was not all that different from the religions in Japan that Godou knew of.
"I feel that that way of thinking is not wrong, if we consider the one who has appeared before us, Perseus. The pioneer of Italy, with his origins of his birth in ancient Rome, all these point towards the answer of the mystery - and with that, how is it?"
Liliana asked him again, and Godou looked at his right hand.
The golden [Sword] that rends the gods, he reaffirmed whether he could use that trump card - he could feel nothing.
"Not yet. With what you have already told me, it's still insufficient to use the [Sword]..."
"T, that had been within my expectations. As I thought, with merely the conclusion through such a concise teaching method is impossible, isn't it."
We probably have to use the usual method, don't we?
Godou's thoughts drifted towards that direction, and the silver-haired knight promptly said,
"Understanding a god's nature, is quite similar to studying history, as you are only studying a certain country during a certain time period, which is actually quite meaningless. If you do not study all the history leading up to that point in history, but rather only the specific portions, you will not be able to obtain the deepest understanding."
I see your point. Godou nodded.
She had said it like a history teacher, but it was convincing.
"Which is why I thought that, if you want to understand the origins of the divinity, you have to at least know the basic knowledge.... I'll do a brief summary first, then we'll return back to the main topic."
If it were Erica, she'll probably say something like, 'What a pain, that method. Since there's such a fun method, let's do that instead'.
Godou was slightly touched by Liliana's diligence. What a brilliantly shining heart.
"Then, let's begin with the history of the Indo-Europeans? After becoming an ethnicity in a corner of Caucasus, they soon began to move towards the east... to the plains of India and Iran. In the process, the very first myth of the Indo-Europeans was born from within their mouths."
"Hold on a second.... this is your concise summary?"
From the calendar, that was something that had happened around 3000 to 2000 BC....
"After that, what kind of episode[23] are you going to continue with, may I ask?"
"Let me think. After that would be when the Indo-European ethnicity were moving to the east, they separated at India and Iran. Then, with the Semites, they created the Ugaritic mythology, and also the ancient European civilizations that created gigantic stone structures, the divinities that they - "
"The scope of your lesson is too long! Too long, definitely too long!"
If there were weekly lectures of two hours, it would at least take two years to finish teaching.
L
iliana rebutted, looking distressed,
"W, we don't have a choice! You have to first understand that history, and then about the East Asian countries and Greece, followed by the Roman Empire, and finally you would be able to gain a perfect understanding!"
Is that the case? No wonder Erica had said, 'what a pain' all the time.
..... At this rate, he would have to suggest using that. Every time his eyes made contact with Liliana's, he considered that possibility.
This can't go on, neither of us can even look at the other's face. Carrying on in this situation is really painful.
Ultimately, the both of them fell into silence. While thinking hard in their minds, they occasionally glanced at each other. Every time their eyes met, they would become unbearably embarrassed.
Nevertheless, it was at this time when the final blow had landed.
"Kusanagi-sama, Liliana-sama - just earlier, we had received a message from Perseus. Please come with me."
The door of the guest room opened, and came the voice of the maid Karen Jankulovski.
A rare serious expression could be seen on that little devil's face.
At the entrance of Diana's house, it seems that a medal that was pierced with an arrow had been left there.
And that medal was now on the kitchen table.
It was made of white stone. On its surface, the shape of a wings spread, flying bird was carved. Seeing that, Liliana tensed up.
"The mark of the one who reigns over the sun in the sky. Without a doubt, this medal is the symbol of Perseus."
"At the same time, it symbolizes the icon of Ahura Mazda, his secret was exactly the same as what Lily had sensed...."
The two witches, Liliana and Diana, were murmuring to themselves.
Then, Karen who had been waiting at the side lowered her head, and made a request to Godou.
"Kusanagi-sama, please go ahead and touch it. Doing that, you will be able to hear the words of Perseus... When I had picked it up earlier, it gave me quite the shock."
"Ah, ok."
Godou reached out his hand, testing it with his touch.
At that moment, the voice of that handsome man could be heard from the white stone medal.
"Seems you've fully recovered, godslayer! I too, have also had a full recovery. Then, it's about time for us to settle our duel. I will strike you down, and then Athena after that. Are you prepared?"