Immediately, the hero's body shone with red light—Then came a violent explosion.
The Divine Sword of Salvation, stabbed into Godou's heart, proceeded to vanish. This was the instant of Kusanagi Godou's third victory. But in spite of that—
While his consciousness was gradually fading away, Godou activated the [Ram] incarnation. At the same time, he thought to himself.
This was a shallow victory barely achieved by relying on assistance from many people and stacking several instances of good fortune together.
But next time... Surely that was not going to work again.
Hanuman was probably going to find a way to gather the necessary earth's essence required by the great ritual of the covenant. Athena was about to die too. Godou's hidden cards were practically all exposed. Ultimately, was that his only option left—?
The idea the Princess of Glass had seen through before he took his leave from the Netherworld...
Godou recalled that particular solution...
Epilogue
Having served as the battlefield, Pushpaka Vimana sank into the ocean.
Due to Lancelot's charge, the ship's core and flying functions were damaged.
As a side note, Kusanagi Godou escaped safely despite falling unconscious with severe injuries. This was all thanks to the dedicated efforts of the girls serving him, rescuing him then using flight magic.
A double knockout between the Campione of the east, Kusanagi Godou, and the "King of the End"—
It was said that this news reached the ears of every Campione within merely three hours after the battle ended.
The first to find out was Her Eminence Luo Hao who was still in Tokyo.
Hearing news that "Her Eminence had flown towards Tokyo," her direct disciple Lu Yinghua located her and reported to her.
Almost simultaneously with Rama's disappearance, Hanuman had also vanished from Her Eminence's presence.
Presumably, a mysterious bond had informed Hanuman of his master's condition. Thus, one was able to listen patiently to the latest developments from the disciple who had rushed over to Haneda Airport's pier.
Upon learning of her sworn brother's victory, Luo Cuilian was the first to nod with strong approval.
Then murmuring "hmm...", she gazed out into Tokyo Bay where Rama had disappeared, lost in deep thought.
At the same time, the former chairperson of Greenwich's Witenagemot was currently in a phone call with a certain Campione.
The other party was the guardian of Los Angeles, John Pluto Smith. This was a long distance call made from a high-class residential district in London to the west coast of North America.
After listening to the key points of the incident, the masked Devil King responded:
'I see.'
"...That's it?"
'In the end, the root issue has not been resolved at all. I believe that the current stage is completely meaningless despite the mixture of good and bad news.'
Smith replied coldly to Princess Alice.
Besides, the princess was still having a high fever. She was lying in bed in her bedroom, talking on the phone while leaning against a soft cushion.
'Also, one can assert with certainty that before Prince Rama's next awakening, someone among my peers will surely start acting out of line. Without a doubt.'
Leaving this unsettling declaration, Smith hung up.
The tone of his words were highly suggestive of what "acting out of line" meant in particular. The eccentric who subscribed to secretism often acted in this manner.
Only making cryptic remarks to pique others' curiosity then leaving them hanging.
"Seriously, Lord Smith is always acting like this."
Alice pouted and grumbled.
However, a nosy visitor also happened to be present. Although he looked very cold and distant, all that was needed were a few prompting words and he would start explaining things in a friendly manner, even matters that she had not inquired.
"Alexandre. I shall overlook your crime of entering a lady's bedroom unannounced without even bringing a gift. Please share your thoughts with me."
"Thoughts?"
"For example, countermeasures for sealing Prince Rama or the like."
"Hmph."
The man shrugging by the princess' bedside was Alexandre Gascoigne.
Coincidentally, he was paying a visit to gather information, just before the princess made the call to Smith.
Black Prince Alec, the user of [Black Lightning]'s divine speed. To him, even the mansion of a duke's daughter was a place that he could enter and leave at will as though it were the British Museum.
Saying the same thing twice was too much of a hassle, which was why Alice asked him to listen in on her phone call just now.
"Why are you suddenly unhappy? ...Aha."
Seeing Alec slightly displeased, the princess suddenly came to a realization.
Going as far as to completely forget her own feeble condition from the fever, Alice laughed lightly with a chuckle.
"What's so funny?"
"No, it's nothing. I simply have a hunch regarding what's on your mind. Despite seeking the true name of the 'King of the End' for so many years, to think you ended up losing to a History Compilation Committee member. Something along those lines."
"What are you talking about? I totally don't care at all."
He was clearly speaking much faster than times when he did not care about things.
Alice concluded her guess was correct. As though trying to evade Alice's warm gaze, Alec turned his head to one side and spoke with boredom:
"Besides, a so-called countermeasure to seal Prince Rama—there's no need to consider something like that at all. There's actually a very simple solution."
"Huh?"
Alice was dumbfounded by these unexpected words.
"In other words, as long as the seven of us are here, the 'King of the End' will gain strength accordingly, right?"
At a night market at Bangkok, the capital of Thailand...
A blond Caucasian young man commented in a frivolous tone of voice.
Salvatore Doni.
He was sitting at a snack shop with two plates of Pad Thai fried noodles with his butler Andrea Rivera across the simple table.
Ever since disappearing from Italy, he had come to eastern Asia.
"I've got an incredible idea about this. Hear me out, Andrea♪"
"Fine, I'll listen but before that, let me finish my drink. After all, it's definitely nothing respectable, a devilish idea. I absolutely refuse to listen unless I gulp down some alcohol first!"
News from Japan had been transmitted through the magic associations of the [Copper Black Cross] and the [Bronze Black Cross].
Having an detailed discussion with his lord about the matter, Rivera pulled off his beer can's ring in despair and resignation.
"Isn't it a very simple matter?"
In the depths of the Austrian Alps, the old man in the rugged mountain villa muttered.
Information regarding "King of the End" Rama was trickling in gradually through Dejanstahl Voban's devoted followers in the world of magic.
"If the Devil King exterminating hero's power rises for the sake of fighting seven godslayers... Then all I need to do is send the other six to their graves. I, Voban, alone shall be enough to take on the 'King of the End.'"
This was inside a great hall where warmth from the fireplace was providing excellent comfort.
Facing Voban who was sitting in an armchair, the young beauty smiled with equal "warmth" as the air in this room.
"Fufu, Onii-sama, you're such a joker. I can't believe you're saying this when you clearly hold me so dear in your heart."
"......"
Confronted with Madame Aisha who was like genial spring weather, the Marquis frowned with displeasure.
Tokyo's Bunkyou Ward. Erica's luxury apartment.
Several hours had passed since the intense battle. Night had already fallen.
Kusanagi G
odou was currently sleeping like the dead on the bed belonging to the mistress of the bedroom. More precisely, he had died once already and was currently recovering using the [Ram], the incarnation of resurrection.
Three girls were currently watching over him by the bedside.
Needless to say, they were Erica Blandelli, Liliana Kranjcar and Seishuuin Ena. Although Mariya Yuri was still in the Netherworld, she was probably able to use psychic sensing to find out whether Godou was safe or not.
Ena turned her gaze to the pillow side by chance.
"Eh, what's that?"
"Something that Godou was carrying. It was kept in his pocket."
Erica answered. The object under the two girls' gaze was an arrowhead. An arrowhead crafted from steel. Plain and ordinary in appearance. However, it seemed to give off an air of calamity—Terrifying.
Also, the arrowhead was laid out over a purple silk wrapping cloth. This silk cloth had been used to wrap the arrowhead.
"Somehow I have the feeling I saw it somewhere before. Also, it was recently..."
Liliana felt puzzled as well.
None of these girls knew yet. This arrowhead was actually entrusted to Godou by the Princess of Glass. In addition, Kusanagi Godou had been shot by the same kind of arrowhead before in fact.
During the first battle against the "King of the End" in ancient Gaul, Godou had been struck by the lightning of salvation. Back then, Godou had taken a long time to recover from his coma. Even after waking up, his health had not returned to normal.
Turning the weapons bestowed upon Prince Rama into the form of lightning, that was the lightning of salvation.
The lightning that had caused Godou much hardship, its true identity was the poison arrow that had rendered the Devil King Campione in a state of coma. Furthermore, an arrow identical to those poison arrow—It was currently lying by the side of Godou's pillow.
Back in the Netherworld, Kusanagi Godou had come up with an idea.
'If only one Campione remains, Rama won't be able to use the great ritual of the covenant.'
Putting this solution into practice meant it was necessary to defeat all the other Campiones.
Reading this idea through the power of spirit vision, the Princess of Glass had bestowed this object upon Godou as a result. An arrowhead identical to the arrows for slaying Devil Kings.
However, Godou was not the only one to think of this plan.
In fact, the same idea had occurred to all seven of them—
"Alas... My revered brother! My most beloved kin of blood, most honorable and noble in the entire world!"
Facing Tokyo Bay at night, on a beach in Kisarazu...
A young man was standing there. He was lamenting and crying towards the ocean.
The young man's face was completely identical to Prince Rama who had perished several hours prior. However, unlike the great hero's pale complexion, his skin was tanned.
As the Devil King exterminating hero's younger brother by blood, he was the subordinate god protecting his elder brother as his shadow.
His name was Laksmana, the one who took on all distortion on behalf of his glorious elder brother. In addition, the white monkey god of wind was currently standing watch behind him.
Hanuman. In terms of heroic feats and great accomplishments, he was actually not inferior to his lord Rama.
People sang praises to the master-servant pair together as "Rama and Hanuman," not only in India but also various nations in Southeast Asia.
The showdown between the seven Devil Kings and the chosen hero was beginning at last.
Hence, the first battle concluded and it was time to quietly await the second battle's opening.
Afterword
Everyone, it's been a while. This is Takedzuki Jou.
This Volume 17 is where the extremely terrifying "strongest foe" officially enters the fray.
I never thought I'd really manage to write this far (wry laugh). I recall vaguely that at one point in the past, I thought to myself: the story might get wrapped up in a half-baked manner before he makes an appearance.
Future events are truly hard to predict. Inexplicably, I've been confronted with this thought lately.
In fact, back in my student days when I started writing for a small game company called Yuuentai(游演体), I never expected I would enter this field of work in the future.
My two seniors originating from that same company, Shinjou Kazuma-san and Gatoh Shoji-san, were already active as writers in the business, but back then, I was still small potatoes like a low-ranking soldier. After that, through a convoluted series of experiences over several years, I finally started writing novels.
It's all thanks to everyone's care and support that I can still continue to work in this field.
Let me take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to all readers.
So, to be honest, back when this series' theme of "defeating gods and taking their powers" flashed in my mind, the first enemy character I thought of was him.
But I didn't use the idea immediately.
Although he definitely offers plenty of substance as an antagonist, there were too many elements to him that can't be helped.
This is the "hero from the most epic myth in the orient," the "prototypical protagonist of wandering aristocrat stories," "sharing commonalities with a certain Japanese legend's protagonist," "similarities with the western hero Odysseus as well"... etc.
If all of these mysteries had to be unraveled within the first volume, it would have been too much work... Rather (laugh), it would have been too much of a shame.
Also, the recognition of his name is extremely low in Japan. Despite the fact that he is extremely well-known in Asia.
(Back in the past when I was searching about ancient Muay Thai boxing techniques on the internet, I was quite taken by surprise when I noticed his name as the founder of the art.)
Since there was no compelling need to put him as the first enemy, I used Athena, whom everyone knows, as the first antagonist. Then volumes kept increasing one after another smoothly, an anime adaptation was even produced, finally reaching the current point.
(I think this is reaching the point of spoilers. To readers who cling to the habit of reading the afterword before the actual story, yet still obsessed with the true name of the "King of the End," please retreat from the afterword as quickly as possible and head to the main story.)
The mystery pervading the entire series is the question: "What is the name of the 'King of the End'?"
I wonder if any of the readers reached the correct answer?
The biggest hint was provided in Volume 12—5 volumes before this one. Although the answer to the riddle was revealed in Volume 17 already, compared to the many red herrings planted in Volume 13, the vague description in Volume 12 with the mysterious verses was actually the most direct hint to his true identity.
Even I find myself... rather malicious (wry smile).
Also, there was the hint of "once upon a time at a certain place" showing up in Volume 16.
I was thinking since so many hints have been gathered, there should be sufficient chance of guessing.
To everyone who rose to the challenge, did any of you succeed?
Moreover, about this riddle, if readers actually read Kaneseki Takeo-sensei's analyses on Yuriwaka Daijin as well as the venerable Minakata Kumagusu's The Story of King Rama in Ancient Chinese and Japanese Texts, their only reaction would be:
"Speaking from common sense, the answer can only be Prince Rama no matter how you look at it!"
An low-level riddle that might be answered immediately on the spot, possibly.
As a side note, the Campione! series has also been translated and published in Taiwan and Korea.
As to how widespread "Prince Rama and Hanuman" is recognized in these two regions, I'm sorry but I really don't have a good idea due to my lack of familiarity...
To readers of the Taiwanese and Korean versions, I wonder how hard the question was?
If a chance arises in the future, I hope to investigate and find out.
Speaking of Taiwan...
Not only was I invited to a manga exhibition held in Taipei City two years ago, but in the summer of 2014, I was invited again. I am truly grateful for that.
...However, last time was an autograph event related to Campione! while this time is an autograph event related to a certain publisher's Leviathan series (wry smile). Whether the first or the second time, I was quite astounded by the number of people attending. I am truly grateful for everyone's support.
Also, after the autograph events ended, I was able to meet many readers while taking leisurely walks inside the venues.
I can't believe they recognized me. What a surprise (laugh).
Also during last time's autograph event, there was the gentleman who had gotten injured on his way to the venue. I never thought I would meet you again. Please take care and I thank you for your continued support.
Well then. Before the ultimate showdown against the strongest hero, let alone cooperating with unity, an air of internal strife is brewing between the various Devil Kings instead.
But before the story with the tentative title of Civil War Among Devil Kings...
A volume gathering stories already released in various places with new content is planned to be published first.
The new content is currently under review but "The Incident Involving the Young Marquis, Onee-sama and the Eternal Beauty Gathered Together" is also one of the candidates.
Also, Chronicle Legion, my latest project at the new label, Dash X Bunko, which has been announced already, is set to be published.
You might get vibes of a mecha series from the special promotional website, but the content is actually totally different (wry laugh).
"Write some kind of novel with fantasy military fiction as the genre!" In response to this order, I used "Fantasy military novels are a dime a dozen nowadays. It'll become outdated by the time the book is published" as an argument of twisted logic, thus allowing me to go my own way as usual.
Campione! - Volume 17 - The Hero's Name Page 26