Campione 15

by Son of the Goddess

  After tying their horses outside the church, the trio entered the chapel.

  "Hello, Kusanagi-san. I see that Erica-san and Ena-san are together with you as well. Perfect timing."

  Greeting them with affectionate smiles was a young and beautiful maiden.

  She possessed lustrous black hair and delicate skin with an olive complexion. Her attire consisted of a white one-piece dress from the local time period. Furthermore, wrapped around her waist was a strip of white cloth meant to be draped over one's shoulder.

  Looking only seventeen-years-old, this girl was precisely Madame Aisha.

  Despite appearances, she was the female Campione who had lived through eons since the nineteenth century.

  "Had I known you were coming, I would have prepared lunch beforehand to welcome you all."

  "You're far too kind. Oh by the way, Aisha-san."

  Speaking of which, it was already lunch time. Noticing this, Godou posed a question.

  His sworn elder sister, one of the Campiones from the old generation, Her Emininence Luo Hao was an expert in cooking. Perhaps Madame Aisha also happened to possess the same level of superb skill?

  "Do you like to cook?"

  "Hoho, I guess I can cook a bit after all. But sometimes, the food gets burnt because the fire was too hot, or I forget to cut up the vegetables, but I can assure you it's perfectly edible. I'm also quite confident in my ability to handle cooking for many guests. Please allow me to treat you all to a meal should an opportunity arise in the future♪"

  "...I see."

  Basically, her cooking skills were not "bad." Anyone could cook lots of food simply by preparing more ingredients. Godou refrained from making these kinds of comments while cautiously stopping his nodding.

  He was already used to the abundance of Madame Aisha's questionable aspects.

  "Hi Aisha-san. This is just something heard from the guys in the army."

  The one striking up conversation in a familiar tone of voice was Ena, of course. Perhaps she was quite compatible with the forthright Madame Aisha? This attitude was as though they were friends already.

  "Something about you wanting to meet the king who conquered the city in the north, is that really true? I must resolve this matter personally—You said something like that?"

  Reportedly, Ena had heard these rumors from the soldiers in the Roman army stationed in this city.

  The soldiers' expressions and words clearly expressed their worship and praise for Madame Aisha as they chatted with one another in great excitement. Aisha's charisma authority had probably made them her captives.

  "Oh yes. I definitely did say that."

  "Madame. This may offend you but please allow me to speak... It is my belief that this undertaking might prove to be quite difficult."

  In response to the Madame's simple admission, Erica spoke respectfully.

  Erica insisted on maintaining an absolute boundary between herself and Devil King Campiones, one that she would never cross no matter how much of a "good person" the other party was. Well, acting less inhibited towards Godou was fine, on the other hand...

  "Sir Salvatore is a powerful individual who regards combat as his only raison d'etre. Furthermore, he is currently the [King] with the Franks under his command."

  Salvatore Doni had conquered the city of Colonia Aggripina.

  This was the bad news received four days earlier. In this land of ancient Gaul, Doni had made himself the great chieftain ruling over one faction of the Germanic tribes, the Franks. However, what kind of thoughts drove him to suddenly conquer one of the Roman Empire's colonial cities?

  Doni was currently at Colonia Aggripina, surrounded by Franks who had gathered to worship him.

  "Regarding this fact, I have already resolved myself sufficiently. No matter what, this is a job that must be done."

  Madame Aisha responded decisively to Erica's petition.

  Tensing her face to produce a commanding expression, she clenched her fists and declared:

  "Like him, I am also a Campione who came from the future. I cannot sit idly by and allow Doni-san's high-handed behavior to continue unchecked!"

  " " "......" " "

  At this moment, Erica and Ena both directed gentle gazes towards Madame Aisha.

  The same thought was probably occurring to Godou as well. In response to Madame Aisha's righteous indignation, they were all thinking "why on earth is she throwing herself into the line of fire?"

  Godou could not help but ask:

  "About the issue of disrupting the past, aren't you in the same boat as him, Aisha-san?"

  "U-Umm... Well, I do confess that I am aware of the validity of that viewpoint..."

  The Madame suddenly began to act flustered, shocking Godou.

  "You're actually aware of it yourself!?"

  "Well, after all, it's still... So, it's a very important point."

  "Please elaborate."

  "Well, you see, I'm already used to traveling in the past. Although there were times when I almost changed history inadvertently, but in the end, everything still turned out fine. Apart from helping people, I try my best not to do anything that interferes with history!"

  "By the time an exception happens, it would already be too late to fix..."

  "That won't happen. This world is more harmonious than you can imagine, Kusanagi-san. Furthermore, a maiden's heart that respects love and peace is always the strongest weapon at all times."

  In response to Madame Aisha's opportunistic views, Godou concurred indifferently.

  "Is that so?"

  "Yes. I have already faced those kinds of situations many times."

  "In other words, you've actually changed history many times..."

  "W-What are you saying? Putting that aside for now, I do think that the current situation is not too good, Kusanagi-san, what with extraneous entities like you or me intruding in this past era for example, or willful individuals like Doni-san coming here."

  Understanding what Madame Aisha meant, Godou nodded.

  The one who told him about history's corrective force was Madame Aisha herself. However, she was also secretly admitting that this force had its limits, was she not? Hence, she intended to personally stop Doni's atrocities before the corrective force reached its limit—

  Thinking about things this way, the reasoning did seem correct indeed. As a test, Godou asked:

  "But how do you plan on stopping that idiot Doni?"

  "Honest sincerity. I will speak with him with my true and sincere feelings. Please leave it to me, hoho."

  Godou silently stared at Madame Aisha while she chuckled and smiled.

  Right now, before his eyes was probably the smiling face of someone who firmly believed in humanity's love and benevolence. Furthermore, considering how inexplicably enthusiastic she was right now, it was very well possible she could plow through the current crisis through extraordinary virtues alone.

  But this time, the opponent was an absolute idiot of the super heavyweight class.

  Originally, Godou was supposed to head over to the scene himself. In addition, he was going to hold the idiot down by the neck and loudly scold him "Get a grip of yourself and behave, no matter how much of an idiot you are, you idiot!"

  But there were reasons why he could not set off immediately.

  "Could you delay your departure briefly for now? Because I need to pay Uldin a visit to talk about this city here."

  After the duel four days ago, Uldin had gone back to the forest where his stronghold was located.

  With that, the dispute over the city of Augusta Raurica had been put aside temporarily. If that man were to attack while Godou was absent—That was not entirely impossible.

  A truce or a rematch? The previous battle had ended ambiguously without resolution.

  Godou wanted to settle these matters before confronting Doni.

  "Once things are settled over here, we'll head over to that whatever Colonia city together."

  "Well, if you say
so, Kusanagi-san..."

  Madame Aisha accepted his suggestion for now, but...

  "However, I do believe we could also act separately... For example, I shall handle Doni-san while you take care of Uldin-san, Kusanagi-san..."

  Seeing her murmur such dangerous words, Godou secretly motioned with his eyes. Beside him, Erica and Ena understood immediately and nodded lightly in response.

  Ultimately, what they worried about was Madame Aisha running out of control.

  The Madame must be watched at all times. Erica and Ena probably reached the same conclusion. On the other hand, completely unaware of such thoughts in Godou's mind, the problematic woman suddenly changed the topic.

  "Oh right, by the way, speaking of Doni-san, there's something quite interesting."

  "Something related to that idiot?"

  "Yes. Recently, a prophesy has started circulating—the appearance of a hero wielding a sword of light, someone who will defeat a certain Devil King Salvatore of the north."

  Prophesy. Godou was dumbstruck by this unexpected term.

  In response, Madame Aisha smiled mischievously and continued to supplement her explanation.

  "These rumors started circulating in town recently over the past few days. Although it's unclear who started it, the rumor has suddenly spread everywhere all at once. Have you heard of it?"

  "This is my first time."

  "It can't be helped. Ever since the battle ended four days ago, we were either cooped up in the castle or running all the place to handle the aftermath. However, this rumor really is quite interesting."

  After Godou commented, Erica chuckled and smiled beside him.

  "Descriptions about the mysterious warrior leading the Franks would just be hearsay, but calling Sir Salvatore a Devil King is surprisingly accurate. Looks like rumors should not be overlooked."

  "Oh, come to think of it, Ena also heard other rumors just now."

  Although Ena was feared in town as the "dangerous female warrior of the Huns," thanks to her straightforward personality, she was still able to converse amiably with soldiers in the Roman army.

  This was apparently news she obtained from them. Godou asked:

  "What is it?:

  "The terrible insect, Kusanagi Godou, hanging around Aisha-san should just die already from divine retribution. He deserves to die. Also, something about an older brother."

  "...You really heard that from those people in the army?"

  "Yes. Your Majesty is on such good terms with Aisha-san that many people are quite jealous apparently."

  Ena smiled wryly while reporting.

  This made perfect sense. Due to the charisma authority, the soldiers in the army were virtually worshiping Madame Aisha like an idol.

  Nevertheless, Godou still felt perplexed.

  "But what's with the final part? Older brother?"

  "Oh, I think it's something I said recently that got spread around."

  Seeing Godou ask Ena, Madame Aisha interjected.

  "When asked about my relationship with Kusanagi-san, I answered 'He's something like an older brother to me.'"

  "...Uh. Please don't make statements that sound like a female idol's attempts to hide scandals about fellow celebrities."

  Despite not being exactly up to date on celebrity gossip, Godou was positive that no celebrity had ever succeeded in dispelling scandals by describing someone as like an older brother.

  The question could probably be dodged using superior methods. Saying that, Godou sighed and raised another question.

  "No matter how you look at it, isn't it impossible for me to be older than Aisha-san—"

  "Nothing of that sort! So long as I don't reveal anything, I'm frequently mistaken for a teenager. I'll have you know that even my skin is perfectly smooth and tender!"

  "This isn't about age in appearance. Rather, I'm talking about mental and actual age."

  "B-Besides, didn't you fight for my sake earlier? If that can't be described as an older brother's love for a sister, what else would you call it!?"

  "No, it looked that way just by coincidence..."

  The two Campiones, one new and one old, began to quarrel inside this early Christian church. In light of their titles as godslaying Devil Kings, it was quite a harmonious scene to behold.

  Nevertheless, Godou thoroughly knew from the depths of his heart that these peaceful times were not going to persist indefinitely.

  Part 3

  Reportedly, marching from Augusta Raurica (modern-day northern Switzerland) to Colonia Aggripina (midwestern Germany) would take Roman infantry twenty days.

  Spending roughly six hours a day on marching, the rest of the time was spent on setting up camp and resting.

  For armed infantry regiments, this was apparently the highest level possible.

  "However, traveling by wheeled transport—an automobile rather than a horse-drawn carriage—would only take half a day or so."

  "Using that to judge the distance, it's roughly four to five hundred kilometers?"

  Erica and Godou chatted while their bodies rocked on horseback.

  A great river was flowing not too far from the road where they were moving along. The Rhine.

  Since Augusta Raurica and Colonia Aggripina were both Roman colonial cities that were built on the Rhine's shores, one could naturally travel from the former to the latter by following the river downstream.

  However, Godou and Erica's horses were traveling towards a destination that was upstream instead.

  After visiting Madame Aisha's church the day before, they had immediately set off. Camping overnight once, they had resumed their horseback journey early this morning. The current time was roughly noon or so.

  "Even this kind of traveling, I seem to be gradually getting used to it..."

  "Is that so? I find it slightly boring without encountering any towns and villages along the way."

  "Hey you, in the past, didn't you once say 'Since we're going traveling anyway, we might as well go to a mansion on remote island that takes a day to reach' or something like that?"

  "That's because it's the kind of place where locked room mysteries seem likely to happen. Positively thrilling, wouldn't you agree?"

  Then again, even without riding horses, Erica and Ena were still able to run at extraordinary speeds.

  A method of running that was said to combine magic with martial arts. However, it was also supposed to drain stamina rapidly and was hence unsuitable for journeys spanning multiple days. Life in ancient Gaul frequently required them to depend on horses.

  In any case, the two of them made their way along the road on horseback.

  This road was laid down along the Rhine, passing through what were basically vast open plains. Forests were commonplace, but the terrain lacked variation.

  Riding ancient horses, Godou and Erica advanced steadily.

  Approximately half a month had passed since they first arrived in ancient Gaul. During this time, getting familiar with horses through frequent contact, Godou finally managed to reach a level considered "capable of horseback riding."

  (Of course, difficult techniques, such as rushing straight down a steep slope, were still beyond him.)

  Rather than having innate talent for riding horses, it would be better to say that he simply grew used to things.

  Fortunately, Godou possessed stamina and an incomparably sturdy body that made all this possible. Thanks to that, he never experienced the suffering that novice riders frequently went through, such as aching bottoms and backs or abrasive wounds on the knees or under the thighs.

  "We should settle things here as quickly as possible and get back to Seishuuin's side. That idiot Doni must be taken care of as soon as possible..."

  Godou muttered.

  Ena was assigned the task of monitoring "a certain person requiring special attention."

  "Hey Godou, impulsive behavior such as taking this opportunity to steal a march would be unladylike, wouldn't it? But then again, I believe that there ar
e times when we must prepare ourselves to fall into path of evil as a couple, don't you agree?"

  "I have absolutely no intention of that, so listen to me and continue traveling obediently..."

  The slightly familiar forest was already entering into view.

  This was their third visit to Uldin's forest where his dragons inhabited.

  After entering the forest, Erica used divination magic to determine which direction to take. Walking in the direction indicated by the dangling pocket watch, they encountered Deinonychuses—nimble, bipedal, carnivorous dinosaur-type divine beasts—several times along the way.

  Not long after that, they arrived at the site of a former Roman army encampment by the riverside, now serving as Uldin's fortress.

  "Yo comrade. I never expected us to meet again so soon."

  Godou's arrival had apparently been reported already.

  The Hun godslayer smiled cheerfully and waited at the fortress' entrance.

  "Anyway, let's have a welcoming feast first. Take your time and enjoy."

  "I'm just here to talk this time. Spare me the feast, let's start now."

  Godou answered the godslayer who resembled him in appearance.

  Uldin laughed heartily and strode towards a mansion that was once the Roman army's headquarters. Godou and Erica spurred their horses and followed after him.

  Ten minutes later, Godou and Uldin were facing each other in a hall inside the headquarters.

  On Godou's side was Erica while Uldin had his two wives, Ruska and Clotilde.

  "My purpose here today is..."

  "Hold on, Kusanagi Godou. May I interrupt slightly?"

  As soon as Godou spoke, Ruska immediately interrupted. Like Uldin, she was also descended from the Hunnic tribes of the orient. A beauty with soft, sleek, black hair at shoulder length.

  "Recently... I keep getting this unpleasant feeling for some reason."

  "Okay."

  Was she unused to making long-winded speeches? Ruska's explanation was slightly ambiguous.

  Godou answered simply then braced himself. Ruska possessed excellent spirit vision and was a witch of this era. This could not possibly be a simple chat—Godou concluded.