Unfortunately, Godou's premonition was right on target.
"Probably... No, the reason surely stems from you. Kusanagi Godou, that woman dressed in white, as well as Salvatore—The godslayers who came from far away on the other side."
"What's bad about these few's presence?"
Uldin interjected with interest. Ruska nodded slightly.
"Very bad... How should I put this? The feeling is too many. And too early."
Godou exchanged a glance with Erica beside him.
He understood what Ruska said by too many. Including Uldin, there were already four Campiones gathered in this region. Definitely too many. However—
"What does 'too early' mean, Ruska?"
This question came from Clotilde. The tall, female warrior was a user of ancient runic magic.
Due to being indoors, she had taken off the feather-decorated helmet she normally wore all the time. As a result, her head of beautiful blonde hair was open to view.
"Sorry, I'm unable to explain clearly... It's just a feeling that these conditions were originally not supposed to be fulfilled until decades later. Somehow, that's what I keep feeling."
Whenever an outstanding spirit vision user "kept feeling" something, it was not a matter to be ignored.
Godou and his companions knew this very well. He could not help but look at the Italian girl beside him, only to see her in deep thought.
"Too many Campiones... Originally supposed to be decades later..."
"I keep getting this feeling. If things were allowed to progress as they are, the situation would become quite bad. For example, something that was not supposed to happen will occur, that's the kind of feeling."
Without ignoring Erica's murmurs just now, Ruska ended the conversation with an ominous oracle.
As expected, the matter of Doni must be resolved as quickly as possible so that everyone could return to the modern age together. Godou nodded to himself on this point and bowed his head deeply.
"Thank you very much, Ruska-san. I will take your words in consideration."
"No need to thank me. After all, this will probably be a calamity that will befall us as well."
"Us as well?"
Hearing his wife's words, Uldin laughed with joy.
"In that case, then the two of us, comrades that we are, should ally to engage the enemy. An alliance forged between us two could very well be an invincible army."
"If only that were true..."
Uldin had apparently not given up on Kusanagi Godou.
Why don't you be king in my place? Recalling this invitation, Godou retorted "stop deciding on an alliance without my consent."
Next to Godou, Erica stopped pondering and immediately looked up.
"If that's the case, King Uldin, I was wondering whether you've been actively working towards making that alliance a reality and if you intend to build a new relationship with Kusanagi Godou?"
Faced with Erica's eloquent words, Uldin muttered.
"New relationship?"
"You proposed previously to have Kusanagi Godou join you under your banner. However, judging from the fact the two of you fought to a draw in the battle a few days ago, it is readily apparent that both of you possess equal power as godslayers. In that case, why not establish an alliance of equals to become kings ruling the land of Gaul together—Does that sound agreeable to you?"
Nothing less expected from Erica. She began to converse eloquently in a continuous flow.
By having Uldin agree to a truce before they headed over to Doni, the city of Augusta Raurica and its surroundings could be assured. This was the purpose behind the current visit.
One of Godou's reasons for choosing Erica over Ena to accompany him was for the sake of these negotiations.
Meanwhile, Uldin laughed generously after hearing Erica's proposal.
"I see. After all, there's that Salvatore someone rousing the Frankish warriors in the north as well as the unknown calamity Ruska mentioned. Oh well, even without gaining a king as my proxy, consolidating friendship between comrades is still to my advantage."
"Exactly as you say."
"However, forming an alliance requires assurance."
Uldin was right. Verbal agreements were quite fragile and easily revoked.
The risk factor was that while Godou and his friends were setting off for Colonia Agrippina, his ally Uldin would take the opportunity to attack Augusta Raurica.
This was also what Erica worried about.
'Letting Ena-san or me serve a hostage by Uldin's side while having Ruska or Clotilde placed by Godou's side in exchange—This would be the most likely compromise.'
Erica's earlier prediction proved to be correct.
Uldin raised the same issue but turned his gaze towards Godou instead of Erica.
"How about this, comrade? Let me ask a question first."
"What?"
"Do you have a daughter?"
"H-How is that even possible!?"
As soon as he answered, Godou realized something.
In the ancient world, it was nothing surprising to have children even at the age of a first year high schooler at sixteen. But why would Uldin asked such a question?
Without noticing the doubts Godou harbored, the Hun godslayer continued speaking aloofly.
"Then what about sisters?"
"I do have a younger sister. But why are you asking about this?"
"Hey comrade, you're pretty slow here. So that I can take her as a wife or a concubine, of course."
"Wife!?"
Greatly stunned, Godou realized. In other words, a political marriage. The man, who had just proposed to wed the fourteen-year-old Kusanagi Shizuka, laughed with his face filled with joy.
"If your sister is the kind of woman I like, beautiful and strong-willed, that'll be the best. But our alliance of comrades is more important than that. Regarding this, much that needs to be discussed—"
Cough cough. Uldin was interrupted by coughing in the middle of his sentence, but it was not his own.
Instead, it was Clotilde standing behind him. Normally, she always kept a serious demeanor with little variation in expression. However, surfacing on her wise and beautiful face was a rarely seen smile like a blooming flower.
Be that as it may, her eyes were not smiling. In this manner, Uldin's blonde wife spoke up:
"Uldin-sama's joke has gone slightly too far. Please allow me to answer instead as his wife. Kusanagi-sama, Lady Erica, please step this way."
"Yes. Uldin, could you come over here and we'll have a brief word?"
"What are you two talking about? This has already reached the point of impertinence—"
Seeing Clotilde head towards the great hall's exit, Ruska coldly declared to her womanizing husband. The man in question regretfully expressed his dissatisfaction.
Ruska walked over to the depths of the hall and took down a spear from the wall.
Uldin stopped talking at the sight of that. Seizing this opportunity, Clotilde immediately said:
"Well then, Kusanagi-sama, please follow me outside."
"Oh, okay..."
What sort of conversation and quarrel was going to take place next between the husband and wife?
Despite feeling quite curious, in the end, Godou still decided to follow the ancient blonde beauty and leave obediently.
Leaving the great hall with Erica together in a panic, Godou arrived at the courtyard. While walking through a colonnade, Clotilde spoke up:
"Worry not. After all, we owe you a favor, Kusanagi-sama. Just leave the matter of the alliance to me. It looks like there will continue to be many opportunities when punishment must be administered to our husband."
"O-Okay."
"Ruska-sama and I both cherish how fate has brought us to cross paths with you, Kusanagi-sama."
"That's wonderful, Clotilde. In that case, please do not hesitate to ask should you have any need for Kusanagi Godou's power in the future."
Erica replied in a noblewom
an's tone of voice to the woman walking in front.
"Just contact me or Ena-san and we'll provide the best assistance we can offer."
"Much appreciated, Lady Erica. Well then, please feel free to let us know if Uldin's power is needed as well. We are all women in similar situations, so please allow me to offer the most of my meager assistance."
"Thank you, hoho. Let's continue to be friends."
"Of course. In my view, encountering you has brought me unexpected fortune."
"..."
The problem of assurance for the alliance was easily resolved by feelings of solidarity between the ladies.
Oh well, considering that guy Uldin's personality, ignoring his wives' wrath to attack "Kusanagi Godou's capital" was probably highly unlikely.
Nevertheless, Godou still felt quite complicated.
As much as he would like to object loudly to being described as the same type of person as Uldin, who loved women to a pathological degree, Godou's instincts warned him that voicing his opinion would surely draw vehement accusations from the female faction, hence he kept silent throughout.
"The discussion concluded much faster than expected, how wonderful."
"I guess..."
Godou and Erica were riding on horseback again. The pair had just departed from Uldin's fortress and passed through the forest where the Deinonychus divine beasts lurked.
Their next move was to return to the main road and start on the return journey.
The sun was still high up in the sky. Probably around noon. Thinking they should get back to Augusta Raurica as quickly as possible, Godou decided to hurry while it was still daylight at a sustainable rate without causing the horses to collapse from exhaustion. Next, they had to keep a close eye on Madame Aisha's movements while heading north where Doni was located.
Just as he was about to propose hurrying up on their way, Godou noticed something.
Sitting on the chestnut horse, Erica was making a pondering expression.
"What's the matter?"
"Just now, Ruska mentioned about the occurrence of something not supposed to happen, right?"
"That thing, yeah. What does it mean?"
"A simple interpretation would probably be the changing of the original history... Basically something like that."
Erica allowed her favorite horse to trot slowly while she murmured.
"If 'too many' refers to the Campiones, then what about 'too soon'? Could it be that another three Campiones are not supposed to come into existence until decades later if history is correct?"
"Three of our kind will be born in this era, here in Gaul?"
"Yes."
Faced with Erica's unusual speculation, Godou could not help but shake his head.
"That's not very likely, right?"
"But Godou, I have mentioned it before, right? In the same way that wine has good vintage years, there are periods when a rare number of Campiones are born."
Godou recalled that seemed to be something she had said before the decisive battle against Verethragna on the island of Sardinia.
While Godou was reminiscing, Erica continued:
"Even if you consider the twenty-first century where we came from, there are already seven kings gathered, right?"
"Now that you mention it, that's indeed the case... Speaking of that Uldin guy, he also mentioned seeing other peers—godslayers like him."
"Although the exact number is unclear, multiple Campiones should exist in the current time period."
Nodding in acknowledgement, Godou was struck by further questions.
"But what kind of calamity is triggered when there are too many Campiones?"
"Who knows. Well, the mere existence of five or six godslaying Devil Kings is already enough to make a total mess of the world."
Just as the casual conversation turned towards a slightly depressing subject...
Godou was startled by a sudden feeling of weight in his right arm. This was the arm where the divine sword Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi was kept. Was Susanoo's former favorite sword trying to say something?
"What's the matter, did something happen?"
'The miko sends a message...'
After Godou asked, he heard an exhausted "voice" answering from his right arm.
Although Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi was a self-aware divine sword, it was completely indifferent to everything apart from battle. One of the few exceptions was the "Hime-Miko of the Sword," Seishuuin Ena.
She was formerly in possession of Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi. Even now, the divine sword still protected her.
Precisely due to this relationship, Ena would often wield Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi on Godou's behalf. Even separated by great distances, she could still communicate with the divine sword's consciousnss—
"Is there an emergency!?"
'The target under surveillance escaped... The transmitted thoughts report this matter...'
Hearing the divine sword report reluctantly, Godou was greatly surprised.
This was the second reason for leaving Ena behind at Augusta Raurica. Even separated by physical distance, she was still able to contact Godou by relying on Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi.
However, the target under surveillance—Madame Aisha—had escaped, unbelievably.
Seishuuin Ena possessed sharp instincts and exceptional agility. So long as she pursued in earnest, Ena was supposed to be able to capture even wild beasts escaping in the mountains.
How on earth did Madame Aisha escape from Ena's surveillance?
While Godou felt baffled, Erica sighed beside him.
"Looks like we underestimated Madame Aisha too much. What on earth is going to happen next?"
Occupying the lands of the north were Salvatore Doni and the Frankish tribes. Madame Aisha had already set off towards that place with a head start on Kusanagi Godou.
A mad feast was staged on the Rhine basin, a gathering of modern and ancient Campiones.
Apparently, the main event was finally coming to an official start.
Chapter 2 - Journey to Colonia Agrippina
Part 1
Madame Aisha was the godslayer who had traveled from the twenty-first century to this era.
Today, she was still dressed in the usual attire she had worn ever since arriving in ancient Gaul—the white overcoat with the long robe that resembled a one-piece dress.
The bright and sunny weather of spring was quite comfortable, sending Aisha's spirits to a crescendo.
Blowing across the water, the favorable wind was smooth and gentle.
Driven by this wind, the merchant's ship that Aisha had boarded was sailing downstream along the Rhine, towards the north of the Roman province of Gaul.
Judging by modern sensibilities, the ship would be roughly "twice the size of a yacht or thereabouts."
"The people of this ship are so friendly and helpful."
Whether the ship's owner or the wheat traders on board, everyone treated Aisha very nicely.
Four days earlier, at the pier of Augusta Raurica, Aisha had asked them if she could hitch a ride. They agreed readily.
During the daytime, the ship would sail along the river, blown downstream by the wind.
At night, she would wrap herself in a blanket and sleep on the ship while it was moored along towns by the shore.
Then on the fourth day of the journey, during the daytime, the ship arrived at the Roman colonial city of Mogontiacum.
The ship was only supposed to unload merchandise here and then return upstream to the city of Raurica.
There was still far to go before reaching her destination of Colonia Agrippina, which lay much further north.
Madame Aisha disembarked amidst the merchants' smiling farewells.
Everyone saw her off with warm words and smiles.
Finding the world full of benevolence, Aisha felt "warmth" in her heart.
(In actual fact, this was all due to Aisha's slight invocation of her charisma authority when she first made her request wi
th a smile. Perhaps their friendly behavior did not stem from pure benevolence, nevertheless, Madame Aisha had no wish of being a pessimist who refuted these people's kindness. She believed that humans must live by supporting one another.)
After disembarking, Aisha first went to find a meal.
Her special skills included being able to sleep soundly no matter where she slept and finding all food delicious no matter what she ate. These two special skills were probably what allowed her to live her life completely stress free regardless of location.
On this occasion, she chose a cheap restaurant nearby. Her order consisted of some slightly hard bread and vegetable soup flavored with pepper. Aisha thoroughly enjoyed these trivial and ordinary pleasures.
"Next, I should find my next ship."
Leaving the restaurant, Aisha made her way to the pier again. The Rhine had been used extensively for water transport since antiquity and many ships were moored at Mogontiacum's pier.
"Who should I ask...?"
She murmured to herself as she looked around the pier. Instead of searching for friendly-looking sailors, she was doing the opposite. Since people always said yes no matter whom she asked, Aisha found these situations quite troubling instead. In actual fact, there was no one nearby who would reject her requests—
"Come to think of it, I wonder if Ena-san and the others are okay?"
Perhaps due to arriving at the pier, she recalled what had happened back when she first set off.
Even at the city of Augusta Raurica, she had selected an suitable ship to board in the same manner. Seizing the opportunity when the caring but slightly nagging Kusanagi Godou was away, she had departed on her journey alone.
At that time, Ena was apparently following Aisha.
Not long after the ship left the city of Raurica, a second ship following behind suddenly suffered from a fallen mast and the misfortune of a breached hull. The passengers instantly set themselves to throwing water out of the ship and seemed to be in quite a state of panic.
Aisha had clearly witnessed Ena's speechless appearance at the time.
"Putting me under surveillance and not letting me travel, seriously, that Kusanagi-san. Is he really that worried about me? That's a bit excessively protective of him..."
Campione 15 Page 3