Last time at Raurica, a battle had taken place between Uldin and him.
At the time, Kusanagi Godou had come forward to fight in Aisha's defense, risking his life and exhibiting benevolence and courage. He was definitely quite a kindhearted youth.
Nevertheless, whether surveillance or caring, it was still too excessive.
The charisma power did not affect Kusanagi Godou who was likewise a godslayer. The chivalry and spirit of self-sacrifice in protecting Aisha all came from the youth's own free will.
Suddenly, Aisha was taken aback with surprise.
"Could it be, no way, is he actually... in love with me!?"
Aisha wondered while wandering aimlessly at the pier.
Like a strike of lightning, the shock caused her heart to waver, making her body sway unsteadily. Leaning against the railing by the river, she finally managed to stabilize herself.
"Is protecting me a means to hide his shyness? Or is he unable to face his own feelings honestly...? It should be one or the other, right...?"
In that case, everything made logical sense. Aisha seemed to have glimpsed the light of truth.
"B-But Kusanagi-san has two lovers already. Despite clearly making righteous speeches, he turns out to be no better than Uldin-san. Quite an unfaithful womanizer... Without mincing words, he would be human scum of a slightly silly variety..."
Shocked by the truth she had divined, Aisha felt her body temperature rising as though she had a fever. She kept murmuring:
"But he risked his life for me... Also, despite putting up such a serious front all the time, who knows what scandals are secretly circulating about him and any number of ladies. This is attractive in itself, a bit of a bad boy feel—Oh no! This is no good at all!"
Aisha's mind was instantly plunged into all sorts of thoughts. Disapproval and affirmation clashed intensely, erupting sparks in a battle of light and darkness.
"This won't do, Aisha. If I allow myself to be carried away by these emotions and accept him, surely I'll be the one crying in the end, at an older age to boot... Of course, I can still pass as his younger sister perfectly plausibly, yes, a very lively and energetic younger sister..."
"Excuse me, Aisha-san?"
"Oh no, I feel like I'm seeing Kusanagi-san's face before me when my thoughts are with him... If I don't calm myself down a bit more..."
"No actually, I am right in front of you, in the flesh—Can you hear me?"
"Yes, I hear you—Wah!?"
Aisha was so shocked she fell backwards.
Standing before her and watching in surprise were Kusanagi Godou, Erica Blandelli and Seishuuin Ena. Unbeknownst to Aisha, they had somehow gathered here already.
"K-Kusanagi-san, did you overhear what I was saying just now!?"
"Just the last sentence. After going through all the trouble and finding you murmuring to yourself by the river, I was originally thinking of capturing you... Were you trying to say something?"
"Pay no mind to it! They were simply murmurs, a maiden's private thoughts!"
In an effort to conceal the heavy pulsation in her heart, Aisha yelled loudly.
"B-But anyway, how did you catch up to me, Kusanagi-san?"
"Like you, Aisha-san, we came by ship."
Having traveled downstream on the Rhine by ship, Godou answered Madame Aisha's question.
It was the only small-size sailing ship that was about to depart, similar to a yacht in size and appearance. Given a favorable wind, it was capable of moving rapidly across water.
With an estimated speed of twenty knots, it was comparable to the legal speed limit of automobiles.
However, having grown accustomed to walking and riding horses, Godou found it quite fast. Currently on board were Godou, Madame Aisha, Erica and Ena.
"I was near that Uldin guy's forest when I heard about Aisha-san going missing, so I went and asked that guy to borrow a ship."
"Then through various means, we managed to catch up to you, Madame."
Godou replied, followed by Erica who reported in a courteous tone of voice.
Not too long ago, Godou had also borrowed a ship from Ruska and Clotilde to sail downstream along the Rhine.
Like last time, Clotilde had bestowed a water protection spell at their departure. This allowed them to travel much faster than an ordinary ship.
Furthermore, Godou and Erica both had excellent night vision.
This allowed them to take turns watching over the ship as they advanced during nighttime, proceeding to pick up Ena at Raurica and chase after Madame Aisha who had set off first. As an extra precaution, Erica had taken a hair from Madame Aisha to use for search magic, thereby allowing them to close in substantially and avoid having to check ships one by one.
"No other way, I suppose..."
Madame Aisha apparently gave up. She sighed and said:
"I was originally thinking of leaving you behind, Kusanagi-san who is slightly too naggy, so that I may negotiate with Doni-san first. I'll give up on that now. So let the four of us do our best together from now on!"
"Agreed. But I don't really nag that much."
Still getting slightly strung along by Aisha's pace, Godou objected indifferently.
"I just speak a bit of common sense, that's all."
"You're saying annoying things again... But I understand. Kusanagi-san, you feel so concerned about me that you can't help yourself... Isn't that right?"
"Well, that's because like that idiot Doni, you're someone I really need to pay attention to."
In a careless moment, Godou said something he should not have disclosed in front of this centenarian-plus woman.
Unlike her godslayer peer, Godou's sworn sister Luo Cuilian, Madame Aisha was quite cheerful and candid in behavior and personality alike. Even worse, she was quite prone to gossiping as a result of this personality.
Meanwhile, for some reason Godou could not fathom, Madame Aisha was going "I knew it..." and nodding to herself.
Then looking up, she secretly glanced at Godou's face.
"But Aisha-san, there's something Ena doesn't understand."
While Madame Aisha was acting suspiciously, Ena asked incredulously.
"In order to chase after your ship, Aisha-san, Ena also hitched a ride on another ship that was setting sail, but gave up when a hole opened up in the ship's hull."
"Ah, so it really happened."
"The next ship taken was suddenly beached. Then the one after that was unable to set sail because of the commotion from an old man's stomach ache. If they're all coincidence, Ena thinks that's a bit excessive..."
Using Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi as a medium, Ena had contacted Godou.
After picking up the raven-haired Hime-Miko who was stranded and waiting at the riverside near Augusta Raurica, Godou had heard about this matter. Due to three inexplicable instances of trouble, she had been unable to tail Aisha.
One could not help but suspect an element of human intervention in three successive instances of misfortune.
Presumably, Madame Aisha must have done something? For example, little tricks of magic...
"Indeed, it cannot be said to be pure coincidence. I am truly sorry."
As expected, Madame Aisha answered in an apologetic tone of voice.
She clasped her hands together before her chest, making a pose like a pious nun in prayer.
"Actually, I was praying before boarding the ship: Please protect me during this period when I am heading over to visit Doni-san and guide him towards the path of benevolence so as to prevent more people from suffering."
"Praying... Do you believe in some kind of religion, Madame?"
Feeling surprised, Erica interjected. Presumably she found it quite shocking for a godslayer to use the word "praying."
"Or perhaps, you believe in a deity of some place?"
"Oh no. Actually, there was one time over in China when I had no choice but to defeat a benevolent guardian of the populace."
" " "......" " "
Confronted with this sudden confession, Godou, Erica and Ena exchanged glances with one another.
In other words, it was nothing as half-baked as "little tricks of magic."
"As a result, I obtained an authority of fortune's blessing. It is quite an insignificant power, only taking effect to help me accomplish my task whenever I vow to do good..."
"F-Fortune's blessing huh..."
Normally fazed by nothing, Ena could only mutter "I surrender" in response.
Most likely, she never would have imagined that such occurrences were actually the result of a godslayer's authority.
"So in trying to hinder Aisha-san, Ena encountered weird events..."
"Yes. I pray not to any god but towards my own authority. —When time is not ripe yet for good to result, even the benevolent shall encounter misfortune, when time is ripe for good to result, fortune shall come to pass, let the good be rewarded with fortune and evil shall reap what they sow..."
At this moment, the sound of rumbling thunder could be heard.
"It was sunny up until just now..."
Godou looked up into the air. Before he knew it, the thunderclouds had already spread far and wide, completely darkening the sky.
"Madame Aisha, is this caused by that authority?"
Erica suddenly realized something and asked the terrifying female Campione.
"Taking effect over the duration it takes to bring a good deed to fruition—In other words, right now, while making her way towards Sir Salvatore, the power of fortune is still protecting the Madame!?"
"...Oh, now that you mention it, that's true indeed."
" " "!?" " "
The Madame answered readily in the affirmative. Godou and his friends were shocked.
Within the mere time span of the earlier exchange, a great rainstorm had already started its downpour. Striking the people and the Rhine's surface alike, the raindrops actually hurt. In modern parlance, it would be a guerrilla rainstorm.
Finally, a strong gale began to blow in transverse while lightning struck down incessantly from the sky.
In merely four or five minutes, a storm had descended. Naturally, faced with a great rainstorm, the Rhine shook Godou's small sailing ship violently. The intensity of the ship's rocking was undoubtedly beyond what amusement park rides could offer.
"Hurry and get ashore, we must get back onto solid ground!"
"Th-This storm is on a totally different level compared to the accidents that hindered Ena!"
"Indeed, it must be because of Kusanagi-san. As expected, when a godslayer caught up to me, ordinary trials and misfortunes are not enough."
"So, because I'm getting in your way, Aisha-san, that's what's causing this storm!?"
"When clearly Aisha-san is getting swept up in it as well?"
"This sometimes happens when I use this power. Someone's fortune becomes another's misfortune. Fortune adhered to misfortune, misfortune lurking amidst fortune. Fortune and misfortune would summon each other. Perhaps this is the truth that this world conveys..."
On the river's surface, scoured by wind and waves, the water was billowing turbulently. As a result of the heavy rain, everyone became completely soaked.
Only Madame Aisha was calmly explaining away.
As the price(?) for using the authority of fortune, she was probably well-accustomed to getting swept into sudden misfortune and calamities.
In contrast, Erica, Ena and Godou were showing signs of anxiety. In any case, they started taking action to counter their desperate situation.
But it was already too late.
Produced by the strong gale, giant waves made the ship's body turn a hundred and eighty degrees—They capsized.
Naturally, all four of them were tossed into the raging winds and turbulent waters in the middle of the Rhine.
Part 2
Liliana Kranjcar was a witch with outstanding talent.
Being only a teenager, she had yet to reach the level of top experts.
But in this age, she undoubtedly held outstanding promise, a rare prodigy whom everyone expected to eventually reach the pinnacle along this path.
Furthermore, currently in front of Liliana was the "top expert" who could serve as her role model.
Princess Alice—the princess who stood at the pinnacle of the heaven-oriented system of witchcraft.
As Europe's most powerful miko and highest-ranking witch, she had brought Liliana and Mariya Yuri to meet "a certain person who wanted to see them."
The trip was a bit different from expected.
Their current location was a hotel that had been converted from an ancient medieval Italian castle.
Climbing a long and spiral staircase, Alice led Liliana and Yuri to an observation room at the highest and fifth floor. One of the walls was made of glass, providing a view of the "outside" scenery.
This ancient castle was situated in the Casentino area, a region of forest designated as a national park.
With trees extending all the way to the horizon, the land was covered white in snow that had fallen a few days prior. Meanwhile, the bright light of the crescent moon illuminated the greenery and silver-white snow down below.
Such scenery of fantasy was visible from this observation room.
"Come to think of it, aren't you also my junior, Liliana?"
"Yes, although I am still in training."
Standing under the moonlight streaming in through the window, the princess asked. Liliana answered concisely.
This was not because she was unused to interacting with fellow witches, for Liliana would often address her master or seniors as "auntie" or "sister." Nevertheless, Liliana was also a knight at the same time and did not intend to address a noble princess with too much familiarity.
On the other hand, Alice smiled and accepted Liliana's stubborn adherence to etiquette, then spoke:
"Wonderful, then there's no issue even if I verbally pass along the words of witches. Liliana and Yuri, please note that you must carefully keep what you hear here a secret, okay?"
Alice brought her index finger to her lips to make a gesture of confidentiality.
Then Yuri, the Japanese Hime-Miko, bowed apologetically.
"Excuse me, Princess... In that case, would it be better if I took my leave?"
"Nothing to worry about, Yuri, so please remain present. You can be considered the cousin of us witches. Furthermore, apart from the witches, a select few people are privy to this secret as well."
The witch, who stood at the pinnacle of the heaven-oriented system, smiled mischievously.
"Even the Witenagemot's Diogenes Club is also a part of the select few in the know. There's also North America's premier fairy doctor—the elderly gentleman who assists a certain Devil King."
Indeed as expected. Liliana nodded silently. Princess Alice intended to share secret knowledge that was only passed verbally even between high-ranking witches.
Right now, Alice was using summoning magic to call forth a perfume bottle into her right hand.
She swiftly waved this tiny bottle towards Liliana and Yuri. A refreshing floral scent entered their nostrils.
Having smelled this fragrance before, Liliana and Yuri were shocked. They remembered the aroma from an incident concerning a certain divine sword that counted as part of Japan's national treasure.
"O skylark, take me to the furthest reaches of the clouds, your song resounding in the heavens between the clouds, leading me together in flight—"
As Liliana watched in shock, Princess Alice chanted spell words.
Considering this in conjunction with the magical presence that exuded accordingly, Liliana remembered.
Unmistakable. The princess was using "that witchcraft." Liliana was certain. Before her eyes, the observation room's glass glowed brightly from the moonlight. In the following instant, her entire view was taken over by white light...
Once the white light dissipated, Liliana found herself standing on a cliff by the sea. Looking down at the foot of t
he cliff, she could see raging waves crashing against the rocks. Also, the sky was purple.
Mariya Yuri and the princess were next to her.
Yuri gulped. From the sight of the purple sky alone, it was already obvious that this was no ordinary place.
"Sure enough, the Netherworld... Princess, you used a spell to cross over to the Netherworld, yes?"
"Yes, that's right, although we tend to call this realm the 'Astral Plane.'"
Yuri confirmed with the princess who answered with a wink.
The Netherworld, a domain outside of the mortal realm.
An alternate dimension where the mind and ectoplasm ranked higher than material substance. It was said that Japanese wizards called it the Netherworld while Chinese Daoists referred to it as Youmingjie or Youjie in short. Known to Persian wizardry as the Menog, Greek mysticism called it the Idea Realm, etc.
Heretic Gods seemed to call it the [Boundary of Life and Immortality].
The perfume the princess had released just now was a secret elixir concocted to help human bodies adjust to the Netherworld's air. During the Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi incident, Liliana had also prepared the same elixir to send Yuri to the Netherworld.
The princess did not use it on herself, most likely because there was no need to.
Instead of using her physical body, the frail Princess Alice apparently went outdoors by sending her spirit body "outside." Essentially, the princess in front of Liliana and Yuri's eyes was nothing more than a projection, something akin to a ghost. There was no issue of spirit bodies needing to adjust to the Astral Plane.
"The person who wants to see us turns out to be in the Netherworld huh..."
"Not exactly? You'll understand quicker if you see with your own eyes. Let's hurry over to the meeting place."
After answering Yuri's query, the princess closed her eyes. The surrounding environment instantly changed.
A Buddha statue stood upright in the middle of a cave, a sight reminiscent of cave monasteries in India.
Unlike in the earthly realm, traveling in the Astral Plane relied on the mind rather than walking. Once accustomed to this realm, magi could transfer instantaneously simply by imagining their desired destination.
"Very regrettably, it's not a place we can fly directly to, because it's a secret location that cannot be reached except by transferring according to prescribed rules. As a result, we need to make various stops."
Campione 15 Page 4