Campione 01 Read online

  "I didn't think that, I would have a near-death experience in that kind of place......"

  This was a cafe which provided food and coffee, something that could be seen everywhere in this city.

  Godou just came out from the car which had lost control, and was sitting on a vine chair in front of some random cafe, tasting the particularly bitter espresso, while Anna was trying to find a place to park.

  ...Ten minutes before.

  Anna-san was trying to use a clutch which she wasn't used to, while the car flew through the city's streets.

  She said that if the accelerator wasn't pushed with strength, the car wouldn't work, so she started rolling at 80km/h with the Mercedes-Benz, and was zigzagging in between the cars before her (s-sometimes, they were cars heading in the opposite direction), until it became impossible to turn as we arrived on a congested road. As we headed into a river, Anna pressed an emergency brake, and it ended up like that.

  "......Anna-san, please park the car in a nearby parking spot first; I want to rest a bit near here."

  Godou said that with a tone that brooked no questions.

  Leaving his own life in the hands of a rookie driver who cannot tell the difference between a manual and an automatic car was far too dangerous. What made it even scarier was the fact that the driver herself had no idea of the very thin line separating her from death.

  "Eh? I thought that I should first have Godou-san visit Rome——"

  "It's OK, I am already tired! I want to rest a bit!"

  That was what happened.

  Godou, after watching the car accelerate and move farther, entered a café and said to the Roman auntie there that he wanted an espresso.

  "......Anna-san, though she looks normal from her looks, is actually someone really stupid? Just then, I almost died."

  At the beginning, Godou didn't care a lot about fortune.

  But through these recent times, he started to change his mind.

  He thought that he was someone who is, perhaps, really unlucky......

  He never thought of himself as unlucky before. But in these past six months, the number of times he escaped death kept increasing, and he couldn't help but begin to understand those who believed in fortune.

  After drinking that espresso, he felt a deeply hostile feeling.

  As Godou put the glass back on the table, his eyes met with a young girl in the crowd.

  The two of them looked at each other.

  ——Shit.

  That young girl wasn't an ordinary human, and the sensation just then made him feel really bad.

  Even though his body was tired from the jet lag, which left him fatigued yet relaxed, he had recovered his senses in an instant, while jitters filled him from his body to the extremity of his fingers.

  When he came in contact with an enemy like her, his body naturally entered into fighting mode.

  ".................."

  The young girl also stopped walking, and examined Godou's face; could she also see Godou as an enemy?

  She was a really beautiful girl.

  She was around thirteen or fourteen, and at her age, she looks like a charming and delicate little angel.

  But that wasn't surprising. They were all not only beautiful, but possessed extraordinary bodies. Every one of them stood out.

  She had silver hair that fell on her shoulder like a moon emitting slight rays of light, and pupils as black as the deep night.

  "......I heard that there is a godslayer who calls himself a knight, and that man has cut many things with his magic sword......is that man you?"

  Before he knew it——

  The young girl of a different existence had already come near him.

  She had silver hair that fell on her shoulder like a moon emitting slight rays of light, and pupils as black as the deep night.

  "No, the man you are talking about is injured, and has gone to the southern islands to heal himself, using the excuse of going on a vacation."

  The one who injured him was Godou. However, he didn't plan on showing that one off.

  "......is that so? Then you too, are a traveler."

  As if her night-colored black pupils condensed, she quietly stared at Godou.

  "What are you planning to do? Now, my only objective is to retrieve the [Snake], so I don't have any intention to fight. However, if you do plan on fighting, then I'll put all my efforts, and the one who loses will become the other one's servant."

  "I don't know what is the [Snake], so I don't plan on fighting either. If it's possible, I wish to maintain our relationship, I don't feel like fighting you guys."

  "I understand. I'll leave quickly, but godslayer, you are lying."

  "Lying?"

  "Indeed, there isn't a godslayer who doesn't hold any interest in fighting me, so you're a liar."

  After saying those words, the silver-haired girl left Godou.

  Fuu, sighed Godou.

  Luckily, it didn't end up in a fight. But even if she was a god, to call someone a liar whenever she wished was really rude.

  As he was thinking that, a black-haired girl rushed to his side.

  "I'm sorry, Godou-san, letting you wait so long."

  That person was Anna. As she walked towards the table, Godou asked her.

  "Can I borrow your cellphone? I need to contact Erica."

  "It's fine, but maybe the meeting hasn't finished yet?"

  After saying that, Anna lent her cellphone to Godou.

  "Arianna, what is it?"

  After calling her numerous times, the other side finally took the phone. It was Erica's voice, which he hasn’t heard since yesterday.

  "It's me. I need to ask you something."

  "So you have arrived, how is it? Do you get along with Arianna?"

  "Concerning that, I have many things to complain about, but let's talk about this later. Is it because I need to fight a god that you called me here?"

  "About that, I'm still not sure, though the possibility is high......is it possible that you encountered one?"

  "Indeed, just now, there was a goddess."

  "Is that so......then we need to move quickly. Let's meet up now. We need to prepare ourselves for the fight tonight——"

  "......What did you say?"

  Godou just heard some words that he couldn't ignore, and asked again.

  "I said that, tonight, you will fight me......I think you know even without me telling you that it cannot be cancelled, so prepare yourself."

  "What are the reasons that made you take that decision......"

  Fate was like rolling dice; there was always something new happening (even if he didn't want that). Just then, Godou finally felt that his own fate wasn't normal.

  The time is past 9:00 PM——

  Godou arrived with Anna in a high-class Italian restaurant.

  Maybe this was also quite famous in Japan, but Godou didn't know about it.

  When Anna took him to this hotel, all that was in Godou's mind was a 'this place is really impressive' sort of feeling.

  What was most important, however, was the girl waiting there.

  He thought that he couldn't enter without a proper suit and a proper tie, but that seemed to be all extra; maybe there was a close relationship between the owner and Erica.

  When the two of them arrived there, Erica was already waiting for them.

  "Godou, long time no see, though I really hope that I can hear you say some wonderful words for our joyful reunion, I won't expect too much, since I know perfectly well that you don't have the talent of a poet."

  "If you can change that attitude of yours that says everything goes according to your plan, maybe I'll think about it."

  Erica's and Godou's table was close to the window, with Anna standing respectfully beside them.

  Compared to Godou, who arrived in casual clothes, Erica was wearing a bright dark red dress; the two of them seemed to not match each other.

  In Erica's hair was an ornamental black rose.

&nbs
p; Maybe it was because of her beautiful and regal appearance, but her blonde hair looked like a knight's helmet or a ruler's crown.

  Erica Blandelli could even make someone as obtuse as Godou see her as a beautiful girl with overflowing charisma; so if only her attitude was better, she would be perfect. That was what he normally thought.

  "Arianna, thank you for your hard work. Has there been a slight problem?"

  "There was one, Erica-sama......I felt bad that Godou-san said that he was tired, and I couldn't bring him to visit the streets of Rome."

  Godou could only pretend that he didn't hear what Arianna said.

  Even if he claimed there was a bit of strength remaining, it would have been sucked out by that flying car that brought him to the brink of death, so there wouldn't be any meaning to it.

  "Then that's great. Godou, did Arianna assume the responsibilities of a guide well? Since I was busy and didn't have time to welcome you, I was a bit worried."

  "Hn, how can I say it......it wasn't bad."

  Godou didn't see what leaked from Erica's eyes, the gleam of a child pulling a prank.

  The reason she sent Anna was indeed to give him a headache.

  "Is it? It's great that you haven't been disappointed, since Godou will one day become my husband, and is a genuine Campione——"

  "......Eh? Erica-sama, what did you just say?"

  "I said that Godou will become my husband, and is a genuine devil."

  Anna's delicate and pretty smile seems to have frozen for a moment.

  Since he felt guilty for hiding that from her, Godou needed to ask Erica to correct part of what she said.

  "Hey! Wait a moment! We have never arranged marriage between us!"

  "......You have already taken my chastity, so you mean that you were simply toying with me? How heartless of you, I gave my body and my heart to my lover, who seems to be like that playboy in Don Juan——"

  Erica deliberately chose the tone of a tragic girl.

  Even though he didn't see the smile her mouth let out, he could clearly see that she was making fun of him.

  "Please......it was clearly not like what you said, you knew that situation at that time, didn't you?"

  "So you would actually invent a lie like this. Ah～～I, a faithful servant to the Lord, can only enter a convent now to clean my body and my mind; I didn't think that at such an age, I will have to move away from the red secular......"

  "Is there any sincerity in you? You, who is technically in a heretical cult, and the witch of a religious order, don't talk like you're with something as pure as Catholicism!"

  While Godou complained to Erica, pretending to be angry, he quickly glanced towards Anna.

  ......She seemed to have seen a demon king sexually assault someone, and was now looking at me with angry, frightening eyes.

  "How mean, saying that you were only a normal high school student......I didn't think that you were such a demon who believed 'look, humans are like trash'......and that you would use cheesy lines to deceive Erica-sama, and ravage her mercilessly......it is really disgusting!"

  "Please don't randomly think of a plot like that, does she look like someone who would be deceived by cheesy lines? Erica, you too, stop babbling nonsense; it's rude to invite someone just so you can tease him."

  "Not everything is nonsense, but anyways, our relationship could be properly discussed later. Let's talk about the fight first."

  So finally they enter the real subject.

  Were the dishes sent to this table also made in preparation for the fight? Erica's drink wasn't something like grape wine, but merely mineral water.

  "So? Why do I have to fight you?"

  "So that you can prove your strength. There are knights who have inherited ancient magic gathering in Rome right now, discussing over who will keep the Gorgoneion. I suggested you, but the three others would only accept if you prove your strength. That's the story."

  "......What is the Gorgoneion?"

  "It is a mythological relic which appeared two months ago, on the coast of the Calabria. The Gorgoneion is the symbol of a goddess, lost long ago on Mother Earth. It is the road sign to darkness. Since there isn't much time left, I'll explain quickly——"

  "There's no need, you don't need to say that to me. If it concerns gods, then I don't want to know."

  Godou stopped her in the middle of her sentence just as Erica was about to start her explanation.

  For some reason, Godou wanted to know the least possible about mythology; seeing Godou's attitude, Erica laughed at his stubbornness.

  "But you have already met the girl, the one who was probably a [Heretic God], didn't you? I believe that you two are fated to fight each other, sooner or later. I can bet with you that at that time, you'll certainly ask me to tell you about her."

  "Please don't say these unlucky things; let's talk about something else, why do I need to fight to prove my strength? Isn't there another way?"

  "There isn't any other way. To us knights, a duel is the most important proof. To fight after endless training in martial arts, to show the courage of a lion, and finally receive the honor of victory —— a fight between two people who love each other so much, don't you think that it might become a wonderful night?"

  "Who would think like that! I should say that this night would be a nightmare."

  "You're really not honest with yourself. Ah～～is it because there are people nearby that you feel shy?"

  Erica pointed towards Anna with her head, who was silent and didn't dare interrupt the conversation of her mistress.

  "Don't worry. After the battle, I won't let anyone bother us. We'll leave that for the end so we can slowly enjoy it."

  Godou felt that his misfortune was brought on entirely by Erica.

  House of Savoy: Casa Savoia in Italian, and ruled in Italy before the Republicans overthrew royalty.

  Grand Master: a typical title given to the head of a Knightly Order.

  Capital of Lilies: the direct translation of Yuri no To.

  Copper Black Cross: my translation of Shakudo Kurojuji.

  Baphomet: a deity that the Knights Templar used to worship. As for who the Knights Templar are, they were a Crusader order endorsed in the 12th century by the Catholic Church. However, their last leader, Jacques de Molay, was burnt at stake by King Philippe IV le Bel of France; de Molay's curse is actually pretty well known. (This part is untrue: Baphomet was thought to be a pagan god, thus it would be Heresy for an ordained Crusader order to worship him. The myth of Knights Templar worshiping Baphomet was an accusation leveled against the Knights Templar, using relics they plundered as 'evidence', when Phillip IV of France sought to bring their downfall over numerous reasons, a foremost being debt evasion as he owed them a lot of money; historians also believe that 'Baphomet' was actually a typo of the Islam prophet Muhammad, which was often latinized to 'Mahomet'. - Aorii)

  Gorgoneion: a pendant in Ancient Greece showing the Gorgon's head.

  Diavolo Rosso: Dark Red Devil in Italian. I chose to use that term even if it's maybe not in the raws.

  Nuadha: or Nuada Airgetlám, the first king of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

  Chapter 2 - Duel with the Diavolo Rosso

  Part 1

  The evening gradually became darker, and many stars hung high in the night sky——

  Citing danger as a reason, Erica did not take Anna along with them.

  Together with Godou, the pair proceeded to a hill near the famous Colosseum[1C 1] of Rome.

  In the first few centuries AD, the city of Rome was built in the middle of seven hills[1C 2]. This is a well-known historical fact.

  This particular hill was called the Palatine; in its Republican past it was a high-class residential area, and in the Empire it was the site on which the emperor's palace was built[1C 3].

  But today it is only known as 'that place near the famous tourist attraction, the Roman Colosseum', and silently crumbled into a pile of ruins through neglect.

  "Althou
gh still a spot for tourists, it is so much quieter compared to the Colosseum nearby."

  Erica said what was on her mind.

  It may have been because it was already past midnight, but due to the surrounding atmosphere, even if the spirit of a Roman nobleman appeared it wouldn't have seemed strange.

  "That said, to see a building that has been around for more than 1500 years, still preserving its shape, you can't help but admire it."

  The sections built from brick still remain.

  Similarly for the pathway made from brick.

  Walking slowly amidst the ruins, Godou looked around, noticing the surrounding landscape.

  If it was possible, he wished he had come in the daytime, but this similarity to a test of courage was also very exciting.

  There were no street lamps anywhere near them. But even without torches they both continued on naturally, because Erica and Godou both had owl-like night vision... this too, was because of the life or death situations he had gone through since this spring, that he could obtain such a superhuman constitution.

  "Is that so? Ancient buildings such as these can be found anywhere, can't they? For example, Medieval temples and castles. I know Japan also has quite a few, right?"

  "Your examples are from completely different time periods. And besides, if you exclude those that are tourist attractions, they're hard to find."

  Erica's opinion came from those who see things from a Neolithic point of view.

  In the first place, for most of the cities in Italy, a large percentage of their buildings and names come directly from the Medieval period.

  And if you're talking about the roads and the town as a whole, it's not an understatement to claim over half of them are historical relics.

  Especially here at Rome, where the roads, sewage systems, the water supply and more were all facilities constructed in the Imperial period. They were used continuously, and with at most a simple bit of repair, could still function perfectly in the present.

  "Godou, how long has it been since both of us were alone? Can you please not talk about such unromantic things? This is a rare, short rendezvous for us lovers."

  Erica suddenly drew close.

  She kept near Godou, and began to whisper these words in his ear.