As if trying to compete with this red knight, the blue knight once again offered Godou a kiss, in a manner as adorable as a fairy.
"The Roman Empire at that time, had a system where non-citizen soldiers were granted official Roman citizenship after twenty-five years of service... Voluntarily enlisting in the Roman military, Sarmatians were deployed all over the Empire as cavalry."
"Yes. Retired soldiers were often granted land near the place they were stationed, and would marry local residents as wives."
The red and blue knights alternately approached with their kisses, in a competition to win credit.
Yuri watched with mournful eyes as the two knights tangled with Godou and said softly:
"Excuse me, Godou-san, so you have seen Lancelot's true face...?"
"Ah yes. That guy is actually a girl beneath the armor. Lancelot du Lac is a female knight."
Yuri sighed as she heard his immediate response.
With an expression like she wanted to say something, Liliana pinched Godou's back.
As for Erica, she moved her lips to feign a kiss and lightly bit Godou's lower lip.
"Ouch! What are you doing?"
"As it turns out, your lips were yet again stolen by female temptation."
"There should limits to how open you leave yourself. You must become more alert."
"Even though that kind of open-mindedness can be considered Godou-san's good point, nevertheless, it should be time for him to make progress and learn from past mistakes..."
Criticized by each girl in turn, Godou's head shrank back.
This was a tangent. His moment of honesty was for the sake of guiding the Hime-Miko's spirit vision. What was going to happen? Godou awaited the result. After all--
"Anyway, I was indeed able to see it thanks to what you said. Sir Lancelot's unobscured face stands as irrefutable evidence of her identity as a queen related to the Proto-Scythian lineages."
Yuri hugged back tightly in turn, and bringing her lips close as if trying to stand on her toes.
A resolute and proactive kiss. It was an act that no longer befitted the conservative Yamato Nadeshiko, thereby lighting her heart with a sense of immoral excitement.
Yuri's kiss was transmitting the knowledge for unraveling Lancelot's mystery.
Once again, the miko possessing the highest spirit vision aptitude had received a divine oracle. How befitting -- just as Godou was about to express his gratitude, the other girl who possessed spirit vision also offered a kiss.
"Herodotus was the historian who left behind the first and most ancient writings about the Scythians, faithfully recording every single detail about the descendants of this tribe. The key that links the queen and the female warrior, Sir Lancelot, to the Scythians, is..."
Liliana's spirit vision also succeeded on this occasion.
The rare girl, known as both a witch and a knight, transmitted new knowledge to Godou as well. A massive amount of information was being sent directly to his brain through [Instruction] magic.
The knowledge provided by the trio caused a sense of certainty to rise in Godou's heart.
Yes, it could be made. The [Sword] for slicing Lancelot apart could now be created!
Just as this confidence made Godou display a dauntless smile...
"Godou, come here for a bit, okay...?"
It was Erica pleading for a kiss. Naturally, Godou responded.
This was an act that had been repeated so many times he had already lost count. However, her kiss delivered neither speech nor knowledge.
"...A stone?"
Rolling over his tongue was a small and hard ball-shaped object.
Due to Erica mixing copious amounts of sweet and fragrant saliva along with the object, Godou unwarily swallowed it. Immediately, Godou felt intense chaos in his heart.
"W-What--?"
Anxiety, indecision, apprehension and the like. These hitherto forgotten emotions were reawakened once more.
What had been forced down his throat? Erica smiled gracefully as Godou puzzled.
"It's a shame and I'll miss this, but it's about time for things to conclude. Do you remember Hikari's disaster purification? We asked the Princess to cast a spell to seal that power into this enchanted stone."
Hikari was Yuri's little sister, the Mariya family's second daughter. She was also an apprentice Hime-Miko.
Disaster purification was a power that could cancel out a god's authority, even though the scale of its effect was limited. During the battle against the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Hikari's disaster purification had managed to shatter the recovered Ruyi Staff which Erica had smashed earlier.
In addition, there was Alice's involvement this time.
"This isn't ordinary disaster purification, you know? This is disaster purification performed after the Princess had used psychic sensing to share her own spiritual essence with Hikari. Even though wiping out Sir Lancelot's curse is too difficult, it is possible to cause cracks in it... That's what the Princess said."
Really? So that explains the current feeling. Godou understood.
Indeed it was only on the level of making cracks. Godou had a feeling that if he let his emotions sweep him away, he would return to that state again.
However. Nevertheless.
Under the girls' gazes, Godou could not allow himself to reignite that fervor.
Because of Erica, who performed the reversal, trying to bring Godou back in spite of the lingering aftertaste from the earlier behavior which made her body and mind swelter.
Because of Yuri, whose eyes were in a daze from the repeated passionate kissing, yet she still displayed great worry on her face.
Because of Liliana, whose sincere gaze sought Godou even while she voiced all sorts of complaints.
It was imperative to return to their side--
The instant this thought crossed his mind, Kusanagi Godou naturally recovered his usual state.
Thus recovered, Godou now faced Erica, Yuri and Liliana.
The girls looked like they were still in an excited state due to the aftertaste from the earlier behavior. Their beautiful faces were more seductive than usual, and their alluring bodies brimmed with loveliness that tempted Godou.
Nevertheless, the three of them stared at Godou as if they had something to say.
Embarrassed, Godou deliberately coughed a couple times.
"Ah... Everyone, I'm really sorry about what happened this time. After Lancelot enchanted me with that suspicious curse, I seem to have become quite strange."
An apology straight from the heart. Nevertheless, the reception was less than ideal.
"I don't really agree. If I had to say it, Godou displayed exceptional vigor."
"Even though there is no actual evidence to prove this, I did not see you possessing the stupidity unique to those who were magically brainwashed, nor did you show any dulled reactions..."
"For some reason, I get the feeling that it was a curse that releases one's innermost thoughts and desires, amplifying them to near insane levels. In that case, up until just now, Godou-san was really..."
Erica's accusation, Liliana's resignation and Yuri's verdict.
Since he had brought things on himself, Godou could not object in any way. He timidly bowed his head.
"Looks like I troubled Hikari as well."
"That's right. She received the Princess' spiritual essence and used power which exceeded her limits, greatly exhausting her body and mind. She collapsed with a severely high fever. She even asked for you to visit her later."
Godou nodded at Erica's explanation.
Come to think of it, Hikari had requested "let's go out" quite a while ago. Other than apologizing for her troubles, he really had to fulfill his promise too...
"Of course, I also need to express my thanks to Alice-san. Did she come to Japan again? Is she together with Kaoru-san and Amakasu-san right now?"
"Uh... That is a rather difficult matter to explain."
Liliana answered Godou's ques
tion with a frantic expression. Yuri bowed her head with a blush and even Erica was diverting her gaze as if embarrassed.
What's going on? Just as he puzzled, Godou heard that voice.
"M-My apologies. I was actually hiding here all along, watching everything from beginning to end."
Unbelievably, it was the voice of Princess Alice.
Turning his head in a panic, Godou found the beauty standing awkwardly behind him.
"I hurried here because I learned from Erica's call yesterday that Kusanagi-sama was in a grave situation. Also, I was concerned with Alexandre's latest activities."
Apparently she had flown here using spirit body detachment again.
Of course, besides well intentions, morbid curiosity probably played a large part as well. But anyway, that did not really matter. Godou could not thank the Princess enough for coming here expressly to rescue him.
On the other hand, Godou was so shocked he could only stare silently at Alice.
Alice was also completely embarrassed, avoiding eye contact with everyone else. Furthermore, she was murmuring repeatedly in a highly excited tone.
"Find an opening to feed Kusanagi-sama via mouth-to-mouth the enchanted stone I had prepared. After hearing this plan Erica had proposed, I've been observing with a racing heart. I never knew things would get so out of hand! It almost scared me to death!"
Even though the embarrassment made her feel awkward, Alice's eyes glimmered brightly.
Godou and the girls' behavior must have given her quite an intense cultural shock.
"S-Sorry for going on a tangent. But to witness such an avant-garde display as befits Kusanagi-sama's faction, it renders me quite unable to describe things properly in words. R-Regardless, the problem of Guinevere-sama and Sir Lancelot is our first priority right now!"
Alice changed the subject forcibly, coughed cutely and began to look across the sea from the ship's deck.
"I can see a [Dragon]'s shadow over there. Most likely Guinevere-sama has released the seal of the snakes and dragons."
This was an observation made by the Miko-Hime. On the other hand, Godou could see nothing but the sea.
Yuri who possessed the same power as her, nodded in agreement.
"Yes. I see it too. Also, there is a presence of intense [Thunder] in that direction."
"Yes. That must be Sir Lancelot accumulating power."
Godou noticed it too, in the direction pointed out by the Hime-Miko, different from the one described by Alice.
From the Devil's Sea, the presence of thunder could be felt, which was apparently opposite to where the dragon's shadow was located.
"Guinevere and Lancelot were separated?"
"Yes. This must have been Alexandre's goal. To trap Sir Lancelot in the labyrinth, isolate Guinevere-sama, and then strike at each separately. Compared to the knight, the queen is easier to handle, which is why she became the prioritized target."
This plan had almost been foiled by Godou's intrusion.
That said, Godou could not possibly ally himself with a man of poor character like Alec. Well, it couldn't be helped. Thinking that, Godou shrugged.
On the other hand, Alice looked in the direction of where the dragon should be and spoke with determination:
"I will watch Guinevere-sama and Alexandre's duel. What are Kusanagi-sama's plans?"
"I will go to the Floating Island... Where Lancelot is."
From the Black Prince and White Princess' perspective, the Divine Ancestor was their greater enemy. However, that did not hold true for Kusanagi Godou.
The one he needed to fight and settle things with, was Lancelot du Lac.
Consequently, he needed to part with the Princess here.
"I really owe you one for the assistance this time. Thank you so much. I will properly express my gratitude later."
"Not at all, I am also having fun."
Alice responded to Godou's thanks with a mainly mischievous smile.
"Then I shall take my leave, Kusanagi-sama. May you be victorious. It's a shame that you and Alexandre cannot get along, but for the sake of world peace, it's best if you two can compromise a little. Then I can rest assured!"
This time speaking with ladylike tones, Alice flew away.
The four people, Godou, Erica, Yuri and Liliana were left behind. The usual team.
"Godou, it's finally time for our decisive battle against Sir Lancelot, right?"
"Uh yeah. Sorry everyone. The situation has gone messy because of me, but I've already decided from the start to end things with Lancelot. Could you all accommodate me for a little while longer?"
"Asking me, Erica Blandelli, this type of question is completely unnecessary. Only a fool will say to their right hand something ridiculous like 'accommodate me.' Well whatever, considering it's Godou, the fool at all times no matter what."
Godou smiled wryly in response to Erica's nonconformist answer, while Liliana and Yuri nodded on the side.
Even though things were a mess, the conclusion was finally approaching in spite of everything. Godou stepped forward at last, towards the duel with the knight who had caused the death of his mortal enemy Athena--
Chapter 7 - Journey's End
Part 1
Transformed into a white dragon, Guinevere was facing Alexandre Gascoigne.
The two had been engaged in a covert struggle all this time. Nevertheless, a direct confrontation never occurred because Guinevere always avoided such a situation. After all, it was impossible to face a Campione in a duel without turning into a dragon, an act equivalent to choosing "death."
Hence, this was the first and last battle.
Guinevere spread her white dragon wings and began to flap. However, this did not cause the dragon's massive body to take flight. Flapping her wings was for some other purpose rather than flying.
What the vibrating dragon wings produced was wind.
With a great noisy racket, a vortex of wind was forming around Guinevere's white dragon body.
The vortex immediately turned into a cyclone, as violent winds swept across the forty-thousand-square-meter artificial island. Alec was almost blown away.
"Sealing my movements in your territory?!"
'Correct! Alexandre-sama, Your Highness may possess the speed of lightning. Nevertheless, as long as you are immobilized, it poses no threat at all!'
The magical wind caused by the Divine Ancestor was not simply strong wind.
The cyclone even formed masses of air to strike at Alec with ferocity, trying to send him flying. Furthermore, there was a curse which wrapped around his tall, thin physique like a snake, sealing all movement.
Trapped within the confines of this magical wind, even a giant creature would probably be unable to move an inch.
It would not be an exaggeration to say his immobility was like being bound by metal restraints, for this was a type of bondage spell. The only one left untouched was the white dragon transformed from Guinevere, able to move freely while her opponent was left with no choice but to stand still.
Standing inside this cyclone that conferred an absolute advantage, the white dragon bellowed.
Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!
'Alexandre-sama, Your Highness should prepare yourself!'
Guinevere's adorable voice was heard from the white dragon's jaws simultaneously with the roar.
Next came the frontal attack. Swinging the dragon's massive front limbs, those sword-rivaling sharp claws were going to rip him apart. An ordinary person would probably be torn to pieces helplessly.
But Alec was a Campione, and thus possessed absolute resistance against magic. Even against the curse cast by a divine class sacred dragon--
"Be thou faithful unto death! And I will give thee a crown of life!"[11]
Chanting scripture, he raised the magical power residing in his body.
This in turn increased his magical resistance. Just as he finished raising his magical power, the wind's curse pressing on his body disappeared. Recovering his freedom,
Alec instantly used god speed.
A bystander would probably think he teleported.
In an instant, Alec charged behind the white dragon and leaped lightly, touching the dragon's back with his hand. Of course, it was no mere touch. Turning his right hand into plasma, he released an electrical attack.
Zap! Sparks flew.
'Guh... Truly a nimble one!'
A sound came from the dragon as if Guinevere was smacking her lips. As befitted the gigantic dragon god which surpassed divine beasts, the electric shock did not seem to have done any damage.
Furthermore, the magical wind was increasing in momentum.
Guinevere once again poured divine power into the wind.
The wind roared, bellowed and moaned. This rampaging wind's purpose was entanglement in addition to blown attacks. Alec's slender body was once again constricted by the magical wind, unable to lift a single finger let alone make use of god speed.
"Tsk!"
Suddenly restrained tightly, Alec found his legs tied together.
He was caught in a difficult situation of falling over as he smacked his lips. Taking advantage of this, Guinevere swung the white dragon's massive tail with a swish. Being struck by that object would be no different from being pummeled by a steel beam from a building construction site.
Alec raised his magical power once again and managed to struggle free of the magical wind's curse. Activating god speed when the tail was mere centimeters from his body, he dodged. However, Guinevere infused the wind with divine power once more--
This was essentially an endless self-defeating cycle.
Using the instant when the wind restrained Alec, Guinevere used the dragon's body to attack.
Swinging those sharp claws on her front and back limbs. Biting down with those jaws, filled with rows of sharp and deadly teeth. Charging with that massive body as a weapon. Swiping with that unexpectedly troublesome weapon of a tail.
And more terrifying than any of those attacks, the breath from the dragon's mouth.
The dragon's breath instantly turned into a tempest mixed with shards of ice. This sharp onslaught displayed merciless ferocity, seeking to send the living flying, slicing them apart, freezing them.
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