It was already eleven o'clock at night. However, he still had no idea how to "come to a conclusion" with Athena... Without switching on the light, Godou stood at the window, continuing to contemplate.
Light shone in through the window from the moon and the stars. It was roughly as bright as streetlights. Due to Godou's excellent night vision, it was more than enough.
Kacha. The door handle turned and someone walked in.
"Still up, Your Majesty?"
It was Ena. But Godou was shocked by what she was wearing.
"What's going on, Seishuuin, why do you look like that?"
"Uh yeah. It was time to sleep so I changed."
In a rare moment, Ena was speaking hesitantly.
Instead of her usual school uniform, she was dressed as a miko with a pure white top and a bright red hakama.
Now that he recalled, he had seen Ena's miko appearance briefly during the battle against the Great Sage Equaling Heaven.
"You wear a miko outfit instead of pajamas?"
Isn't that kind of blasphemous... Godou averted his gaze as he spoke.
This caused the premier Hime-Miko to explain frantically.
"It's not always like this. But it'd be embarrassing to visit Your Majesty in dirty clothes. Without any other clothing on hand, I had no choice."
"What are you talking about? Don't you just wear the same uniform all the time?"
"Yeah... But tonight, we are having an affair."
Did he just hear alien language? What was that girl Ena trying to say?
Godou instantly denied reality. But of course, things would not be settled that easily.
"On this very special night, I was thinking I should clean up a bit first? Ah, Your Majesty, the bed has been prepared. T-Then, I will be in your care."
Ena showed a shy expression as she made a shocking statement. Furthermore, she went over to the prepared bedding and sat down very formally in seiza.[24]
"W-W-W-W-W-What kind of complete nonsense are you talking about! It makes no sense at all!"
"On the contrary."
Ena was no longer shy but bore a resolute expression. Her eyes were filled with clear determination. Bathed under moonlight, a white luster could be seen on her prim and proper beautiful face.
"Your Majesty plans on fighting Athena again tomorrow, right? Rather than slay Athena in her stone form."
That was correct. It was the only way to do things for a proper conclusion.
A face to face duel. To determine the victor.
Of course there were other options. The Holy Grail which had robbed Athena of her immortality. If a way could be found to remove and disable it...
But taking into account what Athena truly wished for, this was it.
"Your Majesty has been wavering all this time, right? And disaster will again descend upon many people. But everything can be solved — yes, everything will be solved. In that case, it's time for Ena to display some determination."
Godou was shocked. Once again, he was reminded of how adorable Ena could be.
Even though he had been unaware all along, this Hime-Miko was a raven-haired Yamato Nadeshiko rivaling Yuri, as well as being a very attractive girl.
This truth was now suddenly presented before him.
Part 3
"Ena originally planned to teach you all the knowledge about Athena. Tonight, with Your Majesty — umm, I was thinking there should be all kinds of things that needed to be done. Your Majesty is risking your life in a battle against a [Heretic God], so apart from offering knowledge there must be something else. That's what Ena was thinking..."
"A-Apart from knowledge!?"
Before he made his poignant outburst, Godou was already looking for an escape route.
Ena must surely be talking casually. Perhaps all she wanted to do was play games through the night.
Probably Uno or Hanafuda cards. Or maybe card games like Concentration[25] or Sevens.[26]
"Even though Your Majesty is very strong, there's still a chance of death... So before Your Majesty sets off for battle, Ena's body will accompany Your Majesty for the night, to help restore your energy. Perhaps in case of the worst outcome, Your Majesty's lineage can be preserved?"
Her intentions were explained rather concretely.
In other words, she had not misunderstood the meaning of "affair" in any way!
"P-Please calm down, Seishuuin. Let's just sit over there first."
"I've been sitting down calmly from the start."
"T-Then sit in seiza. Sit properly and listen seriously to me."
"I'm already sitting in seiza. Ena has been sitting seriously all this time. It's Your Majesty who needs to talk seriously."
All avenues of escape had been blocked. Was there no way left other than a frontal confrontation?
Godou crossed his legs and sat down before Ena.
"Well, how should I put it... I'm very grateful for your offer, but I believe that kind of behavior is only suitable for married couples. Is that clear?"
He calmly questioned her in earnest.
In any situation, there was no weapon more powerful than righteous sincerity. Probably.
"I've already said it before. Ena is fine being a woman of convenience. I'm not concerned with formalities. Besides, hasn't Your Majesty promised already? To have Ena by your side always."
Ena objected with a pout. It was exactly as she described.
It was no longer an issue of sincerity but a matter of mental preparedness.
"Ah, but then again, Your Majesty did tell Ena before. Don't say anything like 'being a convenient woman is fine' again. Sorry, Ena forgot."
Isn't this complete daydreaming?
Ena seemed to have recalled the scene that made her think that. Dejectedly, she lowered her head. Head bowed, she began to hesitate as she muttered to herself.
"Still... Ena wants to be Your Majesty's bride."
A direct expression of her wish.
She displayed a shyness which made her usual unbelievable behavior seem like a sham.
Faced with Ena's current state, Godou began to feel his control slipping. He would not be able to hold out for long. This was bad.
"After all, I still want to dress in white all over and have some kind of ceremony... Can I?"
"N-N-N-N-No, of course not. Having said no, umm, rather, I should say instead, that kind of thing is too early for us!"
Finding Ena far too adorable, Godou diverted his gaze and desperately tried to explain.
If he had a little more experience in dealing with these situations, perhaps he could stay cool. But now he was reaching his limit. Being alone with a girl like this.
Furthermore, they had unwittingly sat on the same bedding.
Her body could be touched by a simple reach of the hand. This kind of distance was anything but reassuring.
Had it been Erica, Godou would usually be on high alert to prevent the mood from building up to such levels (though there were times when he failed). But this time Ena had made a surprise attack, completely ruining his usual precautions.
"Come on... Why doesn't Your Majesty want Ena to stay with you for the night?"
I beg you, please don't plead in such a cute manner.
Even though Godou wanted to loudly reject her, it would be equivalent to admitting defeat. It would be disclosing the fact that he was about to succumb.
"Ah, I see. Okay."
Ena suddenly stopped trying to be difficult and lowered her gaze again.
Looking down — she was staring at the blanket she was fiddling with her index finger.
"A girl like Ena, is not that cute and not very feminine, and neither very dignified nor virtuous. Ena can't possibly have that kind of personality, it can't be helped. And Your Majesty already has so many cute girls around you..."
"Don't say nonsense, it's nothing like that."
Faced with Ena's dejection, Godou instinctively reached out with his hand without thinking.
He placed his ha
nd over her pristine white hand that was fiddling with the blanket, and held it tightly.
"You are a beautiful and cute girl. It's me who's not worthy."
Godou spoke sincerely as he gazed into Ena's face and eyes.
"Really?"
"Hoho, really. Believe me."
"Really... If Your Majesty says so, then Ena will not doubt."
The Hime-Miko of the Sword finally smiled again, and slowly closed her eyes.
Tilting her face up invitingly. The message was obvious.
—No choice but to make myself clear. Godou quietly pondered.
It was true that he simply lacked the courage to cross a certain boundary. With Erica and Yuri, as well as Liliana. It was also true that the thoughts of other girls were surfacing in his mind.
However, Ena's sincere offering of her heart finally made him realize.
Why was he still unable to act decisively? The reason? The violent desire entrenched in the deepest reaches of his heart.
Godou nodded. I have to do what I have decided.
Drawing near Ena's face, he took her by the lips.
Their lips pressed together, intimately caressing each other, melding their senses into one.
"S-So, Your Majesty, please forgive Ena for any failings in serving you..."
After a long kiss, Ena's lips released and whispered softly.
Her meekness made her usual boldness seem unreal. However, as the Hime-Miko tried to loosen the collar of her white garment, Godou shook his head once again.
"This is enough. It's still too early for that."
"Eh eh? Ena isn't cute enough after all..."
"No, it's not like that. How should I say it... I will... you— Could you wait for the time when I finally have the ability to shoulder all the hardship suffered by you girls?"
Godou pleaded quietly. His heart was no longer in disarray.
He was a man shouldering the lives of the girls close to him. The worst kind of man, one like a devil.
Yet at times like this, he had to rely on their sacrifices in order to fight.
Facing the absurd gods, fighting them on humanity's behalf.
Furthermore, the girls not only offered their lives but even the purity of their thoughts and lifestyle to Kusanagi Godou, displaying great will and spirit to accommodate him.
By now, Godou was strongly persuading himself.
"Even though I'm still a student, but anyway, the problem is, I feel like I'm not worthy enough for you to go that far for me. I — don't want to indulge myself in that area. I cannot lose to selfish desire."
"Cannot... lose?"
"Hoho, sorry. I'm very grateful for your kind offer, but listen, I'm going to say some obstinate things."
He was in intimate contact with both Ena's body and mind.
Who knew if other girls might join in the future? In that case, Godou's everyday life could turn into a paradise for his own personal pleasure.
However, indulgence in such pleasures could easily defang himself.
For the sake of battle, resolute will to face all trials and tribulations was indispensable —
It could easily be eroded.
That would be unacceptable. Fights with gods or trouble-making Devil Kings could arrive at any opportunity.
"If I accepted everything you offered, I probably wouldn't have survived my battles to this day. It's still too early. I must wait until I am worthy, only then can I calmly accept such things."
All was for the sake of battle. For victory.
This attractive girl's courtship came as a total surprise.
However, I have to finish tasks of higher priority first. Thus I will be completely obstinate.
Well, perhaps there existed people who say stuff like "having someone to protect might make me stronger." People who could make themselves sound very justified. I don't care about such justifications.
My enemies are not opponents that could be defeated by that level of strength.
The man who completely ignored ordinary life in society, only seeking to train himself to attain the level to slice gods apart.
The goddess who went so far as to bring ruin to the world simply for the sake of defeating Kusanagi Godou.
That was the sort of enemies Godou had.
"...I see. Well then, no other way. Ena will wait, Your Majesty."
No matter how you worded it, this was a fool's obstinacy. Why would Ena smile and answer so confidently?
"That kind of thing, I can understand. Ena also goes into the mountains frequently, because my power cannot be used unless the body and mind are purified. Even though it gets quite bad, and sometimes it's quite lonely."
The mystical technique of divine possession was an ultimate skill for obtaining divine spirit and power. This had been explained before.
The body and mind had to be pure in order to use the technique.
Letting deep mountain air diffuse through the internal organs, reaching a mental realm of absolute peace. These were said to be the user's duties.
They could not permit themselves to be contaminated by the mundane world's filth.
Hence Ena was obliged to enter sacred mountains frequently to purify herself. Apparently she never stayed at the village for more than a month at a time. This was not a life that any teenaged girl should lead.
Nevertheless, she had chosen this lifestyle by her own will.
"Please rest assured. After all, Ena is still a daughter from a family of warriors."
The daughter of the House of Seishuuin, the Hime-Miko of the Sword.
Her ancestors included daimyo during the Warring States era, explained the Yamato Nadeshiko cheerfully.
"But there were also husbands who went off to war and didn't return for a decade. Waiting for such long durations takes great resolution. So if I look at it that way, I will definitely be okay."
She was smiling staunchly as usual. Certain that Godou would one day reciprocate her feelings, Ena spoke:
"T-Therefore. Waiting is completely fine."
She expressed such a wish.
"Anyway, l-let's k-kiss first, okay? If so, I still want more."
With her eyes looking up at Godou, Ena was as adorable as a young child.
"If you want to fight Athena, the [Sword] is essential after all? Also... It's very sad. Previously, I could still bear it, but I really want to spend more time with Your Majesty, and have more contact with each other."
Furthermore, her eyes glistened with tears as she pleaded. Damn.
Godou cursed at himself. Faced with such words, how much further could he endure?!
He proceeded to kiss Ena silently.
No, it was not that gentle. He forcefully sealed her lips.
"Ah...mmm. Your Majesty, so forceful... Please be more gentle..."
Even though she pleaded softly, no, denied. It cannot stop.
Godou savagely drew Ena into his arms and leaned forward all the way.
He pressed his lips upon the Hime-Miko's soft and gentle lips. Everything she released out of her mouth belongs to me — her breath, saliva, words, everything was mine. A violent kiss.
Beneath one pair of lips, another pair was trembling.
This subtle movement further excited Godou.
Gasping for air, Ena's lips let go. But it was not allowed. Godou opened his mouth even wider and completely sealed the Hime-Miko's lips.
The sounds of their panting mixed together within their mouths, while saliva also mingled as one.
"Mmm... Your Majesty is so bad. Ena can't breath..."
Ena tearfully whispered.
Nevertheless, Ena did not try to escape from Godou's kiss. Instead she tightly embraced Godou as she pressed her adorable lips against his, wordlessly expressing more of her joyful emotions.
Hence Godou had nothing to worry about.
He forced his tongue into Ena's mouth, searching for her tongue. Found it.
Putting forth all his strength, he used his tongue to subdue Ena's tongue that was
wriggling like a leech.
Twisting, turning and tangling. Their tongues clicked as they licked over and over again. Then boldly teased each other.
"Mmmhmm. Your Majesty, don't... do... do that any more."
She was already pleading.
This rare display of Ena's willfulness. It meant things had to be kicked up a notch.
Godou kissed passionately as he held the premier Hime-Miko's hand, squeezing tightly with great force, as if trying to affirm her existence. She immediately responded and held him tightly in turn.
Right hand held left hand.
Trying to establish further connections in addition to the mouths, they became one through natural thoughts and feelings.
—It was at this time, that Godou's heart felt like it was galloping/rushing/speeding away.
Godou possessed the sword that was Verethragna's final incarnation, the [Warrior] that wielded the blade of wisdom. The heretical sword of spell words that sliced apart ancient deities.
For the sake of preparing this sword, he was about to forge a link of wizardry with Ena.
Nevertheless, there was another sword.
Indeed. Kusanagi Godou's swords were two in number.
Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi. Whether Seishuuin Ena or Kusanagi Godou, the divine sword that acted as their "partner."
Sword and sword. Double swords. Two users.
In addition, there was a new weapon —
Did this divine revelation come from a Campione's instincts? Or did it come from Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi?
It did not matter either way. For the sake of battle, anything and everything available will be used.
"Seishuuin. Let's adjust our plan slightly. Now our sword — we will see if we can draw out new possibilities from that guy."
"Yes... To obtain a new power. Your Majesty and Ena together."
Ena immediately nodded to Godou's soft whispers.
All said and done, she was the miko intimately connected to Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi. She, too, had received the divine revelation about the sword.
Part 4
"Wandering without aim, clearing up when the moon is seen, whence shall be my heart's final destination?"
Godou recalled his thoughts as he listened to Ena's spell words.
The spell used by Divine Ancestor Guinevere to instruct him, had already been explained by Liliana before she was petrified. It was most likely imparted via [Mystical Indoctrination].
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