Campione 08

by Trials of the Devil Kings

  Liliana nodded in agreement with Erica's opinion.

  ...Two hours later, Saint Raffaello welcomed the two as they reached the surface. Standing slovenly behind the paladino was the young man named Doni, lovingly embracing the fake sword.

  "It's been a while, Madam Saint Raffaello, and Sir Salvatore — I express my utmost apologies for failing to greet Your Highness the sixth Campione with timeliness."

  Erica bowed with prim and proper etiquette. It was neither yielding subserviently nor lacking in manners.

  It was behavior performed with the esteem of the House of Blandelli.

  "I believe the birth of Italy's god-slayer is a cause for celebration. We, the [Bronze Black Cross], will surely send our commander-in-chief for a formal greeting in the near future. But for now, please accept my salutations."

  Likewise, Liliana also performed a knight's greeting readily.

  Truly the awe-inspiring and upfront words of a soldier.

  Since the Witch's Eye did not offer sound, they had not heard the conversation between Doni and Saint Raffaello. However, the many clues in the situation were more than enough to ascertain Salvatore Doni's true identity.

  "They're talking to you, moron."

  "Eh? Why do you have to be so respectful? Ah, you are Elenoa Blindelli and Lilana Kuronikor, right? I just recovered my memory, thank you for everything you've done so far!"

  Prompted by his teacher, the young Devil King spoke foolishly.

  Better keep a good distance from him, Erica silently vowed to herself.

  He looks like an idiot, and does act foolishly after all, but one would never expect him to be a monster.

  Getting too close to him will definitely be bad luck!

  Thus, it was about time to get going. Erica signaled to Liliana with her eyes.

  Bid our leave with proper manners and make a run for it!

  "How clever of you to discern Doni's identity without any explanation. However, there are still certain things you overlooked. So you two were able to use the spell of [Transcription] in such short time?"

  As Saint Raffaello spoke, the two froze in their tracks.

  Amazingly observant. Their respect for their great predecessor grew in leaps and bounds.

  ...[Transcription] was high level magic that enhanced one's memory for a short period of time, allowing one to memorize read texts. Erica and Liliana had split the duties and memorized half of "The Book in Praise of David's Great Works" each to take back to the surface.

  "M-Madam Saint Raffaello, we absolutely did not do this out of disrespect for you. No matter what, no knight can resist that kind of temptation —!"

  "Sigh. Fine, I shall let you have this in exchange."

  Disregarding Liliana's frantic apology, Saint Raffaello extended an open palm. On it was a key made of iron.

  "This is the key to a little church in Florence! Labyrinthian catacombs lie beneath it, guarded by many traps. My armory is there. Take this, go there and pick out what you like!"

  Saint Raffaello informed them with an anguished expression.

  Eh? The silver-haired childhood friend exclaimed in confusion.

  Erica proceeded to nod in agreement at the generous terms offered by Saint Raffaello. Surely, the renowned twin swords, the magic swords of Cuore di Leone and Il Maestro must lie in that armory!

  "W-What on earth is going on, Erica?"

  "In other words, Madam Saint Raffaello is bestowing the twin swords upon us in exchange for dispelling the [Transcription] spell. I think it was not right for us to harbor such desires, so this is just as well."

  "...Hey Master, if you summon the swords now then there's no need to exchange, right?"

  "Hmph, that armory has all sorts of devices for repelling invaders, you think it's that easy to get there!? Furthermore, if that girl is skilled enough then she should fight her way in there by all means!"

  The paladino retorted childishly at her disciple's question.

  Hearing that, Erica proposed cleverly and cautiously:

  "I look forward to the trial that awaits me in my quest for outstanding weapons. However, if I may, I wish to make one request to Madam Saint Raffaello."

  "Request?"

  "Yes, we hope you can grant leniency towards the portions Dame Liliana and I memorized by our own efforts without using spells."

  Liliana was speechless at this proposal.

  The very first part they read was the portion that could be memorized quickly. This included the [Spell Words of David] left behind by the ancient hero that were powerful enough to cause injury to gods — this was the portion for which Erica was requesting leniency.

  Tsk, whatever! Saint Raffaello began to yell as if throwing a tantrum.

  "Hey Doni, I'm going to give you a grimoire for safekeeping! Take care of it diligently! Hmm, giving it directly to you makes me feel uneasy, so better find someone trustworthy later! Tsk, I'm not going to take up the role of watching over that book ever again! What a pain!"

  "Uh, what are you talking about? I don't quite understand, Master."

  Once again, they were at the Porta San Giovanni.

  Erica and Liliana had returned to the city gates of San Gimignano.

  They had arrived here after handling various matters and bidding farewell to Sir Salvatore and Saint Raffaello.

  "Sorry to have you wait, Erica...... What do you think?"

  "Oh my, imitating Saint Raffaello's look isn't bad. Rather, it actually suits you quite well."

  The two girls had decided to take a break and were having coffee in town.

  After borrowing the washroom, Liliana had returned with a new hairstyle.

  Her long silver hair was now tied in a ponytail. Witnessing her childhood friend's change in appearance, Erica offered her opinion without reservation.

  "Really? Yes, to be honest, I also think it suits me well!"

  Liliana nodded with excitement.

  Discovering the grimoire was already exciting enough, but encountering her idol seemed to have made her even more high-strung. As preparations before their next adventure, it was not a bad sign.

  Erica gazed at the key given by Saint Raffaello.

  "So, let's start preparing for the catacombs beneath Florence. Surely we must get our hands on those two magic swords, and let no one in Italy be ignorant of our talent."

  "Ah, I hope so... Well, on the other hand."

  Liliana nodded then sighed.

  "Earning some sort of merit may bring fame, but everything pales in comparison to the shocking news of the birth of a Campione. Who could have expected someone like that to slay a god successfully..."

  "Furthermore, I wonder what kind of god did he fight..."

  The young man they parted with not too long ago.

  Recalling his unprecedented behavior, the two girls were deeply impressed.

  ...At that moment, Liliana's cellphone began to ring.

  "Esteemed Grandfather? Excuse me for a bit, Erica. What is going on? Eh? The Marquis wishes to gather us witches and miko?"

  After a brief conversation, Liliana hung up the phone.

  Hearing words she could not turn a deaf ear towards, Erica decided to inquire without hesitation.

  "What happened? The one you and Grandfather Kranjcar referred to as the Marquis — so it turns out to be related to Marquis Voban?"

  "Uh, yes," replied Liliana with a hesitant expression.

  "Recently, the Marquis apparently has a need for several dozens of miko. I told Grandfather that I would head over there together with you once we finish things here."

  "The Marquis says he needs miko? The intentions of the Great Devil King of the Balkans are certainly difficult to surmise."

  Salvatore Doni and Dejanstahl Voban.

  The ritual summoning of Siegfried that would become the source of conflict between two Devil Kings. As yet unaware of the causes of that incident, the two girls began to discuss their means of transport towards Florence.

  Erica proposed hiring a car and a
driver, while Liliana expounded on the virtues of the public bus system's timeliness and cost effectiveness.

  Stubbornly refusing to back down, the two of them continued to bicker with great intensity.

  Chapter 4 - Black Prince, White Witch, and the Hero's Attendant

  Part 1

  Cretan legends are a particularly famous category of Greek mythology.

  For example, there was the Minotaur, the half-man half-bull monster born from an affair between the queen and a bull.

  The Greeks were obliged to regularly offer their young children as sacrifices to this monster imprisoned in an underground labyrinth.

  The young warrior Theseus entered the labyrinth in order to slay it —

  This is the well-known story of the "Labyrinth of the Minotaur."

  In order to imprison the monster, King Minos ordered the construction of a labyrinth. Trapped by a maze of intersecting passages, outsiders were eaten by the monster as soon as they stepped foot into the labyrinth. Later on, Minos ordered King Aegeus to make tribute of seven pairs of youths, male and female, once every nine years to be sent into the labyrinth to be sacrificed as the bull-headed monster's food. The Athenian prince, Theseus, decided to go to Crete to kill the Minotaur in order to save the young men and women of Athens. King Minos' daughter Ariadne fell in love with Theseus and gave him a sharp sword and a ball of yarn. Thanks to these items, Theseus finally killed the Minotaur and escaped the labyrinth with the Athenian youths and Princess Ariadne.

  "The key to this myth is the Minotaur born from the queen and the bull's affair."

  Alexandre Gascoigne spoke thus. His current location was Cornwall.

  Also called the Black Prince Alec, and known as the Nobleman of God Speed. In fact, he was also a [King] widely versed in myths originating from all over the world.

  Although he was not an elite mage by training, nevertheless, he still mastered all sorts of spells.

  He became a Campione at the age of sixteen.

  In the four years after that, he was in conflict with the Witenagemot[18], known as the organization of top experts in the realm of magic. Traveling all over Europe to look for mysterious treasure, he fought against gods and magic associations from all over the world.

  Very likely it was during this period that his abilities as a first class mage were gradually honed.

  "Ever since ancient times, the bull was a symbol of abundant harvests. Hence, the Cretans equated the bull as being divine. Conversely, this also establishes a parallel interpretation of the queen being a miko."

  Perhaps the following was the background prototype for the legend of the Minotaur —

  In the early days of the Greek city states, the island of Crete in the neighboring sea had a powerful and flourishing civilization. These islanders would regularly demand the young children of the Greeks as tribute to be sacrificed. These children were live sacrifices to be offered to the island's god of harvests.

  The "God of Harvests" that desired young children, was served by the queen who acted as a miko —

  "Well, it's not without archaeological basis..."

  There was also the Cretan prehistoric civilization: the Minoan ruins where large amounts of human bones were discovered, speculated to be the remains of the people who were offered as live sacrifices.

  Alec usually explained these kinds of topics when facing subordinates who had little knowledge of magic.

  The association he founded, [Royal Arsenal], recruited all sorts of talent and its ranks not only included powerful magi but also occultists who focused purely on research, commoners who sought revenge against sorcerers for deaths of relatives, and even street hoodlums, con artists and unrepentant thieves. As long as they knew the existence of gods, even ordinary commoners were included.

  These were people who hoped to follow Alec and oppose the elite magic associations led by the Witenagemot. Perhaps this was the only point of commonality between the members of [Royal Arsenal].

  This was why their levels of competency and expertise were extremely varied.

  Hence it was necessary for Alec as their leader to start giving lectures on what magi would consider common sense basics.

  Trusted subordinates — especially Sir Iceman, had advised many times that it was not necessary for their commander-in-chief to give lectures personally. However, Alec did not mind looking after his subordinates.

  (As a side note, this aspect of his personality had been criticized by the maiden, his eternal rival, as 'cautious and unexpectedly lacking in boldness.' In response, Alec had replied dejectedly that 'providing guidance and education to subordinates is the duty and responsibility of the leader.')

  It happened two days before the lecture at the Cornwall stronghold.

  A museum situated in a quaint peaceful village... Was the concealed headquarters established by Alec's subordinates where precious foci and treasures acquired from the British Museum and the British Library were housed and displayed, along with mountains of grimoires. These various artifacts were stolen on impulse a year ago when the conflict with the Witenagemot had peaked with great intensity.

  But anyway, Alec was currently in the deepest level of a massive labyrinth.

  "Kukukuku... Foiling the final step of the grand designs of my return to earth? So be it! Delightful!"

  Echoing as if coming from underground, it was the deep voice of a [Heretic God].

  The voice came from the bull-headed giant lying on the ground. Its body was roughly 30m in length.

  The muscle-bound gigantic body was wearing a short tunic weaved from palm fibers along with a red cape. A normal person would probably kneel down and swear allegiance on sight, and obediently commit suicide even if it commanded.

  The ferocious [Bull] deity embodying powerful dominance.

  The Cretan god of harvest that appeared in Greek myths of King Minos in the past. Or perhaps it should be called the Minotaur?

  However, even such a solemn and mighty appearance was for naught —

  "Young god-slayer... The warrior sparkling with the light of thunder! Takest my blood, flesh and strength as thy sustenance! Swallowest me, steppest over my corpse, becomest even more powerful! Heaven and earth! For the sake of I, who has been slain, open the road to hell as an offering to the king!"

  "...Tsk. Even on your death throes you still need to chant insulting verses..."

  The dying giant bull-headed god.

  Alec was crouching down beside it, making heavy breathing noises.

  As the result of an intense battle that exceeded his limits, his brain was now struck with pain akin to being sawn apart; the body was severely injured, especially with pain in the internal organs and that pounding heartbeat. Capillaries all over the body as well as a portion of the arteries and veins had burst, causing internal hemorrhage.

  Then he spat blood. Bones were probably broken all over his body.

  This pitiful state was the result of being struck by the bull-headed god's angry roar. In truth, he almost died.

  "So farewell, god-slayer! May endless curse and conflict accompany thy remaining life!"

  In other words, a declaration that disaster will fill the rest of his life.

  Leaving behind these last words, the god's body dispersed like smoke.

  In that very instant, Alec felt a great weight on his back.

  It felt like a new authority had been obtained.

  "I came to investigate partially due to pure curiosity; coming here with a relaxed and leisurely mood, this was the result...!"

  My life exactly. Even without a curse it was full of disaster.

  Alec smacked his lips and turned his head.

  Whether friend or foe, he absolutely could not let anyone else approach. For the sake of vanity, he was concerned about his current poise and appearance.

  However, there were no others in this vast empty space. Things should be fine after a bit of rest.

  ...The deepest level of the expansive underground labyrinth.

 
This circular hollow had a diameter of almost 10km.

  Bare ground and massive empty space. In the central area were an altar and a throne for worshiping the bull-headed deity.

  Whether the labyrinth or the circular space, neither of them existed on the island of Crete a week ago. This location was born from divine authority with the manifestation of [Heretic Minos].

  Dragging his battered body, Alec finally returned to the surface.

  (The labyrinth that manifested somewhere on the Lassithi Plateau of Crete could very well be discovered one day, becoming a tourist attraction that reminded people of the Minotaur's legend. However, I couldn't care less at this moment.)

  The authority of god speed was activated briefly.

  Enveloping himself in a flash of lightning and feeling with his body the passage of ten-odd seconds, this was enough to reach the hotel located at the coastal beach resort area.

  Ingesting the healing potion prepared beforehand in his room, he went to bed and slept for six hours. It was already night when he woke up.

  By this time most of the external injuries had already recovered.

  "Still with this inexplicable body..."

  The headache had not improved, however, so he should probably take it easy for now.

  Alec endured the nausea and headache as he tidied up his appearance. Then he took a bath, had a shave and fixed up his hairstyle. He changed into a new shirt and pants, even though upper garments were optional in the resort area.

  Still tired, but he will not compromise on personal style.

  After having some completely unremarkable seafood at the hotel's western restaurant, he found a bar outside with a quiet atmosphere and took a seat at the bar table.

  Taking a sip of the alcohol, his mood finally lightened up a bit.

  Come on, why does every time have to be a brush with death?

  "There you are, Alec. Ditching me at the airport, what a cruel man you are, really..."

  A greeting came from behind, carrying extremely sorrowful words spoken by a very gloomy voice.

  Without looking back, it was obvious it was Sir Iceman.

  Alec waited until his trusted subordinate sat down beside him before starting to grumble.

  "I think it's about time for you to overturn the nickname of the 'Unflying Dutchman.' After all, overcoming one's weaknesses is the privilege of mankind."