Campione 02 Page 5

  "...Understood. However, that actually makes one feel a bit envious."

  Yuri relaxed her expression and smiled as she murmured.

  A faint elegant smile, she seemed rather reserved with her smiles.

  "Envious? Mariya?"

  "Uh, yes... To be honest, I am actually not good with sports."

  "Ah, I see."

  Although a little surprised, Godou found it understandable.

  Unlike her usual miko outfit, Yuri was currently wearing her sports uniform. Her slim body—clearly revealed how slender her limbs were.

  ...Furthermore, her excellent figure was also visible.

  Although not to the same level as Erica, it was still a figure full of characteristically feminine curves. Feeling embarrassed, Godou frantically redirected his gaze to the match.

  "Yes. My physical stamina is less than a normal person's. From birth, I have never had a happy memory related to sports."

  Yuri's countenance seemed a little wistful as she shyly watched Godou while she opened up to him.

  "Actually, that time when I fled from Athena, I felt muscle pain afterwards."

  Godou felt apologetic since he felt like he did something bad during that incident.

  However, he also noticed.

  "I am very sorry about all those different troubles. But last time that rendezvous point shouldn't have been that far away from Mariya's shrine. Maybe a distance of two kilometers or so?"

  Around that area, as he spoke, Godou recalled the map of the surroundings near Shiba Park.

  However, Yuri was showing a harsh gaze indicative of slight anger.

  "To me, that is quite a long distance! Kusanagi-san may be someone who has plenty of energy to waste, but do not look down on those who do not have physical stamina!"

  For some strange reason, the angry Yuri seemed especially cute.

  Of course, Godou did not dare reveal his inner thought. At that time, Godou only wanted to be as low key as possible.

  "Uh, I'm truly sorry, if something like that ever happens again, please call me earlier and I will immediately come to your aid. Definitely, I promise."

  Using Verethragna's authorities would allow one to literally "fly" to help those in a crisis.

  Hence, it shouldn't be a false promise, probably... Godou wondered as he thought 'is it really ok?' Yuri nodded with a forced smile.

  "Kusanagi-san, did you not warn that the power is a little uncertain and that you have yet to master it? It is not good to rely on such a power... please keep that in mind carefully."

  Under the influence of Yuri's words and gentle smile, Godou also smiled.

  Part 2

  "So, Yuri-san, how do you feel after interacting with Kusanagi Godou?"

  Sitting at the driver's seat and gripping the steering wheel was Amakasu, who suddenly asked a question.

  Unable to discern his true intentions, Yuri who was sitting on the passenger side, gave a questioning expression and replied "Ah?"

  "What I want to ask is how is the great Devil King and Yuri-san's personal relationship going? One that began with the two of you overcoming a deadly crisis together. Does he have some kind of heart racing feeling beyond pure friendship, and will progress into happy yet embarrassing developments?"

  "Amakasu-san, I do not understand at all what you are trying to confirm."

  And didn't state clearly.

  By the way, Yuri was dressed as a Japanese miko with her white robe. She had just been working at the Nanao Shrine and stopped when Amakasu dropped by to visit as agreed yesterday.

  "We need to constantly review and adapt our relationship with him from this point onwards, so this is just for reference."

  "Will the personal relationship between Kusanagi-san and I influence the plans of the Committee?"

  "Of course, greatly."

  Amakasu steered the car into the Shuto Expressway and drove towards Shibuya.

  As a side note, traffic was still restricted on this same Shuto Expressway in the direction of dawn. This was due to the fact that repairs were still underway for the damage caused by the battle between Godou and Athena half a month ago.

  "Honestly, we have no intention of making Kusanagi Godou an enemy. Before, he was just a senseless person who was not even [King] but now he has obtained a completely unreasonable power. Prior to that, it would have been impossible to even imagine him becoming a monster of some place."

  "Why are you talking like that... Don't use words like 'monster.' He is still a normal person at heart..."

  Without any pretense, Yuri tried to defend Godou.

  However, if one simply looked at Godou's abilities, Amakasu's words were impossible to deny. Amakasu simply forced a smile and nodded.

  "His future—to see what kind of Devil King he will develop into. As long as we maintain intimacy with him all along there will be room for establishing an ultimate relationship. If it weren't for that, we would not have prepared such a troublesome plan."

  The caution displayed by Amakasu and the History Compilation Committee was understandable.

  European countries already had a history of coexistence with a number of Campiones, and so the magic associations there were experienced with [King] dealings.

  However, it was still the first time for the Committee to come into contact with a locally born Campione.

  "Thus, in case of emergencies, it is necessary to establish a close friendly relationship with him. ...This was well played by the Copper Black Cross that first discovered the importance of Kusanagi Godou."

  "The association Erica-san belongs to?"

  "Yes. To send as a lover one of their candidates for core leadership, and to make as much use of his abilities in areas unrelated to the public, a truly shrewd and excellent strategy."

  —Lover!?

  Finally understanding Amakasu's words, Yuri's eyebrows shot up in anger.

  "Is your side planning on adding someone like Erica!"

  "After all, he is a young man despite being the great Devil King possessing divine authority—to manipulate him with a woman is a most practical solution. A classic strategy, wasn't there the story of Samson who was bewitched by Delilah in the Old Testament of the Bible?

  "Please do not mix the Bible into this discussion!"

  Yuri sternly reprimanded Amakasu who was chattering away.

  The thought of some unknown beauty using her charms on Godou for such purposes made Yuri raise her voice without conscious intent.

  "Kusanagi-san is currently at his limits resisting the seduction of Erica-san! This kind of behavior testing a person's self-control is completely unacceptable. Imprudent, unhealthy! What kind of woman do you actually want to put up to this task!?"

  "Aya, we're finally back to the original topic, as for our female candidate..."

  Amakasu sneered in a proud manner.

  Yuri felt her body shake, and felt the coming of some unpleasant words, an unwelcoming premonition.

  "I think that if Yuri would take on this role, you would be a perfect candidate. ...Even as a competitor against that Erica. I believe that Yuri-san is on the same level and certainly not inferior, isn't that great—"

  "What, what are you talking about. I do not think I have any need to compete with Erica-san!"

  The image formed in her mind was the brilliant blonde beauty, whose looks and outgoing personality were like the bright Mediterranean sun.

  To compete against that kind of opponent for a boy's attentions.

  Just the thought of it made Yuri feel like her hair was becoming white. Impossible and she completely refused to do it. What kind of joke was this?

  "No no, it's possible. Though the opponent is strong, but on the other hand, Yuri-san also has substantial chances of success. Believe in yourself!"

  "...Amakasu-san, please stop with these stupid jokes. Enough."

  Whenever Yuri was truly furious, she always seemed like she was smiling for some reason.

  Her lips slightly curled, and speaking with a cold
tone.

  "Oui, mademoiselle. My apologies, anyway, the plan just discussed was just one of many. If possible, please forget it."

  With an exaggerated motion, Amakasu shrugged his shoulder then continued to drive without saying another word.

  The two of them sat in the domestic car which exited the Shudo Expressway at the Shibuya exit, and continued towards the direction of Meguro.

  Part 3

  Located in a quiet corner of Aobadai was a certain building.

  A public library managed and run by the History Compilation Committee.

  All unrelated persons were prohibited. Even the residents from the surrounding area were unaware of what kind of public facility it actually was.

  Yuri, led by Amakasu, stepped into this library.

  As a library, its structure was exceedingly simple.

  Throughout this clean and quiet library were shelves full of books.

  However, there were very few people. The occasional person either belonged to the History Compilation Committee or was someone related. In addition, there were the books being collected.

  Reference books recording all types of magic and wizardry—most of them were either grimoires or books about incantations.

  Ordinary people could not comprehend these things. These were the distilled essence of danger and wisdom, forbidden books about magic.

  The library existed precisely to house and isolate these precious hidden books from the world.

  "Aobadai's book repository... Can you tell me? This is the first time for me to come here."

  "Unless it was necessary to tell you, there was no need to come here. No, please wait for a moment? There are still some issues."

  Leaving those words behind, Amakasu continued leading Yuri forward.

  —There was a spacious reading room on the second floor of the library.

  Yuri looked at her surroundings as she waited.

  Though there was not a single other person, it looked very much like a normal library. However, the neat rows of books on the shelves gave off a strange presence which Yuri's spirit sense picked up.

  This was not a simple book repository after all.

  These books were born from the circulating records of the profound secrets of magic and wizardry.

  These grimoires accumulated ancient and profound magic. It was said that some of the rare ones are classified as [Special Items].

  The books collected here felt like masterpieces.

  It was said that powerful mages and users of spirit powers wrote down numerous books by hand, and there have even been confirmed reports of books mass produced from printing presses suddenly obtaining magical properties.

  ...Yuri turned her curiosity to the book shelves.

  The titles of these books varied, but most were written in western script. Those written in Japanese only took up less than 30%.

  The activities of the History Compilation Committee only began after the Second World War.

  Committee members played a large role in restricting the spread of magical knowledge from foreign sources. The numerous books contained in this library were surely the result of decades of their efforts to collect grimoires.

  "Sorry to have you waiting, but what we wanted you to look at was this. Since it is guarded by powerful spells, forcefully reading ahead will definitely cause something bad to occur, and no one can predict what may happen."

  Amakasu returned, and in his hands was a leather-bound foreign text that was not very thick.

  "...Something bad may occur?"

  "Yes. Probably something like placing yourself in a corner of the room, talking to angels that no one else can see, then making sounds like 'ah papapa' and going on a mental journey around the world."

  "A common person cannot appraise such a dangerous book!"

  You should have given me such an important warning earlier. Yuri spoke with an unyielding tone.

  "Probably, if it is being guarded by such a strong spell, then it must be a powerful grimoire without a doubt! I see no point in further appraisal..."

  "Ah yes, this is why human desire is so terrifying. Why do these grimoires need to be enchanted with such strong spells of protection? It feels similar to the way that prices are raised for rare books. ...However, if it's Yuri-san then it should be safe to appraise the book without reading the contents. It'll be fine."

  Making a harmless expression, Amakasu spoke as he smiled, and placed the book on one of the larger tables in the reading room.

  [ Homo homini lupus ][7].

  This was the title written on the cover.

  From the paper quality and damage to the bindings, it appeared to be an ancient tome over a century old. Lupus—meant wolf in Latin, recalled Yuri.

  "If this is authentic, it should be a grimoire privately published in Romania around the earlier half of the nineteenth century. Past legends tell of an Ephesian secret cult worshipping the [Dark Virgin Mother of God, Queen of Wild Beasts] and holding covert rituals where people who tried to read the books would be 'turned into inhuman servants covered with fur.' Inhuman and covered with fur—generally refers to things like wolves and bears."

  Amakasu's casual example revealed the depth of his knowledge.

  Yuri felt that his words felt a bit fantastical.

  "In terms of changes, what is well known is that people's bodies will undergo complete transformations after reading. Rather than a grimoire, a cursed book would be a better description—"

  "Ah ah, you're right. Those magic books will continue to increase the werewolves' curse. Due to this, if it's the real thing it is an extremely rare and precious treasure."

  "Please don't talk about that in such a happy manner!"

  Yuri reprimanded Amakasu's impropriety with a stare and faced the ancient book once again.

  —Concentrating her gaze and calming her heart.

  Her spirit vision was not a power that could be used at will freely.

  Melting the heart into the sky, entrusting it to guidance from the divinities, and making use of eyes and instinct. This would allow one to see something or notice something. Depending on the situation, one sometimes found important clues, but they might not be what one was expecting. Furthermore, there was always an issue of accuracy in divination.

  ...However, a wise historical existence could be felt from this book.

  There was some truth to Amakasu's words.

  Once upon a time, there was a witch who lived in the depths of the forest, and many of the animals respected her—in particular the stronger existences of wolves, bears and birds. This book recorded the difficult and powerful points of the ritual. The only ones able to read the book were either servants or people related to the witch, and the book would reject all common magi.

  "This is not a cursed book... as long as the one reading it had sufficient experience and capability, then one would not be harmed by the hidden mysterious powers of this book, and would obtain knowledge instead."

  Yuri vaguely felt the properties of the book and muttered.

  "I think it is a device meant to prevent the unqualified from reading it—it is a test for resisting the curse rather than an intention to transform the reader's body."

  "Ah yes, so to sum up, this is the real thing. As expected of Yuri-san, you saw through everything."

  "This is all I know for now. I can't guarantee for the rest, so don't count too much on this kind of ability."

  Amakasu agreed with Yuri's deductions. —And then

  The werewolf-controlling grimoire of the witch, as well as Amakasu Touma. The library.

  All these vanished suddenly. Yuri and the space around her was enveloped in darkness. She felt like she was standing in the dark surrounded by a gloomy atmosphere.

  "Is this a hallucination? Due to the grimoire?"

  Yuri tried to raise her spirit vision and see the truth behind these illusions.

  This was a rare occurrence but it does happen occasionally when contact was made with an object hiding stron
g magical powers. Hence, there was no feeling of panic at the time—

  The hallucination persisted.

  There was something in the depths of the darkness. Focusing her gaze, it seemed to resemble something like a rat. The rat slowly transformed, gradually increasing in body mass. In addition, it changed its posture. This was a dog... no, a wolf. From its ferocious and sharp appearance, Yuri made such an identification.

  From its four legs the wolf stood up onto two. Rather than a wolf, this was a werewolf's posture.

  Was it due to contact with that grimoire? A hallucination as a result of that?

  As Yuri puzzled, the werewolf slowly walked in the darkness—from the dark hole walking up to the surface of the ground. From there, dancing serpents could be seen. The werewolf stepped upon and slaughtered them all.

  And then the werewolf reached out with its arms towards the bright sun in the sky.

  Caught it. The werewolf caught the glowing sphere with its bare hands.

  In the end, the werewolf swallowed the ball of light, and gradually took on the form of an elderly human. It was the person who Yuri met before.

  A tall thin body, wise-looking face—and emerald green eyes.

  The ancient Campione ruling over eastern and southern Europe. The ancient Devil King cast the light from his evil eyes at Yuri and smiled hideously.

  "—Marquis Voban!? How, why are you here!?"

  As the most intense terror attacked Yuri and she wailed, consciousness was soon lost.

  Part 4

  It was around 10pm at night when that phone call reached the Kusanagi residence.

  "Yes, I am Kusanagi."

  'This voice, is it Godou? It's been a while, how are you, my friend?'

  It was a slightly familiar voice heard from before, in fact it was a voice Godou didn't want to hear coming from the receiver.

  A complete waste of a voice with such depth. Godou immediately put down the receiver and hung up the phone.

  "...Ch. That brat finally revived!"

  Godou who usually did not pray for the misfortune of others, felt like this was one of those exceptions.

  Just to be safe, he unplugged the telephone wire from the base of the phone. Temporarily avoiding phone calls was an acceptable sacrifice for this cause.