Campione 02 Page 7

  "I can guide that person towards the right path?"

  "Yes. Just become closer to him starting with normal situations, and have a better relationship with him than Erica Blandelli. Do your best. It's a promise. If you can do that, we will terminate that plan."

  Amakasu's tone of voice was akin to the serpent who tricked Eve into eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, but Yuri was completely oblivious.

  "...No, but even now, all I've been doing is nagging at Kusanagi-san, and leaving him with a bad impression. It's probably fruitless to try to improve relations at this point—"

  To become even more intimate with him than that Erica, it was completely unthinkable.

  Amakasu answered the insecure Yuri with a naughty smile.

  "Please don't worry. I have a secret plan—and it works precisely because the current relationship is distant. Up to now, it only counts as the tsun phase, so if you start going dere as much as possible from this point on, boys will definitely fall for you without fail!"

  "—Ah? What... is that?"

  "First why don't you try making a lunchbox personally? Then say 'This is extra, it's not like I made it specially for you, but it would be a shame for it to go to waste, so here you go' when you hand it over to him. Isn't that the best tactic?"

  "Ah!?"

  "Pardon my forwardness, but if you lack information in this area, I can provide some from my personal collection. I'll send them over in a short while; do you prefer DVDs or games?"

  "Ah, umm, Amakasu-san? Please don't continue the conversation so casually."

  In reality, this event would end up having a great influence in Godou and Yuri's future life.

  Of course, Yuri at that time had no idea at all.

  Part 6

  It was a beautiful Japanese garden of a hotel.

  To Liliana Kranjcar who was born and grew up in Milan and whose grandfather was Croatian, the spacious garden in a former nobleman's antiquated mansion was a very interesting space.

  There was plenty of natural scenery in the grounds which covered tens of thousands of square meters.

  Lush green trees were neatly trimmed, while water flowed into pools through small rivers. There were also ancient pagodas and sacrificial altars in the depths of the waterfall.

  However, this garden full of foreign allure seemed to have no effect on her companion.

  Upon deciding on the accommodations in Tokyo, Sasha Dejanstahl Voban immediately arrived there. As if shaken by the compact style of the garden, Liliana also became subservient.

  Voban's bedroom was located in a separate building within the hotel's garden.

  A tiny traditional Japanese house.

  However, its interiors were very modern in contrast to the traditional outer appearance.

  In it contained western style rooms that a European like Liliana could quickly get accustomed to. There were also a few Japanese style rooms with tatami and ornamental screens.

  "So Kranjcar, is there any news of the miko?"

  Voban suddenly asked.

  Voban spoke with perfect Japanese as he downed the cup of sake by himself, looking over the typical but undistinguished menu listing items like tempura and sashimi.

  Until the previous day, this old man had no knowledge of the Japanese language.

  However, both Campiones and accomplished magi possessed exceptional language learning ability. As a result, it was not surprising that Voban had mastered the language simply by conversing with Liliana who excelled in Japanese.

  Furthermore, it only took him about fifty to sixty minutes.

  Learning an unknown language in such a short time would not have been possible for Liliana. Likewise, even other Campiones and Great Knights would probably fail to match such a feat.

  "No, not yet. My apologies."

  Liliana bowed her head in penance.

  —Mariya Yuri, fifteen years of age, lived in the bay area of Tokyo. Possessing exceptional spirit vision, she was a special religious leader called the Hime-Miko.

  In reality, this level of information was extremely easy for her organization the Bronze Black Cross to investigate.

  Even so, Liliana did not report with honesty.

  She recalled the things done to the girls in the Austrian villa four years ago. Amongst all the miko there, Yuri had been the most silent and the one with the most conservative personality. Furthermore, she looked the weakest and most delicate.

  However, who was the first to arrive at Voban's ritual site?

  Everyone there had been very frightened, but she was the first to enter. She understood the fear in the other girls, and decided to go ahead herself.

  "...Hmph, is that so. Anyway, it's fine. If it so happens, what should one do if a little bird jumped into a cage? If you tie a rope to it, no matter where it went, you can find the cage easily enough."

  Voban gloated as he moved his fingers over the cup.

  —A birdcage? Liliana frowned at the strange analogy.

  "About what I just said, I wonder who was it that hallucinated the image of I, Voban? Perhaps some kind of chance occurrence, where they mistook a prophetic ability as spirit vision—it's not some kind of powerful wizardry ability, right?"

  Of course, whether the person who hallucinated was Yuri or not, Liliana could not have known.

  However, it was said that Campiones possessed extraordinary instincts.

  There have been several rumors that Campiones can sense when they are in danger, and have an animal-like instinct to detect the presence of gods—their fated rivals. However, this was the first time Liliana heard that they could see through spirit vision.

  What kind of extraordinary powers does this old man possess!

  "I don't know if that fellow is the miko we need to find. However, I am positive it will be of great use to capture that person."

  Voban smiled and finished the alcohol as if drinking water.

  After several days together, Liliana could tell that he was not a picky eater.

  He ate and drank everything and anything, consuming not for taste but only to satisfy hunger and thirst.

  "You don't seem to be very good at finding things. Then how about we find someone else to take the job? Or perhaps, this should be a job for a witch—Maria Teresa, come here."

  Voban called the name of a woman.

  In response, a dead woman with deeply sunken eyes appeared out of space, wearing a large black hat—a member of the [Dead Servants].

  "This deceased was once a witch, and shouldn't find it too hard to find the spirit vision user who saw me in a hallucination. Find that person using those skills you possessed when alive!"

  The Dead Servant witch nodded to acknowledge the tyrannical order and disappeared once again.

  Mariya Yuri will be caught sooner or later. Liliana had no doubts about it, and deeply sighed.

  Chapter 3 - Arrival of a Devil King

  Part 1

  The night of the strange hallucinations had passed, and the next morning had arrived.

  Going to school at the usual time, Mariya Yuri packed with her a cellphone with an aluminum shell.

  It was given to her last night from Amakasu for the purpose of emergency contact. When the phone began to vibrate in silent mode, it happened to be during the noon break.

  The call display did not reveal the name of the caller.

  Since the phone handed over was brand new, Yuri had not entered any information into it. Though she knew it was Amakasu's phone number, she was not familiar with how to operate it.

  "Eh? What should I do?"

  Yuri hesitated for an instant as the display showed Amakasu's number.

  Perhaps it was some kind of urgent incident. Yuri happened to be outside the school building and was walking in the central courtyard. She picked up the call in a place where she could not be seen.

  Since it was her first time using a flip open phone, it took a bit of effort.

  "Hey, hey... I am Mariya!"

  Finally en
ding her struggle with the phone, Yuri picked up with a tone of panic.

  'This is Amakasu. How are you feeling over there? Did you make a lunchbox for him as suggested yesterday?'

  "Of, of course not! Please don't joke around!"

  'It's not a joke. Today's request for Yuri-san is to use all sorts of methods to get close to him. Let's a have a real strategy meeting later.'

  "Ah? Amakasu-san!?"

  The call ended.

  What should one do to get closer to Kusanagi Godou? Yuri felt it was a tough decision. Last night, she felt quite depressed due to accepting this difficult mission.

  "—Excuse me, Mariya-senpai, could that possibly be... a cellphone?"

  Yuri turned to see the one greeting her, and found Kusanagi Shizuka standing there.

  The younger sister of the current subject of interest, in addition to being the middle school third year student who was Yuri's junior in the tea ceremony club. This chance encounter gave Yuri quite a surprise.

  "What, what happened? Everyone had been saying that senpai didn't have a cellphone until now? Didn't you say you had no interest?"

  Shizuka was very surprised.

  During club activities, whenever anyone asked about her cellphone number or email address, Yuri's negative reply was always "because I don't think I have any special need..."

  "A necessary reason came up recently. It's also a lot more convenient for staying in contact with each other..."

  Feeling that an excuse of convenience was rather sad, Yuri felt depressed as she answered.

  In such a place she did not have an obvious reason for using such a full featured phone. In fact she was totally technologically illiterate and did not understand networks very well. Yuri regretted her answer as she spoke.

  "Eh? Contact each other? With whom do you need to stay in contact?"

  "Sorry, please don't ask any further because it is something I cannot answer in detail. My apologies."

  Though she was talking to someone younger than her, Yuri was bowing her head down with full seriousness throughout.

  Her identity as the Hime-Miko as well as the existence of the History Compilation Committee were absolute secrets. It would be best if she could muddle through this without issue.

  "Could it be that... the other person wanted to keep it a secret?"

  "No, not at all. However, cellphones are quite hard to use, right? But everyone seems to use them so easily, I really cannot understand—"

  In response to her honest and frank answer, Shizuka suddenly felt apologetic and bowed her head.

  "Sorry, Mariya-senpai. For you to be so troubled due to my Onii-chan—"

  "Eh? This matter and Kusanagi-san—your brother— are totally unrelated—But then again, what is the commotion about?"

  Brother—Unable to understand why Shizuka was apologizing on Godou's behalf, Yuri blinked.

  "However, could there be any other reason? Wouldn't the most likely reason for a sudden need for a cellphone be for staying in touch with a boyfriend at all times... As for Mariya-senpai, the most probable candidate is... my stupid Onii-chan, isn't that right?"

  Yuri thought that Shizuka was a rather clever child.

  She was a girl with quick wits and had picked up all the club knowledge rapidly.

  Yuri frantically tried to deny.

  "No, that is not the reason. It is due to work, I need the cellphone for my work!"

  "But Mariya-senpai's part-time job is being a miko. I've never heard of shrine miko having a need to be on call for emergencies. Even if you deny it, I know you are lying, but I understand! It's all my stupid Onii-chan's fault!"

  Shizuka furiously scolded her brother with intensity.

  Sigh, as the Hime-Miko, all sorts of emergencies have come up ever since the supernatural Campione appeared by her side... Yuri felt very gloomy that she could not reveal such things honestly.

  "Starting from the last spring break, it was already very suspicious. Frequently staying out overnight! And then suddenly becoming so close with Erica-san and Yuri-senpai all of a sudden!"

  "It's not due to Kusanagi-san, please don't get so upset..."

  "Mariya-senpai just said previously that it has nothing to do with Onii-chan—but isn't it related to Onii-chan now?"

  Truly, Shizuka was very smart and picked up what was carelessly revealed.

  Her cute face might suggest otherwise, but she was very competitive in spirit. Furthermore, she was also much better with words, and Yuri felt an absolute disadvantage in trying to argue with this opponent.

  "I get it, Onii-chan also seems to be carrying a cellphone lately, and was talking to someone last night. Since he had to hide in his room to take the call secretly, I'm guessing the other person was Erica-san."

  "Eh? Is that so?"

  Yuri innocently believed Shizuka's speculation.

  Godou's actual caller was the Italian young man, completely unrelated to love and lust, but there was no way for these two to know that.

  "Apparently, school is not enough, and they still have to talk so intimately by phone at home—if Mariya-senpai didn't have a cellphone, it would be very difficult to compete..."

  "Eh, eh? Has things progressed to this stage already—!"

  This news gave Yuri quite a serious shock.

  She felt very concerned at the thought that Erica and Godou were doing things together outside of school.

  However, what really needed vigilance were the impure relations between opposite genders outside of school, right?

  Yuri felt ashamed of her shallow experience with the ways of the world.

  (No, it is not too late to start now. To correct my own deficiencies... to achieve a closer relationship with Kusanagi-san than what E-Erica-san has!)

  Yuri whispered to herself, and vowed to her own heart to improve herself.

  Even though it was at someone else's request, if she agreed to it she will give it her best!

  "Shizuka-san, I have a request."

  "Yes, yes."

  Yuri suddenly lifted her head, and said seriously.

  Feeling her spirit, the angry Shizuka began to calm down.

  "Could you teach me how to use my cellphone? Though I already know how to pick up and dial calls, but I know nothing other than that."

  "Oh, oh that, I don't mind."

  As if crushed in spirit, Shizuka answered in a state of panic.

  Unaware of her dominating power whenever she faced others with her stern and serious demeanor, Yuri felt it was a little strange but nodded.

  "Actually your brother—Kusanagi-san—once told me his telephone number, but I am not sure how to use the contact list in the phone."

  "Mariya-senpai, you don't mind giving your number to Onii-chan, right..."

  "Also, I have another request. Could you tell me how to get closer to a boy?"

  "Eh!?"

  To Shizuka's shock, Yuri got more excited as she spoke.

  "I have a need to establish a much closer relationship with your brother. This is not just for me, but for others around me as well, and for your brother's future. However, why this is necessary, I don't understand it at all."

  "But, but, Mariya-senpai, I also don't have any clue..."

  "Though I can't explain it very well, but time cannot be wasted any more. I really need someone who can be my teacher... I think if it's the smart Shizuka-san, you can definitely be a good role model for me. Please, lend me your strength."

  Worrying was pointless, it is best to take action first—Yuri deeply bowed her head.

  "Oooh? You are really asking for my help? But definitely, Mariya-senpai is much better than Erica... Ah ah, to think that you would be attracted to someone like my Onii-chan..."

  Yuri kept her head bowed sincerely as Shizuka chattered on.

  Soon after, Shizuka sighed deeply.

  "...Mariya-senpai, about my stupid Onii-chan, is it really true?"

  "Yes, it's true."

  Yuri had misunderstood Shizuka's 'is it really love' que
stion as 'do you really have to improve relations,' but neither of them noticed.

  "An, an immediate answer... Well, if it's come to this, I guess a suggestion or two can be given... Just a little bit..."

  Shizuka spoke extremely softly.

  Hearing such a response, Yuri's eyes were like flashing lights, and she smiled naturally.

  "Much appreciated! This feels like a bright light appearing out of total darkness!"

  "Please, please don't show such a bright smile... It's just minor support."

  "Yes? What is it? Shizuka-san?"

  "Nothing. Ah, right, Mariya-senpai, do you have my Onii-chan's email address?"

  Yuri showed a mystified expression at Shizuka's mentioning of a term she did not recognize.

  "Email... address? What is that?"

  "You really don't know what it is eh. Well then, I have a good idea, just go ask him directly in the classroom—let that idiot Onii-chan suffer the consequence."

  Shizuka laughed "hoho" malevolently and suggested.

  Unable to understand the intentions, Yuri felt troubled. However, it was not easy to find someone to give advice, so Yuri decided to go along with it.

  Part 2

  In the classroom of the First Year Fifth Class, Erica and Godou were preparing to have lunch.

  It was the lunch prepared by Erica—no, Arianna who played the role of the maid. Today, Godou brought his own lunchbox.

  If he didn't make preparations, he felt like he was making trouble for others.

  Arianna generously accommodated Godou's suggestion. By the way, Erica who had no intention of cooking anyway, kept a neutral stance and was fine either way.

  At this time, unexpected visitors arrived.

  "Hey, Onii-chan, can you lend this to me?"

  Hearing his sister's usual voice from home, Godou turned his head around.

  It was Shizuka in her middle school uniform, and behind her was Mariya Yuri.

  "Ara. Isn't it Shizuka and Yuri? How rare for you both to be here..."

  Erica spoke with all smiles.

  Yuri simply nodded in response, while Shizuka greeted her with something like "Hello, Erica-san."