Campione 10 Read online

  Prologue

  In terms of human history, it happened towards the end of the fifth century.

  A time when human faith was still honest and unsophisticated. A time when the relationship between humans and [Heretic Gods] was slightly more intimate than in the modern age.

  During those times, he was still a [Heretic God] wandering freely upon the earth.

  His entire body clad in armor, wielding a lance, riding the white divine horse. Sometimes he would appear on the ground as an inhuman white knight, while other times he would roam the skies in the form of lightning.

  Anyone with the slightest intelligence would identify him as a war god from that majestic appearance and cower in reverence.

  When descending before humans, he appropriately announced his name as the "Lancea God." The only reason why he visited the island of Britain then, was simply on a whim. Because he heard from his old friend in this place that there was a [Heretic God] like him. Because he recalled old ties, he paid a visit without deliberate intent.

  "A while ago, I met a rather interesting member of [Steel]."

  The old friend smiled as she chatted.

  "[Steel]... This Knight's kin?"

  "Yes. The great hero, born to exterminate the god-slaying Devil Kings. Quite a few Devil Kings have surfaced in recent times, and that man descends to bring salvation to the world as it approaches end times--"

  "Oh? Hence the warrior who manifests at the end of eras."

  "Not too long ago, he most splendidly slaughtered the god-slayer rampaging on this island."

  It was several decades ago when she was reported to have wandered to this land (later known as Wales).

  Thereafter, she was feared as the [Heretic God] who disseminated the blessing of life and the peril of death. She seemed to be known as the "White Goddess" Gwenhwyfar.

  "Then his name is?"

  "No idea. I already asked, but he remained silent."

  "Hmm, he does not want to reveal his name either eh?"

  "Seems like it. The people of this land started worshiping him as the island's guardian god, calling him the hero 'Artos.'"

  The man known as the "Lancea God." The woman known as the "White Goddess." That was how the bold and ferocious tribes worshiped them.

  However, excessively unruly tribes inevitably fell into decline.

  Without exception, these peoples lost their country and even their basic traits. Their blood and culture assimilated by other nations, sooner or later, they all lost their defining identities of old.

  When cultures change, so do myths.

  Sometimes these changes were so drastic that even the names of gods were altered completely.

  "Goddess who is this Knight's ancient companion. In that case, this Knight will soon obtain a new name. Hohoho, to encounter such hardship, it seems like the war-torn world is not as pleasant as expected."

  "You sound like you are enjoying it."

  Hearing the laughter leaking out from the helmet, the ancient mother earth goddess smiled quietly.

  A few decades after that, she would forsake immortality for the Holy Grail's creation, and be reborn as the hero's maidservant. A death prior to receiving a new name. Consequently, in accordance with the White Goddess' alias of Gwenhwyfar, the reborn being called herself Guinevere...

  "Hmm. After all, this Knight simply journeys along a directionless path. One shall visit the great hero as a way to pass time. Can you inform this Knight of the location?"

  Thanking her for the answer, he bid his old friend goodbye and departed.

  Riding the divine steed to gallop across the sky, he sped off to the legendary hero's location.

  The place where the Devil King exterminating hero slept was located on the peak of a towering mountain.

  The knight had always been the rider of the sky-faring divine horse. Allowing his partner to fly like lightning, he easily reached the mountaintop.

  Along the way, he spotted the figures of humans striving to climb the mountain.

  A group of Britons who also aimed for the peak. But unlike him, they were desperately risking their lives. For the sake of offering prayers of reverence to the hero "Artos" believed to be there.

  An iron sword was embedded on the top of the peak.

  A sturdy sword. The double-edged blade was extremely long, broad, and heavy in structure.

  But compared to its shape, the sword's most outstanding feature was the brilliance radiating from the blade. Emitting from the sturdy sword was a platinum-colored brightness as if coming from a star.

  "How truly beautiful..."

  A divine sword indeed. A sacred sword indeed. He exclaimed in admiration.

  Whether in beauty or power, there was probably no existing sword that could rival it.

  The knight was also a sword that had been born like a white meteor, a dragon-slaying and snake-slaughtering sword god. A single glimpse was sufficient for him to know how astounding the platinum divine sword was.

  "Pardon this intrusion. This Knight humbly visits this place, seeking the war god who exterminates Devil Kings. One humbly apologizes for the rudeness of disrupting your slumber. Nevertheless, this Knight wishes to converse with the peerless hero and become friends. Pray manifest your divine self."

  The platinum divine blade was not only a weapon but the god's avatar.

  The Devil King-exterminating warrior was resting in the form of a sword, probably preparing for the next battle. The instincts of a fellow member of [Steel] explained.

  In order to induce an awakening, he slowly reached his hand towards the divine sword. Immediately, sparks scattered.

  "!"

  Sparks turned into electrical shock to assault his hand, preventing his rude contact.

  "Fufu... Not waking up so easily eh? Looks like you are a rather weary person, a difficult man to get along with."

  Conversely, this cold reception only piqued the knight's interest, causing him to smile.

  He -- was to be known as the "Lancea God" Lancelot du Lac in his subsequent encounter with the Devil King Exterminator, not far in the future. That was when the new god-slayer had landed on the island of Britain, subjecting it to unbridled tyranny.

  In the decades after that, the mother earth goddess and Lancelot assisted the "Devil King Exterminator" as his companions in battle.

  The reasons for the mother earth goddess to do so were unclear. It could very well have been romantic love, but Lancelot was not one so tactless as to deliberately confirm such reasons.

  As for Lancelot, his reason was simple. Simply for the sake of seeking intense deadly battles.

  This way of life fully satisfied his desires. However, to the very end, the "Devil King Exterminator" never revealed his name or origins.

  At the time, Lancelot felt that the man was similar to himself, most likely a god who had also lost his name.

  Reminiscing old times, Lancelot suddenly had this thought.

  --The strongest of [Steel], one whom we called "King of the End." That man had probably grown weary of battle.

  He distanced himself from everything that could draw him onto the battlefield.

  Yes, everything.

  He was obliged to eliminate the god-slaying humans. Forced by the stars of destiny to engage in battle.

  Why? That man always fought with complete indifference. A shadow of gloom clung onto his face like iron rust, gradually turning his handsome features drab and dismal.

  And on certain occasions, as he gazed into the eyes of his comrade on the battlefield, the same disquiet and unsettled feeling could be gathered.

  Or perhaps, what the man grew sickened of was not only the enemy--

  However, Lancelot du Lac was a resolute warrior from ancient beginnings to the modern day. The most
primitive [Steel] that only knew to charge straight forward.

  All along, he had never worried over things that could no longer be confirmed.

  At this time, he simply shook his head silently, and ended the useless trip down memory lane.

  Chapter 1 - Smoldering Devil Kings

  Part 1

  On this particular day, Alexandre Gascoigne had appeared in Taipei.

  Taipei — the well-known central city of Taiwan.

  He had gone to the Ningxia Road Night Market. A night market filled with merchandise stalls and snack shops. Every night, the market was crowded with locals and tourists who came here for the distinctive roadside snacks.

  People could either eat while standing or sit at tables next to the stalls.

  However, tonight Alec picked an aged and worn down restaurant instead.

  Sitting down at a table outside the shop, he arbitrarily ordered a few dishes. Since this type of night market did not offer much in terms of alcohol, he brought his own canned beer.

  Steamed dumplings, boiled dumplings, rice dumplings with meat fillings, spiced sausages, oyster omelettes, etc.

  Just as the dishes were placed on the table, the one he waited for arrived.

  "...It's been a while, Alec."

  "Ah yes. Approximately a year."

  The other person greeted using Min Nan[1] dialect, so Alec replied in the same language.

  The one who had arrived was a glasses-wearing seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl.

  Called Cecilia.

  She was wearing a modest sweater over a white shirt with an unassuming skirt. Even though her face was quite cute, it was lacking in glamor.

  Alec had become acquainted with her a few years ago when traveling in the far east. In order to return the favor she owed to Alec that time, she became a member of [Royal Arsenal].

  "Then show up at St. Ives from time to time... Wait a minute, have you ever been to headquarters? If memory serves me correctly, you haven't."

  St. Ives.

  Where the organization led by Alec, [Royal Arsenal], had located its headquarters.

  Situated in the region of Cornwall on the westernmost tip of England. It was a little seaside town.

  "Your memory is correct. I have never met any comrades apart from you."

  Cecilia spoke with a monotonous and indifferent tone. She was a girl who seldom showed emotion through her voice or facial expressions.

  "Let's leave it at that... That said, lazy as you are, you still accepted this invitation so readily?"

  "Because I wanted to see you."

  "Stop joking around. It's making the beer taste funny."

  "..."

  Her joke instantly rejected, Cecilia fell silent.

  Even though she was essentially a reticent and expressionless girl, she almost seemed to be showing a bit of resentment.

  Nevertheless, Alec paid it no mind, because there were more important matters.

  "You were the one who communicated a wish to see the Island-Fishing Needle. That's what you came for, right?"

  Despite her young age, Cecilia was an outstanding Daoist priestess.

  Daoists. The term used for those who studied ancient Chinese wizardry, Daoist arts, that had been passed down for generations. At the same time, she was well-versed in oriental myths and legends.

  "I don't mind either way."

  "Or in other words, that is the sole reason."

  She was casting that slanted gaze of subtle resentment again. Was there something she wanted to say?

  "This is the Needle in question."

  Alec did not mind entering the main topic.

  He took a rod out from his shirt pocket. It had roughly the same length and girth as a ball point pen, and appeared to be made of beige plastic. This was the divine artifact obtained from Japan, the Heavenly Reverse Halberd.

  "By the way, I've mentioned to you before. Myths that probably originated from southern Chinese sea-faring tribes first crossed over to Taiwan, then spread to southeast Asia, followed by Polynesia and Micronesia. In the process they also spread to Japan."

  "Yes, I remember."

  "In the creation myths of sea-faring tribes, the world began as an ocean. An endless ocean without any land. At that time, the primordial god of creation lowered a fishing line and fished dry land out of the ocean to create islands. That was the birth of land — the story of the country's founding."

  Alec casually explained as he brought food to his mouth with chopsticks between gulps of beer.

  "From 4000 BCE to 3000 BCE, the people of the sea traveled south on crude boats across the Pacific, migrating to various parts of the world. This resulted in the scattering of East Asian oceanic creation myths. Of course, this includes Japan."

  "Izanagi and Izanami's founding of the country."

  "Correct. Izanagi and Izanami were on the primordial sea where there was nothing but minuscule floating and suspended debris. Dipping in the Heavenly Reverse Halberd and stirring, dry land was made to appear, creating the islands of Japan. Well, using a needle as a hook, stirring with a rod, it doesn't really look the same on first glance..."

  "That doesn't pose a significant problem."

  Alec nodded at Cecilia's brief and casual response.

  In ancient Japan, the halberd for fishing — there were records of it being a tool for catching fish. All of these little stories were identical in essence.

  "This halberd is a divine artifact with the same name. Naturally one would think it is the country founding tool."

  "Alec intends to investigate this thing?"

  "Yes. I want to find out exactly what powers this artifact holds, and how to use them flexibly."

  Cecilia coldly remarked to Alec:

  "No way. Born of mortal flesh, there's no way we could do that. Give it up?"

  "Not necessarily. Actually I already came up with one or two ideas."

  "...Really?"

  Cecilia looked impressed. Beneath her glasses, her pupils were wide open.

  Alec shrugged at that honest expression of admiration.

  "It's nothing mind blowing. Deducing from the myths, this thing should be a divine artifact related to the divine aspects of water or land. In that case, if a similar god is found somewhere, just use this rod and observe what changes may occur, then proceed with verification."

  "...In any case, don't do that in this country. Too dangerous."

  Alec smiled knowingly at her refusal.

  All along, he had no intention of doing something worthless like that.

  "If that's the case, only one option remains. Find divine dragon bones that are related to either the earth or the sea, and use them to make contact with this thing. To assist me, first investigate thoroughly all records of mother earth goddesses and snake or dragon deities that have manifested here in the past hundred years."

  "...Dragon bones. There is that option indeed. But Alec, trying to find that kind of thing is even harder than finding gods."

  "Hard, but not impossible. It's worth considering."

  Listening to his subordinate's opinion, Alec was completely nonchalant.

  For the sake of solving all sorts of mysteries, he had stepped foot into many sacred domains. This level of exploration was merely on the level of warm-up exercises.

  "Considering the fact that discovering them could mean avoiding meaningless battles, it will be far more efficient than searching for a god. Don't overlook that."

  "I didn't. It's just that your ideas are very strange."

  Cecilia was expressing simple and easily-read emotions for once. She sighed deeply.

  "Alec, you are truly extraordinary. In matters of bringing chaos to the world, no one can surpass you. Compared to the other Campiones, you are definitely ahead."

  Casual praise. But abjectly notorious.

  "I'm nowhere near as barbaric or reckless as those people. Don't even think of grouping me together with them."

  Alec could not help but retort displeased.

&nbs
p; A few days passed.

  Alec was strolling casually in Los Angeles.

  He had been to Taiwan, the Philippines and even the interior of China. In these past days, he had journeyed far and wide across many different countries and regions. In the end, he chose to finish his trip here.

  Alec was operating alone. Having given Cecilia new instructions, he sent her off on a separate mission.

  He took a taxi cab from the airport to the great city on the American west coast.

  Los Angeles. An ethnic melting pot. A major economical and industrial stronghold. The city of evil that was swirling with crime. The capital where depravity and prosperity vied for domination.

  Hidden in this "chaotic" city were many whose existences would not be tolerated by common reason.

  Wielders of unnatural abilities who obtained magical powers by selling morality and conscience to the devil — sorcerers. Last but not least, there was John Pluto Smith!

  Alec did not believe he could avoid dealing with him during this trip to America.

  Steeling his determination, Alec took the taxi to Samantha University at Los Feliz. He had been there only once, a few years ago. The internal layout of the university had remained completely unchanged.

  Consequently, everything went smoothly for Alec.

  Getting off from the taxi, he began making his way without even glancing at the directory. The route had already been memorized.

  Arriving at Professor Joe West's research lab in the modern languages department, he knocked. Receiving a reply of "Please enter," he pushed the door open without reservations. Two people were already present.

  The elderly African-American with the intellectual appearance and a Caucasian woman with fiery red hair.

  The former was naturally Professor West. A world-renowned researcher of fantasy literature and benevolent mage. His power as a fairy doctor was also unmatched in Europe.

  As for that woman, she was most likely Annie Charlton.

  A student in West's class. The impressive bespectacled beauty who was the same age as Alec. A calm and composed character who took action with great initiative. She also worked as John Pluto Smith's subordinate, apparently performing detective work or the like—

  The Professor seemed to be in shock while his student displayed cautious surprise.