Campione! Vol 13 Chapter 4

Chapter 4 - Call From the Demonic Realm Part 1 December 31 , New Year's Eve. j.a.panese citizens considered it a great event marking the changeover to a new year. Nevertheless, on this commemorative day, Kusanagi G.o.dou was currently exposed under the sun. This was intense sunlight one would absolutely not find on the islands of j.a.pan during winter. Scorching sun. Air filled with heat and humidity. The familiar taste of midsummer. The city of Tokyo was approximately 35 degrees in lat.i.tude. s.h.i.+fting south from there by roughly 30 degrees, G.o.dou's current location was practically on the equator. Geographically speaking, this was Borneo's northern sh.o.r.e, a city called Kota Kinabalu located in Malaysian territory. "I never imagined I'd spend New Year's in a place like this..." G.o.dou muttered with deep feeling. Kota Kinabalu was the largest city in the region. This ocean-facing city contained beautiful beaches. Resort hotels could be found everywhere. G.o.dou was currently situated downtown where quite a few shopping centers and food courts were concentrated. It was a crowded and prosperous place. "It feels nothing like New Year's Eve here." "It feels strange for me. Ever since childhood, this is the first time I am not busy with miko duties this time of the year..." Yuri commented from beside G.o.dou with a slightly concerned expression. It was currently after 2pm and the group was taking a short break at an open-air cafe. G.o.dou ordered iced coffee while Yuri had iced milk tea. In this tropical zone where the weather was like summer all year round, it was only natural to thirst for iced drinks. There was one more item on the bill. Fresh avocado juice with condensed milk. This viscous drink, thick enough for a straw to stand upright in the middle, was of course Erica's order. "Indeed, only someone like G.o.dou would be visited by troublesome matters all the time." The discussion held with Amakasu at the Cape Inubou hotel occurred two days ago. After G.o.dou declared a direct a.s.sault on the enemy's stronghold, the History Compilation Committee member immediately set about gathering information. While that was proceeding, G.o.dou and his companions returned to Tokyo and prepared to travel overseas. Once everything was ready, they boarded a flight late at night on December 30. After a night's sleep on the plane, they landed in Singapore in the morning. Then taking a connecting flight from there, they arrived today — the morning of December 31 , at this city of Kota Kinabalu. In G.o.dou's company were the four girls, Erica, Yuri, Liliana and Ena. The one who organized this trip was surprisingly the girl known as the [Diavolo Rosso]. "The History Compilation Committee is simply an organization controlling a single country — j.a.pan, without branch outposts or influence in foreign lands... Hence, this time they are 'backing us up but not officially,' acting entirely as sponsors who happen to be on site." Shaking the light green juice as she drank, Erica explained. "But even for you, the [Copper Black Cross] doesn't have branches everywhere, right?" "Not everywhere, but the [Copper Black Cross] happens to have permanent staff posted here. This provides the credibility for us to be introduced to a local person of influence. Since the [Heretic G.o.d] has been causing them hards.h.i.+p, they are greatly looking forward to Devil King Kusanagi G.o.dou's arrival." "W-What Devil King's arrival, it's not supposed to be like that..." G.o.dou's face twitched in response to hearing Erica's way of phrasing things. "By the way, Erica-san. What kind of person is this person of influence?" Taking a sip of her iced milk tea, Yuri inquired. Erica had selected Yuri as one of the people accompanying G.o.dou on their visit to the local person of influence. "Because Yuri's power is probably needed" was her explanation. "I heard that this country has neither an organization like j.a.pan's History Compilation Committee nor large scale a.s.sociations like the ones in Europe... But among the commonfolk there are those who live by fortune telling and wizardry." "Indeed it seems to be so." Erica nodded and continued: "In this part of Southeast Asia, there aren't any intelligence agencies or a.s.sociations with outstanding power and influence. But you see, wouldn't former yakuza or mafia have quite a bit of prestige and influence in a place like this?" "Y-Yaku— !?" "Come to think of it, that feels like a pretty good description of Yinghua's family..." "Yes, Hong Kong's Lu family is a cla.s.sic example of cartel operations in Southeast Asia and other places. A gathering of proudly competent talent, spellcasters and even the poor, using them to operate various legal and illegal enterprises." The trio conversed in these matters as the drinks slaked their thirst. Then they left the cafe. G.o.dou was dressed in a short-sleeved s.h.i.+rt and hemp cargo pants which he had not worn for quite some time ever since the weather cooled. Erica had a red camisole and ankle-length black pants. Yuri, on the other hand, was wearing a refres.h.i.+ng one-piece dress in white. Leaving from j.a.pan in midwinter, they were plunged into a land of summer heat all at once. Although it was a little sudden, the hot weather felt quite nostalgic after months of absence. Indeed, there was an unexpected sense of freshness and delight. Furthermore, Liliana and Ena had gone out shopping for this "expedition." Indeed, the streets of Kota Kinabalu was not their final destination. This was merely a place along the way. G.o.dou and Yuri followed Erica as she walked. Along the way, the sky suddenly gave rise to a downpour of rain. A shower brought by a squall. As expected of a tropical zone. Apparently, chances of sudden showers were quite high during the afternoon. The trio frantically sought shelter in a food court. After buying food to one's liking from a row of food vendors, one could sit down and eat at an empty table. This type of sheltered food court was quite common throughout the city of Kota Kinabalu. "It really rains quite heavily here." The pitter-patter of raindrops striking the rooftops and road surface was quite intense. G.o.dou's clothes were completely drenched. Nevertheless, this unexpected inconvenience was actually enjoyable, for it offered the experience of a climate and culture completely different from j.a.pan's. A very real sense of concreteness. "Anyway, since the weather is so hot, our clothes will dry soon enough..." Carrying this sort of joyful mood, G.o.dou turned to his two female companions only to be rendered speechless. Erica and Yuri were dressed in flimsy summer clothing. Due to being drenched by the sudden rain, their clothes now clung tightly to their bodies. Consequently, their bodies' lines of curvature became particular clear to view. Furthermore, Yuri's one-piece dress was white. Even her drenched underwear was visible beneath her dress — "G-G.o.dou-san. Could you please stop staring like that?!" "Oh my, what a rare act of initiative. Does this stem from the liberating feeling of traveling overseas?" Reacting to the girls' comments, G.o.dou frantically turned his gaze away. While G.o.dou focused on directing his gaze elsewhere until the girls' clothes dried, the trio strolled around the food court that provided shelter from the rain. Seeing all sorts of food displayed at the food stands, Erica narrowed her eyes. "Just as I thought, Asian places like this are the top choice for a chaotic culinary experience. Although j.a.pan is a country of comfort, it hasn't lived up to my expectations in the area of food." A bunch of total nonsense. But G.o.dou could understand. He could tell from a single glance. This was indeed the type of place Erica would enjoy. Representative of Malay cuisine was the spicy fried rice dish of nasi goreng, made with chicken resembling yakitori meat and a sauce prepared from peanuts and coconut milk. That could be considered the basics. Then there was the Malaysian burger containing a hamburger patty wrapped in an omelette.^ This type of food could be considered the applied version of Malay cuisine. Chinese cuisine prepared by ethnic Chinese also added much variety and color to the offerings. There were also Indian curry shops as well as all sorts of global fast food chains, etc. There were even seafood shops where one picked fish from a tank to be barbecued. Furthermore, tropical fruit varieties were sold, such as the king of fruits, the pungent durian. Other than pork which was conspicuously absent in Islamic areas, this was truly the place for a chaotic culinary experience. "It'd be nice to look for and have a fill of food to my liking..." "Let's not eat now since we have an appointment later. How about we wait until dinnertime, okay?" Stopping Erica, G.o.dou gave Yuri a glance to seek her agreement. To his great surprise, the Yamato Nades.h.i.+ko was unexpectedly staring at a food stand with great interest. "Mariya... Could it be, you're hungry?" "Ah, no. Not at all. I am just curious." Yuri answered shyly as she looked back. "In the past when traveling in Vietnam with my family, I only tried noodles from this kind of shop once. Thinking back, the food was really quite delicious. Fufu, I remember we were eating it on the go." "In that case, Yuri, you may count on me, Erica Blandelli." The blonde devil winked at the sheltered young lady who was smiling calmly. "Back when I was in Hong Kong, I ate at stands like these every single day." "Really!? If I may, then I shall count on you!" "Indeed. That looks about right, undoubtedly so." G.o.dou began to smile wryly in response to Erica and Yuri's enthusiasm, seemingly sharing some sort of strange motivation. Despite being clearly well-educated girls, they did not seem particularly bothered by these vendors' hygiene. "Erica aside, I never knew that Mariya had quite a strong-willed side to her." "M-Me, do I really seem strong-willed to you?" Yuri murmured while smiling with a slightly delighted expression. G.o.dou's careless comment seemed to have pleased the dignified Yamato Nades.h.i.+ko. While G.o.dou was baffled by the reason, Erica mocked sarcastically. "What an idiot you are, G.o.dou. Getting along with someone like G.o.dou would surely require Yuri to harbor a resolute will of iron somewhere in the depths of her heart. It's something one would acquire and develop after staying by your side for so long." "1-1 see..." Recalling his various instances of unruly conduct, G.o.dou expressed understanding while Yuri smiled wryly with a troubled expression. While they conversed on a variety of topics, the rain had stopped before they knew it. The sky was clear and sunny once more. Due to the rain just now, the air temperature had cooled somewhat, giving a cooler refres.h.i.+ng feeling. G.o.dou and Yuri continued to follow Erica, making their way to a certain market. In actual fact, they had already visited this place once already before taking the break at the open-air cafe. At the time, it was simply an empty clearing. But now, an hour later, tents had been raised all over the place, with little stands and open-air stalls lined in rows side by side. Everyday sundries, vegetables, fruits and various wares were being sold. However, most eye-catching of all was the seafood. There were not only species commonly sold in Tokyo such as horse mackerel, Spanish mackerel, barracuda, squid, but also colorful fishes unique to the South Seas like the yellowback fusilier. Glancing at these shops as they made their way, Erica finally stopped before a certain tent. This was a vendor selling everyday sundries. In the depths of the store was a pet.i.te old lady, dressed modestly in a white s.h.i.+rt with a black skirt. She had the lightly tanned skin tones of ethnic Malays. Alone by herself, she was sitting in a folding chair. Based on appearance, she seemed like a friendly "old granny." However, she was actually the "person of influence" that Erica had mentioned earlier. So she was the fortune teller and wizard who acted as the leader of pickpockets, thieves and pirates in the area? "Your Majesty, arriving from distant lands, a cordial welcome to you." The influential old lady greeted G.o.dou using broken English. Then she clapped her hands together and bowed slowly towards G.o.dou as one would pay respects to a Buddha statue. Part 2 Two days earlier at Cape Inubou, Amakasu was explaining about the divine beasts' stronghold. The South Seas is a region of the ocean containing over a hundred islands of various sizes, located west of the Philippines and northwest of Borneo. These islands came in all sorts, with some uninhabited, some with resort hotels built on them, while some housed military installations of the various surrounding countries." Amakasu sighed as he spoke. 'Reportedly, on the largest uninhabited island of them all, mysterious giant creatures suddenly appeared several days ago... Yes, those two divine beasts, the snake and the strange bird that came all the way over to j.a.pan last night to cause a commotion." 'They are already confirmed to have returned to the island in the South China Sea after their defeat at Kusanagi-san's hands. It really reminds me of those monster movies from the Shouwa era, this monster island appearing in Southeast Asian seas...' Although the tone of Amakasu's report was frivolous, there was little joking in the content. Hence, G.o.dou and his group traveled to Kota Kinabalu to deal with the problematic island. Using this city as a staging ground, they first investigated the island's state of affairs — And now in a Kota Kinabalu market, they were currently meeting a representative of the local wizardry scene. "We cannot express our utmost grat.i.tude well enough for Your Majesty's express visit..." "D-Don't mention it. I intend to investigate the island's situation to get a clear idea first." G.o.dou began to get fl.u.s.tered because the influential old lady kept bowing repeatedly with her hands together to show her grat.i.tude. Rather than a king, it was more like being treated as a Buddha. This was quite a difference in treatment compared to other people G.o.dou had encountered who were involved in the field. "I will prepare s.h.i.+ps immediately. But our utmost apologies... Though the island surfaced three years ago, we know very little about it..." As the old lady explained in an unhurried fas.h.i.+on, G.o.dou was baffled by the mentioning of "three years." "Oh my, it was on a certain day three years ago, when that island had surfaced on the sea by the time we noticed. It was a place that was originally empty sea. Thus abruptly did it appear. The island has mountains and forests. For such a rather normal-looking island to suddenly emerge, the fishermen, the pirates and the navy were all greatly surprised." G.o.dou threw a glance at his companion. Erica nodded in response. She apparently knew already but had kept it to herself for some reason. "And the very strange thing was, once anyone lands on the island, they could not get out..." "Not get out?" "According to our members who have set foot on the island, they naturally got lost in the middle of walking around. Then for a good many days, they were disoriented along their way to the beach. Only the lucky ones reached the s.h.i.+p to return from the island..." G.o.dou recalled someone he knew. Why would that guy be involved in this incident — ? He looked at Erica again to find her with an expression as if she wanted to say something. "Indeed this is the case" was what she seemed to be saying. "It is an island that did not exist in this country before. Hence, no local sailor will approach it. Only people like us are privy to this knowledge..." This island was not recorded on any maps or marine atlases, huh. As G.o.dou nodded, the old lady put her hands together again and knelt in wors.h.i.+p. "We would be most grateful if Your Majesty could be so kind as to head to the island for a look. Please, we are counting on you." "Granny, may we have a look at the object?" Erica interjected. "The object... Ah yes, the thing that drifted to a nearby beach three years ago, shortly after the island appeared. I believe it should be related to some particular G.o.d..." The old lady stood up and began to search a wooden box behind her. She took a slender rod-shaped stone, roughly a meter in length, its girth just barely small enough to grasp in one hand. Its uneven surface was jet black like obsidian. G.o.dou could feel faint magical power emanating from the black stone. Some kind of power resided in it apparently. As soon as she looked at the stone, Yuri shuddered. "Did you see something, Yuri? This object could be a divine artifact, so please try to appraise it. Perhaps this might be a decisive clue?" "V-Very well. This is—" Asked by Erica, the Hime-Miko spoke an oracle solemnly. "Using the divine artifact of creation, the mother created land out of the primordial sea, summoning freshwater, nurturing lush vegetation... We have already seen a similar item before." Yuri deliberately added the last sentence, for apparently the same doubt had crossed her mind. Yes. Last time, there was also a mysterious island that suddenly appeared in the sea. All who entered the island were disoriented by the magical power of a labyrinth. Furthermore, the island was created using the alleged nation-founding divine artifact that appeared in the form of a small tool — G.o.dou nodded, Erica crossed her arms, while Yuri looked worried. Surely the trio must have recalled the same image. Two hours later, G.o.dou and his group were out at sea. The tropical ocean was dyed bright orange by the glow of the setting sun. A large sport fisher was speeding nimbly across the sea. More accurately, it should be called a sunset cruise. This was the s.h.i.+p prepared by the old lady at the market for G.o.dou's group. Equipped with showers and air conditioning, the s.h.i.+p's s.p.a.cious cabin was like the living room of a house. There were even two rooms with cots. This was a large s.h.i.+p used for living out at sea for days to enjoy the pleasures of fis.h.i.+ng. — The waters of the mysterious island were located not far from Kota Kinabalu. Supposed to be reached before night, it meant they should be able to observe the island's situation from afar before daylight ended. It would be ideal if the deity incident could be resolved before it expanded in scale. For this purpose, the trio converged with Liliana and Ena then proceeded to board this s.h.i.+p. Sailors from the old lady's subordinates were in charge of operating the s.h.i.+p. Presently, G.o.dou and his friends were holding a strategy conference in the cabin. Seated, Liliana Kranjcar opened the discussion with a gloomy expression: "This is simply speculation. Although there exist 'reasons for thinking so,' I think subjecting a certain person to allegations would be jumping to conclusions. Nevertheless, I shall still proceed with this thought." She was dressed in casual clothing with a blue lacy blouse and black shorts. Even so, Liliana spoke like a knight in a rigorous tone. "I believe England's Black Prince is very likely related to this incident." Possessing the labyrinth authority, Alexandre Gascoigne was involved in the past incident of the Heavenly Reverse Halberd and the floating island. As expected, Liliana was thinking of that commotion. It was only natural. Everyone thought so too. After all, even Ena exclaimed with deep feeling despite her optimistic personality. "It's that saying, right? As suspicious as being caught with your hand in the cookie jar." Definitely suspicious no matter what. G.o.dou voiced his agreement with the possibility and nodded. Also, Seishuuin Ena had finally changed out of her usual uniform after leaving j.a.pan. She was currently dressed in a short-sleeved parka with cargo pants, a style common to men in summer. The supplies Liliana and Ena had bought at the market during the day were currently left in a corner of the cabin. The cardboard box was stuffed full of equipment, clothing and food, etc. They had simply picked up anything they thought might be useful for exploring an uninhabited island in the South Seas. "Think about it, that guy used rather elaborate methods when he caused the Tokyo Bay commotion. He was also quite clear on how to use a divine artifact like the Heavenly Reverse Halberd..." "Because he had an opportunity to test out a similar plan before... This is quite possible." G.o.dou muttered and Erica concurred. This was a conversation that could easily veer into slander with one false step. The only one who abstained from partic.i.p.ating was Yuri, who listened to everyone with a troubled expression. But perhaps she was simply born naturally polite. On occasion she would go "Indeed..." and nod in agreement. She did not display any intention of objecting. "So currently, where is that Gascoigne guy anyway?" "Unknown as usual. But earlier, there were reports of him in Spain." As G.o.dou wondered, Erica answered immediately, fully prepared as expected. "Well, it's not like he'll answer honestly even if we ask him directly. Let's continue to investigate step by step..." While they chatted, the s.h.i.+p successfully arrived near the problematic island. They were about to reach the destination, the Indian sailors reported. G.o.dou and his group stopped their discussion and walked out onto the deck which offered an expansive view of the South China Sea illuminated by the evening glow of the sunset. Were this a sightseeing trip, this scenery would definitely be quite moving. However, the "island" ten-odd kilometers ahead was the lair where those suspicious divine beasts resided. Moreover, anyone entering arbitrarily would be imprisoned by the labyrinth's power. This was literally a demonic realm. It was definitely no small island, given its substantial visible area. Rather tall elevations in the center of the island could be seen from the sea afar. A rough estimate would place the alt.i.tude as comparable to ordinary mountains. The island was covered with trees, offering a lush green view. The s.h.i.+p cruised straight forward, landing on the island at a cove that resembled an entrance. "It's bigger than I imagined..." Muttering to himself, G.o.dou suddenly realized. "Speaking of which, how long do Gascoigne's labyrinths last for? Left here for three years already, it can still be sustained?" "a.s.suming Prince Alec is absent from the island, the magical effects should start dissipating after roughly three or four months." "From then on, the magical effects will gradually weaken all over the labyrinth. This is recorded in the Witenagemot's reports." Erica and Liliana answered, highly knowledgeable. "Then it isn't really that guy...? It's hard to imagine a busy guy like him coming here regularly." "Conversely, a.s.suming he is going that far, this might be quite an important location?" "Alternatively, some kind of spell or divine artifact may have been used to extend the duration of his authority's effects." From the swiftness of the counterarguments, the moral failings of the person in question were clear to see. Oh well, this was all due to the deplorable nature of his habitual behavior... In any case, the plan was set to begin investigating and scouting out the island tonight. Although G.o.dou was not much help in this regard, the girls were a separate case altogether. Liliana's witchcraft and Yuri's exceptional spirit vision were especially sure to produce results. Hence everyone began to make preparations on the s.h.i.+p. ...They definitely could not afford to be careless. G.o.dou and Ena were both very sensitive to danger given their keen, beast-like instincts. Erica and Liliana were also on watch in full alert. Furthermore, Yuri was present with her incomparably sharp spiritual senses. Nevertheless, in spite of all that, no one was able to detect the imminent arrival of the incoming attack. — An astounding gust of wind suddenly swept across the s.h.i.+p's deck. Completely caught unprepared, the s.h.i.+p's sailors and even Erica and Liliana were blown away by the wind. With a series of splas.h.i.+ng noises sounding from the night sea after the sun had set, all of them fell into the water. The only one unaffected was G.o.dou who was left standing alone on deck. It was no natural wind. Most likely supernatural wind produced through magic and divine powers, hence a Campione's body was unaffected — "G.o.dou!" "Kusanagi G.o.dou!" Erica and Liliana's voices were heard from the sea beyond the s.h.i.+p. Sounds of the crew's screams suggested that everyone were unharmed. Instead, the place of danger was actually G.o.dou's side on the s.h.i.+p. Namely, the large sport fisher's cabin. A familiar bird monster was casually landing on top of the ceiling. This was the divine eagle they had encountered a few days earlier. The sudden gust of wind had been its doing! G.o.dou quickly came to a conclusion. Was this divine eagle able to make effective use of some kind of cheating skill to teleport unannounced? Most probably not. Surely it was the Fire G.o.ddess' doing — a spell cast by the unidentified deity. Part 3 Spreading its wings with intense vigor, the divine eagle prepared to take flight. Its ma.s.sive wingspan measured fifteen meters. It flapped its wings forcefully. With the cabin firmly in the grip of its claws, the rest of the s.h.i.+p attached was at its mercy. Effortlessly as though the s.h.i.+p's weight was no burden, the divine eagle floated upwards — By the time he noticed, G.o.dou found himself and the entire s.h.i.+p already flying in the air. Night had descended completely. Countless stars were twinkling in the black canopy of the night sky. Different constellations were visible compared to back in j.a.pan. This tropical starlit sky was breathtaking in its beauty. The clear and bright half moon was also s.h.i.+ning with white brilliance. "Uh, we're getting this close to the clouds!?" Imperceptibly, they had already risen to quite a high alt.i.tude. G.o.dou frantically rushed over to the s.h.i.+p's edge and looked below. The sea was a long way down. Although this was comparable to the height that Liliana had flown him during the Saturnus incident, G.o.dou completely did not feel any sense of rapid ascent. The bird really was quite skilled at flying. Although G.o.dou currently had nothing on him to secure himself, there was no worry of tumbling off the s.h.i.+p to fall down from the sky. The divine eagle was flying with great stability, apparently taking care to keep the deck level. Thanks to this, G.o.dou did not even lose balance once. G.o.dou gazed at the divine eagle gliding leisurely on its outspread wings. Its stately majesty as the king of birds could be felt from the divine eagle's intrepid appearance, worthy of being called a sacred bird. Currently on the s.h.i.+p's deck, G.o.dou looked up to examine the state of the divine eagle that was holding the cabin in its claws. Although the divine eagle was in a completely defenseless posture with its abdomen and throat exposed, one should not forget it was flying quite stably. It would take a bold move. Oh well, if he attacked despite the height, the worst that could happen would be cras.h.i.+ng down together. Perhaps there was no need to be wary... "Your Majesty!" "G.o.dou-san!" G.o.dou jumped in surprise to hear sudden voices calling him. Looking towards the opened cabin door, he found Yuri and Ena walking out onto the deck. Come to think of it, these two were not seen when everyone else had fallen into the sea. So it was because they were actually inside the s.h.i.+p! The two girls ran over to G.o.dou's side. "Let's summon Ama no Murak.u.mo to give it a good slice — Never mind, I guess we'd better endure the situation for now." The same idea must have crossed Ena's mind as well. She muttered and shrugged. Carrying the three pa.s.sengers, the s.h.i.+p was transported by the divine eagle to the sky above the cove. Owing to the bright moonlight and excellent night vision, G.o.dou was able to clearly discern the island's geography even though it was night. A mangrove forest grew by the seaside. There were also tropical rainforests which looked as though orangutans might roam inside. In addition the central mountain peak looked about seven or eight hundred meters in height above sea level. The divine eagle was apparently flying towards this peak as the destination. G.o.dou went "Hmm?" and frowned in response to the sudden change in the vegetation on the mountain. Strangely enough, these were deciduous trees that grew on highlands. The tropical rainforest atmosphere was all gone. Of course, they were still in the tropics, but it was rather cool and breezy as a result of the elevation. However, the alt.i.tudes here should not be enough for highland vegetation to grow. "As expected of an island inhabited by the G.o.ds. I can feel it. There is a strong divine presence on this sacred mountain. It must be quite an excellent sanctuary." "Quite an intense sacred aura can be sensed from the peak. Perhaps the G.o.ddess might be there." Ena, the sacred mountain specialist, reported. Yuri also gave warning through her sharp senses as usual. G.o.dou turned his gaze downwards. Was it that place roughly seventy or eighty meters from the mountain slope? As much as he wanted to wait till they were nearer to the ground before taking action, delaying for that long might be too late. What should he do — just as G.o.dou agonized over the decision, the two Hime-Miko nodded to each other. "G.o.dou-san. Please let us handle this." "Don't worry, Ena will think of a way to deal with things. Ama no Murak.u.mo, please!" Their words prompted G.o.dou to make his decision. Nodding, he relaxed his right arm. Immediately, the divine sword, Ama no Murak.u.mo no Tsurugi, suddenly manifested in Ena's hand. With a three-foot-three-inch blade, its had the structure of a curved j.a.panese sword. The blade was jet-black in color. "O divine blade of Ama no Murak.u.mo, bestow upon me the bow and arrows of honor!" Using spell words to invoke the divine sword's spirit for divine possession, Ena kicked hard against the deck. Then jumping like a monkey, she delivered a merciless diagonal overarm slash to the abdomen of the divine eagle that had been maintaining the safety of this airborne journey. Gwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! The divine eagle cawed loudly in pain. Ena jumped again at this time, stabbing the divine sword into the bird's right claw. Consequently, the divine eagle loosened its right claw's grip from the s.h.i.+p's cabin. Cras.h.!.+ The impact came. Unbalanced in the air, the s.h.i.+p was also losing substantial alt.i.tude and fast approaching the mountain slope. Even a divine eagle was unable to endure, finally loosening its left claw from the s.h.i.+p as well. Thus, the large s.h.i.+p carrying G.o.dou and the girls started free falling towards the ground! The mountain forest below was quite flouris.h.i.+ng with trees. These could act as a cus.h.i.+on to some extent but it would be naive to expect no injuries from a crash landing like this. The fate awaiting the trio was going to be no different from a plane crash incident. However. "Ameno Torifune, I pray to the G.o.d of the camphorwood s.h.i.+p, st.u.r.dy as stone, swift as a waterfowl!" "Bestow upon us the fulfillment of safe pa.s.sage!" The two Hime-Miko chanted spell words together. The s.h.i.+p's descent suddenly slowed down rapidly. Like a falling feather, the s.h.i.+p drifted lightly down from the sky, sliding gently along the mountain slope and into the deciduous forest. Although the speed of descent was reduced, the impact was still quite substantial. The trio fell over forward on the deck. The s.h.i.+p continued to slide along, its momentum showing no apparent signs of abating. Crash, clang, crunch, crunch. Terrifying noises rang out repeatedly. Various parts of the s.h.i.+p were smas.h.i.+ng into things. Then the crash-landed s.h.i.+p finally came to a stop. G.o.dou and the two Hime-Miko breathed a long sigh of relief together. At least the trio were safe and sound. Among the three, Kusanagi G.o.dou was the strongest and also held the leaders.h.i.+p role. Standing up instantly out of a sense of responsibility, G.o.dou looked up into the sky. SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWKM The divine eagle let loose an acute cry and flew off somewhere. Was it due to pain from the wound Ena inflicted, or had it received orders to return from its mistress the G.o.ddess? In any case, the current crisis seemed to have pa.s.sed. However, it was not yet time to relax completely. Yuri looked worried while Ena displayed nervous tension as the two girls drew near G.o.dou. They were currently situated on this island of the demonic realm. Even if a thorough investigation was conducted before they entered, unexpected occurrences were bound to appear. Surely, this was only the beginning of a truly troublesome situation. G.o.dou's trio were not foolish enough to move about in the darkness of night. They intended to spend the night by the wrecked sports fisher, waiting until morning before beginning operations. This was the most prudent course of action in light of the current situation. G.o.dou, Yuri and Ena agreed unanimously. Fortunately, they were well-stocked with food, mineral water and other drinks. Various equipment for exploring the island were also prepared. Using flashlights for illumination was not too inconvenient. The trio started a fire using a lighter and boiled some water. A simple and convenient dinner consisted of biscuits, instant coffee and Malaysian cup noodles. "Come to think of it, Erica is the only one I know who never eats instant noodles. What about you, Mariya?" During the Kisaragi incident, G.o.dou had shared a dinner with Ena similar to the one tonight, consisting of instant and portable food. Then what about Yuri the quintessential high-cla.s.s lady? It was a question posed out of curiosity. "I guess I have eaten it before. Although my mother hates that type of food, I used to eat it secretly with Ena-san on occasion... Fufu." "Well, the more people forbid us to eat it, the more we wish to try it out." Yuri smiled with slight mischief while Ena grinned like a fellow accomplice. G.o.dou was glad to know they were already close friends from long ago. Watching the two girls' postures as they held the cup noodles, using the wooden chopsticks to pick up the noodles elegantly, G.o.dou felt that their excellent upbringing was clear to see. Furthermore, due to the extremely cold mountain air, eating hot food felt especially delicious. Rather than a drop in temperature due to nightfall, it felt more akin to a sudden change of season from summer to winter. G.o.dou was wearing a long-sleeved parka. Yuri and Ena were also dressed in long-sleeved athletic gear including tracksuits and windbreakers. These clothes were bought back at the city of Kota Kinabalu. Expecting the possibility of entering the mountains or tropical rainforests, the group had prepared long-sleeved clothes just in case. "If only we could find a way to make contact with outside." G.o.dou muttered as he gazed up at the vast starlit sky. Yuri and Ena had tried several different spells just now in an attempt to contact Erica and Liliana. However, none of the spells could reach beyond the island's exterior. "Liliana-san's swimming abilities should be excellent as a witch so there shouldn't be any danger even if she fell in the water. But it's a little worrying that we can't confirm if they are safe." "Even my psychic sensing is not working." Ena commented and Yuri reported the result of her attempts. "Reaching out from this mountain with psychic sensing to explore, I encounter a ma.s.sive obstruction along the way. It prevents me from reaching out to anywhere farther." Using wizardry for communications or exploration did not seem to work. As late night arrived, the trio entered the s.h.i.+p and all slept in the cabin. To facilitate collective action in case of emergencies, they stayed together in one place. Then they decided to take turns in keeping watch. After all, there was already the precedent of the divine eagle appearing instantaneously without warning. With the trio in high alert, perhaps they could prevent being caught unaware again. It was best not to be careless. Taking turns in the order of Yuri, G.o.dou then Ena, one person kept watch while the other two covered themselves with blankets and slept. The rest of the night went by peacefully on the island in the demonic realm and the next morning arrived. Taking care of breakfast through crude and simple food again, the trio began to freshen up and get ready. Had this been a simple accident, waiting patiently for rescue would be an option. But since their purpose here was to gather information about this mountain and island, there was no choice but to start acting on their plan. After spending some time to choose necessary items to carry along with them, they stuffed them into their rucksacks. Along the way, G.o.dou suddenly recalled something and asked: "Can't we transport this stuff effortlessly using that whatever spell Erica and Liliana use to summon their swords?" "That type of spell only works on objects within a sword's size and weight, so it does not help in a situation like this." "Last time at Nikkou, we also tried spells to move our luggage, but just like investigative magic, it didn't work either..." In the end, all they could determine was that the situation left little room for optimism. In any case, once preparations were complete, the trio began to hike. "Oh yeah, come to think of it, it's January 1 today!" "Indeed! I am a bit worried, is Hikari's work at Nanao Shrine going smoothly? Although she is quite reliable in general, as a miko she is still an apprentice..." "As the saying goes, New Year's Day is the time to plan for the incoming year. I can't believe I'd run into this kind of commotion today." G.o.dou continued to move forward as he confirmed today's date. Being used to hiking, Ena took the lead with Yuri following and G.o.dou holding the rear. Under the bright illumination of daylight, they surveyed the surrounding trees. A deciduous forest. Sunlight streamed between the leaves to produce scattering patterns of radiance, combining with the blowing wind to create a glittering world of golden brilliance. The breeze blowing between the trees was truly cool and refres.h.i.+ng. It was like taking an autumn stroll in a European forest. "But isn't this a tropical zone located near the equator..." "It's getting difficult to distinguish the seasons now..." "This is clear evidence of the fact that this is no ordinary island..." While confirming the suspicious nature of the island as they walked through the forest, Yuri suddenly went "Ah" softly. Was this a sign of spirit vision? This prompted G.o.dou to ready his posture but very soon he realized the reason. The surrounding scenery was transforming imperceptibly! A forest without any roads. While pus.h.i.+ng vegetation aside, they had walked roughly thirty minutes through the same forest. That was clearly supposed to be the situation. But without them noticing, the positions, shapes and arrangements of the surrounding trees had changed greatly. Baffled, G.o.dou wondered if they were lost. "Hmm... The sun's direction seems different from just now." Ena frowned and looked up into the sky. A deciduous forest. Sunlight streamed between the leaves to produce scattering patterns of radiance, combining with the blowing wind to create a glittering world of golden brilliance — This was no longer the case. Compared to before, the leaves and branches of the trees grew more densely, making conditions quite dim despite the daylight hours. There was no longer a cool and refres.h.i.+ng impression. "We seem to have entered a totally different place." After murmuring, Yuri suddenly began to search her rucksack. She took out a compa.s.s. Rather than pointing north, the needle rotated slowly as if undecided over which direction was north. "One of those so-called forests of wandering huh..." "Not just the forest but the entire island also gives off the same feeling, Your Majesty." Ena's predictions were completely on target. After walking for ten-odd minutes, their location changed without their knowledge. From forest to deep forest. From deep forest to the edge of vertical cliffs. From cliffs to a valley. Then from the bottom of a valley to a corner of the forest. "...This time, we wandered off to quite a scenic location." After walking for two hours or so, G.o.dou muttered. Advancing through the forest, they now chanced upon a small waterfall. Cool, clear water was flowing down the waterfall, pooling into a flowing stream. Due to all the nonstop walking, Yuri with her low stamina was exhausted. Thinking that, G.o.dou decided to let her rest here for a while. As he turned his gaze, he found Ena gesturing to him with her eyes. The hiking expert was thinking the same thing. G.o.dou nodded. "Let's have a break here. It so happens that there's also water nearby." After G.o.dou announced, Ena approached the stream. Bringing her face close to the water surface, she sniffed its scent. Then after she dipped a fingertip into the water and licked it with her tongue, the Hime-Miko of the Sword declared: "Yes, this water is drinkable." "I didn't know you could do that as well." G.o.dou laughed wryly but indeed it was uplifting news. With a long journey ahead, it was uncertain how long their water would last. A refill was needed badly. Meanwhile, Ena took out an aluminum mug from her rucksack. Filling it with water, she brought it to Yuri. The marching so far seemed like it was merely a casual stroll for the Hime-Miko. Her footsteps remained quick and nimble. "Ah... Thank you." Thanking Ena, Yuri gulped down the water and smiled. This was a slightly forced smile that one would make to lessen the worries of others. Just as G.o.dou expected, resting here was a correct decision. "No matter what, spinning around alike this isn't making progress..." G.o.dou muttered and reached his hand into the stream. The refres.h.i.+ng coldness of the water felt rather comfortable. Their current situation was no different from being thwarted on every front. Although battling G.o.ds had become an everyday activity for G.o.dou, a desperate situation of this sort was something new... Seeing G.o.dou stare blankly at the waterfall, Yuri leaned forward. She gazed in the direction towards where the stream flowed. Ena asked her fellow Hime-Miko: "Did you see something, Yuri? If it's okay, tell us." "Ah yes. I feel like the path to escaping our predicament should lie in the direction ahead." "Speaking of which, the people who escaped the island were those who returned by sea. The direction the stream flows is towards th ocean, this does make sense in a way." After G.o.dou nodded, Yuri suddenly shuddered. A white aura rose up from her body. This was the aura of psychic sensing. Following the direction of the stream's flow, the aura advanced, making its way forward, forward nonstop. Yuri nodded emphatically. "Indeed it is so. If I apply my sensing abilities downstream, I should be able to use my power!" Her report greatly shocked G.o.dou. Ena immediately yelled out: "Well done, Yuri! What do you sense right now?" "Yes, this river converges with larger rivers and continues flowing down the mountain — finally pouring into the sea. After entering the ocean, I can use my powers freely without restriction — " Yuri closed her eyes and concentrated as she explained. Seas and rivers — "water" was apparently the key to breaking through this demonic realm. G.o.dou nodded and remembered. The island's mistress had called herself the Fire G.o.ddess. Fire's weakness lay in water. Perhaps this might be related. "!? Erica-san and Liliana-san are over there! They are traveling on a boat in the sea!" Yuri called out happily. This important news interrupted G.o.dou's pensiveness. Part 4 G.o.dou found out that Erica and Liliana were arriving on an engine-powered boat. It was a fisherman's boat intended for fis.h.i.+ng alone. It looked like they had stopped the engine and were currently drifting on the sea near the island. In fact, Yuri was using psychic sensing to send out thought waves for conversing with them... In this manner, Yuri's sensing powers established communications between this corner in the demonic realm and the boat out on the sea. Continuing to keep her eyes closed, Yuri extended her slender and delicate hands into the stream. This projected images of Erica and Liliana onto the surface of the flowing water. These were said to be the images captured visually by the Hime-Miko's psychic sensing powers. The two Caucasian girls, one blonde and one silver-haired, were dressed in t-s.h.i.+rts with light jackets. Under the dazzling sunlight of the South Seas, they were surrounded by clear blue seawater. A scene from the ocean, completely different from G.o.dou's situation in the mountains, was projected on the stream's surface. 'After falling into the sea, we gathered up all the crew who were swimming in the water and flew back to Kota Kinabalu using Liliana's flight magic. Everyone is safe and sound.' Erica recounted what had happened after the divine eagle appeared. Apparently they had not met any danger. 'This morning, we took a bigger fis.h.i.+ng vessel out to sea again and returned to the island's vicinity. However, the crew were afraid of approaching the island...' 'We had the s.h.i.+p wait a certain distance away on standby as a mother s.h.i.+p.' 'Erica and I borrowed a boat and came here. We are currently investigating the island in various ways.' Liliana entered the conversation to report on the situation. As a side note, neither of them possessed a boat license. Nevertheless, Erica had borrowed the boat using the reason 'Maybe I'll handle it. Isn't it supposed to be a piece of cake?' Despite the engine, a boat was simply another means of transportation after all. Learning by emulating others was easy enough. Erica appeared to be quite proficient. Oh well, since Liliana was present and able to use flight magic, there was presumably little chance of being in distress. 'I was thinking everyone must surely be alive. And it turns out just as predicted.' "l-lgnoring the matter of my survival, do show a little worry for Mariya and Seishuuin, okay?" Self-conscious about his own ridiculous ability to survive, G.o.dou complained on behalf of his two female companions. Erica responded "Leaving that aside..." and began to ask about the the situation on the island. G.o.dou explained concisely. Then Liliana spoke up. This happened last night. After returning to the city of Kota Kinabalu, we tried interviewing a man who had fortunately survived and returned from the island in the past.' During the time from last night till now, the two knights had apparently made the most of every moment. Truly astute. As G.o.dou listened admiringly, Erica continued: This is what he said. After going around in circles on the island, he became despondent. In the end, he took an inflatable boat he happened to be carrying and rowed desperately downstream. Although he had already resigned himself to death, somehow he was able to return to the ocean.' Rafting. This was the sport of navigating white water rapids. Attempting that kind of activity on this island was surely quite dangerous. G.o.dou was deeply impressed. "Escaping unscathed to the ocean huh..." 'Apparently it was thanks to his favorite hobby of compet.i.tive kayaking. In any case, it looks like we'll just have to follow the water's guidance.' 'If this G.o.ddess controls flames, then water is precisely the substance for sealing her power.' G.o.dou nodded in agreement with Erica and Liliana's advice. 'I have already confirmed, flight magic can only reach as far as the beach on the island. If possible, please make your way there then we should be able to instantly converge with you three.' 'Gathering everyone together is our first priority. If possible, it would be best to avoid combat.' The above was the content of the discussion G.o.dou had with the two knights from afar. As the brief conversation ended, the images on the stream also disappeared. Having focused her attention all this time, Yuri opened her eyes, turned towards Ena, who had acted as a listener throughout, and nodded. It was off to a start again. Following a river downhill was said to be taboo in situations of outdoor survival. Rivers and streams flowing in mountainous terrain were particularly p.r.o.ne to flash floods. Were it to rain, the water volume could swell instantly, sweeping everyone into the river. Due to the looseness of the soil, there also existed the possibility of accidentally falling into the river. Furthermore, despite being the interior of a suspicious demonic realm, this was a tropical zone after all. One could not help but worry about the sudden arrival of fierce wind and heavy rain — localized rainstorms. The Borneo region was currently in monsoon season and sudden showers frequently occurred during the time from afternoon until night. However, G.o.dou and Yuri were currently accompanied by their companion Ena, the child of nature. Trusting in the girl who was capable of sensing incoming rain by smell, they intentionally committed the taboo act with full awareness. As if proving the correctness of the Hime-Miko's spirit powers, advancing along the flowing steam brought them to an unfamiliar location. The group was walking on fine gravel along the side of the stream. Stones of various sizes were scattered all over the ground. Occasionally, they had to make their way over large boulders or step into the stream, immersing themselves up to knee-level in order to advance. Given this situation, the various levels of physical stamina in the members of the group were brought into full view. Ena was like a fish in water. With motions as agile as a monkey, she kept moving forward. By herself, she could probably traverse such difficult terrain effortlessly. But of course, she was not going to do that. She was mainly preoccupied with a.s.sisting her childhood friend who lacked physical stamina. Yuri panted heavily as she climbed the boulders while Ena backed her up. When walking in the rapids, the trio had their waists tied together by rope to prevent Yuri from slipping and getting washed away. Ena led the way. "Oh I am truly sorry for being such a hindrance to you all..." Yuri apologized with dejection as she made her way arduously. Naturally, no one else thought that apart from her. No matter what, Yuri was the true guide of the group, the indispensable compa.s.s. In fact, there were times when the sh.o.r.es of the river were vertical cliffs. Unable to follow the riverbank, they were forced to take a detour, leaving the river and advancing by listening to sounds of water. However, due to the labyrinth's effects, they somehow became lost in the forest. Just as G.o.dou panicked, thinking they were in a bad situation... "Please go that way." Following the direction Yuri indicated resolutely with her finger, they were able to get back to the stream. For Yuri's sake, G.o.dou would stop for quick breaks from time to time. Given his physical stamina, this level of exertion was completely not a problem. He also had outdoor experience before. In this manner, they traveled for roughly three hours. Glancing at his watch, G.o.dou found the time to be approaching 2pm. G.o.dou felt that Yuri's stamina was almost at her limits. Her eyes wandering in a daze, her footsteps were weak and unsteady. Whenever anyone spoke to her, she would be startled before attempting to respond. Seeing her forcing herself to smile was heartbreaking. "Let's rest around here for an hour or two." Although they had been taking breaks every once in a while, it seemed like it was time for a longer period of rest. After G.o.dou made his announcement, Yuri immediately showed an expression of relief. "U-Understood... Then I shall sit down for a bit over there..." Yuri walked unsteadily over to the shade under some trees. But she fell down along the way. G.o.dou and Ena immediately hurried over to help her up and laid her leaning against a tree. She most likely collapsed from exhaustion. Resting against the tree trunk, Yuri fell asleep with audible breathing noises. "Making you suffer so much of this hards.h.i.+p because of me, I'm really sorry..." "Oh well, Yuri is enduring hards.h.i.+p for the sake of fulfilling Your Majesty's expectations." While G.o.dou apologized as he gazed at the peaceful sleeping face of the sheltered young lady, Ena commented with a smile. This sort of answer from the Seishuuin family's eldest daughter revealed a glimpse of her true nature. Above being a modern high school girl, she was first and foremost a highborn Yamato Nades.h.i.+ko hailing from a prestigious family steeped in warrior traditions. "But it looks like it'll take at least three days to reach the sea if we keep moving at this pace. Ena and Your Majesty can just make it, but Yuri probably can't endure to the end." "You're right. I guess we really have to try that method..." G.o.dou paced about as he contemplated the idea. Then he turned to look at the stream that fulfilled the role of a guideline. In terms of caloric consumption, the idea was vastly superior to marching on land. However, the dangers involved were likely twenty times greater or more. Furthermore, they did not have the necessary equipment. "Your Majesty is so amazing. To think you've got an idea already. What is it?" "Yeah, didn't Erica and Liliana mention already? There was someone who used rafting to get out to sea. But if amateurs like us with no experience tried it, we'll definitely capsize along the way. Besides, without an inflatable boat or oars, we can't even attempt the challenge." In addition, trying to build a wooden boat would require substantial skill and tools. Precisely due to these reasons, G.o.dou had abandoned this idea which had zero chance of realization. However, Ena began to ponder in earnest after hearing it. "Seishuuin? This really isn't going to work. There's no need to ponder it so seriously." "No, although there are many problems in the details... It's not impossible. So long as Ena and Yuri make the most of our spells, it should still work." What!? G.o.dou was greatly surprised by this unforeseen answer. "Rather than getting cornered without any options because of worrying about risk, it's better to commit to an attempt. But as expected of Your Majesty, Ena couldn't possibly have thought up an idea like that!" The Hime-Miko of the Sword remarked cheerfully with a smile of praise. "I'm sorry, I completely don't understand what part of my idea is worthy of your praise." "No no, Ena always shows admiration for anyone who could come up with even more ridiculous ideas. Besides, Your Majesty is a person who not only has ideas but also puts them into action." "Now that you put it this way, I don't feel like I'm being praised..." With a subtle feeling, G.o.dou put down his rucksack and began to rummage through his luggage. Yuri would probably want to have some light snacks once she woke up. G.o.dou readied his equipment in preparation for that. On the other hand, Ena made a childish expression as if about to engage in mischief. Taking a knife, she slowly cut down branches from the trees growing on the riverbank. Then gathering the fallen branches, she took out various tools from her rucksack. " JV' Ena hummed as she engrossed herself in the unknown task. Finis.h.i.+ng preparations for outdoor cooking (which was not much to speak of), G.o.dou waited leisurely for Yuri to wake up and Ena to finish her task. Forty minutes pa.s.sed. With great satisfaction, Ena placed the finished object into her pocket. A little while after that, Yuri woke up and began to survey the riverbank surroundings with a sleepy gaze. G.o.dou got ready. Ena took out a bottle of natural stream water on which the words "wonderfully delicious" were written on it. The water was poured into a stainless steel pot they were carrying. Then G.o.dou took out a small-sized gas stove to boil it. Once the water boiled in the pot, some of it was poured into three aluminum mugs. Then instant coffee and sugar from stick-shaped sachets were added and stirred. The sugar portion was especially generous. After that, G.o.dou added bag-packaged instant noodles to the boiling water in the pot. While waiting for the noodles to cook, G.o.dou called Yuri and Ena over. "Fufu. This is so sweet and very tasty too." Scalded slightly by the temperature of the aluminum mug's brim, Yuri was drinking her coffee in a cheris.h.i.+ng manner. She smiled radiantly. In actual fact, people would find sugar particularly tasty after exhausting themselves on a long walk. This was due to the body's desire for energy replenishment. "Say, Seishuuin, what were you doing just now?" "Hmm, something I made just in case. I'll explain later." Seeing Ena busy eating her noodles, G.o.dou decided to pursue the matter later. He was quite hungry too. G.o.dou wolfed down the noodles together with the salty broth. On the other hand, Yuri was gracefully eating her noodles with a satisfied expression. Renourished, the trio cleared up efficiently. G.o.dou still had no intention of setting off immediately. Although they needed to hurry on their way, it would be placing the cart before the horse if this caused Yuri to collapse again. Let's rest a little while longer — G.o.dou thought to himself. However, before he could give voice to his thoughts, he suddenly sensed the approach of a situation that rendered his sentence moot. A great noise was heard. It was the type of noise produced from trees falling over left and right, trampled by the approach of some kind of gigantic ent.i.ty. Ena stood up and gathered her concentration, directing her focused gaze towards the noise. Surprised, Yuri also did the same as her fellow miko. Then the figure entered G.o.dou's field of vision. A giant, roughly fourteen or fifteen meters tall. Musclebound all over. Since all he wore was a loincloth, his extraordinarily developed muscles were clear to see. And he was one-eyed. Instead of two eyeb.a.l.l.s, he only possessed one. A one-eyed giant. According to Greek mythology, this would be a cyclops. Appearing before G.o.dou's group was a new minion of the G.o.ddess. Part 5 The cyclops looked down at G.o.dou's trio from above, making a violent snort. He seemed quite excited. It would come as no surprise if he suddenly attacked. Responding to Ena's consent-seeking gaze, G.o.dou pa.s.sed Ama no Murak.u.mo no Tsurugi's usage rights to her. Then the jet-black divine blade suddenly manifested in the hand of the Hime-Miko of the Sword in a display of steel might. As Ena prepared to approach and attack the cyclops in one fell swoop, G.o.dou gestured to her to stand down. There was not much point in skirmis.h.i.+ng here against an enemy of merely divine beast cla.s.s. The mastermind was somewhere else. G.o.dou looked towards the expansive sky behind the cyclops. "In any case, you must be watching this! Stop sending these subordinates and come down yourself!" G.o.dou called out to the G.o.ddess who should be somewhere behind her minion's back. The response came instantly. Dazzling light descended from the sky, glittering as brilliantly as sunlight reflecting off the surface of water. Countless lights gathered together. This dazzling brightness swirled in a vortex resembling a galaxy and descended next to the cyclops. 'Fufufufu. I cannot but answer your summons, my dear. My most beloved G.o.d-slayer!' The G.o.ddess' voice came from the vortex of light floating in midair. G.o.dou could feel his body and mind overflowing with combat power and rising emotion. Although she still concealed her appearance, her true body was definitely present. Then a familiar cawing was heard. SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWK! The divine eagle flew from the distant sky. The wounds Ena inflicted seemed to have healed completely. With the divine eagle gathered with the cyclops, the opposing side's formation was ready. "What the heck do you mean by 'most beloved'... You won't even talk to me face to face." 'We can casually enjoy that kind of activity later.' The G.o.ddess replied to G.o.dou's grumbling in an inexplicably adorable tone of voice. 'Ufufu. In my view, a man must first possess a strong body and heroic mettle in order to become mine. My dear, by my eyes of a G.o.ddess', I can tell you are my type of man. How about it, accept these loving feelings and agree to my invitation, yes?' "What invitation? Is it going to be... Twisting my arms and legs off again, right?" Despite the annoyance G.o.dou was feeling, he still continued to converse: "If you plan to take me by force, we'll simply have to resist. But I don't really want to engage in violence. Why don't you give up on me and continue living your life quietly?" As a believer in pacifism, G.o.dou tried his best to propose calmly. However, the G.o.ddess in her vortex of light form did not answer. Instead she seemed to giving off an impression as though she was smiling "fufufufu..." G.o.dou sighed. Just as Amakasu pointed out, this G.o.ddess really did seem to have stalker characteristics. In that case, G.o.dou had no choice but to respond accordingly. He first asked: "Who made this island? Was it you or Alexandre Gascoigne?" 'Ah, what a truly nostalgic name. Speaking of which, he is also a G.o.d-slayer of the present generation. Fufufufu, so it turns out that you two know each other!' A correct guess. G.o.dou had mentioned Alec's name simply as a test, but it turned out to be right on target. Having gotten a lead, G.o.dou nodded. But then the G.o.ddess' next words caused him to