Campione! Volume 14 Epilogue

Epilogue

"It is not working. I cannot see anymore..." Liliana Kranjcar's shoulders shook in regret as she opened her eyes. "And to think I finally found Kusanagi G.o.dou after so much trouble — !" "This cannot be helped. The other side of the corridor indeed leads somewhere not of this world. Hence, we should already be happy to have caught a slight glimpse for a brief while." Mariya Yuri gently comforted her companion who was biting her lip tightly in self-remonstration. Quietly, she placed her hand on Liliana's shoulder. Calming down a little as a result, Liliana nodded. "Fair enough. Using my magic and your power, Mariya Yuri, we were able to explore the situation on the other side. I suppose finding this out is already an accomplishment." "Yes. Now the rescue mission officially begins!" Yuri spoke with resolve as though to encourage not only her companion but also herself. Seeing Yuri acting a little affectatiously, Liliana could not help but smile wryly. Feeling a little embarra.s.sed, the Hime-Miko also smiled slightly wryly. The two girls were currently in the mountains of a place called Casentino, located in the region of Tuscany. They were following a stream at the bottom of a ravine. This was the place where the quartet had disappeared. Namely, the four people: Salvatore Doni, Kusanagi G.o.dou, Erica Blandelli and Seishuuin Ena. Yuri and Liliana were standing by the cliffs. In other words, this was where the "corridor" had appeared — the darkness resembling a cave when triggered by the authority that caused magic to go berserk. Using spirit vision to find out that the distant endpoint of this pa.s.sageway led to "this world on the other side," Yuri was apparently able to use psychic sensing to share what she had seen with her companion. Hence, Liliana had used witchcraft for locating people and flown the [Witch's Eye] towards the direction indicated. This resulted in the discovery of "their companions fighting a dragon-riding young man" at a castle somewhere. Using psychic sensing to share their sight, Yuri and Liliana were both quite happy for this result. Since they needed to help Kusanagi G.o.dou, the two of them transmitted their "power" through the corridor. However, before they could make contact with him, the [Witch's Eye] and psychic sensing were both dispelled. Using magic on the other side was no easy task after all. Liliana sighed deeply. "That said, I never expected he would be able to draw out the 'black blade' for battle." "Just to be on the safe side, I unsealed it beforehand. However, that person who resembles G.o.dou-san so much, what on earth are his origins...?" "Would it be correct to recognize him as the eighth Campione...?" Liliana turned to face Yuri who was clasping her hands together in doubt. There were too many incomprehensible aspects to this "corridor created by Madame Aisha." Due to too many things happening and rus.h.i.+ng about hastily, they had not been able to listen to a proper explanation from Saint Raffaello. "Speaking of which, having only entered this cave no longer than three hours... Yet G.o.dou-san appears to have embroiled himself in a conflict again." "And finally, it looked like he was forced to make an emergency crash landing. Oh well." "L-Liliana-san. Please do not say anything like "he probably survived." Although G.o.dou-san is human, even if something were to happen to him, he will surely be fine!" "In other words, Mariya Yuri, you and I are in perfect agreement." In any case, Yuri and Liliana began to s.h.i.+ft their thoughts from "confirming the safety of their companions" to considering "how to rescue them." "Wow, I almost thought I was going to die back then." G.o.dslayer Uldin laughed heartily as he spoke. Holding the reins, Ena was sitting cross-legged on the cargo section of a cart drawn by two horses. G.o.dou was sitting opposite her and frowning at Uldin's statement that no normal human would make. As a side note, Erica was currently riding her horse in a trot beside the cart. "How unbelievable that they could survive that..." "Yes. His Majesty and Uldin-san are truly absurd people..." Rather than amazed, Erica and Ena's words were filled with a different sort of overtone. The two Devil Kings had crash landed several hours earlier. Cras.h.i.+ng down in the plain somewhere, the pterosaur had slid along the ground like a aeroplane. After that, the Campiones were tossed off with countless cuts and bruises as well as broken bones all over their bodies. Unable to stand up, the pair had fainted temporarily. But they did manage to survive. After Erica and Ena caught up to them, they were rescued. "Hey comrade, let me offer another invitation. Will you be king in my place?" While rocking from the motions of the cart, Uldin suddenly proposed. Although G.o.dou was in the same state, the other guy seemed to have completely recovered his energy. "How about we build our harems in Rome or over in Constantinople? I think it would be a great idea." "Like I said, stop talking about that. I already told you before our duel." In response to G.o.dou's displeased grumbles, Uldin replied with surprise. "Hey hey. I thought that was a promise only if I lost." "What nonsense are you talking about? You clearly couldn't fight anymore. And I'm the one who put you in that state." "But going with that logic, you couldn't fight anymore either, comrade." "1-1 was fine. I deliberately made myself like that." "No no, don't forget that before the crash, I was the one who thrashed you soundly." The two Campiones were going at each in the spirit of "an eye for an eye." While this meaningless dispute was going on, the cart returned to the stronghold at Augusta Raurica. Ruska and Clotilde were scheduled to arrive later. Fortunately, the Roman army had not returned, thus avoiding an encounter with Uldin. Since Aisha was with the people of the Roman army, she was probably not here either. Just as Erica and Ena stopped their horse and cart respectively before the castle gates — "What's going on? He looks like he's in a great hurry." "A Roman courier. He probably has urgent news to report to Lugdunum." Ena looked out towards the main road ahead and murmured. Staring in the same direction, Uldin also commented. Apparently, a Hun's eyesight rivaled that of a j.a.panese child of nature. "Lugdunum?" "In modern parlance, that's Lyon in France. During this era, it was an important stronghold in the Roman province of Gaul." Seeing G.o.dou confused, Erica clarified. The city of Lyon in southern France. G.o.dou had heard of it before but never visited the city. Soon after, the Roman cavalryman could be seen approaching. This was almost a full gallop. Continuing to ride in this manner would cause the horse to collapse soon. "Judging from the way he's making a beeline for here, he intends to switch horses?" "Yeah. Maintaining speed by switching horses multiple times." Realizing how Uldin discerned the rider was a courier, G.o.dou nodded. On the other hand, Erica blocked the road as if sealing it off, walking towards the cavalryman whose horse was decelerating. "I belong to the army stationed here. What's the urgent news?" "E-Enemies gathering up north... The Frankish tribes have pledged themselves under a certain man's banner to form a great alliance!" The courier was initially surprised to hear Erica declare herself part of the army despite being a woman. But perhaps due to the urgency of the situation, he reported as he panted heavily. Not only the horse but even the rider was also exhausted. It really must be quite an emergency. "Who is this man you speak of?" "His name is Salvatore Doni... Although it's unknown where he hails from, that man... No, that monster single-handedly conquered the stronghold of Colonia Agrippina... Uwooh!" It must have been quite a regretful affair, seeing as the young courier cried tears of chagrin. However, G.o.dou and his group had no leisure to notice such details. "S-Salvatore?" "Looks like the situation has gradually gotten serious..." "So that king has already arrived. And even caused all sorts of serious incidents." The three moderners were respectively dumbstruck, worried and lamenting. Furthermore, even Uldin reacted with "that reminds me." "I've heard of that name too. It was the G.o.dslayer wandering my forest three months ago." "W-What did you say?" "After I told him that this area was my 'hunting grounds,' he said he was going to tour the north and have some fun first. He also said something about wanting to duel me after he gets used to these lands." Uldin recalled with an amused expression the maniacal words that sounded very much like a certain man. He did not seem like he intended to refuse the challenge. Speaking of which, to think it was 'three months ago.' G.o.dou could not help but click his tongue. Clearly Doni was sent to a time much earlier than them. How many unruly acts exactly had he committed during this time? "Hey. Those Frankish tribes working under Doni are..." "I remember they were the founders of France?" "Yes. Of Germanic lineage, the Franks were united by Clovis I to establish the dominance of the Merovingian dynasty, thereby starting the history of France. However, that's not supposed to happen until a hundred years from now, you know?" The moderners gathered together and whispered to each other. Hearing Erica describe future events, Ena sighed uncharacteristically. "So, this could cause history to change too. So we really should hope for that whatever corrective force to work its effects...?" "About this matter, is it really okay to hope?" As Erica remarked in distress, Ena was shocked all of a sudden. "But didn't Aisha-san already explain about this kind of force?" "Ultimately, Madame Aisha is just a traveler. No matter how many years she spent traveling in the world of the past, she would still eventually return to the modern age. But if a modern Campione were to live in this world persistently for decades or even centuries... Do you think that kind of continued distortion can be corrected?" Erica murmured with a gloomy voice and sighed. "I think that it won't come as a surprise if Sir Salvatore were to forget about 'returning to the present' and end up living here for more than a century." "Considering that idiot, that's very possible for sure." G.o.dou could not help but nod, realizing that new trials were about to begin. Clearly it was imperative to find Doni and bring him back even if it meant tying him up. This could very well turn into a problem no less troublesome than a duel with Uldin. Afterword h.e.l.lo everyone, it's been a while. Campione! finally reaches its 14th volume. I express my utmost thanks to the loving support from each and every one of you, readers. Due to the anime last year, I was constantly chased after for Campione! related drafts and various a.s.sorted affairs for a whole year. There were good things like being featured on Weekly Shounen Jump a number of times and being invited to Taiwan, all sorts of troublesome things that I cannot write about here. Every single day was spent in a hectic bustle. One incident left a particularly deep impression on me. A certain male-oriented fas.h.i.+on magazine almost mistook me for a Cthulu writer, (wry smile) This was during an interview for a light novel feature when a reporter and interviewer who claimed "I've read Campione!" asked me: "This series uses the Cthulu mythos as its theme — " Nothing of that sort, man! (sweat drops) Looks like the guy must have learnt the word "Cthulu" from recent anime. Based on various clues I gathered throughout the interview, it seems like someone jumped to the conclusion that 'stories about G.o.ds, ahhh, that's basically the Cthulu mythos.' Before the anime was broadcast, this type of situation also happened when I was busiest in writing Volume 13. Back then, I kept thinking to myself, just let it be since they should probably realize the mistake before the report is published — In the end, "Cthulu" was written clearly on the first draft they delivered to me. (wry smile) Back then, I said "this interview is 90% fabricated in my view, don't believe it" and gave up on reading it, then relying on the hard work of Super Dash Bunko's editorial department, the notion of "Takedzuki Jou = Cthulu writer" was eradicated. Like manga artists who frequently do the same in their manga and tankouban afterwords, I kept a record of these happenings in the hopes of revealing them one day. Oh dear, by this point, all I can do is treat it all as a joke, (laugh) Well then, this volume's story is based on an early idea I considered of "The Devil King one should stay the most away from (World Cla.s.sics Drama Series) and what if a certain protagonist were born in the Middle Ages or earlier." Then there is the "little story in mid-January" that was mentioned in Chapter 2. If any of you would like to read this story, readers, please check out the limited edition booklet that comes as a gift with buying Volume 14 and manga Volume 2 at the same time, or the Drama CD included in the previous magazine. (Publisher's note: all sold out already) In the next volume after this, expect a super Campione battle transcending time and s.p.a.ce.