Campione! Vol 8 Chapter 3

Chapter 3 - The Knights and the Sword Trial Part 1 That human kept opposing him with wonderful tenacity. As leader of the divine beings called Danann, he swung an invincible sword. He was a king and a warrior, a mighty G.o.d. His opponent, although hard to believe, was no hero. The blond man was not even a mage. But the long spear swung by that human showed splendid skill. He could give high praise to the martial arts that child of man had learned. "Let us stop this, you who are destined to die. However hard you try to fight, it will not change my victory. Saint George, who brought you to this other world, has already perished. He pa.s.sed, leaving nothing but that spear. Even if you follow him in death, you can choose a gentler way." Thrust, slash, swipe. The human's spearmans.h.i.+p was ever-changing. There was not a single mediocre attack. But he did not bother with them one by one. Moving his sword and arm purely by reflex, he warded them all off. Alas, child of man, your enemy is an unrivaled invincible G.o.d. Most likely the human had used up all of the skills he had learned. Gradually he cast technique aside and simply thrust the spear. Aiming at his — the G.o.d's body, he thrust out the spearhead with a clear heart. Again and again, he foolishly repeated it. With a clear heart. With a clear mind. Not thinking, not feeling anything. Or maybe combat experience had made him realize the most difficult secret along the martial path, that of attaining the mental realm of serenity and nothingness. If that was the case, this human held unimaginable talent. Splendid. He smiled. The spear the human wielded sent the invincible sword in his hands flying. The sword danced high through the air and fell at the human's feet. However, Saint George's spear which had allowed this exploit had been smashed to pieces. Before reaching its end it had saved the human warrior. Repelling his sword was truly worthy of praise. "Your master George has perished and you have reached your limit. Therefore, child of man, your hope has already vanished." "...Nahh. We're just starting. With this I can finally fight for real." The blond human stretched his hand out towards the sword sticking in the ground before him. Claiomh Solais [1] . He gripped the otherworldly steel that should be handled by the lord of the Tuatha De Danann^ and took it. "Spears aren't bad, but this type of thing is still better. If I don't lay my hands on a weapon like this, I can never get fired up enough to enter my truly serious mode. Sorry, but I'll be borrowing your sword." He was striving for victory, fighting to the very end. Commendable spirit. It was truly magnificent fearlessness. Or maybe he was just a moron. In reality, a mortal human should not be able to handle that sword. He shouldn't be able to use it as a simple blade, to say nothing of the divine power hidden inside. Well, it might be useful as a steel club... He called a new sword into his hands and casually took a stance. Although not as much as his s.h.i.+ning sword, it was sharp. With this he would bring death to the fool who challenged a G.o.d. It was the least he could do for that idiotic hero. The G.o.d and the simple human crossed blades, fighting between life and death. After a long, long time, a winner was finally decided and the duel came to a close. The tale to be told this time takes place after this event. Part 2 The refres.h.i.+ng early summer atmosphere of June was hanging over the hills of Tuscany. "It's not too bad after all. If only the one accompanying me wasn't you." The current location was the southern gates of Porta Romana at the ancient city of Florence. As the car continued along its way, swathes of farmland soon came into view. This scenery of green rolling hills covering the landscape was unique to Tuscany. This was the time of year before the arrival of the merciless summer heat, and the air was filled with joy as it came rus.h.i.+ng through the open windows of the car. "Hey Gennaro, you should be a relatively sensitive person. Isn't this a wonderful occasion?" "So annoying! You are a little girl who chatters away without end!" Roaring at the graceful Erica Blandelli was the driver, an unrefined man. Gennaro Gantz. A Great Knight belonging to the magic a.s.sociation, the [Copper Black Cross]. His ma.s.sive bearded appearance was full of solemnity and completely concealed his mere age of nineteen. One could easily mistake him for twenty-five or six in age. He was not very tall but extremely well built. A patterned bandanna, wrapped around his head, made him look like a pirate who had jumped out from a movie screen. "If it wasn't our great leader Paolo who made the request, 'Please give my niece a ride,' and therefore impossible to refuse, I wouldn't have said something like 'Leave it all to me!' without a thought!" "Precisely, your inability to come up with a pertinent manner of refusal shows how slow-witted you are. Truly hopeless." Retorting at nineteen-year-old Gennaro, Erica was only twelve at the time. However, her adult-like beauty and slender figure as well as lady-like demeanor were not typical of her age. "Since I have no wish for you to drive and you don't want to be anywhere near me, look, our interests are aligned. But you have agreed to Uncle's requests twice already... How about it, let me give you a lesson on the basics of social etiquette right now?" "Give me a break, I'll never be able to remember your sharp-tongued manner of speech!" Erica was not sitting on the pa.s.senger side next to the driver but on one of the back seats. Obviously, it was to avoid sitting beside Gantz. Both of them were knights and members of the [Copper Black Cross]. In the world of magi in southern European countries like Italy and Spain, "knights" meant Templar Knights. Of course, the real Order of the Knights Templar recorded in history — the "Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon" had already disbanded in the early fourteenth century. However, a small number of people survived. There were those who inherited their magic and martial arts, as well as those who inherited their wealth. These people, who continued to call themselves "knights," were not simply magi but also special ability users skilled in martial arts and priding themselves on their n.o.ble spirit of chivalry. (Originally, Templar Knights were supposed to be members of Christian monastic orders — commonly called monks, but this distinction blurred over time, allowing women like Erica to become knights. The original Knights Templar did not accept women as members.) Whether Erica or Gantz, both were comrades who aspired to the same ideals of chivalry. But their fundamental incompatibility could not be overcome. Born in Reggio Calabria on the southern tip of the Italian peninsula, Gantz was a wild and rough but good man with a kind heart. On the other hand, Erica was an elegant young beauty born and raised in the northern Italian metropolis of Milan, as well as being the little princess of the prestigious House of Blandelli (and even tracing their ancestry to a Devil King Campione). The difference in upbringing was an unbridgeable gulf. Furthermore, as the closest rivals, the two of them were inevitably going to compete for the [Diavolo Rosso] position. This was the t.i.tle of the premier knight representing the [Copper Black Cross]. They were members of the [Copper Black Cross], one of the top magic a.s.sociations in the world. On the other hand, not all members were Italians. Particularly for talented members amongst the core leaders.h.i.+p, many were recruited from various countries. However, it was customary for the commander-in-chief and the [Diavolo Rosso] to be selected from Italians. And amongst the young and talented destined to rise to ranks of the core leaders.h.i.+p, Erica and Gantz were the only two Italian-born knights. This was the fundamental reason why they always maintained their distance from each other. The present generation's [Diavolo Rosso], Paolo Blandelli, was Erica's uncle. His request for Gantz to take care of his niece must have been an attempt to improve relations between the young candidates for core leaders.h.i.+p... It carried such sentiments. — But anyway, the sports car driven by Gantz was now racing across the Tuscan fields. Their destination was a village roughly twenty minutes away from Florence. This was an old monastery probably established during the Middle Ages. Rumored to have been built as a stronghold, its surrounding stone walls were of st.u.r.dy construction. After Gantz stopped the car on the outskirts of the premises, Erica got off together with her baggage. "The means of return has already been prepared so there is no need for you to wait here. I wish you well, Gennaro. Though it wasn't a delightful journey, it is necessary to express thanks for your efforts." "If you want to say thanks, be more upfront with it! Bye!" Gantz left and drove off in a hurry. Erica walked towards the monastery. Her extraordinary talent had already been recognized at the age of twelve, and she had been officially awarded the t.i.tle of "Knight" two weeks earlier. Receiving a blessing at this place was customary for new inductees like her. ...In that case, that other girl was likely here as well. She had heard that there was another who received the t.i.tle around the same time at another magic a.s.sociation, the [Bronze Black Cross]. "Just as I thought, exactly as predicted." A familiar girl was standing there in the garden of the monastery. The beautiful silver hair was kept straight and long. Delicate facial beauty made for a perfect combination with the slender and glamorous figure, producing an appearance akin to a fairy descending upon the mortal realm from the moon. However, the girl's profile revealed a stern expression. Despite her young age, her eyes shone with a resolute l.u.s.ter of knightly pride. Like Erica, she was twelve years old. Similarly, she was a prodigy from a prestigious magic a.s.sociation based in Milan. Standing before Erica was Liliana Kranjcar whom she had already known for the past ten years. "Greetings, Lily. Truly, our fates are bound together tightly as ever." "...Please do not call me using such an intimate nickname. Furthermore, our meeting here is not coincidence. Instead, it should be described as inevitable. You too, came here to receive the 'sword'?" Her stiff manner of speech suited neither her age nor her gender. This was, of course, part of Liliana's personality, which Erica smilingly accepted. The silver-haired childhood friend was flawless in appearance and intellect, but lacked lady-like aspirations. She would make a good knight, a good wife and a good mother, but she would never become a flower of the court like a salon patroness. "Yes, it is exactly as you say, Lily." "Hmph... I already reminded you and here you go acting intimately without any mindfulness." Whether Erica, who never changed her ways, or Liliana, set in her displeased expression, both of them were here for the same purpose. It was customary for new knights in northern Italy to be bestowed their personal sword at this San Gilardino Monastery (of course, it was limited to just the knights of the seven prestigious magic a.s.sociations). Weapons used by knights were all specially crafted. Taking steel smelted through alchemy, master craftsmen forged and polished them into blades further strengthened through alchemy — only such swords and spears were worthy of being treasured. Ever since ancient times, this monastery had been the holy sanctum where young knights were bestowed with weapons and blessed. It was said that the Medici family in Florence at the height of the Renaissance was already managing this industry. "Having been summoned here specially, allow me to express my deepest grat.i.tude. Erica Blandelli pays her respects today as invited." Noticing the approaching monk, Erica greeted gracefully. Since she was visiting as a knight, vulgar behavior would not be tolerated. Erica Blandelli's a.s.sertive yet graceful personality made her the center of attention in the vast majority of situations. "I am the eldest daughter of the Kranjcar family, Liliana. I shall be in your care." In comparison, Liliana's greeting lacked individuality and common pleasantries. Despite being a knight with a witch's disposition, as well as possessing great potential rivaling Erica's, she only applied herself towards being a soldier no matter what. "For a long time, I have heard much about you two prodigies of Milan." The monk in a black habit was a man in his prime who replied calmly to the two girls' greetings. Despite the loose fitting garment, it was apparent that the man's physique was very well-trained. From his approaching footsteps and the manner he carried himself, his extraordinary martial arts was readily apparent. As befitted the leader of the monastery of swords. "It is truly delightful to witness such outstanding talent from the two girls hailing from prestigious families. This monastery will perform the blessings for the award ceremony and bestow weapons worthy of chivalric honor. May you one day follow in the footsteps of our predecessor Saint Raffaello." "Yes, in order to become a praiseworthy knight, I shall strive to improve myself." Liliana bowed her head in response to the monk's polite words. Doing everything by the book was in her character. But acting in all seriousness did not suit Erica, who wanted to say something more interesting. "As newcomers like us, I am extremely touched by this rare occasion... By the way, speaking of following in the footsteps of Saint Raffaello, it would be most delightful if we can begin emulating with the "Blessing of the Sword" ceremony." "Oh?" The monk showed emotion for the first time, smiling wryly in response to Erica's politely delivered words of audacity. At the same time, Liliana was frowning beside her. "Wait a minute, Erica. What is the meaning of such shameless words?" "My, Lily, what adversarial interpretations. Listen well then, our esteemed monk here asked us to 'walk in the footsteps of Saint Raffaello,' right? That means learning from the great lady swordsman, the one who received the 'Position of the Knight of the Holy Grail,' as well as being the highest ranking Templar Knight." The t.i.tle of the premier knight at Erica's [Copper Black Cross] was the [Diavolo Rosso]. [Saint Raffaello] was also a t.i.tle of similar nature. The Florentine a.s.sociation [Capital of Lilies] bestowed the t.i.tle on the their most gallant knight. The present generation Saint Raffaello was a woman. Though she had retired from the front lines long ago, she was still considered Europe's strongest swordsman. "Due to Saint Raffaello's outstanding swordsmans.h.i.+p, a special exception was made and two swords were bestowed instead of one, becoming a legend pa.s.sed down in this monastery." "That's right, it's the Twin Swords of the Lion and the Master Musician." Erica's eloquence forced the monk's wry smile to become even more severe. Finally, Liliana erupted in an expression full of anger and glared at Erica furiously. "So in other words, Dame Erica, let us imitate the story of Saint Raffaello and bestow you with two swords, how about that?" "Please do not joke of such matters! No matter how much you wish to follow in the footsteps of the great knight, going that far would be too disrespectful!" " — No, I was not suggesting that. Besides, it would be too impertinent." Met with their objections, Erica's beautiful face smiled like the devil. This was completely unexpected. This was Erica Blandelli, the one who always accomplished what no one could predict. "A few years ago just before her retirement, Saint Raffaello paid this monastery a visit, bearing her two bestowed swords. Back then, she said 'rather than have these two swords accompany an old lady like me, why not give them a more befitting mission of helping young knights in their adventures?"' With that, she had returned the two famous magic swords. "Having learned of the above story, we, Erica Blandelli and her ally, Liliana Kranjcar, wish to come here as the new masters of the twin swords." With extravagant words, she expressed her wish. The elderly Saint Raffaello had exited the world stage a long time ago. (To be precise, she belonged to the same era as Italy's highest ranked witch, Lucretia Zola.) The anecdote of her retirement was picked up while researching the details of various top European magi. "Seeking to receive two swords at once like Saint Raffaello would, of course, be too impertinent. However, if we were each to receive one of the twin swords left behind by the great predecessor, there is nothing impertinent about inheriting her will. I implore you to satisfy my wish." After all, if a sword was to be bestowed, it was only natural to wish for a better one. Erica had planned this from the start. Taking into account that Liliana happened to be around to satisfy the requirement for the twin swords, it was perfect. However, the silver-haired childhood friend and rival still bore an expression of displeasure. She was struggling against opposing emotions — anger at being used by Erica's scheming on one hand, and intense temptation offered by Saint Raffaello's twin swords on the other. "I see. I now understand Dame Erica's wish." The monk went from a wry smile to a complete laugh. What was going to happen next? The famous "Twin Swords of the Lion and the Master Musician" reappearing in the world once more and bestowed upon new users — such an event could not possibly happen without widespread report. "However, in actual fact there are conditions here that you two may not know. The great one has retired in seclusion in the vicinity of Florence. In response, this monastery proposed to her the following — we entrusted Saint Raffaello with the twin swords again together with the task of personally testing prospective new users to see if they were worthy of receiving the swords and continuing her legend." So that was how things worked. It required meeting the legendary paladino for her personal approval. Erica nodded arrogantly, while Liliana suddenly became greatly emotional. "What... Not only do I get to meet Saint Raffaello, but also the chance to inherit her magic sword — What are you dallying for, Erica, hurry and let us set off now!" "What's come over you, Lily, with this sudden motivation?" The unexpected intensity of her childhood friend's enthusiasm seemed to be slightly ruining Erica's mood. "I have always wished to follow the same path as my admired idol, Saint Raffaello. Though it is with great reluctance that I yield to your conniving schemes, it is of no importance at this time. Let us go meet her immediately! Go!" " Well, I see now." Once roused, Liliana's pa.s.sion knew no bounds. The silver-haired childhood friend essentially acted in complete accordance with Erica's predictions. Though manipulating her was a simple matter, there were times when she exceeded expectations. In those occasions, even Erica found it difficult to keep her in check. It was exactly like the type of girl who is so simpleminded that she is impossible to understand and unexpectedly difficult to handle. "So, esteemed monk, where does Saint Raffaello live?" "For real...? Actually, we don't know either." The monk gave a perfunctory answer to Liliana's impatient question. "Saint Raffaello apparently thinks that this sort of information should be found out by yourself. That is why she disappeared into seclusion without letting us know." "Oh my... this turns out to be unexpectedly challenging." Erica smiled, intent on taking on the unforeseen challenge. There were many villages and roads scattered across the countryside in the surroundings of Florence. Trying to find a woman whose name and face were unknown would prove to be quite a troublesome ch.o.r.e. However, this was welcomed. This kind of trouble, I shall overcome as many of them as they present themselves. "Other than us, have there been any others who sought the twin swords?" Liliana posed another question to the monk. "Quite a few. However, almost all of them gave up because they were unable to locate Saint Raffaello." "Almost all... In other words, there were exceptions?" "Yes, one. No one could have expected such an idiot to succeed. However, that fellow was not seeking to inherit the twin swords. All he wanted was to meet Saint Raffaello." The monk cast aside his strict tone of voice for once, using the word "idiot." "His swordsmans.h.i.+p was truly exceptional. Yes, having witnessed the skill of so many masters, I've never seen anyone like him. However, he was a complete failure in magic. With such low ability, he was never regarded as a successor candidate in the first place." So that was what happened. Erica nodded. No matter what, it was useful to know that someone had once succeeded. In that case, surely she can do the same. Erica's lips naturally shaped themselves into a glamorous smile. It was neither a n.o.blewoman's smile nor a devil's mischievous smile. Rather, it was more like a lioness' smile. An expression fitting for the beautiful female knight about to undertake a difficult and risky challenge. — At this time, an unexpected intruder appeared. A young man had squirmed his way through the gates of the monastery. He was a handsome man with well-proportioned facial features and messy blonde hair, but looked rather haggard and lacking in ambition. Despite his slim physique, it was clear that his body had undergone intense training. Around twenty in age or so, he was from the same generation as Gennaro Gantz. Dressed casually in a half-sleeved t-s.h.i.+rt and cotton shorts, everything was wide open and in a tattered disheveled state. This young man was walking unsteadily with no strength in his steps. "This man?! ...What a coincidence. Returning here again after one year." Muttering softly, the monk approached the young man. Liliana went over to inquire about the situation. "Is he affiliated with this place? I've never seen him amongst the monks." "No, but he is related to the current conversation. He is the hopeless idiot mentioned just now. The method he used was to visit each of the nearby villages, and against every single female he encountered — even young girls and old ladies without exception — he would swing a wooden branch, saying that out of these hundred and seventy people, the one who dodged his strike must be Saint Raffaello. That is why we call him the hopeless idiot." Well, he did withdraw all attacks on contact. The fact that no one was hurt was rather laudable. Explaining this, the monk sighed. Liliana went "Huh?" with a shocked expression. Erica too, agreed that he was an idiot, for it was quite a surprise that such a dangerous man was not arrested by the police... However, it stood as fact that such an unbelievable method succeeded. Because she was — rather, precisely because she was the brilliantly talented Erica, such a ridiculous idea never occurred to her. "Hey, what is going on!? What on earth happened!?" The young man did not respond to the monk's questions. Instead, he fell over headlong, losing consciousness. The monk frantically hurried over and started examining the young man's body. Was injury or disease the cause? The conclusion was neither. The young man's stomach gave off an enormous rumble. Apparently he had fainted from hunger. "Scaring others for no reason just like before... Hmm? What, this wound is?" The monk's gaze focused on the upper body which had been undressed for examination. There was an enormous red-black scar where the right arm connected to the shoulder. It looked like the entire right arm had been amputated and welded back together — A strange and horrifying sight. An ominous feeling, as well as a mysterious and incredible scar. Part 3 "Ah, so full now, I'm so grateful." The young man was wolfing food down with a delighted voice. In the modest kitchen of the monastery, plates on the workbenches were filled with hard bread local to the region of Tuscany. Then there were bottles of unlabeled red wine fermented in the village. Both were provided by the monks. "Then having expressed my thanks, it would be even more perfect if I could have some meat and vegetables here. For me, right now, carbohydrates are not really enough..." "Regrettably, today's food has all been consumed." The monk spoke casually unlike the way he was talking to Erica and Liliana earlier. "We've never gone out to buy other stuff, so give it up... By the way, where have you been and what have you been doing all this time? A year ago, after you found Saint Raffaello, you were clearly training under her for a while, but disappeared after a month." "Haha... That's it, so that's what I did, maybe." "This fellow never talks seriously, just like before! Respond seriously to me!" The monk started to get annoyed at the young man's stupid face. But the young man remained unfazed and calmly wiped his mouth with a napkin. "I am being serious in my own way. Well, let's put that aside for now, it's time to get going." "What?" "My first priority is to recover the state of my body. I will gladly express my thanks for your hospitality, someday... But first, I need to find some place better stocked in food." The young man got up and quickly left the kitchen. "So, I'll be going now, bye!" The young man's footsteps were as quick and light as the spring breeze. Calling out was not going to delay his departure. Erica and Liliana exchanged glances as they observed quietly. "Esteemed monk, we will also take our leave." "We will surely obtain Saint Raffaello's approval and return with the twin swords. When that time comes, please bestow the blessing upon us." The two knight inductees got up from the table and bid their respective farewells. Liliana rigidly adhering to preset forms, while Erica was as glamorous as a n.o.blewoman. The monk smiled wryly as he prayed for their safety. "On the battlefield, only unparalleled speed is truly invincible. Taking action swiftly and never letting fortune slip by — such spirit and initiative is admirable. But that man is too much of a fool, but at the same time, someone extraordinary. Please take care." Those were the monk's final words as he saw the two girls off from the monastery. "Hey, wait up! Where on earth are you going?" Erica yelled at the young man who was hurrying on his way ahead. As he walked briskly along the dirt road in the countryside, his blonde hair was shaking side to side. "Umm... Sorry, who are you people again?" "I am Liliana Kranjcar, knight of the [Bronze Black Cross], this one here is Erica Blandelli of the [Copper Black Cross]." "Hmm, sounds a bit familiar, did I remember wrong?" The young man looked bewildered after Liliana announced their names. "There's some kind of familiar feeling." "We just met at the monastery. Standing next to the monk." "Oh, so that's why you look so familiar!" The young man looked very laid back, but did not seem to be lying. Could he really have forgotten faces he had met mere minutes ago? "I'm sorry, I'm someone who's not very good at remembering names and faces — that's what I believe. It's like those kinds of memories are sometimes there, sometimes not." "Why are you talking about yourself as if commenting on another person..." "Well, you know, it's surprisingly difficult for humans to look objectively at things related to themselves. So it's not a bad idea to practice this kind of thing." "Even so, for memories to become fuzzy after a mere five minutes, it is very problematic!" Liliana angered for the first time at the young man's lack of serious att.i.tude. However, this kind of conversation was not going to lead to any progress. "You said you wanted more to eat, so where are you going exactly?" "Hmm, I still haven't figured that out yet." The young man complained about his hunger in response to Erica's nosy question. "In truth, I am actually quite poor, there's not too many coins left in my pockets." "Well, that was pretty much what I expected." Liliana whispered softly as she stared at his appearance. He had no belongings other than the t-s.h.i.+rt and the cotton shorts he was wearing, not even a bag. Besides, if he were flushed with cash, he would not have reached such a famished state in the first place. "So, I just thought of a perfect plan to get myself a full meal despite being penniless. Listen well, first I will wander around the area to find local residents and yell out names of single women." "...You know a lot of people in this neighborhood?" The young man standing before her seemed rather incompetent? Liliana questioned with eyes full of doubt. "No, I don't know anyone here, but it doesn't matter. Francesca, Gianna, whatever, just call out a random name. I will pretend... that I mistook them for someone I know and use the opportunity to strike up conversation, gradually get familiar and becoming more and more engaged. Once the time is ripe, when mouths are dry and stomachs are empty, I will gradually make my way into the home of this single lady, and sit down for a delicious meal." A perfect plan? How naive of this young man to conclude. Erica coughed deliberately before offering her opinion. "In that case, there is an even faster method. If you wish, come together with us to a nearby restaurant — how about that?" Thus, the three of them sat down at a restaurant in the village. Soon after, their orders arrived and covered the table: pasta with tomato sauce, mushroom and cheese pizza, fried rabbit and beef, cow offal stew, a large bowl of salad, and a complete set of white wine, rose wine, red wine and soda water. All this was essentially swept away by the blonde young man. Normally, someone who had fainted from hunger would eat something easily digestible to avoid straining the stomach. However, this young man wolfed down everything in huge mouthfuls whether it was cheese, meat, deep-fried, or alcohol. What an amazing digestive system. Back in the monastery's kitchen, it was already apparent from the way he casually cleared out the bread that was hard as rock (usually eaten with sauce or gravy). "Yes yes, now this is what I call being alive!" The young man smiled as he exclaimed. A cheerful and delightful smile, but also incredible in the way it felt like a monster's. "By the way, we still have not asked for your name yet, right?" Liliana's question made him pause in his conquest of food. "...Name?" "Yes, having been edified by Saint Raffaello, you must also be a knight, right? Next comes the most important question, that great person — the respected master who instructed you, could you tell us the location of her residence?" "Master? Residence?" "Yes, we must meet Saint Raffaello no matter what!" Liliana questioned with great intensity of emotion. What kind of answer was she going to receive? Erica shrugged sarcastically beside her. "Saint Raffaello... The name seems kind of familiar. Was this person really my master? Then what about my own name eh, name... name, hmm." The young man spoke rather intriguing words, and began to enter deep thought with a frown. "Please do not joke around. You cannot mean to say you have even forgotten your own name?" "Hmm, that does seem to be the case." The young man answered in earnest in response to Liliana's interrogation. "I think I've lost my memory. I can't recall my name or what I've been doing lately. What's this? My memories of what I did in this neighborhood are so vague." In the end, the restaurant conversation concluded with nothing achieved, except for treating the young man to a sumptuous meal. "Thank you all! May G.o.d be with you!" Thus, the young man shamelessly walked away. Treated to a meal by two twelve-year-old girls, that was all he expressed. It was now readily apparent why the monk had been repeating comments like "idiot" and "unbelievable fellow." His personality was way too shameless. "...Erica, you were uncharacteristically reticent just now, what is going on in your mind?" Outside the restaurant, the young man had departed with footsteps like the wind. Watching him leave, Liliana questioned Erica. "Oh? Lily noticed?" "Of course, you could not possibly let a caught fish go so easily without doing anything. Just now you hardly said a word, and when that man finished eating, all you did was watch, right?" Erica smiled in response to her childhood friend's accusation. As expected of my rival, she discerned my true intentions without fail. "Hey, do you still remember how I excused myself for a brief moment during the meal?" "Ah, did you do something bad during that time?" While the young man was focused entirely on eating, Erica had randomly excused herself at one point. "Based on the result, the answer is no. I was hiding far in the distance, casting the magic of [Sleeping Powder] on that glutton." Exactly as the name implied, this was magic for making someone fall asleep. Though very versatile in its wide-ranging applications, this magic had no effect if the target was wary in any way. Even ordinary people would recover swiftly after feeling sleepy. However, there should be no problem against someone delightfully stuffing his face in such a state. "In such an unwary state, he should have simply gone to sleep? I was thinking it would be acceptable as long as we obtain the information we need, even if it meant using hypnosis to rob his will. Given such a strange personality, getting things directly would be a lot faster than trying to have a serious conversation." "Flawlessly decisive and merciless as ever. But the plan failed." "Yes. It's still unclear, but he deflected my spell perfectly." "Counter magic or a protection barrier... which one was it?" "Completely unknown. However, the esteemed monk did say very clearly that he was 'a complete failure,' so he should have zero disposition towards magic. But for Erica Blandelli's spell to have no effect..." "Could the idiotic att.i.tude be just an act?" "In that case, he must be a real sly old fox. He is serious trouble if he can hide things so well." Even at the tender age of twelve, Erica had great confidence in her ability to judge people. However, the encounter with the young man had shaken this confidence. The man judged as an "idiot" by the monk who should be highly experienced, having met so many knights. Erica could not believe the young man had the ability to "retract his talons like an eagle." On the other hand, he was able to foil Erica's plan despite her beliefs. "So Erica, how shall we obtain tangible information from him?" "Now it's your turn to s.h.i.+ne, Lily. Didn't you master the [Witch's Eye] a month ago?" "You actually want me to track down that man using the [Witch's Eye]?" Of course. As Erica nodded, Lily looked up into the sky. "Using clairvoyance for the despicable act of following someone in secret?" "There are other vision-enhancing spells for long range recon... But none are as good as the Witch's Eye. Now is the perfect opportunity to make good use of it." Only those with a witch's disposition were able to use witchcraft. The Witch's Eye allowed one's sense of sight to travel afar and move around freely. Other lineages of magic also had similar spells but none of them could offer clairvoyance that moved as rapidly as the Witch's Eye. This spell was surprisingly useful for tailing someone. Erica borrowed a large basin from the restaurant and filled it with water. This restaurant and bar also had open air tables out front. That was where the two of them sat after setting down the borrowed basin. After sitting properly at the table, Liliana closed her eyes and released the Witch's Eye. Soon after, the young man's image appeared on the surface of the water in the basin. The man seemed to be casually chatting away with an older man with great enthusiasm. They seemed to have just met but they had their arms on each other's shoulder, and were so familiar that it seemed like they were longtime friends. The young man kept repeating certain words as if pleading for something. The man immediately laughed in response and motioned for him to follow. Then the two of them got in a car and left. "Lily, check out where they are going." A witch's clairvoyant [Witch's Eye] was even able to keep up with the speed of a car. Liliana had already antic.i.p.ated such an order. "Understood. But how are we going to get there?" "Relax. I, Erica Blandelli, can't possibly fail to achieve the same task as that man, right?" Erica declared with immense pride. Part 4 San Gimignano's streets dated all the way back to the Middle Ages and were cla.s.sified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A total of fourteen towers had been built all over the town during the Middle Ages. Situated close to Florence, it was less than an hour away by car. The olden City of Flowers, Florence, and the Eternal City, Rome, were both important urban centers that brought exceptional prosperity to their surroundings. Nowadays, historical buildings were fully put to use as tourist attractions. And so, the self-proclaimed amnesiac young man hitchhiked his way to this town. "So Lily, let's find the guy immediately, you haven't lost his trail, right?" "Ah, no problem... That man suddenly got a lift. He should not be going sightseeing, so what is he doing exactly?" At the entrance to the town was the Porta San Giovanni. Built in the thirteenth century, these gates had great historical significance. Standing before this structure, the two knights were whispering to each other. Liliana had been keeping her eyes tightly shut all this time starting from the restaurant at the last village. When using the Witch's Eye, her own eyes must be kept closed. Erica skillfully guided and protected her childhood friend in this state as they went on their way. Following the young man's lead, she chanced upon an idle-looking older man and pleaded for a ride. (This kind of idle older men seemed to be unexpectedly common in the Italian countryside. As if on duty, these men would chat and flirt with young ladies on first sight regardless of whether they were local Italians or foreign tourists. Having a day job would be a hindrance to such activities.) Chatting amiably with the older man in the car helped add liveliness to the brief journey. Erica explained Liliana's closed-eye and silent condition with an excuse of "not feeling well." With that, Erica and Liliana easily followed in the young man's footsteps. "—What!? What on earth is that man trying to do!?" Liliana suddenly yelled out, opening her eyes that she had been keeping shut. "What is it, Lily? Something unusual happened?" "Ah, that man casually climbed to the top of a tower and was looking around... And suddenly, the Witch's Eye was nullified." "Counter magic? Or is it that [Fortune's Blessing] used by fairy doctors?" "Intuition tells me that it is neither. Very likely it is not regular magic... More like something used by fairies, demonic deities or the like. Something that felt like magical and spirit power. In the end, all I saw was the man lightly waving his right hand — " Erica stared with her eyes wide open as a result of Liliana's explanation. The young man known as the idiot, did have a hidden trump card after all. "Though this matter is rather concerning, picking up his trail again is our first priority. Lily, let's hurry to where he is! You know the place, right?" "Ah, it is that plaza over there. Follow me!" Using the Witch's Eye would likely have the same result again, so it was not a solution. Liliana started running first, with Erica following behind. San Gimignano's streets were built on a hill. The land got steeper the closer to town centre, and the sloped path extended uphill. Even so, the two of them ran effortlessly and pa.s.sed pedestrians without getting out of breath. The place they reached was — a plaza with a great church. It was natural to find solemn holy sanctums in Italian towns of sufficient scale. Important facilities and tourist attractions targeted towards foreigners were bound to be found at the town center. Located at San Gimignano's Piazza del Duomo was the Palazzo Communale, the seat of civic authority and museum whose style of architecture dates back to medieval times. Furthermore, seven of the town's iconic towers were located here. It was a must-see for tourists to ascend one of these towers to admire the view of the San Gimignano's immediate surroundings. The young man happened to be exiting a tower. Erica and Liliana nodded at each other and approached him. "You really did something out of line! Did you recover your memory!?" "...Ah. You're the girls just now called... whatever." The young man turned to face Erica with an indifferent expression as she called to him. It was shocking how badly he failed at remembering anyone's name after all this time. Erica and Liliana were beautiful girls who should have left deep impressions. People who remembered their names and faces would vastly outnumber those who forgot them completely — "Please allow me to ask a question, Mr. Amnesiac. Why do you seem to be trying to avoid bringing us to meet Saint Raffaello? Are you facing some sort of difficulty? ...Or could it be, that you don't want us to obtain the twin swords?" A rather instigating query. Earlier at the restaurant, Erica and Liliana had not explained their purpose. However, at that time the two young knights had expressed their wish to meet Saint Raffaello. If the young man was really her disciple then he should have easily figured out their reason for wanting to meet her. So he must be playing dumb and deliberately withholding clues — "Based on what your suspicious behavior indicates, is that not the most plausible conclusion? Are you really wandering around because you are trying to find Saint Raffaello's residence?" However, if he really did not know magic then they needed to change their approach. If he is like that then things could only be decided by a direct frontal confrontation. Though Erica was a quick-witted girl well-versed in strategy, ultimately, she had the heart of a soldier who loved a good frontal charge. However, this frontal confrontation did not lead to any dramatic result. "No no, there seems to be a misunderstanding. I really can't remember who that Saint whatever person is... Ah, wait a minute, somehow hearing that name makes me think of a horse's tail." The young man spoke as he racked his brains. A horse's tail? Erica frowned in response to this cavalier att.i.tude that seemed to be making fun of her. Liliana interrupted and said: "So why did you come to this town? You lost your memory, right?" "Hmm, for some reason, I have a strong feeling that this town with the many towers is the place where I will meet the one I want to meet. That's why I asked that acquaintance if he knew a place like that and begged him to take me here..." The young man looked around at the medieval streets with a nostalgic expression. "And then, it really did feel familiar, so I tried going somewhere higher, and then something caught my attention." Flawlessly acting the fool all this time, the man finally made a noteworthy comment. Faced with this situation, Erica readied her stance. Was this a trap? Was he trying to lead her and Liliana into a mistaken direction? "Hey you two, would you mind coming along with me? If I am really related to the person you seek, then it should be easier to find clues about that person, right?" Unexpectedly, the young man was asking for more favors. "What an incomprehensible request...?" Faced with Liliana's surprise, the young man responded with a very serious expression. "Because just now when I bought the ticket to the tower I became completely penniless. And that was because I was a little short and begged the older lady for a discount of 1 Euro. That is why I need friends who can help me with further travels!" Come to think of it, San Gimignano was a tourist center. Though there were many towers and museums, they more or less all charged entrance fees. (By the way, in various streets, even public facilities had times when entrance fees were required.) Faced with this spontaneous request, Erica shook her head in vexation, caught in a quandary. Drawing her lips close to Liliana's ear, they began to discuss in whispers. (...Hey Lily, what do think of this man? Is he the "sly old fox skillfully playing dumb" we thought earlier, or the apparent "complete fool in appearance and essence" we see now?) (What a strange experience. Actually, I am beginning to suspect the latter too.) Rare it may be, but Liliana also agreed with Erica's a.s.sessment. (Well, there still are many suspicious points, but the opportunity should not be given up.) (Right, as the saying goes — nothing ventured, nothing gained.) In the worst case scenario, if this guy really was an unforgivable idiot, then he would just muddle through no matter what. Thus the girls reached a consensus, aiming for venturous gains. "Understood. So, Mr. Amnesiac, let us travel together then. Take us to the place which caught your attention." "Of course! Let's go over there?" "Right, by the way, there is something I need to confirm. Just now you discovered my Witch's Eye and dispelled it so splendidly. How did you do it?" Liliana slowly phrased her question to the young man who was nodding away in response to Erica. That's right, how could the young man who was supposed to be a complete failure in magic use an ultimate skill like that? This mystery must be cleared up no matter what. "Ah, I just felt a kind of uneasiness like being watched. So it was you? I didn't use a spell though. All I did was throw this at it." The young man took out a fork from his pocket. A completely unremarkable piece of cutlery. Colored silver, it was most likely stainless steel. "Actually, what I threw was the knife I secretly took along with this fork. Not for any particular reason, but only because I thought it'd be fun to play with back at the restaurant." Now that it was mentioned, the fork did look familiar. However, knives and forks casually taken from dinner tables should not have antimagic effects. Erica questioned acutely. "So you mean you infused magic into the knife to neutralize other spells?" "No no, I was just wondering if that spell could be easily sliced through. I suck too much at magic and didn't do anything complicated. Hmm, really, all I did was to try cutting it." Was this another instance of perfect acting from the young man? Or was his explanation not clear enough? Erica sighed. It was a first time for her to be completely unsure of a man's character. Despite having absolute confidence in her grasp of social and interpersonal relations, Erica still had yet to find the proper reins to keep this man under control. Amazed and impressed by the young man, Erica and Liliana signaled each other through their eyes. The amnesiac young man walked along the open streets. Going in the direction of some eateries and shops, he suddenly stopped and turned his gaze to one of the shops selling local souvenirs. "This is the shop that 'caught your attention'?" "Nope, but I saw something else... I'll just be a moment!" The young man dove straight into the shop immediately after answering Liliana's question. Helplessly, the two girls followed after him. This was a shop selling typical souvenirs such as folk works of art and artistic postcards. Neither Erica nor Liliana had any particular interest in enjoying this kind of well-stocked souvenir shop. As the two browsed the shop with disinterest, they found the young man going "ahah, just as expected!" with his eyes s.h.i.+ning brightly. He was in a corner of the shop where many weapons were hung on the wall. Long swords, short swords, s.h.i.+elds, battle axes, bows and arrows, etc — There were all sorts of cla.s.sic weapons from the medieval battlefield. However, all were merely replicas created as souvenirs. They even offered j.a.panese swords, further proof of selling out to commercialism. "This one this one, I really like this!" The young man was holding a long sword. Even though it was obviously a replica, the craftsmans.h.i.+p was very good. When forging a real sword, molten steel was first poured into a mold. After cooling down, the blade portion was polished and sharpened. This replica simply lacked the sharpening stage. Hence, it was identical to the real thing in both weight and shape. Not bad at all. "...Isn't this just a fake? I don't think it will be useful to you." Erica commented coldly as Liliana nodded in agreement beside her. However, the amnesiac young man shook his head. "That's not right. Come to think of it, for swords there's no such thing as real or fake, only skilled or unskilled — only the user's skill matters. If wielded by a true master, even a fake sword can cut like a peerless treasure. If used by a clumsy rookie, even the strongest magic sword would be no different from a fis.h.i.+ng rod." He proceeded to take out the restaurant fork from just now. "Taken to the extreme, a swordsman's mission is to be able to use any ordinary weapon as if it was King Arthur's Excalibur. Whether the weapon in hand is the strongest magic sword or an oaken branch, a saber or a fork, all should be the same. You fail if you can't use it well enough." "That's just idealism. If you're going to use a weapon on the battlefield, of course you should use the best possible." In terms of the pursuit of skill, the young man's perspective did carry some truth. Erica played devil's advocate even though she agreed in principle. There existed exceptional masters who could obtain splendid victory against lance-wielding knights with nothing but a short blade, or otherworldly martial artists who could dominate sword users with their bare fists — But those who possessed such divine skills were extremely rare. Erica's Uncle Paolo Blandelli and Saint Raffaello were probably the few exceptions. However, this did not mean they could ignore the quality of their weapons. After all, a personal weapon was a helper, an important partner needed to resist and destroy enemies. "Well, that's good enough for little kids like you. Trying to do difficult things before you are mature enough would not work anyway. However, once you grow up into adults with clear judgment like me, you will see the failure in your ways." The young man spoke rather unhappily for once. However, the way he stared at the sword on the wall was like a child in poverty looking wistfully at a little trumpet in a shop window. Wanting badly but unable to buy. "...So, what exactly do you wish to do about this sword, Mr. Adult?" Greatly surprised, Liliana spoke in a rare moment of sarcasm. The young man looked back at the girls with a smile from the heart. "No, this is exactly the time when an adult's power is needed. — Mr. Shopkeeper, may I ask, does this shop allow temporary unpaid bills? Eh, guarantors? Credit cards? Loans? No no, I'm not talking about those warmthless consumer terms of modern society. I want something that can bring out miraculous connections between people, warming people's hearts or something like that..." No wallet, personal identification, prepaid funds or guarantors. Faced with such a shameless young man, the young shopkeeper of the souvenir store refused in shock. However, the young man continued to plead repeatedly like a spoiled child. In the end, Erica and Liliana settled the matter of the sword by paying for him. "Thank you so much for buying the sword!" The young man grinned from ear to ear as he walked ahead, embracing the replica sword from the souvenir shop that was wrapped in a rag. Erica and Liliana secretly whispered to each other as they followed behind him. "Well, for something of that price..." "That idiot — no, that man, how far are we going to believe in him..." Erica could fully understand Liliana's sentiments as she was about to utter the words "shameless idiot." Regardless, the trio continued on their way. Leaving the walled city, the wide open Tuscan fields came into view. Gentle rolling hills. Well-maintained vineyards and olive tree plantations. Modest little huts used by farmers. Spa.r.s.ely growing trees. Little streams. This was an ancient road that led straight to Rome — Amongst such scenery were the remains of medieval castles and forts. The young man made his way towards them. Of course, Erica and Liliana were still following. "...Hmm, this place really seems familiar after all. Though I have some kind of feeling I suffered a fair bit of hards.h.i.+p here before, but what was it exactly?" The self-p.r.o.nounced amnesiac muttered and grumbled to himself. Erica cared little for his reactions, but suddenly Liliana began to shake and speak quietly with eyes out of focus. "Ancient knightly skills... Ancient incantations, treasures... Are hidden in this holy sanctum..." It was spirit vision. Liliana had obtained an oracle. Those who possessed a witch's disposition would mutter divine oracles on occasion. Erica nodded and immediately walked towards her childhood friend who was both a knight and a witch. "What did you see through spirit vision, Lily? Does it help our cause?" "Ah, yes, Erica, this place is where ancient knights frequented. Near their fort — in the depths of the darkness a temple was built. That was the image I saw through spirit vision." "Interesting words. A temple built in the depths of darkness, intuition would suggest it is underground?" Erica tried kicking the ground with the tip of her foot. It would be a good idea to check out the surroundings. Together with Liliana, the two of them began to use investigative magic. "Sure enough, a hint of remaining magical power can be sensed from straight down in the earth..." "Yes. It feels a bit suspicious, but we cannot let go of that tiny probability..." "This place is definitely being concealed by a barrier. This underground temple is most likely a secret holy sanctum." "The place once visited by Mr. Amnesiac who has connections with Saint Raffaello — anyway, the probability of finding Saint Raffaello here should be quite high." "Conversely, the probability of Saint Raffaello being the guardian of this place is also..." Though it was mere speculation, the two of them still exchanged their ideas. The only thing left to do was to confirm the actual situation. The two girls nodded to each other. This was the tiger's den they must venture into for worthy gains. Now, where should they begin their plan of attack? They then heard the young man's frivolous voice. "I should have been doing something here before I lost my memories...? It was definitely the person related to a horse's tail. I want to make contact but I haven't a clue about the telephone number or address... Should I consider something more cla.s.sic like signal fires or war pigeon services?" Strange words were being uttered. Naturally, Erica and Liliana ignored them. Their experience thus far had convinced them that a meaningful discussion between themselves would be more constructive than having an idiotic conversation with the amnesiac young man. However, this became the precise reason why they missed the critical moment. As the two engaged in discussion, a horrifying amount of magical power was exploding. Using an a.n.a.logy, it would be like a volcano eruption. Neither Erica nor Liliana had ever experienced magical power erupting in an instant like this. To make a forced comparison, it would be like having dozens of top ranking magi taking part in a magical ritual of explosive power. On the other hand, for a single person to use the same kind of spell and gather together such a ma.s.sive amount of magical power, it would take an inordinate amount of time and effort to prepare. It was not something that could be done in an instant like this. — What on earth happened? Erica and Liliana turned back to look at the same time. They saw the young man making a pose as if swinging his sword towards the heavens. Apparently he had started swinging that replica. Furthermore, a medieval fort had been split through the middle and the halves had collapsed outwards. It was a medieval structure built out of stone on a hill. The fort had one level for soldiers to garrison and an upper level for lookout posts. It was a large and impressive historical building. Just like that, it was sliced into two. Severed as if a giant sword had been swung down from the heavens — Collapsing left and right, the stone building materials made a great noise as they hit the ground. "W-What happened?" Erica was a girl who always maintained lady-like composure at all times. However, in that moment she was muttering in shock, completely forgetting her usual mannerisms. "Could it really be that man's doing...?" Liliana was also stupefied. This expression was unbecoming for a talented mage and witch who should be better versed in mysterious matters than the average mage. "Sorry, did I scare you two? Umm, actually I was wondering if this would work like a signal fire to call out people related to this fort." This frivolous-sounding voice belonged to the amnesiac young man, of course. Who on earth was this man — !? Just as the two girls cast a gaze of fear at him for the first time... A gray horse arrived, galloping across the rolling Tuscan hills. It was a strong, vigorous and fierce-looking horse with a raven-haired beauty sitting upon its saddle. She appeared to be of Latin descent, bearing a resolute expression. Her black hair was tied back in a ponytail. Or as the words implied, like a horse's tail. "...I was wondering if it was an invasion started by some a.s.sociation, and who does it turn out to be? Salvatore Doni. Though I suppose our brief contact makes you my unworthy disciple, what on earth is going on here? Depending on circ.u.mstances, I may have to cut off your head as compensation." The black-haired rider declared heroically from atop her horse. If this was indeed Saint Raffaello, then she must be the exalted paladino — the top swordsman in Europe holding the position of the "Knight of the Holy Grail"! Part 5 Though supposed to be advanced in age, Saint Raffaello looked completely like someone in her twenties. Magi whose magical power had reached the purest heights would recover significant youth and vigor. It was said that the effect was particularly potent for women. Saint Raffaello's heroic and awe-inspiring beauty must have been the blessed result of that effect. "What's up, Doni? Did you forget my face because of injuries from the beating you took? If that's the case, I won't be surprised at all because it's you." "...Ah, it's exactly as you say." The young man named Salvatore Doni replied, undaunted by his master's questioning. This was a name that Erica had never heard before, even though she had gathered personal profiles on virtually all the top ranking knights across Europe in case it might come in handy. Who on earth could this young man be — ? "To be frank, I do seem to have lost my memory." "Don't say it like you caught a flu, moron!" "Well well, don't be angry. This morning when I woke up I found myself sleeping on some unknown country roadside... And then, I was thinking I must do something to recall past events." Now that it was mentioned, this was the first time for Erica to hear of the past experiences of the young man named Doni. "Strolling over to the nearby monastery, I heard your name being mentioned. Anyway, making my way through this and that, I finally got here... Seeing you, I finally understand." The man named Doni smiled. It was a friendly smiling face as radiant as suns.h.i.+ne. However, a dark shadow seemed to flash across his pupils for an instant. He was no ordinary person. His body clearly held evidence that he was no common mortal. "What I needed to do was see you. And if I could fight you then that sense of vagueness would surely go away. That's what I have been feeling, and it's unbearable." The young man readied the replica sword in at middle level. It was an ordinary looking stance that felt uninteresting and lacking in splendor. However, Erica somehow felt a chill when she saw that posture. If she had to face sword strikes delivered by that ordinary stance, very likely any spell would be sliced apart? A meaningless notion. Erica glanced at Liliana beside her. She too, was staring at the man named Doni with her face completely pale. Perhaps her childhood friend and rival was facing the same fear? This was a man who was more than a match for the prodigies of Milan, the red and blue young geniuses! "Indeed, doing this is perfectly within your character. Unilaterally doing as you pleased while muttering to yourself..." Saint Raffaello grumbled and dismounted. "Maybe this counts as an acceptable reason? I keep feeling that my sword training has