Chapter 3 - Arrival of a Devil King

Part 1

The night of the strange hallucinations had pa.s.sed, and the next morning

had arrived.

Going to school at the usual time, Mariya Yuri packed with her a cellphone

with an aluminum sh.e.l.l.

It was given to her last night from Amakasu for the purpose of emergency

contact. When the phone began to vibrate in silent mode, it happened to

be during the noon break.

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

Since the phone handed over was brand new, Yuri had not entered any

information into it. Though she knew it was Amakasu's phone number, she

was not familiar with how to operate it.

"Eh? What should I do?"

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

Perhaps it was some kind of urgent incident. Yuri happened to be outside

the school building and was walking in the central courtyard. She picked

up the call in a place where she could not be seen.

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

"Hey, hey... I am Mariya!"

Finally ending her struggle with the phone, Yuri picked up with a tone of

panic.

'This is Amakasu. How are you feeling over there? Did you make a

lunchbox for him as suggested yesterday?'

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

'It's not a joke. Today's request for Yuri-san is to use all sorts of methods to

get close to him. Let's a have a real strategy meeting later.'

"Ah? Amakasu-san!?"

The call ended.

What should one do to get closer to Kusanagi G.o.dou? Yuri felt it was a

tough decision. Last night, she felt quite depressed due to accepting this

difficult mission.

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

Yuri turned to see the one greeting her, and found Kusanagi s.h.i.+zuka

standing there.

The younger sister of the current subject of interest, in addition to being the

middle school third year student who was Yuri's junior in the tea ceremony

club. This chance encounter gave Yuri quite a surprise.

"What, what happened? Everyone had been saying that senpai didn't have

a cellphone until now? Didn't you say you had no interest?"

s.h.i.+zuka was very surprised.

During club activities, whenever anyone asked about her cellphone

number or email address, Yuri's negative reply was always "because I

don't think I have any special need..."

"A necessary reason came up recently. It's also a lot more convenient for

staying in contact with each other..."

Feeling that an excuse of convenience was rather sad, Yuri felt depressed

as she answered.

In such a place she did not have an obvious reason for using such a full

featured phone. In fact she was totally technologically illiterate and did not

understand networks very well. Yuri regretted her answer as she spoke.

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

"Sorry, please don't ask any further because it is something I cannot

answer in detail. My apologies."

Though she was talking to someone younger than her, Yuri was bowing

her head down with full seriousness throughout.

Her ident.i.ty as the Hime-Miko as well as the existence of the History

Compilation Committee were absolute secrets. It would be best if she

could muddle through this without issue.

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

"No, not at all. However, cellphones are quite hard to use, right? But

everyone seems to use them so easily, I really cannot understand—"

In response to her honest and frank answer, s.h.i.+zuka suddenly felt

apologetic and bowed her head.

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

"Eh? This matter and Kusanagi-san—your brother— are totally

unrelated—But then again, what is the commotion about?"

Brother—Unable to understand why s.h.i.+zuka was apologizing on G.o.dou's

behalf, Yuri blinked.

"However, could there be any other reason? Wouldn't the most likely

reason for a sudden need for a cellphone be for staying in touch with a

boyfriend at all times... As for Mariya-senpai, the most probable candidate

is... my stupid Onii-chan, isn't that right?"

Yuri thought that s.h.i.+zuka was a rather clever child.

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

rapidly.

Yuri frantically tried to deny.

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

work!"

"But Mariya-senpai's part-time job is being a miko. I've never heard of

shrine miko having a need to be on call for emergencies. Even if you deny

it, I know you are lying, but I understand! It's all my stupid Onii-chan's

fault!"

s.h.i.+zuka furiously scolded her brother with intensity.

Sigh, as the Hime-Miko, all sorts of emergencies have come up ever since

the supernatural Campione appeared by her side... Yuri felt very gloomy

that she could not reveal such things honestly.

"Starting from the last spring break, it was already very suspicious.

Frequently staying out overnight! And then suddenly becoming so close

with Erica-san and Yuri-senpai all of a sudden!"

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

"Mariya-senpai just said previously that it has nothing to do with

Onii-chan—but isn't it related to Onii-chan now?"

Truly, s.h.i.+zuka was very smart and picked up what was carelessly

revealed.

Her cute face might suggest otherwise, but she was very compet.i.tive in

spirit. Furthermore, she was also much better with words, and Yuri felt an

absolute disadvantage in trying to argue with this opponent.

"I get it, Onii-chan also seems to be carrying a cellphone lately, and was

talking to someone last night. Since he had to hide in his room to take the

call secretly, I'm guessing the other person was Erica-san."

"Eh? Is that so?"

Yuri innocently believed s.h.i.+zuka's speculation.

G.o.dou's actual caller was the Italian young man, completely unrelated to

love and l.u.s.t, but there was no way for these two to know that.

"Apparently, school is not enough, and they still have to talk so intimately

by phone at home—if Mariya-senpai didn't have a cellphone, it would be

very difficult to compete..."

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

This news gave Yuri quite a serious shock.

She felt very concerned at the thought that Erica and G.o.dou were doing

things together outside of school.

However, what really needed vigilance were the impure relations between

opposite genders outside of school, right?

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

(No, it is not too late to start now. To correct my own deficiencies... to

achieve a closer relations.h.i.+p with Kusanagi-san than what E-Erica-san

has!)

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

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

give it her best!

"s.h.i.+zuka-san, I have a request."

"Yes, yes."

Yuri suddenly lifted her head, and said seriously.

Feeling her spirit, the angry s.h.i.+zuka began to calm down.

"Could you teach me how to use my cellphone? Though I already know

how to pick up and dial calls, but I know nothing other than that."

"Oh, oh that, I don't mind."

As if crushed in spirit, s.h.i.+zuka answered in a state of panic.

Unaware of her dominating power whenever she faced others with her

stern and serious demeanor, Yuri felt it was a little strange but nodded.

"Actually your brother—Kusanagi-san—once told me his telephone

number, but I am not sure how to use the contact list in the phone."

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

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

boy?"

"Eh!?"

To s.h.i.+zuka's shock, Yuri got more excited as she spoke.

"I have a need to establish a much closer relations.h.i.+p with your brother.

This is not just for me, but for others around me as well, and for your

brother's future. However, why this is necessary, I don't understand it at

all."

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

"Though I can't explain it very well, but time cannot be wasted any more. I

really need someone who can be my teacher... I think if it's the smart

s.h.i.+zuka-san, you can definitely be a good role model for me. Please, lend

me your strength."

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

her head.

"Oooh? You are really asking for my help? But definitely, Mariya-senpai is

much better than Erica... Ah ah, to think that you would be attracted to

someone like my Onii-chan..."

Yuri kept her head bowed sincerely as s.h.i.+zuka chattered on.

Soon after, s.h.i.+zuka sighed deeply.

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

"Yes, it's true."

Yuri had misunderstood s.h.i.+zuka's 'is it really love' question as 'do you

really have to improve relations,' but neither of them noticed.

"An, an immediate answer... Well, if it's come to this, I guess a suggestion

or two can be given... Just a little bit..."

s.h.i.+zuka spoke extremely softly.

Hearing such a response, Yuri's eyes were like flas.h.i.+ng lights, and she

smiled naturally.

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

darkness!"

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

"Yes? What is it? s.h.i.+zuka-san?"

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

address?"

Yuri showed a mystified expression at s.h.i.+zuka's mentioning of a term she

did not recognize.

"Email... address? What is that?"

"You really don't know what it is eh. Well then, I have a good idea, just go

ask him directly in the cla.s.sroom—let that idiot Onii-chan suffer the

consequence."

s.h.i.+zuka laughed "hoho" malevolently and suggested.

Unable to understand the intentions, Yuri felt troubled. However, it was not

easy to find someone to give advice, so Yuri decided to go along with it.

Part 2

In the cla.s.sroom of the First Year Fifth Cla.s.s, Erica and G.o.dou were

preparing to have lunch.

It was the lunch prepared by Erica—no, Arianna who played the role of the

maid. Today, G.o.dou brought his own lunchbox.

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

others.

Arianna generously accommodated G.o.dou's suggestion. By the way, Erica

who had no intention of cooking anyway, kept a neutral stance and was

fine either way.

At this time, unexpected visitors arrived.

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

Hearing his sister's usual voice from home, G.o.dou turned his head around.

It was s.h.i.+zuka in her middle school uniform, and behind her was Mariya

Yuri.

"Ara. Isn't it s.h.i.+zuka and Yuri? How rare for you both to be here..."

Erica spoke with all smiles.

Yuri simply nodded in response, while s.h.i.+zuka greeted her with something

like "h.e.l.lo, Erica-san."

"s.h.i.+zuka, is it really ok for you to come to a high school cla.s.sroom?"

"I'm not certain, but there's no school rule forbidding it right? By the way,

Mariya-senpai has a cellphone now."

A middle school girl who seemed close to G.o.dou, plus the appearance of

Yuri. The boys of the Fifth Cla.s.s were busy listening in with an expression

of "what!"

—Mariya, has a cellphone now?

—Idiot. Don't you know the last virtual girl's IT revolution blog?

—d.a.m.n it, the creature known as man truly has the ability to change

women?

Subtly sensing their fury, G.o.dou felt an ominous premonition.

By the way, s.h.i.+zuka was smiling proudly. Yuri was surveying the changes

in the surroundings. Erica was quietly watching everything with interest

while saying "eh."

"Onii-chan, give your cellphone number and email address to

Mariya-senpai. She wants to enter it right now."

"Ah? Didn't I tell her my number before?"

Yuri shyly lowered her head and answered G.o.dou.

"My apologies, Kusanagi-san... I am actually bad with technology. Since I

don't know how to operate it I decided to come here to exchange our

information after discussing it with s.h.i.+zuka-san."

"Well, it's actually quite simple, not difficult at all."

So, she is surprisingly unfamiliar with these things. G.o.dou took out his

cellphone.

Yuri also frantically extracts the silver phone.

"So, let's do it quickly with the infra-red then."

"Sure. So, does making calls have anything to do with infra-red?"

Did she even know how to send information using the infra-red? To

G.o.dou's suggestion, Yuri's hesitant face was full of questions.

...First, it's probably best to teach her the basic way to use the phone.

After reconsidering, G.o.dou told his phone number and email address to

Yuri and showed her how to send mail. He explained to her all she need to

do was register the incoming mail and showed her how.

The two of them operated Yuri's cellphone together.

Without paying attention, the distance between them gradually shrank.

—Their exhaled breaths were almost reaching each other's faces. Though

it was a delicate and beautiful face, it was also a nervous one as Yuri

operated her phone clumsily.

Finally aware that she was a beautiful girl, G.o.dou began to feel shy.

In the instant G.o.dou turned his face away, his gaze met with s.h.i.+zuka's

smiling eyes full of challenging intent.

This fellow, what was she planning this time? By the time he discovered it,

the boys' riot was about to begin.

"Ah ohohoh, Mariya-san, could you tell me what is your phone number!"

Nanami suddenly yells from his seat on the left near the front.

The boys in the cla.s.s were making comments like 'secretly confessing with

a serious expression that I actually find miko moe', or 'Mariya who seems

to be working as a miko, please bury Kusanagi in darkness for the safety of

all bathing miko.' It was impossible to pretend not to have heard such

words of jest.

"Same here! I also want Mariya-san's phone number!"

"We will never let you keep such important information all to yourself."

"This is for the love of all the boys in the cla.s.s! The opportunity is here."

"Go die, Kusanagi! We are the poor proletariat, and we swear we will

oppose to the utter end the capitalist cla.s.s who acquired their wealth

through illicit means."

As Nanami's roars echoed across the cla.s.sroom, the room was filled with

the yelling of the boys.

Yuri felt surprised by the forcefulness of their desperation, and surveyed

the surroundings with a look that approached extreme fear.

"Ah ah, this isn't looking good, Onii-chan. It's tough to be a popular boy."

The sister who came over with Yuri, the focus of attention, was speaking in

a rather unfriendly manner.

"s.h.i.+... s.h.i.+zuka, what are you trying to say..."

"Hmph. What a great important character to be so welcomed by the girls,

but you need your medicine once in a while."

Dear sister, please don't create situations for me with these kinds of

motives.

G.o.dou prayed towards the sky in response to s.h.i.+zuka's merciless words.

"—Sorry everyone."

It was Yuri who spoke.

She seemed to have recovered from her shock, and spoke with a

determined voice.

"I have no intention of exchanging phone numbers with anyone other than

Kusanagi-san. None whatsoever. So please calm down and don't make a

scene. Thank you."

Though her words were serious and polite, but there was a certain

irresistible force to them.

The boys quieted down in an instant and the cla.s.sroom became peaceful

again. However, the entire cla.s.s of boys angrily watched G.o.dou with eyes

of murderous intent.

—You again with all these fortunate happenings.

—This is truly another trial, go to the roof.

—Shot in the back on a battlefield, sigh.

Caught in a silent eddy current, G.o.dou began to have cold sweat from the

feeling of danger. s.h.i.+zuka adds fuel to the fire by making comments like

"Wow, such a bold declaration in front of so many people, it really must be

true..."

In addition, Erica who was observing everything from the side was

laughing to herself.

"Hey Yuri, though it's true that my G.o.dou is quite attractive, but the other

boys are really pitiful. They have already been watching G.o.dou and my

love life every single day, and so acc.u.mulated a lot of stress."

The gazes of the cla.s.s immediately gathered upon the blonde Italian girl.

Maintaining an elegant motion, Erica began to project her voice as if she

was the female lead in a performance.

"Since there's no rain today, let's have lunch on the roof then. Is that fine,

G.o.dou? We welcome Yuri and s.h.i.+zuka to join us. Isn't it true for meals, the

more the merrier, right?"

Erica hurried G.o.dou and addressed the two visitors, then took lead by

leaving the cla.s.sroom.

Completely confident that her orders will be followed, she exited the

cla.s.sroom without turning back.

Truly, Erica's experience in this area was no joking matter. Whether as the

speaker or as the listener, she had ample insight. G.o.dou took his lunch

bag out of his school bag.

Gesturing for his sister and Yuri to follow him, G.o.dou ran after Erica.

"Feels like things have become more interesting, G.o.dou?"

Erica's mood was great as she spoke after G.o.dou caught up to her.

"...You're just having fun without concern for others. It's probably just you

who thinks it's funny. Meanwhile I am being burdened by these strange

troubles... s.h.i.+zuka has also started to notice something is abnormal."

"Don't worry, no matter what that child thinks, she will soon understand the

difference in power."

"Difference in power? What is that?"

Erica made a glamorous smile at G.o.dou's question.

"No matter what troubles the sister-in-law or the secondary wife cause, the

one with the most power is still me—G.o.dou's first wife Erica Blandelli.

Anyway, don't concern yourself with such trivial matters, for them to seek

support is fine with me!"

"Don't say something like sister-in-law, where did you learn that kind of

j.a.panese anyway!"

This day, what G.o.dou brought was an ordinary lunch with rice b.a.l.l.s and all

sorts of pickles.

The salmon and the fish roe in the rice b.a.l.l.s should be fine.

...Originally, Erica's situation was that she would comment with a subtle

expression that eating dried plums and the like was a challenge to

everyone except the j.a.panese. However, starting from some point, she

started describing the extremely sour Kishu plum as "a fruit with an

amazing taste," and even ate it along with the seed by shattering it with her

teeth.

A girl with a well-developed body, who turned out to be someone who

would eat anything.

This is probably the success of the elite education of the knights to better

acc.u.mulate stamina in the body by avoiding picky eating.

She was now wolfing down the rice b.a.l.l.s G.o.dou made.

"Last time when I was having sus.h.i.+ at G.o.dou's home, I wondered if this

was something I could make myself? Isn't it just rice with some fish mixed

inside, very simple, right?"

"If that's what you think, try it yourself some time."

G.o.dou had never seen Erica cook anything other than instant noodles,

probably since her primary concern towards food was the "eating" part.

"Those pa.s.ses, really are troublesome."

To Erica's change of subject, G.o.dou nodded at the expected response.

The sky was cloudy, and there were a few other groups eating lunch on

the roof apart from them.

Next to G.o.dou was Yuri eating her own lunch brought from the cla.s.sroom,

while s.h.i.+zuka was having the sandwiches she had bought.

"So that's what Onii-chan was making in the kitchen early this morning...

Really! You had to spend so much effort!"

s.h.i.+zuka complained as she ate her sandwiches, while Yuri slowly worked

her chopsticks at her mini-sized lunchbox.

In it was a small amount of rice, fried yellowtail fish with soya sauce, as

well as fried egg and side dishes like spinach.

A few touches of tomato greatly enhanced the overall color, and looked

very appetizing.

"...The content looks a lot less than what G.o.dou made for lunch."

"Erica, don't speak so tactlessly and stare at other people's lunch with such

interest. My apologies Mariya, please don't mind and continue eating."

"If, if you want to try, please feel free to pick what you like."

Though her tone of voice seemed slightly forced, Yuri spoke with a smile.

Perhaps she wanted to improve the initial rocky relations.h.i.+p she had with

Erica.

As G.o.dou thought to himself, the blonde girl beside him reached her hand

out without hesitation.

Directly grabbing a piece of fried egg and putting it in her mouth, Erica's

manners were poor but the motions of her hand was very elegant.

"Hmm, the taste is not bad. If you made it slightly fluffier with a more sticky

texture then that would be my favorite style. If Arianna made it, it would

have been perfect, but that's asking for too much."

"You don't know how to cook but you sure know how to talk."

As he commented about Erica, G.o.dou also reached out to try some of the

fried egg.

The fried egg with sauce was very delicious, and the skipjack tuna sauce

was very enjoyable to the taste buds.

"Ah, this is really great. Is it Mariya-senpai's mother who made this? Unlike

my own mother, this cooking is wonderful."

Her interest piqued, even s.h.i.+zuka took a portion of the fried egg to try out,

but the answer to the question shocked everyone.

"Ah, no. My mother didn't make this. I made it myself. It's wonderful that it

suited everyone's tastes."

"Mariya's cooking is pretty good... Do you make your own lunch every

morning?"

"Something like that, however since I used some of the leftovers from my

mother's cooking last night, it doesn't really count as my own exclusive

work."

"Well, still it's quite amazing. Compared to my house... it's very different."

G.o.dou spoke extremely impressed.

And then he glanced at the younger sister beside him.

"What now, Onii-chan, your expression is saying something."

"Let me make this clear, G.o.dou, the cooking that Arianna does is

something prepared specifically for me the master. Don't forget that."

s.h.i.+zuka was feeling indignant about her lack of cooking talent, while Erica

was simply selfishly throwing out her own willful comment.

Compared to these two, Mariya seemed much more n.o.ble no matter how

you looked at it.

By the way, it was completely different from G.o.dou who had tried very hard

to knead the rice b.a.l.l.s with the appropriate amount of force.

"Once you get used to it, it doesn't feel so amazing right? If you'd like, I can

share some tips on how to prepare food quickly."

"That sounds quite interesting. Thanks. If possible, those two should—"

G.o.dou turned his head around to find s.h.i.+zuka glaring angrily at her

brother, while Erica was deliberately averting her gaze and staring at birds

flying in the sky.

Yuri and G.o.dou could not help but look at each other and smile.

Part 3

'Hoho, lunch together at noon, good job! Though this is just a small step,

but it will matter a lot in the future. Please continue doing your best like

this.'

"Yes, yes..."

Yuri was talking to Amakasu on her cellphone in her room at the Nanao

Shrine.

After returning from school, it was almost dusk. Yuri called Amakasu to

report the day's results and to discuss some concerns.

'In the end, you went with cooking for him, and developing into a heart

racing event of having lunch together. Looks like you have to continue

working hard for this... Ah, did you look at the materials beforehand?'

"Yes, yes, I took a look."

Back at the Nanao Shrine after school, Amakasu had given an envelope to

Yuri which seemed to contain reports.

In it were a thick stack of doc.u.ments with a suspicious report t.i.tle of 'The

Difficulties of Approaching Males by Females Who Were Not

Straightforward: a.n.a.lysis and Solutions?'

'Those were just some hastily summarized materials prepared last night.

How were they? Any reference value?'

"Are, are these written by Amakasu-san!? I seriously read all the lines and

dialogues written in there, but that kind of method for expressing affection!

How could one utter those shameful words!"

Recalling the content of Amakasu's special report, Yuri's face went red.

—Here, lunchbox. Last night I accidentally made too much, throwing it

away would be a waste.

—Don't misunderstand! I definitely don't like you, there's nothing to it at all!

—You idiot brother, you don't understand how I feel...!

And so on...

'Hahaha, that's very important. Since ancient times, we j.a.panese have

been very subtle in our ways of love. It should feel something like the case

of Lady Aoi in "The Tale of Genji"?'

"Eh? It should feel something like that?"

'No no. That Genji had inexplicable attributes like Oedipus or lolita

complexes which are no good. A normal male would definitely fall for the

slightly older tsundere childhood friend who was the young mistress of a

high cla.s.s family and betrothed to him. Decidedly, Sakurano Youko was an

adorable existence, but the current trend is towards older women fetishes!'

"I have no idea what you are talking about, could you please translate!"

This kind of idiotic conversation had no meaning at all. Yuri decided to

change the topic.

"So, Amakasu-san, about the grimoire yesterday—"

'Ah ah, about that. Are there any concerns?'

"Yes, if it's possible, could you let me take a second look at that book?"

'...That I don't mind, however, is it related to you fainting yesterday?'

"Yes. However, I can't explain it clearly at this stage, but I seemed to have

witnessed a strange hallucination at the time. Just to be careful, I'd like to

confirm by having another look—"

Things would become serious if the name Sasha Dejansstahl Voban was

mentioned.

Due to these concerns, Yuri only described things in a vague manner.

'Ah, I don't really want to be lectured by the shrine elders for the same

thing two days in a row... Oh well, sure, after all we were the ones who

involved Yuri-san in the first place. Since you agreed to a.s.sist us, I have no

reason to refuse you.'

Unexpectedly understanding, Amakasu appended a sentence.

'Regrettably, I will be busy later so I will arrange for someone else to drive

you there and back in my stead, please wait at the shrine for a little while.'

—Thirty minutes later.

Yuri walked down the stone steps of the Nanao Shrine and headed

towards the shrine entrance.

Wearing her miko outfit, Yuri got on the locally manufactured sedan

provided by the History Compilation Committee that was waiting for her.

Since she intended to return immediately after using her spirit vision, there

was no need to change her clothes.

After being shaken in the back seat for forty minutes, she finally arrived at

the library in Aobadai.

After some polite words with the History Compilation Committee member

who drove her here, Yuri got off and went to the entrance.

—Why?

The building felt even quieter than yesterday.

Precisely because it was a library, having peaceful surroundings was

natural. Was she becoming a little neurotic? With a slightly worried feeling,

Yuri entered the library.

At the reception hall.

Yesterday, there were several bored History Compilation Committee

members sitting around. This was to prevent unauthorized people from

entering, by force if necessary.

However, all these people were absent. Did they all go on a break?

Yuri felt a sense of foreboding and anxiety as she continued onwards.

The s.p.a.cious corridor, the reading room on the first floor, the stairs. There

was not a single soul in sight.

Come to think of it, should there not be a guide to subst.i.tute for Amakasu?

Furthermore, no one came to receive Yuri.

As if trying to dispel the sense of worry and loneliness, Yuri quickened her

footsteps. She tried to find another person amongst the shelves and in the

corners of the reading room that housed tens of thousands of books.

However, there was none. Yesterday there had been a few library staff,

and Amakasu was present. However, today there was no one at all—

Hurrying to the second floor, Yuri felt relieved at the sight of a human

figure.

"Excuse me, what is going on today? I felt surprised that there were no

other people here..."

As she spoke her greeting, Yuri began to lower her voice.

Yuri discovered that the person was white, literally as white as snow—face,

limbs, body, everything was white.

Salt.

—Legends tell of a city which incited the wrath of G.o.d and all inhabitants

were transformed into pillars of salt.

The person Yuri discovered was the same. The roughly thirty-year-old man

was nothing more but a solid piece of salt now.

With intense fear, Yuri began to run.

Without any idea of where in the library she was, Yuri ran with all her

strength.

—And then, she finally discovered.

Pillars of salt stood in the s.p.a.cious reading room. No, there were between

ten to twenty History Compilation Committee members who had been

turned into salt.

Behind them stood a tall old man.

Of course.

Yuri knew. The power to turn live humans into solid salt, the emerald

colored evil eyes which changed the living into inorganic material. There

was only one person in the world possessing such an authority.

"Finally found you, miko. It must be you, the one who had the strongest

wolf's hallucination in this area through the [Wolf]'s book from unknown

origins. It wouldn't have been possible without that kind of excellent talent."

That wise appearance was probably never forgotten. However, this was

not his true nature.

Ferocious and hideous, with a violent and wild nature. The position of ruler

gave him a very effective disguise to cover up those characteristics.

"How nostalgic, that face, I seem to recall seeing it before—this girl, what's

her name, Kranjcar?"

The one the old man asked was not Yuri.

It was the one waiting quietly by his side, the girl with the slim figure. Her

silver hair tied into a ponytail, a tense expression on her face, and a kind of

rigid eastern European beauty.

"She should be called Mariya Yuri, Marquis. However, for the sake of

obtaining one girl, isn't what you have done here going a bit too far?"

"Hohoho, the Milanese blue knight turns out to be surprisingly stubborn."

The blue knight—was quite an apt description for her appearance.

Long sleeved black t-s.h.i.+rt and miniskirt with frills. Black tights, a blue cape,

and a jacket with blue and black vertical stripes—the description reflected

these elements well.

Doesn't it feel similar to the red and black jacket that Erica wore?

"Heh, to be honest—I love conflict. Hunting is good, games are not bad,

and I also like random violence. That's why, I just want to do as I like at this

time, do you understand?"

The old man joyfully spoke to the girl who showed a slight dissatisfied

expression.

"Hoho, by the way, I don't like dogs. Seeing obedient dogs who only try to

garner favor makes me want to puke. I love wolves however, I love the way

they bare their fangs as they try to resist. Without a certain level of

ambition, it would be pointless to keep by my side. In other words, you are

one of my favorite wolves, Kranjcar."

"The honor is all mine, Marquis."

He smiled at the rigid tone of voice and mannerisms, then turned his body

to face Yuri.

"Miko, from now on you will belong to me, and become part of my property.

Understood?"

The monarch possessing the evil eye and the power to determine people's

life and death. The man who called forth evil wolves and ruled over violent

storms. Sasha Dejanstahl Voban.

To meet the oldest Devil King once again after four years, Yuri trembled

with fear all over her body.

Part 4

It was at Aoyama in the Minato ward of Tokyo.

A grocery shop named Kogetsudou was located in a narrow street

intersecting with the main street in Aoyama.

Within this shop sold all sorts of things from Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland

China, southeast Asia, and India. Even things from the northern and

southern borders of Europe. The shop owner had a habit of buying all sorts

of goods from everywhere and this resulted in them being piled high within

the shop.

"So, that book really came from that place eh, so why did you put up such

a dangerous thing for sale?"

Amakasu Touma spoke as he stared at a shelf near the cash register.

By the way, for some reason it was crammed with all sorts of booklets such

as comics and the like.

"Those? They were rare resources pa.s.sed down by some magi from who

knows where, wouldn't it be a shame for them to go to waste? ...The sale

at the auction was just about complete. It would have gone for a good price

too, if it weren't for the unnecessary intervention of you guys."

The one answering was the female shop owner in a kimono.

Aged roughly twenty or so, and wearing Meisen silk with a simple cutting.

The cas.h.i.+er was reading Chinese comics published in Hong Kong while

receiving customers.

Amakasu did not know the original name of this shop and didn't care to find

out.

She was the suspicious merchant who used the trademark [Kogetsudou]

as an alias. A mysterious and very skilled wizard. Knowing these details

were enough.

"Anyway, Amakasu-san, how did the appraisal go? We exhausted all

avenues to determine its origin, and we are very interested in what kind of

dangerous consequences came back with the results."

"Since it is cla.s.sified information, I'm sorry I can't comment."

"Then, is that rumor true? Isn't there a girl with extremely acute vision

amongst the current Hime-Miko? If we had someone with talent like that,

then we wouldn't have so much trouble finding treasures."

"Well, what should I say, compared to that, what is the deal with that

grimoire?"

Amakasu tried to evade Kogetsudou's questioning.

The very young but completely complacent woman and the indifferent

young man exchanging information—these two were representatives of

their respective factions.

The History Compilation Committee members are the 'official' organization

for supporting wizards.

As for the 'commoner' wizards—they were the descendants of onmyouji

and curse experts popular before the Meiji Restoration, and many of them

secretly lived around Aoyama.

Kogetsudou counts as a central figure in that faction.

Perhaps possessing even more dangerous rare books than the werewolf

grimoire, Amakasu's visit to the shop also included a hint to warn her to be

careful.

"That, Amakasu-san, please wait a moment. I still have something else I

want to ask, is that fine? If you tell me, you can have the thing you are

currently reading for free."

"...If it's just the reward for some gossip, then it doesn't really matter. Let

me check out the content first."

Amakasu replied as he continued to read the battle manga about the hero

armed in steel and the iron-masked genius villain scientist time travelling in

sixth century England.

"Then be my guest—Erica Blandelli, what is that kind of major character

doing appearing in j.a.pan?"

"She just came to study abroad, that's all."

"There was a ma.s.sive electrical outage incident on the day that girl arrived.

The History Compilation Committee members were all busy manipulating

news sources and even interfered with things written on the internet."

"Coincidence, it just happened by chance."

"Destruction of buildings and the Shuto Expressway isn't just some kind of

joke. Do you know how many tens of billions of damages occurred that

night? ...And finally, the seventh Campione turning out to be j.a.panese,

hasn't the joke gone too far?"

"...Well, all rumors, you can't believe everything you hear."

Admitting it's the truth to himself, Amakasu put the manga magazine away

in his bag.

Looks like there was no need to hide from her the fact that Kusanagi

G.o.dou is the real thing. Furthermore, there was no meaning in trying to

cover up the truth for those in the know. Moreover, if the source of these

rumors became broadened, it may come to be useful.

"Then how about Liliana Kranjcar—the [Sword Fairy] coming to j.a.pan, is it

related to that? Will it develop into another major incident?"

"Liliana Kranjcar? From that Bronze Black Cross?"

Hearing a name he knew but did not expect, Amakasu's expression

stiffened.

The two magic a.s.sociations ruling over Milan's mage scene.

The Copper Black Cross—organization of the red devils, and the Bronze

Black Cross—organization of the blue berserkers.

The former was represented by the young genius Erica Blandelli—the

glamorous young woman deeply involved with Kusanagi G.o.dou. Amongst

those of the same age, it was said that only one person could rival this girl

as her opponent.

Her name was—

"Our sources obtained the latest news that yesterday, Liliana and a gloomy

old man arrived at Tokyo Narita Airport, did you know that?"

The owner of Kogetsudou smiled like a kitten.

At that moment, Amakasu's phone began to vibrate in his pocket.

"Thank you for your valuable information. Anyway, something came up."

Exchanging a few pleasantries with the shop owner, Amakasu left the shop

and immediately picked up the phone.

"...Yes? Dejanstahl Voban?"

This name rendered Amakasu dumbstruck in shock, even more than when

he heard a witch's name earlier.

Mariya Yuri had been kidnapped by Eastern Europe's Campione.

For an instant, Amakasu felt his mind freeze when he received the news

from the Committee member. How could such a situation be resolved?

Amakasu could not help but look up at the sky and feel compelled to pray

to G.o.d.