Campione Lord of Realms Chapter 4 (Patreon)

Chapter 4 – Child of Fate, Encountering a Frivolous Man at the City of Pleasure

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Part 1

The soaring light Ame no Tori Fune was flying under the azure sky──.

Mononobe Yukino who was enveloped in that light was transported in high speed while looking down at the ocean from the sky.

「A world of only sea……. This Hyperborea place is really dreary.」

There were few lands at the deep blue sea that Yukino was looking down at.

Although there were small islands here and there and large islands  sometimes, she didn’t catch sight of anything that could be called a  continent.

Sometimes there were ships──in the shape of small canoe or raft crossing the sea.

However, there wasn’t large or even medium sized ship at all. She could guess the civilization level of this world from there.

「Roushi-sama also said it didn’t he, that the people here are using stone tools or the like.」

Yukino was at a loss of where she should land.

There were islands that had settlement at the size of a small  village. But she didn’t think that she would be able to obtain the  information of the devil kings that she should exterminate from such  place.

Wasn’t there any bigger town or castle? As soon as she thought that.

「Wow! That’s the largest island that I have seen until now!」

Yukino was looking down at a deeply indented coastline with jagged  shape while she advanced toward the sky above the land with Ame no Tori  Fune.

Until now she had only found islands that she could cross immediately.

But, this time she kept going above land no matter how much she  advanced. Yukino ordered with her mind for the soaring ship of light to  ascend vertically.

「There are three islands with the shape of claw gathering together……」

Yes. She could see three lands that were curving like a claw shape.

Their size was about as big as Shikoku (smallest of the four main  islands of Japan). She dropped her altitude again. She tried flying  along the coastline and then she noticed something that was worthy of  special mention.

「A city with rampart and port, large ships, buildings that look like workshop!」

The archipelago──『the three claws islands』 had several large towns at its coasts.

A town that was surrounded by rampart enveloped by the sound of hammer striking steel and smoke.

A town that was zealous at its public works with several expressionless giants that had pale skin standing by.

There was also a castle towering inside a steep mountain. Astonishingly more than ten dragons (!) were flying around it.

Every single one of them had gone past the level of a town and became  a settlement at the scale that could be called a 『capital』.

In addition, there were large galley ships sailing at the coastal waters of the archipelago.

She also saw horse-riding soldiers traversing through grasslands area with a pack of wolf accompanying them.

And then next there was a capital that possessed a splendid port. It  seemed the trade there was flourishing. More than a hundred ships of  various sizes were moored there──.

「Roushi-sama said it. That the godslayers are remodeling the  primitive civilization of Hyperborea unnaturally and develop the world  is astonishing speed……」

The godslaying devil kings were gathering in this island.

Yukino was convinced of that and went down to the edge of the port  city. She had been told that Ame no Tori Fune would vanish when she  landed.

If she went to a capital with a lot of ships, it should be easy for her to travel anywhere.

However, first she had to search for the godslayer who created this port city and tried fighting him──

「I won’t know how strong the enemy is without trying to directly confront them!」

A gathering of fearless fighters that surpassed even Yukino and other god descendants.

Those were the godslaying beasts. But, Yukino was born as the  heaven-sent child of the sword god and the child of fate, she was also  someone optimistic and a challenger.

Thus Mononobe Yukino landed on the ground wearing her high school sailor uniform.

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「The road is paved……. This way horse carriage can also travel easily……」

Yukino walked at the seaside while muttering.

A paved road that was covered with bricks was set up along the sea.  People and horses, donkeys, livestock like sheeps and cows were passing  through. Coaches were also coming and going.

There were also houses standing in a row. Every single one of them had different characteristic.

Most of them were shops. Various items were being sold at the front.

Daily necessities, weapons, metal goods, food and drink, etc, etc.  Dough that was grilled like crepe with filling of meat and vegetable  dribbling from inside it. Spit-roasted meat and fish.  Soup filled with  dumpling. And so on.

The number of people passing by was also a lot. They were selling and  buying as they pleased, or eating food that they bought. There was  liveliness in this place.

There were also coconut trees standing along the road. The townscape looked somewhat stylish.

「There is no car here, while people carrying sword or bow are walking  around……. It feels like I have gotten lost into a fantasy world.」

Yukino talked to herself.

A lot of people had white skin and tall height. But people with black or tanned skin also weren’t rare.

This environment was far more diverse than Japan.

Paired with blueness of the bright and clear sky, Yukino recalled the  coastal metropolis Los Angeles that she had visited before.

The scale of this city wasn’t as big as there, but the positive atmosphere that was hanging over this city was similar.

In fact there were youths playing skateboard on the road or surfing at the beach──

「……Skateboard and surfing? Wait wait!?」

Yukino doubted her eyes.

*Shaaa* A youth passed in front of her eyes with such sprightly wheel sound. He was riding what was undoubtedly a skateboard.

A youth with tanned skin was skillfully riding the waves with a surfboard that was painted flashily.

The girls were wrapping vividly colorful fabric around their body  while drinking tea at the open café at the beach. Their glass that was  made from glass was filled with light brown liquid and black lumps.

「That……that is really tapioca milk tea just as I thought……」

When she looked closer, there were people here and there drinking colorful beverages that seemed to be cocktail.

A lot of shops and signboards were lined up just in this street  alone. Catalogues were lined up at the storefronts, producing liveliness  in the city.

It was fine and all how lively the city was. But she couldn’t help but felt bothered with the world view here.

「This is too absurdly different from how a fantasy world should be!」

Lord of the Ring. Game of Thrones.

Yukino didn’t love that kind of film as much as she loved yakuza film.

However, she was fed up by how sloppy and sketchy things got mixed up  here that she became driven by righteous indignation to check this city  more.

「If it’s like this──o the words of power of Yaso, grant me felicity!」

She immediately chanted the spell of multilingual support.

The letters that were pasted all over the city, the words spoken by  the passing people, Yukino immediately became able to understand the  meaning of all of them. She instantly learned the language that was used  at this unfamiliar land. It was a spiritual power that any god  descendant could use.

Yukino became speechless at the next moment.

『No collateral needed! Will lend money immediately!』

『Recruiting girls right now. High salary guaranteed. The main work is pouring alcohol and waiting on a table.』

『Gambling den, over here』

The letters that flew into her eyes were like this even just from a brief glance.

It felt like she was coming to Shinjuku or Shibuya. And then when it came to the voices that entered her ears.

「Over here is the hot spring spa that you should enter at least once  when coming to the Capital of Pleasure! You will also get discount  coupon for massaging if you come here now! Come visit here young lady!」

「Sorry dear customer! I can’t let you haggle the price even lower than this!」

「Thief! Dammit, I can’t find my wallet anywhere!」

「The first match is going to be upon us soon! The tournament of the  Capital of Pleasure to decide the number one boxer! Come come, place  your bet on who is going to be the champion!」

Money. Gambling. Amusement. Gourmet. Alcohol.

Gluttony. Lust. Mania. Hustle and bustle. Sin. Making merry and forgetting all troubles.

This was a gathering of humans who laid bare that kind of “thing”.  This place was a shopping center and a pleasure quarter. A place that  was filled to the brim with energy for good or bad.

Its name was also boldly the Capital of Pleasure. Yukino muttered with a dumbfounded look.

「What kind of guy the devil king-sama who created this kind of city……」

It happened when she was in a daze like that.

This time Yukino heard a voice that she couldn’t ignore.

「……Tsk. What a brazen bastard. How dare he cheated at our gambling den.」

「Oi. This isn’t the end y’know? Someone, bring me a sword.」

「Moron. It’s our method to cut off the arm of a cheating bastard and  hanging it from the ceiling as an example. Yosh, hold him down.」

「I──I’m sorry! It was just a sudden impulse! Please at least spare my arm-!?」

More than ten men were surrounding a 『cheater』.

A duo who looked especially brawny were holding down the man in  question on the street. One more person was tightly holding the man’s  hand so that it wouldn’t move──

A thug was joining that circle right now while carrying a large curved sword.

By the way, the cheater’s face was swollen from getting beaten up. He  must have gotten punched a lot. Surely his body below was also covered  with bruises.

The shop employees and the passing people around them were pretending not to see anything.

But, Yukino immediately walked toward them. Her steps were very natural. Bullying wasn’t amusing. She suddenly interrupted.

「You guys. Certainly cheating is bad, but that punishment is overdoing it. Let him go already.」

「Hah! Woman shouldn’t butt in, back off──guaaaaah!?」

One of the thugs tried to push away Yukino, so she casually brushed away that ill-mannered hand with a hand chop.

The blow was extremely light. However the thug screamed.

「Guaaaaah!? My hand is cut! My hand is gone!」

He screamed unsightly while falling and writhing on the ground.

The hand of the wrist that was chopped was still connected to the  rest of the body. That hand would naturally be severed if Yukino got  serious, but she gave him her mercy.

But the thug got flooded with the conviction that his hand had been severed and became deranged.

On the other hand, the rest of the thugs carelessly approached Yukino──

「Buhah」「Beshih」「Kuhah」「Dahah」

「W-what the hell-. Where did you take out that stick from──befuh」

Yukino hit the men’s solar plexus and neck with a wooden sword and knocked them out.

An ebony wooden sword suddenly appeared in Yukino’s hand.

The man who pointed that out also fainted with one hit. He asked  something stupid. 『Calling the favorite sword』 was a child’s play for  the heaven-sent child of a sword god.

*Biin!* The curved sword that was held by the last man was sent flying high above by the wooden sword.

It was enough with this. Yukino didn’t even give a glance at the  cheater on the ground while walking away from that place and telling him  briefly.

「Farewell. Run away while you can.」

「T-thanks a lot, Earthian girl!」

She was called with a strange word at the end.

The gaze of the citizens toward Yukino had changed into a passionate  stare as though they were looking at a celebrity or a pro athlete.

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Yukino who had immediately displayed her chivalry.

However, hunger couldn’t be chased away with just chivalry. *Guuuuuu*  she was reminded of her hunger once more when her empty stomach cried.

「I don’t have any money that can be used in this city even though there are a lot of food around like this……」

She was told the information of 『There is still no monetary economy in Hyperborea』 from Roushi-sama.

Yukino was grumbling due to the old information that had become obsolete a long time ago.

She was in an open-air market right now.

There were foodstuffs that seemed to have been brought here from  everywhere──various kind of colorful vegetables. Various kind of birds  that had been strangled and hanged down in display. There were also  chicken, pig, sheep, and the like that were still alive. There were also  a lot of delicious looking eggs.

There were also dairy products like cheese. Processed meat like ham.

And then──Yukino was staring hard at the pink fruit that was piled up inside a box.

「It’s similar with peach……or rather, this is really a peach.」

Peach (momo in Japanese), this fruit that had similar name with her teacher was actually her favorite food.

Furthermore the peach in front of her eyes had a big size that  wouldn’t lose even against peach that was raised by famous farmhouse of  modern Japan. The fruit looked pretty and really delicious──

Yukino reflexively asked the auntie that was watching the store.

「Say, shopkeeper……. Can I ask something unrelated? In this shop, can I  pay later after I have become successful in life or at least putting it  on my tab!?」

「No way. Even if you are an Earthian, I can’t give you anything without money.」

The plump Hyperborean auntie told Yukino curtly.

Yukino left that place listlessly after being refused so decisively. *Guuuu* Her empty stomach was crying once more in vain.

「Uuuu. I feel really wretched.」

Her complain also wasn’t filled with any vigor.

Even so, she was called with that strange word again.

「……Earthian, what does it mean I wonder?」

「It refers to people who came from Earth you know. After all clothes  from earth like yours or mine are looking really different from  Hyperborean outfit. It’s obvious from a glance.」

A voice of a young man talked to her.

The words were in Hyperborea language, but the man was wearing a street type fashion.

He was wearing a parka and a black jacket over it and a jersey below. His feet were wearing sneakers.

His outfit wouldn’t look out of place at Shibuya. He had oriental features and his hair was brightly dyed.

He was really handsome. His friendly smile looked frivolous.

He also felt really shallow. However, with his appearance he wouldn’t  look out of place at all if he stood side by side with Yukino who was  wearing sailor uniform.

「That means……you also came from earth?」

「Yep. I’m Rokuhara Ren. Born in Tokyo. You also came from Japan right?」

The youth Rokuhara grinned brightly.

「There are quite a lot of people like that here. And it looks like it has increased by one more with you here.」

「You are from earth──that means, don’t tell me that you are a godslayer!?」

Yukino was shocked by the sudden encounter, but she suddenly noticed.

Yes. Here in Hyperborea the godslaying beasts were doing all sorts of  outrageous things and became the cause of the multiverse’s collapse.

The possibility of earthling that she encountered here being a godslayer was high──

「Nooo? I’m not a Campione.」

However Rokuhara Ren tilted his head before he easily answered.

「Errr, what did Riona say again? That’s right. 『Recently the number  of visitor to Hyperborea from earths of various space-time continuums is  increasing. Earthian is the general term to refer to those people,  while there are only several among them who is the strongest existence  that is Campione』, she said.」

He talked naturally. There was no sign of him playing stupid. Yukino frowned.

「What is Campione?」

「The people who killed a god. It’s getting popular in Hyperborea to call them like that.」

「It’s annoying because that way of calling feels like they are  forcefully trying to make it seem stylish. Calling them godslayer is  more straightforward and feels right for me.」

「Is that so? You will get used to it immediately if you try using the term you know?」

Yukino didn’t look convinced. Ren smiled lightheartedly at her.

「After all it’s just like you said, saying godslayer is a bit too straightforward. ……Ah, right right. I forgot. Here, for you.」

Ren suddenly held out something to her. Surprisingly it was a peach.

「You are hungry right? This is what you was staring at just now.」

「You were watching me huh……」

「Earthian really stands out no matter in which city after all. I  heard the rumor that 『A new girl has come!』, so I intentionally came  here to check it out.」

This was what duty and humanity were about. A kindness from her fellow Japanese.

Yukino felt moved, even so she felt reserved and thought that perhaps she should refuse the first time.

「I’m happy but……I don’t have anything to repay this favor to you.」

「It’s fine. I got this for free by pilfering it quickly after all.」

「Haa!?」

Just when she completely thought of what a 『heartwarming story』 this way, Yukino was astounded by the reality.

「Y-you, you stole this!?」

「That’s what I said. But I think it won’t be any problem though. The  king of this city has a motto you see. If there is someone troubled, you  should help them as much as possible──. He told that to everyone in  this city, but it just won’t stick to the people here.」

Ren spoke of a self-centered reason of all the things that he could say.

This young man, his frivolous appearance wasn’t to Yukino’s taste,  but his irresponsible attitude was also not to her liking. Being  taciturn and sincere was the right status for man. Yukino who held such  thinking resolutely argued back.

「Even so doing something like that is not good! We have to return it back!」

「Now now, it’s fine if nobody know about it♪」

The two were arguing at the open-air market inside the city.

There, a group wearing matching uniform entered inside with heavy footsteps.

It was a group of male soldiers wearing armor that was made from  metal rings linked with each other and helmet, a somewhat short sword,  and mantel. There were around ten of them.

They were jogging straight toward Ren and Yukino──.

「They are guards. They are like police in this city. You, have you done anything bad here?」

「W-why are you asking me!? You are the peach thief here aren’t you!?」

Yukino was enraged by Ren’s words, but,

「I won’t do a blunder like being seen by anyone. Besides there are  some strange bunch following behind the guards. From there, this seems  like some people are bribing the guards in their pocket to screw with  someone that they don’t like.」

「It──it’s the people in the gambling den before this!」

There were men who were familiar to her following behind the soldiers.

They were the bunch that Yukino knocked out. The thugs of the gambling den. Eeei, troublesome. I don’t want to be dragged itno even more trouble than this.

Yukino turned around and began to run away with her full speed.

It would be easy to beat up all of them, but it would be a bit  pitiful to them if she resolved things with force. The smartest thing in  a tight situation is to beat a retreat until things settled down.

And so, Yukino began to run swiftly. However.

「Why are you following me!?」

「We have only just started talking. I’ll come with you♪」

Was he hitting on her? Rokuhara Ren was running beside Yukino while winking at her over familiarly.

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Part 2

Mononobe Yukino was the heaven-sent child of a sword god and the child of fate.

She had the spiritual ability to transform into lightning and flew if  she pictured a place that she was familiar with in her mind. However  there was still no place in Hyperborea that she was familiar with.

That was why right now she was in the middle of running with only her legs.

Surprisingly, Rokuhara Ren was easily keeping up with Yukino’s swift feet.

「You are really fast!」

「My speed in running away is the only thing that I have confidence in. My physical strength is unreliable though.」

The two of them were running through the urban area of the Capital of Pleasure that was located near the sea.

Their pace wouldn’t lose even against a trained middle-distance  runner. Yukino was running fast without running out of breath, but  surprisingly Ren was also in the same state.

(This person, he has a period when he trained running a lot for some kind of competition.)

Ren’s running wasn’t like someone from track-and-field.

However his form was beautiful and she could feel innate disposition for physical exercise from him.

──Well, of course it was still at the level of ordinary person. If  Mononobe Yukino unleashed her ability as god descendant, she would  immediately leave him in the dust.

Ren grinned brightly without even knowing what was in Yukino’s mind.

「There are guards all over the city. It’ll be troublesome if they  find us. ──If it’s alright, let’s run through my recommended course. Of  course that’s only if you can keep up though.」

「What!? There is no way someone like you can have a lead over me!」

「Okay! Then, this way!」

Surprisingly Rokuhara Ren suddenly climbed up the wall of a house.

Without pause he moved along the wall and leaped to a stone pillar.  Relying on a small foothold, he continued to climb and lightly reached  the rooftop.

Of course, Yukino also easily kept up with him through the same route.

「Yosh! Let’s get out to the western side of the city like this!」

Ren broke into a run above the roof and leaped to the roof of the next house.

He moved from roof to roof with wonderful agility. He also showed no  sign of getting lost. He was heading straight toward his destination  through the shortest route.

The sharpness of his movement, his rhythm, his natural flexibility and explosive movement.

Yukino could see several exceptional talents for moving the body from him.

(As expected from someone who is able to come to this Hyperborea, he  isn’t an ordinary person……. His frivolousness is displeasing though.)

While thinking that, Yukino followed the back of the frivolous man easily.

But, she noticed something and called out to him.

「Say Rokuhara-kun! We are running away from the guards right!?」

「Of course!」

「But you are running straight toward the castle.」

Yes. The two of them were heading to the direction of a fortified  mansion that looked far more splendid than other buildings in the city.

This Capital of Pleasure only had low-rise buildings. That was why  the four-storied castle on a small hill was really standing out.

Also, the mansion was created really luxuriously like it was “the castle of the king”.

「I thought that the guards are people who are working for the king or something though.」

「You are right. They are like the police in this place, so your  thinking is right. The guards are obeying the order of Queen Cassandra  and Prime Minister Julio to protect the public order of the city.」

「Then! The castle is the headquarters of the guards isn’t it!?」

This was like running to the police station when running away from police officers──.

Yukino noticed the true form of the discomfort she was feeling. However Ren flippantly responded to her.

「It’s fine, it’s fine. No one will be able to lay a hand on us if we get into a place where my face is known.」

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The castle also had a vast garden.

Rokuhara Ren sneakily hide at the back of there. He was walking rapidly as though he had done this many times before.

They hadn’t been found out by anyone inside the castle until this point──.

「Could it be, you are actually a professional thief?」

Yukino spoke with a surly face while following him.

「It looks like you have known the route to sneak into here beforehand.」

「No no. I’m 『someone who sneak』.」

「In other words you are something like a ninja or spy?」

「Yep. Though the one who created the Capital of Pleasure was Queen  Cassandra and an Earthian Prime Minister Julio. I’m looking and  investigating various things under their order──. Keep it a secret  okay?」

Ren turned around and placed his index finger over his lips.

A sign of secret. His gesture was playful and adorable, but it  irritated Yukino instead. As expected, she wished that a Japanese man  would act hardboiled with fortitude and vigor saying things like 『I’m  someone awkward after all』.

Yukino shook her head with a huff while saying.

「Then you shouldn’t tell that to someone who you just met for the first time!」

「Hahaha. It’s alright. Both of us are fellow Japanese after all. What  about you, why do you come until this Hyperborea? As I thought, are you  the type of person 『I come to meet someone stronger than me』?」

「I don’t have any obligation to tell my reason to a thief.」

The two of them kept moving sneakily even while conversing. Then Ren finally stopped walking.

They were in front of a small detached palace located at the corner of the castle.

It was a refined dwelling that was worthy for a noble to live in. Ren  had stopped acting sneaky and entered brazenly from the front entrance.

The saying of if you had eaten poison than ate the whole plate applied here. Yukino also followed behind him.

They came out to a courtyard after walking through the passage for a  while. There was a fountain and a white goddess statue made from marble  was placed at the center of it. The statue resembled the statue of  Aphrodite or Venus that was sometimes could be seen at Europe.

And then, at the edge of the fountain was a small──an overly small girl sitting there.

「Hmph. So that little girl is the new Earthian.」

She was a blonde haired beautiful girl. But her height was only around 30 cm.

She was literally doll sized. Her expression that was filled with  unyielding spirit was extremely dainty and well-ordered. She was wearing  white garment like the fountain’s goddess statue.

The minimum girl talked like a living human and stared at Yukino haughtily──

「Cu……cute!」

Yukino reflexively yelled.

Even though she looked like this, she also liked to fluff doll, small animal, and cute things.

「You, what is your name!?」

「I don’t feel like telling someone like you my true name, so call me  Stella. ……Ren. This little girl, she is a bit annoying isn’t she?」

「Hahahaha. As expected Stella is really strict. ──And, what about you?」

Ren smoothly interrupted. He smiled at Yukino.

「You should tell me your name already.」

「Mononobe……Yukino.」

「Got it. Best regards, Yukino.」

If Ren asked her name before this, she would think that he was hitting on her and wouldn’t tell her name.

However she had asked the mysterious minimum doll girl her name, so  she couldn’t possibly refuse to introduce herself now. Even though she  didn’t want to tell her name to this kind of frivolous man.

What’s more, he called a girl’s first name who he hadn’t met for long without any honorific. Very naturally at that.

(This guy──he might be really good in getting behind other people’s guard.)

Surely it was his special skill because of his frivolousness.

She glared at the grinning youth in front of her to at least display her wariness toward him with her gaze. It was then.

*Flap*. It was the sound of bird flapping its wings.

A beautiful blue bird──a blue jay that usually lived in place like North America flew down.

Its size was around 30 cm. It had about the same size with the doll  sized Stella. As expected it landed on the edge of the fountain and  flapped its wings with excessive haughtiness.

The color from its head until its back was deep blue. But the color  of the tip of its feathers and tail was a mix of light blue and black.

This blue bird suddenly spoke with human language.

「So you are a descendant of the ancient Mononobe House. I also feel  something like the divine bloodline of god from you. Well, she doesn’t  seem like a Campione who is hiding her true identity.」

「Eh──!?」

Yukino was taken aback.

A fantasy environment that was a mythological world. There was even a doll sized beautiful girl here.

Considering that, a talking bird wasn’t really that strange. However  she was shocked more than necessary because of the surprise attack.

「I am Riona……as you can see, a bird who can talk in human language.」

The blue bird spoke clearly once more.

It had a female voice. The voice wasn’t just beautiful but also strong-willed.

「Bluntly speaking, I am a great existence that far surpassed your  imagination, so be careful to not do anything rude. I’ll peck at you if  you treat me like a bird.」

「Riiight……」

Yukino stared fixedly at the blue bird.

It was mysterious that the bird was acting haughtily like a queen even though it had such figure.

「Were you wary toward me thinking that I might be a godslayer? That was why you ordered a ninja to lead me to this castle……?」

「Hahaha. Bull’s eye.」

「This precaution is only natural. After all unlike the other world  reincarnation story that is becoming a fad, most of the Earthian that  came to Hyperborea aren’t ordinary people.」

Ren spoke while giving her a thumb up. Beside him, the blue bird Riona spoke sonorously.

「For example a heroic character that was revived from ancient times  or Middle Age. Or like Rokuhara-san over there who assimilated with a  god like Stella and become her partner──」

Yukino glanced briefly at the frivolous youth.

The doll sized Stella had sat on his left shoulder when she noticed.  Seeing the two of them together like that convinced her that indeed, the  two of them really felt like they suited each other to a T.

「And this time it’s a god’s descendant who came here. I don’t know who is the god that was your ancestor though.」

「Amazing. You have seen through everything……」

「Yes. It’s good that you are honest. Yes, I am perfect. And yet that when it comes to that honorable masteeer──!」

The voice of the blue bird Riona suddenly turned rough.

Yukino jerked in surprise. The mysterious talking bird coughed.

「Well, anyway. There are special existences that are extremely  bothersome and dangerous even among the Earthian. That is none other  than Campione. The devil kings who murdered gods. This claw archipelago  is already in a state of being a 『colosseum where fellow godslayers  fight each other』, so it’s not strange at all that we are wary that  there will be even more participant joining in──」

「That! Nice timing, please tell me about that!」

Yukino suddenly raised her voice and cut off the blue bird.

「You said something like claw archipelago just now right? Is that the  name of this island? Tell me things like the geography and place name  of Hyperborea, and also the places where the godslayers are located!」

「……Even though other was still talking leisurely just now, you really can’t read the atmosphere.」

Riona grumbled.

「But, very well. Look at this.」

*Flap* the mysterious bird Riona swung her wing.

Just with that a map came out from the empty air and it fluttered  down to the ground. Yukino immediately stared hard at the map that fell  at her feet.

「……Well, the shape of this island is something like this. And then,  the three claw shaped islands are connected here and there by human’s  hand, so the islands are getting connected even now. You can even take a  round trip without a ship around this archipelago if you know the route  where the sea can be crossed.」

It was the lecture of the blue bird Riona. Yukino asked.

「Are there bridges or something between the islands?」

「Rather than bridge, it’s more like lands are created.」

「W-what do you mean by that!?」

「Please investigate that yourself. You will find out right away.  Anyway, in the Claw archipelago there are several cities──Forbidden  Realms that are built by Earthians. There are cities that have godslayer  as their king, and there are also cities that don’t. Our Capital of  Pleasure is ruled by Queen Cassandra and Prime Minister Julio……it’s a  land without Campione in it.」

「Fuobidde, what?」(TN: Riona said Forbidden Realms in Engrish, that was why Yukino couldn’t catch it fully)

「Forbidden Realms. It’s a name that was coined by one of the  godslayers who appeared in Hyperborea, the Black Prince Alexander  Gascoigne.」

The blue bird Riona spoke.

The bunch of city-states that greatly deviated from the civilization level of this mythological world.

Originally, it was an act that couldn’t be allowed. However, Starting  from Campiones, Earthians with superpower were carrying out the great  undertaking of building a country here.

The first realmkingdom was the Capital of Round Table.

It was the biggest military country that possessed the Knights of the  Round Table that was a gathering of elites, cavalry with dauntless  courage, and powerful and diligent infantry. That realm was also pouring  its effort to create armaments and raising warhorses.

The second realm was the Capital of the Dead.

Using autonomic artificial zombies “The Dead” that were produced from  the ground as the foundation of their workforce,it was an utopia with  the most perfected city life. It was ruled by an enlightened monarch, a  Campione of sword, and the “Shrine Maiden of Noble Rot” who could freely  control the dead. (TN: Noble rot here has the kanji from kifujin)

The third realm was the Capital of Sea King.

If one went south from the Claw archipelago, there was an isolated  island that was the base of a huge pirate group. It was the home port of  the fleet that was exploring this Hyperborea that had a lot of  untrodden lands. It was also a commerce center. The one who was revered  as the mighty sea king there was none other than Luo Cuilian. A Campione  and also an unprecedented monster who mastered both martial arts and  magic.

The fourth realm was the Pavilion of Wolf Pack.

They didn’t stay in one place. It was made up from nomad that was  also powerful cavalrymen. Furthermore this army was also joined by  terrifying pack of demonic wolf and even the heavenly wolf and world  destroyer Fenrir. They moved from place to place in Claw archipelago  while repeatedly attacking and pillaging as they pleased.

The fifth realm was the Capital of Dragon.

At the sky above the castle located deep in the rugged mountains,  dragons were flocking and frolicking. It was said that the ruler there  was a dragon that had accumulated age and obtained wisdom, or an  Earthian who was related with dragon was ruling there. The truth there  was still unknown even now…….

The sixth realm was the Capital of Pleasure.

A city of pleasure where every kind of amusement, desire, joy, and  pleasure in human world could be tasted. In other words, this city. The  trade here was also flourishing and it was the liveliest and most  bustling realm.

The seventh realm was Guild of Exploration.

It wasn’t a city that was fixed in one place. It had branches that  were set up everywhere in the Claw archipelago. The travelers who were  affiliated with the guild could receive various tangible and intangible  assistances from each branch in the form of advice, help, lending money  for travelling expenses, introducing people, and so on. It was also  possible to contact acquaintance at far away through the intermediary of  the branch.

The eight realm was the Forest of Shadow Chaser.

It was a demonic forest. Outsider who entered inside it would  definitely lose their way and couldn’t get outside for the second time.  The people living in the forest were outlaw bandits, heretical maestro,  pursuer of forbidden knowledge, and the like who professed to be  chivalrous thief. It was the Hyperborea version of “Sherwood Forest”  where ruffians gathered.

「……Well, the situation is something like that.」

The blue bird Riona sighed after she explained the situation in general.

「There are cities with Campione and also cities without Campione. In  regard to that, various information with dubious authenticity is flying  around. The culture revolution in Hyperborea hasn’t reached the level of  the development of telephone or radio, so there is nothing that can be  done about the lack of accuracy.」

「It can’t be helped……」

After finishing listening to the explanation, Yukino suddenly recalled a certain word.

「By the way, do you know what kind of person the 《Godslayer of Anti  Fate》 is? For now I’m planning to go to that person’s place.」

Yukino asked while hiding her intent to erase the devil kings.

She was cautious becaues she didn’t know the stance of these people from the Capital of Pleasure toward the godslayer=Campione.

「I’m amazed that you know about that name even though you have just arrived at Hyperborea.」

The blue bird Riona mumbled.

「But, there are several factions with the keyword anti fate in them,  so I can’t give you the answer unless I know who are you referring to  from among those.」

「There are that many!?」

「For example the Anti Fate Religion. Right now it’s the religious  organization with the greatest momentum in Hyperborea. Their existence  should be called as the ninth realm already. It seems that one of the  Campiones is its founder and its main creed is something like 『Escape  from the yoke of fate and live freely』……」

「What is that founder called!?」

Yukino asked vigorously.

But, the mysterious blue bird only flapped her wings as though she was shrugging.

「I have an idea of who it could be, though I won’t say it because I  don’t have any proof. I think it might be that person though……」

.

Part 3

「──And that’s how things are progressing, Ren. The Capital of  Pleasure that you built is continuously increasing in national power and  immigrants. The degree of its growth is too favorable. It won’t be  outdone even by the Capital of the Dead anymore.」

「As expected from Julio. I was right to leave it to you to steer this country♪」

Julio Blandelli, a young nobleman who was Ren’s best friend and also confidant.

He was dressed no differently from when he was at earth. His well  tailored jacket and white shirt combined with his slacks gave him an  elegant appearance.

Ren smiled affably at his report.

They were in the detached palace’s salon. Only the “shadow king” of  this city Rokuhara Ren and his close comrades gathered here every night.  They would talk to each other about silly things, the international  situation, people who caught their attention, and so on. They were also  dining and drinking together in here.

Rokuhara Ren, a Campione who hid his identity due to reason.

He sat cross-legged on a soft sofa and relaxed while speaking to his friend.

「Your title as the leader of Campiones association isn’t just for show, as expected from you.」

「Well, right now I’m the prime minister who manage the government and economy of the Capital of Pleasure though.」

The exotic handsome man with black hair and black eyes was holding a glass filled with white wine.

The glass and the wine were both imported from the Capital of the Dead.

Commerce ships were coming and going between the two countries. Not  only that, The Capital of Pleasure and the Capital of Sea King where  pirates and sailors gathered were the two biggest commerce centers at  Hyperborea. They were the supreme ruler of the sea.

Julio spoke after drinking the drily tasted white wine.

「However Ren, while I certainly think that I’m handling things well  here──I think that your accomplishment for determining the city’s  concept at the beginning is big as expected.」

「Don’t forget, the concept is something that Ren and I thought up!」

Stella loudly appealed from above the round table.

The mere shadow of the goddess of love Aphrodite puffed out her chest proudly.

「What drive the vulgar humans above all else is desire. I have told you all that we just need to use that!」

「Well, the concept of a city of pleasure that can satisfy any desire  is certainly excellent. After all we don’t have 『zombie-kun』 like what  my little sister Fumika created, and I also don’t want to increase our  riches by doing something like the Knights of the Round Table that does  things like 『Attack other country and pillage it!』.」

The mysterious blue bird Riona landed on the same table with Stella.

Her form was undoubtedly a bird, but she was talking with human  language smoothly. Her true identity was of course Ren’s irreplaceable  partner.

She joined the talk still in her bird’s form even though there were only friends here.

「In that case, it’s essential for us to have “something” to make use  of the gathered manpower with maximum efficiency. Honorable master──Sect  Founder Luo Hao managed it somehow using his charisma and reign of  terror but, we also want to avoid doing something like that. ……That’s  why Rokuhara-san’s concept 『Anyway let’s make a city where you can enjoy  everything fun in the world!』 was spot on.」

「After all that concept can make humans whose driving force is their desire to seek pleasure to work and develop the city.」

Julio who was also in the intellectual faction like the blue bird Riona muttered.

Tasty things, various kinds of fun games, art, music. Gambling, sports, alcohol, luxurious brand item, money, jewelry.

The Capital of the Death that could also be called as utopia was weak in regard to that kind of enjoyment.

They also had analysis in regard to that. In the first place a  virtuous person like Umayado no Ouji had no worldly desires. While his  shrine maiden princess Toba Fumika was completely focused to the  pleasure of a certain genre. In that case──.

The silver haired beautiful princess Cassandra also spoke with a bright smile.

「Yes! Our city is really full of liveliness, it’s really a fun city!  Troia is also a good place, but right now I feel more at home in this  place……」

「There are also various events here, like sports or matches.」

「Watching that kind of event with Ren-sama is also something that I greatly enjoy♪」

Cassandra also sat down beside Ren on the sofa.

The two smiled at each other. Their distance was so close that their  knee touched each other. By the way Cassandra had the position as the  queen as the “surface leader” of the Capital of Pleasure.

She was a promising person who was chosen for that position due to  her perspective as a royalty and the high degree of her idol  disposition.

That choice was correct and now every time she showed her face in  front of the people when she attended a match, a loud cheer praising the  queen would break out.

On the other hand, the blue bird who self-acknowledged herself as 『her majesty the queen』 raised her voice angrily.

「You two over there! Don’t flirt so brazenly when the fiancée is right here-」

「But Riona-sama is in that state right now……」

「Nnguh. You really know where to hit the sore spot! Well, setting  that aside──Princess Cassandra. There is no mistake about the girl we  met during the day isn’t it?」

「Yes──」

The priestess who was blessed with the spiritual power  of prophecy from the sun god Apollo.

That was the princess of Troia, Cassandra. However, the handsome sun  god also gave her a curse. A curse that nobody would believe her  prophecy.

But right now the god who cursed her was already gone. He committed suicide during his fight against Ren.

In addition Cassandra herself also accomplished the adventure of  returning back from tbhe realm of the dead in the land of Hyperborea. It  made her latent ability bloomed spectacularly.

As the result, she had broke through the curse when she noticed──

「A girl will come to this land……it’s the future that I saw just a little while ago. At that time I felt this.」

Cassandra had finally become a dignified prophet and she spoke quietly.

「A girl who will cause disturbance and wind to blows in this  Hyperborea will arrive. Where the girl is going, she will encounter the  Campiones who have finally finished building their respective base──and  give birth to the undulation of a great battle……」

「And this girl isn’t a new Campione, but a god descendant from somewhere.」

The blue bird Riona spoke with a subdued tone.

「Goshujin-sama, I ask you to continue “accompany” that girl. We have  also lent her some travel expenses, so she should start moving  proactively from tomorrow.」

「Leave it to me. I’m a『ninja』 after all ♪」

Rokuhara Ren was the king of the pleasure city. However in the end he only existed behind the scene.

He always went out to the city and wandered around aimlessly. He  mixed in among the citizens cheerfully in his role to prepare for the  major incident that would come one day.

.

「This place is really easy to live in. I admit that but……」

Yukino was muttering to herself while walking through the city in the morning.

She had talked a lot to herself since yesterday. It might be because she was feeling lonely from coming alone to another world.

Her stay at the city of pleasure was going well. Today was her second  day here. Last night she took a bath in a large public bath that faced  the main street and ate dinner, then she stayed the night in a lodging  facility that was a joint establishment with the public bath.

「That place too is surely based on deluxe public bath in Japan……」

Strange people were doing subordinate work in the public house as befitting a fantasy other world.

Expressionless humanoid robot with pale skin. At first Yukino thought  of them like that. However when she talked to the Hyperborea people who  also took the bath with her, she learned that it wasn’t like that.

「The corpses that are created from a city that is ruled by two  astonishingly handsome men and a shrine maiden who rules over all  decay──. Perhaps it will be good if I go there next……」

She had talked a lot with the locals since yesterday in order to gather information.

Yesterday in the sauna room of the public bath, there were several  young female customers near her. The girls looked awfully refined and  intellectual. According to them,

(Fufufufu. Really that Umayado-sama, he is always stirring up Doni-sama.)

(Wrong! Doni-sama is simply pretending to play stupid and skillfully  lure Umayado-sama. And then when they become alone at night, it’s  Umayado-sama who become obedient──how lovely!)

(Come to our room later okay?)

(Yes. I want to show you our prized『thin book』.) (TN: The phrase for thin dojinshi featuring adult content)

Yukino was interested with their offer, but she also wanted to speak with other people so she refused.

Anyway she obtained the information that the two handsome men who  were governing the government and military matter of the Capital of the  Dead were very close and intimate with each other. She also learned that  city was the holy land of book and learning that brought papermaking  technology and printing technique to Hyperborea.

「That miss bird also told me……」

Yesterday, the blue bird taught Yukino various things.

But when she asked the bird about the Godslayer of Anti Fate and also  about other things, the bird became uncooperative as though it was  making fun of her.

『This is why the smartphone generation is no good……. Don’t just ask  anything and everything to other people. In addition you won’t learn  everything you need to know if you only have a single information  source. I have answered your questions until know as tutorial for a  beginner, but you should investigate the rest by yourself.』

She got irritated right after getting told that, but the bird’s statement was also correct.

Also, in contrast with the bird’s harsh words, she was given a lot of  currency that could be used in Hyperborea as farewell gift when they  parted. It was bronze coins, silver coins, and gold coins that were put  inside a leather pouch.

「That miss blue bird, she act self-importantly, but she might be a good person!」

Yukino was often said as a honest and simple person.

Perhaps that was why she strangely liked the “blue bird” despite the  bird’s strong peculiarity. Well, she didn’t want to approach the nice  looking frivolous man though──.

「Anyway, I have to ascertain the information’s veracity now!」

Last night, she was able to hear a story that she couldn’t ignore.

Actually soon the Anti Fate Religion would also hold a festival in this Capital of Pleasure.

.

Yukino went to right outside the city.

There was grassland as far as her eyes could see. It was a green  plain until beyond the horizon. There were groves of mixed trees here  and there.

Unlike inside the city, originally it should be rare to encounter a human out here──.

However today was different.

There was an outdoor stage being constructed.

Yes. It was the improvised stage that earthling of modern era would  be familiar with. The type of stage that was used for outdoor concert or  band festival.

People were putting together scaffolding, then they placed a  countertop the size of 9 x 18 meters on it. There was also a roof over  it.

On the stage there were three beautiful girls who seemed to be singers──.

The songstress taking the center position faced toward the “Crowd” and called out energetically.

「Everyoneee! Will you all listen to the song of freedom!?」

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!

The gathered crowd had immense number. It looked like their number  was around seven or eight hundred. There was no particular gender or age  that was forming the majority. Male and female, young people and old  people, children, every kind of people was here.

The three songstresses above the stage started singing toward them.

.

We won’t lose, we won’t be tied by any kind of fate♪

We will overcome fate to the radiant tomorrow, for the sake of the future♪

Let’s run forward with earnest passion, taking back our free self♪

.

The song lyrics celebrated freedom. It loudly appealed for people to graduate from the control of fate.

The volume of the songstresses’ voice was absurdly loud. It was like  they were using mike even though they were only singing with their own  voice. And then most of all──their singing was skilled and powerful.

People got overwhelmed just from listening. And yet their voice was sweet and melted the heart.

「T-the song, is amazing, but……」

Yukino was swallowed by the godly singing, even so she couldn’t stop herself from firing a retort.

「What’s with the rock music even though this is a fantasy world!?」

The fierce uptempo melody.

A backup band was fiercely performing at the background of the songstresses.

The modern earthling would intuitively know about all the musical  instruments they were using. One was playing a solo part with  transcendental technique using a string instrument that must be based on  guitar.

Over there was bass. There was also keyboard instrument and drum.

All of them were acoustic that didn’t use electricity. They also  weren’t connected to speaker or the like, and yet the volume was also as  loud as the singing voices.

Yukino immediately saw through the trick with her spiritual instinct as a god descendant.

It seemed that the 『sound』 was strengthened using some kind of spell.  However, the skill of the songstresses and band members should be skill  that they had learned themselves. If even one of them went to earth,  they would surely got worshipped as a legendary musician──.

They finished a song while Yukino was dumbfounded.

The center songstress opened her mouth once more and began speaking as the event’s “MC”.

「Now everyone! Let’s pray together! Let’s pray for the glory of the  father of our Anti Fate Religion──the warrior of Anti Fate 《Kushanagi  Godo》.」

「Kushanagi Godo is the heaven-sent child of freedom!」

「Kushanagi Godo-sama will definitely win against our archenemy the  《fate》! That great man is someone who has opposed fate many times!」

「That person absolutely won’t lose against the restriction of fate!」

「That’s why all of you too, live freely! I love you! Thank youuuuu!!」

The three songstresses called out to the crowd separately.

After that the sang their next song.

The next song also had catchy rock tune, but while the lyric was like anime song of a robot show,

「The warrior of anti fate, Kushanagi Godo!」

They were passionately singing such lyric.

Then the crowd also followed and began to do a loud chorus together with the songstresses.

Kushanagi Godo! Kushanagi Godo! Kushanagi Godo! Kushanagi Godo! 

They repeatedly called that name. The name of the sect founder that created the Anti Fate Religion.

Yukino alone was muttering calmly.

「Kushanagi Godo. What a wicked and atrocious sounding name. This  might be the name of the archenemy that I have to defeat no matter  what……」

The information that she obtained last night. It said that tomorrow  there would be a rally where the teaching of the anti fate would be  preached.

The songstresses were musician, but they were also devout 『priests』  of the Anti Fate Religion. It was said that they moved from place to  place in Hyperborea and repeatedly held a concert and missionary work  each time.

Could it be──

Yukino suddenly thought.

(Perhaps this is the『momentum of anti fate』 that Roushi-sama mentioned……)

Break the yoke of fate. Live free.

Words that enticed people to the teaching of anti fate were spread  with song and MC. The people accepted it and enthusiastically got heated  up.

This outdoor festival was also one of the underlying causes of the multiverse’s collapse──.

When she realized that, this event looked like a heretical festival that was terribly dirty to her.

「……Anyway, when this concert is over, I have to directly talk with the singers and ask them a lot of things.」

「Agreed. Let me come with you too at that time okay?」

There was a reply to her talk to herself.

Rokuhara Ren was standing beside her without her noticing it. He had  approached Mononobe Yukino, the heaven-sent child of the sword god Take  Mikadzuchi without setting off her alarm!

「You, how did you find my opening to get this near to me!?」

「I don’t know what do you mean by opening. Yukino, weren’t you just completely absorbed to the concert?」

「Ah, that might be true.」

Normally, Yukino would still notice even if she was getting absorbed toward something else.

However, there were this many people gathered here. On top of that  there were the loud singing voices and band performance. His presence  was mixed with the crowd and his footstep also couldn’t be heard. Yukino  guessed that might be why she didn’t notice his approach.

「……And? Why do I have to act together with you?」

Yukino spoke prickly.

「In the first place, why is Rokuhara-kun here? It’ll be really disgusting if you are following me around.」

「Hahahaha. This is the first time I get treated like a stalker.」

「This isn’t a coincidence or us following you around, this is  inevitable. We, the leadership of the Capital of Pleasure is also paying  attention to the Anti Fate Religion.」

Rokuhara Ren only laughed without looking guilty at all. A blue bird landed on his right shoulder and spoke haughtily.

「You are here when we came here to investigate. That’s all.」

「Miss blue bird!?」

「I’m telling you, my name is Riona. Really, you make me want to peck at your head to make you listen to what I have to say……」

The mysterious blue bird had a sharp tongue like usual.

However, Yukino felt like she could get along with her far better than the frivolous『Rokuhara-kun』.

Yukino decided to have the blue bird as her talking partner──it was  at that moment. There was a sound from far away reaching their ears like  a distant thunder.

*DODODODODOODODODODODODODODODON-*

The sound was very heavy. It sounded similar to a tremor……this was footsteps.

「Horse. Perhaps their number is more than 100. A group of horse is approaching here rapidly.」

Yukino decisively asserted.

She had abnormal hearing ability because she was a descendant of the sword god.

Anyone who didn’t know about that special quality of Yukino would  only think of her remark as a delusion. And yet Ren and the blue bird  Riona easily said.

「Is that true? To come to our city at this kind of timing──」

「It might be them, or it might be those people or these people.  Regardless of who they are, this isn’t a time to hold a concert.  Withdraw! All of you, please withdraw immediately! It’s enemy attack!  Enemy is currently approaching our city!」

The blue bird flapped her wings and flew around while calling out to  the crowd. In addition she also went till the stage and began pecking  the heads of the songstresses with her beak.

「Now then. I also have to signal Cassandra about this.」

Meanwhile, Rokuhara Ren was rummaging inside his luggage.

He was carrying a tied sack on his shoulder. A lighter and a small jar came out from it.

「What are you going to do?」

「I’m completely useless in everything except running away, so I’m going to fire a beacon to call for help.」

The jar was covered with a piece of cloth that was tied with string to seal the content.

Ren opened the jar and dumped the powder inside it on the ground!  Then he lit the powder with his lighter and white smoke rose from the  ground.

.

Part 4

「Fuhahaha! Follow me, my elite knights!」

King Richard Lionheart rode his horse at the forefront while laughing loudly.

Behind him 200 cavalries that were the pride of the Capital of Round  Table were following him. They passionately responded to Richard’s yell  with burning fighting spirit.

「「「「As you command, Lionheart King! Everything is for the sake of the leader Theodorick!」」」」

The knights were equipped with chainmail, round shield, and lance.

They were in an expedition to every place of Claw archipelago. They  would invade enemy land and attacked human settlement to pillage. The  Lion Corps that Richard was directly training had been repeating that  for several months.

This kind of military movements was called as cavalry expedition.

This cavalry expedition finally arrived until the Capital of Pleasure that was considerably developed.

However, their aim wasn’t just the riches of this city.

They were also intending to massacre the Anti Fate Religion that was  in the middle of holding a concert right outside the city along with the  crowd too.

「How dare they assume the banner of anti fate. There is a limit even  in being audacious……. Listen my knights! Our leader Theodorick is the  only Campione who can introduce himself as the warrior of anti fate!  Don’t let even a single believer of the false religion to return alive!」

「「「「By your will!」」」」

Richard and his Lion Corps finally began to make their horses to sprint at full speed.

200 cavalries were advancing like a tsunami──the heretical believers  that were indulging in false anti fate finally noticed their approach.

They immediately began to move about in confusion to search for a place to run.

People who ran desperately, people who was rooted on the spot in despair, people who got pushed away──.

With the momentum of the cavalry’s charge, people who ran away on their feet could be easily trampled underfoot.

Richard trembled in expectation when he saw that it looked like he  would be able to freely rampage as his passion drove him. It was then an  unexpected attack came to him.

「What!?」

The place was an open plain. The visibility here was extremely good.

Above all else, there was a prey in the form of the Anti Fate  Religion right before his eyes. That was why he didn’t notice. The  existence of ambush troops that sprawled among the grasses.

The ambush troops were wearing green colored clothes. It was to allow them to blend with the scenery.

They stood up one after another and nocked an arrow to their short bow.

It was an archer corps that numbered around 200. They targeted  Richard’s Lion Corps that were sprinting in full speed and fired  simultaneously!

The archers all raised their battle cry and yelled their words of loyalty.

「Shoot, shoot! Don’t let them approach our city!」

「Our lives belong to Queen Cassandra!」

「Cassandra! Cassandra! Cassandra!」

A lot of arrows flew in an arc and rained down on the Lion Corps from above.

Pierced by the arrows, the warhorses that had been trained by a lot  of effort fell and the knights also fell from their horse. Those who  fell got kicked and trampled by the hoof of their ally’s horses. Parts  of their body got cruelly pulverized.

The lucky knights only got pierced by arrow in a spot that wasn’t fatal, or perhaps they only got scratched.

However, the arrows still hadn’t stopped coming.

Richard carefully observed. From what he saw, it seemed the 200  archers carried a quiver each that was filled with thirty arrows──then.

The Lionheart King roared at his suffering subordinates.

「To my retainer knights, all of you ferocious lions! Keep running!  Their arrows will run out soon. Endure this right now and spur your  horse to bring down your sword of justice on the bunch who dare to  falsely claim the banner of anti fate. And then we shall counter attack  at these cowardly archers!」

「「「「By your will!」」」」

Continuing to attack rather than stopped running and turning around──.

King Richard Lionheart gave an order that was really like him, however he was actually gritting his teeth inside.

(Damn you! How dare you imitate Edward!)

Conquering cavalry using archer.

This was none other than the specialty of his little brother, King John Lackland’s descendant, Black Prince Edward.

Actually Richard would feel just a bit dejected every time he saw  Edward’s tactic. It wouldn’t be amusing if those arrows were aimed at  his army……he would get such hunch when witnessing Edward’s skill.

Anyway the arrows had run out. The archers had stopped shooting.

Surviving this disaster, Richard led his half destroyed Lion Corps  and finally approached the Anti Fate Religion and several hundred crowd  who were late in escaping──and yet.

When he realized, a strange army blocked his way.

「──Corpses of Sword! Please protect the city together with me!」

The one who yelled those words was a beautiful girl riding a white horse.

Her silver hair fluttered in the wind. Her beauty had surpassed the  category of ordinary person and reached the height of legend. Richard  was convinced.

「You must be Queen Cassandra who I heard from the rumor! A mere woman shouldn’t stand on the battlefield!」

「Draw your sword! Intercept the Knights of the Round Table!」

In respond to the queen’s voice, the eerie soldiers drew out their sword simultaneously.

Pale skin. Expressionless face. Naked body and no hair. However they  had no genitals──a hundred of the living corpses from the Capital of the  Dead were there.

But, they were different from the common corpses that he saw in that city.

Their naked body was covered with muscles that looked like steel. A  black leather belt was wrapped around their waist. A sheath for carrying  a long sword was hanging from there.

「So the sword users that Sir Salvatore trained are lent to this city!  Tsk. So the information that the Capital of Pleasure is allied with  that city is the truth!」

Richard clicked his tongue. He charged forward together with his 100 cavalries of Lion Corps.

The full powered charge of cavalry was the greatest threat in the  battlefield. However the 100 Corpses of Sword with their sword  unsheathed──charged toward Richard’s army without fear.

They lifted up their sword with both hands and took a stance where  they placed the sword on their right shoulder. They sprinted at full  speed with that stance.

There was no expression in the face of the corpses. They also didn’t  show fear. It was obvious. The corpses of that city didn’t have any  emotion in the first place after all. They were free from all worldly  thoughts.

It was said──that such state was well suited for the King of Sword’s secret technique, Sword of Empty Mind.

The corpses were unexpectedly suitable to be initiated into a  fragment of that deepest level of skill. The sharpness, speed, and  accuracy of the sword that they swung all surpassed human swordsman──

They transformed into a “sword storm” that assaulted Richard’s Lion Corps right now.

The long sword was swung down from their right shoulder to slash the enemy diagonally. Then repeat.

Actually the technique that the dead swordsmen used was just this.

It was truly simple. But it was terrifyingly powerful. Their diagonal  slash severed the feet of the war horses, swept away the spears that  the knights thrust out, and cruelly and mechanically slashed Richard’s  direct subordinates who fell from the horse to death.

「Damn you! Damn you!」

Richard cursed. Even so he continued to spur his horse.

He sent flying a Corpse of the Sword that slashed at him with a  single thrust of his lance from above his sword. He magnificently broke  through the wall of enemy on his path.

But, he was the only one.

The cavalries of Lion Corps were cut down helplessly behind Richard──.

Fuuuuuuu. Richard let out a long sigh and switched his mood. He hadn’t been defeated yet. After all,

「I simply need to overturn the situation with a single slash of my magic sword Escalibor.」

He would cry passionately for his fallen subordinates later. Umu.

Thus, the Lionheart King easily pulled himself together. He lightly  tapped the neck of his horse, calmed it down, and put a brake to the  horse’s sprinting momentum.

「──Hou.」

When he noticed, there was one more person standing on his way.

The person was wearing a strange garment. A maiden who was undoubtedly an Earthian was walking alone toward Richard.

A black stick suddenly appeared in the girl’s hand.

It wasn’t a cane. It was thin and long. Its shape was similar with a sword.

.

Mononobe Yukino couldn’t forgive those who bullied the weak.

Furthermore this time it wasn’t just going to be bullying. It was an  attack where the offender wielded weapon. Knights who were blazing with  killing intent and madness were approaching with battlefield excitement  laid bare.

There were also people who fought hard in order to protect the city.

To be unable to give even a single assistance would be a disgrace for the heaven-sent child of the sword god──.

Driven by her chivalry, Yukino stood before a『knight』.

The person had blond hair and an atmosphere of a commander. His body  was burlier than the others. His aura was overflowing. His body was  filled with wild masculine.

While his subordinate knights were getting taken down, he alone survived.

His horse slowed from a full sprint to the pace of fast walking. From  above his saddle, the man approached Yukino while looking down  arrogantly at her.

「Another woman.」

The knight at the prime of his life made his horse stopped walking and spoke mockingly.

On top of that, he even added more with a terribly insolent boast.

「Surely you are not planning to challenge King Richard Lionheart with a sword aren’t you?」

「I should be the one asking you that. Don’t tell me that you believe  that you can fight equally against me──this Mononobe Yukino who is loved  by the god of military arts more than anybody else?」

Eye for eye. Her pride as a child of god for his overconfidence and female discrimination.

She had already summoned her ebony wooden sword in her right hand.

And then, using the tip of her shoes she kicked the pebble near her  foot flying. The pebble flew like a bullet and accurately hit the nose  of the horse of this Richard whatever king!

──HIHIIIIIIIN!?

The sudden impact surprised the horse and it bolted up to stand only on its rear legs.

Ichinomiya Shin Style that Yukino learned put importance in real  battle. Things like Jujitsu and staff martial art were also included in  the style. Rock throwing was also one of those. Rock. It was most likely  the first weapon that was used by the primitive human. Yukino’s martial  art threw the rock using her hands and feet.

「Nuoh!?」

Richard was surprised by the rampage of his horse.

But, despite his shock he lightly jumped off from the saddle of the  horse that was standing upright. He even landed properly on the ground  with an animalistic movement.

He must be a fierce warrior that was very familiar with the chaos of battlefield. It was splendid.

Furthermore, he immediately leaped fiercely toward Yukino who took a  middle stance with her wooden sword. He swung down his long sword right  from the front toward her.

This slash could only be said to be as fierce as a lion. It had the force of surging waves. But.

From the perspective of the heaven-sent child of sword god──it was full with opening that she could use!

「Fuhahaha, cursed woman! How dare you show such cowardly trick against a knight!」

King Richard was still looking down on Yukino even now and laughed loudly.

The sword that he swung was fast. It was strong. But, as an attack  that was launched toward an enemy that intended to engage from the  distance of Go no sen──

「You are too careless, and your movement is too sloppy.」

「What!?」

Go no sen. Starting to move later than the enemy that was already attacking, and yet taking the initiative on top of that.

Yukino slightly moved her body to the left to dodge Richard’s sword.

At the same time Yukino also struck. Her ebony wooden sword was gouging at the Lionheart King’s left shoulder.

As a knight from Middle Age Europe, his upper body was mostly  protected by chainmail. But, King Richard writhed in agony as though he  had been struck by lightning from Yukino’s strike.

「Ku──haah!?」

Mononobe Yukino could cut what shouldn’t be possible cut with the principle of sword.

The wooden blade cut through the chainmail and dug into the left shoulder of Richard.

There was the response from his collarbones breaking into pieces. And  then Yukino didn’t stop moving. She easily let go of the wooden sword  while closing her distance with the blonde haired large man and threw  him.

「GAAAAAAH!」

「You are really tough that you can still scream like that……」

She pulled the enemy’s upper body toward her while sweeping his foot and then throwing him down.

In Judo that move was called Oosotogari (a major sweeping leg throw). In Ichinomiya Shin Style it was called Kuruma TaoshiWheel Drop. Yukino made King Richard’s back hit the ground while callously muttering.

I am the heaven-sent child of the sword god. I have no mercy when cutting the enemy──.

Even just now she threw the back of Richard’s head on the ground  without hesitation. If the ground was made from rock or concrete, well,  he would have died instantly.

It couldn’t be helped. Yukino opened her right hand to deal the finishing blow.

The wooden sword that she let go just now appeared in Yukino’s hand once more.

On the other hand, King Richard who narrowly escaped death rolled on  the ground to take distance from Yukino and stood up unsteadily.

He finally stared at Yukino with the seriousness of having met a powerful enemy who surpassed him.

「So you are a kind of witch──furthermore you are a witch that control  sword. This is the greatest mistake of Richard’s life to be unable to  notice that from a glance. How mortifying.」

「Oh, this is surprising. So you are a person who can reflect on yourself.」

「Reflect? Don’t say something stupid. I……haven’t committed any  mistake! I simply have times when I’m slightly unable to suppress the  excitement in my heart──that’s all!」

He didn’t change his words and action even at this point of time. He wouldn’t.

It exasperated Yukino. Perhaps it was the proof that he was a big  shot in his own way. King Richard Lionheart pointed the long sword in  his hand toward the sky.

「Even I will need assistance if my opponent is a witch of sword. ──My  lord, Leader Theodorick! Godslayer of Anti Fate who murdered the  Heretic Arthur!」

「Anti Fate!?」

「Leader Theo! Compel me to become a sword, a weapon for your great self!」

A terrific “ki” took shelter in Richard’s body and long sword.

The sword’s blade also emitted a radiant golden light. It transformed into a brilliant blade.

「Witch of sword! Know that I too am a user of the magic sword Escalibor, the sword of Leader Theodorick himself!」

.

Part 5

The Earthian Mononobe Yukino and England King Richard I.

The showdown between the two entered the next stage.

The Lionheart King drew out his trump card the magic sword Escalibor.  He swung around his shining long sword and the mystical blade launched  beams toward Yukino fiercely.

「DEYAAAAAAH!」

「That’s an unsightly sword handling! Your magic sword there is crying!」

Yukino spoke sarcastically toward the hooligan who was swinging around his magic sword without any regard to appearance.

However, the person himself replied back without any care.

「Fuhahaha! It doesn’t matter if I win. That’s the truth of the  battlefield. My other half Escalibor also understand that veeery well!」

The collarbone of Richard’s left shoulder had been smashed by Yukino and it was dangling down limply.

It must felt very painful that an ordinary person would have fainted.  However perhaps because of the magic sword’s blessing, Richard didn’t  show any sign of feeling pain. He was swinging around his sword with  only his right hand in high spirits.

Rather he looked even more energetic than before──.

「Geez. This is why I hate a rowdy uncle like this!」

Yukino somehow endured the beams that were fired out endlessly without getting injured.

The magic sword’s light looked like they almost hit her many times.  But, each time Yukino would move her body to left or right at the next  moment and the light beams would pass her harmlessly.

She dodged to the side just before the beams hit her with footwork that was swift like lightning──.

It was a magnificent discernment and body handling. However Rokuhara  Ren who was also someone skilled in running away could perceive the  girl’s hardship.

「She is in a bit tight spot there. She can’t counterattack at all.」

The essence of outboxing was dancing like a butterfly and stinging like a bee.

No matter how much she continued to dodge the enemy’s attack with  beautiful movement, her limit would arrive sooner or later if she didn’t  sting with the stinger of counterattack and she would end up defeated.

Ren’s words was also backed by the talking bird──no, by Toba Riona.

「Right. It looks like her skill in martial art is as amazing as elder  brother Yinghua and Rokuhara-san’s drinking buddy. Though I think it’s  still a bit below the level of the honorable master?」

「Certainly, she might be at the same level of Taka-kun and Doni-san.」  (TN: Taka-kun here refers to Yinghua. The kanji Ying of his name is the  kanji of eagle that is read as Ying in Chinese and Taka in Japanese.)

「Now then, I wonder if she has a trump card that can deal with the  Knight of the Round Table’s 《magic sword》. Or perhaps there is a reason  that make her doesn’t want to use it……」

Riona analyzed the fighting with her usual intelligence.

She was perched on Ren’s right shoulder in the form of blue jay──”blue bird”.

They left cleaning up the cavalries that were commanded by Richard to  the guards and the 《mister zombies enlightened swordsman version》.

In addition, Cassandra who was born in Troia royal family that was a military family──.

Perhaps it was because of the instruction of her big brother, the  hero and famous general Hector, or perhaps because of her disposition  since birth, she was also amazingly capable as a general. The government  and economy of the Capital of Pleasure were taken care by Julio. While  the queen Cassandra was overseeing all the matters of the military.

That was why Ren and Riona could focus on “observing the enemy’s  movement” without worrying about the other happening around them.

「As I thought, Yukino has her hands full just with dodging.」

「About that Goshujin-sama. You can finally watch the way Mister  Richard fight directly──to be frank, can you win against that person?」

「I can. But, I don’t want to win right now.」

「I agree with that. We are still not in the phase to expose our true  identity brazenly. Then, let’s support the miss swordswoman a bit more.」

Riona looked puzzled after saying that.

「Even so……King Theodorick of the Capital of the Round Table who is  said to have killed King Arthur. I want to meet with the person directly  and ask him questions soon. Why is the knights of the Round Table who  are serving him──are people like King Richard Lionheart or Black Prince  Edward?」

「Is that strange?」

「Normally it should be knights like Lancelot or Galahad who fill the  roles. When talking about the Knights of the Round Table, those are the  super major names. Though recently those names has become familiar  characters of smartphone network games rather than in knight’s tale.」

「Aa. I remembered seeing those names from various games.」

「Well, it’s just……when speaking of the tale of King Arthur not as  myth or literature but as history, or rather as a falsified history, the  members of royalties of Plantagenet Dynasty starting from Richard I are  faaar more fitting to be characters who appear in the legend of  Arthur……」

「Hee!」

The extensive knowledge that Riona spoke of often pierced the truth of the matter.

Knowing that, Ren tried to listen to her every words. She mentioned  something about falsified history, in other words fake history. However  the battle situation in front of them rapidly changed.

「Ah. Yukino looks like she is going to do something.」

「Finally huh. Then let’s see what she got!」

After continuously avoiding around seventy or eighty beams that danced boisterously around her──

Yukino changed her 『stance』 with a fed up expression.

Until now she was always taking the stance of half body, where the  right half of her body was put at the front with her left half at the  back. It was literally a diagonal stance.

It was so that her body wouldn’t directly face the enemy. It was the basic of martial arts.

Median line──head, nose, jaw, solar plexus, body, crotch, those were  all vital parts of the body that were placed in a vertical line. With  the half body stance, those vital parts were kept away from enemy  attack.

However right now Yukino was standing imposingly and faced Richard straight.

Her right fist was sticking on her opened left palm.

「My ancestor Take Mikadzuchi, the war god and also the sword that  save the world! I ask your great self, become the divine sword of  salvation and appear in my hand!」

She yelled loudly.

Yukino began to pull out a sword from the palm of her left hand.

The blade that was shining platinum was beautiful. It was slim and  contained divine light in it. White radiance. It was the radiance that  displayed the descent of a holy one. The sword was really worthy to be  called a divine sword.

Yukino pulled that blade for around 50 cm from her left hand.

Her body was enveloped by the same light that dwelled inside the  divine sword──it neutralized the beams that attacked her from the magic  sword Escalibor and absorbed them!

「What!? Cursed witch, so you are also a user of magic sword!」

「Don’t joke like that! Don’t group the divine sword of salvation with the sword of someone like you!」

King Richard incorrigibly continued to fire his beams.

But, Yukino wasn’t affected at the slightest by this fierce attack  anymore. All the beams vanished. They were assimilated by the light that  protected the sword girl.

Meanwhile, Ren recalled a certain keyword.

「Divine sword of salvation, that’s the sword that appeared when our world ended!」

The strongest weapon in the universe. Created for the sake of annihilating all the godslayers.

Madam Aisha was the one who said that. Ren and others had also  witnessed the might of that divine sword. It was certainly a terrific  weapon.

「She should pull it out fully rather than halfway like that.」

「Her level isn’t enough for that even if she want to pull it out. Not yet……」

Riona perched on Ren’s right shoulder while muttering.

She opened the eyes of her blue bird form fully and gazed in wonderment.

「The sword is reborn as the descendant of the war god of the sword  Take Mikadzuchi. In other words, she is the same existence like me who  is the reincarnation of the sacred bird Yatagarasu! So……so that’s how it  is!」

Riona muttered passionately and added further.

「Rokuhara-san! This is the chance of a lifetime to win over the strongest hero in the making to our side!」

.

「Cut the sky, cut the earth, cut the four cardinal and four ordinal  directions──divine sword of salvation Take Mikadzuchi, bestow me your  miraculous virtue!」

「Leader Theo, give me more strength……into my Escalibor!」

The two of them called out to the weapon in their hands at the same time.

The light that was radiated by the divine sword of salvation. It  didn’t just protect Yukino alone, it was welling up so big that it even  swallowed King Richard Lionheart.

However, Richard’s body and the magic sword Escalibor also radiated orange light.

The light was swaying like flame. It somehow rejected and repelled the white light of salvation, protecting the Lionheart King.

「Fuh──. In the end it’s just a sword that is halfway unsheathed. It’s lacking strength to defeat me!」

「Preposterous! This divine sword isn’t so cheap that it need to fully  display itself juts to defeat the like of you! Be grateful that you can  even feast your eyes to a half of it!」

Yukino argued with the wounded lion while getting a shock.

Yes. If she fully pulled out this sword, she would be able to easily  crush the obstacle. If she swung the divine sword of salvation, the like  of Richard would be annihilated instantly.

She had such conviction and yet she couldn’t pull the sword out. It was vexing.

She had to hone her strength, her spirit, her heart even more to  reach even further height──! Now was the time she should become a pure  『sword』!

Yukino realized her own immaturity and fired up herself. It was then,

She received a “thought” that directly talked into her soul.

.

──Can you hear me, descendant of Take Mikadzuchi

.

「This voice, miss blue bird!?」

『I told you I’m Rio──cough, let’s talk about this again later. Let me be frank, actually you and I are a similar existence.』

「Eh?」

『You are a descendant of the war god of the sword Take Mikadzuchi and  his reincarnation. I too am a descendant of the sacred bird Yatagarasu  and its reincarnation. I am a genuine divine spirit of the ancient  country of the rising sun.』

「Then, miss bird is also a god descendant!?」

Yukino was having a telepathic conversation while showering Richard with the light of salvation.

The overly passionate and rowdy uncle was pouring all his strength  for defense, so there was no problem at all with her talking like this.

The blue bird girl returned a telepathic reply in exasperation.

『I told you, don’t treat me like a bird──argh, let’s talk about this  again later too. Anyway, Yamato is the great and splendid country! Take  Mikadzuchi and Yatagarasu, both of them have regional bond and spiritual  bond connecting each other as fellow divinity that has been talked in  the myth of ancient Japan. With those bonds, it’s also possible for me  to grant even more power to you……』

The blue bird Riona came flying toward her from somewhere.

She flew around Yukino’s face to display her presence. A strange  image was welling up in Yukino’s mind while she was watching that.

……The bird who talked human language, the color of her feathers was  mainly blue, but there were spots that were colored white, light blue,  or black.

That form transformed into the figure of a human maiden──Yukino saw such image.

It was a girl with a stubborn look and sharp gaze. Her hair was long  and her atmosphere was haughty like a queen. Her slender naked boy flew  around like a bird before she climbed up high to the sky.

And then the girl──transformed into the figure of a huge sacred bird.

She shined gold like the sun. The length of the wings that she spread  out was more than 20 meter. Blazing flame radiated from her whole body.

Yukino muttered after she hallucinated the image of dazzling bird of fire.

「The sky suddenly darkened──. A golden spirit of bird arrive and perch on the emperor’s bow……」

It was a myth that was passed down in Japan.

A golden sacred bird came and landed on the bow of Emperor Jinmu.  That was Yatagarasu. The sacred bird guided the ancestor of the imperial  household to escape successfully from the enemy territory, “the bird of  guidance”──.

And then now Yatagarasu returned back to her girl form and flew back toward Yukino.

「This is the proof of contract. Accept it.」

「Eh……c-could it be, you mean, that kind of──」

The flying girl brought her face closer slowly.

Her lips approached Yukino’s lips. As a high school student who  didn’t have that kind of experience with male, much less with female,  Yukino became greatly flustered.

「Miss bird, don’t tell me you are in love with me……!?」

「Don’t get strange misunderstanding like that! This is for forming a  contract, a pact, for transferring power to you! So it can’t be helped!  You understand that!?」

「Ah, r-right you are. If it’s something necessary and inevitable then, well, it can’t be helped……」

Yukino timidly accepted it in the world of imagination that she hallucinated.

The lips of the two teenage girls firmly pressed on each other. In  that instant, a tremendously powerful ki welled up in Mononobe Yukino’s  heart and body.

The hallucination ended right after that and she returned to reality.

There was King Richard who was forced into defense one-sidedly in  front of her eyes. He was enduring the light of salvation in desperation  by relying on the magic sword Escalibor.

「FUNUAAAAAAAAAAAH!」

「Really, you are just a too stuffy old man!」

Yukino was tired of the roaring Lionheart King and she moved her right hand.

The divine sword of salvation take Mikadzuchi that came out from left  hand, her hand had been tightly grasping its handle all this time. The  blade that came out until 50 cm from her hand──slid out even more.

The long katana with blade that was longer than one meter finally showed its majestic figure in full.

It had a slender blade with aura of refinement. However, there was no  doubting that this sword had toughness and sturdiness that no sword no  matter how great could rival.

The blade contained beautiful platinum radiance. It was the divine sword of devil king annihilation.

「HAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!」

The divine sword take Mikadzuchi swung horizontally.

Sword wind that blew away everything was created. The light of  salvation, the magic sword Escalibor that was blocking it, and also King  Richard Lionheart, everything was blown away.

The brightness that filled the battlefield was erased and the scenery returned to the green grassland.

(You did it. That was a splendid performance.)

「Miss blue bird! Thank you, this is thanks to you miss bird!」

The telepathy from the fire bird girl reached Yukino and she thanked her but,

(I told you don’t treat me like a bird-! You really are a slow girl!)

「S-sorry. I have a hasty side in me that I unconsciously……」

(Pay attention from here on to not keep doing that. ──Oh, as expected  from the number one knight of the Knight of the Round table. It looks  like he is still alive.)

A huge body fell from the sky with a thud *dosa-* on the ground.

It seemed the blond knight was threw high due to Yukino’s sword wind and he stayed for a while midair.

「Gu……uuuuuu……」

Richard powerlessly groaned while stabbing his magic sword on the  ground to use it as a cane replacement. He struggled to stand up.

However, he slumped forward and fell──

He vanished before his body hit the ground.

His body became small light particles that got absorbed into his  sword. The magic sword Escalibor, The king’s sword that he had been  wielding until now.

「Wha……what happened?」

Yukino tilted her head.

Then another person came from the sky. However, this time that person  didn’t fall but land on the ground. It was a youth with shining wings  of light growing from his back.

He had a face with delicate features and very slim body.

He had hair of deep gray color and violet eyes. His languid looking gaze was eye catching.

「I came here as support because it seems you are having a hard fight  but──it’s too bad Richard. You were unable to hold out until I arrive.」

The young man had an otherworldly atmosphere to him. With his features he could be called as a pretty boy without any problem.

He also resembled an angel somewhat with his wings. However, the  mantle and battle surcoat that he was wearing were the same like  Richard.

Most likely it was the “uniform” of the so called Knights of the Round Table.

The young man reached toward the magic sword Escalibor that was  stabbed into the ground and he caressed the handle as though to give  comfort before pulling it out.

After that he spoke very genially and warmly.

「Yaa. I am Theodorick. It looks like you have played with me retainer just now.」

「You are the lord of that annoying uncle──」

「My apologies but if I don’t return the favor for this somewhat, my  honor as a king……as a Campione will be besmirched. I’ll have you play  along with me a little.」

.

Part 6

「Theodorick-kun, are you……the Godslayer of Anti-Fate?」

「Yep. I’m often called that. I too have certainly introduced myself  like that many times. Anyway I am the king of the Capital of the Round  Table, the leader of the Knights of the Round Table.」

His self-introduction was really lighthearted despite introducing himself as a king.

Theodorick’s gaze was still languid. But, his talking tone was unexpectedly amiable and cheerful. However.

「And what about you? As the one leading this knight order, allow me to ask the name of my enemy.」

He easily declared his hostility as befitting the leader of the belligerent Richard.

Yukino instinctually felt it. The young man before his eyes was an  unprecedentedly powerful enemy. An indescribable terror and nervousness  welled up inside her.

(This feels like……when I’m training with Momotarou-sensei!)

Her handsome teacher was always gentle and kind.

He never raised his voice even during training. However, his  immeasurable strength and the greatness of his soul would be conveyed to  her when she confronted him. Yukino secretly feared that.

Right now she wondered just how powerful the person before her was.

And then she thought. This young man Theodorick was also an existence  that was nearly the equal of her martial arts teacher Godou Momotarou.  She could only confront him with the preparedness to die anytime…….

With that resolve in her chest, she introduced herself boldly.

「Mononobe Yukino──the one who is entrusted with the divine spirit of  salvation in order to defeat all the godslayers who gathered in this  Hyperborea! Now that you have introduced yourself as the Godslayer of  Anti Fate, allowing you to leave unchecked──is something that I can’t  do!」

「……I see. So you are an apostle who side with fate.」

The young king Theodorick slightly narrowed his languid eyes.

「Then you aren’t simply an enemy──I have to see you as my greatest  foe instead. After all if your words just now are true, you are the hero  of devil king extermination. The king who appear at the end of this  world.」

「I’m not someone that great but, Let’s have a fight──fair and square!」

「Very well. If you are pointing the divine sword of salvation toward  me, I shall accept the challenge with the very soul of my sworn friend  Richard.」

Theodorick lightly swung the magic sword Escalibor.

The young man who proclaimed that he was a Campione. The magic sword  had a long and large blade that didn’t fit his small stature.

It was the favorite sword of Richard, a large man who had the height of 190 cm.

Theodorick toyed with it as though it was a cutter knife before stabbing the magic sword into the ground in front of him.

「Let’s go, Excalibur. The weapon of Britain’s pride “the fake king  and war god. Surrender under the banner of me who murdered that  king──and summon the darkness!」

In respond to the words of power, the black sword that wras stabbed into the ground began to produce black waves.

It became a torrent that surged toward Yukino! Yukino immediately  lifted up the sword of salvation and liberated the divine light.

「Please, divine sword of salvation! Protect me──!」

(It’s not just this sword you know? There is other power that is protecting and assisting you.)

「Eh──? W-what’s this?」

Yukino who was holding her divine sword in middle stance was being enveloped in platinum aura.

It was like a dome of light. It was already a reassuring protection in this state, and yet the shining aura began to flare up.

Bluish white flame. The divine flame that scorched evil.

Protected by the blazing platinum light, the surging black waves  didn’t wound Yukino at the slightest even when it hit her directly.

「This is the flame of Yatagarasu that I saw just now……why is it around me?」

There was someone who saw through the trick even faster than the  astonished Yukino. Theodorick muttered「Hou」 with his languid gaze gazing  in wonderment.

「I see. This is two against one huh.」

(Yes! A divine spirit of ancient Japan is forming a tag team with  this girl to challenge the Campione who slew King Arthur! Because the  reincarnations of the sword of salvation and Yatagarasu──Toba Riona and  this girl are only half as strong as you at best when we are alone!)

That telepathy was let out from deep inside Yukino’s body.

This was the thought of Toba Riona──the girl who called herself the  reincarnation of Yatagarasu. However that thought also became a voice  that people in reality could hear and resounded outside commandingly.

(If the two of us become one, than we won’t be inferior even against a godslayer-sama!)

「Miss bird! So you are entering inside me!」

(Harmony of heaven and earth, harmony of fire and water, harmony of  yin and yang……originally even two people who are walking two different  paths can unite their heart and soul in harmony by relying on ancient  bond. The contract we exchanged is for this.)

That was how it was. The kiss before this had that kind of meaning──.

Yukino understood and felt moved. Riona’s thought called out further to her.

(So to speak this is a fusion, Japanese mythology version……on top of  that we can even become Super Saiyan if only for a short time. Just like  this.)

「──!?」

The “ki” that Yukino’s heart and body possessed was swelling up explosively.

Ki, it was also called as magic power or mystical force. Tha  authority or spiritual power that gods, god descendants, and magicians  used would be stronger the more powerful their ki was.

In that moment, an extremely powerful  lightning was released from the divine sword of salvation.

Of course it was the Sacred King Theodorick who got showered by that  lightning. The wings of light that grew from the small statured young  man’s back──the wings that had similar shape with bird wings swelled out  and enveloped its owner’s body.

「The authority that I usurped from the archangel Uriel《Wings of Radiant Heaven》……」

Theodorick spoke while being protected by his wings.

The lightning attack that Yukino and the divine sword unleashed  should have the power to burn a mountain thoroughly that not a single  tree would remain and turn the mountain into a bald mountain.

However, that giant lightning hit the young man’s wings and dispersed easily.

「It has been a long time since this wings were used for anything  other than flying. This might be──unexpectedly fun. Very well you two.  I’ll cancel my revenge for Richard. I’ll get back to a square one, from  here I’ll play a game for myself.」

The young man spoke with an amiable tone. However, he spewed out terribly haughty words.

「I command you two as the king, make me enjoy myself more.」

.

The “brethren” Theodorick who murdered King Arthur.

Rokuhara Ren finally managed to encounter his fellow Campione that he had heard from the rumors.

But, he had been staying under the tree where he was watching the  fight with Riona without moving anywhere. He wasn’t showing his presence  while fixing his eyes upon the way the “Sacred King” fought. The  battlefield had been moved to the sky right now.

「As expected from someone with angel wings. He is good with flying.」

「Well, that annoying daughter of sword god has the bird girl together  with him, so she will be alright. Look, she is flying around really  skillfully.」

On Ren’s left shoulder, his original partner Stella was sitting.

The two of them were looking up to the sky. There a supernatural dogfight was unfolding.

「Hahaha! I’m over here, try to catch up!」

「Kuuuh. He is completely playing around! That boy Theodorick, he is  absurdly nasty even though he has angelic appearance like that!」

(Having strange personality is the default of all the godslayers you know, the default.)

Theodorick flew in zigzagging trajectory and wouldn’t stop at one place.

He moved to up, down, left, right, and diagonal whimsically. He was  smirking while staring at Yukino who was desperately pursuing him.

Yes. Yukino too was flying while bluish white flame was enveloping her.

She borrowed the power of Riona who was Yatagarasu and flew through  the sky like a swallow that was riding the wind. She was somehow keeping  up even with Theodorick’s haphazard’s movement.

She was fighting evenly with Theodorick whether in speed or agility in the sky.

However, Yukino herself seemed to be bewildered.

「I’m good with flying straight in high speed, but doing something like this is my first time──」

She said without confidence.

However, the『queen』 who was dwelling inside her wouldn’t listen.

(That’s because of Take Mikadzuchi’s lightning attribute. So of  course you’re like that. But, right now the Yatagarasu, Toba Riona-sama  is guiding you. So fly properly.)

「Yes, Onee-sama!」

(O-Onee──!?)

「Because, I’m not allowed to treat you like bird right?」

(No, I said that but, acting like in 『Maria-sama ga Miteru』 these  days is also……wait, forget about that. Look at the front, front! We are  in the middle of battle right now-!)

「I get it. Leave it to me, Onee-sama!」

(…………)

The two girls were having a lively talk in a sense. Theodorick’s attack was approaching the two of them during that time.

The young king who possessed the magic sword Excalibur. However, he  didn’t use that sword for cutting──he wasn’t choosing the proper way to  attack with that sword.

「Change my existence itself into a『sword』. Advance together with me, Excalibur!」

He swung around the magic sword carelessly like a strategist swinging around his baton.

The black wave that immediately surged out from the blade enveloped  the young king in spherical shape. And then that sphere charged toward  Yukino like a cannon ball.

「HAAAAAAAAH!」

Yukino swung the divine sword of salvation horizontally, brushing away the black sphere.

That movement had been polished to the perfection to truly embody the  innermost secret of swordsmanship. It was a way of fighting that was  completely opposite to Theodorick who only used his sword in『his own  style』 to the end.

However, even when the slash of the divine sword landed,

「Fufufufu. Hero of salvation, you really provide me with a pleasant thrill. Keep it up just like that.」

「T-that condescending tone, this kid is really irritating!」

Theodorick calmly smiled even while flying like a tennis ball that had been hit by a racket. It vexed Yukino.

The black wave of Excalibur naturally was still going strong.

The damage must be almost zero. Ren muttered seriously.

「That Theo-san, if his bad personality is excluded, he is unexpectedly similar with Kusanagi-senpai isn’t he?」

Ren had quickly called his “brethren” with a nickname. He continued with a low muttering.

「Like how he won’t use a sword like a sword. Or like how he treasure his comrade.」

「Aa, you are talking about that uncouth fellow. We haven’t heard any  rumor about him recently. I wonder what he is doing right now. But  forget about that Ren, do you notice?」

Stella whispered an advice into his ear as befitting his partner.

「Ren’s mystical force is poured into the sword girl through your bond  with the bird girl but──unlike the bird girl, that sword girl isn’t  your official follower. Her body won’t hold out for long.」

「Looks like it. Riona is also worried about the same thing.」

「If the battle isn’t concluded quickly, she is only going to get  toyed around by that Theodorick. The daughter of the sword god will only  run out of strength on her own……」

Rokuhara Ren and Toba Riona were connected to each other by his third authority the Contract of Wings.

It was a power that he usurped from the winged goddess Nike.

The authority turned someone who could fly as Rokuhara Ren’s  partner──turning them into a part of himself and strengthening them. It  was also possible to share the 『vast mystical force of Campione』  that  Ren possessed using that authority. If Riona used that to unleash  Yatagarasu’s flame and heat beam, the force would be boosted to an  incomparable degree.

Actually even now she was doing that.

Ren was sending mystical force to Riona and Riona shared that with  Yukino. The power of the two god descendants got greatly increased by  that.

「This too is because of how useless that bird girl is!」

Stella spoke angrily.

「Because she got caught by the annoying witch Luo Hao and cursed to  become a bird! Far from transforming into the bird of fire, due to the  curse she can’t even take her human form!」

「I myself still can’t ise Nemesis-san’s authority right now. Our battle strength has been harshly reduced.」

Ren smiled wryly and grumbled.

Umayado no Ouji and Toba Fumika had built the Empire of the Dead.  When they heard that, Ren and others hurriedly returned to Hyperborea  while wondering what had happened.

After that too many things happened──

Riona got cursed by her master, Sect Founder Luo Hao. She was told to  stay as a small bird until the day came when she was able to break the  curse with her own strength.

Since then, she was staying in the form of blue jay while being unable to unleash all the ability that she possessed.

Ren himself was also losing his first authority, Retributive Justice.

It was the authority that he usurped from Goddess Nemesis. A power  that granted Rokuhara Ren godspeed escape and performing 『cross counter』  to counter the enemy’s attack in various forms.

The decisive duel where the universe of Ren and others got destroyed by Goddess Athena, that battle felt nostalgic right now.

In order to reset the destruction of the world at that time, Ren  borrowed the strength of 『the last hope』and applied Retributive Justice  with a strength that he might only be able to exert once in a lifetime.

The army of the end that destroyed the world. He told his authority to bring down the hammer of justice toward their evil act.

『I’m begging you, Nemesis-san. The main culprit that destroyed every  living thing……the beasts of the end, grant them the suitable retribution  together with me!』

Ren received all kinds of assistance and his wish was realized──

The world recovered its form before it was destroyed. But, there was a  compensation that had to be paid for attempting such impossible feat  that surpassed the limit. Rokuhara Ren became unable to use the  authority of Retributive Justice and things reached to this point.

「Well, it’s pointless to keep thinking about things that has been lost.」

The natural optimist Ren grinned lightheartedly.

「If we don’t have battle strength, we just need to adjust the way we  fight to take that into account. For now let’s do our best with the  『ninja』 tactic that Riona and I thought up!」

「I guess. There are several of Ren’s “brethrens” who know your true identity but──」

Stella spoke seriously.

「They are a bunch who almost never form faction or exchanging  information with each other. Rather all of them are rambunctious bunch  who will immediately quarrel with each other when they met……. At present  even if that Theodorick doesn’t know about Ren’s true identity.」

「In addition I still have my first partner Stella with me.」

Ren smiled cheerfully and requested the small goddess sitting on his left shoulder.

「That thing we talked about, I’m counting on you. ……Goddess  Aphrodite. I want you to use the Circle of Friend that you have for my  sake.」

「Yes. ──Please come lightning god Thor! O lighting god who reign over the savage land of the north where wind and snow dance!」

Stella stood up straight on Ren’s shoulder and yelled loudly.

The belt that was wrapped around her small waist was shining in rose  color. It was the divine tool that Stella, the goddess of beauty  Aphrodite possessed. When she wore it, she could manipulate the feeling  of love and friendship as she pleased. Even the gods couldn’t oppose its  miraculous effect.

But, that was only if the target was right nearby.

Lightning god Thor had gotten along well with Stella in the past. He was a resident of Norse mythology.

The call of friendship from someone who was in a different  mythological world wouldn’t reach──or that was how it should be, and  yet.

「Please come, lightning god Thor! Right now the multiverse is full of  what the humans call space distortion. Countless passages has appeared  and there are bypaths that connect world with world everywhere! If it’s  now then even your great self should be able to come to Hyperborea.  That’s why, please come lightning god Thor!」

『────Ou!』

There was finally a reaction at the third call.

The sunny sky suddenly darkened and dark clouds appeared.  *DOOOOOOOONN!* Thunder roared and a streak of lightning fell in front of  Ren and Stella.

Burnt smell and smoke rose, and then after they vanished,

「Long time no see, my small friend from foreign country. There is no  way I can ignore a call from you. Even now lightning god Thor is still  the protector of justice and also your friend.」

「Thank you Thor, we need your assistance!」

Stella spoke her gratitude with a wide smile.

The young man who landed showily on one knee on the ground had blond  hair and blue eyes. He looked very handsome. And above all else, he was  very manly with his muscular body.

His huge body was wearing chainmail and red mantel.

His right hand was covered with a steel gauntlet and──holding a  hammer with short handle, Mjolnir. It was the weapon that could be said  as the representative of the lighting god that was the pride of Norse  mythology.

.

「Listen you godslaying beast! I have arrived in respond to the call  of my friend! The name of the man who shall become your enemy from now  is the lightning god Thor!」

At the sky where godslayer Theodorick and Yukuno were chasing each other──

A large man introduced himself in a sweltering way and intruded into their fight.

Furthermore crackling sparks and electricity were scattered from his  whole body while he came flying. The thick hammer in his hand was swung  down toward Theodorick.

「What──Thor? Ooh!?」

Theodorick’s gaze had been languid all this time.

His composed stance had never crumbled until now, but for the first time he showed a shocked expression right now.

His wings of light──the Wings or Radiant Heaven immediately covered  his body and blocked the hammer attack. However lightning surged the  instant the deadly hammer hit.

*DOooooOOOOON!*

Theodorick’s body was sent flying due to the lightning strike that showered him from point-blank range.

The small statured godslayer flew through the sky like a billiard  ball that got hit by a cue. His astonished face looked like an innocent  youth.

「Why is a great hero of the Norse is in a place like Hyperborea?  Lightning god Thor, even I know about your name and great achievement  you know!?」

「That is excellent. Well, don’t ask me about the trivial matter. Actually I myself don’t really know how I am here.」

「That’s, well……. Hahaha, today is a day with many interesting things. It’s really a good day.」

This rapid development made Theodorick to chuckle with shaking shoulders.

He lifted up Excalibur while laughing. Black wave enveloped him and  he charged toward the lightning god Thor after transforming into a  cannon ball.

「Very well, Thor. I’ll have you amuse me with a game too.」

「Umu! You can’t call yourself a warrior if you aren’t like that. I accept your challenge, godslayer!」

The black wave and lightning god’s hammer clashed.

Yukino was dumbfounded seeing the air battle that suddenly began, while inside her, Toba Riona was nodding in understanding.

(As expected, the wiles of the goddess of love is more effective than  normal in Hyperborea. My hypothesis is completely correct. As expected  from me!)

「W-what do you mean, Onee-sama?」

(The mini girl who is together with Rokuhara-san, she is actually the  goddess of beauty and love Aphrodite…….though she is a mere shadow of  her former self. Even now she has a lot of past lovers and male friends  from the past, so she also can request for assistance when in time of  emergency.)

「That girl is also a goddess-sama!? Unbelievable!」

(More importantly you’re your name is Yukino right? Right now is a  chance of a lifetime. Become a double thunder together with Thor and hit  Theodorick with a big one. It’s like putting fire and fire together to  get a flame!)

「Y──yes!」

(That’s a good reply, Yukino!)

Yukino focused with the encouragement of the Onee-sama who was the reincarnation of Yatagarasu.

She sublimated all her thoughts to completely become a sword──.

The raging lightning god and the young king enveloped in black wave  closed the distance and collided before immediately separating from each  other, then they would clash again. Such battle was unfolding.

Yukino was also butting into that battle with all her power and speed.

「YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!」

She thrust the divine sword of salvation straight while rushing  forward with lightning surging from her whole body just like Thor. She  transformed into a lightning that was holding a sword and struck at  Theodorick with a double handed thrust using all her body’s strength……!

「Mu──!?」

Until now Theodorick only showed an expression that was half playing around toward Yukino.

However the Sacred King Theodorick finally began to ascend steeply  with a serious expression. He judged that it was difficult to endure the  lightning god Thor and the hero of devil king extermination at the same  time.

「You bastard, where are you going!?」

Thor yelled angrily. And then Yukino chased after Theodorick.

Straight. Straight. Straight. In order to not allow Theodorick to  raise his altitude to take distance from them, she too was also closing  the distance by ascending to straight above.

Most likely Theodorick had no knowledge of swordsmanship.

That was why he didn’t know about tactics of interval. Interval  wasn’t just about distance. Opportunity, timing. Tempo and rhythm.  『Interval』 took all of that into account. Yukino’s instinct as a  swordsman was telling her. She wouldn’t be able to finish him off if she  didn’t corner him in this chance!

「Kuh……reach!」

「No. Your divine sword of salvation won’t reach──what?」

In that instant, Theodoric decelerated for some reason. It looked like that.

That was enough for lightning. Yukino closed the distance in an instant.

Theodorick immediately wrapped his body with his wings of light.

And then, the tip of the divine sword pierced the shielding wings and stabbed the young king’s slender body together──

(The secret words of fire and sun, I ask for the purification and exorcism of every sin and impurity!)

「We the descendant of the god Chihayafuru pray, that nothing is  beyond our reach──the stroke of my sword of cloud shine shall also  become a blade that purify the impurity!」

Yatagarasu’s flame and the lightning of sword god were poured into Theodorick’s body.

「O──OOOOOOOOO!?」

The shriek of the young Campione echoed through the sky.

He glanced at Yukino with languid eyes before brushing away the  divine sword of salvation with magic sword Excalibur. Then without  pause──he flew away with a tremendous speed.

「W-wai……e-eh? Why is it, my heart is pounding really hard.」

(The super saiyan transformation is going to hit the limit soon it  seems. Yukino, return to the ground. The time is up already. The  godslayer-sama has also vanished to who know where.)

Yukino was breathing hard. Riona warned her with telepathy.

(Those people will become a tenacious creature that play really dirty  the more they are cornered. Your journey will be an absurdly difficult  trial for you if you want to exterminate all of them.)

「Looks like it, Onee-sama……」

Her heart was beating so fiercely it felt painful.

It seemed her body couldn’t be forced any further than this. Yukino slowly lowered her altitude toward the ground.

.

「Just now……what did they do to me?」

Theodorick instantly took the decisive measure of retreating.

He flew through the sky while feeling puzzled. At that time there was  certainly some kind of force that was obstructing Theodore’s flight──.

Perhaps he was over thinking it.

Anyway Theodorick was thinking just like the godslaying beast that he was.

Right now he should get a fresh start to rest his wounded body. The  vitality of them “Campione” was vigorous to an excessive degree. He  would quickly return to perfect health soon…….

.

「I have gotten really used to my new authority too.」

「Looks like it. You should get the most out of it in exchange of  losing Nemesis’s authority in the commotion with that stupid goddess  Athena.」

Rokuhara Ren grinned on the ground. Stella was also spurring him on his shoulder.

Ren looked up at Yukino who was slowly descending from the sky. There  was certainly a rainbow colored luster dwelling in his left eye.

But it only lasted briefly.

The luster had vanished completely when Yukino landed on the ground and his eye returned to its normal state.