CHAPTER 6
THE DATE
This was Kusanagi Godou's last day in sunny Sardinia, after two weeks of hectic godslaying action.
After that Kamikaze attack on Verethragna and Melqart, Godou had sworn to himself and whatever gods there were in the [Realm of Immortality] that he would never ever entangle himself in magic, let alone go up against gods, only if he survived that ridiculous, foolish but heroic attempt.
'And now they (gods) have even more reason to hate me.' - thought Godou as he almost regretted breaking that oath.
But Erica's life was in jeopardy that time and annihilating that fake [Heretic god] was the only way to save her. Somehow the blonde knight had become somewhat 'precious' to the Campione and it was much more than her outer appearance.
Everything about her was alluring to Godou, her chivalry, her (attempted) teasing, her seriousness and also her frightened form, when she revealed it, trusting Godou. And now, they must part, a knight following her [King] and a [King] returning to his kingdom. It was truly unfortunate that the [King] was not the same person in both sentences.
"You look sentimental today, Godou, missing me already?'' Erica Blandelli spoke up, noticing the spaced out look on the Campione's face. Her tone was light but carried a hidden burden as well.
"I will." Godou replied quietly and instinctively. Whatever retort Erica had planned for Godou's reply immediately died down in her throat. Her face went red, as Godou's eyes focused on Erica's.
"I-Idiot! It's not like we're dying or anything! S-Stop being so melodramatic!" Erica quickened her pace as she couldn't look at Godou directly.
Godou wisely trailed behind Erica, not to provoke her further.
In twenty minutes they reached the town market, walking at a steady pace. This was the perfect place of souvenirs from Caligri, along with authentic local products. Accompanying and aiding Godou on this shopping hunt was Erica's final duty as his temporary knight.
"Look Godou!" Erica pulled Godou towards an antique shop, in mock excitement, most likely to dispel the rather serious and awkward situation between them. Catching on to her intent, Godou hurried along with her in the small, dusty shop, kept by a rather grumpy looking old man.
The object of Erica's interest was a necklace, with five blood red stones, each one tear shaped with the middle one being the largest. Judging by the faint curse-like magic aura it was giving off, the stones were modified by a magician, or more likely a sorcerer. The necklace was haphazardly displayed on a mundane wooden frame behind the glass window, with a price tag of 500 Euros, easily the most exotic item one would find in this little shop in an alley.
Erica promptly told the shopkeeper to pack the product and seal the deal, completely unfazed by the unreasonable price of it. The grumpy Ojii-san's expression morphed into one of greed when the ten 50 Euro notes were produced before him by the ojou-sama of one of the oldest knight lineage with an ancient and proud history.
It was clear that Erica intended to buy the necklace for herself, but Godou wouldn't let it happen. He pulled Erica out of the shop just before she could buy it.
"What?!" Erica glared at him almost harshly.
The corner of Godou's lips slightly pulled up at Erica's childish behaviour, although something like puffing cheeks and crossing arms world be totally against Erica's queenly poise. As expected, the [Great Knight] managed to look childish and womanly at the same time.
"That necklace had a curse on it, Erica. You should keep away from harmful things." Godou chided the blonde girl gently.
"Those level of curses from run of the mill magicians holds nothing against I, Erica Blandelli, the soon to be [Diabolo Rosso] of [Copper Black Cross]!"
Erica put a hand on her chest and declared fearlessly. If they weren't in an alley away from the public's view, a crowd would surely have gathered to witness the sheer majesty radiating from Erica Blandelli.
"My Campione instincts are warning me, Erica. Best leave it as the chances of it being a tracking device are quite high." Godou attempted to pacify the raging knight.
Erica wasn't fully convinced, judging by the scrutinizing gaze she sent his way every now and then while walking out the alley. Maybe she expected some ulterior motive from the Campione. If that was the case, she would be right as the Devil King covertly memorized the direction to that particular antique shop.
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After two hours of shopping, Erica carried only a small poster bag while Kusanagi Godou beside her had his hands, arms and back occupied by dozens of various shapes and sizes, class and colour.
You can always count on Erica to fearlessly hand over her luggage to a godslaying Devil King Campione, without a moment of contemplation or consideration. Even so Godou didn't really mind as making a lady carry things would be unsavoury and unsightly.
Godou had bought a frilly red dress for Shizuka, a pink summer skirt for Yuri and a blue one for Asuka. Each had a matching hat and a pair of shoes to go with it. For Ojii-san and Okaa-san, Godou hunted down some special vintage wine, a speciality of Sardinia which is rumoured to prolong one's lifespan. Although the sheer amount of wine Godou was taking back to Japan should have been illegal, Erica assured him that she would personally contact some 'friends' of hers.
After a hard day's shopping, the two of them settled down at a roadside cafe. Godou ordered a black coffee while Erica would have a cappuccino. While not experimental, Erica would have all types of food when necessary, like Goku or Saber, a warrior whose purpose of eating was only to replenish energy. But like any other ojou-sama, Erica Blandelli would rather prefer classy food when given the opportunity. But this mundane cafe had no such privileges.
In the end, Erica picked mushroom ravioli and Godou followed suit. The food was good and satisfying but not quite delicious.
After some minor talk, a peaceful silence settled at the table over some fruit juice.
Erica observed that Godou started typing something in his cell phone with great concentration.
Focussing her eyesight on Godou's retina and using [Enhancement] on her eyesight, Erica discovered that Godou was keeping some kind of log about the supernatural.
-Met Bishonen God
-Met Golden Bishojo
-Met Witch
-Travelled with Erica
-Met Bodybuilder God
-Killed both gods
-Erica possessed by Beel bo.
-Fought Bael
-Kissed both Erica & Witch
-On a date with Erica
-Ended with a kiss
-Don't look into my eyes that seriously. People getting jealous... : P
Erica suddenly jerked up and found Godou smiling at her. And like he said, or written, the nearby men were all looking at them enough rapt attention and black auras spewing out of them.
"...damn guy..."
"... Average bastard like him..."
"...kyaa... how passionate..."
The last muttering was from a guy, wearing uncommon clothes (Colourful and ...Revealing), looking at Godou with strangely passionate eyes.
-So there are proofs like him, even here...
Erica innocently thought.
-But more importantly... Date? Kiss?! That over egotistical Bastard!
Erica's thought turned to the Devil King in front of him. Technically forcing a knight on a date and coercing a kiss isn't beyond a King's right. As the absolute Lord of all men, magi or otherwise, Campione possessed the power to do as they pleased. Taking the innocence of a mere girl is rather docile on a King's standard.
But Erica had her pride and honour, that which wouldn't bow before a (rookie and Casanova) King.
"Like it or not it's a date and I am going to kiss you before the day's done." Godou clearly announced with an utterly confident smile.
"Well see…"Replied Erica, a vein popping out of her head. She seriously needed to stay on her guard for this day.
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After the shopping, Godou told Erica to return to Lucretia's house where they had been staying for the past few days. Erica didn't protest, mainly because she was staying on her guard for the 'bet' they made. It was probably best if Erica spent as less time as possible with the Devil King of the East.
Godou recalled the location of the old antique shop and started walking towards it. In the late afternoon shades, the shop looked haunted, denying even a ray of light into itself. The grim face of the shopkeeper was sure to deter the customers on the off chance that the eerie atmosphere didn't deter them already.
Godou entered the shop nonchalantly, ignoring the barbed gaze of the shopkeeper who obviously held him responsible for taking away his customer. But with a wave of the Godslayer's hand, the old man collapsed on the floor, snoring.
Godou's eyes scanned the shop, finally resting on the blood red necklace on display. The Devil King actually lied to Erica, as there was indeed nothing overtly frightening about that necklace, which would be unable to cause harm to even an average person, let alone [Great Knight} Erica Blandelli. But still, the necklace felt a little off as all red stones seemed to Godou after watching [Full Metal Alchemist].
- They could really be made of blood or even human souls, granting the wearer absolute power or something similar…
Urged on by such thoughts, Godou picked the necklace up and flared his Divine Aura, intending to dispel whatever spell there was on the necklace. This wasn't [Disaster Purification] which is a magic that counters magic, but a forceful neutralization of spells through saturating the vicinity with overwhelming mana. There wasn't a guide to this as no magi would be capable of 'overwhelming' magic unless he or she was a god or Campione. This method was purely on the basis of trail and error.
But it worked well enough as the 'stones' turned liquid and spilled all over Godou's arms, dripping on the floor, leaving only the silver chain. The red liquid gave of an aromatic scent, like those found in human . . . . . . . . . . . resturants.
Indeed this stones were made of [Tomato Sauce] and sells for 500 euros.
'What a fucking rip off…" Godou raged as he entered the door behind the counter, uninvited and unceremoniously stepping over the KOed shopkeeper. As expected, the little room with a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling looked like an amateur magician's lair. On a table, there was a magic guide book of sort, containing alchemic reactions and circles of various sizes and designs, nothing too advanced. The page opened displayed how to turn liquid into solids, strengthening the molecular attraction and adding lustre and iron in it for rigidity. Its not that Godou wouldn't understand these, but the normal method of learning would take more time than Godou was willing to spend.
[Partial Invocation] was a simple magic that allowed a miniature portion of any spell to be activated, sacrificing strength in favour of speed, as it didn't require any chant. Naturally, as a Campione applied [Partial Invocation], it would work on an [Authority] as well. Godou applied it on the [Warrior], able-ing him to understand the grimoire in seconds.
But cheap materials would hardly be worthy of adorning Erica's neck and the only adequate red liquid that came to mind at the moment was Godou's own blood. Manifesting a pocket knife, Godou gashed his own palm without hesitance. Oddly fascinated, Godou watched the red liquid that sustained his life flow freely on the table and drip on the flood, in a constant stream from his wound, until it healed naturally.
Godou merely willed it as the blood began to condense at a single location on the floor. Then it turned into five portions, oddly looking like mercury, albeit a rich red colour. They condensed over and over again, obtaining a black surface with a reddish hue and finally solidified into five stones, shaped exactly like miniature swords. Four were long swords while the last was larger and had a broader blade.
'As expected.' Godou complimented himself, picking up the stones and saturating them with his divine aura. This was a sure-fire way to win the bet.
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By the time that Godou returned, Erica and Anna had finished packing everything neatly in the extra luggage they borrowed from Lucretia. Erica would just throw in everything into her personal dimension, but Godou wanted to avoid looking suspicious in front of his magically ignorant family. The wine bottles were neatly stacked in Styrofoam in a huge suitcase while the cloths were kept in another smaller one. Godou's personal belongings were haphazardly kept in his duffle bag.
"Thanks Anna, Erica." Godou said as he popped the cork of wine bottle from Lucretia's own cellar. It was regular red wine, and didn't fizzle out like champagne. Everyone was poured a cup, including Lucretia who had been silently observing Erica and Arianna without even offering her help as it was unnecessary for the most part.
"To a hard week's godslaying!" Godou toasted as everyone followed suit. Godou and Erica avoided drinking too much as their flights were scheduled on that night. But on the other hand, Lucretia and Arianna were completely wasted and the former hugged Godou all the while, squishing him between her ridiculously big breasts, not that the Godslayer seemed to mind being spoiled by the 60+ year old woman, who, by all logic, should look as old as his grandfather.
After they (finally) passed out, Godou carried them both to Lucretia's room and tucked them in.(Although the fact that it was hard for Godou to concentrate when looking at Lucretia's revealing lingerie and Arianna's moe maid clothes, need not be mentioned). Anna was going to stay with Lucretia for a few weeks more, under the excuse of learning magic, but for doing household chores in reality.
They still had about two and a half hours left, and so Godou dragged Erica outside the house, under the pretext of stargazing. The blonde was still at guard and determined to win the bet and preserve her 'dignity' from the clutches of the Devil King. But such actions weren't unexpected for Godou.
They both laid down on the grass, after much nagging on Godou's part. Although initially cloudy, the sky soon revealed all the sparking stars it had in it's arsenal (While Godou internally thanked Melqart). As if splitting the sky in two, lied the maginificent Milky Way.
"As Heracles suckled on Hera's bosom, he was grant godlike abilities. When Hera awoke, out of repulsion, she pushed the infant away, spilling her milk onto the skies." Erica spoke out of the blue, as both their attentions were focused on the domineering presence of the galaxy they were in.
A month ago, Godou would be instantaneous in rejecting that idea, with hard facts and logic, owing to his pragmatic nature. But now, under the sky, the mythological ideas were quite mystifying and romantic in a sense.
"Vagahn, Verethragna's composite god was said to spill some straws on the sky while he stole them from Assyrian King Basham in winter. In East Asia, we believe it to be the Silvery River of Heaven, the path made between two lovers by magpies and crows." Godou spoke of what he learned recently, on a whim. Although both sides knew the myths related to Milky Way, it was still pleasant to talk about it.
"When I was young, I mean younger, I used to travel all over Japan with Ojii-san, who was a folklore professor at a prestigious university. Although it mostly related to yokai and other myths, I still enjoyed reading Ojii-san's research papers. But one was more particular than the rest. He wrote that the gods added five of Asia's greatest smiths amongst the constellations, in the form of red stars. Among them are Murasama Seng, Musamune Okazaki, Gab Jiang , Mo Ye and Ou Yeji." Godou said nostalgically.
"Fufufu… There's nothing like that, Godou. What are you playing at?"Erica was quicky to refute his claim.
"There is! I can see it, can't you?' Godou pointed to the edge of the horizon with his hand, while still lying down.
Erica peered at the directions and strangely there indeed was a majestic red glow on the horizon, even though it was nowhere near dawn.
-It had to be a trick! NO WAY GODOU CAN ACTUALLY CREAT CELESTIAL BODIES! Even a Campione should have LIMITS!
Erica screamed mentally as she strained her eyes at the red glow. Was it Godou's [White Stallion] or another [Heretic God]?!
The red glow was getting closer and closer at an amazing pace. It was red and not white, so it couldn't be the [White Stallion]. As it was approaching Godou, it must be a [Heretic God]. But Erica's intention of getting up was foiled by Godou who pushed her down with the back of his hand, lightly.
" It's the Heavens bringing you proof of my claim, Erica. Just watch!" Godou spoke as the red meteor crashed barely five meters away from the place they were lying on. Godou's barrier blocked the hear and shockwave it produced. Lucretia's house was in a desolate place and likely no one would notice it for a while longer.
Godou got up and pulled Erica up as well. The crater was about two meters wide and a meter deep and in the middle laid a single necklace with five red stones exactly in the shape of miniature swords, like the one Erica wanted to buy, but better, more radiant and majestic for a divine aura radiated from it.
That meteor was a mix of partially invoked [White Stallion], [Alternate Dimension], [Illusion], [Metal Suggestion] and [Light] magic, prepared by Godou since the evening.
"The Heavens bring you proof. You cannot refute the Heavens…" Godou spoke in a sagely tone as he gestured towards the necklace. With resolute steps, Erica picked it up.
"I see. This is the [Necklace of the Heavens] while the one I desired had been the [Necklace of Earth]?" Erica played along with Godou, barely holding back her laughter.
"Yes indeed, little butterfly. The one upon which you cast a longing gaze was the [Necklace of Earth] indeed, made of the finest ingredients on the lands. But the [Necklace of the Heavens] far outmatch any necklace that is made of mere tomato sauce." Godou spoke as he approached Erica from behind.
"Tomato sauce? Alchemy was it? So that's why… So Godou what is this [Necklace of the Heavens] made of?"
"Finally believing I see. It is a part of me, of course. I cannot let you wear tomato sauce, unless I'm the one licking it off." Godou spoke as he stood directly behind Erica, their bodies almost touching.
Godou delicately lifted the necklace of Erica's palm and closed it around Erica's neck, lifting her golden mane. Even the sight of her neck was somehow arousing…
"Turn around. Lemme see." Godou ordered and Erica did as she was told. The red stones looked regal, sharply in contrast to Erica's unblemished, but slightly tanned skin. Erica had a slight blush as she subconsciously avoided looking at the Devil King who was clad in a black shirt and white jeans.
"Mmmm!"
No sooner had Erica noticed that her guard was down than she felt a pair of lips encompassing her own. Her augmented strength was rendered null against Godou's [God Strength]. Godou wasted no time in pushing down Erica on the hot, sloping surface of the crater while still sealing her lips with his own.
Erica found herself pinned down as before, with Godou on top of her. His tongue once again dominated her own, leaving nothing untouched.
After what seemed like hours, Godou ended his forceful kiss, opting to divert his attention to Erica's ears and necks, alternatingly nibbling, licking and kissing the smooth surface of Erica Blandelli's body.
The ground was hot, although not enough to harm Erica. But still the warmth of the ground below and Godou's body which was pressed against her from above made her arousal stronger. Erica seriously turned out to be an M, secretly and subconsciously relished the feeling of Godou taking his liberty with her body.
- NO NO NO! RESIST!
"G-Get off me, you fiend!" Erica screamed much to Godou's amusement. HE let out a low chuckle as his hot breath sent shivers down Erica's spine.
"The necklace… has an aphrodisiac effect… you feel it, right?" Godou whispered seductively into her ear. His hands traced Erica's figure, but avoiding any crucial parts.
The aura radiated by the necklace had that kind of effect?! Erica cursed mentally at her own stupidity and also at her wilful body which clearly revelled in all the attention Godou was paying to it.
Panting softly, Godou brought his face directly above Erica's, looking straight into her blue eyes.
"Kiss me…" He whispered.
-Like I have a choice!
Erica's thoughts and physical will were in complete disarray. After a second of hesitation, Erica resolved herself and wrapped her limbs around Godou's body, pulling in him for a deep, smothering kiss.
Under the Milky Way, the Devil King and his knight engaged in passion no ordinary fifteen year old should e capable of. After the ordeal, both of them were left breathless, but still almost fully clothed. They did indeed have an intense make out session, but neither of them really inintiated anything beyond that, chosing other ways to relieve their arousal.
"The necklace didn't have aphrodisiac effects, did it?" Erica asked as Godou was still hugging her lightly from the side.
"Do I look like a trickster to you?" Godou replied while breathing in the exotic and intoxicating scent of Erica's hair.
"Why don't you ask Melqart and Verethragna about that?" Erica replied with a smile and a light kiss, while her hand caressed the red stones on her neck.
So that's it for the sixth chapter in the current time line.
I'm also planning on killing Vorban. So I need more [Authorities] of him, so that he can fight all out against Godou and get slain fabulously. Please suggest extra authorities for Vorban and Luo Hao, so I can provide epic battle scenes.
Sayonara, reader-san!