Finally! I finally got this out!
Magic in Life chapter 4!
A pitiful chapter size but this is more of a filler till the more serious stuff comes along.
10 September 20XX
In the past I was called Joel.
In the present I am called Joel.
In the future I will still be called Joel.
I have forsaken my past, faked my present and sacrificed my unknown future for my goals.
I will not be stopped by anyone. No God nor Mortal shall stand in my way till I find her.
Yet the whole of my identity boils down to the name "Joel", the only thing that I could call my own.
My Authorities were usurped and stolen from three Gods and do not represent who I am, my possessions of past and present were given to me and could be easily taken back at a mere whim, my personality a fake that is shown to those that have not yet earned my trust.
Only the name "Joel" is able to fully represent the Campione that is I and even then it is only a general grasp of the person I am.
"A Campione – a Godslayer – is a supreme ruler.
Since he can kill a celestial being, he can therefore call on the sacrosanct, divine powers wielded by the gods.
A Campione – a Godslayer – is a lord.
Since the power to kill a deity is in his hands, he therefore looms over all mortals on Earth.
A Campione – a Godslayer – is a devil.
Since of all mortals who live in the world, none can assume a power to match his!"
What does that tell you?
It tells you that I am awesome and that you should not mess with me.
A fluke it might be but a win was a win and I still became a Campione that day, now if only I can remember what actually happened to that other God that day.
But that is just my own incessant ramblings, so pay no heed to it.
The sun was shining quite brightly and one might have wondered whether Phoebus Apollo was scorning the earth and laughing at it while he rode his sun chariot through the sky. Unfortunately, there had been no reports of Heretic Apollo appearing anywhere in the world ever since Sasha Dejanstahl Voban had defeated him and usurped one of his Authorities a few hundred years ago.
It was lunch break and the group was on the roof enjoying their lunch.
Lilianna Kranjcar, Godou Kusanagi, Shizuka Kusanagi, Erica Blandelli, Yuri Mariya and I were all chatting about the usual things, like how Godou should keep his unquenchable lust under control or Erica would help him. This would then start the ranting of Yuri and Shizuka of how one should behave where Shizuka would try to scold Godou while Yuri deals with Erica. Liliana would then defend Godou as his "knight" and I would look upon the scene with a small smile.
If someone had told me that a few months ago that I would run away from home and run to Italy before coming to Japan with a new sister then I would have asked them there and then to jump off some high rise building, preferably one that was at least 40 stories tall. Now? I could not really imagine life without all of them; they had become part of my life just as I have become part of theirs.
Liliana had been a really great help in helping me integrate into the Kranjcar family though Grandfather played a big part too. True to his word, Grandfather did not allow word of my status to spread and so far he was the only one that knew of me being a Campione. I was part of the family but in the end, I would never be considered a true Kranjcar no matter what Liliana says. It was unsaid but from the looks of the people I could tell, they saw me as nothing other than someone who got lucky, as someone who wormed into their society and as someone beneath them despite the true difference in our status. Even at that very moment, there was a good chance that someone was plotting how to take me out of the whole picture. Gramps no doubt also has some plans of his own that makes use of me.
It was quite a month I must say. Very fun and also very useful. The knowledge of the both the libraries of the Kranjcar family and the Bronze-Black Cross now sits at the back of my head, ready to be used against any Heretic God that might appear thanks to my use of [Wisdom]. While [Wisdom] does give near instantaneous insight on any Divinity or magic that I face, doing things the hard way makes the process easier and allows me to more accurately spot the distortions that the God has gone through by breaking away from their myth.
It near the end of August when Liliana said that she would head to Japan. It was the result of Godou thoughtlessly consenting when she told him "I'd stay by his side as his knight." So I blame him.
Coming to Japan was quite eye opening and culture shock ran its course even though I tried to prepare myself for it. Before they knew it, Liliana and I, who had arrived in Japan at the end of August, had decided to study abroad. The first impressions that I made….Well, it was unique, I guess? All in the name of not drawing attention to myself I assure you.
.
.
.
2 Weeks back
"Ok class, today we got two students from Italy who have transferred into our class. So please treat them kindly from now on. The two of you please come in now."
The mere mention of transfer students sent the students in the class into a frenzy that could be heard even from outside the class, not that I could blame them. Looking back, the lives of the people not concerned with our world are really that boring.
Opening the door and standing at the front of the class, platinum stood out against the blackboard behind while a head of jet black shone. Godou and Erica had already noticed us and I gave them a small wave and wrote my name in hiragana on the black board (ジョエル・クラニチャール), I then passed the chalk to Liliana who wrote hers in turn (リリアナ・クラニチャール).
Despite the fact that she was from Italy, Liliana introduced herself in fluent Japanese, befitting a Great Knight of her calibre, I also introduced myself in fluent Japanese but that was because I was a Campione so no big achievements there.
Then sparks began to fly and rumours began to spread. Liliana had just been told that our seats were along the windows at the back of the class and she frowned with a twitch. And then she declared right after stalwartly walking up to Godou's seat: "To begin, I should first explain: I, Liliana Kranjcar, have someone I have sworn to share my destiny with, to be close with at all times. It is this gentleman, Kusanagi Godou."
She had a magnificent tone of voice; her words spoken like performances from a classical drama.
"What is she saying all of a sudden?"
When their classmates all made expressions that seemed to say that, Liliana had continued her address. That she, who could be called his knight, would constantly be waiting by his side.
"The place I should sit at cannot be anywhere other than by his side. I would like you to think about helping me with my mission and pardon my selfishness."
"Ah! Liliana, help me on that front too."
"You should have learnt it by now. Were you slacking off?"
"Of course not" I said, shaking my hands.
Then suddenly, the students beside and in front of Godou got up from their seats and moved to the empty seats by the window to grant Liliana's firm request while Erica looked upon the scene with amusement. Liliana had used a form of hypnotism on them but for some reason, this particular form of magic is just…. Not my type…
She then walked back to my side to complete our introduction.
"Sorry about that, Liliana here just could not forget Godou nii-sama ever since they had met in Naples."
"Joel! That was un-needed!"
"But not untrue, isn't it? I could tell that Godou nii-sama was always on your mind."
"T-that…."
"Anyways, are there any questions from the floor? We would try our best to answer them." It was the best chance to set ourselves into the class and you know what they say about first impressions. So far the class has just seen a girl their age declare that she will marry Kusanagi Godou, not that Liliana would know that, and a boy also of their age act like it was nothing wrong.
I would not brag but Liliana and I make quite a pair and we stood out in the classroom with our different looks and similar names.
"Uhm… What is the relationship between the two of you and Kusanagi-san? You have the same last name with each other and just now…" It was a girl that shall not be described that had asked this expected question.
"We are siblings with Lily nee-sama being the older one between the two of us. I had the honour of being adopted into the Kranjcar family when I was younger and well; let's just say that Godou nii-sama would become my brother-in-law in the future." If that display by Liliana did not get the rumour mills spinning then this would most certainly have. Whispers flew around until the teacher silenced them and asked whether there were any other questions for the two transfer students. Godou on the other hand just sighed deeply and covered his head with his arms while lying on his desk, as if hoping to be covered up and not be noticed.
"Erm…This is a question for Joel-san."
"Go ahead. I will answer your question to the best of my ability."
"D-do you have a girlfriend? If not, what is your type?" There it is! My path of total if not almost total seclusion from the Mundane! The Flag has been hoisted.
"Ahem… I don't have a relationship with anyone at the moment and if I would say my type then it would be flat girls like my Lily nee-sama over here because FLAT IS JUS-bwargh!" My sentence of mixed Japanese and English was interrupted when Liliana had deemed fit to round house kick me into the wall along the window side, at least that was what I was told by Erica. I was sent into a stage of semi-consciousness and remember myself being picked up by the collar of my shirt and plopped into my seat in front of Godou while Liliana sat beside him and stated that no more questions.
Erica could be heard trying to keep her laughter under control in her seat behind Godou and seemed to be having quite a bit of trouble from what I had heard in my semi-conscious state though whether it was because of someone having the guts to say to a Grand Knight that she was flat directly to her face or whether that there was actually someone other than her that could rile up the Fairy Knight of the Bronze-Black Cross till she would kick someone in public outside a battle.
Liliana still got along well with the girls in the class while the boys seem to fear her. On my side of the case however, it gets quite messy. The girls can't seem to decide whether to hate me or swoon every time they see me and the boys also cannot make up their mind on whether to hate the bishounen transfer student or grab him in a man hug to celebrate his declaration of FLAT IS JUS-. Honestly? It makes for a very interesting school life that I had never experienced before but the constantly changing and fickle minded status quo between me and the other students kind of grates on my nerve.
.
.
.
"-el? Joel! Are you listening?" I was broke out of my muse and brought back to the present when I was shook lightly.
"Yeah? What's the matter, Lily nee-sama?"
"You weren't responding for quite some time and you had quite the smile on your face." It appears that I would require lessons to learn to keep my emotions in check.
"Oh. It was nothing. Just remembering how Lily nee-sama had kicked me into a wall on our first day here." I was slightly pushing it but oh well…
"I see… Would you like me to help you remember?" She was smiling that I-am-going-to-kill-you smile.
"You see that, Onii-chan? Why can't you be proper elder sibling like Liliana-san?"
"Now what do you mean by that?" Oh? The Kusanagi siblings are arguing? Not that rare a sight but always very entertaining.
"Now now, Shizuka-chan. I wouldn't say that Godou nii-sama is not a proper elder sibling but don't you think comparing him to Lily nee-sama is kind of harsh? Do you really expect anyone to be able to be better than her?"
"Gu...That's true... Liliana-Sempai is quite a high level...But even Joel-Sempai is a better brother to me than Onii-chan!"
Insert stabbing sound effects here.
""Even"? You sure don't hold back, do you? Shizuka-chan?" That did quite some damage if i do say so myself.
"Eh? Ah! It's not like that! It's just that Joel-Sempai has known me for a few weeks at most yet he treats me so well. Joel-Sempai is without a doubt, perfect big brother material!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...Godou nii-sama, it looks like you really need to buck up, if not I will steal your sister away from you, you know?"
"And what do expect me to do about it? She says you are the perfect big brother material but I still don't know what criteria she rating us on."
"Who knows? But maybe we should just do a double wedding. Godou nii-sama can marry Lily nee-sama and I can take Shizuka-chan to Italy to stay with the family there. What do you say, Shizuka-chan?"
"P-please don't joke around like that, Joel-Sempai. it's not nice to play with a maiden's heart."
"Oh? But I'm not joking, you know? If you just say yes then I will definitely care after you forever, you know?"
"T-that..."
"Joel! That's enough! I think you fooled around more than necessary already."
"That's right, Joel-kun. You really shouldn't say things like that on a whim, it reflects badly on your character." Even Yuri is berating me? It would seem that I really have gone too far this time.
"Then again when you think about it, that's not a bad idea, Joel. That way we can get Lily to admit her feelings while ensuring happiness for Godou's family."
"I'm glad you see my way, Erica-san. Of course, i will ask for your permission first before I plan anything."
"Fufu...You also have great traits as a little brother, don't you? What say you leave the Kranjcar Family and join the Blandelli Family and the Copper-Black Cross instead."
"Erica! Stop inserting weird notions into this flippant person's head already, he already has more than enough weird thoughts in there already. And you, Joel, better not even dare think about leaving the family or I will hunt you down myself."
"Of course, Lily nee-sama. I have put in so much effort already, it would be a waste to just give up like that. That being said, lunch is about to end soon, Shizuka-chan do you need an escort back to the middle school building?"
"I wouldn't trouble you like that."
"It's no trouble. Besides, I must act my part and make up for Godou nii-sama's part as well so just let me this chance of acting as a bigger brother to you."
"T-then I will be troubling you then, Joel-Sempai."
"Oh? Shizuka-chan is blushing. So cute!"
Don't underestimate the rumour mill for that will be the last mistake you will ever make in your life. It will not Heretic Gods that kills you and it will not be Lily nee-sama that kills you but it will be the rumour mill that kills you. It appears that even the middle school division of our school has heard of me, so when they saw walking beside Shizuka, the rumours got even more outrageous. It had gotten to the point that me and Godou are now known as the Kings of Debauchery, quite ironic if you think about it. Though that somehow still does keep away the more fanatical of fans, I swear if those squeals were ever weaponized then the world would end the very moment it activates.
That being said, Shizuka wasn't also this friendly. She was quite...How to say...wary of us when she first met Liliana and I.
.
.
.
.
It was the same day that Liliana and I transferred into the school. When school, Godou would have headed home since he no longer played any sports due to his Campione body making a him living cheatcode. Usually alone as Erica had her own things to do and Yuri had her own family but that day I was accompanying him. I say that it was for getting to know him better and that I wanted to see what an actual Japanese family's house looks like and while it was true it was only a partial truth, to me it was little more than scouting ahead of time and sating my own curiosity. Knowing your enemy is three-quarters of the battle after all.
Godou really was quite the host, the house itself on the other hand could be called a defender's nightmare due to the few major weak points that any amateur thief could easily use and exploit to get into the premises unnoticed. We had brought out our homework to do in Godou's room since we had nothing else better to spend our time on. We had just finished the last question when Shizuka returned home with a loud "Tadaima" which Godou replied with a "Okaeri".
"That was?" At that moment, I had no knowledge of Godou's relatives and mentally scolded myself for forgetting such an important thing.
"That was Shizuka, my younger sister. She probably came back from the Tea Ceremony Club that she goes to with Mariya."
"I see...Then I should go introduce myself to her." It was common courtesy and the Japanese were quite heavy and strict about it even though there was a chance there might be a chance that I would need to hold her hostage in the future. I had reached the door to Godou's room and was about to open the door when it was opened for me. Stepping back from the inward swinging door, I lifted my eyes to see a girl wearing our school's uniform with brown hair done up and held in two buns, green eyes looking right at me in slight shock.
"H-hi there. Sorry to intrude. my name is Joel Kranjcar and I transferred into Godou nii-sama's class today along with my sister who is not with us at the moment. Pleased to meet your acquaintance."
"L-like wise...I'm Kusanagi Shizuka, please make yourself at home...Wait a minute, what do you mean by "Godou nii-sama"? Onii-chan, explain this!"
Well isn't she just a delightful spitfire.
"Allow me, Godou nii-sama. You see, Shizuka-chan, may I call you that? Any ways, you see Shizuka-chan, when Godou was in Italy earlier this year he helped me and my sister quite a bit so it is just me showing my respect towards him."
"Y-yeah that's right." It was only later that I found out that the only person Godou feared was Shizuka.
"Ho...So there is no link to the rumours I had been hearing today?"
"Rumours? What rumours?" Godou asked for the sake of the two of us.
"Rumours that say that your fiancée had came from Italy with her brother to live with you."
I will never understand why teenager had such a high ability to twist words and misunderstand things.
"That, like most rumours, is false though I cannot refute the fact that me and my nee-sama did indeed come from Italy."
Shizuka eyed me for a while before turning to face Godou again and asking him what he wanted for dinner then from there I was somehow coerced by the two siblings into joining in and having dinner with them and their grandfather who would return later despite me not wanting to further trouble the Kusanagi family any more than I already had. But the two Kusanagi siblings were quite persuasive so I relented in the end.
Halfway through the preparation of the meal, Shizuka had called out that they were lacking a few ingredients and that she would head down to the nearby super market to purchase them. Me being the super nice, super helpful Sempai that I am offered to go along with to help her with any heavy lifting that needed to be done and to keep an eye on her just in case something happens.
Turns out that I had just jinxed myself and Shizuka in the process. We had headed to the supermarket, making small talk along the way and Shizuka was particularly adamant about asking me to help straighten out Godou. Was Godou really that bad? Wasn't it all just Erica spreading more rumours and saying wrongly placed innuendos at inappropriate timings? But even if she says that, Shizuka apparently does not know the level of difficulty that erasing the marks of the King of Debauchery would entail.
We had gotten the groceries and were about to head back when I had finally remembered that I had not bought a gift for the Kusanagi family when I had arrived without notice. Informing Shizuka that I had forgotten something and asking her to wait for a while outside, I rushed back into the supermarket. Looking through the selection that they had, I soon made my choice and paid at the counter.
Outside the supermarket, it appeared that in the short time period that i was not by her side, Shizuka had already met with trouble. Two guys that were most likely high-schoolers were hitting on her. I slowly walked towards them but when one of the punks decided to get physical, I dropped the bag in my hand and rushed into grabbed the offending hand reaching for Shizuka by the wrist.
"I'm afraid that she is with me." It seems no matter any where trash would still be around the place and the best way to deal with trash is to be swift and thorough about it.
"Huh? Who the hell are you? You think you're cool or something? Sticking out your head like that would get you killed, now let go of me."
Pitiful humans, always struggling against the impossible. He tried to free himself but was of course failing rather miserably which was was the case since he was dealing with a Campione that was using his usurped Authority of [Steel] at the same time. Even if it was perhaps at most five percent of my maximum strength, it was sure to be more then what the average human was able to overcome.
"You messing with us? Let him go!" The other of the pair got impatient for the release of his friend and swung his fist at me, a fist that I caught with my free hand.
"You punks are playing with fire here and I know your types, you always need to get burnt first before you know your lesson." I tighten my grip and forced them on their knees. I think I had heard bones cracking but I ignored it along with their whimpers of pain and gave them one final squeeze before pushing the two of them back and releasing them, sending them falling on their behind.
"Now scram if you know what's good for you!" the two punks needed no other incentive and ran away holding their injured limps with their proverbial tails between their legs.
"Sorry about that Shizuka-chan. Did they hurt you?" The girl was in shock but that snapped her out of it.
"N-no, Joel-sempai stopped them before they could do anything."
"I see, that's good then. Shall we head back? Godou nii-sama is most likely wondering why we are talking so long." I gathered the groceries and picked up the bag that I had dropped
"I blame Joel-sempai for that."
"Hai hai~If you say so, Ojou-sama."
"D-don't patronise me! What did you get any-ways?"
"Just some ice cream. Think of it as thanks for the dinner."
.
.
.
One minute till the bell rings, a minute till I am officially late for my afternoon lessons and I was still dashing back to the high school building. I admit my lost here, I got too caught up talking to Shizuka's classmates.
It was then when I heard someone called out to me.
"Excuse me! Do you know where the Club House for the Tea Ceremony Club is?"
A gir...I retract my comment. A beautiful lady with long black hair was the one who had spoken. She wore a school uniform that did not belong to the schools around the area and definitely was not the one that our school had. She had with her a sword bag and there was the kicker, the sword within the sword bag had forced my activation of [Wisdom]. While [Wisdom] was a relatively passive Authority and the changes were cosmetic in natural it still stood out very easily. The hollowed triangles that denoted the use of [Wisdom] shone in my eyes and it was too late to avert them from the new comer.
"Hoo...Do you have some kind of Spirit Vision?"
"Something along the line and more than enough to discern the identity of your weapon so please calm your sword down before something happens." Not good at all, this girl might destroy everything and reveal my identity.
"It doesn't usually act like this but yeah you are right. Won't want something to happen to the school where the King studies at." The aura that it had been emitting when I saw it began to fade out but it was still very present.
"The King being near could very well be the reason for your weapon's erratic behaviour. You were looking for the Tea Ceremony Club House, weren't you?" A single nod "Follow me. I am heading in that direction as well."
"Say...You wouldn't happen to be the brother of one Liliana Kranjcar, would you?" Digging for information?
"And if I answer yes?"
"Nothing at all, Ena would in fact be surprised if you had say no instead." So she is that type of character...
"I see..." It seem our presence here have already become a known factor "My name is Joel Kranjcar or Kranjcar Joel, whichever you please and you are?"
"I'm Ena, Seishuin Ena."
And there we go!
Hope I got all the character's personality down correctly
Please do Review and tell me your comments