Calm Eggplant Enjoying A Simple Life (Campione - Mash Kyrielight SI Chapter 5)

The world lost sound. That's how it felt for Ichirou Kusanagi.

He never expected that the girl would be able to push the Heretic God Surya to the point of him getting serious. To use his own personal weapon, the fabled astra. And not just use expecting its power to carry the victory for him, but to put actual strategy into his attack.

Against all logic, the Heretic God treated a mortal like an equal opponent, that they needed to plan around.

But then, she wasn't just some 'normal person'. Ichirou thought, before frowning in sadness. Maybe is she had more luck she could have won. It then occurred to Ichirou that if he survive, he'd have to call Lucertia. He... He'd have to be the one to tell her-

"WHAT!?"

Ichirou and anyone watching looked at the confused and enraged god in shock at his exclamation, and equal confusion.

Looking up at the sky, everyone on the ground saw a star being born.

A star that was getting brighter.

...And bigger.

"Oh..." Ichirou muttered.

"FUCK! BARRIERS!" Touma next to Ichirou cried out to his colleagues on a two-way radio transceiver.

Ichirou wanted to ask what the heck were magic barriers gonna do? Then he wondered how the hell did Mash summon a meteor?

Just because she was in space doesn't mean she can just get a free meteor from somewhere.

Then as the fireball came closer, Ichirou realized.

"That's no meteor."

The orbital drop shield with Mash riding it slammed into the Heretic God, who met the attack head on with his Trisula.

The ground shook, the air burned near the epicenter, and even as far away as Ichirou and Touma was, it felt like the heat was in front to them. Yet somehow the damage and force was contained to the confrontation between the two gigantic powers. One divine and the other somehow mortal.

For a few seconds the trident actually held. Then it cracked.

In the split-second it took for the weapon to shatter, Surya used another weapon with his other hand to hold back Mash and her blazing shield.

His Gada.

Then his Wand.

Then his Chakra.

Then the astra bow itself.

All his weapons broke, and finally the god slammed his fist into shield having momentarily stopped it.

Mash didn't give the Heretic God a chance, or the hope of a comeback.

Almost without thinking about it, she raised her other leg not on the shield, and that burned up from sheer heat and magical energy, and slammed it down on the shield.

Surya's arms broke. The blazing shield crashed into his whole torso and head, as thought he was hugging it. His body then broke.

The explosion that rang out could be heard for miles.

Thankfully, again, the damage was contained to the immediate area where Mash and her shield, landed onto Surya. Ichirou wasn't sure if this was luck, or if Surya's last struggled siphoned the energy from the orbital drop, or if the contained damage was part of Mash's spell and strategy, but Ichirou thanked the gods that they survived this confrontation. Then he thought about what Mash did some more.

Thank kami Osaka is still here.

The smoke from the epicenter started dispersing, and to the shock and despair of the Mages present, the Heretic God was still there. Yet, Ichirou though that opposite, that the battle was over.

Mash looked on her last leg, while standing straight, yet the god...he looked too resigned. There was no fight left in his eyes.

Okay. I might have thrown my back with that last move.

I could feel my Sita is Faithful spell sucking up the heat around me like a sponge, healing whatever damage I did to myself from the orbital impact.

The smoked clear, but I could already see that Surya was still alive and in front of me. I could tell because the guy is still shiny, I mean glowing.

I call bullshit if he's not injured.

The smoke fully cleared, and before I could scream bullshit at seeing him clean and spark looking, I noticed him form. He felt...emptier. Like what I was seeing was a pretty shell covering a gaping hole.

Here I was standing bloodied, with my armor cracked, and one of my legs fully burned. Although thankfully it was healing as I wait.

"Oh come on, really? I look like hell, if you look spotless, then it doesn't look like we had an epic fight." I chuckled at my own words. Was that a joke? I can't even think about what I was saying anymore.

"A god needs his dignity, Matthew Kyrielight. It would be unbecoming to appear to have been brought so low." Surya chuckled, now talking as if we didn't have a death match just now. Yet, I could feel him fading away. "What was that last spell that you used? I never would have thought mortal magic could be so powerful as to overcome me at my strongest, head on without any trickery."

"That was the power of Lucha!" I grinned before chuckling. He looked at me confused and intrigued. "Thinking more clearly that I can breath now, thanks for not dodging. That would have been a disaster had I hit the ground instead of you."

"It was your final spurt, your last gambit where you put your life on the line. Avoiding would have been disrespectful to an opponent I took seriously, and dishonorable. Not to mention it would have been the same as admitting I wasn't strong enough to face it." Surya huffed.

Huh. Thank god for godly pride. Also good thing he's actually that straightforward type of guy.

"Huh... If you weren't a Heretic God, and so full of rage and stuff. And Zeus. You'd have actually been pretty cool to hang out with." My mouth ran on its own.

Thankfully Surya actually laughed at my words rather than take offense.

"A shame indeed." He gave a gentle smile. "Do live long enough, Matthew Kyrielight. Next time we meet, I wish to do so more clearheaded. I could not appreciate this beautiful flower before me on this battlefield. Should you still be capable of that Sita spell when we meet next, I would court you as a bride."

"...While DILFs and the older gentlemen-look tend to be pretty popular, my type tend to be those close to my age or slightly older. Sorry." I blinked at I thought on what I said. I probably should have been more firm in saying 'no', lest I invite 'Zeus' interest of all things.

The last thing seen of the Heretic God Surya before he dispersed into motes light, returning to his myth, was pure unadulterated laughter.

For me however, his last words were:

"Very well then, for your courage and strength in this fight, and your honesty now, I leave you with my light, that my wife had not the bravery and honesty to withstand."

I sighed, as with Surya's departure, all the heat in the area vanished, and my healing stopped. I was not fully healed, but were good enough to get back to my hotel room and use up some of the potions Grandma Zola always made me keep on hand.

My magic reserves were more or less used up, and my body was sore as fuck.

"Um, L-Lady Campione?"

A hesitate voice came from nearby. I saw a Mage in a suit. One of the local Mage Association people.

"Huh?"

"You have... vanquished the Heretic God. Thus, the History Compilation Committee are grateful for your actions, and I ask how we may be of service." The Mage began with some worry, before his words picked up speed, as he regained some confidence.

"Right..." I sighed. Yeah. Campione. That's a thing.

Am I one now? I don't feel any different.

"Perhaps, you should leave all the formal stuff for later." Old man Ichirou said, as he came over with some other Mage next to him.

"Hey, Mr. Ichirou." I yawned, cutting off whatever I was gonna say, and losing my train of thought as well. "Look, can we meet up about the grimoire later." I paused as my mind threw some idea through the exhaustion. "Actually, do you have it with you now?"

"Ah, about that..." He looked embarrassed as he rubbed his head. "I had already sent my grandson with it to Zola a few days ago, so it should be with her by now." Ichirou gave a bashful chuckle.

"...Heh." This is funny. And a bit annoying. But funny. "Right, I'm gonna go back to my hotel and die like the sleep until the morning. Sorry but I'm exhausted, do you mind if we meet tomorrow."

"Sure, sure, of course, child." Old man Ichirou said with grandfatherly concern, bless his heart.

"Ah! Lady Kyrielight, if you wish, the History Compilation Committee can provide you with the best housing and even grab your things for you from your hotel." The Mage with glasses said in a hurry.

"Tomorrow." I said firmly. "Meeting. Talk. Whatever, just tomorrow."

I didn't wait for an answer and just walked away, to get a cab, but the History Committee guys were insistent on at least driving me to my hotel, so I let them. I went to my room and crashed on the bed. Didn't even think of taking a shower.

Almost at the same time, in the same day as I beat the Heretic God Surya, Ichirou Kusanagi's grandson, Godou slayed the Heretic God Verethragna.

The Mage Associations around the world then had the audacious task of declaring which one of us was the Seventh Campione and which was the Eight Campione.

"Alright! I got a new daugh-Huh? What? Hey! Get out of the way."

"..."

"I said hey! Stop getting in the way! I need to ascend her."

"..."

"S-Stop pushing me whenever I try to pass! Would you stop getting in the way, y-you stupid robot bully!"

The Heretic God Athena wondered if the current events were orchestrated by the fates.

Not one, but two Devil Kings have risen, almost at the same time. One could even call them Divine Twins.

It was an unlikely occurrence, one that needed to be paid attention to. Especially when one belonged to the country of Italy, according to her sources.

'Matthew Kyrielight' according her cult, the Circle of Wisdom. Cordially known as 'Mash'. Odd nickname, but humans had their eccentricities.

The important thing was, if Matthew was to return to Italy, it is likely that the Gorgoneion will be left in her care, rather than the unreliable King of Swords. After all, she beat Surya with magic and strength. The days after that battle, she spent her time helping the local Mage Associations with the rebuilding efforts, and healing civilians.

So Matthew Kyrielight wasn't a callous Devil King, but closer to Luo Hao? Or rather she wasn't cruel for now as she was still getting used to her new status.

Regardless, it mean she was seen as reliable. Which meant the Copper-Black Cross are likely to hand it off to her.

I will need to test Matthew Kyrielight to see what Authority she usurped from Surya, and plan on how to deal with her accordingly. Athena thought.

And so, the Goddess of Wisdom planned and prepared.