Campione! - Volume 20 - Chapter 3.4

Part 4 

Thus, the group was starting their preparation. 

The two thoughtless Campiones and the two great knights who served Kusanagi Godou. This lineup was aiming to『travel the world』. 

They were climbing up the mountain path that was used by mountain climber and hiker in the mountain in Hachiouji city. 

En route, they encountered sign of quarry and forest lumbering. They also encountered old and dilapidated small wayside shrine and wooden guidepost that was just written with the area name. Surely it was because they were near village. 

But, right now was midnight. There was no one enjoying dangerous night mountain climbing. 

Liliana was whispering with small volume in such situation.

「Do you think this is really okay, Erica?」

「Travelling to Astral world is a difficult technique, but I think it will be fine! It’s also something that Liliana succeeded on before this.」 

There was no one but Liliana among these members who was knowledgeable about this secret technique. 

Erica threw an appropriate response based on that. But, the sworn friend continued to grumble.

「It’s not that! I’m asking if it’s really fine to send Lord Salvatore and Madam Aisha to that temple! ……Just what will happen when these two enter into that most important facility. 

Honestly# I don’t even want to think about it!」

「I’m also feeling the same about that!」 

Liliana’s voice turning smaller at the latter half of her remark was surely because of consideration toward the two Campiones walking behind. 

Erica was rebutting even while she was of the same opinion in her heart with the disrespectful remark of her friend.

「But it can’t be helped! Our opponents are both the marquis and the sect founder# it’s only a problem of time if we only run around like this! If that’s the case# then escaping to Astral world is――」

「When push comes to shove, there is also the option of calling Kusanagi Godou with the avatar of『Wind』.」

「You’re right! But there is the low possibility# that after we are separated from him, Godou might use that avatar. That option is a bit uncertain.」

「Certainly.」 

Liliana was sighing while showing a bit hesitation. 

She wasn’t seriously objecting! She understood that the collection of debt would absolutely come later, she was only unable to resolutely make the plunge. 

However, Liliana finally whispered.

「There is no other choice to do it, there is no other path of escape.」

「That’s how Liliana Krancjar is! I’ll also back you up# so let’s hurry for now.」

「Though this secret ritual is really not something that should be started in a rush like this……」

While they were talking like that, they finished climbing until a spot that seemed to be the summit. 

There was a bit of empty plot of land and trees were growing sparsely around. 

It was undeveloped woodland with elevation that was at best at six, seven hundred meter, furthermore because there were a lot of mountains with similar height at the surrounding, the view wasn’t so good even though they were at the summit! 

But, this place was located at the highest spot in this vicinity. Liliana looked up at the night sky and nodded. It appeared that 

Marquis Voban still hadn’t called the storm with his seriousness. The moon was peeking out from between the clouds.

「Perhaps it’s possible like this……」 

Since time immemorial, witch received divine protection of moon and their magic power heightened――! 

Because she was going to carry out a secret ritual of the highest difficulty in a “rush”# Liliana wished to be as close as possible to the moon and strongly received its divine protection. 

That was the reason why they dared to climb the mountain. Here, Madam Aisha opened her mouth timidly.「Err Doni-san……we arrived already……」

「――nn」 

Salvatore Doni responded shortly and he finally opened his eyes. 

Until now he had been closing his eyes. He said that was because he wanted to concentrate his mind. It was really amazing because he was climbing the mountain path without getting stumbled even in that kind of state. 

Truly it was a stunt that was distinctive of an expert of using the mind eye. 

Furthermore, he was still someone wounded. 

The wound that was gouged――or more like shaved on the body of steel was still looking raw. Even his footsteps were unsteady. But, despite so, his balance didn’t break at all even while he was walking with staggers like a drunk, and he continued to climb the mountain.「Geez Doni-san# you are rea―lly skillful!」 

Madam Aisha was completely in admiration.「So. Just why in the world did you do something like that?」

「Nn―! I’m just thinking to prepare my trump card a bit!」 

Finally Doni spoke out. En route here, he was ignoring everything all the time even though he was talked to several times! Most likely it wasn’t on purpose! That was just how deep his concentration was.

「It’s something that was troublesome to handle# so it’s impossible if I don’t really concentrate.」

「Troublesome?」

「Rather than that you girls# it’s better to be quick if you are going to start the technique. We are found out already.」 

Doni suddenly spoke after ignoring Madam Aisha’s question!

「「「Eh?」」」

「As expected# it’s easy to be noticed when we get out to the peak of a mountain like this huuh. It feels like someone is looking down here. It must be Sect Founder Luo Hao.」

The user of mind eye informed with relaxed attitude while ignoring the female faction. Furthermore, as though to deal additional blow―― 

OO~~~~~~N-. OO~~~~~~N-. OO~~~~~~N-. The howl from before also entered their ear. It was obviously closer than before. 

There shouldn’t be that much distance until the summit where Erica and others were at! Due to Luo Cuilian’s clairvoyance and the wolves’ sense of smell# the time of hunt was finally coming!

「Let’s do this Lily! From here it depends on you!」

「Right, leave it to me.」 

Both of them were unrelated with the style of Japan where it was unclear where the responsibility laid when it was the critical time. 

As fellow prodigy that represented the association of and , Erica and Liliana nodded at each other. 

Previously, at the incident of Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, she didn’t have the necessary secret medicine to be used in the ritual. 

This time was different. Liliana had finished taking the medicine that she was always having ready in her residence using summoning magic.

「It’s regrettable that we cannot make contact with Godou!」 

Erica spoke with subdued tone. 

Unexpectedly it was possible to use mobile phone at Hachiouji vicinity they were currently at or even at Okutama. Just a bit before this# Lu Yinghua’s phone was also working. However, although the phone signal at area around mountain ridge or peak was relatively favorable, but place other than those was frequently impossible to make call from. 

Phone call from this side couldn’t connect# and there was also no contact yet from the other side. Liliana was starting her chant in front of the resigned Erica.

「Search# be that so it won’t be found! Inquire# be that so it won’t be discovered! Knock the door# be that so it won’t be opened. So that those who search for everything obtained, those who inquired discovered, those who knock the door welcomed in……」 

The words of power to travel the world. 

Bathed in the light of the hazy moon# the silver haired witch’s magic power was finally heightening. 

When the increase of her magic power and the chanting of the words of power reached the peak, the gate to Astral world would open! The time until that happened――was around five# six more minutes. 

From the beginning Liliana was heightening her magic power while proceeding to the mountain peak. 

Surely this was the benefit from that. The required time was shortened more than she expected.

「Please do your best, Liliana-san!」 

The one thoughtlessly cheering on was of course Madam Aisha. As for Erica, there was various things she ought to do. 

As a support role# she would lend magic power if Liliana’s ritual looked unstable. When wolf army and so one tried to interrupt, she would exterminate them with the magic sword of lion――! 

That was why Erica called out her beloved sword Cuore de Lione. 

The other warrior that should also take guardian role was still closing both his eyes. In addition, he was mumbling a chant inside his mouth.

「I――I won’t allow the existence of something that I cannot cut. Sword of heaven that rend the earth, right now is the time you shall come to my hand……」 

Of course it was something known. Those were the words of power when handling『Silver Arm』. 

What was touched by that arm would become magic sword that cut apart everything! In front of Erica’s eyes# Doni’s right arm from his shoulder joint until his fingertips were changing into silver color――!「Lord Salvatore. If it’s not a hindrance# please tell me!」

「What is it, Erica-kun?」

「The trump card you spoke just now, what kind of power it is?」

「It will be a bit long to talk about that though.」 

It seemed that his so called preparation was finished. Doni finally talked with his usual flightiness.

「See! My body is something like an immortal body# and I won’t die no matter where I god right? That’s why# I tried testing it before you know, even at space.」

「……」 

Erica endured her sudden impulse that reflexively wanted to shout『Space!?』. 

That would be an unbecoming failure for a lady. She kept an elegant prim expression on her face, as though she was listening to a talk about summer holiday travel.

「Though more accurately it was when I fought a flying god named Hyperion on Olympus Mountain at Greece, I was forcefully brought to there. I would die with my flesh body, so I went ‘ei’ and tried turning my body into steel# and unexpectedly I was fine.」

「…………」

「At first I was poked ‘kyuu―’ like a billiard ball and swam in space. And then by chance I was able to view a space station from super near y’know!」 

International Space Station was continuously circling in the orbit around earth in the height of four hundred kilometers. Although it was outside earth, in other words in space, but it was also still inside the layer of atmosphere called thermosphere! But# it shouldn’t be an environment that living flesh human could deal with. 

Furthermore# Doni’s story was escalating!

「During that time I got caught by that guy Hyperion again and got carried until moon and Mars! But# I stole that guy’s cart and escaped.」

「Does that……means running around at space?」

「Of course.」 

The sun god of Greek myth, Hyperion. 

That name had the meaning of『the one that fly high』, he governed over the stars revolution. The cart that was mentioned must be the soaring vehicle for transporting the sun. 

The devil king of Italia proudly continued his absurd adventure story.

「In the end, my battle with him ended up in a draw though. In order to strike down Hyperion that was swishing around, I got an idea. I think it was asteroid. I searched around for small star using the flying cart in space――」 

A terrifying conjecture was rearing its head inside Erica.『Kukukuku』 

A heavy suppressed laugh resounded at the dark sky. 

Furthermore, there was even the sound of wings flapping that came into hearing.『I finally found you. Whether it was yesterday night or tonight# I have been really enjoying this hunt to my heart’s content after so long! My so called “little sister of heart”# also the accompanying ladies and gentleman, let me express my thanks.』

「O, Onii-sama!?」 

Madam Aisha was astonished. 

It was only natural. A huge dragon was descending down from the sky while noisily flapping its jet black wings slowly. It was that fierce-looking jaw that was speaking out Marquis 

Voban’s voice! 

It wasn’t the “dead dragon” that appeared in Okutama! There wasn’t even a scratch on its dragon scales that looked like black agate. 

Its whole body was around thirty meter long. It was a dreadful great demonic beast.「Uwaa. Something showy is coming out.」

The one who raised admiring voice was Doni.

「Is that# the servant that is gramp’s specialty……that’s not it isn’t it?」

『So you understand. As always you are a man with only your instinct that is good. What, there are no way the wolves and the dead is fitting to be the opponent of you all! It’s also an amusement for this Voban himself to take the hunting dog role.

』 

The jet black dragon was talking with the voice and tone of the marquis himself. 

The dragon’s eyes――were the emerald green evil eyes. That too was an exact resemblance with Dejanstahl Voban.

『If all of you can enjoy this then I too will feel happy. To put on this costume――it need slightly troublesome procedure! Thanks to that I rarely take it out from the warehouse. If I remember correctly the last time should be more than eighty years ago……oo# come to think of it』 

The emerald evil eyes stared with a gleam at Madam Aisha.

『That time you are also there wasn’t it# little sister!』

「I, I remember thaat. If I remember right Onii-sama said that it’s an authority usurped from ancient Mesopotamia goddess 

Inanna-」

『Hahahahaha. So you remember.』 

While showing faked intimacy――suddenly! 

The black dragon opened its mouth largely and spouted out flame! The hell fire was going to burn to nothing the humans standing on the mountain peak!

「KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!?」

Madam Aisha shrieked. 

Erica at least put her guard up by using magic of『fire resistance』, while Liliana was continuing to chant words of power with low voice even during this time, progressing the secret ritual of transfer. 

And then――Salvatore Doni quickly pushed out his right hand forward.「Divine protection of steel」 

The rune letters surrounding Doni’s body like ring! 

The number of magic symbol protecting their master was around a hundred until now. The number suddenly――increased until more than five hundred and protected even until the comrades around him. 

The divine protection of rune also filled the surrounding of Erica, Liliana, and Madam Aisha. 

As the result, although they tasted the blazing heat as though they were standing in front of a blast furnace, Erica and others were also somehow protected by the protection wall from the countless rune letters.

『Oo. So even you have the reliability to protect your subordinate.』

「Don’t make fun of me! Even like this everyone here is in the middle of working together for one common cause.」 

Doni objected being ridiculed like that. 

It seemed that he completely shelved away the matter of how he was trying to remove Madam Aisha. However, his spirit of cooperation that was finally budding after great pain was turned in vain―― 「That is also that so called chivalry of knight isn’t it?」 

An elegant beautiful woman spoke out. 

Finally even the supernatural sect leader, Luo Hao arrived. Her body was clad in Han clothes like usual. And then she was standing on a giant lotus――floating in midair# right in the center. 

It was an entrance by riding on flying lotus with size and function that was like『flying carpet』. 

If someone sat on it in Zen meditation posture, it would be just like Buddha that was drawn in Buddhist picture.

「As expected from Italia’s King of Sword……the martial artist that possessed the strongest spear and shield. As expected, to defeat all of you along with that protection of steel wall, the singing voice of dragon and tiger is surely necessary――」 

Luo Cuilian was looking down on the mountain peak where Erica and others were at from the floating lotus flower, and then she deeply sucked in air ‘suuuuuuu’! 

It was the beginning of the mystical song of destruction.

「Fire is fervent. People, fear this that you wished for. Therefore the death is without vibrant. Water is lackadaisical. 

People# trifle with this that you’ve become too familiar with! Many that is the dead to this――」 

The beautiful voice became ultrasonic wave and blew violently into a demonic wind of shockwave. 

It was still just a squall, but its might was increasing steadily and soon it would turn into a great storm.

「Kukukuku! How about receiving my flame once more! I’ll burn you to ash together with that protection!」

The dragon flame was also going to join in. 

However# Salvatore Doni was calm and spoke――!

「My protection can endure if it’s just a bit more! Keep doing the transfer technique like that.」

「Lord Salvatore! At this rate the technique will be hindered by the marquis and the sect founder!」 

Erica brought a problem to attention in place of Liliana that was concentrating to the technique. 

The Campione of sword that was extremely irresponsible returned a most thoughtless answer.

「It’s fine! Those people will soon――get their hand full with protecting themselves!」 

The next moment, a meteor was descending from the sky. 

It had super high speed that likely to reach forty kilometer per second. 

However, it was falling while combusting fiercely in the atmosphere. It would lose the majority of its original mass when it crashed at an undeveloped woodland of Tokyo’s 

Hachiouji, at the mountain peak. 

But――even so! 

The fragment of star that was flying from space caused a great explosion. 

That severity was to the degree that a third of the mountain peak was blown away in one go. 

The four Campiones, and the two great knights of Milan were of course swallowed by the explosion and their figure was lost from view.