Chapter 64: However, I Refuse!
"Orihara Shirou, is it... Your name, I, Voban, have committed to memory!"
With this declaration, Marquis Voban's soul state gradually faded away. Having gone through this battle, he had exhausted a massive amount of cursed energy; it would take at least a month or more to restore his physical body.
Following Marquis Voban's departure, Shirou did not linger at the site and returned to the office building where the [History Compilation Committee] was located.
"My King!"
Erica rushed out with excitement and threw herself into Shirou's arms. Liliana, her face similarly filled with emotion, had intended to do the same, but seeing Erica's actions, she involuntarily stopped. Witnessing her best friend in the King's embrace, Liliana felt a strange, sour sensation rise in her heart.
'I was the one who met him first!'
"O King, now that you have defeated the oldest Campione, Marquis Voban, your fame will surely resound throughout the entire world. However, because of this, Marquis Voban's greatest rival in Jiangnan, the 'Martial Arts King' Leader Luo Hao, will surely learn of your great name. Pursuing the pinnacle of martial arts as she does, it is highly likely she will come seeking you."
Princess Alice felt both a sense of reflected glory and pride, yet she could not help but worry. If that "Martial Arts King" were to come to the door, a fierce battle between two top-tier Campiones—one no less intense than today's scale—would inevitably break out.
"Leader Luo Hao, eh... I happen to have some interest in her as well. If I have the time, I'd like to take a trip to see for myself."
Shirou spoke with a touch of sentiment, then let out a soft breath and pulled the obsidian-like "Gorgoneion" from his pocket.
"Before that, I still have to settle the trouble drawn by this Gorgoneion."
The Athena of the Campione! world is a trinity goddess composed of "Athena," "Medusa," and "Metis." She was a divinity worshiped across the Mediterranean, whose prototype was the goddess "Athena" originating from North Africa. She was simultaneously the Mother Goddess who ruled the earth and possessed many other names and forms.
Metis, Medusa, Neith, Anath, Atana, Asherah... they were originally clones produced from the original Athena, or one could say they were Athena's sisters. The ancestors of Athena, Isis of Egypt, and Ishtar of Babylon were all descendants of the ancient Great Mother Goddess—not just goddesses of the earth, but also dark goddesses ruling the underworld and goddesses of wisdom holding heavenly sagacity.
It wouldn't be long before this goddess followed the divinity attached to the Gorgoneion. What the goddess likely didn't know yet was that Shirou had long ago obtained the Authorities of the three main Greek gods, including the Authority of Zeus himself. If she knew, she would probably turn tail and run without hesitation; after all, goddesses are not fools.
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After Shirou returned to the hotel, the ripples generated by the battle began to radiate across all of Japan. During this period, the ones working most busily were undoubtedly the personnel of the [History Compilation Committee].
First, the houses and various facilities destroyed during the battle between the Campiones required large allocations of funds for compensation or reconstruction. The total casualties resulting from the storm had to be tallied and cleared, and the civilians who had begun to panic after witnessing supernatural events required pacification and management. To better control the surrounding areas, they even used magecraft to manipulate information.
They conducted a thorough investigation into the number of witnesses to the event and regulated their future statements. Some of the people who had previously only known a mundane life were astonished upon learning of the supernatural side of the world. They were either excited or terrified, but regardless, this group was the most likely to fall into madness.
For such a group, the [History Compilation Committee] naturally issued warnings. If peaceful consultation or persuasion was used, obtaining their understanding usually wasn't an issue. Citizens who returned to their daily lives were monitored thereafter. As for the minority who could not be reasoned with under any circumstances, the strategy decided after discussion was to handle them using memory-manipulation magecraft like hypnosis.
Between all these related tasks, the [History Compilation Committee] was busy beyond words. Currently, they could only hope that this "Great Deity" would leave quickly and stop staying in this island nation to plague them.
Of course, regarding their little scheme, Shirou answered very decisively: "I refuse."
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When night shrouded the earth, a bright crescent moon rose into the sky. Countless points of light appeared in the pitch-black cosmos, decorating the night sky as beautifully as a scroll painting.
A slender girl was currently walking barefoot across the beach. Though the girl was not of Oriental birth, she had skin as incredibly fair and tender as a Caucasian's. She appeared to be about twelve or thirteen years old. Her golden curly hair traced elegant curves, framing her extremely symmetrical features.
A girl of such beauty seemed like the most exquisite doll created by a peerless dollmaker betting a lifetime of talent. Only such language could barely describe her figure; it was the beauty of a perfected childhood.
With her slow steps, small footprints were left in the sand. Then, the girl dressed in a black dress with exquisite features suddenly knelt on the beach, facing the ocean in a posture of utmost reverence. Though there was nothing but the vast, boundless horizon, the girl lowered her head as if bowing before some noble existence.
"Welcome, 'Leader' Luo Hao. Guinevere truly pays her respects to you."
Seconds after the girl spoke those words, an answering voice drifted from the void—or perhaps from the azure ocean itself.
"Elaborate etiquette is unnecessary, Divine Ancestor. Dispense with the boring greetings and get to the point."
The blonde girl called "Ancestor," Guinevere, was a descendant of the snake gods and a witch who transcended human intellect. She possessed great power, but most importantly, she held the "Divine Holy Grail," which contained magical energy equivalent to the sum of dozens of Campiones. It was a divine tool that allowed Guinevere to create illusions of gods and summon sea beasts using the attributes of a Mother Goddess.
As the seawater slowly gathered, the person whom the witch respected so deeply finally manifested. After the water converged, it took the form of a woman.
"The report you sent to the Hermitage of Mount Lu contained enough content to spark my curiosity. Therefore, I command you: if you are going to hand the dying 'Heretic Snake' over to me, do it quickly. I wish to see the seventh 'Campione' who defeated 'Marquis' Voban as soon as possible."
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