Chapter 67: The Strongest on Earth!
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Japan, a love hotel near the private Jounan Academy.
A small figure straddled Haru, moving rhythmically.
"Ha, you're saying your prey was stolen? By Godou Kusanagi?" the small figure asked.
"Ah, yeah, just three days ago. I'm so pissed. I really wanted to kill him then! ...Hiss!" Haru groaned comfortably.
"Hey, Haru, will you let him go? Let my brother go? In return..." Sunlight streamed in, illuminating Shizuka Kusanagi's flushed face as she rose and fell, repeating the motion.
Today, Shizuka Kusanagi wore her usual hairstyle, her shoulder-length hair neatly tied in buns. She was dressed in the Jounan Academy junior high uniform, but her lower body was bare.
It was summer vacation. Shizuka Kusanagi had left home under the pretense of shopping with friends, heading straight to this love hotel for a rendezvous with the lover she had met a year ago during a certain incident.
"That's not enough!" Haru said, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he looked at Shizuka Kusanagi's youthful features.
"You're insatiable!" Shizuka Kusanagi frowned, her face scrunching up in a way that made her look incredibly cute.
She stood up, positioned herself at Haru's waist, and slowly opened her mouth.
Haru sighed deeply. "But your brother's life is going to be very difficult from now on. Be prepared," he murmured, a hint of guilt in his voice before closing his eyes and indulging in the pleasure.
"Who cares? Why did he have to get involved in that kind of thing? He's the only one who'll suffer. I hate that kind of brother who only causes trouble for his sister! Besides, would you really let me suffer?" Shizuka Kusanagi mumbled, her words slightly slurred.
The love hotel was filled with a rosy atmosphere.
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Rome, the capital of Italy.
A meeting was taking place in a spacious room within the renovated noble mansion of the Savoy ministers.
Despite it being daytime, the curtains were tightly drawn, completely blocking out the outside light.
Five people, including Erica, sat around a large table that had been brought in specifically for this occasion.
First, there were Erica and Liliana.
At sixteen, they were the youngest present.
There were two elderly figures: Bodoli and Amanda, the leaders of the "Old Lady" and "She-Wolf" families, respectively, two of the seven great magical families of Italy.
The last person was James, the Knight of Purple, the former leader of the Copper Black Cross, who three years ago had offered the highest-ranking human grimoire, The Deeds of David, and assisted Haru in seizing the Heretic God Siegfried from Marquis Voban in the Balkan Peninsula.
Everyone present, like Erica, the representative of the Copper Black Cross, held the rank of Grand Knight or higher.
All knights started as apprentice knights, then became official knights after passing an examination, and finally achieved the rank of Grand Knight after being tested by a Paladin.
Paladins were generally powerful figures with their own unique titles. Erica had recently inherited the title "Red Devil" after repeatedly defeating Divine Beasts. Liliana had earned the title "Sword Fairy" after single-handedly defeating the Divine Beast Pegasus. Only knights who achieved such feats could be called Paladins, representing the highest honor for a knight.
"So, everyone, have we reached a conclusion? To whom should we entrust the Gorgon, the matter that troubles us all?" Bodoli proposed.
Amanda, the leader of the She-Wolf family, immediately voiced her dissent.
"Entrust? I don't think that's wise. Although our leader, Salvatore, is currently absent... isn't it too cowardly to rely on the King of another country?"
"Let those who want to laugh, laugh. The important thing is that this Gorgon is real, and we currently have no King to rely on. This is just a temporary, minor humiliation," Bodoli said, shrugging helplessly.
"It's not just humiliation. What if we anger the King? If Salvatore finds out we relied on another King, I think he'll be furious, and the consequences will be severe."
As Amanda said, even the most skilled swordsmen and elderly magicians who mastered secret arts couldn't hide their fear of the Devil King.
Because even the strongest knight, the most powerful magician, was no match for a King or a God.
That was the way of the world.
"But would Salvatore care about such trivial matters? To him, we're just bees gathered in a hive. How could he get angry just because the bees chose a new queen?" James, the leader of the Copper Black Cross, interjected into the argument between the two elders.
"The Gorgon is the symbol of the ancient Earth Mother. When it comes to a battle against the most ancient goddess, Kasugano and the others should be interested, right?" Liliana tentatively spoke up. Even as a newly appointed Paladin, this was her first time speaking at a meeting representing the organization. It seemed her grandfather, the elder Granitsa, intended for his talented granddaughter to succeed him as leader.
The title of "Strongest on Earth" was earned through countless battles. Both Marquis Voban and Luo Hao had been defeated by him. It was said that this Devil King had fought against every other Campione and maintained a perfect victory record. He was known as the "Elusive King," the strongest Devil King on Earth. Because magicians avoided mentioning other Campiones by name, he was generally referred to as the "Elusive King."
Seizing this opportunity, Erica spoke.
It was time to end this pointless debate.
"Three days ago, during the incident on Sardinia, I pledged my loyalty to the Elusive King. And that King ordered me to bring back Liliana and the Gorgon Stone."
"Eh? Eh? Eh? Eh?" Liliana exclaimed in surprise.
"Bring back? What does that King mean, Erica?!"
"It's bad news, Liliana, my eternal rival. It seems that King fell in love with us at first sight during our encounter three years ago! Aren't you happy?" Erica said with a sly, fox-like grin.
"Love at first sight...? How... How could this be?" Liliana slumped onto the round table, her face as red as a tomato.
"Ah! That King would definitely do something like that. I heard that's why Luo Hao fought him!" James said, winking playfully.
"If it's that King, I don't think our leader will have any objections," Bodoli said slowly after a moment of contemplation.
"Then it's settled. Erica Blandelli, the Red Devil of the Copper Black Cross, and Liliana Kranjcar, the Sword Fairy of the Bronze Black Cross, will escort the Gorgon Stone and deliver it to the Elusive King," Amanda concluded.
Certain that the plan would proceed as expected, a bright smile bloomed on Erica's lips, a smile as vibrant and captivating as a camellia blossom.
BAM! The door burst open, and a young knight rushed in.
"Report! Lord Doni suddenly appeared and engaged in battle with the new Godslayer, Godou Kusanagi! The magicians escorting the Gorgon Stone were caught in the crossfire, and the stone was lost! It is suspected that the Gorgon has fallen into the hands of one of them."
"What? Why does that unlucky bastard always steal the spotlight?!" Erica exploded.
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