At this moment, Yuri Mariya felt as though some long-hidden trigger buried deep within her mind had been touched.
In her field of vision, the surrounding scenery suddenly vanished. Yuri and the space she occupied were swallowed by darkness. She felt as if she were standing within a gloom-laden void.
"How is this possible? My Spirit Vision activated on its own? Is this an illusion?"
It was as if she had abruptly fallen into a dream. For a moment, she even forgot what she had heard that dragged her into this environment.
Instinctively, she tried to heighten her Spirit Vision, to see through the true nature of these illusions.
Such a situation rarely occurred. However, it could occasionally happen when coming into contact with objects that concealed powerful spells, so she did not immediately panic...
As the illusion continued, it seemed that something lurked within that pitch-black darkness where one could not see one's own hand.
The shrine maiden focused her gaze. Then, the darkness before her suddenly spread outward. Within the mirror-like scene, something resembling a mouse abruptly appeared.
No—it was merely a shadow. That thing was not a mouse at all. It was slowly changing, gradually surpassing its original size, its form shifting as well.
In the end, it even transformed from standing on four legs to rising upright on two— it was a werewolf!
At this moment, Yuri was like another personality within a dream, mechanically watching as the werewolf slowly emerged from the darkness. She then watched it stretch out its hand toward the radiant sun in the sky.
It grasped it—the werewolf seized the glowing sphere of light with its bare hand.
Then the werewolf swallowed the sphere. Within the darkness, it gradually transformed into the figure of an elderly human man—the very man Yuri had once encountered in the past.
A tall yet gaunt frame, a high, vampire-like collar, and sinister eyes glowing with a green light.
The ancient Godslayer who ruled Eastern and Southern Europe—the old Demon King—stared at Yuri with those luminous evil eyes and smiled hideously.
"—Marquis Voban!"
Overwhelming terror struck Yuri.
As she let out a scream, the spiritual power within her mind began to surge wildly.
This reaction was immediately noticed by Satsuki, who was seated directly before her.
It seemed that this shrine maiden indeed had some sort of connection with that Eastern European Godslayer.
Otherwise, such a violent reaction would not have occurred.
This was not the reverence a mage felt upon hearing the name of a certain Campione.
It was a kind of Fear, as though she had once personally endured a disaster wrought by that very man.
From the perspective of her Tenseigan, Satsuki saw the spiritual power within Yuri begin to run amok for no apparent reason, to the point that the ancient book Yuri had been holding moments earlier began to flicker faintly with alternating light and shadow.
—This was a sign that her magic was on the verge of going berserk.
However, handling such a situation was effortless for Satsuki.
"Miss Mariya, please calm down."
As she spoke, Satsuki lightly brushed back her hair.
At the very instant those black strands swept through the air, she had already activated a genjutsu.
A master of illusion could freely manipulate the flow of chakra within an opponent's brain nerves. It was a combat method that demanded high intelligence and strong battle awareness. In fact, it had been one of Satsuki's earliest research subjects.
And for Satsuki, who had already refined her mastery of energy manipulation to the pinnacle, controlling the flow of magic within Yuri's brain was equally effortless.
Caught in the genjutsu, Yuri Mariya's eyes went blank. The rampant spiritual power in her mind was forcibly stabilized by an external force and gradually returned to its usual flow.
During this process, Yuri's perspective was pulled out from that darkness. The blackness in her vision was then dispelled by the white moonlight that followed.
The scene before her gradually shifted—until it froze on the sight of Satsuki brushing back her hair.
In that instant, the unconscious charm Satsuki radiated even made Yuri's body forget to tremble.
Only after several breaths did the shrine maiden finally regain her senses and realize how close she had come to committing a grave mistake.
If her magic had run wild elsewhere, it might not have mattered. But this was a library base that secretly housed tens of thousands of grimoires—a veritable powder keg of magical power.
If a magical rampage here had triggered a chain reaction among other grimoires or Special-Class Items, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Realizing this, the shrine maiden apologized in a tearful voice. "Satsuki... Miss Satsuki, thank you for your help. I almost... I almost..."
"Relax. It's already fine..." Satsuki softened her tone and comforted her gently. "I didn't expect that person's name to affect you so strongly. If anything, I was the one who brought it up too abruptly."
"No—Miss Satsuki had no way of knowing the connection between me and that person."
"If it's a topic that's inconvenient, there's no need to revisit the past."
Satsuki did not like forcing others. If Yuri Mariya truly feared Marquis Voban from the depths of her heart, there was no need to compel her to use Spirit Vision to search for his whereabouts.
In any case, as long as she had the opportunity to face him, she would eventually have the chance to deal with him.
After clenching her hands several times, Yuri Mariya's expression finally returned to its usual seriousness and resolve.
"No, it's not something unspeakable. In fact, four years ago, I was forced to participate in a ritual to summon a Heretic God. After the ritual was completed, two-thirds of our companions either died or went mad. Only one-third survived—and I happened to be among them."
"I've heard the King of Swords mention that incident. That ritual was orchestrated by Marquis Voban behind the scenes, but in the end, the outcome benefited someone else."
"Yes, so... whenever I think of that Demon King, I can't help but feel afraid."
Satsuki could roughly understand. This was likely a form of PTSD.
With that thought, she stepped forward and gently placed a hand on Yuri's shoulder.
"Relax. You are now under my protection and Erica's. And with the King of Swords here as well, even Athena would not dare act recklessly in this place. A mere Godslayer is nothing you need to worry about."
Satsuki spoke with confidence.
Based on the battles she had experienced recently and her observations of this world's mythological history, she had already gained a general understanding of the power hierarchy within this arena of gods.
The Persian war god Verethragna and the king of gods Melqart were already ceiling-level existences in this world.
Athena, having reclaimed her true form and prophesied by Princess Alice to be capable of dragging the world into the underworld, was roughly at the same level.
Nuada of the Silver Arm, the king of the ancient Celtic Tuatha Dé Danann whose victory had been snatched away by the King of Swords, was also approximately of that tier.
In general, the supreme deity of a pantheon, or a major god renowned across the world, represented the highest level of existence in this world.
Even the most elite Godslayers, according to the world's rules, could not significantly surpass gods of that class.
Even if those gods did not descend in their true bodies and merely manifested as avatars bound by their Names, the difference in power would not be particularly great.
As for the so-called most ancient Godslayer—no matter how highly Satsuki estimated him above Athena or the Persian war god, how much stronger could he truly be?
Taking a step further, even if he were ten times or a hundred times stronger than Athena, so what?
Before me, he would merely be a slightly larger ant.
"I'm sorry. I should not have doubted the strength of you and that Campione."
"It's nothing worth mentioning... As for the reason I came to see you, I believe you can already guess part of it."
While Satsuki was asking Yuri Mariya to activate her Spirit Vision to investigate information regarding the ancient Campione,
Erica had also concluded her discussion with the King of Swords.
In the end, the two reached an agreement to form an alliance. Erica designated Japan in East Asia as her center, along with the nearby islands across the Pacific, as territory under her domain.
This decision was relayed in real time to the head of the Committee for the Compilation of True History through Arianna.
Judging by the voice on the other end, the speaker was a sharp and spirited beauty about Erica's age, seemingly named Sayanomiya Kaoru.
According to the introduction of her status, she was the director of the Tokyo branch of the Committee for the Compilation of True History, the central figure holding authority over the Kanto Committee. She was also the next head of the Sayaomi family and a candidate to become the future commander of the Committee itself.
"I have already heard from Mr. Amakasu about Miss Erica's proposed policy. During the previous Athena incident, you demonstrated both awe-inspiring strength and a friendly stance. Personally, I do not oppose having a Campione like Miss Erica rule this region. However, as you understand, this involves certain political considerations. My opinion alone cannot determine the will of the state."
The meaning behind her words was clear: Erica was not Japanese. Even if she had rendered great service to Japan, it was not enough for the Committee to willingly accept an additional sovereign above their heads.
"Mm, Miss Sayaomi makes a valid point. However—" Erica's tone sharpened slightly. "You should also have heard the news that the Demon King of Eastern Europe is currently in Japan. If I were to simply walk away now, how would you intend to deal with the most ancient Campione?"
She added with deliberate sharpness, "With bows and apologies?"
That remark carried a hint of mockery. Yet the woman on the other end responded with calm agreement.
"If that one truly causes trouble here, I imagine they are indeed prepared to muddle through with such methods. Although that Campione enjoys hunting, he likely has little interest in weak prey that willingly exposes its belly."
Interesting.
Erica found herself growing somewhat intrigued by this Sayanomiya Kaoru. From that single sentence, she could tell that although the other party was young, she was by no means simple. Even when at a disadvantage in bargaining chips, she displayed no flaws throughout the negotiation.
However, that was not the crucial point.
As a Great Knight of the Copper-Black Cross, born into nobility, Erica understood well how those in power thought.
Given Japan's current situation, could it truly be said that they did not desire the protection of a reasonable and cooperative Campione?
Clearly not.
Especially after the recent Athena incident, when the goddess' divine power had plunged the entire Tokyo metropolitan area into darkness, halting all lights and mechanical devices.
When faced with such transcendent beings, modern heavy industry-based armies and weapons were utterly powerless.
It could be said that if a god chose to invade or attack a modern nation, it would be a dimensional strike. There would be no means of resistance. The only thing they could rely on was a Godslayer.
Once one understood this, it became clear that Erica possessed conditions Japan could not refuse.
From the very beginning, this negotiation had been destined to place Erica in the dominant position.
And so she pressed her advantage further, her words growing sharper.
"Certainly, the Wolf King of Eastern Europe has no interest in hunting the weak. But I wonder whether Japan has a fondness for becoming a battlefield?"
An ordinary person might have been left scrambling under such pressure. Yet on the other end of the line, Sayanomiya Kaoru once again demonstrated her capability.
Her voice returned through the receiver with an unyielding counterstrike. "If Miss Satsuki were to learn that her Campione was using her homeland as leverage, I wonder what she would think?"
"!"
At that instant, blazing fury flashed through Erica's eyes.
Beside her, the glass cup that had once held coffee shattered instantly under the surge of leaking magical power. With a sharp bang, shards scattered into the air—only to be vaporized immediately by flames that flickered into existence from the void.
A moment later, Erica suppressed the rampaging magic. A dangerous smile appeared on her beautiful face.
"Miss Sayaomi, I truly feel sorry for you. For the Committee for the Compilation of True History to possess a talent like you is its fortune. For you to be confined here, offering your abilities in this place, is your misfortune."
—"Just as Miss Erica, before becoming a Godslayer, faced a Heretic God on Sardinia, there are matters in this world over which we have no choice. We can only do our utmost within the limits of our ability."
Neither servile nor arrogant, she retaliated skillfully without pushing Erica into breaking off the negotiation over the previous provocation.
The level of that response was so high that even Erica found herself momentarily without words.
For the first time, this prodigy proficient in both martial skill and sorcery witnessed what it looked like when someone's eloquence reached a certain height.
As mentioned before, this was not a fair negotiation.
Yet even while at a severe disadvantage, the other party relied solely on her rhetoric to create the feeling that even a Campione like Erica had no room to press further. Such ability was truly rare.
Although both sides understood from the outset that the final outcome of this negotiation had long been decided, Erica could not help but admire the intelligence the other party displayed.
Japan did not truly reject the protection of a Campione like Erica. Based on her prior performance against Athena and her impending alliance with the King of Swords, she was undoubtedly an excellent choice.
However, the Japanese government's thinking was this: Erica was, after all, a foreigner. It would be inappropriate for her to directly serve as the leader of Japan's magical associations. Ideally, a Japanese representative could be chosen and presented as the nominal head.
In that way, both sides would be satisfied. Erica would obtain her territory, and Japan would have an explanation to give domestically.
As for who that candidate would be—both sides already knew in their hearts.
Having decided to yield on this point, Erica took the initiative to propose this solution. Part of it was due to Satsuki residing in Japan; another part was her recognition of the negotiator's ability.
On the other end of the line, when Sayanomiya Kaoru heard that this newly ascended Godslayer had finally suggested a plan they could accept, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Even she had not possessed absolute confidence in persuading the other party. As she herself had said, she could only do her utmost within the limits of her ability.
Fortunately, the information gathered through various channels had proven useful—such as the unusual closeness between Erica and Satsuki, and the fact that the former Great Knight of the Copper-Black Cross truly embodied the spirit of chivalry.
In short, achieving such a result was a cause for satisfaction on both sides.