Chapter 45: Clues to the Two Deities
What came into view was a mansion with a quaint courtyard. Every brick and tile exuded an air of antiquity, and the absence of any neighboring houses lent the area a desolate atmosphere.
"The Witch's Mansion"—though it wasn't an especially large estate, it matched the name perfectly. A closer look at the courtyard revealed flourishing weeds; it clearly hadn't been tended to in a long time.
Without wasting a moment, Shirou walked over and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock...
There was no immediate response, and Shirou's brow furrowed slightly. He could sense a distinct magical signature inside; it was impossible for the house to be empty.
"Not planning to open the door for me? Quite the attitude you have," Shirou remarked. He raised his foot and kicked the door open directly.
BANG!
The scene inside was instantly revealed. In the foyer stood a black cat, staring up at Shirou and his group.
"Meow~"
It let out a cry toward Shirou, then turned around to look back at him, seemingly gesturing for them to follow.
"That is a cat familiar. It seems it's asking us to follow," Princess Alice noted.
"Mmm, let's go in and see."
Shirou took the lead and stepped inside. Behind him, the two Knight-maidens, Erica and Liliana, vigilantly observed every corner of the room, prepared to draw their swords and "protect the King" at the slightest sign of trouble.
They were led by the black cat into a room resembling a bedroom. It was filled with the scent of herbs and was quite cluttered. Lying on a classical-style bed inside was a woman leaning against a pillow. The cat from before curled into a ball in the corner of the room, yawning boredly.
"Welcome to my home, esteemed King Orihara. I am Lucretia Zola. My deepest apologies for not being able to rise and greet you immediately. I've encountered some trouble recently, leaving my body very weak and unable to get up."
The woman spoke with a listless gaze that held an incredible charm. Dressed in lingerie with her flaxen hair cascading over her shoulders, she explained her situation to Shirou. From her
appearance alone, it was impossible to estimate her age; she looked like a woman in her early twenties—at the peak of her youthful beauty and grace.
Maintaining a youthful body was a feat only achievable by witches who had reached a significantly high level of mastery. Princess Alice belonged to this realm as well, while Erica and Liliana were still growing, though they were destined to reach such heights in the future.
"I see. Your explanation is reasonable enough. So, let's get straight to the point. Tell me the clues regarding Verethragna and Melqart."
Lucretia nodded and began to speak.
"The information I obtained only suggests that he is some kind of War God. Initially, I thought it was a divinity like 'Melqart,' but it seems to be more than just that.
The God-King worshipped by Semitic-speaking peoples like the Canaanites and Phoenicians... that is Baal. Originally he was the god of storms, lightning, and the sky, but his authority expanded continuously until he possessed many powers. Gods similar to him include Zeus and Odin from the Indo-European lineage.
This type of sky god essentially possesses many natures: Supreme God, King, God of Wisdom, God of Life, War God, Underworld God, and so on. Baal is a typical example. It's natural for a multifaceted god to have aliases, isn't it? 'Melqart' is simply the title of honor bestowed upon him by the people when he protected the city of Tyre."
The witch seemed to find her lying position slightly uncomfortable, so she shifted to her side. Her figure was excellent, and combined with her choice of attire, she exuded an air of intentional seduction.
However, having already experienced the "taste" of a goddess, Shirou remained unfazed by this scene. His gaze never wavered, staring intently into Lucretia's pale violet eyes.
"Tyre was a city built by the Phoenicians, so impregnable that it took Alexander a year to conquer. It was the home port of the Phoenicians, the masters of the ancient Mediterranean. They also reached this island of Sardinia and became its rulers."
Lucretia added a few more details:
"Around Greece, Melqart is depicted as a large man carrying a club—a few days ago, I witnessed the god Melqart manifesting in this form."
"But Lucretia, didn't you say at first that it had nothing to do with 'Melqart'?" Erica asked curiously.
In response to Erica's inquiry, the elder witch smiled calmly. "Isn't there a megalithic site in Sassari? Five days ago, I sensed an unusual concentration of divine power there and went to observe."
As she spoke, a hint of awe flickered in the witch's eyes.
"What I saw there was a vision of two gods in combat. One was Melqart, and the other appeared as a warrior, a deity wielding a golden sword. The fierce battle between these two gods ended with both sides suffering heavy losses."
Finally hearing the information he wanted, Shirou's eyes lit up slightly.
The witch continued: "Melqart used his club, while the other god used his golden sword to deliver a final blow. Both were severely injured. Melqart turned into lightning and flew away, while the God of the Golden Sword was shattered."
"Shattered? Did he lose his physical form?" Shirou's brow rose.
The witch shook her head. "No. The sword god's body split into pieces, each transforming into a new form. One was a boar, another an eagle, as well as a horse, a goat, and others. These incarnations immediately flew toward the sea and the sky. I suspect neither Melqart nor the other 'Heretic God' can recover their bodies in a short time; otherwise, my Spirit Vision would have picked up a premonition."
In other words, both "Gods Heretic" were currently in a state of severely depleted strength. This was undoubtedly excellent news.
"I see. Is that all you know?" Shirou nodded.
"Yes, King Orihara. Is the information I've gathered satisfactory?"
"Mmm, I am very satisfied with your information."
"Then it is my honor," the witch said, casting a seductive smile at Shirou.
If it were an ordinary person, they would have easily succumbed under that gaze. But Shirou remained completely unmoved. Having obtained the free information, he stood up to leave. As the "King" of the Italian magic associations, the protection he provided was far more valuable than anything he took from them.
Having secured the intel, Shirou didn't linger and intended to leave the town. However, just as he stepped out of the "Witch's Mansion," an incredible roar echoed from the sky.
The clear, cloudless sky from a moment ago was suddenly overtaken by dense dark clouds, and a violent gale began to howl.
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