Unduh Aplikasi
79.2% I, Kurumi Tokisaki, Am a Wanderer / Chapter 99: Kurumi the Speed Fiend

Bab 99: Kurumi the Speed Fiend

Holy… What the… Holy crap!

Saint George's usually composed and saintly expression was now one of utter bewilderment—he was downright stunned.

Too bad no one could see it.

Was this really how his Authority was meant to be used? Did this boy even understand what the name "Saint George" represented?

Guess he really was a true descendant of the Romans.

"Hey, hey, hey, we're about to start the fight. Mind calming down, oh noble god? You're getting on my nerves." Tony grumbled to the divine presence within him.

He couldn't care less about whatever background his esteemed godly guest had, or what slaying dragons might symbolize.

All he knew was that using such a powerful ability to buff someone else was a ridiculous waste.

The dragon-head pauldron on his shoulder seemed to come to life as he wrenched the arrow out of it without a sound.

Tony stretched, his joints popping one after the other.

The "dragon factor" pulsed through his body, and his heart felt like a molten core as his energy surged and his magic boiled. His blood felt like it was ready to burst from heat.

He'd never felt strength like this before, power that could seemingly split mountains and seas with a mere flick of his wrist. This was the power of a "Dragon," the power of a "Heretic God."

Assuming a simple, unassuming stance, he lowered himself slightly and raised the holy sword Ascalon in front of him, poised to face Liliana.

"Come on… let's see what you've got."

Normally, the power of Thou Art a Dragon would only last for a fleeting moment, temporarily branding its target as dragonkind.

But for Tony, who had fully embraced it, keeping Ascalon in hand and continuously pouring divine energy into the spell, Thou Art a Dragon became a more prolonged state.

Though it didn't take him to a realm of no-mind, no-thought, it still gave him the taste of wielding truth through sheer power.

"Hey, kid. It looks like your wish won't be coming true after all," Saint George warned him.

"Huh?" The simple-minded knight hadn't quite processed the comment.

"She's back. The most ferocious, the most ruthless of them all has returned. Hand over your body to me. If I fall, at least you'll be free." Saint George urged.

"No." Tony refused, his sweaty hand gripping Ascalon even tighter, his eyes fixed on the figure before him.

The sky darkened.

...

Liliana wasn't exactly in peak form either. Nuada's power had been crushed once, and her small frame was trembling.

She was still too young. In a few years, she could likely stand alone as a true Godslayer. But for now, she was still just a bit too young.

Even so, her exquisite little face held nothing but resolve.

Liliana was, in her unyielding way, a "fool" as knights go.

"Enough, that's enough."

A soft, alluring voice drifted from behind her as a warm presence pressed against her back, arms gently encircling her neck.

In an instant, the world before her became soaked in dark red ink, as a golden, lifeless clockwork eye opened slowly.

The girl who met her gaze was darkly captivating; just meeting her mismatched eyes made people instinctively look away.

Mountains of corpses, seas of blood, countless bleached bones.

Kurumi leaned her head against Liliana's shoulder, her breath warm against her neck, making the little knight freeze in place.

She had no resistance to someone's breath against her neck.

"My, my, Liliana, you've done wonderfully." Kurumi whispered, her voice soft and soothing, as if she were speaking to a small animal.

Liliana stood stock-still, unable to move a muscle.

This was the goddess she had vowed to serve, the one to whom she'd pledged everything.

Though… there was just a touch of sadism there.

"Now, leave the rest to me."

...

What kind of enemy was this?

Saint George sighed deeply, feeling his own helplessness.

The young swordsman known as Tony was even stronger than he'd imagined, wielding unparalleled swordsmanship. Each stroke could be treasured and studied by master swordsmen for years.

Yet even so, he was still no match for this terrifying Heretic God.

Each effortless swing of her blade tore through his defenses, the terrifying strength hidden in her slender wrist enough to fight dragons on even footing.

There was a difference in strength even among gods, Saint George sighed.

"Let me take over, Tony."

The resilience of this knight surprised him, and now that he had ceded control, he couldn't take it back—despite Tony being an idiot.

"No," Tony said.

"Letting you take over is a death wish, isn't it?"

Saint George fell silent.

"I came here as a martyr, solely to kill the Heretic God."

"Kill?" Tony rolled out of the way of a swinging gun blade.

The opponent wasn't even serious. She was merely toying with him, indulging in a bit of revenge for the little knight.

"Can you really kill a god like that?" Tony glanced around; the world was drenched in her colors.

"You're marching to your own death."

"So what?" Saint George said softly. "The world doesn't need gods."

"But I do." Tony rolled out of the way again, her gunblade lashing out along its chain, pinning the edge of his blood-red robe to the ground.

"Besides you, where am I going to find a god willing to lend me his strength?"

"C'mon, you lend me your power, and I'll go take down those Heretic Gods. Isn't that a pretty good deal?"

Tony was surprisingly good at calming people down, even if he was a hopeless fool.

"Saint George the Dragon Slayer or whatever…"

"Historically speaking, didn't that never actually happen?"

"Saint George being identified with Michael? Isn't that just a coincidence of art and myth?"

Tony smiled as he swung the holy sword at Kurumi once again.

"So you're merely 'Saint George' by proxy, the 'dragon slayer' by mere association, right?"

"The world is vast. Why don't we go see it?"

Unsurprisingly, the holy sword was instantly batted away by the flintlock gun. She was a brute who didn't play fair.

Without even relying on her powers, she could overpower a dragonified, god-empowered Tony with ease.

Kurumi hadn't even fired a shot.

In the end, Saint George's power just didn't suit Tony. Even though he had used Thou Art a Dragon on himself, he still struggled.

Saint George remained quiet within him.

Tony sensed his power and charged at Kurumi again.

Holy flames rained down, falling as if in divine judgment.

This was Saint George bound in the temple, praying to the Lord, summoning forth divine wrath.

The girl in black-and-red emerged from the holy flames unscathed, jabbing the handle of her gun into Tony's stomach, driving him to the ground.

Staring up at the night sky, he released his grip on his holy sword, feeling the dragon's blood fade away, his breathing ragged.

"You really are a fool," Saint George said, exasperated. "Still… you're right."

"I like traveling."

...

Tony didn't have the energy to respond.

He lay flat on his back, muttering in irritation.

"Ugh… safety shorts."

Full of innocent retribution, Liliana stepped right over Tony's sprawled-out body.

What she thought was a "fierce" act of revenge was surprisingly playful.

Yet she seemed to forget that without her bright silver armor, she was now dressed in the short chiffon dress and pristine white stockings that Erica had so maliciously chosen for her.

Liliana had resisted such a short dress, but in deference to Lady Kurumi's delight, she had begrudgingly put it on.

Erica understood her friend's sensitive pride and embarrassment too well.

"Tsk, safety shorts."

A lazy voice drifted up from below.

Liliana froze. Within seconds, her neck and face flushed a brilliant red, with her delicate ears following suit.

"Oh my, it's Steam Maiden Liliana," Kurumi snickered inwardly, committing this moment to memory.

She had to admit, there was something deeply amusing about teasing a girl like Liliana—serious, dignified, yet sensitive and easily flustered.

Kurumi hadn't known that kind of delight before, but as she watched Liliana, her lips curled into a mischievous smile.

Oh, what fun this could be.

She imagined Liliana's stern and prim face, her brows knit with embarrassment—wanting to refuse but hesitating, forced by duty to stand there, utterly flushed.

Yes, it seemed she really was a "bad person."

Then, after a brief moment of mortification, Liliana turned and gave Tony a fierce kick to the head.

A viciously precise kick.

In the final moment before it hit, all Tony saw was the toe of her small, round shoe growing larger in his vision.

"Oh no. Game over."

The journey from San Gimignano to Florence covered about 60 miles.

Their destination was the St. Giardino Monastery, located about a twenty-minute drive outside Florence.

There, "Saint Raffaello" and the head of the Copper-Black Cross, Paolo, awaited their arrival.

Rejecting the idea of having Arianna come to pick them up, Kurumi took the wheel herself for the trip to St. Giardino.

But soon enough, both Erica and Liliana paid the price for their hasty decision.

Kurumi's driving was smooth—controlled with the ease of a seasoned pro and surprisingly bump-free… if one ignored the speedometer needle nearly pinned at the max.

The car engine roared like a furious beast. In the passenger seat, Erica's face was pale as she hesitantly worked up the courage to speak.

"Lady Kurumi, in Italy… they drive on the right side of the road."

"Oh?" Kurumi appeared to hesitate, then abruptly jerked the steering wheel before swiftly straightening it again.

The force flung Erica forward, leaving her sprawled in Kurumi's lap.

"Ugh…" The usually mischievous Erica felt utterly defeated, groaning inwardly.

"I should've known. The way she calmly walked away from Arianna's car that time should've tipped me off."

"Why was she so unbothered?"

"How could she stay so indifferent to Arianna's driving?"

"It was because… they both drove the same way."

Meanwhile, Liliana clutched the handrail, eyes fixed on the wind chimes hanging from the rearview mirror, too scared to look anywhere else.

Both Erica and Liliana found themselves slightly envious of the unconscious Tony—he was lucky.

It was right then that Tony began to stir, propped awkwardly against the floor, looking dazed.

He stared blankly for a long moment before finally sitting up.

In the next instant, his face drained of color.

"What kind of monster driver is this?!"

As night fell, activity was still underway at the St. Giardino Monastery.

A "Heretic God," a "Godslayer," and a saintly vessel would soon arrive.

Though a grand reception wasn't necessary, it wouldn't do to let such distinguished guests arrive unnoticed.

Dressed in black, somber priests moved busily through the fortress-like white monastery.

Beyond the courtyard, row upon row of knights continued their rigorous training, their expressions holding not a trace of complaint.

A procession of distinguished guests approached.

A dignified priest, with a bearing as upright as a sword, led the group inside.

Kurumi followed with her usual grace, trailed by two perfectly synchronized young ladies, and lastly the slouched, casual Tony.

The priests they passed bore odd expressions, struggling to maintain composure, lips twitching as if stifling laughter.

It wasn't their fault. After all, who could remain solemn upon seeing a young man sporting a perfect footprint on his face, wobbling along nonchalantly?

But Tony hardly paid it any mind, preoccupied with his silent exchange with Saint George.

To most, the thought of another soul inhabiting their mind, able to witness their thoughts and memories, would be unbearable.

But Tony was different. There was nothing in his life he felt he needed to hide.

He had become a knight for his love of the sword; his lack of magical talent had made him the black sheep of his order, and yet it was for that very same swordsmanship that he had earned the title "Knight of Siena" and had been taken under Saint Raffaello's tutelage.

A life fit for the protagonist of a story.

"Well, well, seems you know my tale quite well~" Saint George teased.

To better wield Saint George's authority, Tony had peppered him with questions of all kinds.

But the saint, rather unexpectedly, was nothing short of a joker.

"Not exactly," Tony denied. "You just seem pretty taken with reading your own biography."

"Tell me, how many versions of your legend have you read since you came into my life?"

The priest leading them stopped to bow respectfully, gesturing for them to enter the small, white chapel nearby.

"Greetings to you, Lady Kurumi." With a sound of staggered footsteps, a muscular knight and a dark-haired beauty came forward and bowed in reverence.

A sophisticated-looking man with the air of a living David statue then approached Liliana with a complex expression.

"Greetings to you, young Campione, sixth of the Godslayers."

"Uncle…"

Erica froze, momentarily at a loss for words.

"Erica, I am grateful for your close connection with our Campione."

Paolo said.

"But… she is a Godslayer, do you understand?"

Regardless of how it came about,

the young girl named Liliana

was now, officially, the sixth Campione.

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40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon: 

Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven


Bab 100: —Me? I’m just a Spirit.

Why... Whether it's time or anything else… clearly, I was the first.

A bitter smile touched the corners of Erica's mouth.

··

Meanwhile, another report was laid before the Greenwich Wise Men's Council:

[The sixth Campione has been born, bearing the name—Liliana Kranjcar]

A mere twelve-year-old girl from Milan, Liliana is a member of the renowned Kranjcar family within the magical world and belongs to [Bronze Black Cross], one of Italy's seven major magical societies.

She possesses the bloodline of a witch.

No previous records of slaying a god.

On April 19th, the Heretic God Saint George sped from Turkey toward Italy, aiming to slay another Heretic God.

On April 20th, Saint George attacked the Milan headquarters of [Bronze-Black Cross], injuring many without causing any deaths.

On April 23rd, Liliana, the servant of the Heretic God Kurumi Tokisaki, returned to Milan with her.

At dusk that day, Liliana challenged Saint George in San Gimignano.

At that time, she had already become the sixth Campione, the latest Godslayer known to the world.

According to eyewitnesses, clairvoyants, and other sources, her first power appears to be her replaced silver right arm. It shows multiple functional capabilities, including the "survival through amputation" ability once demonstrated by the Heretic God Nuada in his battle against Kurumi Tokisaki.

There is sufficient evidence to confirm that the sixth Campione, Liliana, derived her powers from Nuada.

Based on her display of abilities, this council has named her primary power [The Silver Arm of the War God].

According to the former council chairwoman, Princess Alice's report, it was indeed Kurumi Tokisaki who killed the Heretic God Nuada.

There is solid reason to suspect that Kurumi Tokisaki possesses the ability to seize the powers of other deities and bestow them upon others.

The weight of that one letter was immense, pressing heavily on the council members as if to stifle their breaths.

——

It's rumored… that Godslayer are the children of a primal god rising in vengeance against the heavens. But you can't always believe the rumors, as there's also a rumor that says this primal god is a little girl.

··

Humans cannot defeat deities. Whether in skill, strength, or wisdom… there exists a chasmic difference between humans and gods.

Only those born with immense fortune can find themselves on a fated path to ultimately slay a god through an array of timely encounters.

At death's door, they undergo the ritual that transforms them from human to Godslayer and become Campione.

In the past, fanatical worshippers attempted to summon Heretic Gods to artificially create Campione, only to fail each time.

It seems that only those destined by the era itself can become Godslayers, and in any given age, there are typically no more than one to three born.

But now… this structure has been altered, shattered.

"Kurumi Tokisaki."

This slightly awkward name appeared in the records of magic society leaders across the continent, sparking intrigue. To create Godslayers! Such a golden opportunity—how could they not seize it?

The leaders of various magical societies were already preparing to send their most talented youths to Italy.

——

San Giardino Monastery.

Kurumi held Liliana close, quietly listening to this so-called "trial."

"Saint Raffaello" was a 'senior' practitioner, though one wouldn't guess by her appearance.

A beautiful, black-haired woman who seemed about twenty, she looked slightly of Latin descent, both elegant and valiant. She was a master of magic energy refined to an exquisite degree, which blessed her with eternally youthful beauty.

She was honored across Europe as its strongest swordswoman, someone even Paolo bowed to respectfully.

Godslayers hold similar, or even greater, powers. Liliana, buried against Kurumi's chest, couldn't help but worry about her own future.

Already flat as a pancake, and now it seemed there was no hope left.

Not that she cared, no, not at all!

This... this was perfectly suited for battle!

Liliana thought, her expression a mix of resolve and repressed tears.

··

The somewhat dim-witted yet immensely talented swordsman Tony, now possessed by Saint George's power, was explaining to Saint Raffaello what had happened over the last two weeks.

To slay Heretic Gods.

To defend all that must be protected.

This had been Saint George's purpose.

Initially, Saint George had been pursuing Kurumi's trail. But by the time he reached Milan, Kurumi had already departed, invited to London.

Was it a blessing that he arrived too late? Had he been present under the blood-raining skies, there would have been no "Liliana the Campione."

Intending to continue his pursuit to London, Saint George then sensed another Heretic God's presence.

At this, Saint Raffaello and Paolo exchanged glances, their brows furrowing.

But this Heretic God's movements were elusive. Though it wasn't actively hiding its presence, tracking it was extraordinarily difficult.

And just at that moment, Saint George sensed the aura of dragon and serpent within [Bronze-Black Cross]'s quarters.

Such a thing could not be tolerated.

How could the dragonslaying saint allow any dragon-serpent to roam free? Thus, he assaulted [Bronze-Black Cross].

In the end, all he found was a solitary silver snake scale.

Saint George had followed this trail from Milan to Florence, the "City of Flowers," and finally halted in San Gimignano.

Where he received a resounding beating at the hands of Liliana, who had borrowed Kurumi's power.

"What's the matter, Saint Raffaello?" The perceptive Erica picked up on something.

Perhaps it was the faint familiarity she had from their encounter two months prior or the deceiving allure of Saint Raffaello's appearance, but she felt no fear toward Europe's most famous sword saint.

"Whew…" Saint Raffaello let out a long breath.

"In truth, that's what we wished to discuss," she said, glancing toward Paolo.

"Do you remember the incident two months ago, Erica… Lady Liliana?"

"Of course," Erica and Liliana answered.

How could they forget? It was that very Heretic God who descended on Florence two months prior that led to them obtaining the magical swords [Cuore di Leone] and [Il Maestro].

As well as the forbidden magic they had learned under Saint Raffaello.

"In truth, that Heretic God never left."

Saint Raffaello turned to look at Kurumi Tokisaki.

"She's not aggressive, only stirring unrest due to her uncontrollable allure."

"Like with Kurumi-dono, we've been unable to trace her origin. All we know is she's waiting for someone."

Saint Raffaello paused, then continued.

"And ever since you descended, Kurumi-dono, she's begun to stir again."

"Are you saying I'm the one she's waiting for?" Kurumi, holding Liliana close, teased her, calling forth silver ears and a tail with her power.

"If we've judged correctly, that seems to be the case," Saint Raffaello replied, rising to her feet.

"Just like you, when she descended, she said a similar thing."

"—Me? I'm just a Spirit."

The supreme deity walks upon the earth.

Long before the sun and moon arose, it was He who brought us into being.

He granted us eternal beauty and voices as lovely as songs.

We awaken beneath starlight and proclaim the greatness of His works.

··

With eyes full of tranquil sorrow, a young elven girl leaned against an outstretched tree branch, lightly strumming her harp.

She wore a silk, snow-white dress, the bodice open at the front, gently accentuating her alluring curves, round and graceful.

The dress wasn't overwhelming, just enough to make one's gaze linger.

Her golden hair shone like flowing sunlight, and her long, delicate ears twitched in time with the melody—a tempting sight to touch.

Her slender legs dangled down, swaying gently. She was barefoot, her posture pure yet enticing, half-revealed.

Her voice rang out as pure as crystal bells, yet held a strange allure.

Beneath her, the crystal-clear river flowed into the distance, filled with starlit reflections.

Above, the sky was filled with stars, absent of the moon. Only the massive tree the girl leaned against glimmered like moonlight with a silver glow.

This was the Netherworld, the realm of the living and the unaging.

——

In any case…

It was a place Kurumi absolutely had to visit.

The cryptic hint had once said that her arrival in this world was linked to powers here that held profound meaning for her.

And now, Kurumi felt an intense certainty.

The one who called herself a "spirit"… this Heretic God without any origin... she was undoubtedly the being Kurumi was here to find.

Another being like herself…? One completely incomprehensible…?

Kurumi pondered this. She did not belong to this world; neither Princess Alice nor Paolo could trace her origin in any legend.

Of course, that was as it should be, for normal deities existed within mythologies.

Deities who strayed beyond the bounds of legend, wandering the earth, were called "Heretic Gods."

But deities who appeared suddenly without mythic ties, who could not be understood as mere "Heretic Gods" at all...

They were like the gods first glimpsed by humanity, in the world's earliest times... primeval gods.

··

Since both Paolo and Saint Raffaello said her origin could not be traced, then the truth was quite clear.

She wasn't a Heretic God at all. She was, like Kurumi herself, a being merely using the name of a Heretic God to descend upon this world.

After wandering Europe for so long, the true BOSS had finally shown up.

So the Netherworld, she had to go there!

Finally, it was time to clear the raid.

··

If it were just Kurumi alone entering the Netherworld, that wouldn't be hard, but she was definitely taking her little kitten along—and Liliana would surely want to follow.

Thus, she had to make some preparations.

Kurumi softly stroked the delicate silver triangular ears that had appeared atop Liliana's head.

Thin and fuzzy... soft… even warm, just like real cat ears.

Even the long, slender tail twitching nervously beneath her skirt looked entirely real.

Kurumi hugged Liliana close. The girl, tense, pressed herself tightly into Kurumi's embrace, her ears flushed bright red.

Kurumi rested her chin on one of those delicate little ears, one hand holding the tail's base while wrapping the rest of it around her other hand, loop by loop.

Liliana's face turned completely scarlet, her eyes shining as if welling with tears. She clutched Kurumi's clothing tightly.

"Your… your Highness…" Her voice was so soft it was like a whisper, but Kurumi pretended not to hear, only smiling more brightly.

Nuada's power had lent Liliana her new ears and tail, and in Nuada's original world, such beings as catgirls actually existed.

So by default, the power had mimicked a fully "original" catgirl system.

Liliana clung ever closer to Kurumi, at first trying to resist a bit, but thinking of her duty and vows, she swallowed her protests.

She was the priestess who served her goddess, the knight who dedicated her all to the goddess.

So, burying her head against Kurumi, Liliana only held her tighter, murmuring softly.

Feeling the girl's body growing tenser in her arms, Kurumi's lips curved into a mischievous smile.

"Nuada, good job!"

——

The "Netherworld," also called the "Underworld" or "Astral Realm," was a place with many names.

It was the realm of the living and the unaging, a space that stored all that has happened since the universe's creation and all that will ever happen.

An expression of the Akashic Records.

A "World Transfer" from this earth to the Netherworld was one of the most difficult magical feats.

In addition to complex, lengthy spells and rituals, it required rare potions.

Potions that heightened mental acuity, preparing the body for the foreignness of an otherworldly plane.

For the Netherworld was a realm where mind was greater than body, where spirit took precedence over matter.

The ingredients and catalysts required for an E-ranked high-level spell were so rare that even top-tier organizations like the Greenwich Wise Men's Council had to make careful arrangements to acquire them.

Fortunately, Paolo and Saint Raffaello had already spent considerable time gathering supplies for that Heretic God.

A jarring, overly trendy ringtone sounded, and Paolo's statue-like face showed rare embarrassment.

"Ah...ah…"

He took out a magenta phone, his broad hand nearly covering the vivid color entirely.

"The last ingredient is on its way…" He looked at the group, somewhat sheepishly.

"It'll be here by tomorrow morning at the latest…"

Only at moments like this did he fully realize just how mischievous his little princess could be.

However, there was still one more issue at hand.

The magic for reaching the Netherworld was a specialized art usually performed solely through "witchcraft," a refined form of magic accessible to witches only.

Though a highly skilled witch did reside on the southern tip of Italy on Sardinia, she was too far to be of help here.

Besides, in this very hall, they already had someone with the knowledge, power, and witch heritage to perform the ritual.

After much discussion, even Kurumi ceased her play with Liliana.

The girl's small head, still buried in Kurumi's chest, paused, trembling slightly.

Sensing something strange in the air, Liliana raised her head in confusion, only to find that everyone in the room was now looking at her with a kind of hopeful, special gaze.

"Ahhh!!!" Liliana yelped, shrinking back in terror.

So scary!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon: 

Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven


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