Fantasy Library, Ch 296-300

Chapter 296: A Transformation from Inside Out

When a human kills a god, devours its power, gains its Authority, and is thereby reincarnated as a Campione, besides gaining an Authority related to that god, he (or she) also obtains many other traits.

For example, mastering the Thousand Languages—this is an ability that allows one to rapidly grasp foreign languages. All Campione possess this ability, and wherever they go, they will not encounter communication issues.

In addition to Thousand Languages, a Campione also gains night vision upon reincarnation, and their physical body becomes extremely durable. Their bones are harder than any alloy in the world, muscle fibers are nearly impossible to tear, and they gain abilities more potent than the effects of adrenaline—the bleeding stops instantly, and pain becomes dulled. As a result, even when injured, their combat capabilities are scarcely diminished.

The Magical Power within a Campione is also several hundred times stronger than that of ordinary magicians. By simply enhancing the flow of Magical Power within their body, they can become immune to external magic, spells, and other forms of mysticism. Their resistance to magical forces is so strong that even beneficial techniques will be repelled unless directly implanted into the body—otherwise, they will have no effect.

Moreover, when sensing the approach of battle, the presence of a god, or impending danger, a Campione's body will naturally adjust to an optimal state. Their fighting spirit will surge forth automatically, morale will rise dramatically, allowing them to unleash two hundred percent of their strength.

It is precisely because of these various abilities that Campione are able to surpass the realm of mortals, reaching the stage of confronting gods head-on. Even when facing beings stronger than themselves, they can rely on instinct and primal senses to exhibit extraordinary performance and ultimately achieve victory against the odds.

These are the benefits of reincarnating as a Campione, and they are rewards granted only upon the first successful god-slaying.

After becoming a Campione, even if one slays a second, third, fourth, or countless more gods, the only thing gained is additional Authorities—no other powers will be obtained.

Therefore, the ritual of slaying the first god is of utmost importance.

Kaiser, who had known this from the beginning, naturally wanted to maximize the benefits of this ritual.

After obtaining the Hōgyoku, although his Spiritual Pressure had surpassed its limit and he had acquired Hollow powers, he had yet to undergo a true evolution powered by the Hōgyoku.

In the original story, Aizen, after obtaining the Hōgyoku, evolved multiple times and thereby transcended both Shinigami and Hollow, reaching a new realm and becoming a new form of life. Kaiser had not yet reached that point.

Therefore, he had long since resolved to seize this opportunity to utilize both the Hōgyoku and the Circle of Usurpation together to carry out a complete and thorough evolution.

Given the choice, after becoming a Campione, he would naturally eliminate certain drawbacks, retain certain benefits, and even enhance them to become better and stronger, seeking to push this reincarnation to its peak.

For instance, the resistance of a Campione—which indiscriminately repels all mysticism, including both beneficial and harmful magic—must be modified accordingly.

His physical body must gain an automatic recognition function, allowing it to retain beneficial powers and repel harmful ones. That would be the optimal evolution.

Moreover, for the post-reincarnation physical body, it isn’t enough to merely become extremely durable, with bones harder than any alloy and muscle fibers hard to tear. Since he also possessed High-Speed Regeneration and Hierro, all these body-targeting modifications could be integrated to forge his body into something immensely robust both inside and out.

Thousand Languages, on the other hand, could be discarded. As the Librarian of the Fantasy Library, Kaiser inherently understood the major languages of the fantasy worlds and had no issues with communication, so the power used to form Thousand Languages could be redirected into enhancing the body, making it even stronger.

As for night vision—Kaiser had already gained that ability after acquiring the Hōgyoku, so the power forming this ability could also be redirected elsewhere to be reinforced.

Of course, during this process, Kaiser also aimed to gain new abilities.

He had long lacked powers related to mental or sensory faculties, which resulted in his inability to break through Kuroka's illusion in the High School DxD World, and being unable to escape the complete hypnosis of Kyōka Suigetsu in the Bleach world.

He could go without such abilities—but at the very least, he needed abilities that could render him immune to them.

With the Hōgyoku, he could evolve himself in the direction he wished, acquiring the abilities he needed—this undoubtedly filled a major gap in his arsenal.

Given this, Kaiser paid special attention to his Magical Power resistance.

He planned to use the power of the Hōgyoku to forge it into an absolute resistance against mysticism.

In doing so, all forces—whether offensive, or ones targeting the mind and five senses—would be regarded as negative and repelled.

If not for the fact that the power of the Hōgyoku was limited, and the divine power seized by the Circle of Usurpation was also finite, he even wanted to evolve himself to possess something like the Eyes of Insight.

Unfortunately, due to limited power, Kaiser could only push forward in as ideal a direction as possible—not striving to see through everything, but at least ensuring that he would remain unaffected and never be toyed with.

And so, under the joint effect of the Hōgyoku and the Circle of Usurpation, Kaiser's reincarnation began to evolve toward something inhuman.

As for the Authority gained after slaying the god, Kaiser also made his choice.

“Whoosh!”

A spear suddenly appeared before Kaiser and was grasped in his hand.

The shaft of the spear was made from the branches of the World Tree, covered in ancient and mysterious patterns.

The tip of the spear was inscribed with rune symbols, emanating an air of divinity.

This was not like the True Longinus, a long spear meant for melee, but a thrown spear.

Its name was Gungnir, also known as Gungnir—a Spear of Fate that brings victory upon being thrown, guaranteed to hit and guaranteed to win.

"As expected, I can choose this spear as my Authority."

Looking at this legendary divine tool, Kaiser could not conceal his inner excitement.

Generally speaking, what kind of Authority a Campione obtains depends on luck, personality, disposition, and abilities. The process is entirely random and cannot be chosen.

However, in the original story, the protagonist was once granted, under Pandora’s permission as the master of the Circle of Usurpation, a single, one-time opportunity to choose his Authority.

This implies that the one who controls the Circle of Usurpation can determine what Authority is given to a Campione.

That it hadn’t been done previously was simply because Pandora had no desire to do so.

She probably believed that only the Authority naturally matched through the ritual was the most suitable for the individual.

But Kaiser certainly wouldn't follow that route.

He knew very well what he needed and what kind of Authority would benefit him the most.

Thus, without hesitation, he chose Odin’s spear.

This spear was not only a divine weapon, but also a materialized form of Authority.

Unlike the True Longinus, Boosted Gear, Divine Dividing, and other sacred tools created by gods for humans to use, this was a weapon personally wielded by a god—imbued with Divinity, possessing Divinity and Divine Power, a spear that once accompanied its wielder through mythic battles, struck down giants, and fought the Vanir gods!

A Spear of Inevitable Victory and Destiny, capable of interfering with fate—in terms of threat to enemies, this spear surpassed even the True Longinus in certain respects!

“Buzz!”

Kaiser directly activated his Authority and initiated the recognition process for the Gungnir.

Because it was the materialization of the Authority he had just obtained, the process of recognition was almost instant, turning the Gungnir into a streak of light that flew into Kaiser’s body.

At the same time, Kaiser’s reincarnation ritual and first evolution were completed. The Hōgyoku within his body ceased its rotation, and the Circle of Usurpation above his head also drilled into his body, vanishing from above him.

Kaiser sensed himself and confirmed that his body had indeed undergone a transformation from inside out—not only powerful but also extraordinarily resilient, full of strength.

The Magical Power within his body had also increased severalfold, making Kaiser's already overwhelming Magical Power utterly inhuman.

If a normal Campione’s Magical Power is hundreds of times greater than that of ordinary magicians or spellcasters, then his is at least a thousand times—two to three times stronger than an average Campione.

"With my current self, even if I don’t use any weapons, I can easily crush Demon Lord-class existences, right?"

Kaiser had that confidence.

At the very least, facing opponents like Vali and Azazel—even if they used sacred gears or artificial gears in Balance Breaker form—Kaiser was confident he could win barehanded.

Against someone like Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, he now felt he could win effortlessly without drawing his sword.

"So this is the benefit of God-Slaying?"

Kaiser could hardly wait to summon the second Heretic God.

Not just to gain another Authority—but to test his current strength.

However...

"Not just yet."

Kaiser lowered his head and looked at the city below.

Signs of chaos still lingered there—like the aftermath of a disaster.

After Kaiser killed Odin, the storm disappeared, the ghost army and the oppressive black clouds vanished as well, but the tsunami that had been stirred up still remained—only the external force behind it had been removed.

The tsunami surged into the city, and the damage it caused was self-evident.

Fortunately, it seemed that forces from the mystical side had intervened, eventually stopping the tsunami. Though it still caused damage, it wasn’t as devastating as it could have been.

This stirred some feelings in Kaiser.

“No matter how much you avoid the crowd, when divine and Campione-level powers appear, it’s still impossible not to impact the world.”

That was simply the consequence of too much power, regardless of intention.

Even if Odin hadn’t approached the city and the two had fought at sea, it could still have affected ocean currents, giving rise to typhoons, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, and other natural disasters.

In the face of gods and Campione...

“Humanity is just too insignificant and too fragile.”

Shaking his head, Kaiser took a step forward—and vanished from mid-air...

Chapter 297: The Seventh Campione

A massive tsunami appeared off the coast, causing disasters in the coastal cities.

This was newsworthy enough to make the headlines, and the kind of event that major countries around the world would rush to report on.

Although only a single day had passed, this news had already been published in newspapers and on television in various countries, sparking widespread discussion.

Because, according to reports, the scale of this tsunami was extremely large—so much so that it could possibly submerge half of Island.

However, in the end, this great tsunami only caused damage in a small area. It didn’t even manage to submerge a single city, and casualties were negligible. It stood out as an accident wrapped in a miracle.

Moreover, the tsunami appeared without any warning. The meteorological bureau detected nothing beforehand, and the weather on that day was good. Logically, such a large-scale tsunami shouldn’t have suddenly occurred. Adding to that, on the same day the tsunami struck, some people claimed to have seen strange things, and even photos were leaked. This drew a great deal of attention to the disaster and attracted widespread focus.

Of course, ordinary citizens could only speculate about this strange phenomenon and had no way of perceiving the deeper factors behind it.

Those unpleasant rumors and reports were also, as if by some tacit agreement, swiftly covered up by mysterious forces backing the various nations, and disappeared without a trace.

Meanwhile, the mysterious forces behind each country all launched deep investigations. Some even convened internal high-level meetings. Combining these with abnormal phenomena previously detected through mystical means, they quickly locked onto the truth behind this incident.

"A Heretic God has descended."

"And very likely, has already been defeated."

Many of the powers on the mystical side understood the implications of this.

Especially after each had used their own networks to investigate the whereabouts of current Campione and confirmed that none of them were present at the scene of the incident, they began to vaguely realize one thing.

That is, a new Campione had very likely been born.

This was a matter capable of influencing the world and nations.

It was something that could change the current order and structure.

To confirm the accuracy of this speculation, various forces dispatched intelligence agents, activated covert channels, or sent emissaries to the involved country, seeking to verify the truth by any means.

In such a situation, one force had already confirmed the matter ahead of everyone else.

This force was called the Witenagemot—a secret organization established in the 19th century, headquartered in Greenwich.

The origin of the Witenagemot, if one had to explain it, was a group of busybodies.

These busybodies included magicians, occult scholars, fairy researchers, ordinary scholars bordering on experts, even street researchers, priests, monks, shrine maidens, artists, capitalists, nobles, royalty, and imperial family members. One could say the group was extremely chaotic.

At first, it was merely a collective formed by ambitious, curious, and wealthy individuals who gathered together to exchange information. Later, the group grew larger and more influential, attracting more extraordinary members. After establishing their base in Greenwich, London, the nature of their existence completely changed.

Now, it had become a think tank promoting and supporting mystical and magical research, while also accumulating intelligence on gods and Campione—existing in the world to respond swiftly to the disasters caused by their descent.

In other words, the Witenagemot is the place with the most thorough research on gods and Campione in the world. It is also the place that understands the Campione group best.

Thanks to this, while other mystical forces were still trying to verify the event, the Witenagemot had already essentially confirmed—

"A seventh Campione has been born. The world has gained a new Demon Lord."

A group of aging heavyweights from the mystical side gathered in the Witenagemot headquarters and began to deliberate.

"Is the information confirmed?"

"This is a conclusion sent from the princess’s side."

"That one, huh... then it’s definitely unquestionable."

"What should we do now?"

"What else can we do?"

"The other party is a Campione. Even if he has just been born, no human can resist him. Are we really going to oppose him?"

"So we’re sticking to the usual response?"

"Of course. When it comes to Campione, we can do nothing but gather intelligence and keep a record."

"Has the identity of the new king been confirmed?"

"Basically confirmed. Please review this carefully, and make sure your people are warned not to provoke the Demon Lord."

A dossier was distributed to each participant, urging them to study it carefully.

And on this dossier—was Kaiser.

One had to admit, the Witenagemot truly had impressive means. Even though Kaiser had never shown himself before anyone, these powers and authorities of the mystical world had still easily locked onto his identity.

Spirit Vision, foresight, divination—such abilities could all be used to identify the party involved, so hiding Kaiser’s identity from everyone was impossible.

The sages viewed his dossier while murmuring among themselves.

"So young."

"Even younger than Lord Salvatore, right?"

"It’s hard to imagine someone like this could slay a god."

"A completely ordinary person with no connection to the magical world, yet he succeeded in God-Slaying..."

"It’s not surprising. No Campione is ever normal, and they can’t be judged by conventional concepts or logic."

"The birth of a Campione is inherently without pattern, and has nothing to do with whether one is a magician. Before a god, even paladins are no different from ordinary mortals."

"God-Slaying relies not on strength, nor on mystery, not even on knowledge or wisdom, but rather on miraculous coincidence and reckless courage."

"Even so, the fact that so many of them have appeared in this era, and now a seventh has been born, is too unreasonable."

"Demon Lord, huh..."

As the sages discussed, they couldn’t help but reveal a trace of fear.

Campione—God-Slayers—are tyrants.

Because they have slain the gods of heaven and seized the supreme powers those gods held.

Campione—God-Slayers—are kings.

Because they command the Authorities stolen through God-Slaying and rule over mortals.

Campione—God-Slayers—are Demon Lords.

Because in this world, no mortal possesses the power to oppose them.

They wield absolute authority. To weak mortals, they are no different from gods, demons, or mythical beasts—beings who stand above all life.

Like natural creatures without predators, they can act however they please in this world, and no one can stop them, much less defy them.

Until now, Campione had indeed caused the world massive trouble, even greater sometimes than that of descending Heretic Gods.

They ignore rules, order, laws, and incite chaos around the world—sometimes worse than what a Heretic God’s arrival would bring.

But humanity still must revere them, obey them, kneel before them.

This is the sorrow of the weak, and the cruelty of reality.

The birth of a new Campione is by no means a good thing for major powers.

The more such beings exist, the more detrimental it is for world powers and even ordinary citizens.

Unfortunately, as always, they could do nothing.

Gods and Campione—these beings are on an entirely different level from other life forms.

Therefore...

"Spread the news appropriately. Let all magical societies and mystical forces remember the appearance of this new king."

"Hopefully they’ll remain cautious enough not to provoke the king and perish in an instant."

"In history, many renowned and once-glorious powers were destroyed overnight for provoking a Demon Lord—such cases are not few."

"What god did the new king slay?"

"Storms, spirits, meteors... someone even saw an eight-legged horse using farsight. Unless something went wrong, it should be him."

"The chief god of Norse mythology—Odin."

"A chief god-level deity?"

"To think he slew a god of that caliber... what kind of Authority did the new king usurp?"

"From now on, this will be a matter of key interest."

Thus, amid this smoothly flowing discussion, the sages of the Witenagemot built a preliminary intelligence file.

This was the seventh Campione born, after the current sixth king, Salvatore Doni.

Only four years had passed since Salvatore Doni became a Campione, and now a new king had appeared.

Many factions that received the news sensed the madness of this era.

Usually, there would only be three or four Campione in an era. Sometimes just one or two. In some centuries, not a single one would be born.

But in this era, there were already seven Campione.

Those who knew the secrets realized—this age would no longer be peaceful.

With so many Campione gathered in one era, just what kind of chaos would be stirred up? And what kind of entities would be drawn forth?

Those in the know were already growing uneasy.

……

At the same time...

In Shichio Shrine, Mariya Yuri was hosting a guest.

"I really didn’t expect you to come here personally."

While brewing tea for the other person, Mariya Yuri spoke with genuine surprise.

Seated before her was a woman with a beautiful face, an aura that seemed detached from the mortal world, a slender figure with no excess fat, dressed in a white shirt, suit jacket, and long pants, wearing a tie—clearly in male attire, yet unmistakably female.

Standing behind the woman was another middle-aged man in a suit and tie. He looked like a salaryman, but the aura he exuded was somewhat slack and frivolous, giving off a not-so-simple vibe.

Mariya Yuri spoke with the former, while the latter remained silent like a bodyguard.

The woman in male attire took up the teacup and spoke in an overly cheerful tone.

"Even your Spirit Vision didn’t sense my arrival. It seems I really did drop in quite suddenly this time."

At these words, Mariya Yuri furrowed her beautiful brows.

"Spirit Vision isn’t such a convenient thing. It’s just an occasional glimpse of what others can’t see—not something always effective."

This somewhat dissatisfied statement was met with a shrug from the suited woman.

"That’s true for most people. But you, Yuri, are the most powerful Spirit Vision user I’ve ever met—maybe even more powerful than the legendary Divine Ancestor."

The implication being that while others might not be able to use Spirit Vision at will, Mariya Yuri was an exception.

Her Spirit Vision could be triggered easily by a proper catalyst.

That catalyst might be a mere phrase—or just brushing past a stranger could be enough to activate it.

Because of this, the suited woman had never underestimated her due to her youth.

"I don’t believe for a second that you know nothing." The woman in male attire asked in a tone that sounded half-provocation, half-probing: "Surely you’ve sensed something about why I came to see you?"

"...Just a little." Mariya Yuri, clearly not as calculating as the other party, fell silent for a moment, then spoke in a rather complicated tone: "Ever since you arrived, my intuition has been warning me—telling me to drive you out. Otherwise, I’ll be drawn into something I really don’t want to deal with."

...Indeed, Mariya Yuri’s Spirit Vision was the rarest of treasures in this world—on a completely different level from others.

The woman—Sayanomiya Kaoru—confirmed this once more and decided not to beat around the bush anymore.

"Yesterday, you reported your Spirit Vision to us. You said you saw a god descending, didn’t you?"

Upon hearing this, Mariya Yuri nodded, her expression growing more complex.

"The chief god of Norse mythology, king of the Aesir, that great being who wields the spear that governs fate—he brought great trouble to the coastal metropolis, right?"

Mariya Yuri did not possess such well-informed intelligence that she would know all this just the day after the incident.

But she had seen the god’s true form—Spirit Vision had revealed this knowledge to her.

That alone proved her Spirit Vision was indeed powerful.

However...

"That god-king has been defeated," Sayanomiya Kaoru stated succinctly. "A new Campione has been born in our country, and it seems he shares some kind of fate with you."

This was the reason Sayanomiya Kaoru had come today.

"I—I share a fate with him?"

Mariya Yuri was dumbfounded.

But the next second, her eyes suddenly turned vacant, and her vision leapt—flying off into the distance...

Chapter 298: A Gaze Across Space

At this moment, Kaiser was leisurely strolling along a main street in downtown Tokyo.

He had no particular destination; he simply wanted to find a restaurant and grab a meal to reward his stomach first, then figure out what to do next.

"Even after becoming a Campione, I still need to eat..."

Rubbing his growling stomach, Kaiser muttered inwardly.

In fact, if he wanted to, with the power of the Hōgyoku, he could evolve a body that required no sustenance.

But he didn’t do that, because he never thought that not needing to eat was a good thing.

There are many pleasures in this world, and enjoying delicious food is one of them.

If one were to lose the joy of tasting food, then a large part of life’s enjoyment would vanish as well.

Before becoming the Librarian of the Fantasy Library, due to his harsh and frugal lifestyle, Kaiser had little opportunity to savor gourmet food.

Now, he had the chance to taste all kinds of cuisine—even foods from different worlds. Such an exciting prospect was certainly not one he wanted to lose.

Anyway, because of the Hōgyoku, he was already immortal. Even if he didn’t eat, he wouldn’t die—at most, he’d feel hungry. There was no need to transform himself into something inhuman.

Eating was a habit he would continue to maintain.

Thinking this, Kaiser reached into his pocket and found a wallet on him.

The wallet was very thin. After all, the background he received was that of an outsider who had to live off part-time jobs. It contained only a few bills, and their denominations were not high.

“This is even more miserable than my life before becoming the Librarian.”

Kaiser laughed and shook his head, but he didn’t mind. He directly found a ramen shop and went inside to order a bowl of tonkotsu ramen, with extra chashu, double portion.

“Tonkotsu ramen, extra chashu, double portion. Please enjoy!”

A delicate-looking ramen shop waiter quickly served a large bowl of ramen, finally allowing Kaiser to treat his stomach, which was just as flat as his wallet.

It seemed this wasn’t the ramen shop’s peak business hour. Inside, there were only a few scattered customers: an uncle with a briefcase, an aunt with a child, an elder dressed in traditional clothing—and him. The atmosphere was rather quiet.

But the television in the ramen shop was broadcasting news about a massive tsunami that struck the coastal region, drawing the attention of the idle boss, the staff, and the customers, all of whom looked toward the TV.

“How could a tsunami appear so suddenly?”

“Luckily, there weren’t many casualties.”

“But... with such a huge tsunami, how could there be so little damage?”

“Who knows? This is probably an unsolvable mystery.”

The customers chatted idly, not realizing that the greatest culprit behind this event was right beside them. That person merely glanced at the TV before losing interest, quietly continuing to eat his noodles, thinking about where to go after finishing.

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, Kaiser paused mid-bite, as if sensing something. His brow raised, and he looked toward the void.

At the same time, a gaze seemed to travel across time and space from afar and landed on him.

Kaiser and the gaze’s owner looked at each other across a great distance, and both could actually see the other's current appearance.

Kaiser saw Mariya Yuri, who was sitting upright in the shrine entertaining guests.

Mariya Yuri also saw Kaiser, saw him sitting in the ramen shop eating noodles, with a strand of noodle still hanging from his mouth.

“……”

Silence.

An indescribable silence.

After the silence, Kaiser slurped up the noodle with a “whoosh” and murmured quietly.

“There are some things in this world... that shouldn't be looked at.”

At that moment, Kaiser’s inhuman resistance to magical power activated.

The gaze sent from afar was instantly repelled, and Kaiser vaguely heard a surprised gasp.

After the gasp, everything stopped abruptly, as if nothing had happened.

Kaiser also nonchalantly quickened his pace, finishing even the broth and leaving the bowl spotless before pulling out a bill and casually walking away.

The direction he went—was toward the Shichio Shrine.

…………

“Ah!”

Inside the Shichio Shrine, Mariya Yuri, whose eyes had suddenly gone blank, let out a startled cry, as if someone had pushed her, collapsing to the ground.

“What’s wrong?”

Sayanomiya Kaoru was immediately shocked and quickly stood up.

The middle-aged man behind Sayanomiya Kaoru tensed up all over in an instant. Though he looked like a useless office worker, at that moment he exuded a disciplined aura.

Mariya Yuri finally came to her senses, her delicate face turning pale.

“I-I caused trouble!”

Mariya Yuri cried out in a voice laced with sobs.

“Trouble?” Sayanomiya Kaoru was clearly a clever person and instantly made a connection, her expression changing slightly as she said, “Could it be…”

Sayanomiya Kaoru’s speculation was quickly confirmed.

“I-I saw the new king.” Mariya Yuri’s face was pale, her voice trembling. “He’s... on his way here now!”

With these words, Sayanomiya Kaoru’s heart sank completely.

Even the middle-aged man behind her was momentarily dumbfounded, then blurted out:

“Can I request to leave early? My job description never mentioned dealing with a Campione!”

The two had come here specifically to inquire about the new king.

First, since this event occurred in their country, they needed to uncover the cause and consequences as soon as possible.

Second, because Japan had never produced a Campione, they had only heard terrifying rumors about them and didn’t know how to interact with one, so they came to Mariya Yuri.

Mariya Yuri had once participated in a summoning ritual for a Heretic God involving an ancient king. Although it was a traumatic experience and a past she would rather forget, she had indeed interacted with a Campione before and could offer some useful advice to Sayanomiya Kaoru and her companion.

Moreover, the new king seemed to have some connection with the Shichio Shrine and possibly with Mariya Yuri herself. She had used Spirit Vision to witness a divine descent before the incident even occurred, which is why Sayanomiya Kaoru and the others came to consult her.

But who would have thought—before they could even consult her, the final boss was already on his way?

Who could they even complain to?

Clever as she was, Sayanomiya Kaoru was now also feeling flustered.

As for Mariya Yuri, she was even worse off—her delicate frame trembling from fear.

She remembered the hellish ritual she participated in years ago.

Although the ritual succeeded, nearly all the participants went insane. Only a few, including herself, escaped without losing their minds.

That ritual was extremely dangerous—Mariya Yuri had foreseen that much with her Spirit Vision before participating.

But the king who orchestrated the ritual paid no heed, as if the ones being sacrificed weren’t dozens of precious Hime-Miko and witches, but lumps of meat from who knows where. He forcibly carried out the ritual.

And the reason he insisted on the summoning?

It was just because he was bored. He wanted entertainment. He wanted to slay a god and gain a new Authority—so he needed to summon an opponent.

That was a true Demon Lord, a monster who viewed humans as ants—just like the gods.

The forces of Japan’s mystic side didn’t understand how terrifying Campiones were or how to face them—but Mariya Yuri understood all too well.

These were not beings ordinary people could talk to.

They were terrifying existences that could endanger an entire nation.

Someone like that—she only wanted to stay far, far away from. Just the thought of meeting him again made her panic.

After what just happened, she didn’t even dare to activate Spirit Vision to look at him again. She couldn’t even prepare by learning about his temperament and finding a way to approach him.

In the end, it was Sayanomiya Kaoru who took a deep breath and regained her composure first.

“No matter what, since it’s already happened, we must think of a way to deal with it.”

Sayanomiya Kaoru was indeed decisive.

“We’ve all heard enough rumors to know how terrifying a Campione is.”

“Although our country has never produced one or interacted with one, to be safe, we must maintain the right attitude.”

“Remember—keep reminding yourself to treat him with awe. If not for ourselves, then at least for the country. Our deaths are minor, but dragging the whole nation into disaster would be a catastrophe.”

At her words, the middle-aged man immediately raised his hand.

“I’m just an attendant, a nameless nobody. I’m not qualified to meet a king. Can I retreat now?”

Unlike the middle-aged man who desperately wanted to flee, Mariya Yuri, though afraid, still mustered her courage and showed a determined gaze.

“It was my disrespect that made the king come. I will apologize with everything I have, and not let others suffer because of me.”

Mariya Yuri recalled yesterday, when she had a face-to-face conversation with him here.

It was only just now that she realized the new Campione was the one who had been sweeping here yesterday, the one who had triggered her intuition.

No wonder she had felt so uneasy yesterday.

No wonder she became so fixated on him after meeting him. And after learning his name, she had directly witnessed the descent of a god.

Because a Heretic God was about to descend, she had panicked and failed to think deeper about it.

If only she had realized it back then—perhaps she could have done something, anything.

Mariya Yuri felt a pang of regret.

But unfortunately, there is no medicine for regret in this world.

And they could no longer stay here.

Because—the king had arrived.

…………

The Shichio Shrine was located not far from Shiba Park and Tokyo Tower.

Surrounded by luxury hotels, schools, TV stations, radio stations, and embassies, the number of shrines and temples nearby was unusually high. Shichio Shrine was just one of them.

Right beside a main road, a narrow and winding path sat. Following this path led to a stone staircase with two hundred steps.

At the top of these steps stood the Shichio Shrine, surrounded by lush greenery and beautiful scenery that attracted many worshippers.

Though not a particularly famous shrine, Shichio Shrine employed many shrine personnel due to the fact that its shrine maiden was the Hime-Miko overseeing the spirit users of Musashino.

But today, all those shrine personnel had been dismissed. Only Mariya Yuri and Sayanomiya Kaoru stood atop the platform, facing the stairs, awaiting the arrival of the Demon Lord.

The middle-aged man behind Sayanomiya Kaoru—Touma Amakasu—was feeling very bitter.

“Are you really not letting me go? What right do I have to meet the new king with my status?”

He made no effort to hide his desire to escape.

To that, Sayanomiya Kaoru simply replied:

“If something happens because you leave, I’ll make sure to drag you down with me to take the blame.”

Her heartless statement rendered Touma Amakasu completely silent.

“…You really are a great boss.”

“Of course. I’ve always been very considerate of my subordinates.”

“I didn’t expect my boss to be so utterly lacking in self-awareness. The History Compilation Committee is doomed under your command.”

“Thank you for the compliment. If it were any other time, I’d make sure to dock your entire year’s salary.”

Perhaps trying to find humor in hardship, the two bickered like master and servant.

But Mariya Yuri wasn’t in the mood. Her heart was beating faster and faster, her hands tightly clenched together in anxiety.

Until a certain moment—Sayanomiya Kaoru and Touma Amakasu simultaneously fell silent and held their breath along with Mariya Yuri.

The three of them could feel it: the atmosphere around the shrine had changed.

This was a place that served the gods.

This was sacred ground that enshrined the divine.

Normally, it was quiet, tranquil, peaceful, and holy—a place that brought serenity to the soul.

But at this moment, even the very air had grown heavy.

Because the God-Slaying Beast that defied all gods had boldly stepped into this place.

“Clack!”

A clear footstep echoed, and a figure appeared at the base of the stone steps.

He walked up slowly, one step at a time like an ordinary tourist, passed through the torii gate, and entered this sacred domain under the weight of the heavy air.

Dressed in simple white, he looked no different from a regular shrine priest, entering as if nothing were out of the ordinary.

“Just one day without sweeping, and there’s already so many fallen leaves and dirt.”

The Demon Lord who had already become a Rakshasa approached with a half-smile, speaking his first line.

“My part-time shift doesn’t seem to be over yet. Coming here now—I must be seriously late, right?”

“Will I get docked pay?”

“If I start sweeping now, is it still in time?”

His playful words made both Sayanomiya Kaoru and Touma Amakasu hold their breaths, not daring to make a sound.

Neither of them had ever faced a Campione before. They had no idea how terrifying one could be.

But now—they knew.

As members of the mystic side, their instincts were screaming in alarm.

As if wailing and shrieking...

Chapter 299: You Still Dare to Peek?

Don’t be fooled by Sayanomiya Kaoru’s appearance as a handsome woman in men’s clothing—she is actually one of the Hime-Miko of Musashino.

Although she is not a Spirit Vision user like Mariya Yuri, as a highest-ranking miko, Sayanomiya Kaoru still possesses some degree of intuition and Spiritual Power, enough to perceive the mysterious things that others cannot sense.

And Touma Amakasu is a descendant of the now-rare ninja of the modern era, capable of using various ninjutsu and techniques from the mysterious arts; his skill in concealment is so profound that even Campione find it difficult to detect his presence, making him especially adept at discovering things others cannot.

In such circumstances, it was only natural that the two of them sensed the terror of Kaiser.

Because he had just reincarnated as a Campione, not only had Kaiser’s body undergone a complete transformation both inside and out, even the Magical Power within his body had multiplied to a degree far beyond the reach of an ordinary Campione.

Such terrifying Magical Power appeared to Sayanomiya Kaoru and Touma Amakasu as an unspeakable horror—a bottomless black abyss.

It wasn’t something benign or gentle like a vast ocean, but a storm that could swallow them at any moment.

“So this is… a Campione?”

Sayanomiya Kaoru and Touma Amakasu both tensed up completely, cold sweat streaming down their foreheads.

Even they were like this—how much worse must it have been for Mariya Yuri, who possessed extraordinary intuition and the highest-level Spirit Vision? Looking at Kaiser, her gaze no longer seemed to be directed at a fellow human, but rather at a dragon, a monster, a fierce beast.

For a moment, none of the three could speak. No one said a word. They just stood there, like statues, not daring to move.

Seeing this, Kaiser narrowed his eyes.

“Is it that you all disdain speaking with me? Or do you think there’s no need to respond to my words?”

Though still spoken with a half-smiling tone, this remark snapped the three back to reality.

“Sayanomiya Kaoru greets the new king.”

Sayanomiya Kaoru was the first to kneel on one knee before Kaiser, taking on the posture of a retainer before a monarch.

Touma Amakasu and Mariya Yuri also hurriedly knelt. The former no longer bore a lazy, carefree look—only reverence. The latter dropped both knees to the ground, her delicate body trembling, clearly terrified.

“Sayanomiya …”

Kaiser looked at Sayanomiya Kaoru and spoke.

“Is that the Sayanomiya who commands the History Compilation Committee? One of the Four Great Families?”

Hearing this, Sayanomiya Kaoru looked at Kaiser with some surprise.

“Yes, I am the Director of the Tokyo Branch Office of the History Compilation Committee, from the Sayanomiya family.”

Sayanomiya Kaoru responded with utmost respect.

The History Compilation Committee is a national agency within Japan that controls magicians, sorcerers, and other elements of the mystical side.

It is an organization representing both the official Japanese government and the world of sorcery, governed by domestic sorcerers, spirit users, and similar individuals. Its members include, but are not limited to, talented individuals recruited from the Ministry of Education, National Diet Library, Imperial Household Agency, Agency for Shrines, Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, and so forth. Even those not part of the organization—so long as they possess Magical Power, such as mikos or religious personnel—are obligated to assist it.

Its duty is to preserve the modern form of society from the various phenomena involving magic, sorcery, gods, and countless other supernatural forces. Thus, it is named the “History Compilation” Committee.

As for the so-called Four Great Families, they refer to four ancient clans that have, since antiquity, served the reigning emperors of their eras through their own inherent abilities.

These four clans are Seishuuin, Kuhoutsuka, Renjou, Sayanomiya .

Among them, the Sayanomiya family forms the core think tank of the History Compilation Committee. The entire organization operates under the guidance of the Sayanomiya clan, which has a profound mastery of sorcery. Several generations ago, a family head even studied abroad in Europe and acquired knowledge of Western magic.

Sayanomiya Kaoru hails from that very family.

Despite her young age and penchant for wearing men’s clothing, she is not only the Director of the Tokyo Branch Office of the History Compilation Committee, but also the central figure of authority in the Kanto Committee—and the next Supreme Commander of the History Compilation Committee. She is destined to one day stand at the pinnacle of power in Japan’s world of sorcery.

Standing behind her, Touma Amakasu is an agent of the History Compilation Committee, and also her personal agent—her direct subordinate and trusted confidant.

As for Mariya Yuri, although she is the leader of the spirit users in Musashino, her status as a Hime-Miko—one of the highest-ranking mikos—means she is obligated to assist the History Compilation Committee. Her ties to the Committee are not entirely independent, and in fact, she is acquainted with many of its key figures, including Sayanomiya Kaoru.

Though Mariya Yuri holds a high position within the Shichio Shrine, her role is quite different from those of the shrine’s religious officials.

Because the Hime-Miko are special ability users dispatched by order of the History Compilation Committee.

Trained through the Committee’s channels, the Hime-Miko are typically sent to important spiritual sites across the nation to serve as overseers.

So to the Shichio Shrine, Mariya Yuri is less its leader and more an honored guest.

In short...

“It’s fair to say that you three represent the mystical side of this country, right?”

Kaiser walked past the three of them, heading deeper into the shrine while speaking.

The three quickly got up and followed behind him, walking closely in step. Sayanomiya Kaoru carefully chose her words to respond.

“If the king has anything he needs us to do, please feel free to command us. We will do everything in our power to carry it out.”

Clearly, Sayanomiya Kaoru had begun to grasp how the magical circles of Europe treated the god-slaying Demon Lords.

Because they cannot afford to provoke them, they must instead strive to satisfy their every request, elevate them, and earn their favor.

Though it’s described as the etiquette of a retainer, in truth, it is the attitude one adopts toward a plague god.

“Yesterday, those who took action near the coast to stop the tsunami—that was you all, wasn’t it?”

Kaiser entered the inner sanctuary and saw the sacred object enshrined within. He noticed that it indeed emitted a flow of Spiritual Power.

This place did have a sacred nature—if something ominous were to enter, it would surely be purified and repelled.

Unfortunately, Kaiser was no ominous being—but a god-slaying Demon Lord.

His arrival not only repelled the sacred energies that tried to fall upon him, it also made this sacred place wither and weaken.

“That was indeed our arrangement.” Sayanomiya Kaoru didn’t know what Kaiser intended. While swiftly guessing in her heart, she cautiously asked, “Is there some issue with that?”

“No, I just wanted to say—you all helped a lot.” Kaiser sat down cross-legged, seemingly making himself at home, and calmly said, “Although the true culprit behind that situation was Odin, it wasn’t entirely unrelated to me.”

“Since you took action, then I must acknowledge the favor.”

Upon hearing this, the three present didn’t first react to anything else, but instead noticed the divine name uttered by Kaiser.

“Odin...”

The chief god of Norse mythology—he was the Heretic God who descended this time?

The young man before them... actually slew a chief deity-level god?

Their hearts were filled with disbelief.

Especially Mariya Yuri—her eyes nearly turned hollow once again, as if seeing something.

“Smack!”

Just as Mariya Yuri was about to enter Spirit Vision mode, a flick to the forehead landed harshly on her, immediately pulling her out of that state. She clutched her head in pain.

“Haven’t I already told you? Not everything in this world is something you can just look at.” Kaiser said impatiently. “And you still dare to peek?”

These words made Mariya Yuri’s face turn deathly pale as she hurriedly knelt down.

“Please forgive me!”

The young miko bowed her head deeply to Kaiser in a full dogeza.

Due to her sudden movement, her light chestnut-colored long hair fluttered for a while. Her face, though pale and full of fear, was undoubtedly that of a beautiful girl.

Her features were not only delicate, but exuded a noble elegance and a sacred aura—her pure and unblemished demeanor made Kaiser subconsciously think of Asia.

One a miko, the other a nun—indeed, they shared a certain professional overlap, both being religious figures. It was only natural that Kaiser would feel a sense of déjà vu.

However, compared to the somewhat naive and innocent Asia, Mariya Yuri was clearly someone far more aware of the ways of the world.

She knew very well just how terrifying the man before her was, and what kind of dreadful consequences would follow if he were angered.

She wasn’t worried about what might happen to herself—but rather feared dragging others down with her.

So...

“The one who offended you was me alone. It was my rudeness that provoked your wrath. This is entirely my fault. I beg you, King—please show mercy and only punish me. Don’t implicate the innocent people!”

Tears hung at the corners of Mariya Yuri’s eyes as she pleaded sincerely. Her demeanor once again evoked images of a martyr—a sacrificial offering.

It had to be said, seeing her like this even made Kaiser want to tease her a little.

“What do you mean by that?” Kaiser said in a deliberately displeased tone. “Are you saying I’m a tyrant, and will definitely implicate innocent people over this?”

“N-No, that’s not it!” Mariya Yuri panicked when she saw Kaiser’s displeased expression. She quickly said, “I just mean that all the blame should fall on me alone. Only by showing compassion and mercy can one embody the true demeanor of a virtuous king!”

Kaiser rubbed his chin and said:

“So I can understand this as... you trying to morally coerce me?”

These words left Mariya Yuri completely stunned.

“N-No, that’s not it…”

Unskilled with words, she was now completely flustered.

On the other hand, Sayanomiya Kaoru and Touma Amakasu seemed to have caught on to something—their expressions turned a little strange.

In such a moment, Kaiser stood up and walked toward Mariya Yuri...

Chapter 300: You Want to Drive Me Out?

"King..."

Watching Kaiser walk toward her, Mariya Yuri's delicate body trembled even more.

"Lift your head."

Kaiser stood very close to Mariya Yuri, looking down at her from above, and said this.

Mariya Yuri dared not disobey Kaiser and slowly lifted her head.

Looking at her flawless, delicate, and lovely face, Kaiser clicked his tongue in wonder.

"That really is a beautiful face." Kaiser gazed into Mariya Yuri's eyes and said, "Your Spirit Vision is indeed very strong. Even after I became a Campione, you were able to see me through Spirit Vision. If not for the fact that I’m somewhat different from other Campione, I might not have been able to stop you from continuing to look."

Spirit Vision was also a special ability on the mystical side.

The resistance to Magical Power that Kaiser had carefully crafted specifically to guard against various mystical abilities should have bounced Mariya Yuri’s Spirit Vision away the moment it fell on him. Yet Mariya Yuri had managed to gaze at him for several seconds before it was deflected. This clearly showed that her Spirit Vision was extraordinarily powerful—far beyond what ordinary Spirit Vision users could achieve.

"Let me test you a little." Kaiser became quite interested in Mariya Yuri’s eyes and said, "Can you tell what Authority I obtained from Odin?"

The moment these words were spoken, even Sayanomiya Kaoru and Touma Amakasu at the side perked up and focused intently.

"Th-this..."

Mariya Yuri hesitated a little.

After what had just happened, she naturally didn’t dare use Spirit Vision to look at Kaiser again.

Seeing this, Kaiser said leisurely:

"If you can pass my test, then I won’t hold your peeking against you."

Upon hearing this, Mariya Yuri finally gathered her courage and looked toward Kaiser.

Staring at Kaiser for quite a while, Mariya Yuri's eyes suddenly narrowed.

"I saw lightning, and I saw a falling star."

"There was a tree supporting several worlds, and a clear spring flowing."

"Dwarves... gnomes... blacksmiths... underground..."

One word after another, pieces of information were drawn out by Mariya Yuri.

And upon hearing the information Mariya Yuri had extracted, even before she could answer Kaiser’s question, Sayanomiya Kaoru and Touma Amakasu involuntarily called out that name.

"Gungnir, the Eternal Spear!"

Those on earth call it “lightning,” and some call it a “falling star.”

The spear’s shaft was made from the branch of the World Tree, and the runes etched into the tip were gained by Odin in exchange for sacrificing one of his eyes at the Spring of Wisdom.

It was forged by dwarf blacksmiths—gnomes from underground.

With all this information laid out, if someone still couldn't guess what Kaiser had obtained, then they had no business being part of the mystical side.

"Correct." Kaiser looked at Mariya Yuri with some surprise and praised, "I didn’t expect you to actually see it. It seems your Spirit Vision is even stronger than I thought."

"I don’t deserve the praise." Mariya Yuri quickly bowed her head and said nervously, "Then I..."

"Alright then." Seeing that he had teased her enough, Kaiser waved his hand and said, "I won’t pursue your peeking any further. Just remember, don’t let it happen again, okay?"

"Yes!" Mariya Yuri immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Sayanomiya Kaoru and Touma Amakasu subtly exchanged a glance.

Upon learning that the Authority Kaiser had seized was that infallible, ever-victorious spear, the two's level of regard for him rose by several levels.

That was a divine weapon that guaranteed victory once thrown—it could not be compared to ordinary Authorities.

To possess such an Authority, such a divine weapon—even if the man before them was a newly-born Campione—he could not be underestimated.

At the very least, it would be extremely difficult for other gods or Campione to block that spear.

Thinking of this, the two became even more respectful in their attitudes toward Kaiser.

"King," Sayanomiya Kaoru carefully chose her words and asked Kaiser, "Do you plan to continue staying in this country next?"

This was a matter that needed to be clarified first.

"What?" Kaiser glanced at Sayanomiya Kaoru and said, "You want to drive me out?"

"How could I dare?" Sayanomiya Kaoru shook her head and said, "I merely wanted to inform you that if you wish to remain in this country, we will arrange the best accommodations and provide you with the finest living conditions. Please accept our humble offering, King."

How could Kaiser not tell that Sayanomiya Kaoru was testing his attitude, trying to find out how to deal with him moving forward?

"Forget it." Kaiser shook his head and said, "I don’t plan to stay here long-term, nor do I intend to take this place as my territory. You don’t need to give me special treatment."

Campione are called kings, and not without reason.

Due to the overwhelming difference in power, Campione are not only feared but also objects of great attraction.

There are countless factions eager to pledge loyalty to a Campione, and even more individuals wishing to serve them.

Although Campione are Demon Lords and inherently dangerous, if one could join their side and fly their banner, then by borrowing the power and influence of a Campione, both individuals and factions would gain immense benefits.

As the saying goes, high risk, high reward. If one dares to take the gamble and manages to win a Campione’s favor, then approaching them proactively is actually a tremendous opportunity.

Given this, all Campione currently in existence have subordinates and factions under their command—and even their own territories.

Kaiser, as a newly crowned king, currently had neither subordinates nor a domain.

But he had no intention of deliberately seeking those out, so in response to Sayanomiya Kaoru’s probe, he gave a straightforward answer.

"If you want to be of service to me, then tell me where there are gods."

Kaiser thought of this and looked at Sayanomiya Kaoru.

"What I’m most interested in now... is finding a god to fight."

These words left Sayanomiya Kaoru and the others looking at one another in dismay.

Looking for a god to fight, huh...

Why did that sound so dangerous?

Thinking back to the massive tsunami yesterday, the crowd couldn’t help feeling worried.

Especially Mariya Yuri—her heart was full of bitterness.

Why are all Campione like this—so fond of actively seeking out gods?

Thinking of that summoning ritual for the Heretic God four years ago, Mariya Yuri really wanted to use Spirit Vision to see whether Kaiser would end up causing another tragic event like that.

"This isn’t coercion, you know?" Seeing everyone’s shifting expressions, Kaiser smiled faintly and said, "If you're willing to give me information on gods, that’s great. If not, I won’t force it."

Kaiser truly had no intention of using his power to force the History Compilation Committee to obey or hand over information on gods.

After all, it wasn’t like he had no other means—there was no need to be tyrannical.

If he were the tyrannical type, then he wouldn’t have so many Shinigami admiring him in the Soul Society.

Of course, for Sayanomiya Kaoru and the others, who still needed to cautiously probe how to deal with this Demon Lord, even if Kaiser said he wouldn’t force them, they didn’t dare be ungrateful.

Otherwise, offending a god-slaying Demon Lord would spell disaster for the entire nation.

"I understand." Sayanomiya Kaoru made her decision, nodded to Kaiser, and said, "I will prepare the relevant information and deliver it to you."

"Oh?" Kaiser raised an eyebrow and smiled. "You really dare to deliver it?"

"Of course." Sayanomiya Kaoru seemed to have gleaned a bit of Kaiser’s personality from his behavior. Knowing he didn’t expect blind reverence from others, she replied with a composed smile, "Being able to earn a favor from a great god-slaying king—that's an immense fortune for people like us."

Sayanomiya Kaoru, born into a family of strategists, was someone highly skilled at weighing benefits.

She hadn’t personally witnessed how dangerous Campione could be, so she couldn’t offer a definitive judgment. But if she could earn a Campione’s favor and leverage his power and influence, she could easily think of a hundred different benefits.

Offering just a bit of information in exchange for a Campione’s favor—no matter how you looked at it, that was a good deal.

So long as the king before her wasn’t some old relic who took others’ service for granted.

Sayanomiya Kaoru had some confidence in her ability to judge people. Even though she hadn’t known Kaiser for long, she could tell he wasn’t that kind of person.

Besides, even if he was, what could they do? They had no way to defy a king.

Rather than hesitating and worrying about this and that, only to end up offending him, it was better to just act decisively and meet his needs.

Besides, the intelligence was in her hands—how much to give was still up to her, wasn’t it?

So long as she withheld information that might endanger the nation, then she wouldn’t have to worry about him causing chaos here.

That was what Sayanomiya Kaoru thought—and it was indeed very clever.

"In that case, I’ll stay around here a bit longer."

Kaiser wasn’t thinking as deeply as Sayanomiya Kaoru. If he could get information, great. If not, it didn’t matter. So after receiving her promise, he turned around.

Looking at Mariya Yuri, who was still kneeling, Kaiser couldn’t help but laugh.

"Yesterday, I was still working here as a temp, and today the Hime-Miko of Shichio Shrine is kneeling before me like this. The world really is unpredictable."

Leaving those words behind, Kaiser walked out of the shrine and departed from the area.

"Whew..."

The tension in Mariya Yuri’s heart finally dissipated, and the pallor on her face regained some color.

Touma Amakasu also relaxed his body and whispered to Sayanomiya Kaoru:

"Should we still send someone to monitor him?"

Sayanomiya Kaoru curled her lips.

"If you’re not afraid of dying, you can go make the arrangements yourself. If anything happens, I’ll disavow you immediately."

Saying that, Sayanomiya Kaoru seemed to remember something and patted Touma Amakasu’s shoulder.

"Once the intelligence is organized, you’ll be the one to deliver it to the king."

Upon hearing this, Touma Amakasu's heart sank completely.

Is it still too late to resign now?

(End of this chapter)