It was night. Upon awakening, Godou somehow found himself in a
classroom.
What took the place of a bed or futon was cardboard and newspaper
that was lined up as an improvised replacement for bedding.
Godou picked up the cellphone beside him. It was just past three in
the morning.
Feeling thirsty, he surveyed his surroundings with his still half-awake
eyes.
Though not much money had been spent on it, the interior of the
classroom was still well-furnished. Just like him, there were three
male students sleeping on cardboard. On the desk close by, was a
small ceramic bottle.
What was it that was inside the bottle again? If I recall correctly, it
should be a drink.
Half-asleep, Godou downed the entire contents of the bottle in a gulp.
Like that, he fell asleep with a thud.
Cheep, cheep. The chirping of baby birds could be heard.
Soft sheets. Shafts of sunlight shone through the windows, it was a
calm morning. In the middle of a complete awakening, he was still
dozing off hazily ―
While fully enjoying all of the comfort, Godou listened to that sound.
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Kyuru, kyuru, several small wheels were turning, the sound of
something rubbing against the floor.
"Good morning, Godou-san. This morning, you sure are taking things
slowly, hm?"
A light voice like a baby bird that did not feel out of place in this
refreshing morning.
Flinging off the sheets, Godou got up.
Facing the owner of the voice that came from above the bed, dressed
in the garments of a head maid, was Arianna.
"To have not even have changed your clothes yet..... Even though
you've always been an early riser."
Godou seemed to be wearing a tank top, in place of pajamas.
Pointing that out, Arianna entered the room while pushing a small
trolley.
Characteristic of freshly baked bread, there were croissants with an
unbearably good smell. He took a whiff of the aroma and vapor of the
coffee, a cup of espresso.
Those were placed upon the trolley. A breakfast serving enough for
two.
Godou was nervous. She, Erica's maid, why was she here, beside his
bed? In the first place, where was this place? What have I been doing
up till now?
As these questions popped up in his head, Arianna pushed the trolley
to a stop beside the bed.
Like that, she gave a bow, and departed the room in silence.
If you did not let her grasp a steering wheel, and not let her near a
pot in the kitchen, with her tidiness and humble behaviour, she would
be the model maid that combines these two attributes to the highest
level.
A languishing voice was heard. It came from the futon.
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A young girl was wrapped in the thin futon sheets. Reddish gold hair.
Resembling the large-flowered camellia, a glamorous beauty. Her
appearance dishevelled by her sleep, this bishoujo was none other
than Erica Blandelli.
Eh? Godou was perplexed.
Erica, who did not like wearing thick clothes when she slept, was
here.
She would definitely never wear pajamas. In a tank top and
underwear, and occasionally wearing nothing at all (!), she would go
straight to bed. However, this morning, it looked like she was wearing
sleep-wear.
Where the futon did not cover, he could see that she was clad in a
black and white garment.
... More importantly now, there were other pressing issues he had
to catch up on.
"E-E-E-E-E-E-E-Erica, why are you in such a place? N-no, rather, why
am I in such a place!?"
"... Ara Godou, early as always, aren't you."
He was told, in a half-awake voice.
Ambition, courage and beauty, possessing all of the above was the
girl named Erica.
However, only in the morning were those traits clouded. Replacing
that with a lovableness that stimulated one's want to protect and a
certain innocence. Really, what a girl.
"Fufu. If you've woke up, I'll be glad if you could have woken me up
earlier... Even though I dislike waking up early, it'd be a different
story if my love would whisper sweet nothings to me in my ear...."
Erica was giving off a charm different from her usual self, causing
Godou to be in discomfort.
Honestly, letting him see this side of her was unfair. She was
overflowing with charm that was hard to resist, even under normal
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circumstances. Furthermore, strengthening it was foul play. He
wanted to raise the white flag and surrender.
"..... Hey, Godou..... is it fine if I beg you?"
Lazily pulling the futon over her head, Erica leaned in close.
"Beg!?"
"Yep. For the first time in a while, it's a morning that I've welcomed
together with you. With the proper etiquette, we ought to commence
the necessary actions. Essential to a pair of lovers who love each
other, is the morning rite."
A whisper, sweet like honey. Almost like a lover's talk.
"I-If you tell me something like that, how am I supposed to
respond...."
"Fufu. The same obtuse man as always. If I don't spell it out for you,
you wouldn't understand?"
Erica whose face was almost in contact with his, smiled tenderly.
It was not a smile of a devil that entrapped people. Nor was it the
face of the lioness that reveled in hunting and strife.
Filled with feminine tolerance, he felt a faint sense of womanhood
from her. It was the first time he had seen this expression.
Not good. His heart was starting to beat furiously.
He wanted to enjoy his time with Erica forever.
Godou was jolted by a strong urge, and then, he realized the truth of
the situation, in utter shock.
What happened to the distance between him and her? And then,
before he had realized it, he was glued to Erica. The sheer volume of
indescribable extravagance that she was proud of, her soft chest. He
could feel that sensation pushing against his arm! Even pressing on
top of his hand, and she whispered straight into his ear, asking him!
Godou was usually to the extent of being on guard against any further
contact with Erica than was necessary.
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However, this time, he did not go against being glued to her tightly,
with no vigilance whatsoever. Surely, it must have been because he
could feel absolutely no bloodthirst from Erica.
She was perhaps, under the assumption that Godou would not run
away that she had drawn this close.
Because of that, he had naturally accepted it ――
"I think that it's appropriate to grant me a compensation of this
degree, don't you think so? After all was said and done, I did as you
had commanded, going so far as to put this on for you.... Aaah, come
to think of it, I went to sleep wearing that. Fufu, do you want to see it
again?"
Erica shook off the futon that she was covered with.
Looking straight at the black and white outfit she was clad in, Godou
was taken aback. This was the so-called apron dress, and wasn't this
Arianna's favourite garment, the maid uniform?
"You, really do demonstrate a majesty and forcefulness that is hard to
resist, at times. Making me do that too, last night..... If the person
who ordered me wasn't Kusanagi Godou, I, will certainly turn them
into rust on my sword."
With a seemingly drowsy expression, Erica started to behave like a
spoiled child.
The apron dress was open at the chest area, and an abundance of
cleavage could peek through the opening. Godou looked away,
flustered.
"Sheesh..... Do you intend on teasing and toying with me this time?
My King, really is a terrible person."
Her words were coated in honey, and he was kissed by Erica.
Godou was terrified by the comfort.
In the beginning, it was a quiet contact, suited for the refreshing
morning. Before long, their lips were damp with saliva, their mutual
mouths stuck to the other. Slushing sounds could be heard from
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where his lips met with Erica, as she wrapped her lips around
Godou's. What came next was, of course, her tongue ――
Not good. Right away, Godou shook himself off, away from Erica.
If this continued, he would not be able to hold himself back.
Entrusting things to her entreaty, and running swiftly away to
somewhere else, even he himself did not understand what he should
Only escape remains!
Jumping off the bed, Godou ran to the door.
Heading towards the outside of the bedroom, his consciousness had a
momentary blackout. Just, what is this ――?
Cheep, cheep. The chirping of baby birds could be heard.
Soft sheets. Shafts of sunlight shone through the windows, it was a
calm morning. In the middle of a complete awakening, he was still
dozing off hazily ―
While fully enjoying all of the comfort, Godou listened to that sound.
"... Breakfast has been prepared. Please wake up."
It was the voice of Liliana Kranjcar.
Some time ago, it was Erica, this time it was Liliana.... Feeling
uneasy, Godou got up.
It was a Western style bedroom. He was on top of a bed. A little
distance away was a table, and on top of it was coffee and orange
juice, onion salad, bacon and eggs, and lastly, freshly toasted bread.
It resembled an American style breakfast.
That was fine. The problem was, the female knight standing at the
bedside.
With her beautiful silver hair tied in a ponytail, for some reason Liliana
was wearing a maid uniform. Her slender, fairy-like body was clad in a
black and white apron dress.
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To say whether she looked good or not in it, she did look very good in
that.
Truly, a splendid dress. But, why was she dressed like this?
"... Won't you tell me the meaning of that cosplay?"
"Cosplay? You seem surprised by that."
To Godou's question, the dignified female knight (or rather, a maid
now) raised her eyebrows.
"In the first place, the one taking a look at the uniform meant for
Karen that had come in the wrong size, and then suggesting to me to
wear it was.... you. Furthermore, the other day, when Erica had fickly
worn it, it had considerable effect, which was unfair."
Hold on a second. What, was that thought of imprudence?
While facing the Liliana who was raising a complaint, Godou felt as
though he was swooning.
"For others to know of my wearing of garments like this, will affect my
reputation and honor as a knight. To me, it is a difficult order to
accept. But, as your number one knight, and the steward of the King,
I cannot fall behind Erica, and as such, I have no choice but to wear
this ― "
Her skin, which was as white as snow, was dyed a deep red till her
nape. It must be due to her embarrassment.
Liliana's appearance was awfully cute, and yet gallant.
"To be able to appreciate this form of mine, is a special privilege
exclusive to Kusanagi Godou... I, thinking that, will bear with this
disgrace, and pray silently for the swift ending of this pain! And yet,
you had said things like, 'You sure look good in that', with a
nonchalant air, giving a commentary... !"
That was the tone which condemned what was evidently the
wrongdoings of a tyrant.
That being said, Liliana, with her face a deep red, and her eyes
slightly moist, she implored for Godou's response.
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It was not the expression of the dignified female knight. No doubt,
that must have been the cuteness of a [girl].
"H-Having been told that, I had no choice but to wear this. Kusanagi
Godou..... at times, you become a surprisingly sly and ruthless
human!"
..... He was blamed for something he did not remember doing.
Godou became deeply puzzled. Did I really say that?
"We-well now, please have your breakfast while it is still warm. While
doing that, I will give you a breakdown of your schedule for today.....
Firstly, at noon, you have a lunch meeting at Hotel Turin."
The female knight and steward, but right now the girl was also a
maid.
Godou was puzzled by the report from she who had also changed the
topic. A lunch meeting at a hotel?
"With whom, for that lunch meeting? It seems extremely
exaggerated."
"The Campione Kusanagi Godou, will be interviewed by Saint
Pintoricchio. Establishing a proper reputation is merely natural, don't
you agree?"
"Saint Pintoricchio?"
"The mentor of that Lord Salvatore, and also the legitimate disciple of
Saint Raffaello. The new leader of Turin's association, [The Olden
Dame]. One generation above both me and Erica..... Among the
young people who have attained the title of Great Knights, the most
powerful person of them all, on par with Rome's Lord Francesco."
While politely informing him, Liliana, however, raised her eyebrows
again.
"I've told you this last night, haven't I? Have you already
forgotten? ... Or, could it be."
Her expression was one of being taken aback as she fixed her gaze on
him, and Godou's heart started to beat faster.
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Was it the garments that he was not used to seeing on her, or was it
the overflowing allure, which was different from usual, from her
beautiful face, that he was troubled by.
"Like last night, are you planning to play pranks on me again? Like,
ordering me to do something unreasonable in the middle of a serious
conversation."
He had totally no memory, if he had really done something like that.
The him from a few hours ago, Godou had wanted to say something.
Liliana too, no wonder.... Eh?
"You really, do hide a helpless side of you underneath. But, Kusanagi
Godou is a godslaying Devil King. Even so, that is indeed..... as your
retainer, perhaps I ought to be able to take something like that."
Liliana's eyes were burning with enthusiasm. While still in that state,
she leaned in closer.
The flow of this situation, isn't it weird? Wasn't it a scene where she
had been complaining harshly to me?
"... Thus, as your woman, I had inexplicably and sweetly felt that
kind of willfulness from you. Yes, should you wish for it, I would not
mind if you asked me to wear yet another different garment,
again....."
Liliana's lips drew near.
A conservative kiss..... or so he thought, but suddenly her tongue had
entangled with his.
The excitement felt as though all the thoughts he had been holding
back had been released in one breath.
A-Aren't there are various problems with this!
Flustered, Godou shook himself off, away from Liliana. He then ran
towards the door, looking as if he were flying from the bed. I have to
get away fast! The instant he reached the outside, his consciousness
blacked out ―
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Cheep, cheep. The chirping of baby birds could be heard.
Godou pulled the futon over his head and raised his level of wariness.
Was it the same pattern as the previous times?
Once again, confirming the situation..... From the opening in the
futon, he surveyed the condition of the outside. He could see the
tatami floor, and it looked like a Japanese-style room.
This futon was not on a bed, but was rather laid out directly on the
tatami floor.
"... It looks like you've woken up, your Majesty."
It came! The voice of Seishuuin Ena, descended on him from above
his head.
"Actually, I've specially tailored the clothes that your Majesty has
been into recently. That's why, I thought to let you have a little
look.... so I came."
Clothes. Vocabulary that provoked his sense of wariness.
And furthermore, [so I came]? In other words, implying that there
was no prior appointment, and no schedule to meet up?
"Sheesh.... I can hear you breathing, so I already know that you've
woken up. Your Majesty, look here properly!"
Suddenly, he was stripped of his futon. The culprit was of course,
Ena.
This place was a single detached house with a garden ―― Moreover,
it looked like he was in a room of genuine Japanese style architecture,
the inside of a Japanese style room.
He recalled the time he had stayed at his relatives in the countryside,
their house and the hot springs. However, in the interior of the room
were many things that looked out of place. There was a maid with an
attractive figure and face.
The frills complimented the look of the apron dress in a lovely way.
The black haired hime-miko Seishuuin Ena, was clad in that.
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Being a Yamato Nadeshiko and a nature's child, she was the owner of
a complicated profile, but now she was a maid.
"..... You, why are you dressed like that?"
"Don't say that your Majesty, haven't you been into this recently? I've
obtained intelligence that you had occasionally enjoyed yourself with
this when you had gone to Europe."
While slightly blushing, Ena said.
"That's why Ena has done so too, because I didn't want to be different
from everyone, and tried it out... But, although I'm totally fine with
just wearing it, coming to your Majesty's side to show it to you was
dreadfully embarassing ―― "
"I-If it's e-embarrassing, you don't have to make yourself wear it."
"That's even more irritating! At great pains, I was taught what your
Majesty liked, doing so would render that all meaningless.... Ena too,
wants to do something for your Majesty, so please don't say
something so cold-hearted!"
Ena said, stating her pure feelings.
Even though she was a free spirit who always walked her own path, at
times she was surprisingly sweet.
Well, this must be that something that was restricted during the
contact of a guy and girl, a rare emotional side that practically cannot
be seen in daily life.
" ―― Ena-san!? Why is Ena-san here!?"
Abrupting opening the fusuma[1], and an all-too-familiar girl entered
the room.
She was Mariya Yuri. While having hair a strong light brown color, one
could sense a strong feeling of being [Japanese style] from this
beautiful girl. She was also another staunch Yamato Nadeshiko.
Seeing Yuri's get-up, Godou was a little shocked.
Japanese sliding door
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It was not the uniform he was used to seeing, nor was it the miko
costume. Above the simple Japanese clothes that were worn, was an
overall apron. That, on the girl who was more family-oriented than
anyone else, despite being an ojou-sama, it did suit her very well.
However, was it for the purpose of standing on the same level as Ena
who was dressed as a maid, or was it some sort of fancy dress.....
"With regards to this place, though I have been told that we were the
only two here, Godou-san and I, have you invited her on purpose?"
The eyes of the sagacious hime-miko, were slightly shaken with
sorrow.
Godou was startled. According to her personal statement, it seemed
Ena had came at her own personal convenience. Truly, he could not
remember, and his guilty conscience was non-existent.
However, curiousity and feelings of guilty were awakened in him. It
was probably due to Yuri's beautiful face and pitiable cuteness ――
Nevertheless, it would not do for him to remain silent. I have to
appeal for my innocence!
"N-no, that's not the case. It's just that Seishuuin had come here at
her own convenience."
"Doing that expressly, Ena-san did? Then, what exactly is that
appearance...?"
"Sorry, I wanted to show these newly tailored clothes to his Majesty,
no matter what. Umm, you know, his Majesty has been into this
recently."
In response to the puzzled-looking gaze, Ena had said indifferently.
It looked like she did not display the sweetness that she had shown to
Godou, to her hime-miko comrade. Yuri was shocked by that
explanation, and her facial expression was frozen stiff.
"No way ―― A maid costume like that, was it!?"
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"Yep. Erica-san and Liliana-san too had worn it with pleasure, and the
Seishuuin house from Europe had provided me with this information.
Look, it was from Liliana-san's maid."
"T-then, those clothes are also from her!?"
"Nope, this was prepared by the young master of the Lu family. They
are deploying a Maid Palace in Japan, and actually, it looks like its
sponsored by his Majesty. When I requested it of the young master,
he had said that, 'My Honored Uncle pretends as though he has no
interest most of the time, but he does actually like it, surprisingly.'"
While listening to the conversation between the hime-miko, Godou
was crestfallen.
Karen had this kind of part-time job (Though for her, it should not be
free of charge). And that Yinghua guy, had said something that
produced misunderstandings..... again.
The Yuri who did not understand Godou's despair, stiffly and
imposingly glared at him.
"What are you planning to do, Godou-san?"
"W-What do you mean?"
"Even as a joke, you, who is called a [King], is always enjoying
making girls wear different kinds of clothes..... Immersing yourself in
a perverse hobby of that sort, is unbecoming. What will be harmed is
you yourself, the reputation of your majesty, you know? You ought to
be maintaining your standards more!"
For the first time in a while, he was shouted at in a thundering voice.
Noble and dignified, the rebuke from the girl. Godou drew his head
back.
"Be-besides, if you were really that into it, I wish you'd have said
something even earlier, it'd have been better that way, wouldn't it?"
Eh? Suddenly, the rebuke taken a rather sharp change in direction.
Before the surprised Godou, Yuri had said, while being bashful and
embarassed.
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"E-Even I, will not spare any effort for the sake of contributing
something for you to feast your eyes on. That is, um, I think it is a
little perverted, and not a hobby that one can make public with a loud
voice, but, considering whether I have the capacity to accept that side
of you is.... troubling."
No, no. I'm the one that's troubled. Godou returned with a tsukkomi,
in his heart.
Recently, the hime-miko have started to simply do whatever they
wanted.
"Well then, actually I've had a few spare sets made. Yuri, come here
and wear one too, and allow our King to feast his eyes upon that
sight."
"No way!? Please don't say that suddenly. I have not yet prepared my
heart ―― "
"What are you saying, didn't you just say that you'd accept his
Majesty's hobby? Doing it together with Yuri, Ena would feel
reassured, too. Look, just like this, quickly undress yourself...."
"P-please don't forcibly undress me!? U-um, I can do it myself...."
The uninhibited nature's child pulled off the overall apron from her
willowy friend, unfastening the kimono's sash.
Thereupon, the beautiful hime-miko refused the officious support
being offered, and with a discouraged face, loosened the collar of her
kimono, and placed her hand on the sash ―― the rustling sound of
clothes could be heard.
H-hey, what are you doing changing your clothes before me. An
objection started to rise up in his throat.
However, being unable to find the voice to speak those words out,
Godou could only gulp down his saliva.
Yuri's body which was delicate, and yet also put on sufficient enough
flesh, was right before his eyes. Her ivory white skin, and the sight of
that seductive back, caused his tension to increase greatly.
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Not good! I have to get away from here!
Narrowly managing to heed the advice of his reason, Godou pulled the
earlier mentioned futon over his head.
Cutting off all the information received from his sense of sight and
hearing! Just as he resolved himself to disregard the paradise before
his eyes, once again, his consciousness began to black out. The voices
of both Ena and Yuri faded away.
Instead, he saw the back of a lone man.
His looks which had ought to have been graceful, was painted with
fearlessness of long military service, like rust.
Surely, he must be one who has lost interest in battles, after a long
time, and was exhausted of it all. However, once, he had stood tall on
the battlefield, and should have certainly played an active role, like a
fierce god.
Solemn and sorrowful was the man's back, and his profile.
That was certainly, the figure of a hero, weary of battle ――
"... Although you seemed to be having a nightmare, but are you
alright, Honored Uncle?"
Godou awakened, to Lu Yinghua's voice.
It looked like it was not yet morning. This classroom was the planned
venue for Nanami, Sorimachi and Takagi's [school swimsuit + maid
cafe] that had been changed to [Maid Cafe China Arrangement Inn] to
be set up (The maid unit dispatched from the Lu family, had rejected
both the school swimsuit and nekomimi idea).
The day before the school festival, the trio who looked back at the
rousing festival eve with just a backward glance, had given all their
efforts into the preparations.
Then, Godou had helped them out, and the four of them decided to
stay overnight. The preparations ended somewhere close to one past
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midnight, and Kusanagi Godou + the idiot trio had gone to sleep like
that ――
If he took a look, he would see that Nanami and the others, the trio,
were sleeping like a log nearby. It did not look as if they were waking
up.
"Why did I have that kind of dream....?"
Distinctly conscious of what had occurred, Godou recalled the chain of
nightmares (?).
Hereupon, Lu Yinghua, with a know-it-all air, looked at the small
bottle on the table. The one he had drank in the night while half-
asleep.
"If it was a strange dream, then undoubtedly, it must be the effect of
the drug, the Handan Dream. The people who've taken a dose of that
medicine, would dream a dream concerning the future."
"Future, you say?"
"Yes. Something that would happen a few years later, possibly, or
even something that might happen decades later, it looks like."
"I see.... Because of that, I saw a strange dream."
Godou nodded his head in acknowledgement. Magic was ineffective
against a Campione. However, oral intake was another story.
The secret medicine of paralysis that Liliana had made him drink
before had splendid effect.
"Upon hearing that it had slipped into the materials that the trio had
brought out from my family's warehouse, I came to retrieve it, even if
it's early in the morning. It was truly unexpected that my Honored
Uncle had consumed it."
"Sorry. I thought that it was alcohol that was left on the desk, and
had drunk it while half-asleep."
Remembering the act, late at night, Godou apologized.
"But, I'm relieved. I was surprised by that absurd dream. It was
actually the fault of that dodgy medicine."
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"Well, although the medicine is indeed the cause...."
Knowing that the main cause of the dream was not his own latent
desires, Godou felt relief wash over him.
Lu Yinghua then calmly said to him.
"In the case that the person taking the dose possesses great spirit
vision, the medicine has reasonable probabilities of showing you [the
near future], it looks like. The Campiones do excel in that regard,
right? To disregard it as being a mere dream is too hasty. What kind
of dream was it?"
"N-no, the contents aren't that important! Don't worry about it!"
Godou dodged the question, flustered.
If the term probability was brought up, then the authenticity of that
should be low, he thought, as he instructed himself to forget it as
soon as possible.
And the dream that Kusanagi Godou saw, was thus erased from his
memories.
A few hours before the school festival started, those were the so-
called happenings that occurred in the morning.