Chapter 2: The Profane Tablet
Two days ago.
After receiving a secret letter from her mentor, Diana Milito, Liliana Kranjcar immediately departed for the city of Naples, Italy.
Naples is a city of ancient history, beautiful scenery, and countless cultural relics—one of the most charming tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. It is celebrated as the "City of Sun and Joy," bathed in sunlight year-round. Neapolitans are known for their cheerful, vibrant nature and their love of singing; the folk songs of Napoli have spread across the world, marking the city as a pearl of Italy. Locally, there is a famous proverb: "See Naples and die."
To the southeast of the city stands Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano famous for the massive eruption in 79 AD, where its searing pyroclastic flows destroyed the once-flourishing city of Pompeii.
A young girl wearing a maid outfit, with emerald-green hair flowing over her shoulders and eyes of the same hue, watched the city through a window with a cold gaze.
"Looking from here, it's a beautiful city, but once you step inside, you realize there is trash everywhere. The walls and grounds are covered in graffiti, the traffic is endless, and thieves and robbers are around every corner. No matter how I think about it, this is not a fit place to settle down."
A girl's voice floated up from the staircase.
"Mmh, Karen, you're quite right, but don't say that in front of the residents. I don't want to have to rescue you when you're being mobbed."
Diana Milito, the leader of the Naples branch of the Italian magecraft association [Bronze Black Cross], smiled and teased. Since she had been looking out the window, she assumed the previous remark had come from the maid behind her.
"My deepest apologies, Auntie Diana. I accidentally spoke my inner thoughts aloud."
They were currently inside an old bookstore in Naples.
"What... what did you just call me... Auntie!?"
Diana Milito's eyes widened in disbelief. Then, it suddenly occurred to her that the maid, Karen, would never speak to her like that.
"Wait... that address... Lili? Only Lili would be so impolite to call me that."
Diana turned around to face the silver-haired girl standing at the top of the stairs.
"If you don't have something truly important for me, I'm going to be very angry for being dragged here during my vacation in London, Auntie Diana!"
Naples, famous as the birthplace of pizza, is also a university city. The university districts established during the Kingdom of Sicily still exist today, and due to the city's layout, there are an unexpected number of old bookstores nestled in the streets.
They were near the Piazza Bellini in the old city, a famous street for antique books. This specific shop, "Casa di Milito," was filled with books that had survived for ages. Despite the immense value of the collection, the shop rarely saw customers. This wasn't the shop's fault; few people nowadays had an interest in such obscure and difficult texts.
Inside, three women were gathered. There was the apprentice witch, Karen Jankulovski, wearing a maid outfit. She was exceptionally beautiful, though her petite frame didn't quite match her striking looks, her pale green hair draped down her back. Standing by the window was a woman with a face that blended beauty with a mature "eternal youth," her long black hair swaying as she puffed out her cheeks in annoyance at Liliana's earlier address.
And finally, there was the girl with long silver hair tied in a ponytail, possessing a face as ethereal as a faerie: Liliana Kranjcar. Her expression was dignified, her eyes filled with a stern resolve. She wore a black top with a matching skirt, her slender legs covered in white wool stockings.
"Tell me, why did you contact me so urgently?"
Liliana looked at her mentor, Diana Milito. The older woman's petulant expression vanished, replaced by gravity.
"Yes. The reason I summoned you back from your holiday is that a special Holy Relic has appeared in Rome."
"A Holy Relic?" Liliana's eyes lit up.
In a world where deities are no longer mere fictions, Holy Relics are both dangerous and precious. They are filled with unknown perils and rare opportunities; countless people risk everything to obtain them. Though most fail and die when a Heretic God descends, six individuals eventually stood above the rest. They are the world's most powerful beings: the Campione (Godslayers).
At the thought that she might finally have a chance to chase such an opportunity, Liliana asked excitedly, "Where is the relic now?"
Diana smiled and patted the girl's shoulder.
"Don't be impatient, Liliana. I know you want to surpass Erica, but you need to work on your temperament, or you'll suffer for it."
"I... I understand..." Liliana answered vaguely, but the hunger in her eyes only grew.
Under that gaze, Diana sighed.
"...The only thing we have is the name of the organization: the 'Black Dragon Cult.' Their members have a worldview completely different from normal people, and their mental states are unstable. We checked their records and found that every member was a normal person before joining the cult."
Liliana frowned, realizing the implication. "You mean they were influenced by something? Most likely the Holy Relic!"
Diana nodded. "Mmh, I think so too. But as for the details, you need to investigate." She turned serious.
"Liliana, your strength is not inferior to Erica Blandelli's, and you possess the gift of Spirit Vision. If you seize this chance, you could become the seventh Campione! Then, we will no longer need to swear fealty to any Devil King, and we can firmly suppress our rivals, the [Copper Black Cross]!"
Liliana nodded firmly. "I understand, Auntie Diana!"
"...I told you not to call me Auntie!" Diana shouted, her face turning red with exasperation.
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After leaving Naples, Liliana rushed to Rome. Using the intel from Diana, she located the Black Dragon Cult and used magecraft to steal the relic: The Profane Tablet.
However, once they realized the relic was gone, the magi of the Black Dragon Cult went into a frenzied, suicidal pursuit of Liliana. Even though she killed dozens of them with her raw strength to break their encirclement, her magical energy was finite against a relentless horde of over a hundred fearless magi. She fled into the city, using the crowds as cover, hoping to find time to study the power of the Profane Tablet.
Standing by a stone railing, Liliana had barely looked at the tablet for a few seconds when she felt her mind grow hazy. Endless whispers echoed in her ears, and it felt as if a thousand hands were clawing at her soul, dragging her into an abyss.
Just then, a hand rested on her shoulder. The touch brought Liliana back from the mental chaos instantly.
"What happened... I just..."
As she murmured in confusion, she suddenly turned alert. She leapt back, glaring warily at the red-haired youth who had appeared behind her.
"O wings of mine, steel that becomes a phantom blade—Il Maestro, grant me power!"
Almost instinctively, Liliana chanted her incantation, summoning a long blade and pointing it straight at the boy. The weapon was Il Maestro, a silver saber-like sword equal to Erica's Cuore di Leone, possessing the ability of "Magic Song."
"Whoa, easy there. I just helped you, no need to point a sword at me, right?"
Facing the long saber, Shirou smiled without a hint of pressure. The girl was exquisite—silver hair tied in a ponytail, a doll-like face set in a serious, valiant expression. She looked like a medieval knight reborn.
Hearing Shirou's lighthearted voice, Liliana recalled the sensation from a moment ago. She hesitated, lowering her blade, though her eyes remained suspicious.
"You... you aren't with that organization?"
Shirou pointed behind him. "Organization? You mean those guys?"
Following his finger, Liliana saw dozens of magi in black robes converging on their position.
"Damn! They found me so quickly!"
Hearing this, Shirou looked enlightened.
"Ah, so that 'Mundane Repulsion' spell wasn't yours."
"That doesn't matter right now!"
Liliana said helplessly. Looking at the approaching magi, her sense of justice won out over her suspicion. She grabbed Shirou's right wrist and began sprinting with him toward the Colosseum.
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