Chapter 20: The Tremors of the Earth
Liliana secretly wrote incredibly shameful romance novels, a secret she had never told anyone from beginning to end. By all logic, no one should have known. However, at some point, Erica had found out. Ever since then, shortly after Liliana finished writing something in secret, Erica would somehow gain knowledge of it and use it to tease her.
Liliana could never figure out how Erica obtained the contents of her novels. She hid her original manuscripts in the corners of her room every time, in very well-concealed locations. For a long time, Liliana believed that Erica had developed some kind of magic that allowed her to perceive the contents of her writing.
What Liliana didn't know, however, was that the reason her novel contents leaked without her telling a soul was entirely because there was a traitor in her midst!
The maid, Karen Yankulovski, was an apprentice witch of the [Bronze Black Cross]. Her innate talent was very high, so she had been assigned to the Great Knight Liliana to train as a formal witch. Despite this, the "black-bellied" Karen—though exceptionally capable and organized in managing Liliana's daily affairs—did not treat her relationship with Liliana as a simple master-servant dynamic. Instead, she was the type to play pranks on her master whenever appropriate, and the straightforward Liliana was no match for the sly Karen.
Erica maintained a cooperative relationship with Karen, who would frequently sneak out Liliana's manuscript drafts for Erica to read. This allowed Erica to maintain a constant psychological advantage over Liliana.
As the two girls bickered, Shirou watched them with interest. Just as Liliana's eyes were turning red from Erica's relentless verbal offensive and Shirou was about to call for a stop, he suddenly sensed something. His brow furrowed instantly.
"..."
By focusing his attention slightly, he could hear a certain sound coming from below.
The earth was vibrating.
If one listened carefully, the sound came in intervals of approximately three to five seconds, wave after wave. it sounded like a craftsman striking with a hammer, yet it was as melodious as music. Every resonance shook the human soul, making one instinctively yearn for the mountain peak from which the sound originated.
"Sir Liliana, can you hear that?" Shirou asked the silver-haired girl beside him, turning his face toward her.
"Hear what? Do you mean the sound of an earthquake?" Liliana asked, blinking in confusion at Shirou's question.
Upon hearing Liliana's response, Shirou confirmed that even a mage would find it difficult to perceive this tremor of the earth. Only a "Godslayer" like himself could sense it with absolute clarity. After all, Godslayers were inherently sensitive to the existence of "Heretic Gods."
Upon hearing this resonance, Shirou had already confirmed it: a "Heretic God" had indeed appeared at Mount Olympus.
Shirou immediately spoke to Erica and Liliana. "Contact the magi at Mount Olympus immediately. Deploy 'Warding of Bystanders' magic."
Hearing this, the two Knight Princesses immediately guessed the truth.
"My King, have you sensed a 'Heretic God' at Mount Olympus?"
"I'll contact the magic associations there at once!"
"Driver, speed up!"
The two girls, who had been arguing just moments ago, instantly cast aside their playfulness upon hearing official business. As if the previous bickering had never happened, they began to handle the situation with serious professionalism.
Looking at their diligent attitudes, Shirou flashed a satisfied smile. Then, he directly opened the car door and leaped out.
"My King!?"
Unlike the relatively calm Liliana, Erica—who had not witnessed the scene of Shirou's battle with the "Black Dragon" Nidhogg—was shocked to see Shirou leap into the air and charge into the sky with a sonic boom.
"No incantations needed, and no signs of magic at all... This is the power of a 'Godslayer'..." A look of profound longing appeared on Erica's face. It must be said that any mage, or even an ordinary person, would feel a sense of yearning toward an existence possessing such power.
At that moment, Liliana, who had been acting very composed, suddenly looked anxious after receiving a phone call.
"This is bad! Volcanoes all across Greece have suddenly started erupting. This is very likely related to the 'Heretic God' that has appeared, but the King has already headed there, and we have no way to tell him this clue...!"
.
.
.
Mount Olympus is the mountain where the gods dwell in Greek mythology; the original meaning of "Olympus" comes from the "Place of Light." In Greek mythology, its status is equivalent to heaven, where gods, demigods, and their servants reside. Because it is the most
famous sacred mountain in ancient Greek mythology, it attracts tourists from all over the world.
Although it wasn't peak tourist season, Mount Olympus was still frequented by many visitors. However, through the efforts of Erica and Liliana, an emergency closure was issued for Mount Olympus, and it was no longer open to tourists. While this would lead to many complaints and curses from the outside world, it was the best way to handle the situation compared to the alternative of letting tourists enter and suffering casualties. Those tourists currently climbing the mountain were being dispersed by magi using magic and arranged to leave.
"It seems those magic associations are actually doing their jobs."
Soaring through the sky, Shirou ignored the howling wind whipping past him, his gaze fixed on Mount Olympus below. Shirou couldn't see through the peak itself because it was obscured by heavy clouds, and the summit was covered in thick snow year-round. From his current perspective, it looked like a patch of pure white, making it impossible to tell if anyone was there.
The closer he got to the summit of Mount Olympus, the more clearly Shirou could hear that incredibly crisp resonance.
Clang—!
A clear, sky-shaking sound echoed from beneath the clouds. With every sound, the earth produced a violent tremor. Listening closely, Shirou felt the sound was like the clashing of weapons—heavy yet clear, each strike vibrating through the human heart.
"I wonder which 'Heretic God' it will be. Let me uncover your true face."
Murmuring this, Shirou's silhouette, soaring high in the sky, began a rapid descent.
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