After a while, Sayanomiya Kaoru left Shichio Shrine with Touma Amakasu to return and continue overseeing the matters in Nikkou City.
Kaiser and his two companions also did not remain there, leaving the front hall and heading toward the shrine office.
Along the way, Mariya Yuri had been in a state of wanting to say something but hesitating, as if she had something to say but did not dare to speak.
Seeing this conflicted expression on the girl's face, Liliana immediately understood what she was thinking.
"My King."
After some thought, Liliana still voiced what Mariya Yuri had wanted to say.
"You're planning to deal with that Monkey God-King, aren't you?"
Though she, Liliana Kranjčar, was a maid, she was also someone who dared to offer counsel to her King. Otherwise, she wouldn't have received such praise from Voban, who believed she was unlike her blindly obedient grandfather.
She knew how terrifying Campione were, and also knew she couldn't go against one. Therefore, when it came to taking Mariya Yuri, Liliana ultimately chose to act—but she also tried to minimize the impact as much as possible.
Now that a Heretic God had appeared in this country, even though she wasn't a citizen, for the sake of the innocent people, she had decided to speak on Mariya Yuri's behalf.
This prompted a grateful glance from Mariya Yuri toward Liliana.
"What?" Kaiser seemed not to have noticed the interaction between the two beautiful girls behind him and said without turning his head, "You both want me to go?"
"Of course." Liliana said as if it were obvious: "Given the current situation, only by eliminating that Monkey God-King can Nikkou City be restored to normal."
Although the residents of Nikkou City had turned into monkeys, it wasn't impossible for them to return to human form.
As long as the source was eliminated and the subsequent magical power influence removed, there might be a way to turn those people back.
"The Monkey God-King hasn't appeared yet. If the King acts now, you should be able to take him down smoothly."
Mariya Yuri cautiously observed Kaiser's expression. Seeing that he wasn't displeased, she also boldly voiced her opinion.
To this, Kaiser only said one thing.
"Do you have a feeling that it'll go smoothly if I take action?"
This one sentence rendered Mariya Yuri speechless.
"It's probably the opposite, right?" Kaiser looked at the Hime-Miko filled with concern and smiled, saying, "With your spiritual sensitivity, you should have faintly felt it the moment you brought it up—that if I move now, I won't be able to take down that monkey, right?"
Mariya Yuri fell silent, but that was as good as admitting it.
She did indeed have that feeling—that if Kaiser made a move now, he definitely wouldn't be able to defeat Sun Wukong.
Though logically speaking, as long as Kaiser acted and casually swung the Golden Sword once, he could directly sever the Divine Authority of the monkey transformed into stone, ending Sun Wukong in one strike, both gods and Campione are beings that transcend logic. One simply cannot measure them by common sense.
If things followed logic, weak humans wouldn't stand a chance of slaying gods. But through a series of miracles, various factors, and countless coincidences, humans could still succeed in slaying gods and thus become Campione.
And once they became Campione, these individuals became even more absurd.
Even excluding Kaiser, there were currently six Campione in the world. Each of them possessed multiple Authorities and had slain multiple gods.
If the first god-slaying success was a miraculous string of coincidences, then how could they succeed repeatedly afterward?
Logically speaking, a newly minted Campione would only have one Authority, still far inferior to actual gods. So how were they able to continue slaying gods?
There was only one reason: because Campione were warriors, kings, monsters—and also humans. They were existences that transcended common sense.
They could always find victory even in disadvantage, relying on animalistic instincts.
They would always become more troublesome and ferocious after being injured. This was an ability engraved deep within their souls.
Overcoming strength with weakness, turning the tables in desperation, reversing defeat into victory... Situations like these might be incredibly difficult for humans or other beings, but for Campione, it was almost routine. They achieved them again and again, creating one miraculous victory after another.
That's why they were kings.
That's why they were rulers.
That's why they were Demon Lords.
God-Slaying Beasts—this title alone already said everything. It revealed how absurd and abnormal the existence known as Campione truly was.
Conversely, the same held true for gods.
They too were extraordinary beings, transcendent entities.
Even if not as irrational as Campione, as gods, they were destined to be capable of many unbelievable feats.
The Mother Earth Goddess who governs the cycle of life and death could even resurrect from death—who could guarantee that other gods didn't have similarly special attributes?
The Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong, had mastered seventy-two transformations, could escape the Three Calamities and Five Tribulations, possessed an indestructible diamond body, and even when thrown into a divine furnace and burned by sacred fire, he had emerged with the benefit of Fiery Golden Eyes. Kaiser didn't believe that just because he slashed once now, Sun Wukong would drop dead.
That was one of the reasons why Kaiser had turned to leave back then.
He wanted to wait until Sun Wukong had adjusted himself to his peak before facing him in battle.
This was both to satisfy his own desire to challenge the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, and to obtain the god's Authority.
Only by challenging and defeating a fully empowered Heretic God could a Campione obtain a new Authority. If Kaiser had killed Sun Wukong when he had just broken free from the curse of the Keeper of the Horses, while still not in full condition, then he would not have been able to activate the Circle of Usurpation and seize his power.
Even if he had made a move back then, Sun Wukong definitely had a way to temporarily escape, relocate, and then come back to settle the score after regaining his full strength.
Rather than that, it was better to wait until he emerged fully. That way, at least Kaiser could keep track of his movements.
"Let's put the matter of Sun Wukong aside for now." Kaiser looked at the silently downcast Mariya Yuri and knocked her on the forehead, saying, "If you're really that concerned, then try using Spirit Vision to see if you can pinpoint the exact time of his appearance."
Holding her stinging forehead, Mariya Yuri nodded heavily.
"I'll do my best."
Hearing this, Liliana spoke up as well.
"My King, if necessary, my power can also be of use."
As a witch, Liliana's aptitude in magic surpassed Erica's. She also had mastery of many types of witchcraft that could be useful in a variety of situations.
Liliana's specialties included alchemy, communicating with the consciousness of plants and animals, and manipulating water, earth, and sky through various spell formations.
For instance, flight magic—this was magic only witches could use.
And then there was Spell Tracing, used to investigate areas where magic or spiritual events had occurred—one of the witches' proudest investigative spell techniques.
Additionally, she had the talent of Spirit Vision. If deployed as a scout, there were very few things Liliana couldn't uncover.
It was precisely because of this that Liliana had been able to locate Mariya Yuri shortly after arriving in this country, lying in wait for her to come of her own accord.
"You?" Kaiser turned to Liliana with a doubtful look. "I brought you here as a maid, not to do knight's work. And you're still willing to act?"
"…There are innocent people suffering. That reason alone is enough for any proper knight to act." Liliana looked at Kaiser with utmost seriousness and said, "Besides, in the face of a Heretic God, humans should unite. Otherwise, how could we ever face a god?"
"Is that so?" Kaiser, seeing that Liliana's gaze was sincere, remarked with some emotion, "In that regard, you really are quite similar to Erica."
"Me? Like her?" Liliana immediately bristled. "How are we similar?"
"I only meant in this aspect." Kaiser was amused by Liliana's resistant attitude and chuckled. "Back on Sardinia, even though she had her own goals, she was also willing to offer everything of herself for the sake of innocent people."
Liliana fell silent.
After a while, she finally muttered.
"Even if she's like that, she's still a knight."
Clearly, Liliana had never doubted that, even though she disliked Erica.
Just then—
"To think I'd hear such an endorsement from you… that's really rare, Liliana."
A voice that shouldn't have been present suddenly rang out.
"What?"
Liliana's expression instantly changed.
"Eh?"
Mariya Yuri was left stunned.
"Hm?"
Even Kaiser couldn't help but show a surprised look as he quickly turned to look at the steps of Shichio Shrine.
There, accompanied by light yet firm footsteps, a figure who was memorable to both Kaiser and Liliana in every sense of the word slowly ascended the stairs and came into everyone's view.
It was a girl too beautiful for words.
A girl with overwhelming confidence.
A girl full of elegance and splendor.
A girl exuding majesty, defiance, and calm composure.
Wearing a red-and-black outfit, long golden hair swaying down to her waist, radiating immense presence from head to toe, and with a bold, fearless smile on her face, this girl suddenly appeared here.
"As expected, even in lands I, Erica Blandelli, have never set foot in, so long as my name has been heard and people know of my presence, they will speak of me, discuss me, and mention me countless times—no matter where it is."
The Great Knight of the Copper Black Cross, a genius of the Milan magic world who stood alongside Liliana, declared with unshakable confidence.
"Even someone like you, who calls herself my rival, is no exception. So, are you finally willing to acknowledge my greatness, Liliana?"
Erica smiled radiantly, her splendid posture and elegant confidence immediately making her the center of attention.
"Don't call me Liliana! We're not that close!"
Liliana stared at Erica as if she were some kind of dangerous creature, her gaze both hostile and irritated.
"Why are you here?"
Faced with Liliana's question, Erica remained composed.
"To meet in a foreign land like this—isn't that cause for a more meaningful conversation?" Erica approached with a teasing smile. "Or are you just afraid I'll see you like this? Afraid I'll steal the spotlight from you, Liliana?"
With that, Liliana remembered—she was still wearing a maid uniform.
She glanced at Erica's outfit: a black sleeveless top covered by a red knit cardigan, denim pants below, and a shoulder cape embroidered with the Copper Black Cross crest. Even if Liliana hated to admit it, she had to acknowledge that this woman was undeniably both splendid and beautiful, far too elegant to appear at such an ancient shrine.
Compared to herself—anyone would think Erica was a noble lady, while she was just a cold-faced servant.
Realizing this, Liliana suddenly felt uncomfortable. A wave of magical power surged from her body, and with a wave of her hand, her outfit transformed.
A blue-and-black striped cape, an outfit that matched Erica's red-and-black ensemble yet contrasted it as a blue-and-black battle uniform—Liliana summoned this attire and returned to her dignified form as the Fairy Knight.
Looking at Liliana now, and then at the smiling Erica, Mariya Yuri sincerely felt that these two were like a pair of perfectly matched partners—equally beautiful, equally heroic—one elegant, the other cool.
Unfortunately, these seemingly perfect partners could by no means be called friendly.
"Why did you change it?" Erica smiled with mischief. "That outfit really suited you, Liliana."
"Shut it, vixen." Liliana responded irritably. "You still haven't told me why you're here."
"Life is a stage, and I am the star who receives the most attention. No matter where I appear, it is only natural." Erica, as confident and proud as ever, quickly followed up, "Besides, if I'm reporting in, it's not to you."
Saying so, Erica turned to Kaiser, her expression becoming respectful.
"It's been a while, my King."
The elegant and splendid girl knelt on one knee before Kaiser, lowered her head, and placed her right hand over her left chest. With the ceremony of a vassal, she offered the most reverent greeting to Kaiser.
"Your knight, Erica Blandelli, has returned."
That's right.
The girl hadn't merely arrived here—she had returned.
Because wherever her King was—that was her home.
And her King was here.
So, she returned.