Chapter 1: New Year is coming
London, a city established by the Romans two thousand years ago, is a world-renowned tourist destination, home to numerous famous landmarks and museums.
It was once the center of the world's most powerful empire.
At its peak, the British Empire built the most ferocious and powerful military force in human history through its control of the seas. It became the most formidable power known to mankind at the time, with one-fifth of the world's population being born or dying under its influence.
On another Earth, it was described like this.
However, in this world full of magic and deities, the British Empire encountered a rather embarrassing incident during the mid-19th century, its most prosperous era.
First, the Queen of the British Empire, the most powerful monarch in the human world, was attacked in her own bedchamber.
And the assailant was an existence that even the full might of the British Empire could do nothing against—one of the god slayers who was, at the time, merely referred to as the King of Sorcerers: the Magic Wolf King of Eastern Europe.
What followed was even more serious. Not long afterward, London, once known as the Foggy City, became the battlefield of three Demon Kings.
From that time on, the world of magic underwent a dramatic transformation.
Moved by the power and recklessness of the demon kings, and in order to protect the Queen, the magicians of London formed an organization called the "Council of Sages," centered around an old secret club of magicians known as the Diogenes Club.
An Italian magician who once served a god slayer, Albert Regano, also published a book titled Demon Kings within the magical community. The book detailed exactly what kind of beings these god slayers—who murdered gods and usurped their powers—were. The term Campione was coined and officially accepted by all magicians.
From then on, the demon kings were rarely referred to as Demon Kings or Lords of Rakshasas. Most of the time, they were simply called god slayers or Campione.
The Council of Sages, which had originally been formed because of the Queen's distress, did not dissolve even after the collapse of the British Empire. It continued its activities to the present day. Although it was no longer the mutual aid society it once was, the magicians still had something in common with their predecessors—they studied god slayers.
Greenwich is the headquarters of this organization. The chairpersons of each generation worked in the top-floor room of a four-story red-brick Victorian building.
However, the current chairperson's office was located deep on the first floor.
"Chairwoman, this is the latest report confirming that the new god slayer is Japanese."
A woman who looked intellectual, around thirty years old, with her hair tied back and wearing thin-framed glasses, said this as she placed the report on the desk.
Sitting on the other side of the desk was a beautiful girl who gave off a graceful and gentle impression.
"According to the report, this Japanese boy named Hachiman Hikigaya has been confirmed to have slain Set, the god of power worshiped by the ancient Egyptians, and Osiris, the god of the underworld. These two deities represent all material opposites in ancient Egyptian mythology. Based on the traces left from his battles with the Sword King and the Wolf King, it seems he has acquired powers related to them. The exact details are still unknown."
"Hm, the spellcasters of that country don't like outsiders. Gathering intelligence must not have been easy, right?"
The girl glanced at the report and then put it back on the desk, looking completely indifferent.
"Studying a young demon king is too risky. There's no way we'll make any progress in a short time. More importantly, isn't there something more urgent right now?"
"Do you mean the prophecy, Princess?"
"Yes. I think I saw something incredible during my break yesterday."
"Although I shouldn't question you like this... aren't you just casually changing the subject? Are you planning to go see that man again?"
The mature female secretary looked displeased.
Not only was she a subordinate, but she was also the young girl's tutor. This dual role gave her a position to lecture her.
"That kind of man… You are someone essential to maintaining the order of the magical world. Please be a bit more restrained."
"I'm not changing the subject. Besides, there really is something important I need to go out for right now."
"Princess!"
"Sorry, Miss Elison. While I greatly appreciate your advice, this is a global-level crisis. I must leave. Please take care of my body while I'm gone."
As soon as she finished speaking, the girl known as the Princess collapsed, and Miss Elison, who had already been prepared for this, caught her just in time.
Knowing that this body was now an empty shell, she sighed helplessly as she looked at the girl's face, as serene as if she were just sleeping.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, far away in the East, in a country called Japan, someone else was also sighing.
Hikigaya looked out at the monotonous scenery and felt increasingly fed up with life.
The trip to Kyoto wasn't particularly memorable, as he found out that whenever he fought god slayers, his clothes would always get torn apart. So he had decided that unless the next opponent was a girl, he definitely wasn't going to fight anymore.
In the blink of an eye, December was already halfway over. In about two weeks, it would be New Year's. The weather had grown very cold.
After becoming a godslayer, such a temperature difference was no problem at all.
Compared to his classmates, who were bundled up tightly, his clothing was still quite thin.
Since the Kyoto trip, a lot had happened at the school, but Hikigaya remained a bystander and hadn't gotten involved.
However, the Service Club seemed to be experiencing a second population boom after the departure of the Yomi disciples.
Because apparently, Hikigaya wasn't the only one bored out of his mind...
The wind rustled the curtains of the clubroom, making a flapping sound. The sunlight outside had grown faint. The sun was setting, and the day was drawing to a close.
Hikigaya put away the book on the desk, picked up his school bag, and prepared to leave.
It was the second year since he had crossed over to this world, and he was one day closer to the end.
As he left school, there weren't many pedestrians on the road. The cold wind howled, lifting dust into the air, making everyone raise their coat collars and hunch their shoulders.
Houses along the street had begun to be decorated with lights—Christmas was just around the corner.
When he was a child, Hikigaya's understanding of Christmas was that it was a time when a white-bearded old man gave out gifts, although he had never received any himself.
As he grew up, he realized the main purpose of the holiday was to get lucky and a romantic holiday for Normies.
But now, his first reaction was to think of the Holy Child Jesus. After becoming a god slayer, many of his thought patterns had changed.
The changes over the past year or so felt like a dream. Maybe he really was dreaming.
Recalling those moments bit by bit, Hikigaya slowly walked toward his home in this world. In the twilight, his shadow stretched out long behind him...