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"The scenery in Italy is really quite nice!"
A young man in a remote region of Italy, looking at the skyâuntainted by any pollution, a sight unseen in Japanâcouldn't help but sigh in comfortable appreciation.
Indeed, Japan's modern environmental protection was well in place, but compared to Italy's tourist cities, it still fell quite short.
However, Kusanagi Godou, the young man with this name, a fellow who, in just a few days, was supposed to be promoted to one of the mere seven Kings in this world, was now facing an inexplicable crisis.
He, merely an ordinary person, had only just finished his emotional sigh when he discovered a platinum-gold blade, exuding an invisible chill, pressed against his neck.
Kusanagi Godou felt a slight coldness on his neck, which then quickly turned warm.
At the same time, a sensation of pain flooded his mind.
It was the feeling of skin being broken.
That was a real longsword, a real deadly weapon, something truly capable of killing him.
In this instant, the young man named Kusanagi Godou clearly understood this fact, this incredibly terrifying fact.
His life was at the mercy of the opponent's sword. At any moment, with a gentle swing of that burly arm covered in silver-white armor, his already not-so-bright head could be separated from his body.
"Foreign magus, what is your purpose!"
It should have been words to that effect, though, probably in Italian.
Kusanagi Godou, who only understood a few fragments, felt his face gradually darken.
He couldn't respond at all; he didn't understand Italian!
"State your purpose, or we, the knights of the Azure Black Cross, shall execute you here!"
It was an extremely harsh voice, a deep male voice carrying an unparalleled pressure. One could say that if allowed, Kusanagi Godou wouldn't even be able to lift his head before this man.
The intimidation in that voice was not majesty or anything else, but something deeper, a voice seemingly cloaked in history and legend.
It was as ifâŚ
As if those long-dead heroes, of whom only legends remained, were reprimanding him.
Kusanagi Godou, an ordinary person, now lacked even the courage to speak.
He trembled slightly, the color draining from his face.
If not for the man still menacing him with the sharp longsword, he would have desperately wanted to collapse onto the ground right then and there.
"Could he be an ordinary person?"
The man said, a hint of doubt in his tone.
As a 'Heroic Spirit Knight,' an exceedingly noble attendant of the King, he himself also abided by the knight's code.
If this young man truly was an ordinary person, then there was no need to coerce him further.
Just as Kusanagi Godou felt a sense of relief as the longsword on his neck was slowly moved away, an immense force struck him from behind, viciously knocking him down onto the road, which was covered by a thin layer of dust.
Next, intense pain shot up from his back. The knight, with his steel-covered boot, stomped hard on the young man's body, unhesitatingly trampling his already not-so-sturdy frame.
He yanked the 'Prometheus Secret Grimoire' from Kusanagi Godou's not-so-sturdy canvas bag, a faint smile touching his lips.
Indeed, it was far too dangerous for this ordinary person to keep such a grimoire. Well then, it shall serve as tribute to the King.
"Be honored!"
He left behind such a sentence, words that Kusanagi Godou found utterly baffling, and then departed.
As for Kusanagi Godou, still sprawled on the ground.
To brazenly enter the territory of the 'Seventh King' while carrying such a high-ranking grimoire was extreme disrespect. He should be grateful for the knight's mercy in not taking his life!
He was not an unworldly young girl like Liliana or Erica. If not for the dignity of the King he served, he would have directly passed judgment on this young man then and there.
After all, at this moment, the entirety of Italy was the territory of that supreme 'King of Heroes,' Gilgamesh!
Daring to bring such 'dangerous goods' into the King's territory was the gravest sin of disrespect!
Indeed, in just one year, the entire magical world of Italy had undergone earth-shattering changes.
Whether Rome, Milan, or Turin, whether the Old Lady, the She-Wolf, the City of Lilies, or the Azure Black Cross and the Bronze Black Cross, all had now surrendered to that King.
And Italy's King of Swords, whom those magi had been anticipating, had yet to show any sign, thus allowing Italy to be handed over so easily.
Of course, perhaps some had previously hoped for the return of the King of Swords, Doni. But now, after most of those knights who had submitted to Gilgamesh had undergone Heroic Spirit transformation, no one raised similar opinions anymore.
Such obvious benefitsâeven without mentioning the near-infinite lifespan, just the skyrocketing strength after becoming a Heroic Spirit was enough to make them take notice.
And at this moment, upon that incredibly lavish and spacious grand hall.
Several knights knelt respectfully before the throne forged of gold, their faces filled with immense awe and pride.
Most of the knights who could enter this hall were beings who stood at the pinnacle of knighthood, and they, after their Heroic Spirit transformation, could even rival divine beasts.
Every time they felt the endless, surging power within their bodies, and their inexhaustible stamina, the loyalty of these knights would deepen further.
And the one who had gained the most power among them was Liliana, who managed the Heroic Spirit Knights on Gilgamesh's behalf. Her achievement of unifying the entire magical world of Italy had elevated her strength once more.
At this moment, her power, compared to her initial self, was like heaven and earth.
However, right now, this young girl was kneeling respectfully before the throne.
"O King, this is a newly found treasure. Please examine it!"
Liliana held up the 'Prometheus Secret Grimoire' in her hands, her tone respectful as she spoke softly.
When Gilgamesh unified the entire magical world of Italy, the first thing he did was to scour for treasures.
Though she strongly disapproved, Liliana still chose to comply. Every day, treasures from all over Italy were presented by her, one by one.
Fortunately, Gilgamesh had very high standards for treasures, so even now, very few existed that could catch his eye.
And the man upon the throne slightly opened his half-closed eyes, his unspoken expression of contempt carrying an absolutely undeniable majesty.
"The Prometheus Secret Grimoire?"
He repeated faintly. This stone tablet was not particularly precious in his eyes.
However, it held a more important significance: it meant that a Heretic Godâś he loathed had already descended.
"Well then, for the mongrels who dare to act wantonly in this King's territory, this King himself shall teach you all a profound lesson!"