"What!" Erica stood up and slammed the table in sheer shock of what she heard. "When did it happen?!"
"Wait, calm down Erica. You are scaring her." Godou scolds Erica and quickly comforts Yuri even though she is fine and expects her reaction.
"Godou! You do not understand the gravity of this news!" Erica tried to endure her returning headache as the news put too much stress on her mind.
"What's special about it? He just killed a god. That's all." Godou is confused by Erica's strong reaction.
"What's so special about it?" Erica felt like frothing from her mouth as she gave up and sat back on the chair while trying to nurse her headache.
"Godou. This is a very serious and alarming matter." Yuri took over the explanation for Erica while letting her rest. "It wouldn't be a big deal if it's a Heretic God that descends on Earth. The mysterious Campione went into the divine realm through the Netherworld to kill the Takemikazuchi-no-Kami."
"It's very serious because first, this means the Campione have means to travel into the Netherworld." Godou just nodded but didn't really understand yet. But he assumed Yuri would explain more. However, she didn't and moved on to the next point. "Second, God in the divine realm is naturally much stronger than their Heretical counterpart because they can muster their full power without limitation by essentially being on their home ground."
"So, this new guy is very strong?" Godou concluded from Yuri's explanation.
"To put it simply, yes." Yuri nods.
"But I still fail to see why that is a problem though. He didn't cause any problems. In fact, that night he helped us defeat that Voban guy too." Godou argued, feeling Erica and Yuri are worried over something that isn't a problem at all.
Sure, the mysterious Campione is strong and all. But he hadn't purposely stirred up the problem for Godou. Godou didn't mind having another Campione in Japan since it would lighten his burden of defeating the Heretic God. If he could, Godou would like to befriend this Campione if he didn't have a loose screw in the head like Doni as a fellow newbie in the whole Campione business.
Erica suddenly stood up with an angry expression. "I had enough of this. Why can't your thick skull understand that this is a very severe issue?" Erica suddenly exploded from her stress from Leo, Liliana and Voban. "Sure, you said he wasn't an issue because he hadn't caused any trouble. But do you really know he wouldn't in the future? Can you really confirm that he is a pacifist like you? Can you really confirm that? Can you?"
"No! You don't. So, until we can confirm this Campione is not a danger. I cannot stop worrying about it! I cannot sleep without a nightmare haunting my sleep!" Erica spilled out all her feelings looking ragged and very furious but also relieved that her bottled up emotions finally released.
Without saying anything more, Erica grabbed her bag and left the classroom after slamming the sliding door open only to find the English language teacher just so happened to pass by the hallway.
"Eek!" She squeaked like she saw a ghost.
"Miss Blandelli, please refrain from involving and breaking school properties because of your love quarrel." The teacher said while menacingly pushing up his glasses which turn white from the light reflection.
"Y-Yes… I apologize for losing control of myself and will keep that in mind." Erica nods and flees with a quick stride as she can feel goosebumps all over her body with a shiver.
"As for the two of you." The teacher looked at Godou and Yuri. "The school session has ended. Please don't linger in the classroom to hang out." After he was done, he left and disappeared like a ghost.
Erica at the end of the hallway observing the teacher saw he suddenly vanished.
'I knew it! That teacher is a ghost!' Erica screamed in her mind. He told Godou and Yuri before but none of them trust her. This time, she has proof! Erica looked at her phone that captured the proof. 'They cannot deny it anymore after I present this proof!' Erica smiled victoriously like she just won a difficult and tiring battle.
"Miss Blandelli."
"KYAAAA!" She screamed and almost drew Cuore di Leone in reflex to cut down the offending person into pieces but stopped in time upon recognizing the person.
"Haah… Don't sneak up on me like that. You almost gave me a heart attack!" Erica calmed down and sighed after seeing it's Amakasu of the HCC.
"My apology, Miss Blandelli. It's a force of habit." The man lowered his head and apologized sincerely.
"Erica!" Godou suddenly arrived after hearing her scream and Yuri arrived later with ragged breath since she didn't have much stamina even for a short sprint.
"Ah! It's perfect that Sir Godou is here too. I have very crucial information to inform." Amakasu said with a serious tone and expression.
———
"My eyes really aren't mistaken, my king. To think you would enter the Netherworld on your own to kill a god and make a name for yourself. Hahaha!" Voban made himself comfortable on the couch while praising Leo.
Liliana looks sulky and stands near Voban while serving him tea. As for Leo, he is the source of attention yet he maintains a poker face and stares into the void.
So, let's start with Liliana. When she woke up, she found Leo laying on the floor and in a panic, she contacted Voban. But after the old man checked on Leo. He tells Liliana it's just the after effects of killing a God and he is in the process of receiving his authority.
So, she is basically sulking that Leo ditch her and go into the Netherworld. She understands that she would just be a burden if she tags along. But is it that hard to just inform her? Of course, the real reason is deeper than that. But that is the gist of it.
As for Leo, he decided that dealing with Liliana is a pain in the ass. Bah! Women. Anyway, he is more interested about what he experienced after being pulled into the white space.
Leo meets a little girl with purple hair, eager to receive him into her realm and entertain him. They talk a lot. Mainly just the girl asking him a bunch of questions which Leo reluctantly answered after he realized this little girl is Pandora, her adoptive mother and the one responsible to give him authority. So, making her displeased would be unwise. At least with his System, dealing with her is much easier.
When the distribution of authority came…
"So, do you have any particular authority you want? Mama will help you get it." Pandora cooed Leo while trying to spoil her favorite child.
"Can I know what authority I can choose from… mom?" Leo almost cringed but he controlled his expression with his entire willpower because his future is depending on the whim of this girl that he was forced to play along and act like a son to keep her happy to spoon feed him what he wanted.
Somehow, that sentence felt very wrong.
Anyway.
"Of course. Of course. Let Mama read it out for you." Pandora then named each choice he had and their effects. "But Mama highly recommends you to take Futsu no Mitama. It's the most useful and strongest authority Takemikazuchi has. Besides, it's also a Subordinate God like Ame no Murakumo."
"Subordinate God? What's that?" Leo asked. Pandora frowned a little when Leo forgot to add 'Mom' at the end of his sentence. But she forgave him this once.
"Subordinate God is exactly as it means. A god that serves. The sword is a god itself and it can lend you its power and even become an entity to fight for you." Pandora explained. "Although, the sword isn't as good as Ame no Murakumo because the god lacks sentience. But this is also a good opportunity because that means you can develop it to your liking." Pandora said cheerfully.
Somehow, Leo felt his danger sense was tingling. But he dismissed it and weighed what authority he should choose.
The main authority aside from the divine sword is Thunder manipulation authority since Takemikazuchi is god of thunder and the second one is Takemikazuchi's aspect as a War God. Other than that, the rest isn't worth mentioning.
The Thunder authority is obviously a big no because it overlaps with his Electrokinesis. The Warfare authority isn't much better since it is more suitable for a commander role that leads an army which Leo rarely did and would be collecting dust if he were to choose it. So, the only option would be the sword.
"I choose Futsu no Mitama." Leo said but oddly, Pandora pretends to not hear him and he knows why. "Mom, I choose Futsu no Mitama…"
"Alright! Great choice." She said and quickly tapped her lap, telling Leo to rest his head on it. Leo didn't think much of it and assumed it's part of the ritual.
"I, Pandora, The All Giving Woman, had recognized your valiant deed to vanquish another god. For that, I shall reward you with the authority from the god you vanquished."
Leo felt a power seep into his body and integratedxx with his soul. On his Status Screen, Leo can see another authority popped up in his ability section.
"Now, you will soon return to your body." Pandora said with sadness and she hugged his head. "Remember to kill more gods and visit Mama, alright? Mama is very lonely here and only you can remember me."
Her voice fainter until it vanished and Leo woke up from his body. In his mind that time, he was snickering. To think Pandora would degrade the Heretic Gods to mere tickets for Leo to visit her. It is a very funny and amusing thought. But he is immediately greeted with Liliana's worried, angry and sulky face.
Then that led to the present.
Leo is mentally checking on Futsu no Mitama he just obtained and trying to link to the consciousness in the sword to confirm his worry. His intuition had never failed him before and Leo is more inclined to trust it.
The divine sword was unresponsive. Rather, it would be more appropriate to call it a blank slate. Now he understands why Pandora said he can develop it to his liking.
After Voban had his fill of entertainment, he left because he had his territory to take care of. Since the news of his defeat to Leo, many people start to undermine his strength and challenge him. Although most of them end up being his Undead Servants. He is happy many are willing to throw their life to entertain him unlike previously where people fear even the mention of his name.
Leo looked at Liliana, and didn't know how to deal with her bad moon. 'Girls like it when they get treated well, right?' Thought Leo. 'Why not bring her out around the city?'
"Lili, let's go out for a walk around the town." Leo asked after he made his decision.
"Huh? Walk? Around the town?" She is confused since it came out of nowhere.
"Yes. I don't have to work on weekends and I think you will definitely be bored staying at home all day. So, why not go out for a walk." Leo explains as he stood up and entered his room to change his clothes.
Meanwhile Liliana still stood there in shock. Trying again and again to confirm what she just heard. "This… is a date… right?"
"Eh! But… this is too sudden." The Knight blushed and flustering not knowing how to react.
—————
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