It's been a while since the battle with Clytius. Leo returned to his normal routine.
"Alright, that's all for today and enjoy your summer break."
"Yeah!" Yay!" The class erupted into cheers after Leo ended his class on the last period of the day.
Then he left the class and returned to the teacher's office.
"Oh, Leo sensei. What is your plan for the summer break?" A teacher sitting next to him asked when Leo took a seat on his desk.
"Nothing in particular." Leo replied truthfully which earned an envious look from his co-worker.
"I wish I can be as carefree as you, Leo sensei. *Sigh*" The teacher slumped on his desk. "Having no financial worry must be very liberating. I have to work in summer school to earn extra income to pay for my bills."
"Then stop spending unnecessary money on your games and manga. Maybe that would help, Jun sensei." Leo said with a deadpan face.
Jun sensei or Junpei Katahashi is a man in his 30's with a chronic case of anime addiction. He is a man that works solely to support his hobby as his sole motivation in life.
"Shut up, you damn riajuu!" Junpei lashed out on Leo with profound anger. "You who have a girlfriend would never understand us single dog's suffering."
Leo simply rolls his eyes and ignores Junpei and completes his remaining work so he can leave on time and begin his summer break.
———
In a cafe somewhere in downtown, Liliana came after Erica suddenly called her over for a talk.
"So, what was it that you wanted to talk about?" Liliana arrived and saw Erica already in the cafe, sitting in a secluded area waiting for her. Even ordered for her in advance.
'Suspicious.'
"Oh my, my dear friend Liliana. What with the suspicion? Could it be you suspect I am up to no good?" Erica frowned and made a dramatic gesture of being hurt and disappointed. "I am hurt, Liliana."
"Of course I am." Liliana replied harshly. "You are a devilish and manipulative type of woman after all, Erica Blandelli. I at least knee that annoying side of yours." She harrumphed and instantly saw through her face.
Erica chuckled and soon dismissed her act and became serious.
"I have a favor to ask from you." Erica said.
"Favor?"
"Yes. It's about our respective king." Erica said, which gave Liliana a sense of anticipation for her question. "You know right, there is nothing more attractive to a Heretic God than Campione?"
"Yes." Liliana answered but patiently waited for her to finish what she wanted to say.
"Godou will go to Italy during the summer vacation and having him stay in Japan made Godou feel uncomfortable knowing there is a possibility of a Heretic God descending in his absence."
"So, I am here to extend an invitation to the Eighth Campione to join my King for a vacation in Italy. Besides, this is also a good opportunity for them to improve their friendship. Don't you think so too, Lili?"
Indeed in Lilliana's mind, having the two Campione to improve their relationship is undoubtedly a very advantageous thing. It has never happened before for two Campione to have an amicable relationship with one another and it's undoubtedly better if Godou and Leo can become friend instead of foe or rival.
After considering it for a while, Liliana agreed and will inform Leo about this and persuade him to agree since it's beneficial.
———
The following day, Leo and Liliana made their appearance in the airport and met with Godou's group.
"Hmn? Why are none of you bringing any luggage?" Godou asked out of concern and curiosity.
"Don't worry about it. I have a magic trick that can store stuff." Leo shrugs and casually makes his phone appear in his hand out of thin air.
In the observer's perspective, they saw the ring in Leo's right hand glow faintly before his phone appeared. But it's just a decoy ring that glows when he injects a bit of mana to cover for his use of Inventory.
"Cool! Why can't I get something like that?" Godou complained about his authority that is not only full of restrictions, but also not flexible to be used outside of battle.
"It's just magic. Surely Erica can teach you something similar." Leo remembers Erica has some kind of magic that stores her weapon away.
Erica on the side hoping this would stroke Godou's interest to learn Magic. But it seems she put too much hope on him.
"Eh? Magic… It's too complicated for my head." Godou sighed defeatedly.
They continue to talk for a bit until it's time to board the plane. Even though Erica could procure a private jet for their flight, Godou insisted he isn't comfortable with it and Yuri also.
It's a 15 hour long flight. Leo could definitely just tell them to wait until night time and teleport everyones to Italy. Which would be faster. But once in a while, it's fine to experience the journey.
Sardinia. The destination of the vacation. A quite large island in Italy that is famous for their beautiful beach, interesting geoinformation and few historical sites.
The plane landed and the group immediately disembarked with excitement. Especially Leo for some reason.
Leo's height is very tall which made him uncomfortable in the plane because his head needed to be lowered to fit in on his seat. This wouldn't be an issue if they take the first class seat instead the business class seat under Godou's insistance. Which causes Godou to feel incredibly apologetic.
There is nothing else that can be done about the seat placement by the time they board. Leo didn't really mind either since such small discomfort is trivial compared to what he's been through before.
"Don't think too much about it." Leo tap Godou's back reassuringly. "Besides, something like that didn't even count as inconvenience at all."
Godou didn't say anything more as Leo wished. But in his mind, he thinks Leo is just being polite about it as he always presents himself as.
"Guy, over here. I found Arianna." Erica called the group and pointed at a black haired maid holding a sign with Erica and Godou's name.
"Wait. Hold on, isn't that Doni?" Godou was pulling his luggage and approaching Arianna with the group until he identified a certain blond haired guy within the crowd of people in the arrival area.
"Huh?!" Erica and Liliana alerted and looked around before they also noticed Doni standing not far from Arianna, smiling harmlessly and waving at them.
Meanwhile, Leo can already feel his senses tingling and warning him of trouble approaching.
———
"So, you were the guy who subdued that Wolf King of Balkan huh."
Leo stood before the blond-haired Campione and sizing up the other party while Doni also did the same.
"He said you have impressive swordsmanship."
"Huh?"
Leo was surprised how he entered this Sword Freak's radar. Turns out that damn old man is too salty about the sparring results and sold his info to Doni. Leo secretly grinds his teeth, wanting to beat that old man to death one more time for this.
"Fight me." Doni said and was ready to pull out his sword even though there were plenty of onlookers around in the airport.
"No. I don't have the obligation to." Leo refused immediately and proceeded to walk past Doni while ignoring him.
Others on the side sighed in relief they aren't gonna fight in this crowded space. Knowing Doni, he probably didn't even care as always and just did whatever he wished. Even using power in front of civilians.
"Obligation huh?" Doni mutters but doesn't pursue the matter as he lets them leave. However, something sinister is brewing in his mind as he smirked.
Back to Leo, he follows the group to the car with everyone else. He noticed Liliana was flashing him a concerned look. But Leo reassured her it's alright.
Doni is known to be very persistent especially when it involves swords. Liliana worried Doni would do something that harmed Leo to force Leo to fight him. Meanwhile Leo is more worried about others than himself because he fears if Doni targets others close to him.
Leo also reminded himself to give Voban a proper beating next time they meet.
———
"Erica… I thought we were going to rent a vacation house. What is this? This is no damn house?!" Godou looks shocked at the villa that is no less impressive than a grand mansion. Yuri was also equally shocked. Leo and Liliana not so much. For Leo he is used to the grand architecture of Yharnam and the Devils in DxD which is much grander. As for Liliana, she already expected this.
Ignoring Godou, Leo stroll into the villa under Arianna guidance with Liliana sticking close to him like a proper knight on an escort duty.
"This is your room with Liliana, Lord Leo." Arianna said after leading him to the right section of the second floor.
"W-Wait! We will share a room?!" Liliana suddenly became flustered and didn't dare to meet Leo's eyes due to embarrassment. "That Erica!" She muttered silently with irritation.
"I am sorry, Miss Liliana. However, there is not enough room and I can only arrange it like this." Arianna apologized.
Indeed, Leo only saw three bedrooms on the floor. Leo and Liliana got the one on the right. There are only two more left. Arianna saw where Leo was looking at.
"Ah, Lord Godou and his group took the middle one. The last room was already occupied by another guest." Arianna explained.
"Another guest?"
"Yes. The Witch of Sardinia, Miss Lucuretia, is staying in the last room." Arianna quickly replied.
"Wait, she was staying here too?" Liliana dismissed her embarrassment and focused on that name.
Sensing Leo's confusion, Liliana explained who Lucretia was and her fame in the supernatural world. She emphasized her title as Scholar of God, saying there is no one more knowledgeable about Heretic Gods in this world but her. This piqued Leo's interest since he does want to learn more about Heretic Gods and this is his chance.
"I see." Leo nods and then stares back at the room before looking at Liliana. "You can have the room. I don't really feel comfortable staying in such a big room anyway." He said before he disappeared before Liliana could refuse.
Leo went to the first floor and walked toward the unknown presence he sensed which he assumed was Lucretia. But he was stopped in his tracks by a black feline sitting before a door licking its paw before looking at Leo with eyes filled with intelligence an animal shouldn't have.
"You are a familiar?" Leo recognised what the feline was and picked it up. The cat didn't resist and meowed back at Leo like it was saying yes.
"Come in, the door isn't locked." An alluring feminine voice from behind the door called.
Leo opened the door upon being given an invitation and walked in before the door closed itself.
"Welcome, Lord Eighth Campione. I wonder how this humble witch can assist?"
Leo immediately saw a lady that can only be described as bewitchingly beautiful that put even top models and superstars to shame. She dressed in sexy lingeries that emphasizes her beauty even further and oddly an eye mask pushed up to her forehead. She has long light brown hair that matches her slight tanned skin, deep purple eyes that radiate wisdom and a mole under her right eye.
But with a careful look, Leo can sense fear in her eyes and also insatiable curiosity underneath that fear. When Leo enters the room, she lifts her body up and properly seated before inviting Leo to take a seat too.
"I heard you know a lot about Heretic Gods. I want to learn about them from you." Leo said his intention without beating the bush.
"Straight forward…" Leo heard her mutters under her breath.
"You came to the right person. So, ask me your question. I will try my best to answer them." Lucretia said with a smile as her curiosity grew stronger and fear slowly fade away.
—————
(Is there any particular God you want to feature? One that can give Leo a suitable Authority preferably. Or we just roll with the canon ones if I cannot figure one out.)
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