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"Arianna, how much longer until we reach Sardinia?" Erica asked from the plush backseat of the Ferrari, addressing the young woman dressed in a maid uniform who sat behind the wheel.
Arianna Hayama Arialdi, a girl with one-quarter Japanese ancestry, possessed the classic black hair and eyes of an Asian. Her hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail.
Though a member of a magical organization, she lacked any significant magical talent.
However, she excelled in domestic tasks, cooking, and driving, far surpassing the average person in those skills, which was why Erica had chosen her as her personal maid.
"About three hours, Miss Erica. But… are you sure about this? Investigating a Heretic God…"
Arianna's normally composed face was etched with worry. Though she possessed no magical ability, being part of the magical world had exposed her to the terrifying tales of gods and Devil Kings.
*'Three years ago, the Balkan Peninsula was nearly destroyed when three Devil Kings clashed.
Two years ago, the Olympic Stadium was reduced to rubble during a battle between the silver-armed King of Swords and the Heretic God Achilles, and half of Athens had to be rebuilt. And the Black Prince Alec, even further back, sparked a war for the Holy Grail that engulfed all of Europe.'*
'Every incident involving gods and Devil Kings has led to catastrophic consequences. And now, Miss Erica is deliberately involving herself in such a dangerous affair. This is reckless!'
"Arianna, watch out!" Erica exclaimed, her hand gripping the door handle, ready to jump out.
"Eek!" Seeing the oncoming truck, Arianna frantically yanked the steering wheel, swerving the car from the left lane to the right.
Her momentary distraction had led her to drive on the wrong side of the road. If not for Erica's warning, they would have collided head-on with the truck.
"Honestly, when are you going to break your habit of spacing out? Do you need me to find you a doctor?" Erica said, massaging her temples as she looked at her absent-minded maid.
Arianna was a driving prodigy, her skills rivaling those of professional racers. However, she couldn't even memorize basic traffic laws, and she loved to speed through city streets at over 200 miles per hour. Though she had never caused an accident, if not for her exceptional compatibility with Erica, she would have replaced her maid long ago.
"But, Miss Erica, you're planning to get involved in that!" Arianna said, rubbing her head with a wry smile. Her head had slammed against the window during the sharp turn, and it was throbbing with pain.
"It's no big deal. According to the initial reports, it's just a divine beast. And there haven't been any major casualties.
For someone who's mastered the Holy Annihilator, retreating from a divine beast is child's play!" Erica grinned, her smile confident and predatory, like a lioness eyeing her prey.
"You think I don't know how terrifying those monsters are? I witnessed their battle firsthand three years ago."
A look of reminiscence crossed Erica's face. In Italy, all aspiring knights had to undergo a trial before being granted the official title of "Knight." Erica, at the age of twelve, had witnessed a battle between two Devil Kings during her trial, alongside her childhood friend, Liliana.
One was the current strongest knight in Europe, the King of Swords, Salvatore Doni. The other was Kasugano Haru, the King of the Far East, hailed as The Strongest in recent years.
It had been a friendly spar, a warm-up, yet the shockwaves from their clash had devastated the surrounding landscape for kilometers.
It was that firsthand experience with the terrifying power of Devil Kings that had driven Erica to train relentlessly for the past three years, mastering the Holy Annihilator.
Armed with this ultimate human technique, she felt confident in challenging the divine beast on Sardinia, hoping to earn the title of "Red Devil" through this achievement.
"Miss Erica, you have such confidence; that's wonderful!" Arianna sighed in relief. After years of serving Erica, she understood her mistress's personality. Like a lioness on the hunt, she wouldn't take action without a carefully calculated plan. Erica was the epitome of beauty and brains.
"Well then, please excuse me while I take a short nap. I'll make sure you arrive safely on Sardinia." Arianna gripped the steering wheel, her voice filled with energy.
"Thank you, Arianna." Maintaining peak physical condition was a principle Erica lived by. And facing a divine beast, whether for battle or retreat, demanded that she conserve her energy.
The car screeched to a halt.
Erica opened the door and stepped out, surveying her surroundings.
She was in Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, a port city located on the southern coast of the island. It was founded by the Phoenicians in the eighth century BC.
'There have been sightings of divine beasts all over Sardinia – Bosa, Orgosolo, Barumini… Based on their geographical pattern, the next manifestation should be here in Cagliari. But there seem to be too many divine beasts appearing. Could there actually be a god on Sardinia?'
"Miss Erica! Miss Erica!" Arianna called out urgently from the driver's seat.
Erica turned around, looking at Arianna with a puzzled expression. "What's wrong, Arianna?"
"Six o'clock direction! That black-haired boy... he's holding what looks like an ancient grimoire!" Arianna said, her voice laced with surprise.
Erica immediately turned her head, her gaze snapping to the designated location.
Two young men came into view. One was wearing a tattered white coat, likely of Middle Eastern origin, caked in dirt and grime.
But that wasn't important. What caught Erica's attention was his appearance. He was around fourteen years old, with shoulder-length black hair, ivory skin, and an impossibly handsome face that seemed almost otherworldly.
Despite his striking looks and unusual attire, he didn't attract any attention from the surrounding people. He must have been using some kind of spell to minimize his presence.
The other boy had spiky black hair and a typical East Asian face. He was dressed in modern casual clothes – a shirt, pants, and a backpack. He was holding a stone tablet.
'Wait a minute... That's… an incredibly powerful magical aura! It must be an ancient grimoire, a priceless treasure, even rarer than those found in the Copper Black Cross's vault!'
"Gotcha! A boy with an unusual aura and another carrying a priceless grimoire, appearing on Sardinia at this time... They must have something to do with the divine activity!" Erica grinned, her eyes gleaming with predatory excitement, like a lioness who had finally cornered her prey. She had found her targets.
Erica summoned her beloved sword, Cuore di Leone, with a 'Summon' spell. Shing! The blade slid free of its scabbard, its polished surface reflecting Erica's beautiful face. She then cast a 'Silence' spell to muffle her footsteps and approached the two boys, who were deep in conversation.
Silently, she pressed her blade against the neck of the boy holding the stone tablet.
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