Given the obvious divine power already manifesting on Sicily, Sai Akuto had no intention of spending another night at the hotel.
So, once Erica came downstairs, Akuto immediately told her and the others to prepare to depart.
…
Half an hour later.
Erica, moving with startling efficiency for someone who'd only just gotten up, finished packing.
"Since we're fully prepared, we leave now!" she declared.
Akuto turned his gaze toward Sicily.
Truthfully, through the underground dragon veins, he had already confirmed both the condition and the location of the god-king Melqart.
He hadn't used the dragon veins to travel directly, purely because he intended to meet the leaders of Italy's seven major magic associations first.
Since Erica, Erica's daughter Arianna, Liliana, Liliana's daughter Karen, and the others were all affiliated with Italy's magic associations, Akuto had no intention of leaving them under Salvatore Doni's control any longer.
As long as they remained under the Sword King's rule, Erica and Liliana were, in name, "those who have sworn loyalty to the Sword King."
Akuto had no intention of letting his women swear loyalty to another man.
So, he planned to fold Doni's territory into his own.
To do that, it was necessary to meet the heads of the major associations first.
…
When Akuto explained this to Erica, she blinked in surprise—then let out a helpless smile, saying she would help him gather the leaders as quickly as possible.
"Akuto-sama, the leaders of Italy's major magic associations—including the 'Witch of Sardinia'—will all be assembling on Sicily," Erica said. "They want to witness your casting firsthand."
"Witness my god-slaying, huh…" Akuto's smile turned faintly amused.
But if he was only going to slay a god, how would that be enough?
If it was only him breaking the world's "predetermined fate," how could he prove he had the ability to help others break theirs?
…
"I estimate that in the best case, two or three days," Akuto continued. "In the worst case, three to five. That god will recover completely."
Then he asked, seemingly out of nowhere, "Erica, do you remember how Salvatore Doni became a godslayer?"
"Huh? You mean when the Sword King slew a god?" Erica thought for a moment.
"As I recall, Salvatore-dono was first possessed by Saint George, then fought the god-king Nuada after he descended, and after that he became a godslayer."
"You're broadly correct," Akuto said. "But you're missing key details."
"The truth is—Nuada first drove Saint George back. After Saint George returned to myth, Salvatore Doni relied on the residual divine power left within him, plus his own mastery of the sword, to kill Nuada and become a godslayer."
"So that's how it was…" Erica murmured, rubbing her chin, letting Akuto's explanation overwrite her assumptions.
But she still didn't understand why he was bringing this up.
Akuto saw her confusion and smiled.
"Erica, I'm bringing it up to make one point clear."
"What point?"
"When Salvatore Doni slew a god, he relied on another's power—and the god he killed was not at full strength. That's all you need to remember."
"Yes, Akuto-sama. I'll keep it in mind," Erica replied.
She still didn't understand why it mattered, but if Akuto wanted her to remember it, she would.
…
Soon, the group boarded a ship bound for Sicily.
By evening, the vessel was gliding toward the horizon of Palermo's harbor. The deep-blue Mediterranean glittered under the sun with scattered flecks of gold.
Erica leaned against the railing. Her red dress fluttered in the sea wind like a blooming rose, the water's shimmering reflections adding another layer of allure to her.
"Once we reach the port, people from Palomos and Red Copper Black Cross should come to receive us," Erica said, turning her head toward Akuto, blonde strands brushing her pale cheek.
"Palomos…" Akuto watched the dock's outline sharpen in the distance.
To be honest, he had little interest in the so-called Palomos. If he'd ever wiped out seven thousand magic associations, it would have been no more than something done in passing.
Besides, what did it mean to "only" take Red Copper Black Cross and Blue Bronze Black Cross?
If he was going to take them, then taking all of them was simply the more appropriate choice.
As Akuto and Erica took in the sea view, an elderly man in a finely tailored suit approached their group.
His silver-white hair was combed immaculately, and the cigar between his fingers carried the rich scent of high-grade tobacco.
He made Akuto think, reflexively, of that famous mafia film—The Godfather.
The man projected a peculiar contradiction: refined and gentlemanly, yet carrying a faint air of the underworld.
And, amusingly enough, Sicily really did have legends of the Mafia that lingered to this day. In fact, it wasn't just Italy—those legends were known worldwide.
…
The moment the man arrived, Erica stepped forward, placing herself between him and Akuto.
"Uncle Zamparini. I didn't expect to run into you on this ship," Erica greeted, her tone familiar but guarded.
With Erica blocking his line, the elderly man gave a slight nod.
"The young lady of House Brantry. We have met only once, yet you still remember this old man. Paul Brantry's niece truly lives up to her reputation."
Even as he spoke, his gaze quickly slipped past Erica and settled on Akuto.
The next second, Zamparini slowly lifted the black hat in his hand and performed the formal salute of a subordinate meeting a king.
"Respected Eighth King, I am Wolter Zamparini, head of the magic association Palomos. To have the honor of welcoming the youngest king is, for me, a privilege."
Indeed, not long after Godou was formally recognized as a godslayer, Akuto had been treated—almost simultaneously—as a godslayer as well.
After all, Akuto had once sent "Athena's familiars" to Italy's magic associations to demand the Gorgon Stone.
From that alone, they had concluded the man demanding the Gorgon Stone must have slain Athena. Otherwise, the stone would not have reacted so violently to a godslayer's Authority.
In truth, Italy's associations weren't quite correct.
Under normal circumstances, even if a godslayer killed Athena, it still wouldn't make the Gorgon Stone react so intensely.
Akuto could only do that because he had absorbed an enormous amount of Athena's divine power—and obtained all of her Authorities.
In fact, if he made adequate preparations, he could even attempt to absorb the Gorgon Stone itself, restoring his divine power to the level Athena should have possessed during her era as Queen of the Goddesses.
When the old man looked at him, Akuto raised an eyebrow.
"The ship hasn't even docked yet. Why are you on board?"
Perhaps catching the faint displeasure in Akuto's tone, Zamparini lowered his posture even further.
"Your Majesty, after I learned from Cagliari that you would be coming to Sicily, I flew to the city where you were staying—then transferred onto this ferry."
"The voyage from Cagliari to Palermo is only about an hour. I believed this arrangement would not be too abrupt," he explained calmly.
It wasn't abrupt.
But it was certainly eager.
Both Akuto and Erica understood why.
First, Zamparini had come to confirm with his own eyes whether Akuto, the "Eighth King," was truly real.
Second, he had come to curry favor personally.
With so many magic associations in Italy, he needed Palomos—and his own name—to be the first carved into the new king's awareness.
…
"Also, Your Majesty," Zamparini continued, "Red Copper Black Cross has already circulated information about you to other associations."
"So I know you repelled the War God, and that you intend to go to Sicily to subjugate the deity there."
"Since your plan is known, from this moment forward, Palomos will serve you with all sincerity."
"Clap, clap—"
Zamparini clapped his gloved hands, and through magic produced an exquisitely crafted smartphone.
"Your Majesty, this is the intelligence Palomos has gathered regarding the 'War God' and the 'Sicilian deity.'"
"Based on our report, the youthful god you fought yesterday should be Verethragna, the Persian god of victory. As for the deity on Sicily, because it carries attributes of the Underworld and the Sky… it is only a hypothesis, but I have tentatively judged it to be the god-king Melqart."
"This phone contains everything Palomos has compiled related to 'the Eastern War God Verethragna' and 'the god-king Melqart.'"
"If this intelligence can provide even the slightest assistance in Your Majesty's battle against the gods, it would be the greatest honor of my life—and of Palomos."
"Of course, if Your Majesty finds reading bothersome, you may choose a woman you like from among Palomos's female magi, and have her perform the 'Teaching' art for you."
"I believe every woman of Palomos is willing to contribute her share to Your Majesty's glorious godslaying."
"…"
Zamparini's thoroughness was so complete that even Akuto fell silent for a moment.
His posture, his preparation, his intelligence work, even his willingness to assist in battle—
He had reached the absolute ceiling of what a "qualified subordinate beneath a king" could do.
To be blunt, even Erica probably couldn't match him.
Erica was proud by nature. She could respect and pledge loyalty to a godslayer, yes—but there was no world in which she would ever grovel like this.
"Fine. I'll take the phone," Akuto said.
"As for that 'Teaching' technique, it won't be necessary. I've already obtained what I need."
He extended his hand—
And the phone in Zamparini's grasp flew straight into Akuto's palm.
"Hm—"
Light flared.
In the next instant, the device broke down into pure streams of information, dissolving into glittering fragments that flowed directly into Akuto's mind.
…
"To serve you is a magician's duty," Zamparini said, swallowing hard.
He hadn't expected Akuto to absorb every last piece of information that quickly.
Not surprising, for a king who slew the defiant Athena…
After all, Athena was the goddess of wisdom—
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]