As soon as Godou stepped outside, Erica walked elegantly by his side. In front of his house stood a pair of high school students who seemed to be waiting for their arrival. A black car was parked behind them, adding to the impression that they were no ordinary passersby.
Godou glanced briefly at the young woman. Her face was beautiful, possessing a certain charm, but in his eyes, Erica's beauty still far surpassed hers. However, his attention quickly shifted to the handsome young man standing beside her. His careless gaze, confident expression, and—most importantly—his aura was so strong that it immediately put Godou on guard.
From the young man's body, he could sense a magical energy on par with his own and the other Campiones.
In other words, this young man was also a Campione!
Realizing this possibility, Godou's alertness skyrocketed. Every Campione had their own eccentric personality, and his previous experiences had taught him that not all of them were people he could talk to peacefully.
If this young man was like Doni and wanted to fight here, then his house could be destroyed in an instant!
"Who are you? Why did you come to my house?" Godou asked cautiously.
The young man looked at him for a moment before smiling casually, as if aware of the turmoil brewing within Godou.
"No need to be on guard, Kusanagi Godou. I just wanted to say hello. As fellow Campiones, I wanted to know where you stand."
"Where I stand?"
Godou frowned slightly at his words.
"By the way, I'm Rokuhara Ren. Just call me Ren."
"Kusanagi Godou. You can call me Godou too."
Seeing Ren extend his hand in a relaxed manner, Godou hesitated for a moment before finally shaking it. Unlike the impulsive Doni, Ren seemed calmer and more reasonable.
At least for now, Godou could breathe a sigh of relief, knowing he wouldn't have to face a sudden battle.
"What do you mean by 'where I stand'?" He asked, confused.
"Didn't Marquis Voban already tell you? Among Kings like us, there are only three possible relationships: ignoring each other, a non-aggression pact, or eternal enemies who fight to the end."
Ren continued, his tone calm but filled with deep meaning.
"Godou, you've already fought two other Campiones from different countries. The Ruler of Italy: Salvatore Doni, and the Ruler of Eastern Europe: Marquis Voban."
At the mention of those two names, Godou's expression shifted slightly. His experiences with them were anything but pleasant.
"And now, there are two Campiones living in the same region in Japan. It's impossible for there not to be conflicts of interest in the future. So, I want to know, what kind of relationship will we have?"
Ren's tone didn't carry an open challenge, but the implication was clear.
He wasn't in a rush to challenge Godou, but he still wanted to clarify his position.
"Haaah..."
Godou sighed and scratched his head in frustration. "Can't we just live peacefully? I don't want to deal with things like this. I just want to live a normal life."
Slightly disappointed in Godou, Ren explained the implications of being a Campione to him.
"When someone becomes a Campione, their fate is closely tied to battles and death. Campiones are not invincible, and the only opponents who qualify as their equals are Heretic Gods and other Campiones. So, essentially, there are only two paths a Campione can take."
"One is to keep winning and keep moving forward. The other is to be killed. If you're lucky, your body will be buried in the ground to be admired by future generations."
Just from Godou's response, Ren had already gained enough understanding of the man before him.
He still had the mindset of an ordinary person.
Even after becoming a Campione, Godou retained the thinking of a commoner who feared being dragged into major conflicts. No wonder the History Compilation Committee was able to manipulate him in the original work.
If other Campiones were rulers who governed their territories with an iron fist, Godou instead allowed himself to be played by organizations weaker than him.
He showed none of the majesty of a King like the other Campiones.
"..."
Godou fell silent, unsure how to respond to Ren.
Honestly, he never wanted this position. If it weren't for the circumstances forcing him, he would never have killed a Heretic God and become a Campione. His peaceful life had long since disappeared.
Erica, standing beside him, noticed her King's confusion. With a graceful step that reflected the dignity of a knight, she stepped forward and bowed her head slightly before speaking.
"I am Erica Blandelli, a Great Knight of the Bronze-Black Cross, as well as the servant of King Kusanagi Godou. My apologies for interrupting the conversation between two Kings."
Her voice sounded polite, but it still carried confidence even in front of a Campione. However, for Ren, the introduction wasn't what caught his attention. What stood out more was the fact that Erica was still wearing her nightgown—without any undergarments.
With every movement, her beautiful breasts swayed, confirming that beneath the thin fabric, nothing was restraining their natural form.
Seeing this, Ren patted Godou's shoulder casually, a small grin etched on his face.
"We have similar tastes, don't we?" He said meaningfully.
"What do you mean?" Godou looked at him in confusion.
"Don't you see the similarity between my maid and your knight?" Ren said with a faint smile.
"Huh?"
Godou reflexively glanced at Hayasaka, who stood gracefully by Ren's side, then back at Erica standing beside him.
He looked back and forth a few times until the similarity became clear.
Blonde hair and Western women.
Both had a unique charm that drew anyone's attention. However, compared to Erica, who was fully Italian, Hayasaka was a mix of Japanese and Irish. With softer facial features and a more reserved demeanor, she fit Godou's aesthetic more than Erica.
Of course, Godou would never say this in front of Erica.
"I-I don't have any weird fetishes like that!" Godou denied Ren's statement, his face slightly red from the accusation.
"Oh? So you're not interested in blonde-haired, foreign-blooded women?" Ren continued teasing him.
"That's... not it!" Godou tried to explain, but the more he spoke, the more it sounded like a made-up excuse.
'Why is he cornering me like this?! I never even thought about such things...' He panicked internally.
As the two Kings chatted, the two women by their sides also made their own assessments in their hearts.
Looking at Godou, Hayasaka felt slightly disappointed.
'So he's a Campione like Ren-sama? He doesn't look like a God-Slayer... more like an ordinary student who happened to get caught up in the mystical world.'
From his expression and way of speaking, Godou seemed to lack the charisma a Campione should possess. Although Ren was a scumbag playboy, he still had an aura that showed the majesty of a King.
'Honestly, if I just glanced at him on the street without knowing his identity, I wouldn't even notice him, let alone give him a second look.'
Still, Hayasaka didn't immediately judge him as inferior. She knew that every Campione was an abnormal being capable of killing Heretic Gods. Perhaps, beneath Godou's ordinary demeanor, there was something she hadn't seen yet.
On the other hand, Erica observed Ren with full vigilance.
'This man... reminds me of Lord Doni in some ways.'
Compared to the terrifying Marquis Voban, Ren had a more relaxed confidence, similar to Doni, though there were clear differences in their personalities.
'At the very least, Lord Ren isn't showing hostility toward Godou. Of course, even if a fight did break out, Godou would definitely win!'
Erica didn't feel the slightest doubt in her loyalty to Godou. Perhaps Ren naturally had a stronger charm compared to her King, but she would never betray the one she had chosen.
'After all, I didn't choose Godou because he was the best... but because he was the one I wanted.'
With that thought, Erica smiled lightly, standing firmly by Godou's side without a hint of hesitation.