Chapter 18: Erica's Request
The next day, Shirou traveled to Thessaloniki.
Thessaloniki is located in northern Greece, at the northwestern corner of the Chalkidiki Peninsula, bordering the Thermaic Gulf—a triangular bay in the northern Aegean Sea. It is the second-largest city in Greece, the largest in the north, and the capital of the Central Macedonia region and the Thessaloniki Prefecture.
Shirou arrived at the city's central square, tilting his head slightly to gaze at the highest peak in Greece, situated about a hundred kilometers away. He was currently in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, and the distance between this city and Mount Olympus was only a little over a hundred kilometers.
So far, he hadn't detected anything unusual; perhaps he would need to reach Mount Olympus itself to sense things more deeply. However, by the time Shirou had finished his leisurely flight over, the sky had already darkened.
"My King, shall we head over to take a look today?" Liliana asked, following behind him.
"No need. Tomorrow will be fine. For now, there are no signs of a 'Heretic God' appearing," Shirou replied with a shrug.
Of course, it was possible that a Heretic God was deliberately concealing its presence. But why would a deity, upon manifesting in this world, go out of its way to hide? Shirou felt that, given the legendary arrogance of Heretic Gods, such behavior was unlikely.
"Let's just wander around for a bit first," Shirou said, walking toward Mitropoleos Street to the right of the central square.
"King, wait for me!" Liliana hurriedly caught up, and they wandered together through the crowded streets.
The attire of the Greek people tends to be moderate and casual. On the streets, you won't see patched jeans, nor will you see overly expensive suits, although locals do dress up when going to nightclubs or bouzouki bars. In the summer, it's best to dress coolly and casually with durable walking shoes, though a light sweater or jacket is a necessity for the cool nights. Umbrellas or raincoats aren't needed in the summer, but sunglasses and sun hats are a must. Naturally, one must prepare for cooler weather in the spring, autumn, and winter, which bring rain and require a warm coat.
Some monasteries and churches are quite strict; they do not allow entry for those dressed informally or wearing shorts, though they often provide long skirts or similar coverings at the entrance. Dressing too provocatively can lead to unwelcome and awkward situations.
The goods in Thessaloniki offer everything one could imagine, from high-end designer brands and exquisite jewelry to fine antiques, furs, and quality leather goods. The main shopping districts include Tsimiski, Venizelou, Agias Sofias, Ermou, Mitropoleos, Egnatia, and
Leoforos Nikis. In other traditional markets, one can find authentic or imitation jewelry and countless trendy gadgets.
Along the way, Shirou purchased several items to keep as future gifts for Sakura, Illya, and Rin when he returned to Fuyuki City.
After browsing until ten o'clock at night, Shirou checked into a luxury hotel in Thessaloniki. Shortly after he settled in, someone unexpected arrived.
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"This should be the hotel where the King is staying."
Erica Blandelli, the beautiful girl with golden hair and blue eyes, looked at the hotel entrance, her heart still filled with hesitation. If she had never met this "King," she naturally wouldn't be wavering at the moment of their meeting.
This was all because she had witnessed the Devil King's power at the "Whelp" headquarters—an existence against whom even her uncle, a legendary Great Knight with so many stories to his name, had no power to resist.
In that moment, Erica had understood: only a Devil King can oppose a Devil King. Anyone else lacks the power to fight them. As incomprehensible existences in the mortal world, obtaining their protection was the best course of action.
After standing outside the hotel for a full ten minutes to mentally prepare herself, Erica pushed open the heavy doors of the hotel restaurant.
What greeted her was a vast, luxurious space. Magnificent crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, reflecting dreamlike, multicolored light from every angle. Beautiful European-style tables and chairs were delicate and small, and the bar counter was painted pure white, exuding an aristocratic atmosphere everywhere. Each table held a white porcelain vase with soft pink roses in full bloom, harmonizing perfectly with the elegant surroundings.
A staff member approached, politely inquiring about Erica's intentions. However, Erica ignored them, simply using suggestion magic to make the person find the room number where Liliana was registered.
"I wonder if the King is staying in the same room as Liliana..." Erica murmured as she entered the elevator and headed for the target floor.
She wasn't just making wild guesses; she felt that as a young "King," he might have certain "needs," especially since Liliana was a beautiful girl no less stunning than herself. She couldn't rule out the possibility.
Erica only hoped it wasn't as she suspected; she didn't want to come here with a purpose only to disturb the King's "festivities" at an inappropriate time.
The sky was covered by night, but even so, the moon and stars brought light to the people below. However, having progressed to the point of producing their own illumination, humans no longer needed help from the heavens. Standing by the window, one could see the city's streets and alleys were constantly bright, and in certain special districts, blue and purple neon lights were particularly eye-catching.
On the city streets, neon flashed, crowds surged, and traffic flowed. Aside from the hurried tension of the day, under the shroud of night, people indulged themselves to their hearts' content. Teahouses, cafes, malls, bars, discos, and foot massage parlors—men and women in groups, smiling, laughing, letting go of their joy and inner inhibitions.
Shirou looked at the neon-lit city scenery outside and spoke without turning around.
"Sir Liliana, why did you specifically book a double room?"
It wasn't that Shirou hadn't considered that Liliana might have special intentions, but that thought lasted only a second before he dismissed it. Liliana was just as bright and clever as her friend Erica, but she was often teased by Erica simply because she was too serious, straightforward, and terrible at lying. Therefore, it was very likely that Liliana hadn't even thought about that aspect at all.
"Because I am the King's knight. If we stay in the same room, I can better fulfill my duties as a knight."
Hearing Liliana's incredibly serious reply, Shirou looked at her, somewhat speechless.
"Sir Liliana, are you worried I'll encounter danger? And even if I did, you wouldn't be able to handle it anyway."
Liliana quickly shook her head. "This isn't about protecting you. It's just that when certain things happen, you can't be expected to do everything yourself, can you?"
Hearing her words, Shirou suddenly understood her meaning. Although his current strength in this world was such that only "Heretic Gods" or the other "Godslayers" could compare to him, it didn't mean he wouldn't run into ignorant ordinary people or magi looking for trouble. Shirou couldn't personally step out every time, so he needed a subordinate like Liliana to handle these trivial matters.
Not only that, Liliana would act as a driver for Shirou's travels and handle all the logistical arrangements. When Shirou fought a "Heretic God," Liliana would also be responsible for evacuating the ordinary people.
"I see. Let it be, then." Shirou nodded at her explanation.
At that moment, there was a sudden knock on the door.
Knock, knock, knock...
Liliana, who was packing her suitcase, immediately became alert, her gaze turning sharp. "Who is it!?"
When Liliana went to the entryway and opened the door, she suddenly froze, letting out a surprised sound.
"Erica!? Why are you here?"
The girl standing at the door had long, golden hair flowing down. Wearing a rose-red long dress and possessing a beautiful visage, her temperament was like that of an aristocratic princess.
"We meet again, Lily. But I'm not here for you today." Erica smiled at Liliana, then her gaze moved behind her to the tall silhouette standing by the window, looking out at the city's night view.
Memories of everything that had happened at the "Whelp" headquarters flashed through her mind. That back, which symbolized absolute power, caused Erica's heart to accelerate at this moment.
"My King! Erica Blandelli of the magic association [Copper Black Cross] seeks an audience!"
Hearing Erica's voice, Shirou turned his head to look at this golden-haired girl who was as vivid as a rose. "Is something the matter?"
Erica hurried through the entryway, came before Shirou, and performed a knight's salute directly.
"O King! I admire your heroic bearing and wish to accompany you!"
Hearing the girl's words, which were almost identical to Liliana's when she pledged her loyalty, Shirou couldn't help but find it slightly amusing. However, the light in her eyes and the incredibly serious expression on her face showed that what she said was no lie. After all, having more excellent and beautiful knight-servants wasn't a bad thing for him, so Shirou had no reason to refuse.
"Go open a room for yourself and settle in. Tomorrow morning, we head for Mount Olympus."
Hearing Shirou's nonchalant words, Erica's face lit up with joy, and she said excitedly, "Yes!"
After Erica left the room, Liliana, standing to the side, felt a bit complicated. She felt both the joy of being able to fight alongside her best friend and the anxiety that her position by the King's side might be usurped.
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