9 Chapter 8: The Truth Revealed and Advice

Godou and Erica followed Shirou into a room that had a large table with Illya already seated at it.

"Please, take a seat. We have much to discuss," Shirou said before seating himself at the head of the table, with his companions taking the seats closest to him.

Godou and Erica sat next to each other, each unsure of what to do.

Godou was afraid, not only of Shirou as another Campione, but each of his companions as well. All of them made him feel like he was facing down a heretic god and because he believed that all were supposed to be human, the fact they could make him feel like that unnerved him greatly.

Erica didn't know what to say or do. She was clearly the weakest one there, so forcing their way out wasn't an option. The 5th clearly knew which god the grimoire corresponded to, what her plan was, and, based upon what his servants said, didn't regard Godou as being worth the effort of having his guard up. Given how blank the 5th's record was and taking account that the heretic gods slain by the 5th were confirmed to be of different natures, even though not one name was secured, negating Godou's trump, he probably was correct in acting that way. She had no control over the immediate future of Godou and herself and it was most likely her fault for coming into conflict with the 5th.

Shirou spoke first, "while I didn't think that we would meet this soon, it presents a good opportunity. But before that, tell me, do you have any idea what this is Godou Kusanagi?" holding up the Gorgonian.

Before Erica could react, Godou answered honestly, "uuuuhhh... not really no."

While Erica had to restrain herself from throttling Godou, Shirou and his companions could only sigh. Rin was the first to speak, "I didn't think it would be possible, but a Campione even dumber than Salvatore Doni has appeared. He would at least ask what something he is supposed to guard is even if the Naples incident proves that he won't react appropriately."

Erica stiffened. She had heard about the Naples incident. Salvatore Doni had destroyed a grimoire he was supposed to protect and it resulted two gods descending. One fled while the 5th killed the other and beat Doni to a bloody pulp shortly afterward. The only information of the gods was that the one that fled was a mother-earth goddess while the one slain was a Deity of Steel.

Godou didn't know anything about the Naples incident but managed to understand that he had somehow committed an act that not even Doni would be dumb enough to do. The fact that they considered Doni smarter than him, even for a second, unnerved him greatly. Wasn't the Gorgonian supposed to only be a symbol of his strength as a Campione?

"Based upon the stupid look on your face, I'm guessing that they told you that it is something along the lines of a symbol of your strength? It's not. It is the third most dangerous magical artifact in the world, and is the subject of a prophecy that the world is going to end after this grimoire is reabsorbed by the goddess whose power is contained within." stated Shirou.

Blood drained from Erica's face. Not only would Godou do his best to never touch it again, the fact she all but lied had been revealed. He would listen to her less and the 5th would keep a close eye on them to prevent future attempts by her to force Godou to act like the Campione that he is so desperate to deny being.

Godou, on the other hand, was panicking about the prophecy, "bbbbut then shouldn't we destroy it?"

"Your sister is right. You really don't know anything. Grimoires can't be destroyed, not by mortal or Campione. The only way to prevent the end of the world is to defeat the goddess after she absorbs the power from the grimoire. The only ones capable of resisting the prophecy are Campione," replied Illya, speaking for the first time.

Godou flushed from embarrassment, only to understand the meaning behind what was said, "so the one chosen to confront the goddess was me?!?"

"A poor decision, we agree. Huh, it is so sad when senility appears at such a young age in mages. Especially for one who has yet to reach 20 like that girl there," spoke Sakura, gesturing toward Erica.

"You think I'm senile," question Erica, her voice icy to the degree that even Godou noticed. She had NEVER been insulted to even a fraction of a degree that she had that day.

"It is the only logical reason we could think of that you would pit a Campione with less than a month's experience against the strongest mother-earth goddess in the world, even without taking the poor compatibility into account. Unless you have suffered brain damage recently," responded Rin.

That stopped Erica in her tracks, "Poor compatibility? What do you mean?"

"The goddess involved in this event is a tripartite goddess, meaning unless you have her original name, the authority of the warrior with the golden sword will only be able to damage one of her three aspects. Do you know her original name?" questioned Shirou.

Everyone turned toward Erica, awaiting an answer. Faced by everyone, Erica could only drop her head and admit the truth, "no." She knew a lot about the goddess in question, but the original name eluded her no matter how much she tried.

"This is not a game. Failure means the end of the world. Entrusting something to someone who doesn't have the ability to reliably obtain victory, not to mention denying their destiny, cannot be done. Give your title of Diavolo Rosso to someone else. You're obviously far too young," said Shirou.

Erica could only continue to hang her head while Godou sought clarification, "what would count as the ability to reliably obtain victory?"

"Possessing multiple authorities from gods of steel. Due to the relations between mother-earth goddesses and deities of steel, a Campione with multiple authorities from deities of steel will hold a massive advantage against any mother-earth goddesses. The two currently living Campione who fit in this category are Shirou and the idiot Doni," responded Rin.

"Want some advice? Go home. Finish high school. Decide how you want to live your life after finishing your basic education. We, on the other hand, have a goddess to fight. Show yourselves out when you're ready," said Saber.

Shirou and his companions stood up and left the room after Saber finished speaking, leaving Godou and Erica in silence. After a few minutes, Godou spoke, "they're right. No matter what you claim, I'm not ready for something of this magnitude. I'm going to go home and focus on school."

Erica remained at the table for several minutes after Godou left, lost in her thoughts. What hurt wasn't the fact she lost, it was the fact that they were completely correct. Godou's trump couldn't defeat Athena on its own. If the two faced each other Athena would likely win, bringing about the end of the world. And it would have been due to her inability to give Godou the required information, her ego in thinking that she could meddle in the affairs of gods and Campione, that would have caused it. She was nothing more than a spectator. Just like with Verethragna. She had forgotten her place in the world, and her mistake would have resulted in the suffering of countless others.

She was eventually able to will herself to go home. Upon arriving she went straight to bed without eating. She couldn't bring herself to do anything else.