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[Crossover] Ch 224: Erica Blandelli
🕑 Added 2025-08-28 22:36:59 +0000 UTC— — — — — —
Sardinia's capital, the streets of Cagliari.
Inside a car, Erica Blandelli—heir of the prestigious Copper-Black Cross and a girl who had already risen to the rank of Great Knight at just sixteen—sat with a serious expression, leaning against the window as the city drifted past.
At the wheel sat her attendant, Arianna Hayama Arialdi, a quarter-Japanese maid assigned to look after her.
Right now Arianna was full of worry.
And the reason was none other than her mistress's reckless decision.
Under the blazing midday sun, Arianna gripped the steering wheel and whispered nervously,
"Lady Erica… you're not actually thinking of killing a god, are you?"
Erica, her golden hair gleaming and her figure as perfectly sculpted as a model's beneath a deep crimson dress, frowned at the question.
"What, even you're asking me that?"
She hadn't denied it immediately. That alone made Arianna shiver before she carefully pressed,
"I just… think it might be too dangerous?"
"Of course it's dangerous."
Erica sighed, brushing a lock of hair aside, her voice lowering.
"I'm not some idiot with water for brains. If the chance to slay a god presents itself, wonderful. But realistically, sealing a divine beast would already be a miracle."
"And didn't the observers say the entity descending was most likely a beast rather than a god?"
"If I can fight and subdue a divine beast, that alone is an achievement I can use to claim my uncle's title—'The Diavolo Rosso'—and even aim for leader of the Copper Black Cross."
"Otherwise, with my age, there's no way I could compete against Genaro Gantz. Our family has held command of the order for generations. Losing it to some backwater knight would be the ultimate disgrace."
Her eyes sharpened.
"Understand now? It's not about godslaying. It's about stacking the odds in my favor. Of course, if I do get the chance to become a Campione… I won't turn it down."
Her expression soured with resentment.
"Even that Salvatore idiot—that sword-obsessed fool who can't do anything else—he managed to kill a god and became a Campione. Meanwhile my uncle, who spent decades of hard training, climbing step by step to the top, had to bow to him. This world's rules are already broken!"
Beside her, Arianna turned her head, pretending she hadn't heard.
Speaking ill of the King of Swords was something best ignored. Repeat it outside and, even if Salvatore himself didn't care, plenty of others would make Erica and their Cross pay dearly.
That was the truth of the old saying: "The ruler might be fair, but his lackeys are a nightmare."
...
Once Erica finished venting, Arianna finally murmured,
"I don't really understand all the political disputes in the order… as long as you have a plan, I'll support you."
"Good. Then stop fussing over trivial things."
Erica waved her hand dismissively, then said,
"According to our observers, divine power flared somewhere in the city. Right now, the priority is to find out what it was. Hm?!"
A sudden gust of wind filled her vision.
No—this wasn't a mere gust. A massive whirlwind had erupted, radiating a surge of divine energy so overwhelming that Erica's heart skipped.
"Damn it, that close?!"
She instantly recognized where it was coming from: just ahead, the square in front of a church.
Erica flung open the door, vaulted onto the roof of the car, and shouted, "Arianna!"
"On it!" Arianna slammed the gas pedal, and the car shot forward.
Perched on the roof, Erica narrowed her eyes against the sand whipped up by the storm.
By the time they skidded to a halt near the square, the whirlwind had already dissipated, the massive surge of divine energy gone without a trace.
"Damn!"
She cursed, realizing she had missed her best chance to gather intel.
Witnesses. She needed witnesses. Scanning the square, her eyes suddenly lit up.
"You there—could I trouble you for a moment of your time?"
Godou and the group turned toward her.
"Huh? Lily?"
The sight of Liliana startled her.
But before the joy of seeing a friend could set in, her eyes landed on a face she definitely didn't want to see.
Diana.
Liliana's teacher, a high-ranking witch of the Bronze-Black Cross, and a woman Erica absolutely despised.
That old hag was probably here for the divine beast too, wasn't she?
As for the dashing black-haired youth and the silver-haired little girl, Erica spared them only a glance before dismissing them.
Pretty faces? Please. Her own looks were hardly inferior. What mattered was talent, not appearances.
And the ordinary-looking Japanese boy standing there? Who was that?
The proud heiress of the Copper-Black Cross had no interest in ivory-tower nobodies who were still studying basic lessons.
"HeyLily"
Jumping down from the car roof, Erica spread her arms and beamed at Liliana.
"Lily! What a stroke of luck, running into you here. Did you see what that divine power was just now?"
"Mind your manners, Erica Blandelli."
Liliana's guard went up immediately. She knew this girl too well—Erica was just trying to sweet-talk information out of her again.
"Don't be so distant~ We're childhood friends, aren't we?"
Erica flashed a dazzling smile, the kind that made people believe the two were close.
In truth, they were, but Erica's habit of teasing those she cared about made Liliana's life miserable.
And especially now, with him watching, the last thing Liliana wanted was to be embarrassed in front of Ryo.
She straightened her back, keeping her tone stern.
"We're rivals, nothing more. Drop the childhood friend act."
"And the intel?" Erica's smile only widened.
"You're overstepping, Erica Blandelli."
Diana cut in, frowning after noticing how much attention Ryo was giving Erica.
"Oh my, if it isn't Granny Diana!"
Erica feigned surprise, quickly placing her hand over her chest and bowing with mock respect.
"It's been so long. You still look uh... young—I'm delighted to see you."
'Old crone. Still pretending to be young at your age? Shameless.' Erica's smile didn't falter.
Diana's eyelid twitched furiously. She wanted to scold Erica like she always did, but with Ryo present, she dared not act rashly.
That was when Erica noticed something odd.
Liliana's cold shoulder was expected—she teased her every day, after all. But Diana's restraint was unusual. Normally the witch would have snapped at her already. Why so quiet now?
This wasn't good. Better grab the info and retreat while she still could.
Keeping her expression composed, Erica turned back to Liliana.
"Lily, with your spirit vision, you must have seen what that power really was, right?"
At that, Liliana hesitated, glancing at Ryo.
Normally she would have happily thrown Erica a scrap of intel just to make her leave. And there was no way Erica would ever guess that the war god Verethragna himself had challenged Ryo Yagami.
And she had already chosen her king. Whether to reveal anything wasn't her decision anymore.
Ryo smiled faintly. "Tell her."
"Yes, my king." Liliana dropped to one knee without hesitation.
Erica's face twisted in shock.
King?
A Campione?! A new fucking Campione?
She forgot all about intel and immediately dropped to one knee as well.
"Erica Blandelli, of the Copper-Black Cross, pays her respects, my lord!"
Cold sweat beaded on her forehead as she lowered her head, voice reverent.
"I beg forgiveness for not greeting you properly the moment I arrived."
Another Campione here, aside from the King of Swords?
If it were just that fool Salvatore, she wouldn't care. But with another Campione? Even one wrong word could see her skinned alive.
'Lily, you traitor! You didn't even warn me in front of a Campione? You've set me up!'
Erica's heart burned with humiliation.
After all the times she bullied Liliana, this was the day her friend finally got even—right in front of a Campione, a godslayer.
She was screwed.
.
.
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![[Crossover] Ch 224: Erica Blandelli](https://img10.patrefans.com/storage/7/yx/bi/563145-019e8e78-85fa-7e40-ae33-5c3c9fec4ed2.jpg)
