There are still about three days left until the Holy Grail War begins. The Holy Grail War begins on February 1st. I wonder what will happen then.
That Setanta, I wonder if he'll protect his Master this time… at least, the Setanta who was with me is a sure thing. Setanta's Master, Bazett, is a descendant of our Red Branch Knights of Ulster. That's why she was able to summon Setanta.
However… according to the original story, she is a Master who gets taken out by Kotomine's surprise attack with an Azoth Sword. Can Setanta protect her here? I have no reason to protect her. She's an enemy, and being a descendant is not a reason to save her. In the first place, if he can't protect her, it's Setanta's fault.
For a warrior to fail to protect his own master, it is his own failing. I am no longer a king, so I have no reason to protect him. He is a warrior who is more than capable of handling his own business. But…
Sigh. Why am I seeing such a future, Setanta? Even if you lose her, it is your fault. Even if she is the master's acquaintance, this is a war. Your carelessness in losing a precious person is a greater fault. To fail to protect your master in a war where you don't know who the enemy is, is Setanta's fault as a warrior. It's natural for the enemy to be evil, and the fact that Setanta couldn't protect her means he's still lacking.
Good grief… you always become a fool when you get involved with women, Setanta. You should be grateful to Emer.
That's why I'm so troubled. Because I can see so many possibilities… and among them, I choose the optimal future. I can see the countless futures of the world line that have been altered by me and the original story that I already knew. Normally, only one future should be visible. Because that is the predetermined fate. It's the same for Conchobar and Scáthach.
But… I am different. At least, the futures that I am involved in are seen as numerous possibilities. There are even future lines that are not visible. Why?
Because I can change fate.
I have a hidden skill that is not listed. It's an inherent characteristic of my own. It's a skill, but it's also not a skill. Just as the Round Table all have dragon-slaying legends and therefore have a dragon-slaying bonus but no skill, I also have such a skill.
It doesn't have a name, so I call it this.
Pioneer of Destiny
Similar to, yet different from, Pioneer of the Star. If I had to categorize it, it would be a characteristic of the same type as the skill "Miracle."
Pioneer of the Star is a skill that makes impossible events possible, while still being impossible. But I have not accomplished a feat that would create a turning point for humanity. The separation from the Age of Gods was done by Arash and Gilgamesh, so I'll pass on that. I haven't opened up the Age of Discovery like Francis, nor have I started the age of electricity like Tesla.
Miracle is different from that; it is a form that makes the impossible possible at the time. While Pioneer of the Star temporarily makes the impossible possible while still leaving it as an impossible event, Miracle is a true miracle that eventually turns the impossible into a possible event.
I am of that type. In mythology, it is impossible to go against fate. However, I have made that impossible possible. I have proven, for the first and only time, that a fate that even Odin could not defy can be changed because of me. Pioneer of the Star only makes it possible for those who possess it to solve events that would be impossible for others, whereas I make it possible for anyone involved with me to overcome it with a very low probability.
In fact, the probability is lower than getting a 5-star, so I think it's a power that's only useful to me.
And…
"Ah, he's dead."
Even though I had manifested, my nephew Setanta was ultimately unable to defy the fate of being unable to protect his Master. It was only possible if I intervened. You still lack training, Setanta.
"Hah… I guess I'll have to do what's optimal."
Let's turn off the future vision for now. The future is something I forge myself. I'll just know the worst possible future and crush it. I think it's about time, so I should summon someone too.
"What are you muttering about to the empty air?"
"Fergus, you're strange."
"Ah, I was just looking at something else."
During the day, with a cool breeze blowing, I came to the market with Okita and Leysritt. Her maid outfit and Shinsengumi uniform were too conspicuous, so I gave her some other modern clothes. Leysritt wore the casual clothes she wore in Prisma Illya, and Okita wore a suit that was in the castle. It was said to be the same size as the suit Saber wore, but with a slightly different design. I don't know why it's still here… I adjusted it to Okita's size with a rune and gave it to her.
"Fergus, let's buy that too. Illya will like it."
"Dango, is it? Well, let's buy some."
Leysritt is strongly connected to Illya compared to the other Einzbern homunculi, so they can feel each other's emotions. If one of them dies, the other can sense the death. It would have been nice if Medea had come too, but she said she wanted to make the castle even stronger with a temple-class barrier.
I had done it with Rune magic, but she said there were some flaws. I had endured the headache and done my best… Illya was still sleeping, and Sella was staying by her side to attend to her at any time. It's because she stayed up late playing games yesterday…
A child of that age should be playing and growing up, but she only has painful memories in that castle…
"Would you like some dango too, Okita?"
"Yes, I like dango."
This Okita seems to be the version from the Teito remake. In other words, a serious Okita. But even if she's serious, she can still laugh, and she's not without emotions. It's just that her original psycho, sociopathic tendencies are strong… but she is a psycho. Okita, when told she had to kill Serizawa, whom she was very close to in the past, would smile and ask when they were going to kill him, to the point that even Hijikata and Keisuke were taken aback. As a child, Hijikata was even afraid of her.
Well, from my perspective, she's just like a cute puppy. So what? I'm stronger. There's nothing to be afraid of. Flag of Sincerity or whatever, just dodge it. Scáthach had once chided Setanta, saying, "Spatial piercing or causality reversal, can't you just dodge it?"
I can do it too, but it's generally impossible.
"Okita, what else do you like?"
"Other things… besides dango, I like sweet things like konpeito. In my time, candy was rare and expensive, but we had it. Serizawa-san would sometimes get some for me. Other things… let's see. I'd like to try modern curry and shaved ice. And I can't resist grilled corn."
"Then let's buy some candy too. We can make the other things at the castle together. You'll make them, right?"
"Ah, yes."
Making ice with runes is simple, and curry or grilled corn is no problem… shall we have a barbecue party for dinner tonight?
"...I feel the presence of a Heroic Spirit nearby. They probably won't notice us."
Is it Medusa… right now, Wakame is her Master, so she's the weakest.
"It's alright. If it's an enemy, I can cut them down at once."
"Your confidence is refreshing to see. That's the right attitude."
Even if I walk around the streets in a suit and with a sword, as expected of Japan, no one thinks it's strange. I didn't even put up an illusion to hide it, I just made it so that they wouldn't be recognized as a Servant, and they just think it's cosplay. Because it's Japan…
After we finished shopping, we returned to the castle. The castle, thanks to Medea's touch, was now surrounded by an even more elaborate temple barrier. The castle itself had become a temple. Even Gilgamesh would be impressed by this. Is this Medea's true power?
"Good work, Medea. But what are you making?"
"Welcome back. I was making some clothes."
"…Bondage?"
"Isn't this Celtic-style clothing?"
No matter how I look at it, it's bondage. That's the bondage outfit that Sakura wore in the Studio Deen Fate/stay night. Looking at it this way, it strangely resembles Scáthach's outfit… was the Celtic world the home of bondage? It's so embarrassing… as the King of Erin, I'm ashamed.
"No, well… you're right. Yes. I can't deny it."
Besides that, Medea was making several other outfits, including the dress that Saber had worn.
"Do you like making clothes?"
"Yes. It's my hobby. By any chance, does it not suit me?"
"Not at all. My wife, Nessa, also liked making clothes. By the way, my combat uniform was altered by Scáthach a long time ago. It's waterproof and has the defensive power of armor, just like the clothes of the Celtic warriors."
"I see… a type that is called 'horny' in the modern era, I see."
"What did you say?"
"No, it's nothing. Are you making lunch? If you don't mind, may I help?"
"I'd be happy to have your help."
And so, we started preparing lunch…
"No, just get out…"
"I'm sorry…"
Medea is really bad at cooking. Is she really a mother of several children? I can't help but feel sorry for Jason and her children. She doesn't even have the basics down.
"Is there any dish that you can make, Medea?"
"…Ah, I can make kykeon."
"Sella and I will just do it."
Kykeon is a no-go… like aunt, like niece.
In the end, Sella and I prepared lunch, and we had curry for lunch, as Okita had wanted. We woke up the late-sleeping Illya and ate together. And I had something to do.
"Are you really going to do it?"
"Yes, Illya. I think the fighting has finally ended… haha. Well then, I will show you."
I activated my Noble Phantasm in the castle.
"{Ard Rí Ulaid mac Róich}(My Beloved Queens)!!!"
As I stretched my hand upwards, the crest of Ulaid appeared in the air and shone, and she appeared.
"Finally, I'm out! I missed you, Fergus!"
The one who was summoned was Medb. Medb jumped at me, hugged me, and rubbed her cheek against my face.
"Haha, that tickles, Medb~"
Summoning all of them would be a balance-breaker, and Gilgamesh might notice, so I didn't. I judged that summoning just one or two would be enough. They were fighting among themselves over who would come out first, and Medb, the winner, came out.
"First, let me introduce you. This is Medb, my disciple and wife."
"Hmm? What…"
"No, no, Medb, that's not it. It's not like that."
"It's not? Hmm… I guess so. But that bitch is not!"
Medb, who looked around and then pointed a finger at Medea.
"You! You like Fergus, don't you!?"
"!? Wh-what are you talking about…"
"I know everything. I can smell it… a smell like the me of the past! And a smell like the Morrígan, who pretends not to but has a budding love inside! You probably think of it as just a crush yourself, but you should take the chance when you have it!"
"No, Medb, what are you suddenly…"
"Fergus! This is all your fault for being so great! It's your fault! So you have to take responsibility!"
"What kind of gaslighting is this? What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Well, it is nonsense. But… I'm merciful when it comes to that kind of thing. And honestly, if you were to do it at night, we alone wouldn't be able to handle you."
"Ahem, ahem! That's not a topic for here, so let's move on!"
Why are you talking about that in front of everyone!? Of course, Nessa has come close to dying from sex before… but this is not the place to talk about it!
Hah… did I make a mistake by summoning her?
In the dead of night. Cú Chulainn had to fight each and every Servant because of his new Master, Kotomine's Command Spell. That's why he came near the Einzbern Castle…
"Did Caster survive? This place is on the level of a temple… should I wait for them to come out?"
Cú Chulainn looked at the castle once, noticed that it was a temple-scale barrier, and clicked his tongue. So he decided to wait for them to come out…
"Uh…."
Just then, his eyes met with a boy who had boldly come outside. And Cú Chulainn…
Dash!
He dropped his spear and ran away. Just like when he was chasing Assassin in Heaven's Feel in another world line, Cú Chulainn ran at full speed, running at a right angle like a track and field athlete. He quickly retrieved the spear he had dropped without realizing it…
"Where are you going, Setanta~?"
"Uooooh!?"
The boy who was flying on the flying Gáe Bolg was Fergus.
"Why are you here, uncle!?"
"Haha."
BOOM!!!
In the end, Cú Chulainn, who was caught, was hit by Fergus's heavy blow and sent flying far away. At the same time, Fergus whispered a warning not to talk about him and sent him flying.
And so, Lancer died.
"I'm not dead!"
Cú Chulainn, whose life force was truly tenacious, survived and trudged back…