"Grr..."
To cut to the conclusion, Medusa subdued them both without even drawing her sword. Tatsumi, a descendant of a mage family but an ordinary person who couldn't even use magecraft like Ryuunosuke, and Jekyll, who has good parameters but poor skill until using his Noble Phantasm, were easily subdued.
"His Strength seems high but... you'd need to bring Hercules to beat me."
Pure Strength A+. That's about right for Medusa. Even though she became closer to a monster than a goddess, inversely, during this period, she possesses both her power as a goddess and her power as a monster simultaneously, making her stronger than during her youth as a Rider.
Her speed isn't as good as during her Rider period... but due to my parameter correction for being half of a Divine Spirit, it's risen to Rider-level speed. A modern-era Heroic Spirit strong due to fame is nothing special to a Medusa who possesses both power and speed.
"Is this all? It's not even at a level where I need to use my Noble Phantasm. Of course, an ordinary chemist from the Industrial Revolution era couldn't be that strong anyway."
"My True Name...!?"
"There's nothing we don't know. We planned to let today pass quietly, but I didn't think someone would be so thoughtless as to interrupt a date."
"A date during a Holy Grail War... We just called you out to discuss something important. Tatsumi still can't properly control his Mystic Eye yet..."
"No excuses. First, let me turn that arm to stone..."
"Stop. You're letting your personal feelings show too much, Medusa."
I stop Medusa, who is angrily revealing too much hostility. There's no point in hiding our True Names anyway. Who else would have the Mystic Eye of Petrification besides Medusa? It's not that there's absolutely no one else, but anyone would think she looks like Medusa.
"Are you letting them off? They ruined the good mood Manaka was in."
"No, that's true... but I'm also happy that Medusa got angry for me, so it's okay, I guess?"
If anything, Manaka is the one flustered. Originally, early Manaka was a mega-dere who provided support in the original story too. She only awakened as a yandere later... She's still closer to a mega-dere now. If we can keep her like this... but that's the hard part.
"You picked the wrong opponent, Henry Jekyll. Of course, if you had used your Noble Phantasm from the start... you might have been able to fight me on equal terms in pure physical ability."
Berserker's Hyde with his Noble Phantasm active is a monster in the truest sense. A monster who fought Arthur, Brynhildr, and Arash alone, withstood Ozymandias's Noble Phantasm-level beams multiple times, and then died. In pure physicality alone, he could rival me. This is what's unfair...
Some people become strong through immense hardship, while others become strong through drugs and legends. Honestly, it's a little unfair. Well, as a Divine Spirit, my spiritual energy output is different, so even with similar parameters, I'd win.
"Of course, limited to physicality. If it were me, I'd just smash his head in and kill him... You want to stop the Holy Grail War? That's your goal."
"You understand?"
Kitano Tatsumi answers, surprised by my words. He's a Shirou-type boy without the obsession. A protagonist-like guy, but he died because he wasn't the protagonist. Honestly, he's a more likable guy than Sieg, it's truly a shame but...
"You know it's impossible, right? Your method is impossible. Seeking cooperation from other Masters to prevent the damage of the Holy Grail War? Do all the other Masters look like people who happened to participate like you? No, they're people who have resolved to kill other Masters and Servants and fulfill their wishes through the Grail. They're not people who can be persuaded by the words of a mere ordinary person like you."
"That's..."
"Justice without power is incompetence. That itself is sin and arrogance. Flaunting a sense of justice without having the power for it. Honestly, it's a nuisance. I respect your will... but your thinking is too shallow. Cool your head for a while. If you keep acting like that, you'll only earn more hostility. We don't intend to kill you, but other Masters might think it's a deception and kill you. Don't underestimate mages, boy."
"..."
"... Still, I'll praise you for that courage alone. The courage to risk your life to persuade other Masters, you have the makings of a hero. I, the King of Ulster and Heroic Spirit God, acknowledge that. Just that courage alone. So, go cool your head and leave."
I grin at the two, offering my own encouragement as I help them up. They should understand by now.
"If you interrupt us again next time..."
"... I'll kill you then."
"No, calm down a bit. Why are you even more like that?"
Why is she acting more like a bomb than Manaka... She looks genuinely annoyed, it's scary.
"Honestly, I was enjoying myself for the first time in a while, and having it interrupted puts me in a bad mood... Let's go to a cafe."
"A cafe...?"
"Do you like coffee?"
"I think reading with a cup of coffee is truly a wonderful modern culture."
Medusa liked books... That's the same even for a teenage girl, huh?
And so, our next destination was a cafe. While having coffee at the cafe and talking... I started to think I should say something.
"Manaka, do you like me?"
"Huh... huh? Huh!?"
"Fergus, isn't that too direct?"
"But I think it needs to be clear. Manaka, do you like me? Romantically. I've had that feeling since we first met."
"... Yes, I think Fergus is my prince."
She looked at me with shining eyes. Those two pupils shining with a somewhat turbid light. This is scary to talk about.
"I see... But I'm 600 years old?"
"Huh?"
"The me here is no different from another person. Actually, I'm a 600-year-old geezer. Is that okay?"
"... I still like you!"
What should I do with this love-struck fool...
"Well, age aside. I'm a married man."
"Huh?"
"Why don't you know... The me here is also a married man. I have as many as nine wives, Manaka."
"And I'm not one of them..."
"Let's talk about that later, Medusa... Anyway, I have nine wives. Manaka, I can tell you want to have me all to yourself. You were even jealous of Medusa for a moment at first, right?"
"Jealous... Me?"
I have to teach her one by one since she still doesn't understand emotions well, right?
"You can't monopolize me."
"..."
"Do you dislike that?"
"... A little."
"It seems more than a little? ... Manaka. Everyone feels the same as you. My wives have no one but me, just like you. They love me as much as you love me."
"How can you be sure of that?"
"How many years do you think I've lived? During that time, I could tell how much my wives love me. And you're the same. If you were dating me and a woman suddenly appeared saying she loves me more and tried to take your place, how would you feel?"
"....."
"A rolling stone can't dislodge a fixed stone. If we're together, that's fine, but monopoly isn't allowed. Honestly, I feel guilty for making you fall for me."
"Fergus deserves a life sentence."
This Medusa really... Sigh, it's my fault, what can I say.
"Anyway, that's what I have to say. Are you okay with someone like me? You're a bit young, but... I know what you are. To a Root-connector like you, age is meaningless. That's why I'm not bringing up your age and telling you this. Someone like me, do you really like me?"
"... Yes."
Manaka pondered something for a moment, then nodded with a serious expression. I can see she's not at ease. It must be a little uncomfortable; she's originally a greedy child.
"You should run away now, Manaka. If you go beyond this, you won't be able to escape. When you think about it, that man is trash."
"No, I also think having nine wives is a lot, but... I'm not like some Chinese emperor with many, nor do I have a thousand like Solomon!? Even though I don't just 'enjoy' but take responsibility and make them my wives, you still say that!?"
"... The coffee tastes good."
"Hey, you b*tch?"
"Pfft... Really, I feel foolish for having gotten so serious?"
Manaka says with a chuckle. It feels like some of her dark feelings have eased.
"Honestly, at first I thought I wanted to monopolize Fergus... but the other wives, are they people like Medusa?"
"Thinking about it... that's right?"
"Though I'm actually just 'enjoying' it."
"No, you're not!? Why are you trying to make me look like trash!?"
"That's the hero average in Greece."
"I'm not Greek, I said!"
"Hehe... I've become a little interested. Fergus's wives, I've become curious to meet them."
"... So that means it's okay?"
"Yes, it's okay. Because I like Fergus, I'll understand. But... you can love me, right?"
"If you love me, I'll take responsibility."
Well, the first step was safely taken, I guess. It's still just the beginning. I have to hope Manaka's feelings don't change from now on. The first button was fastened correctly... but she's non-human. So, I just have to watch out for her change of heart. To prevent her from suddenly awakening as a yandere...
"You don't take responsibility for me, but you take responsibility for Manaka?"
"No..."
"Look at this, Manaka. You'll be discarded like this too."
"When did I ever do that!?"
"... Should we order some cake too?"
"This is driving me crazy..."
"Hmm... I'm starting to worry a little about the future."
"Honestly... this kind of atmosphere is the daily norm, but you'll definitely adapt well, Manaka."
"From what I know, since everyone gathered because they love Fergus, they're all a bit unhinged."
"That's too much..."
"Is that so? That's interesting too."
"Whatever, just be quiet in front of Scáthach... You'll be done for too."
"Me? Hehe, you're joking~ Fergus knows my power, right?"
"... There's always someone above you, Manaka..."
I stared into space, thinking about the days I kept getting beaten up. Ah, the ceiling here is green.
"Hehe, let's stop joking around. Shall we go somewhere else? How about a park this time?"
"Perfect for a date course."
"Sigh... Yeah, let's go, let's go."
"You know it's all a joke, right?"
"I know... I know."
"The confession I made back then, that hasn't changed even now."
"... There's no way I wouldn't know."
"Heh, that's a relief then. Even this dense man isn't hopeless, Manaka."
"I don't really understand, but... of course, Fergus is a wonderful prince, right?"
"That's right... Prince (laughs)."
"Sigh."
Somehow... I feel tired because of Medusa, not Manaka. Why did you do that, past me, you bastard...