"So, this is my nephew and adoptive son? Cú Chulainn. I'm his godfather, by the way."
"Really... Whenever my uncle is around, my luck always runs out."
"It's your destiny, Setanta. I knew it from the moment you started abusing geas."
"Isn't that too harsh!?"
"Later, when your dog meat geas activates, I'll feed you a hot dog."
"It's not dog meat, but it activates!? What's that!?"
"That's what geas is. That's why I told you not to do it."
"It's unreasonable..."
"Somehow, you two look very alike. Fergus looks like a younger brother... Is this a reverse world?"
"Senpai, they originally have that kind of relationship..."
Well... Ritsuka understands too. I'm 150 cm, while Cú Chulainn is 185 cm. The difference is a bit more than a head's length... Since I'm shorter than Astolfo...
"By the way, uncle... You've got another woman, huh?"
"Should the person who NTR'd his father's adoptive wife keep quiet? There's no one here except Olga."
"So there is one after all! I was joking!"
"Ahem... Shut up."
"Uncle... You tell me to restrain myself, but didn't you do worse?"
"That's how Ulster is! At least I take responsibility! While enjoying multiple women despite having Emer, to the point where Emer finally spoke up and tried to stab you with a knife! At least I didn't cause any accidents!"
"Grr... Anyway, it's similar! I haven't done it since becoming a Heroic Spirit!? I can see it, uncle's wives have increased!"
"Don't use Odin's eye for that, Setanta..."
Just when things were already troublesome, my troublesome nephew joins in. I'm going crazy... It's nice to see him, but still, I'm going crazy.
"Thanks to Berserker, I thought I didn't kill you..."
"That's pretty scary. I had to go all out. Heroic Spirits are a bit unreasonable, aren't they? Some were strong from their lifetime, while others became stronger as Heroic Spirits through possession."
"I admit that, Setanta."
Honestly, it's unreasonable...
"So... This lady is your wife, right? Then... which aunt is she?"
"You just shut up, Setanta."
"Um, nice to meet you! I'm Olga Marie Animusphere! I'm the director of Chaldea, and I'm doing pretty well in the modern era!"
"Olga, don't introduce yourself nervously... Setanta, since you ruined the atmosphere, take responsibility and show us the trick of Cúlain's hound eating a dog."
"Why do you keep trying to feed me a dog!?"
"It's for your health."
"I don't need it!?"
"You're quite picky... Have some pork instead."
"Ah, thanks... It's jerky!"
"It's sent from Chaldea. It's top-quality, by the way."
"Hmm... It's edible."
[What a mess...!]
I understand... Ulster is originally like this. It's particularly chaotic. Is it because my tension is up too?
"Hey hey! I have a question! Fergus said you have multiple wives! How many are there!?"
And Ritsuka's innocent question stabs me like a dagger... Beside her, Mash is watching with concern, alternating looks between Ritsuka and me. Behind them, the clairvoyants are snickering. Those women...
"Right? I don't know if it's increased since then."
Illya also looks at me with interest...
"Is the director also a wife?"
".... Yes."
If I say no, Olga will cry... And Mash and Romani, who didn't know and thought we were just lovers, are shocked by the unexpected truth.
"So... Scáthach, Medb, Aífe, Nessa, Deirdre, The Morrígan, Medea, Artoria, Jeanne, Medusa, Gil, Manaka, Olga Marie... That's 13."
"Wow~ That's enough to make a Round Table with your wives!"
"....."
Grrrrrrr....
"Wait, don't say that──"
"{Caladbolg} (Carving, Cutting, Dressing Knife)"
Bang!!!!!!!
And so, I smashed Merlin's head, and as a dream demon, he didn't die but just passed out with blood dripping from his head. Beside him, Fou was laughing loudly... and next to him, the two clairvoyants who were about to join in mocking him were holding their breath.
No, Solomon, that guy has no right to say anything, right? And what about Gilgamesh? I heard both of them had their wedding nights or all their wives were women. Gilgamesh created phalluses and violated married virgins, and Solomon managed his wives that way too.
Compared to them, I'm clean, aren't I? What's the problem? They love me so much, but they don't know the pain of rejection, so they're like that.
"Wow, this is the true harem master of polygamy... Considering your face and abilities, I approve!"
"Senpai..."
"But, Fergus, do you truly cherish and love all your wives?"
"... Huh, Ritsuka. To me, my wives are my everything. I was once a king, and after death, I was registered as a god. For my wives, I can give up everything. Power, wealth, honor? Compared to love, those are nothing. The reason I gained all that was for the people I love. The time after my wives' deaths when I couldn't die and had to live was the most painful period for me. I truly love all of them. Right? Olga."
"Saying that makes me shy... Hehe."
"The director making that expression..."
Mash is surprised seeing Olga Marie smiling defenselessly while blushing. It's a smile she's never shown to other Chaldea staff.
"Even though I said all that, as the one who has known uncle the longest here, I can testify. In Ulster, in Erin, there was no greater romanticist than uncle. That's why all the people of Ulster respected and admired him, and they were happy because uncle was king. I too was glad that such a man was the king I served."
"Ha, lip service now, Setanta? ... Hearing you say that, I feel fortunate about the things in my lifetime."
I knew it, but hearing it directly is still embarrassing. And... it's reassuring. My nephew thinks of me that way.
"This is what raising children is like... Right, Romani?"
[Ahem... I don't know what you're talking about.]
That guy Romani has no right to say anything to David either. His successor son ruined the country, and while serving God, the country was doing well, but when he started serving other gods, he ruined the country. A failure in raising children.
Well... I didn't do perfectly either. After I left, from my children's next generation... No, why am I thinking this... The 5th century, I knew such things would happen but didn't act.
My bloodline no longer remains.
A lineage with no direct or collateral descendants left... Ha, in a way, it's really bleak. Since it didn't even last until the Middle Ages.
"Haha... Setanta. Earlier, when I mentioned my wives, you noticed, right?"
"You knew after all? I don't know... whether it's that one or not."
"What are you talking about?"
Ritsuka tilted her head and asked me, and Mash and Olga Marie seemed to have noticed.
"Artoria. Artoria Pendragon. The mastermind here is her. To restore the singularity, we must defeat her."
"That means... you have to kill Fergus's wife?"
"There's no confirmation yet. We don't know which Saber it is."
Sitonai says while stroking Shirou (bear)'s fur. It's a bit bleak, but we're hoping it's not true.
"Even if it is, we are Heroic Spirits. If it comes to that, I should do it with my own hands."
"What's that... It's too bleak a story. It's cruel! Why does Fergus, who loves his wives so much, have to fight his wife!?"
"That's what life is, miss."
Setanta calms Ritsuka down by tapping his shoulder with his staff and chewing jerky.
"It's absurd. But, wasn't there such a thing in reality? Even in modern times, there's plenty. Just look at countries; divided nations fight among the same ethnicity. Because of positional differences. That's how war is. I have knowledge of this side too. In this world, uncle and I have fought to kill each other before. Just take King Arthur; he fought and killed with his own child. Originally, his legend began by killing his uncle Vortigern."
"... Reality is like that, but why does Fergus, a hero, have to be like that too?"
"Ritsuka... Thank you for worrying about me. But, we exist in reality, right? The world isn't a fairy tale. In the end, such stories exist. Ritsuka was born in a peaceful era, so you don't know yet. In this era, peers living in countries where wars occur know such things... We too, having lived in such warring times, accept reality. Ritsuka... You're still young, so it might be hard. Even seeing it from a third-person perspective can be heartbreaking."
"Even as a hero, you have to do that?"
"Don't famous modern Marvel and DC heroes do that too? Even heroes are humans no different. Even gods are like that; such moments come."
"..."
"Thank you for worrying about me, Ritsuka. Still, I'm okay."
"... You're not okay."
This this... It's hard to avoid the protagonist's eyes.
"We haven't met yet. There's still time, right? So, you don't need to worry."
I smiled and patted Ritsuka's head. Her height is about 165 cm, I guess?
"We've rested long enough, so shall we go?"
I said with a smile... and eventually, everyone seemed a bit uncomfortable, exchanging glances. This really... ruined the atmosphere.
Gilgamesh dragged the unconscious Merlin by the leg, and we headed towards Ryuudou Temple.
"It's been a while since I've been here too. It's quite intact. As expected of the land's boundary. The mountain is fine."
"That's true."
"Last time I came, I couldn't go inside."
""...""
It's uncomfortable...! Except for Sitonai and Setanta, no one is talking... This awkward air is all because of me...!
As we passed the mountain gate and headed through Ryuudou Temple towards the cave with the Holy Grail, swords fell from the sky. Shirou (bear) stood up and smashed the swords with bare-handed strikes, blocking the subsequent explosions with his body.
"You're here."
Even though the atmosphere is bad, it's good they came. It might lighten the mood, right?
"There are many... More than I thought. Over there... Is that Gilgamesh?"
"Ha, that mongrel from back then? This side is different too."
"Even Illya... Is that Caliburn?"
Emiya seemed bewildered in several ways.
"How about letting us pass? I don't want to see blood if possible."
"... That's not possible. I've decided to stake my life to eliminate you."
"Is that so... That's a shame. Trace on."
"What?"
Countless swords deployed in the sky and fell towards Emiya. He seems surprised.
"Using your skills with the wisdom of the demonic realm is nothing, Emiya. I'll face you only with your magecraft."
"Ha... This won't be easy either."
"Shirou."
"Hmm...?"
The bear tilted its head, but Sitonai called not the bear but Emiya. She was speaking with a serious and murderous expression.
"Step aside. If you don't, I'll turn you into a doll."
"Illya... I'm sorry, but this is my mission──"
"Shirou."
Crackle...!!!!
The surroundings began to freeze.
"Can't you listen to your sister when she asks...? Your sister is in a bad mood... Our Shirou, you can listen to your sister, right? You're a good kid...?"
"I, Illya...?"
"So I'll say it one more time..."
Seeing her seriously and genuinely angry, Emiya lowered his sword and slowly stepped aside... Even though he's an ally of justice, he can't help it in front of his sister...? For a moment, his original expression returned...
It's terrifying.