Fuyuki was peaceful for a Holy Grail War. At least, by normal people's standards, it was more peaceful than the Fourth War had been.
In my past life, I avoided using my clairvoyance as much as possible. Back then, it gave me terrible headaches, and I had a lot to do as a king. But, having lived over 600 years, I must have adapted to it, as I now use my clairvoyance constantly without any burden.
Because of that, perhaps, I often find myself agonizing over finding the optimal possibility among countless ones. Even though I can change the future, is that too arrogant a thought?
"You've worked hard today. Get some proper rest tonight. At the very least, no enemies will be storming the Ryuudou Temple."
"Clairvoyance is so convenient every time I see it."
"Haha... Of course, clairvoyance isn't absolute."
"... Fergus. Don't use your clairvoyance too often."
"Huh?"
"I was taught about related prophecies in the past, so I know this as lore. If it's a clairvoyance of the same lineage as yours, it can be interfered with by someone who possesses the same sight."
"I know that too. He hasn't noticed me yet, so it's fine."
"Is that so? Still, I'm worried."
The progression of the story was going well, in its own way. Yes, that's how it seemed. It was proceeding smoothly without issue.
"Phew... Shall we pick up some groceries on the way back?"
"That sounds good."
We decide to do some quick shopping before returning to the castle. Should I buy a cake today?
Heading towards the shopping street, thinking of buying a cake...
"..."
"What's wrong? Fergus."
".... No, it's just..."
Recently, I had been keeping my clairvoyance active constantly. Even though I got headaches, thinking it was for Illya's sake, I kept it on even while sleeping. To prepare for the worst-case scenario. But... something felt off. Suddenly, the possibilities of the future multiplied dramatically. What's this... Why are the future possibilities expanding so much? No, that's not it. They weren't visible before. This is...
"... It can't be."
"Fergus?"
"Go back."
"What?"
"Go back to the Ryuudou Temple quickly! Stay with Okita at all costs!"
"Fergus!?"
*Thud!*
I quickly dashed out into the street and ran. Teleportation wasn't working; the runes engraved on the castle weren't responding. My telepathic communication with Illya wasn't getting through.
I definitely thought I was doing well. I was sure of it. I definitely thought everything was going according to plan. But...
I was wrong.
That bastard had seen the future of my summoning before I did. No, no... I keep seeing terrible futures...
*Crackle...*
*Thud...!*
The possibilities for negative futures were far too many... Really, this wasn't the time to worry about civilian casualties. I should have just fought from the very beginning...!
The king, who had been languishing in boredom, had been waiting for me to come...
*KABOOOOOM!!!*
"Wh-what was that!?"
A tremendous roar suddenly echoed through the Einzbern Castle, located deep in the forest. On the outer wall of the castle stood a golden-haired man.
"It's been a while. The first time since that modest banquet back then."
The golden king, clad in golden armor, revealed himself.
"That's... don't tell me, the one Fergus mentioned..."
Looking out the window to assess the situation, Illya's eyes met those of the king who had opened his treasure vault numbering in the dozens. The first attack was blocked by the bounded field laid by Medea and Fergus, but Gilgamesh, swinging a sickle that neutralized magical energy, soon caused the bounded field to disappear.
"Run. To the Ryuudou Temple? Go there."
"What about Medb!?"
"I can't contact Fergus. It seems that guy did something? We're truly checkmated. To think Fergus would let his guard down... Fergus, you've gotten old. After all, perhaps you should have died alongside Scáthach."
Medb, making a bitter expression, used golems to have Illya and Sella escape outside. Means of contacting the outside, including telepathy and Command Spells, were already blocked due to Gilgamesh's interfering Noble Phantasms.
"So the day comes when Fergus lets his guard down. Is it because he's lived too long? Really, Fergus... Did he forget that Scáthach defeated him because of that very carelessness?~ Then again, by Fergus's standards, that story is over 500 years old. Everyone's gone, so it's not strange to grow lax."
In her hand, with a pink light, materialized a spiral sword twisted into a shape resembling an umbrella.
Her Noble Phantasm, one that borrows Caladbolg from Fergus. It is a Noble Phantasm borrowed separately from Fergus's own Caladbolg, so there is no dispute over ownership.
Opening the window and jumping out, Medb landed softly in the castle's flower garden.
"Hoh~ You stand before me without fear. As expected of that man's queen."
"Your intentions are obvious~ Are you targeting Illya-chan? Or me? Of course it's me, right? It's too early to target the Lesser Grail, so you think killing me will make Fergus angry?"
"Fufufu, Fuhahaha! You say amusing things. However, your thinking is as shallow as any other mongrel. There's no particular reason. I was merely curious about the caliber of the woman said to be the disciple of a man who represents an entire myth, a hero. A woman raised by the one who inherited everything from the Witch of the Land of Shadows. I was curious if she could satisfy me in these tedious days, if she truly possessed the qualities of an entertainer."
"You know you're re~ally not popular with women, right? You blond delinquent."
"Ha! I shall overlook that level of insolence. This king is in a good mood today. Ten years ago, after the Holy Grail War ended, I saw a future. For the first time since Enkidu, a hero capable of opposing me... I saw such a future. But, despite that, he's a coward. Knowing of my existence, he only thinks of evasion. Though he has lived over 600 years, his use of that eye is still utterly immature. Is it because he's a berserker at heart? Or has he changed so because he watched you women grow old and die before his eyes?"
Gulp...!
Gilgamesh laughed and provoked her. She knew it was provocation. But, Medb couldn't help but get angry.
She remembered. She couldn't forget. In her final moments of death, the image of Fergus, who had stayed by her side, flickered in her mind. His face, shedding tears and grieving by her side as she died of old age as a human, was still vividly remembered.
"... Fergus said it. My biggest flaw is being emotional, just like Setanta."
"And so?"
*KWAHAAA!!!*
The spiral sword rotated, unleashing a rainbow-colored slash, while the lower-grade Noble Phantasms fired by Gilgamesh erased the slash.
"Hearing something like that, how could I not get angry?!!"
"Hmph, immature. But, as a human, you are exceedingly honest."
For her, no, for Fergus's wives who spent their entire lives with him, that was a sore spot. They were humans with short lifespans. They weren't afraid of death. Thanks to Fergus, their worst futures had changed into happy lives. But... it hurt their hearts. It was so heartbreaking that the man they loved, who had saved them, shed tears and suffered because of them.
Among them, Medb, who lived the longest aside from Aífe, remembered. She still hadn't forgotten the lonely sight of Fergus's back as he seriously contemplated suicide.
*KWA-KWAGWAGWAGWA!!!!!*
Dozens, hundreds of Noble Phantasms were fired. Medb, Fergus's first disciple and the first official queen of Ulaid's King Fergus. She was his second wife, but officially the first queen of the kingdom. Medb took great pride in that and yearned for power worthy of that title.
"Wa..."
"Hoh, that is... beyond the original? The witch is quite something."
"Pierce... {Gáe Bolg} (Barbed Spear that Pierces with Death)!!!"
Therefore, she learned everything from Fergus. There was a limit to how strong she could become, limited to around Cú Chulainn's level due to her talent's ceiling, but following Fergus, who contemplated the afterlife, she never stopped training.
Medb, Princess of Connacht. She surpassed her own limits, her destiny, and reached a realm on par with Cú Chulainn.
"A spear that reverses causality... This is the first time I've seen another use it."
As the treasury opened, {Gungnir} (Divine Declaration), the original of Gáe Bolg, and {Brionac} (Five Dashing Stars) were fired. The power of the spear that reverses causality and the spear that pursues to the very end. Medb's ultimate strike was neutralized by just two spears.
Causality reversal negated by causality reversal. Normally, the moment it was thrust, both should have been hit, but even without a True Name release, the power of causality reversal was defeated before Brionac, whose causality reversal exceeded that of Gáe Bolg and Fragarach, and the spear of Lugh, the god of light and Cú Chulainn's father.
"Haa... haa..."
Medb was already covered in blood from the rain of Noble Phantasms. Gilgamesh, who had gradually started to exert force from the middle of the fight, acknowledged Medb in his own way.
"Your skill is good. Even compared to that mad dog I saw ten years ago, you are not lacking. But, that's as far as it goes. In the end, a mongrel is a mongrel. Ultimately, your limit is right there."
"How foolish..."
"..."
"Is that so... Then, at the very least, die as a warrior."
With minimal mercy, Gilgamesh drew the original of the sword stabbed into the tree. Drawing forth the Original Sin - Marduk, he fired it towards her neck.
*Clang...!!!*
"... Hmph, you finally arrived."
And the red magic sword that parried Marduk, one of those strongest Noble Phantasms.
"Fe...rgus...."
The Master of Ériu・Fergus mac Róich
He had arrived.
"You broke the bounded field by force. Amusing."
"I'm sorry... for being late."
"What... I'm not dead, so you came quickly enough..."
"... Rest now."
Fergus used a primordial rune to send her to the Ryuudou Temple. Then, he glared at Gilgamesh.
*GRRRRRR....!*
The earth shook. Powerful magical energy trembled, causing the ground to heave.
"Fu, fufufu... Fuhahahaha! As expected, the pinnacle of the flesh. Even a god would surely find it fearsome. Among humans, only Heracles has likely reached such a realm. Truly amusing. I have been waiting for you all this time. For the first time since Enkidu, I, this king, have been feeling anticipation! You who call yourself the Master of Ériu in my presence──"
"Shut up."
*Grrrr...!*
"I will kill you."
"Fufufu... That, I look forward to. King of Ériu."