Patter... patter...
"But when do we return to the island from here?"
"We'll arrive someday. Since what I had to do is gone, I'm just returning."
That man... he's interesting. It seems he's not only loved by Medusa, but as a hero, he should have that much ambition.
But, I'm curious. Can he really protect the beast from them? Can he turn the beast's heart toward himself... I'm becoming very curious.
"Fou, when we return, please make me a cat juice."
"Hmm, Fou will make delicious coconut juice!"
"You said cat juice before!?"
"The name changes each time, woof!"
Being with him, I might meet Medusa... but still, as a goddess, I can't be with them. It's a bit disappointing.
"... I look forward to seeing you again later."
===========================
As the day ended, we were about to prepare lodging as before...
"This time, can't we stay on the ground?"
"Hmm, won't it be too noticeable?"
"You said you'd protect me, but are you lacking confidence?"
"That's not it... but, well, it's certainly good to rest in a comfortable place."
Listening to her opinion, I light a fire on the ground and set up a tent.
"A tent? With your power, you could make a house, couldn't you?"
"That's true, but camping is enjoyable in its own way, right?"
"Is that so... well, this is good too."
I lay down logs like chairs and sit in front of the fire. Nero quietly watches the burning fire.
"You're the first human I've seen who defies even gods."
"Aren't there quite a few in myths?"
"Hmph, how can I know if humans from an era long before my birth really did that? I only 100% believe what I've experienced directly. Frankly... I've been doubting you all along. That your reason for saving me isn't that, but you have other ulterior motives... However, seeing you stand tall even in front of a goddess, I can't possibly think you have different intentions."
"Haha, it's understandable to be doubted."
It's good that trust is building bit by bit. Manaka was easy because she fell fast, but even though I'm a handsome boy with narrow eyes, it's normal to be guarded like this. Especially for someone like her, a ruler... charm doesn't work either.
On a night with a cool breeze blowing, I place pork on skewers in front of the fire.
"Skewered meat."
"Yes, do you dislike skewers?"
"It's not that. There are many on the streets... but I haven't had any since childhood, so I was thinking."
"Childhood... do you have memories?"
"Memories... I did. My uncle would disguise himself and secretly go to the market with me to buy street food. He was more like a father to me than my own father, and he was practically my only family."
"Then, what about the others?"
"Ha...! Are you asking because you genuinely don't know?"
"Rather than rumors, I should believe the story from the person involved."
"... That's a fair point. Well, you'd only know the public evaluation."
She doesn't seem to want to talk about it much... but still, I want to know about her family background.
"My father was a worthless human. That evaluation was the worst. As a senator and consul, he was a criminal due to various incidents, and even just before I was born, he was in prison. And do you know what he said when I was born? 'If it's a child born between me and Agrippina, it can only be disgusting and hateful. This child will become a national danger...' He said that. He knew even himself that he was trash, and he knows how trashy my mother Agrippina is."
Indeed, Nero's father, Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, through various crimes, even after becoming a member of the imperial family thanks to his wife, had wealth but no honor. Everyone said he was an immoral and unjust man...
"And what about my mother? She saw me only as a tool, fed me poison all my life, and made me her puppet. Do you know that...? I, I... have never once been loved by my parents... a trash father with no backing and a mother who spreads her legs to men for wealth and power... no one paid attention to me in my childhood. Not even Claudius, my predecessor and stepfather after my father's death, loved me. Even when we met in my younger years, he looked at me with eyes of disgust...!"
"....."
"The imperial family, the nobles, the senators ignored me. My childhood had nothing. I lived alone, soothing loneliness and solitude with my own music and art. The only salvation and family for me was my uncle, Caligula..."
"My uncle was a wise and excellent emperor. He loved the people more than anyone, and even Claudius, my predecessor, respected and helped him greatly. My uncle also treated him as an imperial uncle, took care of state affairs together, and revived Rome."
Indeed... before becoming a tyrant, Caligula was called a good emperor, a sage king... if he hadn't fallen into madness due to Diana's (Artemis's) curse and become a tyrant, many things would have changed. He would have been the only family and adult who could guide Nero on the right path.
"After my father's death, when a third of the inherited wealth was to come to me, my uncle, knowing it would all go to my mother, subordinated it to the national treasury. Also, knowing I was a powerless child, he didn't give me the family inheritance rights. Some say my uncle didn't acknowledge me... but that was a decision he made for me. If it had come to me... I might have died in childhood. I might have become a brainwashed puppet..."
Indeed, the two were said to have a relationship like father and son. Caligula in his right mind sincerely loved Nero, saying she resembled his sister, Nero's mother Agrippina, and was like the good Agrippina.
He is a man like a great sage. He showed his charm fully on Olympus, appearing as a real man and a likable type. At this point, it's all the gods' fault in Greece (Rome)... perhaps, since Nero's fate was to become a beast, they removed Caligula, who could stop it, from fate...?
Like how I and Nessa were separated...
"My uncle cherished me more than anyone, he was my father... in place of my dirty parents, he raised me like his own child and gave me happy memories... my uncle was my only solace."
"If there was a chance to go back to the past... I'd want to return to those days."
"... I see. You smiled for the first time? I can feel how precious and happy those days were, transmitted directly to me."
She, who had been smiling faintly, quickly wipes the smile away. Such a smiling face is cute, it's a waste. Knowing how good she is~
"That's why it's sad... because such an uncle has now become the one trying to kill me."
"He's not in his right mind. Probably, he's just being controlled."
"Is that really so... I only feel that even my uncle has abandoned me."
"You'll know if we meet him directly. I think it's not by his will, though?"
"Well... maybe."
Nero picks up a skewer with well-cooked meat, tears off the meat, and looks up at the night sky. The moon is unusually bright today.
"No one loves me. I've already come to know that."
"You're being negative again..."
A devastated Nero with shattered self-esteem and self-respect... this is beyond rare to the point of pity.
As the night deepens, Nero goes into the tent to sleep. I look up at the night sky in front of the fire.
"Ah, it's the Orion constellation."
Seeing the Orion constellation... this is something.
I've become uneasy for no reason.
Bang!!!
"... Orion constellation, the hunter loved by the moon. And, you are the emperor cursed by the moon. Is this also a kind of intuition..."
"Yes, lo..."
"He's become a berserker with no freedom over his body. Your specialty is boxing (pankration), right? I'd like to fight you once."
"Ah, ahhh....!"
"Nerooooooooo!!!!!"
With his roar, as the Noble Phantasm that seals weapons and spreads madness activates, the moonlight shines brilliantly and uneasily on the land. What a spectacular entrance...
"Un, uncle..."
Nero, startled and coming out of the tent, looks at Caligula with a despairing expression.
Creak...
"I have no weapons. Let's fight hand-to-hand... don't worry, Nero. I won't let your real father remain a puppet any longer."
"Fergus..."
"What kind of talk is this between men... fighting with fists is the tradition, right?☆"
"Ooh.... Uoooooo!!!"
Thud...!!!
A heavy blow. I block his straight punch with one arm. It's Strength A+-level power... due to his skill, [Glory of the Past], if fighting hand-to-hand, his Strength would be A++... even for me, a Grand Servant, the impact is certain. Strength on par with Asterios, or above Berserker Heracles?
Thump!!!
Then, my liver blow strikes his side. Caligula spits blood from his mouth due to the intense pain and impact. True to a berserker, he counterattacks with his other fist to my solar plexus. But what about this... my endurance is top-tier too.
"In the demonic realm, I grew stronger by taking the charge of a giant monster boar with my bare body. Even the rune-eating monster boar that killed my weak junior Diarmuid, I could stand still and take it unscathed... to defeat me, you need to put conviction into your fists!"
Bang!!!!
"Guh... Neroooo!!!"
Pabababababang!!!!
Then, a flurry of blows accelerating to supersonic speed is unleashed. Certainly, his skill in the first half is excellent. Boxing is amazing. He has both speed and destructive power. But... fists that only attack without caring for himself also harm him. Plus, the accelerating madness is straining his spiritual energy and core.
"She is the niece you love most! If you came here, even if manipulated to kill her, didn't you want to see her again!?"
"Guh, Nero... my, love... my, Nero...!!!"
Wham!
Caligula staggers after taking my jab to the chin. Like a berserker, he endures it and counters. His body is already near its limit. This man... did he fight all the way here? Did he come without rest? Who did he fight? The black-red burned by lightning, the cuts from a sword... could it be, he fought the Imperial Alliance?
And that purple blood flowing...
"You... how are you still alive?"
Thump!!!
Instead of answering, he replied with a full-powered, soul-crushing punch to my face. Nosebleed flows... this is a strong effective hit among effective hits... an opponent worth fighting, a strong one.
"Finally, you're using a fist with conviction. I like it. Emperor Caligula. I acknowledge you as my opponent... you are strong. So, I'll go all out in return."
Crack...!!!
My arm muscles make a intense sound as my full-powered flurry strikes Caligula's entire body. To a normal person's eyes, it would look like he was hit by dozens of blows simultaneously, and a strong shockwave occurs behind him, shaking the trees.
Thud...!
Caligula staggers and kneels. He lowers his head deeply.
"... It wouldn't be strange if you were already dead. Even diluted, it's Hydra's poison. Plus, all these wounds... in the dark, with the moonlight behind, I couldn't see well... you're more battered than I imagined. You didn't come alone to kill me, who secured Nero... and you probably didn't come to kill Nero either... you came to verify, didn't you? Whether I am a man worthy of protecting Nero."
"....."
Silently, he smiled. His eyes aren't visible, but surely they are eyes of satisfaction.
"Uncle..."
"... Nero."
Then, raising his head, Caligula looks at Nero affectionately with gentle, fatherly eyes.
"My beloved niece... my beloved Nero... I didn't want to give you the lonely position of emperor. I wanted to adopt you as my daughter, but I didn't want to put you in the dangerous position of being the emperor's daughter... I wanted to free you from my sister... my light, my hope... my family... Lucius... my, beloved niece... please, don't give up on life... I, more than Rome... wish for you to be happy... my, beloved niece."
"Un, uncle...."
Words Caligula couldn't say in life, the last words he couldn't leave. At his words, Nero sheds tears, and Caligula looks at me and Nero, smiling as if relieved, and lowers his head.
"I entrust my family to you... hero of Nero."
"I promise. With my conviction as pledge."
".... Thank you."
With a satisfied smile, he turns into light and disappears beyond the sky. Along with the faintly shining moonlight, the man who could have been a great emperor... a gentle father disappears with the wind beyond the sky.
"Nero... no, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. Let me ask you once more. Do you still want to die?"
"... I want to live. I, I still want to live... even if criticized and hated by everyone, the me that my uncle loved... still wants to live..."
She, shedding copious tears, speaks her true feelings to me.
"Then, I must listen. I will protect you as I have until now. Is that enough?"
"Ahh.... Thank you. Thanks to you, I know my uncle's heart didn't change..."
"What for. That's how true family is. Even if everyone hates you, only true family loves you."
Caligula... next time, if there's a chance, I'd like to have many conversations with you. You are truly a man of this era.