To Become a King and a Magician 861-865

Title: A Warm Welcome for Britain’s Most Adorable Princess Lia!

Lover?

Mistress?

Fiancée?

The words that tumbled out of Mordred’s mouth in succession momentarily jumbled Artoria Caster’s mind, as if several horse-drawn carriages had charged and sped through it, leaving it in a mess!

“Uh... Eh... So...”

Struggling to piece together the situation in her head, Artoria Caster looked at Gray and Mordred with a disbelieving expression: “You two... are my Stepmothers too?!”

“.......”

“.......”

This time, it was Artoria Caster’s turn to leave the two speechless.

After a long silence, Gray finally forced a bitter smile and nodded: “In terms of relationship, it seems it could be said that way... But this is truly very confusing. Because Brother’s own identity is already confusing, this makes it even more chaotic.”

If it had to be said, perhaps Naoki’s relationship with the Round Table and Britain was even more confusing.

He was once King Arthur, considered another King Father by Mordred, then became Artoria’s Master and lover, and now married Morgan, adopting Artoria here as his daughter...

(This social circle is truly complicated.)

Ritsuka couldn’t help but think so.

“But... why can Gray be Father’s fiancée? Aren’t you two siblings?”

“Hmm! T-this... this is a rather troublesome thing to explain. The background is a bit complicated... but basically, it’s a kind of accident.”

Gray explained, her face flushing.

It was impossible for her to recount the events that happened during the Seventh Singularity!

“About this, actually—“

*SLAP!*

Seeing Mordred about to spill another secret, Gray, for once, became brave and slapped her mouth directly!

Mordred hurriedly covered her aching mouth: “Why, Mother Gray...?”

“Sorry, but that was your fault, Mordred. Pay attention to what can be said and what cannot be said.”

Gray cleared her throat again: “Ahem ahem ahem, in short, all of our relationships with Brother are like this. Although quite confusing, Caster, you just need to know the general outline, no need to delve too deeply into it.”

“Oh... Oh.”

Artoria Caster nodded, still a little confused. To be honest, she was quite curious, but it seemed Gray had no intention of continuing the conversation—and her instincts told her that if she kept asking, she might uncover knowledge that was taboo to her.

(It’s best to stop here...)

Seeing Artoria Caster ask no further questions, Gray was also slightly relieved. Although she was now a mature adult, she was still not very skilled in these matters.

(In the end, it’s all Brother’s fault. His charm with women is too good... Haaah.)

If this problem could be resolved smoothly, Gray swore she would cooperate with the others to discipline her brother who kept meeting women everywhere.

If left unchecked, their family members would surely continue to increase.

“By the way... Caster, you’re curious about our affairs, and I’m actually curious about yours.” Ritsuka suddenly spoke up. “Earlier in the Isle of Avalon, you said you had a strong reason to obtain the Holy Sword. So, now you’re also out to find the Head of Clan Number Two, asking about the Holy Sword?”

“You could say that.”

Artoria Caster affirmed.

“I must obtain the Holy Sword. Only then can I... not die.”

“Die?”

Hearing Artoria Caster’s words, all four were surprised.

Was obtaining the Holy Sword related to Artoria Caster’s survival?

“Caster, what’s wrong? Will you die if you don’t get the Holy Sword?”

“Uh... that, let’s not talk about it yet. Besides, it’s just an extreme situation. Actually, I have no problems at all right now, I’m just a little rushed.” Seeing their tense expressions, Artoria Caster quickly waved her hands to explain and reassure, “I will only die in a very, very, very extreme situation, similar to eating a thousand bowls of rice and accidentally eating an uncooked grain of rice.”

The somewhat strange analogy immediately caused Ritsuka and the others’ expressions to drop, but thanks to that, they also understood that Artoria Caster’s situation was not too dangerous. After all, she herself gave such an analogy, which meant that such an extreme situation was almost impossible to occur.

At least, for now, there was no need to worry.

“Don’t scare us, Caster.”

“Hehehe, sorry, I was a bit rushed myself.” Artoria Caster smiled awkwardly while scratching her head.

Just then, the constantly moving carriage suddenly stopped.

The voice of the fairy horse was heard from outside: “Esteemed guests, and Your Royal Highness Princess, we have arrived in Salisbury.”

“Eh? This fast?”

Ritsuka was slightly surprised: “We’ve only been traveling for less than ten minutes. We’re already in Salisbury?”

“Because the main road has been enchanted with spatial distortion Magecraft by His Royal Highness the Fairy King, the strongest Elemental Spirit under the sky. If you run on it, the speed of advancement is ten times the normal. Moreover, this time carrying Her Royal Highness Princess, of course, it can be this fast by running swiftly.”

The fairy horse explained.

(Spatial distortion Magecraft... could it be that Britain has this kind of Magecraft?)

Ritsuka couldn’t help but think.

After getting off the carriage, their destination, Salisbury, was immediately visible to all five of them.

But—

The Entire Salisbury Fairies Warmly Welcome the Esteemed Guest of His Royal Highness the Fairy King and Her Royal Highness Second Princess Artoria, the Most Adorable in Britain!

Also visible was a giant banner more than twenty meters long hanging on the city wall!

“T-this... Caster?”

“T-this is probably Aunt Aurora’s doing...”

Artoria Caster looked extremely embarrassed.

Then, at the city gate, a troop of fully armed knights on horseback, led by a pink-colored fairy, marched out. After seeing Artoria Caster, they immediately ran forward, knelt, and saluted—

“We have been waiting here for a long time, Your Royal Highness Princess Artoria.”

“I am Coral, Miss Aurora’s aide. By Miss Aurora’s command, I have come to welcome you Royal Highness the Fairy King’s esteemed guest into the city—the carriage is ready, please board.”

Seeing the grand welcoming party consisting of dozens of people before them, the five of them were stunned.

And Artoria Caster, as the only one who understood, immediately knew what was behind all of this.

(Father, you fool! You must have secretly told Aunt Aurora beforehand!)

-

Title: Meeting Old Acquaintances in a Foreign Land

In the Great Cathedral of Salisbury.

Under the guidance of a fairy girl named Coral and a large contingent of mixed human and fairy knights, Artoria Caster’s group arrived directly at the most important place in this Salisbury.

At the gate of the Great Cathedral, after dismissing all the knights, Coral continued to lead the five people to the reception room.

As soon as they stepped inside, the figure of Aurora sitting in the reception room was immediately visible to everyone.

“Miss Aurora.”

Coral saluted Aurora.

“Her Royal Highness Princess Artoria, and the esteemed guests of His Royal Highness the Fairy King, everyone has arrived.”

“Yes, thank you for your hard work, Coral. Sorry for suddenly asking you to prepare the welcoming arrangements. Go and rest first.”

“Understood!”

After responding, Coral left the reception room as quietly as possible, leaving space for Artoria Caster’s group and Aurora.

Looking toward Artoria Caster, Aurora stood up from the sofa and bowed deeply to her: “Aurora, Head of the Wind Clan, pays respects to the Second Royal Highness Princess. Due to the pressing time, I was unable to prepare an adequate welcoming ceremony, please forgive me.”

Artoria Caster hurriedly waved her hand: “No, no, it’s fine. We came without any prior notice. Our sudden arrival must have caused trouble. Even having to rush to make a banner that big.”

“As long as Her Royal Highness likes it.” Aurora laughed, then looked at the four people behind Artoria Caster, “So, these four are the esteemed guests?”

“Yes.”

As the most reliable adult there, Gray nodded slightly and saluted: “Pleased to meet you, Miss Aurora. We are members of Chaldea from Proper Human History.”

“Yes, welcome to Salisbury. This is the most beautiful and prosperous city in Britain. I hope you all have a good time here.”

(Proper Human History... a place I’ve never heard of, is it outside of Britain?)

Even as she said welcome, Aurora naturally had such questions in her heart.

Due to Naoki’s information manipulation, the fairies in this Britain knew nothing at all about the world outside the Island of Britain. Moreover, no objects from Proper Human History had ever drifted here, so they naturally knew nothing about Proper Human History.

“Then, may I know if there is any business that brought Her Royal Highness Princess and the esteemed guests here?” Aurora asked. “His Royal Highness’s orders only mentioned that you would come, without specifying the purpose of your trip.”

“Regarding that... actually, we’re looking for someone.”

Artoria Caster said: “Aunt Aurora, have any outsiders come here in the last two weeks? For example, a man who looks very much like Father.”

“Hmm... I haven’t received any such reports.”

If there was a man resembling the Fairy King, he would surely cause a commotion as soon as he entered the city. After all, everyone in Britain knew that the Fairy King had never left the royal city for more than two thousand years. All orders were issued directly from the royal city through Magecraft across Britain, and he had never gone out.

(That means the Number Two Department Head didn’t enter the city in his original appearance.)

(Changing appearance... illusion Magecraft? Or just ordinary disguise arts?)

“However, if speaking of outsiders, as Her Royal Highness mentioned, there were indeed two strange people who came to Salisbury two weeks ago.” Aurora added. “They were two girls dressed strangely, both carrying weapons, and they even had a slight conflict with my knights at first.”

Strangely dressed women?

Ritsuka and the others frowned. Gray even asked further: “Could you explain in more detail?”

“Hmm... Rather than me explaining, it’s better if you see for yourselves. Those two are still in the city. Based on reports from Coral and the knights, it seems they’re holding some rather interesting activity meeting.”

Aurora clapped her hands as she spoke. Coral, who had just left a moment ago, immediately re-entered—she had apparently been waiting outside the door.

“Miss Aurora, what is it?”

“Please take these esteemed guests of Her Royal Highness to where those two are.”

Those two—upon hearing Aurora say that, Coral immediately understood. She nodded right away and looked toward Gray and the others: “I understand. Guests, please follow me. I will lead you.”

“I’ll come too!”

Artoria Caster raised her hand.

But as soon as she stood up, Aurora said: “Could Her Royal Highness Princess stay here?”

“Eh? I can’t come?”

“Of course not. In this Salisbury, Her Royal Highness is free to go wherever she wishes. No place will refuse Her Royal Highness’s arrival.” Aurora laughed. “It’s just that I have some things I want to discuss with Her Royal Highness. Could Her Royal Highness spare some time to listen to me?”

Aurora had personal matters to discuss with her?

Artoria Caster frowned: “Does this have something to do with Father?”

“You could say that. Of course, it also concerns Her Royal Highness Princess.”

“Alright, I understand.”

Letting out a soft sigh, Artoria Caster sat back down on the sofa: “Sorry, Ritsuka, Mash. You go ahead, I’ll catch up with you later—if you meet the Guardian, make sure to hold him!”

“Okay, see you.”

After waving goodbye to Artoria Caster, Ritsuka and the other four followed Coral out of the meeting room.

After they left, Artoria Caster looked toward Aurora: “So, what do you want to talk to me about?”

“Though this is just a guess, but...” Aurora pursed her lips, “Your Royal Highness, is your departure from the royal city this time preparation to begin your Pilgrimage?”

Pilgrimage.

Hearing Aurora mention that word, Artoria Caster’s expression slightly froze.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Salisbury.

On the main street facing the city gate and the Great Cathedral gate.

Coral led the four toward the entrance of a restaurant located on this street.

“This is the place.” Coral said. “The two people you want to meet are here.”

“A restaurant...”

Gray frowned, then reached out and pushed the door.

Accompanied by the sound of the bell hanging on the doorframe, two voices immediately came from inside.

“Welcome!”

“How many guests?”

Two figures appeared before them along with the voices. After seeing who had come—more precisely, after recognizing one of them—Ritsuka and Mash were immediately shocked.

“Miss Tomoe?!”

“Eh? Master Ritsuka? Miss Mash?”

Seeing Ritsuka and Mash standing at the door, Tomoe Gozen, who was wearing a waitress uniform in front of them, was momentarily surprised.

Beside her, Miyamoto Musashi, also in a waitress uniform, showed a bit of confusion: “Eh? Tomoe’s acquaintances? So they came from Proper Human History too?”

“Eh? So you too... By the way, why is Miss Tomoe here? And why are you dressed like this?”

“That’s... it’s a long story.”

Tomoe said, her face slightly flushed.

“A-anyway, please come in first.”

-

Title: The Man Full of Lies

In one of the private rooms on the second floor of the Salisbury restaurant.

After successfully diverting Coral’s attention and sending her back, Tomoe and Musashi came here with Ritsuka and the others—though called a restaurant, there weren’t actually many guests, or rather, there were none at all. After all, fairies basically didn’t need to eat. Eating was just for tasting flavors.

So, Tomoe and Musashi naturally didn’t need to serve guests.

After exchanging brief greetings, Tomoe explained what had happened to her during this time.

Starting from the end of the Seventh Singularity, then her activities in Shimosa no Kuni as Archer Inferno, then being saved by Naoki, getting to know Musashi, and the three of them fighting together against the Heroic Spirit Swordsmen—Tomoe recounted her past as briefly as possible.

“Then, when I, Musashi, and Master were preparing to leave Shimosa, Musashi’s natural instinct activated again, bringing me and Master together to this Lostbelt. In terms of time, that was about two weeks ago.”

“It’s just that at that time, we weren’t with Master. Musashi and I were also separated. We only met again a day later. After that, to find Master, we started exploring this Britain.”

After listening to Tomoe’s explanation, Ritsuka and the other four fell into thought.

Tomoe and Musashi arrived in this Lostbelt two weeks ago, but Naoki, who came with them, arrived two thousand four hundred years ago.

【They must have been affected by space and time distortions when crossing over? That’s common. When traveling between worlds, time gets a bit chaotic.】

Merry’s voice came from the communication device wrapped around Ritsuka’s wrist.

【In any case, meeting old acquaintances in the Lostbelt is a good thing. You all are comrades who fought together in the Seventh Singularity, so you can trust each other—but it’s truly surprising that Miyamoto Musashi from another world is a woman, and moreover, she has a relationship with Naoki...】

“It can only be said that it’s very typical Big Brother behavior.”

“I’m also used to situations like this with the Department Head...”

The eyes of those present looking at Musashi had already become somewhat familiar. Musashi didn’t reject these gazes at all; instead, she enthusiastically and curiously asked back: “Oh? So Miyamoto Musashi on your side is a man? Could you tell me a bit about Musashi there? —By the way, since you’re Tomoe’s friends, just call me Musashi.”

【Yes, I was planning to do that too—but Musashi, your matters can wait. Right now, there’s something more important I want to ask.】

“Eh? What is it?”

【What’s with the maid uniforms you’re wearing?】

Merry immediately asked what was on the minds of Ritsuka and the others.

Yes, the maid uniforms.

That was something strange and out of place on Musashi and Tomoe. There shouldn’t be the concept of maids in this Fairy Country, but the clothes they were wearing were truly maid uniforms—where did they come from?

“Ah, you’re talking about that... actually—“

“I gave them to them.”

A voice interrupted Musashi’s explanation. Hearing that voice, everyone immediately looked toward the door.

There, Naoki—somehow—stood wearing clothes resembling a bartender’s, smiling at them.

No, not Naoki.

It should be—

“Number Two Department Head?!”

“So you’re here?!”

Without a doubt, the one who appeared there was Natsukawa Naoki Number Two, who had disappeared during the previous battle in Camelot.

Taking a chair and sitting down next to the table while laughing, Naoki Number Two said: “Yes, I’ve been here since leaving Camelot city. I used a little trick to buy this shop. I also gave Musashi and Aba the maid uniforms—doesn’t it look matching?”

“Matching it is, but...”

“Explain to me first why you ran off to here, you bastard!”

Unlike Gray, Mordred immediately grabbed Naoki Number Two’s collar: “While we were fighting there, you just slipped away without a word? Explain it to me properly!”

“Ah? That, huh...”

Naoki Number Two thought for a moment, then smiled brightly: “Because I saw that you guys had no chance of winning at all, so I immediately ran to save myself.”

*BAM!*

Mordred immediately threw a punch at Naoki Number Two’s face, sending him flying into the wall and leaving a human-shaped dent!

“Ugh... That was a really strong punch.”

Struggling to free himself from the wall and jump down, Naoki Number Two patted the stone fragments off his body: “Well, it was my fault for running first back then. I apologize for that. But I also hope you can understand. After all, I only had one chance to defeat the original. If we failed then, we really wouldn’t be able to come back—“

【About that, you’re definitely hiding something from us. Naoki Number Two.】

Merry interrupted Naoki Number Two’s words.

“Why do you say that?”

【Instinct. Besides, you were able to escape from Camelot city without any of us noticing, and it seems you weren’t found by Naoki either... This shouldn’t be something someone with absolutely no Mana back then could do.】

“......”

Naoki Number Two fell silent the moment Merry said that.

After being silent for quite a while, he finally spoke again: “Regarding this... Actually, I still had a little Mana left back then.”

【Eh?】

“Although I initially said I used up all my Mana for your teleportation, but after actually getting there, I realized I still had enough Mana to support myself leaving. So, after seeing you couldn’t defeat the original, I immediately used that Mana to escape.”

【......】

“Besides, about why I wasn’t found by the original... Wasn’t he still in another dimensional space he manifested through Imaginary Manifestation at that time? Wouldn’t it be strange if he could notice my absence?”

That... made sense too?

Naoki Number Two’s explanation made Gray and the others nod slightly in agreement.

But listening to his words, whether it was just a feeling or not, everyone—including Musashi and Tomoe—had the same thought.

<This guy is definitely lying>

There was no basis for it, just an instinct like that. Just like people who had been together roughly for a long time could roughly know each other’s thoughts, now they had that thought.

Naoki Number Two was still lying about this matter.

Or he was still hiding something.

He hadn’t said the truth yet, and was still concealing something very important.

【Naoki Number Two.】

“Yes? What is it, Merry.”

【You are actually Vortigern. Or should I call you Oberon?】

“......”

The words that came out of Merry’s mouth once again made the entire room silent.

-

Title: Too Busy Training Maids Lately

Vortigern.

Oberon.

As these two names left Merry’s mouth, everyone felt the air in the room change.

The atmosphere, which should have been joyful due to reuniting with old friends, suddenly fell silent.

“Oberon and Vortigern?”

Mordred and Gray chewed on the two names.

“The first one, forget it for now... The second one—the one in the Sixth Singularity?”

“Why did Sister Merry mention him here?”

The people in the room didn’t understand why Merry said that. Because, when talking about Vortigern, he was a disaster that had been defeated in the Sixth Singularity in Proper Human History, and historically also defeated by Artoria, which should have been resolved.

Why was he brought up again here?

【This is just my guess, a conclusion reached after eliminating one wrong answer after another.】

【Gozen and Musashi probably don’t know yet—beneath this island, lies a monster that will destroy this island, called the Cursed Worm. He is the same existence as the Demonic Dragon Vortigern in Proper Human History.】

【In this world, he has appeared twice to destroy Britain. The first was two thousand four hundred years ago, destroying all of Britain and twenty thousand killing machines. The second was King Mors who appeared in the Battle of Mors, a thousand years ago.】

【And under normal conditions, he should have appeared for the third time by now.】

【This is a part of the memories I read from Naoki’s memories. He once came into contact with the Root and gained a lot of knowledge, some of which is related to this.】

Merry explained.

【To the west of Salisbury, the westernmost part of Britain, there is a forest called the Autumn Forest. It is where all the weak insect fairies gather. And under normal circumstances, the third manifestation of Vortigern, the man who uses the name Fairy King Oberon from Proper Human History, would be born there.】

This is what would normally happen without any interference.

【But now, this situation might have changed due to Naoki’s interference. Oberon, who should have been the third manifestation, was not born. And his substitute, is—】

“Me.”

Said Naoki Number Two.

“I see. That is indeed a very interesting conjecture. It’s not strange to draw such conclusions from the memories you have to be analyzed and judged. Merry, you’ve always been very clever in this regard.”

“But, you have no proof.”

【True. I have no proof whatsoever to prove you are Vortigern, but to borrow the words of a famous detective—after all the impossible has been eliminated, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.】

Merry’s words once again rendered Naoki Number Two speechless. But this time he didn’t stay silent for long, and quickly returned to laughing: “That means, if I want to clear myself of suspicion, the best way is to say everything I’m still hiding, isn’t it?”

【That depends on whether what you say is truly fact.】

“Then, I can guarantee, and swear on my soul—I am not Vortigern, nor am I Oberon. I am still me, the past manifestation of Natsukawa Naoki split from him.”

Naoki Number Two said.

“There were indeed small lies in my words to you, and I also hid something, but all of that was a decision forced by the current situation. After all, we are all being watched now. If we truly want to defeat the original, there are some things he must not know.”

“This, I’m sure you all understand, just as you also hid your purpose of seeking me from the original.”

【In that case, at least tell us one thing. How did you slip away from under Naoki’s nose? Your words just now were still a lie, weren’t they?】

“Eh? Do I have to tell you?”

【Is this also something that shouldn’t be said in order to defeat Naoki?】

“Hmm... Broadly speaking, yes. If you don’t mind the difficulty of the battle later increasing, I don’t mind telling you.”

Gray and the others looked at each other, then nodded in unison.

“Just say it. Anyway, no matter how difficult it is, it no longer matters.”

“Alright... Actually, it was just a small trick.” Naoki Number Two explained. “I and the original can be considered the same person to a certain extent. Therefore, I can intervene with the surveillance Magecraft he possesses to a certain extent, and temporarily filter out surveillance on me. But that is limited only when the original isn’t looking for me. If he deliberately looks for me, he will find me immediately.”

This statement was the truth.

As someone who dealt with lies daily, and often talked nonsense, Merry could hear that at least in what he said just now, Naoki Number Two was not lying.

【Intervening with Magecraft under limited conditions, that can explain it.】

“Then, does this slightly reduce your suspicion of me?” Naoki Number Two asked with a smile. “This is all I can tell you right now. If I tell you more, the original truly won’t be able to be defeated.”

【I understand. For now, I will maintain a certain level of trust in you.】

“Us too.”

Gray and the others said so.

At this moment, Tomoe and Musashi raised their hands.

“Excuse me... Sorry to interrupt right now, but can you explain what you’ve been talking about?”

“Hmm hmm hmm, Tomoe and I didn’t understand anything you were talking about just now? Besides this Naoki, is there another Naoki? Are you going to fight against Naoki?”

【.......】

“.......”

Hearing Tomoe and Musashi’s words, some people from Chaldea were slightly startled.

【Naoki Number Two, you haven’t told them yet?】

“No, I haven’t told them. Because lately I’ve been too busy training maids, plus you haven’t arrived yet, telling them would be pointless. It’s not like the three of us would just go back to fight, right? So I haven’t told them.”

【......】

Merry fell silent again for a moment, then said to Gray and Mordred.

【Gray, Mordred, please give that bastard whose brain is only filled with maids right now one punch. A very hard one, even better if he gets a concussion.】

“Eh? Why? Why am I suddenly getting punched?”

“Shut up and take the punch! You King Father Number Two bastard!”

“Big Brother Number Two, please don’t move around randomly, I won’t be able to aim properly later.”

Under Naoki Number Two’s terrified gaze, Mordred, carrying Clarent, and Gray, manifesting a large scythe, surrounded him from left and right.

Then—

*CRACK!*

*THUD!*

-

Title: I Will Surely Destroy This Island

After giving the unserious Naoki Number Two a hard lesson, Ritsuka and the others finally explained to Tomoe and Musashi about this Lostbelt and what the original Naoki truly intended to do.

This included the reason for the formation of this Lostbelt, the events that transpired two thousand four hundred years ago, as well as the current state of the Lostbelt and Naoki’s objective.

“So, Naoki wants to destroy Proper Human History on this island to protect this island?”

After listening, Musashi summarized it as such.

Ritsuka nodded: “More or less. According to Merry-sensei, the Department Head will do it within a year. And the reason we came here is to find a way to stop the Department Head.”

“Eh? Is there already a way?”

【Of course. Naoki himself exposed all his weaknesses—the key lies in Naoki’s own condition and his throne.】

There are two things needed to perform a full-scale Rayshift across the entire island.

The first is an immense amount of Mana accumulated over two thousand years.

The second is Naoki, who theoretically possesses unlimited Mana output.

If either of these is lost, Rayshift cannot be performed. This means that as long as the throne is destroyed, or Naoki is defeated, his objective will not be achieved.

【But even if we choose to destroy the throne, we will ultimately have to face Naoki. So, essentially, the only way for us to stop Naoki is to defeat him—or rather, to make him exit that unlimited Mana state.】

“So you came looking for me.”

Naoki Number Two, who had recovered, rubbed his face: “I thought you were worried about me.”

【The person in this world least in need of worry is the one who bears the name ‘Natsukawa Naoki’. Naoki Number Two, let’s confirm this once more, you can make Naoki return to his original state.】

“Yes, of course.” Naoki Number Two said, pulling out a Holy Sword. “The reason the original has unlimited Mana is because of his contract with the planet. And as long as he holds the Holy Sword again, that contract will be nullified, and he will lose his unlimited Mana—that’s what he said. But it doesn’t actually have to be held. I’m just giving an analogy. In fact, just a single stab with this Holy Sword is enough.”

Stabbing Naoki with a Holy Sword?

Ritsuka and the others frowned.

“That’s a bit difficult. I’m not sure the Department Head would be so easily stabbed by us.”

“Of course. After all, he almost always has the initiative in close combat. Although it’s been over two thousand years since he seriously fought anyone, and there might be a slight regression, the power he has now is enough to cover that regressed part. If we fight him directly, we will be annihilated.”

Naoki Number Two laughed: “So, we have to attack from the side—you know what to do. Merry, since this is your expertise.”

Merry’s expertise?

Hearing Naoki Number Two’s words, everyone present felt a bad premonition, except for Musashi and Tomoe who hadn’t interacted with Merry very often. Those present had been victims of Merry and knew how dirty, low, and varied her methods were.

【Ah~~~~~ I see, this is the plan. Hmm hmm, I understand.】

Merry thought for a moment and immediately understood Naoki Number Two’s intention.

【Indeed, this is the method with the highest success rate we can take, but at the same time, it’s also the lowest. What if it fails?】

“Then I will use Plan B. It’s a secret for now, but it’s a plan I can accomplish on my own, without needing you all to cooperate with me.”

【Hoh hoh~~~ Well then, so be it. I will draw up the detailed plan. See you again.】

After saying that, Merry ended the contact.

Listening to the encrypted conversation between Merry and Naoki Number Two, which only they both could understand, the others were all confused—had these two already reached an agreement on a plan to deal with Naoki?

“Big Brother Number Two, you two...”

“Eh? Looking at your expressions, it seems you don’t understand at all, but it doesn’t matter. Our plan should be kept secret for now. After all, no one knows when the original might be eavesdropping.” Naoki Number Two pointed upwards. “The current me has a rather dark sense of humor. I won’t miss eavesdropping, spying, or monitoring anything. So, before the final battle arrives, you as the implementers don’t need to know too much.”

“Later, just follow all of Merry’s directions. You might not trust me, but at least you trust Merry.”

Naoki Number Two said, pulling the door and exiting the private room.

Mordred raised an eyebrow: “Where are you going?”

“To mind the shop—oh right, Musashi, Gozen, come down and work. Even if there aren’t many customers, work shouldn’t stop.”

Hearing his words, Musashi and Tomoe hurriedly followed him.

Seeing the three of them leave, Mash showed a slightly anxious expression: “If this continues... will it really be okay?”

“Who knows? Now we can only trust them.” Ritsuka sighed. “By the way, what should we do next? Department Head Number Two has been found. Should we look for Caster?”

【Ah, right, right. I almost forgot one thing.】

Suddenly, Merry’s voice was heard again.

【Ritsuka-chan, please tell me your body measurements.】

“Eh?” Ritsuka was surprised, “W-what for my body measurements?”

【Of course, to make you clothes. Although I have your old data, who knows if you’ve gotten bigger in the last six months? Gray-chan, please take the measurements on the spot.】

“Wait, Big Sister Merry, what are you making clothes for? Didn’t you say you were going to draw up a plan to fight Big Brother?”

【Of course, because clothes are a necessity—a kind of inner garment for victory!】

Ritsuka: “!”

Mash: “!”

Gray: “!”

Mordred: “?”

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Meanwhile.

At the counter downstairs.

After returning here and resting his head on the table, Naoki Number Two narrowed his eyes.

【This will fail.】

That familiar voice echoed in his mind.

【You should know very well. This time it will also fail. The current him has no blind spots.】

(Yes, of course, I know. That’s why I never put my hopes in them from the beginning, you know that.)

Naoki Number Two thought with a smile.

(But, their failure will make my idea go smoothly. For me, that’s enough.)

【I don’t care what you want to do, don’t forget our agreement.】

(Of course, I will abide by it, Vortigern. Our agreement and shared hope will surely come true. So, don’t rush. Having waited two thousand four hundred years, these last few days don’t matter.)

(I will surely destroy this island and all fairies.)