(I didn't expect it to be a trap triggered by the Holy Sword's detection… I was completely fooled.)
In the dense sea of black mist, Naoki sighed helplessly.
(Should I say I let my guard down? Or was I just not paying enough attention? I should've been more careful with that black egg. Getting too close was a bit reckless.)
"What exactly is this black mist?"
The moment he was engulfed by the black mist, Naoki initially thought he was under attack, but the mist only enveloped him. Beyond that, there was no other reaction.
It was like a water balloon being pierced, with the water inside spilling out.
Waving his hand randomly and releasing a shockwave, Naoki could feel the ground in front of him tear into a fissure from his attack. Yet, even with such an attack, the black mist showed no signs of dissipating, as if it was completely unaffected.
Immune to physical interference?
(Considering this black mist was triggered by the Holy Sword, using the Holy Sword to destroy it probably won't work either…)
"Department Head! Can you hear me?!"
Just as Naoki was thinking, Ritsuka's voice suddenly came from above.
"Yes, I can hear you. How's the situation up there?" Naoki replied. "This black mist isn't affecting you?"
"Black mist? What are you talking about, Department Head? Where's any black mist?"
Ritsuka, standing at the edge of the meteor crater, scratched her head in confusion. Black mist? From her perspective, all she could see was Naoki standing in the middle of the crater, and due to the distance, she couldn't see him clearly.
"Department Head, did you encounter an enemy? We just saw you suddenly create a huge fissure!"
(Fujimaru can't see the black mist? But she can see what I'm doing?)
Naoki furrowed his brow.
Could this black mist be visible only to him?
After a moment of thought, Naoki shouted, "I'm fine, nothing's happening here. Stay on standby up there."
"Huh? Okay!"
After getting Ritsuka's response, Naoki refocused his attention on the black mist—or more precisely, on the egg that released it.
Though he couldn't see it clearly due to the dense black mist, as a fairy, he could grasp his surroundings at all times, even with his eyes closed. After passing through a layer of the mist, Naoki returned to the front of the egg.
"Let me prepare first… Conceptual protection, physical protection, magical protection, three layers each. That should be enough."
After adding several layers of protection to his hand, Naoki clenched his fist and struck the egg.
*BAM!*
A tremendous shockwave spread instantly.
The entire meteor crater visibly trembled, startling Ritsuka and Mash at the edge.
"An earthquake?"
"No, it must be caused by Brother's actions."
Mash observed the situation in the crater and said, "Brother seems to be trying to break something."
Inside the black mist, seeing the unmoving surface of the black egg, Naoki clicked his tongue. "I used a lot of force, and this thing is that tough? If it can't be broken, the Holy Grail can't be retrieved either… Huh? What's this?"
Just as Naoki raised his fist to strike again, a sudden piece of information in his mind made him pause.
"[Don't… hit me…?]—What does that mean? Is someone using mental Magecraft on me?"
No, that was impossible. Mental Magecraft was one of the hardest to apply to him.
So how did this information get into his mind?
And what did [don't hit me] mean?
"Is it… you?" Naoki looked at the egg in front of him, shocked. "You mean, don't hit you?"
[Yes]
[Because, it hurts]
[I'm scared]
"Why does it feel like a little Gray talking?" Naoki lowered his fist. "If I don't hit you… the Holy Grail is inside you. I need to take it out. What exactly are you?"
[I'm not a thing]
[Vortigern, my name]
[Daughter, by nature, like that]
"Vortigern… daughter?"
Naoki's eyes widened slightly, and he hurriedly placed his hand on the egg. "You… you're the daughter of that demon dragon?"
[Ugh ugh ugh, please be gentle, it hurts]
"Oh, sorry… Wait! You said you're Vortigern's daughter? He was obliterated without even ashes left. Where did he get a daughter?!"
[Ugh, the reason is…]
The egg, calling itself Vortigern's daughter, explained itself to Naoki in broken sentences mixed with slight whimpers.
In summary—
Yesterday, as Vortigern was nearly obliterated by Moon Fall, just before he completely vanished, he made a decision during his conversation with Arthur to pass his will and power to the next generation. He used all his remaining strength to protect the Holy Grail and, at the same time, made a wish to the Holy Grail—[May my successor fulfill my long-held desire.]
From that action and wish, this egg was born.
By nature, it was indeed Vortigern's offspring. As for why it had a female personality… who knows.
However, though it was called Vortigern's daughter, it also inherited all of Vortigern's power and will. But this egg was still an unborn infant, with no intention of carrying out the obsessive commands in its mind. If it hadn't sensed the aura of [death] just now, it would still be sleeping soundly.
(It must've been the Holy Sword… This means it would indeed be destroyed if struck by the Holy Sword.)
[This is all the information I know]
[Please, don't hit me anymore]
[Your hits hurt]
"…"
For some reason, Naoki suddenly felt guilty, as if he were bullying a little girl. In fact, given the situation, he was even bullying… an unborn baby?
Though he never cared about others' opinions, this was really hard to accept—he'd definitely be mocked for this.
"Even so, if the Holy Grail is inside you, I still have to break you."
[Break, you want to destroy me?]
[I, don't want to be destroyed]
[Please, don't hurt me]
"I'm exhausted."
Rubbing his forehead in frustration and letting out a long sigh, Naoki gently placed his hand on the egg. "Alright, I won't destroy you. But for certain reasons, I need to take you away from here first. After that, we need to discuss some things. Is that okay?"
[Take me away?]
[Are you a liar?]
"Ugh… Based on my actions, I might seem a bit like a liar, but I'm not lying to you. I can at least guarantee that now and in the future, I won't do anything to hurt you."
[Ugh, okay, I understand]
[Following you, I agree]