Chapter 1018: Heading to the Great Cavern
Evading the Counter Force might still fall within the realm of what a magus can achieve—it's essentially equivalent to playing hide-and-seek.
But avoiding the world's interference?
That means standing still, openly and unashamedly letting the world interfere, yet the world still can't touch him!
Is he some kind of conceptual being?
"I wonder if I can do it too?"
Eiji looked at Ector.
Ector had nothing to say.
Because he had never met someone like Eiji before. He was completely in the dark, with no idea whether Eiji could evade the corrective force of history!
How should he put it?
"As expected of the man Cernunnos has taken a liking to!"
Ector let out a long, deeply emotional sigh.
Cernunnos smiled awkwardly.
Ector slapped his knee firmly and straightened his robust body.
"There's no helping it. This old man will accompany you to the very end! Even if the outcome is deafness or being thrown into the sea, I won't utter a single word of complaint!"
...
After breakfast, the group of three—Cernunnos and her companions—became five, and they set off once again.
"Hey, young man, why do you always wear that strange mask?"
Once they were on the road, Ector stroked his beard and looked curiously at Eiji's face beneath the hood.
However, his face was still covered by sunglasses and a mask, making it impossible to see his features.
Precisely because his appearance was hidden, Ector was all the more curious.
"I'm too handsome. I'm afraid I'll distort your purpose!"
Eiji said very seriously.
"If you don't want to show your face, just say so!"
Ector glared at him in exasperation.
These days, no one believes the truth!
Eiji sighed ruefully.
"Cernunnos, can you see through his disguise?"
Ector then turned to Cernunnos at the front of the group and called out loudly.
"I can!"
Cernunnos turned back and replied matter-of-factly.
"But I'd need to use perspective magic or something similar." The Fairy Eye doesn't have that kind of ability."
At that moment.
Everyone was riding on magical beasts that Cernunnos had attracted with her magecraft, moving forward steadily and swiftly.
Cernunnos led the way at the front, followed by Ector and Eiji, with Mash and Habenyan bringing up the rear.
Ector muttered about what a pity it was, then fell silent again after a while.
Eiji, meanwhile, took out his camera and habitually began recording the scenery along the way.
"Speaking of which, I haven't asked you yet."
Eiji suddenly thought of something and looked at Cernunnos's slender back.
"What were you originally planning to do?"
They had detoured to Norwich because Cernunnos had sensed the presence of Mirror-series magecraft.
So, where had they been heading when they set out this time?
"To investigate some places."
Cernunnos hesitated for a moment, then waved her hand.
The magical beast Eiji was riding immediately sped up, moving to the front and running alongside the one Cernunnos rode.
Ector immediately watched with great interest.
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"Uther has already defeated the six great clans. I thought that Britain would enter a long period of peace—that's what I originally believed. So, I planned to investigate some of the more suspicious places on the island of Britain and eliminate the threats lurking there."
Cernunnos explained in detail to Eiji.
That way, the world would be at peace, everything would be auspicious, and everyone would achieve a happy ending... That was what Cernunnos had originally thought.
"And now?"
Eiji pressed.
"Continue."
Cernunnos replied without hesitation.
"There's still half a year until the coronation ceremony. Returning now wouldn't be of much use anyway. It's better to take this time to resolve the island's hidden dangers. Moreover, I need to carefully consider methods to change the future!"
Her logical thinking remained clear.
Cernunnos wasn't frightened into losing her rationality by the terrible future. Instead, she maintained her composure, methodically contemplating ways to achieve victory.
Truly worthy of being a savior who has fought for over three thousand years - she's indeed reliable!
"In that case, I'll accompany you as well. Where do you plan to go next?"
"Thank you. Next, I plan to head to the Great Pit!"
"What? You want to investigate the Great Pit?"
Eiji was instantly shocked.
Is she that bold?
That's a place even I don't dare to approach!
"Looking across all of Britain, only the Great Pit remains the most mysterious and unfathomable!"
Cernunnos's expression was extremely serious.
"The 'Ash' spread throughout Britain likely originates from the bottom of the Great Pit! If my speculation is correct, that's probably the source of the Mors! Some entity located there is cursing all the fairies throughout Britain!"
Indeed.
Eiji from the future could reach the same conclusion.
"But isn't investigating the Great Pit now too reckless?"
Yet Eiji still maintained his opposition.
"The danger there can't be explained in just a word or two. Even the future... I didn't dare approach that place!"
After Queen Morgan's coronation, she established the capital Camelot with its back against the Great Pit.
This was probably because Morgan viewed the Great Pit as Britain's greatest threat, wanting to monitor its condition at all times to respond to any changes immediately!
Even someone like Morgan feared the existence within that Great Pit, so Eiji naturally didn't dare approach it lightly.
The danger was too great!
"But the Great Pit has been there for thousands of years without disappearing. According to your account, it probably still hasn't disappeared over two thousand years later, right?"
Cernunnos's tone was filled with gravity.
"In that case, we'll eventually have to investigate the true nature of that threat. And right now, this is the strongest lineup I can gather, with your help too... If we don't investigate the Great Pit now, I'll definitely regret it!"
"Please, Eiji!"
Cernunnos turned to look at him, speaking with utmost seriousness.
Even pleading with him.
"Mors is lethal poison to fairies, so we need humans who aren't afraid of Mors to help. I can't manage it alone, so please, lend me your strength!"
Emotionally speaking, Eiji felt this wasn't the right time to approach the Great Pit no matter what.
The danger inside was truly unprecedented in his life.
Far more terrifying than True Ancestors or anything else!
Even Arcueid's rampage back then didn't give him such an intense sense of crisis!
Investigating the Great Pit now seemed like incredibly reckless behavior no matter how he thought about it.
However.
Eiji's eyes reflected Cernunnos's earnest face.
Her words were nearly begging.
This was the first time Eiji had seen her make such an expression.
"...Let me say this first - if problems arise, we must retreat immediately."
"You mean?"
Cernunnos's eyes immediately lit up.
"Consider me risking my life to accompany a noble cause!"
Eiji shrugged and smiled helplessly.
It might not be a bad idea to investigate the Great Pit now after all.
Perhaps the Great Pit now is slightly weaker than it would be two thousand years later?
Moreover, my companion is Cnoc na Riabh, and although she is certainly not as strong now as she would be 2,400 years later, she has still defeated the Great Calamity multiple times. Combined with Mash and the others, this is truly the most ideal lineup imaginable—it might just be possible to venture in and investigate!
"Mhm! Thank you, Eiji!"
Cnoc na Riabh's face bloomed with a bright, daffodil-like smile.
It was a smile Eiji had never seen on her 2,400 years later.
"Even if it's just for this smile, this trip wouldn't be a waste."
Eiji thought of the unapproachable queen.
He sighed inwardly.