Crack... Craaack...!
"Phew... Is it almost time?"
Time had passed, and many things were changing.
The environment of Ulster, no, of Erin, was gradually shifting. The continuation of the Age of Gods. And the changing environment of Erin caused by it. The time had come to part ways with the gods.
In particular, there was a reason it had to happen. It was now the Common Era (AD). The era of BC was over. Rome was under the reign of Emperors, and the Savior had been born. Possessing the Wisdom of Dún Scáith, I could know. That the Savior had descended in Europe.
Perhaps that is why. The Age of Man, not the Age of Gods, was approaching rapidly. No, rather, that was normal. The Age of Gods had already ended. Only the island nations remained. The era of mythology had to end.
I am now in my 50s... Like the Wise King (Gilgamesh Caster), my appearance remains young, but in reality, I am an old man. Thanks to the Wisdom of Dún Scáith, I will live a long life, but since I haven't reached the same realm as Scáthach, eternal youth is impossible.
"Ugh...! Phew. Is it time to go?"
I climbed to the top of the castle and looked out at the outskirts of Ulster. Outside Ulster, countless armies were arrayed.
Was it a coalition army like in the old days? Well... similar yet different. It was a coalition, but unlike before, Leinster was also included. After the death of the previous King Nuada, the new ruler of Leinster coveted my position as the High King, which I had held for so long. Indeed, everyone desires the seat of the Ard Rí. After the Queen of Connacht (Findabair) passed away from illness, the Queen's younger sister, Etarcomol—who had friction with Deirdre in the past—became the new Queen and sought to avenge her father Ailill.
This time, it was a coalition of four nations, excluding Ulster. And it was... a coalition supported by gods. Lower-ranking Divine Spirits—specifically, those who wished for the continuation of the Age of Gods. Not everyone desires the beginning of the Age of Man.
Especially the countless minor Divine Spirits unrecorded in mythology. If faith remains, they do not disappear and remain in the Throne of Divine Spirits, but otherwise, they vanish to the point of becoming part of nature. It is said that in ancient Mesopotamia, minor gods were used for labor, and in their anger, they enslaved humans. Thus, they wished for the continuation of the Age of Gods, but Gilgamesh refused and declared the severance from the gods.
Nameless gods were destined to disappear. Refusing that fate, denying humanity's future, they incited and dragged humans into war once again for their own survival. Human desire is just like that.
Thud... Thud...
War again. The curse never ends. Once again, all warriors will be incapacitated.
"Fa-Father..."
"Ilan. I entrust your siblings to you."
"I'm going too! I can fight too! I learned from Mother and Auntie as well!"
"Connla, you are still inexperienced. So, please lead Ulster by Ilan's side. Buinne is still young; they need you. It is natural for the older generation to step up for the sake of the new generation. The spirit of Ulster reaches the heavens, and Ulster will remain the greatest nation in Erin. You are the young ones who will lead Ulster forward. So Ilan, as the new King, please lead Ulster."
"Father..."
Enduring the pain as much as possible, Ilan tried to stop me. But the time had come. If we delayed any longer, it could lead to the continuation of the Age of Gods, as Morrigan once said. What the minor gods desire is not Ulster's destruction, but its submission. By killing me, the King of Ulster and High King of Erin, they intend to stop the beginning of the Age of Man. Before I can end the Age of Gods.
In the past, Arash ended a long war with an arrow fired at the cost of his life, marking the end of the Age of Gods. I am merely following a similar path.
"Is everyone ready?"
Passing the female warriors guarding the castle entrance, the members who would join me in this final war gathered.
"Ah, a perfect place to die, isn't it? Uncle."
The Hound of Culann, Cú Chulainn.
"Haa... War again in the end? Why not spend your final years quietly?"
Princess of Connacht, Medb.
"If it is natural, then it is natural. That is how Ulster should be."
Queen of the Land of Shadows, Scáthach.
"To run from such a war would be cowardice."
Sage of the Demon Realm, Aoife.
"To insist on taking me... I won't be of any help."
Mother of Ulster, Ness.
"Do not worry, I will stay by your side! Well... being next to Lord Fergus makes it even better."
Royal Druid, Deirdre.
"Are you prepared, Fergus?"
Goddess of War, Morrigan.
"Yes... Let's go. to put a period to this."
Master of Erin, Fergus mac Róich.
Today, everything ends.
Celtic Mythology.
The mythology of the Celts, centered on Ireland, was divided into many stories by era. The Mythological Cycle, leading to the wars and struggles of various divine tribes. And the Ulster Cycle and the Fenian Cycle.
If one were to name the protagonist of the Ulster Cycle, it would undoubtedly be Fergus mac Róich.
The hero of the Ulster Cycle. Fionn mac Cumhaill, the King of the Fianna Knights and protagonist of the later Fenian Cycle, was famous for respecting Fergus, his ancestor and close friend, and building his chivalry upon him. Also, the anecdotes of suffering because of subordinates were quite similar to Fergus's.
Fergus mac Róich, who created countless heroic tales and left his name as the King of Erin. His existence is historically unclear, but it is said that a king who served as the basis for such myths must have existed.
Nothing is known about his life after death. At least, it is said that he did not die but disappeared somewhere. Just like Romulus, the founder of Rome.
The people of Erin thought: Fergus, who coveted the realm of the gods, must have reached the realm of the gods and become a god himself, just as the High King of Erin was once the King of the Gods.
God of Heroes.
Just as Rome believed Romulus ascended to become the supreme god Quirinus, the Celts regarded Fergus as the Supreme God of Ulster. The reason for such faith was that he was the only husband of the God-slayer Scáthach and simultaneously the consort of the Supreme Goddess Morrigan.
In Ireland, the name of Fergus has been passed down as the Supreme God of Ulster.
A seashore on a certain island where a cool breeze blows.
"Are you sure he is really here?"
"Of course, Uther. If it is him, he will be a great help to you. Though whether that monster will cooperate is questionable..."
Two mysterious men arrived at the Isle of Skye, located at the northern tip of Britannia. A desolate island with no traces of civilization left, except for Dún Scáith, said to be the castle of a legendary monarch in the past. They came here to find one man.
A cliff on the island. There sat a man on a small rock. A mysterious man covered in rags, gazing at the sea. The man holding a staff smiled brightly and walked toward him. The man spoke from behind him.
"Nice to meet you. To meet like this, isn't it truly a fated encounter?"
Shing~!
The moment he finished speaking, a red sword swung at his neck, stopping just before slicing it. The slash, executed with just a swing of the arm without even looking back, stopped precisely without inflicting a single scratch on him.
"Whoa, whoa... Could you calm down? Honestly, I'm a little scared because I feel like you'd actually kill me. Meeting like this is fate, so won't you help me a little? I'm trying to make a King, you see."
Whoosh~ Flap~
The wind blew, flapping the rags and revealing his face. Blue hair and a youthful-looking face. His name was...
"...What do you want from me, Merlin?"
"Thanks for listening. I need to persuade a Red Dragon. Could you help me? It doesn't seem inclined to listen, so I think I need to subdue it first before we talk. I thought it would be possible for you... with the power of the legendary King of the Celts, Fergus mac Róich."
"...Put it on my tab. Not that you'll ever pay it back; I will collect this debt from that King someday."
It was the former King of Erin, Fergus mac Róich.