Thanks to Spartacus's help, we avoided a clash with Boudica and could proceed safely.
"You seem intent on avoiding fights. You don't seem weak, but... is it still impossible to face a legion?"
"Not at all. Honestly, I was in a situation where I could win 100%. But, if I delay and other Servants join, it'll be hard to protect you while fighting. If you had the will to fight, you'd probably protect yourself, but... you don't have the will to live right now, do you?"
"... That's right."
Nero's inner thoughts probably just want to die. When Nero became a Beast, her inner thoughts, her Secret Garden, were a desire for suicide.
In the Extra worldline, the true inner feelings that even oneself hides and turns away from are called the Secret Garden. She was a woman who wished for death. Even now, she isn't much different.
Anyway, it's taking quite a while. I can't go straight ahead. There are mountains in the way, so if I detour through flatlands, it might take a bit longer.
It took several hours just for Florentia. To go further north to the France (Gaul) region, I have to avoid the mountains. Detouring also takes time...
Today, I probably won't even reach the Gaul region and will have to camp.
"You keep trying to save me. I want to die."
"Do you wish for suicide?"
"Essentially, yes."
"But do you know this? When you actually try to commit suicide, even if you succeed, right before dying, you'll think... I still don't want to die. That's how life flashes before your eyes work."
"How would you know that?"
"Because I've been through it? Leaving her alone was so heartbreaking I thought I'd go mad. Despite welcoming the rest I so desired, my final moments were filled with regret and guilt over worrying about my wife. I don't regret it now, but until the moment of death, I was marked by regret."
"So it's from experience... but you had someone precious, didn't you? I don't."
"You might not have one yet. But, as they say, human affairs are unpredictable. Wouldn't it be fine to take time until the end of this journey? Even if, after you finish everything, you still want to die, I won't stop you then. By that time, I won't be able to do anything about it anyway. It would mean I failed."
"... You say you'll save me, but that's ridiculous."
"Forcing someone who wants to die that much to live is also painful for both. Even now, I'm being forceful... but still, I hope you find meaning and true happiness in life while alive. You're still young, aren't you?"
"How old are you to say that? I'm 22."
"I've lived over 600 years."
"No wonder you talk like an old man."
"Haha..."
Was I being a bit of a meddler? It was advice born from worry, but it might have been excessive interference.
Growl...
"..."
"If you're hungry, say so. Here's a lunchbox."
"... Thank you."
"In the East, there's a saying that even a ghost who died while eating has a lovely complexion. Even if your desire to die doesn't change, don't skip meals."
"I get it, so stop nagging. Are you Seneca or something?"
"Don't compare me to a sly politician like Cathbad? I don't like it either."
"I see... Well, that traitor deserves it. Anyway, I'll eat well—"
Bang!
Then, the chariot suddenly shook violently. Nero, who was opening the lunchbox, dropped it and leaned back into the seat as much as possible, while I stretched my arm in front of her to prevent her from being thrown out. I didn't notice... what is that?
"Conspiraaacy!!!"
Suddenly appeared warriors in golden armor. Ancient Greek-style armor, it must be her.
Bang!!!
The white-horned So-Hwa Do-Un tramples the warriors. No matter how low its recognition, underestimating Erin's divine beast...
Warriors surrounded us. First, I stop the chariot and get off.
"It was probably a ribs lunchbox..."
"There are more ribs. I'll give them to you later, so wait."
The moment I get off the chariot, something agile falls from above and swings a massive beast's claw at me.
Clang!!!
"Hmm! Not bad!"
"You're quite good too. Wild combat methods are tough for Heroic Spirits who've only fought humans."
Strength B+, and with monstrous strength, it rises to A rank? Agility A also seems to have a plus. In close combat, it's decent physical ability. Blocking her claw with my gauntleted arm, I swing my arm to shake it off, but with beast-like instincts, she jumps up before that and dodges backward, the cat.
"Nyaa~! Hunting is hard indeed!"
Tamamo Cat.
One of the nine tails of the nine-tailed fox Tamamo-no-Mae and the part of her wild side that split off, an Alter Ego... but her class is Berserker. Though she's a beast without reason, the way she came to kill someone is obviously not...
Soon, the flow of air changes slightly.
"■■■■!!!!"
With a sensation of air being sucked somewhere, a sonic breath is fired directly at me.
Whoosh!
I throw a punch exceeding the speed of sound and offset it with a wind pressure strike.
"Lies!?"
"{Kirenzu Sakani} (Dragon's Roar Thunder). Even though it's E-rank, as a Noble Phantasm, it could rupture not just eardrums but internal organs for a normal mage. I've taken breaths like this many times. Not from a half-baked dragon like you who became one through a skill, but from real dragons."
"Ignoring me? For a little brat... but you're handsome, so I'll let it slide."
Swish...!
"... What is this?"
"These gauntlets are a bit special? The wind pressure seems to have become like a blade."
"Heh... Interesting. A pretty boy who hurts me, not bad."
Elizabeth Bathory.
The Blood Countess, called Baroness Bathory. A villainess who tortured and killed numerous maidens, bathing in their blood to maintain young skin.
Due to the false monster that the Bathory family are descendants of dragons, she manifests as a dragon descendant from a young age.
Then, as expected...
"So it's you? Blocking even a god's eyes. Truly a Grand Class. Still, I'm surprised. A Grand who abandons duty and sides with beasts... could such a thing happen again?"
As expected, she came.
Summoning the Greek warriors who tried to take her and using them as servants, a goddess of faith older than Zeus. The eldest of the Gorgon sisters.
Stheno.
"Nice to meet you. I wanted to meet you."
"Please don't flatter me? The stench of beasts is strong on you... It seems you've embraced not just her, but other beasts too. Discarding your duty."
Her sarcastic nature is as expected...
"Discarding duty? I'm doing fine, aren't I? There's no reason to exterminate beasts unconditionally. The role of a Grand is to prevent human evil. Yes, I'm doing well? Even if their existence itself is a threat, how can it be a threat if they do nothing? It's not like radiation or something."
"You speak well... but do you know this? She's a bomb that could explode anytime. The button for humanity's end... By defending that, you too are an enemy of humanity."
"Your sister was like that."
"....."
Stheno's eyebrows twitch momentarily as she looks at me displeased. In response, I grin.
"Still don't get it? Sister-in-law."
"Huh? What do you... Wait, you..."
"Nice to meet you. It's my first time meeting my wife's family, so my heart is pounding? Stheno. I am Fergus mac Róich. Your sister, Medusa's husband."
"......."
She should know that my words aren't a lie.
"Indeed, it's true... So, what do you want? For me to turn a blind eye?"
"I won't ask you to trust me. Instead, trust her. Trust your sister, Medusa. She's the family you love most in the world, right? Trust me, whom she trusts."
"... Trust me, whom Medusa trusts. You certainly speak as if you know me well. Did Medusa talk about me?"
"How could she not? She also holds deep guilt over your end. I'm a man who shares the same regrets as her."
"Hmm..."
"Could you please let it go? I don't want to fight my wife's sister."
"Are you strong enough to protect her from everyone?"
As her words end, Bathory and Cat leap forward, thrusting a spear and swinging claws at me.
"Yes."
I catch Bathory's spear with my bare hand and grab Cat's hand (paw). Then, lightly holding both, I swing my arm and throw them away.
"Eek!"
"Wah!?"
"... Those two are quite strong in terms of power, but you're impressive. Truly a Grand... a Grand Saber. So this level doesn't even faze you."
"If I didn't have this much strength, how could I call myself Medusa's husband? Sister-in-law."
"..."
She looks at me intently, then snaps her fingers. The warriors surrounding us disappear.
"Fine. I'll trust you, whom Medusa trusts. However, I have the position of a goddess, so I won't help you."
"That's fine, I'm grateful just for not being hostile."
"If Medusa suffers because of this, be prepared. If you make that child cry, I won't forgive you."
"Don't worry. I couldn't allow that myself."
"I hope those words are sincere... Let's go, Cat, Elizabeth. Back to the island."
"Umm... Okay, woof!"
"What a shame... Let's eat something tasty while we're here~"
Those two probably just followed Stheno for fun. Well, what could two anti-heroes be thinking? Still, it feels like they acknowledged me, doesn't it?
"That went well."
"Medusa... Such a being is your wife. Mythology is unknowable."
"A lovely wife. Here, a new lunchbox."
We drive the chariot forward again without issue. Nero eats the lunchbox noisily. She keeps glancing at me. Is there something she's dissatisfied with...? Anyway, I'll camp around here tonight.
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