I am Fergus.
And right now, I am a kidnapper. Me, the heir to a kingdom, a kidnapper?
It sounds like something out of a rather cliché story, doesn't it?
"Do you have any idea who I am!? I am Medb, Princess of Connacht! Daughter of Eochaid Feidlech, High King of Erin!"
"The pleasure is all mine. I am the nephew and heir of Eochaid Sálbuide, King of Ulster."
"What is this, am I being forced into a marriage? Hmm... well, you are handsome, so I suppose it might not be so bad."
So this girl has been a shameless flirt since she was a child. Rotten from the start, just as you'd expect from the greatest and most wicked villainess of the Celtic Age. A true descendant of the Fae.
"That is not my intention. You are simply fated for ruin in the future. And I am here to change that fate."
"What, do you have clairvoyance?"
"No. I had a dream."
"You kidnapped me because of a mere dream? You're completely mad!"
Despite her words, a grin plays on Medb's lips. Is it that she finds my madness amusing? Rehabilitating her will not be an easy task.
"What is our relationship in the future? What does my future ruin have to do with you?"
"Well... it is a deep relationship, of a sort. The most important part is that because of you, all of Erin is brought to ruin. It becomes steeped in blood. You will become the most wicked villainess in Celtic history."
"Oh? So I achieve a great deed? That sounds rather exciting."
"And that's precisely why I cannot let it happen. My nephew suffers a great deal because of it. It is a future that does not sit well with me. Therefore, I will change it."
"Hah! What will you do, kill me?"
"You are not very bright, are you? If I meant to kill you, I would have done it on the spot. I am giving you a chance. Because you are a woman of great talent."
A villainess who enthralled countless men and, as the Queen of Connacht, ultimately brought about the death of Cú Chulainn. She may not have been a virtuous monarch, but her abilities as a ruler were formidable.
"Flattery will earn you no gifts from me."
"I am royalty as well, so I have little need for them. Unless you happen to have the treasures of Manannán."
"As if such things exist!"
"What a shame. I happen to possess a divine armament myself."
"Wow, are you bragging? How absurd. Anyway, where are we?"
"Ah, the Land of Shadows."
"...You said you weren't going to kill me."
"And I won't."
"You look like a mere youth, and you intend to protect me in the Land of Shadows!? You truly are mad!"
Well, I came here because I have a degree of confidence in my own abilities. For over ten years, I have trained relentlessly. All to survive, to live a life different from that of the original Fergus. I felt I needed to possess both strength and intellect.
Fergus is fundamentally a strength-based character. His intelligence needed to be raised; in the original story, his parameters were Strength and Endurance A, and Agility B. He boasted a powerful physique and excellent skill, but I always felt he was too focused on swordsmanship. I've never heard of Fergus using any other weapon, nor was he like Cú Chulainn, who, despite being a Lancer, could use Rune magic and had aptitude as a Saber and Caster.
Cú Chulainn even has an aptitude for the Rider class and, in Ireland, wears a magnificent suit of armor worthy of Achilles. The difference is immense, is it not? Fergus's sword is not even a typical sword; it's more like a blunt weapon that carves into enemies. It's not like he's fencing, and it should be possible for Caladbolg to take a thinner form, like the versions used by Emiya or Medb.
His is just a drill.
So, what I had to learn were the fundamentals of hand-to-hand combat and a mastery of countless weapons.
In Ulster, I was known as the greatest madman. I was the fool who spent his days practicing martial arts training methods from wuxia stories and other insane regimens you'd only see in comics. Fortunately, even if Fergus's body wasn't naturally gifted from birth, he was born with a strong constitution. The Fergus who appeared in Part 1.5 of the original story was much weaker and less experienced than the original, but...
Even if I am from the same period, I am on a different level. I've done whatever it took to survive in this damned Age of Gods... in this Type-Moon world. Besides, the original Fergus was a great hero, enough to possess Eye of the Mind (True). He was so skilled that he could even evade a surprise attack from Hector without even looking.
I was aiming for a level beyond that.
It was also incredibly difficult to get stronger while maintaining this appearance and physique. I worked my tail off to avoid a drastic change for the worse, like how Alexander became Iskandar. I suffered through many elixirs from the court druids.
"Do not worry. I am strong. I can protect you even in this Land of Shadows. In the first place, I came here to rehabilitate you. And also, there is someone here whom I must take as my master."
"A master... surely you don't mean that legendary witch? You are out of your mind."
"Haha. That is the way of Ulster, after all."
A strange wind howled through the dark and gloomy woods of this spectral land. Medb, who was on my back, clung tightly to my neck. No matter how rotten she is, a child is still a child.
"Alright, from here on, you walk."
"You intend to make me walk?"
"If you don't, your legs will grow short."
"..."
Evidently not wanting that, Medb slid off my back. When I offered my hand, she took it meekly and walked beside me. If she would just stay quiet, she would be a truly adorable child. I have much to consider on how to go about reforming her.
CRASH...!
Just then, a tremendous roar echoed from the distance. Hmm, those footsteps... could it be that beast?
BOOM...!!
"Guaaaaaaa!!!"
"A-a monstrous boar!?"
It was a giant, monstrous boar. As expected of the Land of Shadows. Of course, such a creature would appear. The massive beast, which looked to be at least three meters tall, roared and charged toward me. I let go of Medb's hand and clenched my right fist.
"Hmph...!!!"
I threw my fist forward with all my might, and it collided with the boar's head.
CRACK...!!!
The impact of the boar's charge meeting my fist sent a shockwave of wind blasting outwards, and a deafening boom echoed through the forest. As expected of this place, it's strong; my arm is tingling. Even after all my ascetic training, I can feel I still have a long way to go.
"─────"
Silence fell over the monstrous boar. Medb, who had been cowering behind me with her hands over her head, looked up curiously as the beast went quiet...
THUD...!
"E-eeeeek!?"
"Hmm, my arm is numb... At this level, it doesn't seem to be overwhelmingly powerful, but I suppose taking it down in one blow won't be easy. This truly is the Land of Shadows."
They say the largest boars are the size of giants; at this rate, it won't be easy. With its skull shattered, the monstrous boar collapsed to the ground.
"Well, that settles today's meal. Shall we start butchering it?"
"...Just what are you?"
"Fergus mac Róich. Heir to Ulster."
"I've never seen anything like this. Slaying a Phantasmal Beast with your bare hands? There were no warriors like this in Connacht... This is the first time. The first time I've ever wanted a man this badly. You, instead of becoming a king, would you consider becoming my vassal?"
"Not interested. Would you mind helping me dress this? It's quite large, so it will take a while."
"I don't know how! I'm a princess!"
"Yes, yes. If you don't know, you must learn, correct? Now, come over here."
"Aah! Don't touch me with your bloody hands! Do you know how expensive this dress is!? This is why they call you Ulster barbarians!"
"Such things have no place in the Land of Shadows. Now, now, let's begin."
The Villainess Rehabilitation Project is only just beginning...! Instead of going straight to Scáthach, we'll live off the land in this spectral realm! First, I shall rid Medb of her obsession with cleanliness and her pretentious, high-and-mighty attitude!