"So... you're doing a splendid job indeed."
After a brief trouble, when I returned, Nero, who I had sent to stop Artoria, was singing with Artoria. Since it was a song even I found hard to listen to, I physically destroyed their performance stage and stopped them.
"Really, if you do this again, I'll get angry. Didn't I ask you to do something? It's not like it was impossible or there were circumstances, so how can you just get swept up and play around? I trusted you and asked for your help."
"My apologies, Master... but, that... I heard you saw the naked bodies of other women..."
"Is an accident the same as doing it on purpose? It's not like I went and had sex with them or anything, are you trying to change the subject? Nero, sit down over there."
"Wow~ Fergus's fatherly voice is starting~ Run away."
Illya, who had been clapping and speaking, said with a serious face and immediately rode Shiro (the bear) and really ran away. I had scolded Illya before for staying up all night playing games... for about, 8 hours?
It was out of genuine concern, but she doesn't understand that feeling.
"Hey, Fergus... isn't now not the time for such talk?"
"What do you mean, Olga?"
"They seem very interested in you... they keep asking me questions!"
"... Olga must have seemed easy to talk to. This won't do. We can't have this. Let's talk later, Nero."
"I'm saved..."
Artoria and Kiyohime, who had asked Olga numerous questions. I walked over to those two.
"Hey hey! You there, want to do a duet with me!? It'll definitely be a hit!"
"A duet... I'm not interested in being an idol."
"Ehh~!? But you're a gem!"
"Now now, let's end the chitchat... I have a very serious question for you."
Pushing Artoria aside, Kiyohime stood before me. Covering her mouth with a fan, she asked me. Wait, she's 13 but taller than me...? No wonder no one sees her as a child. She's even taller than Nero and Artoria (Saber).
"Are you, by any chance, Anchin-sama...?"
"I'm not bald."
"Of course not. You're not Japanese either... but, I can tell... especially those eyes! They resemble Anchin-sama greatly..."
"If it's about narrow eyes, I can introduce you to someone named Tristan."
"No!? It's not just appearance... I can tell... your soul is undoubtedly Anchin-sama... You must be Anchin-sama's reincarnation!"
"I'm from the 1st century BC, and that monk is from the 10th or 11th century AD. What, are you reversing time?"
"I'm sure of it! You are definitely this Kiyo's Anchin-sama!"
She's already decided on the answer... what a lovesick fool. Not even like Manaka, who's a lovesick fool, but just because I'm handsome, I'm Anchin? Really?
She sees me as that homosexual bald monk?
Seriously hurts my pride...
"If I were Anchin... let me explain why I'm not Anchin. Sit down."
"No! You are Anchin-sama! Don't deny it!"
"No? Sit down."
"I can't do that! You are definitely Anchin──!"
"Sit."
"───Yes."
When I spoke seriously with a stern face, Kiyohime flinched and sat properly.
"I am not Anchin. Let me explain the reasons one by one accurately and logically. First, I am from the 1st century BC, completely different from the era you live in, and I have reached the Root. If I had reached the Root, it would be normal to know if there were things like reincarnation or past lives. Ah, speaking of past lives, the Western system and the Buddhist reincarnation system are a bit different in method, which is────"
"Ru, run away! If you listen to that, you'll get sucked in! It's the hellish sermon time that even made Sella mentally break down!"
"Huh? What's that..."
"Hurry! I warned you!"
Illya shouted while running away, and everyone, not understanding, followed her and moved far away... Artoria, who approached me clueless, was forced to sit down and listened to my scolding together. Artoria really has no manners. Despite having future knowledge and memories, she ate up noble-like etiquette? Must have had some drug in the blood she drank.
And so, a full three hours of sermon continued...
"Hey, Fergus... I'm hungry."
"That's why your song lacks sincerity... Oh, you're hungry? Now that I think about it, we were supposed to eat. It's already been three hours? I haven't even finished half. Let's do the rest after eating. You all come too."
""........""
The two had dead eyes and were drooling. Hmm, with such weakened spirits, they would have died long ago in Ulster.
"In that state, it's like temporary hypnosis level? Did Sella do everything Leysritt asked?"
"Wow... that's really harsh."
"Umu, I absolutely do not wish to experience that..."
"I thought I could give a talking-to to Illya or others when needed... but I can't even reach Fergus's toes."
"Is this the boomer power of a 600-year-old pretty boy? Even I'm scared..."
The group was shocked seeing my sermon (the art of killing people with words), and Illya, who had experienced it once before, patted their backs with a hollow laugh.
I made a kitchen in the destroyed performance stage and immediately prepared to cook.
But...
"Master. I sense something with immense power from afar. Compared to you and I, it's much weaker... but it's the most powerful magical energy in this Singularity."
"Huh? Powerful magical energy? What's that..... This, magical energy is..."
Along with Nero's words, I detected the magical energy felt from afar while sensing it. This familiar magical energy... like warm sunlight...
Thud thud thud thud...!
From afar, I see something running, kicking up dust and wind.
"An enemy?"
"No, put away your weapons..."
Everyone was on guard, but I stopped them and walked forward.
I see it running from a distance. I see it running with flowing blue hair. It looks very similar to someone, but there's no way I wouldn't recognize it.
"Hmm... somehow, it looks very much like Fergus, doesn't it?"
"It resembles Lancer more... wait, could it be...?"
Jeanne was puzzled, and Artoria seemed to have guessed. Just seeing that face from afar made tears flow. No, I couldn't help but cry...
And then, it reached right in front of me and jumped at me.
"Father~!!!"
"Conla...!"
Whoosh...!
And, I hugged such a daughter. Conla... my, daughter...
"Conla... Ah, my lovely daughter..."
"Hehe... crying? Father."
"How could I not cry... my daughter, left alone, came all this way to meet me..."
"... Heh, that doesn't matter. I lived long and was satisfied? More than that... I'm happy to meet you, Father."
"You're truly an angel, my daughter...!!!"
"Whoa!? Tears are flowing like a waterfall!"
I held Conla and shed tears endlessly. My daughter... a precious child I couldn't see even though I wanted to, unlike my wives...
"Really~ such a crybaby? Our father."
Conla also hugged me, and I soon stopped crying and put Conla down.
"Sorry... I was just so happy... hehe."
"I expected it~ I kinda thought it would be like this. But, who are they?"
Conla looked at the girls behind me and spoke. I should introduce them first, right?
"First, this is Illya. She was my Master in the Holy Grail War I was summoned to before. She followed me well, like a father."
"Heh~ Father does have strong paternal love. Who are they?"
"These are my new wives... this is Olga Marie. Here is Jeanne, here is Artoria. Lastly, Nero."
"Nice to meet you~ I'm Conla. Father's fourth daughter and second child! First, if you're nice to me, I'll tell you one secret about Father each☆"
"Why would you tell them that!?"
"Ahahaha!"
Really... more than relieved, I'm happy. Could there be a happier day after becoming a Heroic Spirit?
"That child is Fergus's daughter... she resembles him greatly."
"Indeed. A daughter from his lifetime... somehow, I feel awkward about my position."
"Umu... quite a complicated family."
"On the level of Britain, I'd say..."
"A real daughter, huh... different from me..."
Everyone was cowed by Conla's appearance...
"It's okay~! Even if I'm Father's biological daughter, you can follow Father like a father too~! Or do you want to become sisters with me?"
"No, is that okay...? No jealousy or anything?"
"Those narrow-minded folks died long ago~ There's no one like that in our family? Well... the wives are a bit like that. Her personality was so rotten it was hard to fix... anyway, yes! You're Illya, right? You can call me big sister!"
"Is this the Ulster family..."
Fortunately, it seems Conla is getting along well with Illya. As expected of the second child.
"Just like Conla. Please get along well, you two."
"... Understood, Berserker."
"Hehe~ Ah, Father. I have something important to say."
"What is it?"
"Oops, first, Father's group members are coming from over there? More importantly, there's something else..."
"I can see Ritsuka. So, the more important story is...?"
"Actually... coming to France, I'm not alone."
"... Are you saying someone else came?"
"Yeah. We were summoned together originally, but she said she'd go separately to find the cause of the Singularity. It's more efficient, so we agreed to meet then."
"Who is that? No, I think I know... if it's that personality, there's only one person."
"Right? So, let's go find her."
At the coastal city of Marseille, located in the southernmost part of France.
Umin and Xu Fu were investigating the area and had left Marseille to investigate elsewhere.
"Umin... aren't you hungry?"
"Hungry... but we have no money."
"If only I knew how to cook...!"
"Me too..."
Umin had gotten hungry, but with no food to eat, she was moving while starving. As a spirit, she doesn't need meals, but after living long in human society, she started feeling hunger. It's just a feeling, though...
The two hadn't encountered any special enemies and were searching for the other group and the enemies of the Singularity... when a girl appeared before them.
"Who are you?"
"That's what I want to ask. That, it's a Command Spell. I didn't think there would be a Master in this Singularity since it's not a Holy Grail War... seeing you, you're not human."
"But... I asked who you are."
"Are you asking for my name? Indeed, I should first reveal my identity so you'll answer my questions."
"My name is Uathach. I am the daughter of the great lord of Erin, Fergus mac Róich, and the queen of the Land of Shadows, Scáthach, and the gatekeeper of the Land of Shadows."