One hour later.
On a horse-drawn carriage.
"Ouch… that hurts so bad. It's been a while since I've been this sore."
Wryneck, his face covered in bruises, clutched the swollen parts, folded his legs, and glared at Naoki sitting in front pulling the horse.
The fight with Naoki lasted over fifty minutes, ending in Wryneck's defeat.
It was a shocking result for everyone. Even Aesc, who believed in Naoki's strength, was surprised—not just a normal victory, but Naoki hadn't been touched by Wryneck even once throughout the entire fight.
He stood like a wooden post, kicking Wryneck away again and again until Wryneck surrendered.
Aesc and the others knew Wryneck's power, and to defeat him like that…
"How strong are you exactly? Natsukawa Naoki."
Wryneck couldn't help asking.
Sitting in front pulling the horse, Naoki thought for a moment. "I don't know."
"Hah?"
"My strength changes." Naoki laughed. "I'm not human—I'm a fairy, a planetary terminal. My power shifts with the enemy's strength. Normally, it stabilizes at a level just right for suppressing the opponent."
Aesc asked, "So earlier, your power adjusted to Wryneck?"
Naoki shook his head. "No, no, no. That wasn't it yet… Uh, I don't mean to underestimate Wryneck—it's just that Wryneck hasn't reached the level to trigger that state."
"Ugh! You picking a fight? That was just practice. If you dare, let's fight to the death next time!"
"I don't think Aesc wants our relationship to be like that." Naoki laughed. "Honestly, I don't hate you, Wryneck. I'd really like to get along if possible."
"I have zero interest in getting along with you."
Wryneck turned his face away. "So you're saying you beat me with just your base power? That easily?"
"No way it was easy. I used the full power I can access in normal conditions."
Pseudo-Clairvoyance achieved through fairy perception, and the Holy Sword's maximum output without True Name Release.
Aside from Summoning Magecraft and Imaginary Manifestation, Naoki used his full strength. Summoning Magecraft might be useless against Wryneck anyway, and Imaginary Manifestation isn't suited for one-on-one fights.
It's for crushing trash fairies.
"Besides, our fight was just practice. I didn't feel the need to unleash power that could fully kill you here."
"Talking like you're sure you could kill me completely."
"No—I am sure."
"Tch!"
Snorting, Wryneck jumped off the carriage. "I'm done here. I'll head back to the Fang Clan alone. See you later, Aesc, tin can, and shorty."
"Who're you calling shorty! I'll smack you!"
Totorot snapped back irritably.
Aesc looked at Wryneck. "True—you're the Fang Clan Chief. Associating with me too much would make your position difficult. You snuck out this time too, right? You must be tired."
"Tch, just out for a walk. I'm patrolling all of Britain to exterminate Mors—who'd question that excuse?"
Fairies exist for a specific purpose. They'll do anything for it. When a fairy loses their purpose, they become Mors.
Mors are the natural enemies of fairies. Upon contact, they latch onto a fairy and eventually turn the host into Mors too.
The Fang Clan is the only one that can fight Mors.
Wryneck came out this time to exterminate proliferating Mors. Meeting Aesc and the others was just coincidence—he wasn't chasing Aesc.
"Besides, I'm not suited for Londinium. Those kids you're raising are terrified of me. Official meetings with them can wait until the war you mentioned starts."
With that, Wryneck dashed away at full speed, vanishing in a few blinks.
Naoki asked Aesc, "So we're heading to Londinium now? That war… the war between humans and fairies?"
Aesc nodded. "Yes—you really know everything."
The war between humans and fairies.
It was a rebellion sparked by humans long oppressed by fairies, fueled by recent human societal growth. Though human power was negligible against fairies, scattered human groups achieved victories.
Londinium was one such human stronghold.
From Naoki's knowledge, the war would eventually escalate into total war with Aesc's intervention. Humans would win under a Londinium knight named Uther, building a kingdom where humans and fairies coexisted peacefully.
But due to the fairies' Unique Tradition, Uther would be poisoned at his coronation, and Aesc would truly despair.
But now…
"The war hasn't started—there are just signs. It'll take years to fully begin, at least until that child grows up."
"That child?"
"Uther."
Totorot explained, "A young man Aesc has her eye on. He's currently her disciple, learning combat under her guidance. In appearance, he's supposed to look a lot like you when you were young."
(Arthur in this world, huh… Arthur's looks, Uther's name, and his teacher is Morgan…)
What a combination that leaves one speechless. Some in Pan-Human History might find it incredibly complicated.
But Merry and Merlin would probably laugh their heads off.
"So we're returning to Londinium to continue building human forces there?"
"Yes, and… if possible, I'd like to ask you to teach Uther." Aesc said somewhat shyly. "I'm a Magus. I can only teach Uther Magecraft, but he… seems more talented with swordsmanship than Magecraft. So, may I ask this of you?"
"Uh…"
Naoki hadn't expected this request.
After Arthur's appearance, Uther's name, and Morgan as teacher… now a new teacher who's Arthur?
(Hmm… Using the curriculum from my Clock Tower days… Should work, right?)