WHOOSH~!!!
"Hah... hah..."
Learning from Scáthach in the Land of Shadows was on a completely different level. It would be no exaggeration to say that I learned almost everything. Magic, martial arts, hand-to-hand combat, assassination, traps, and even how to sail a ship.
I had learned a little of all of these things before, but the level of instruction was in a different league from what I had learned in Ulster. Scáthach was demanding, but I had no choice but to accept that she was a teacher comparable to Chiron.
"Your absorption rate is certainly fast. As expected of Fergus. It's a shame you don't have much talent for magic, though."
"Still, I'm doing my best..."
I was certainly a natural when it came to physical skills. And since it was me, I was above average in the mental aspects as well. The problem was my magical talent. Fergus's basic talent was too lacking in the environment of the Age of Gods. I was learning the Primordial Runes, as well as the regular ones, but... it was not easy. Still, I had succeeded in mastering one. I had learned the basic Ansuz.
I was continuing to learn the other runes, so maybe I would master them soon? It had been a month since I came to the Land of Shadows, and my growth had been like a storm. Perhaps because of my good basic physique, I was keeping up well with Scáthach's unreasonable training.
CLANG...!
"Look at that, how barbaric. Is that any way to teach someone, beating it into their body like that?"
While I was training with Scáthach, Medb would watch from a distance and offer her commentary. Her relationship with Scáthach hadn't improved, but they did talk to each other and bicker, so it wasn't a bad relationship. It was more like... a rivalry.
The weapon I was using now was one that Scáthach had made for me. She had created various weapons, including Gáe Bolg Alternative (The Piercing, Impaling, Flying Spear of Death), a bow, a three-section staff, and a sword. The weapon she gave me was a sword that could freely change its form into any of those weapons. It was a sword with a different shape from Caladbolg, similar to Balmung but slightly shorter. Balmung is a greatsword, but this one has the reach of a regular sword.
It was a sword engraved with the Primordial Runes, just as the holy swords, including Excalibur, are engraved with Fairy Letters. The amount of Scáthach's affection that went into it was evident in the fact that it even possessed the power of causality reversal.
Its name was Curruid Bolg (The Gouging, Slashing, Guardian Sword). Since its basic form was a sword, it was called a sword. When it transformed, only the "sword" part of the name would change accordingly. It was also a guardian sword, signifying my role as a king who would protect his country.
Its rank was A. It was fundamentally an Anti-Unit Noble Phantasm, but upon its True Name release, it became an Anti-Army Noble Phantasm. When released, it became A++, the same as Caladbolg. Its raw power was inferior to Caladbolg's, but it could be said to be superior in terms of versatility and its power to kill an opponent. Especially since Caladbolg's destructive power was so immense that if used in a war, it could wipe out not just the land, but the enemy's city and castle without a trace...
It had a retrieval ability like Gáe Bolg, and she had also engraved such a rune on Caladbolg. And the terrifying thing about Curruid Bolg was its abilities... that Primordial Rune, she had engraved all the runes she possessed on it... even without its power, it was a bit of a cheat. It made me feel a little sorry for Diarmuid.
"Hah... thank you for the training."
"Good work."
Is today's training over? It really isn't easy...
"Well then, are you ready, Medb?"
"Why don't you rest a bit? Why do you always start right away?"
"I can rest while teaching. That's the difference between you and me."
"Wow... you're so smug."
"Haha."
Scáthach did not give Medb a weapon. In the first place, Cú Chulainn was the only one she had ever given Gáe Bolg to. No other disciple had ever received a weapon from her, so I was a special case. The weapon I gave her was not a Noble Phantasm, but in terms of hardness and power, it was on the level of one.
Medb had also become skilled with a sword and whip, so she was now a full-fledged warrior. She would soon be ten years old, and in Ulster, one is considered a warrior from the age of seven. It's just that she's from Connacht and a princess.
When we go to Ulster, I'll meet the seven-year-old Setanta.
My days were mostly filled with training, though I also took breaks to sightsee in the Land of Shadows. But it was mostly training. That's what I wanted. I would become stronger than I was now and change the future. The future of Ulster, and the future of everyone. I wanted to change a future stained with tragedy.
That is why I must become stronger.
However, things have been a bit difficult lately. She's not usually like this, but sometimes, when I'm getting into a stance, she'll come up behind me, press herself against me, and adjust my posture by groping my body... Scáthach's physical contact has been increasing, and... it's getting harder for me to hold back. Maybe it's because I'm Fergus, but my sex drive is so strong... and since I've been with Medb, I haven't even been able to relieve myself...
In the end, I'm the one who's getting worked up.
...It's better to eat before being eaten, right?
Night fell, and I went to her room. She was the one who told me I could come to her bedchamber at any time. As I opened the door to her room, I saw her sitting on the bed, drinking wine. She saw me enter hesitantly and gave me a faint smile.
"So you have come. I was waiting for you... it seems today is the day."
Gulp…
"Well, it may be the first time for both of us... but do not worry. I am well-versed in the knowledge."
"I, too, am quite knowledgeable..."
"Is that so? But... I may not know about other things, but when it comes to handling a spear, I am the best, you know?"
"I wonder... I'm quite skilled with a sword myself, you know?"
"Hoh~ that is something to look forward to."
I firmly locked the door and approached her.
"...Did you do it?"
"Haha..."
"You did, didn't you? There's no other reason for that woman to be like that."
Scáthach was bent over, holding her lower back in pain. It wasn't back pain due to old age... it was because of me.
"To think that I, I, would feel like I'm going to die from being impaled by a c—"
"Ahem, in front of a child..."
"You, me, and everyone else were born from s—. Is that something to be ashamed of... ugh, even with healing runes, my recovery is slow... at this rate, I might die from s— exhaustion... such a death is, a bit ambiguous. It's hard to say I'd dislike it..."
No... was it that intense?
"Well, I guess training is out of the question today. We'll just do it ourselves."
".....Tch."
Why is Medb so sulky...
"As, as soon as my pain subsides... we will have a wedding, Fergus."
"———A, a wedding?"
"...Surely, that wasn't your intention? I, was certain that you and I would become husband and wife..."
For the first time in her life, Scáthach showed a flustered expression. She wasn't this surprised even when she fought me... then again, if it wasn't for me, she would have probably lived her entire life as a spinster, wouldn't she? This is that, isn't it? "You're not planning to just hit it and quit it, are you?" Just living as sex partners... that would make me seem like too much of a scumbag. In any case, as a king, polygamy is not a problem. In fact, it's common for strong men in the Celtic world.
"Then let's make it official from today."
"Really... you have a talent for teasing people."
Scáthach chuckled with a "fufufu~". Was she that happy?
"In preparation for a day like this, I have prepared a wedding dress. With my wisdom, I have recreated the wedding dress of the Norse gods."
No, that's Skadi's dress... now that I think about it, I think I heard that was a wedding dress. So her personality is different from Skadi's, but their roots are the same? There's a reason Odin chose her as Skadi's vessel.
"Marriage... right, it's my fault I'm still young... just you wait, you old hag who's been trapped in the Land of Shadows."
I can hear the voice of jealousy...
A year passed since then... and a messenger bird arrived for me.
"...The king has passed away. It is time for me to return."
The death of the king. Now, as the heir, I must return. My retainers will be waiting for me at the entrance of the Land of Shadows. I have learned everything I needed to learn, so I don't think there will be any major problems. Though I won't be neglecting my training.
"Are you leaving, Fergus?"
"Yes, I have to."
"...Will you not do it one last time before you go?"
"No, we did it yesterday... we've been doing it every day..."
"Well... I haven't gotten pregnant in a year, so I checked, and it seems my eggs weren't being released because it's been so long."
"I thought you were intentionally using contraception, Scáthach."
"As if I would do that! Anyway, just plant your seed one last time before you go. I'm sure I'll get pregnant."
"You're being too blunt..."
For a year, Scáthach and I had no children, and I just assumed that either Scáthach was using contraception or I was sterile. But I was fine, and Scáthach was the problem. This is why being an old maid for so long is a problem. In the end, we had a lovey-dovey relationship until the day I left.
"Here, take this. You will be able to summon me with it."
"So, you're really going through with it..."
Scáthach gave me a runestone. It was a summoning device that would call her as a Divided Spirit.
The Wisdom of the Land of Shadows.
It was a power that copied the Throne of Heroes, created with the otherworldly wisdom of one who has reached the Root. In short, it was a tool that would create a clone of herself like a Heroic Spirit and summon it as my familiar. We had talked about Heroic Spirits before, and she had started making it then. She made it because she herself couldn't leave the Land of Shadows.
Well... I received the Wisdom of the Land of Shadows as well. Thanks to that, my head was about to explode.
"What are you doing, let's go!"
"Yes, yes. Well then, I'll be going. I'll come again when I have time, Scáthach."
"Yes, since we are husband and wife... farewell, Fergus."
And so, we left the Land of Shadows and exited the spectral realm. At the entrance, familiar faces of my retainers were waiting.
"It is good to see you are well, Lord Fergus."
"Yes, I am well. Let us go. The funeral is already over, is it not?"
"Yes, it has been concluded."
"Then all that remains is the coronation... let us go."
"Yes. By the way, the lady beside you is...?"
The retainers looked at Medb beside me with curiosity. The name Medb wouldn't do here. Then... yes, that would be good.
"Mab. She will be my aide from now on."
"...Right, I am Mab."
Well then, let's go. To my beloved Ulster.