Dawn was breaking.
"Hah, hah… I should probably get ready soon… even if he is a worthless nephew, I should at least go and see him off…"
"Haaah… just a little, a little longer… just one more time—♡!"
"No… this is the last time… I'll do it for you tonight… ngh!"
Aife gasped for breath as the milky white magical energy filled her to the point of overflowing. And so, our heated night came to an end.
"Hah… really, everyone, just give me a break today."
"But… you promised to love us, didn't you?"
Medb, who was lying face down between Scáthach and Aife on the bed, propped her chin on her hands and spoke. When it came to matters of the night, Medb had the most stamina. Her constitution was on a different level.
"But today is the day of Conchobar's exile. And after that is Cathbad's execution. So I have to get ready early today. Because I am the king."
"Can't you just give the throne to Setanta and quit…"
Scáthach, despite her exhaustion, rose from the bed and came up behind me, embracing me.
"Only you can make me a woman in love. In your arms, I am just a wife. I prefer to be with you as your wife."
"...This is also for the future of Ulster. I don't intend to be king until I die. Setanta is a great warrior, but as a king, he is a failure. I will pass the throne on to a suitable heir, whether it be Illann or another child. Honestly, if none of them have the aptitude, I might even pass it on to a distant relative, just as the former king did for me. After that, I'm thinking of living in the Land of Shadows."
"Is that so… I would like you to reach the same realm as me. Or… I would like you to kill me before you die."
"....That is also a difficult request. To kill the woman I love, there would be nothing more painful for me. And that is a story for the distant future. Let's not talk about such gloomy things so early."
"Right…! If you're so unhappy, just kill yourself, Scáthach! And hand the country over to me! I want to have it under my rule, even for just one day!"
"You're full of energy for someone who's just been at it, Aife. You're the one who looks like you'll die first."
"Shut up!"
Anyway, everyone was full of energy, even after being up all night. It's not like we're up all night every day. There are days when we don't do it and just sleep together, or just do it moderately and sleep. Of course, the nights we're up all night are more frequent… if it weren't for the runes, I would have fainted from exhaustion.
Everyone got up energetically and took a bath together. Even in the bath, everyone was full of lust, and I was busy trying to fend them off. It's not easy.
After finishing our bath and before getting ready, I went to Illann's room and stroked the sleeping Illann. I then briefly went to the Land of Shadows and greeted the already-awake Uathach and Cacht.
"Father~!"
"Good morning, Uathach. Is Cacht sleeping?"
"Yes! He's sleeping well!"
"That's a relief. You're a good older sister, Uathach~ What about Setanta?"
"He's passed out!"
"Haha…"
So he's not sleeping, he's passed out.
"So you've come. Would you like some tea before you go?"
The real Scáthach appeared, and I shook my head.
"I have a lot to do this morning. I'll do it next time."
"...Then come tomorrow night."
"Ah, yes."
The clone (Servant) Scáthach and the real Scáthach share emotions, memories, thoughts, and sensations. However, they don't share them at the same time, and it's a one-way street where the real one receives sensations from the Servant. In short, when no one is around, she receives those sensations and memories and… does things on her own. She even makes a doll that looks exactly like me with runes. So, I occasionally go and do it with her as well.
That's why it feels like I've been coming more often lately.
"That Conchobar fellow, do you think he'll come to his senses?"
"I wonder… I hope so."
Conchobar's punishment was increased from one year to five years due to Cathbad's treason. The retainers said that ten years was too long, and asked me to be lenient since he was royalty. I went along with that and made it five years.
Returning to Ulaid, I prepared for the execution and went to see Conchobar off.
"Conchobar. Why did you do it?"
"...."
"...Never mind. Live quietly in your place of exile."
"...I don't understand."
"?"
He, who had been quiet, finally spoke to me.
"What's the difference between you and me?"
"...What is the intention of that question?"
"I don't get it… why can you change fate, but I can't?"
"...Clairvoyance, is it? Well, I don't really use my clairvoyance. It gives me a headache."
"That's it! How can you change the future when you don't even see it… I can't change it. It's as if it's meant to be. I saw the future, but I couldn't change it. Macha's case was also a predetermined fate, so I couldn't alter it. And that race was truly enjoyable. I believe I paid a price for it… but I still don't get it. What's the difference between you and me? Why, when I was born with this power, am I different from you?"
"Did you even try to be different?"
"What…?"
I sighed and expressed my displeasure as I spoke to him.
"I have worked hard my entire life. To become stronger, to change the unfortunate future of Ulster… and even Erin. But what have you done? Nothing."
"I also—"
"Don't you dare say you've worked hard when you haven't worked as hard as I have. It's disgusting to hear, Conchobar."
"..."
"You may be my nephew, but I never thought you'd be such a terrible piece of trash. You can't even be recycled. Enjoyable, you say? Paid a price? You were a lost cause from the beginning. The fact that you don't even regret it now means that you should never have been given that chance. How could it be enjoyable to see a pregnant woman painfully race against a horse? You are not even on the fringes of humanity. Honestly, I want to execute you. A fae would be better than you."
"...."
"I have nothing more to say to you. Conchobar, I have given you many chances. While I was king, and even before that, I gave you advice frequently. But it was you who did not listen and lazily accepted the future as it was."
"That's…"
"Conchobar. This world is not the only one. There are countless, innumerable parallel worlds. That is why the Second Magic is a miracle that cannot be interfered with. The Proper History of Humanity is not one. There are numerous Proper Histories of Humanity in the numerous parallel worlds, and even within those Proper Histories, there are numerous world lines of possibility. Among them are the disappearing Lostbelts, and the Missing Belts that should not have existed. Among the countless parallel worlds, there would have been a world line where you prevented Macha's incident. You just didn't even try. Instead of blaming others, you should have made a proper effort yourself. At least in this world line, you will go down in history as the worst of humans."
"...."
"Even Nessa didn't come to see you. Even though you are her only child."
Conchobar had siblings. Findchóem and Setanta's mother, Deichtine. Both were Cathbad's daughters, and they were half-siblings. Now that they were dead, Conchobar was alone. He was neglectful and uninterested in his siblings as well. He didn't even cherish his own family, and he was the type to not even attend their funerals, saying it was a bother.
"She probably doesn't want to see you anymore, you who are not even grateful for the love you have received until now."
"...The world is unfair."
"If you said that after having tried, I would listen. But who would listen to the words of someone who hasn't? Leave, Conchobar. It is the path in life that you have chosen for yourself."
"..."
Conchobar got into the carriage and left Ulaid. We probably won't meet again…
Now, all that's left is Cathbad's execution.
"Your Majesty, the execution is ready."
"Yes, I'll be right there."
The one in charge of preparing the execution was Sencha mac Ailella. A poet of Ulaid and at the same time a judge, he taught the warriors oratory and judgment, and had also been Setanta's teacher. Of course, he was a man who taught common sense, not fighting. He used to hate women, and after making an unfavorable ruling for that reason, he was cursed by a goddess and changed his values.
"Has Conchobar left?"
"Conall… are you alright? He was your cousin, after all."
"I am fine. No one liked Conchobar anyway. As long as my aunt does not fall ill from grief…"
Conall Cernach. The son of Nessa's older sister, Findchóem. Along with Conchobar, he was my nephew, an orphan who had lost his mother, Findchóem, and his warrior father. Despite that, he grew up to be a fine warrior and was currently one of the few talented warriors in Ulster that I acknowledged.
He was born with a prophecy that he would kill more than half of the people of Connacht in the future and was almost assassinated by Connacht. He had injured his neck as a baby and now had a crooked neck.
"Is that so… I'm glad to have a dependable nephew like you."
"Thank you."
"Sometimes, feel free to call me uncle. I'm not technically your uncle on the family tree, but since you don't have one."
"Haha, I will call you that from time to time."
Come to think of it, there was a summit of the kingdoms tonight. Things have gotten more complicated with the emergence of a new nation called Mide in the center, which broke away from Mumu two years ago… a summit, is it?
"Your Majesty, the preparations are complete."
"Good work, Celtchar."
The executioner who would personally behead him today was a sturdy, bear-like man who reminded me of the original Fergus, Celtchar mac Uthechair. A warrior with gray hair who was impressive for going topless and showing off his muscles.
"Then, let the execution proceed. I have no last words, nor anything to say."
"You will surely regret this… because of you, Ulster will come to an end!"
"We will see if that brilliant prophecy of yours comes true. Farewell, Cathbad. Go to the afterlife and apologize to the former king with tears in your eyes."
SLASH…!!!
Celtchar beheaded Cathbad, ending the long and ill-fated relationship.
"Your Majesty, if you are going to the summit, you must prepare now."
"Yes, I'll be right there."
With Sencha's words, I prepared to go to the five-kingdom summit that would be held today.
"Fergus."
"...Nessa."
"...Have a safe trip."
"Haha, I will."
Nessa smiled and said goodbye to me. I entrusted the throne to Scáthach and took Medb and Aife with me to the summit venue. The summit venue was in Mide, in the center of Erin.
The carriage ran and ran, and we arrived in the evening and went to the summit venue.
"This is my first time here."
"It's changed a lot from the old days…"
"Well, let's go in."
At the summit venue, the other kings were already waiting. But… why was a pigeon sitting in a chair?
POOF~!
"Haha, you're late, aren't you? King of Ulaid."
"...You must be the King of Mumu. This is my first time seeing you in person."
Cú Roí mac Dáire, the King of Mumu (Munster). The greatest shapeshifter in Erin.
"There's still some time before the summit."
Nuadu Necht, the King of Laighin (Leinster). A man who has not been king for long, but he has an extraordinary aura.
"Still, for the High King, not to come earlier is a problem. Is he trying to say he's different?"
Eterscél Mór, the King of Mide. The son of the former king of Mumu and the current king of Mide.
"That's enough. Now that we're all here, shouldn't we start the summit?"
Ailill mac Máta, the King of Connacht. The king of Connacht that I had appointed, and a man who has now made his country a great power whose military might surpasses even Ulster's among the five kingdoms. He should shave his beard.
"I apologize for being late. Then, shall we begin the summit?"
Fergus mac Róich, the King of Ulaid and the master of Erin.
"The topic of this summit was… an oracle, wasn't it? A prophecy that a great end will come to Erin because of two sacred bulls."
As I began to speak, the King of Mumu, Cú Roí, answered.
"Yes. We have heard that the swineherds of the fairy king Bodb of Munster and the fairy king Ochall Ochne of Connacht fought each other and transformed into eels, which were then eaten by the cows of Ulster and Connacht, respectively. And the lesser gods who were thus eaten were reincarnated and became sacred bulls. Is that right, King Ailill?"
"Yes, my white-horned bull, which I have deliberately not named, is that divine beast."
"Then, King Fergus. Is there such a bull in Ulster?"
Nuadu, the King of Laighin, asked me, and I thought hard. There was definitely one. The golden bull, Donn. The former king had also been very fond of it. But… I feel like I haven't seen it in a while.
"Yes… there was a golden bull…"
"Hmm? If it's that one, I butchered it yesterday because it looked delicious."
"".....?""
Aife's bombshell… she ate it?
"It's a common thing in the fairy realm or the Land of Shadows. Divine beast meat is a delicacy."
"Ah, I'll admit that."
"Well… that's true. She says she butchered it. Then let's just say that only King Ailill's bull is a problem, and you can either butcher it or keep a close watch on it. Then let's move on to the next topic."
""....""
The kings looked at me with a "what kind of bastard is this?" look in their eyes. Don't look at me, I didn't know she was going to eat it either. It's because Aife has lived in another world.