I, Kenneth, am going to get to the root of the problem today.

Page 82

"I don't want that!"

Magic surged forth, and Mash's protective heart awakened the dormant power. A pristine white wall appeared, and Hercules's fists didn't even leave a mark on it. His numb arms suddenly thrust forward, and under Mash's outburst, Berserker, who had chosen to clash head-on with the wall, was sent flying backward.

"Well done, young lady. I'll take care of the rest."

Kenneth leaped into the air and stepped onto the battlefield, standing in front of the unconscious Mash, joining the fray.

Chapter 209 The Dog and the Cook

If there are conditions, go for it; if not, just go for it. No reason needed. Today, Cú Chulainn is going to slap Red Archer's face. He conjures a rune scroll on his wand, and with a single, sweeping strike, he turns the ruins below into a sea of ​​fire. If his strength is lacking, he'll make up for it with enchantments; if his stamina is lacking, he'll make up for it with territory. Cú Chulainn, descended from the Caster class, is going to test his mettle against Red Archer, this mechanical monster.

The magic wand, bursting with flames, shot forward like a magic spear. The dual-wielding warrior Red A, like an old general on a stage, twisted his body to deflect Cú Chulainn's attacks one by one. He crossed his two swords and slashed forward, the cold light cutting through a few strands of hair as he forced Cú Chulainn, who was using a berserk fighting style, back.

“It seems your wand isn’t as useful as your gun, Caster.”

Red A calmly gave Cú Chulainn a look of disdain, then, with his sword hilt reversed, he stomped on the ground and suddenly attacked Cú Chulainn. His twin swords sliced ​​through the musket and pressed down on the wand, and the shattered fireballs exploded in the air. The orange-red flames allowed the two to clearly see each other's expressions.

"Whether it's practical or not isn't up to you to decide, you traitor to the archers!"

Completely oblivious to Caster's melee combat instincts, as the floor tiles beneath the dog's feet shattered, the enhanced rune activated, and Cu Chulainn, with E-level strength, unleashed a burst of power that sent the D-level Red A flying into the air.

The spreading branches broke through the floor tiles, sealing off the space where Red A could land. The ensuing magic bullets, under Cú Chulainn's control, destroyed all the arrows fired by Red A.

"The outcome is decided. It seems your skills have declined considerably."

"I'll say the same thing back to you. Whether you've backed down or not isn't up to you to decide! Honestly, you still have the mind to care about others during a fight."

Taking advantage of the moment when Cú Chulainn was distracted by Heracles' movements, Red A, whose body began to fall on its own, released the projection of his twin swords into a longbow. The taut bowstring was pulled back, and the sword blank on the string took shape under the forging of his heart.

The golden sword blank stretched slenderly as it was enveloped in magic, sharp barbs converging at the tip, aiming at Cú Chulainn below. The Red Plains Hound, the sword that slew the water demon, a Noble Phantasm that would relentlessly pursue its target as long as the archer survived.

"I thought things would be more troublesome now that you've found your Master. What a fool you are! That's enough!"

With an air of confident certainty, the Redfield Hound launched itself with lightning speed, its black and red rays parting the flames to reach Cú Chulainn in an instant. Its lips moved, and the sword that had slain the water demon began to crackle before Cú Chulainn's wide-eyed eyes.

boom--! !

Like an air-to-ground missile, the destroyed Red Wild Hound unleashed the energy of its Noble Phantasm in one go, sending a miniature mushroom cloud flying over the gate of Ryudouji Temple. The impact shattered the roof tiles, and the ensuing heatwave spread, scorching the floor tiles until they glowed red.

"Hmph, is that all? I was hoping you'd improve."

The explosion landed smoothly without raising a speck of dust. Red A, whose "show-off" skills were maxed out, showed no intention of looking back at the explosion. He dismissed his longbow and summoned his twin swords. Only after the commotion subsided did Red A, still stiff from posing, finally turn around.

Sensing the faint breath at the center of the explosion, Red A, a ruthless assassin who knew Cú Chulainn was tough, twirled his sword in his hands and decided to end this blue-clad lancer who was dressed in the wrong clothes.

"Looks like I've won this time. It seems your determination and resolve weren't enough!"

Villains die from talking too much. Red A, who is full of treachery, stood in front of Cú Chulainn, who was barely breathing, and started chattering away. Looking down at the dog lying on the ground, Red A, who was always talking, was unwilling to leave his almost rusty arm.

"Whether you have enough awareness or not, whether you use guns or canes, in the end you still have to convince people with reason!"

Annoyed by Red A's nagging, Cú Chulainn, who had been waiting for Red A to make a move, stopped acting and fell to the ground. Instantly, Cú Chulainn turned to wood, and the broken vines firmly bound Red A's body to the spot.

If Kenneth were here, he would definitely say that these two are really going all out, with bondage, restraints, and tentacles—it's like something out of an 18+ doujinshi.

"Are you a stand-in?! When did you suddenly develop a brain?!"

Unable to move, Red A, who was wrapped up with only his head showing, stared in disbelief at Cú Chulainn floating out of his petrified body.

"Ha! Since weapons can't match the performance, we should make up for it with wisdom. That's the kind of thinking a normal person should have!"

The Druid's Staff flipped in his palm, and the unharmed dog leaped onto the roof. Cú Chulainn pointed his wand at Red A, who was bound and unable to move below.

"Excuse me, but I have some new tricks up my sleeve. Come and see the power of the Forest Sage."

The wall of fire will surround the bound Red A. At this moment, Cú Chulainn's wand also bursts forth with a dazzling white light.

Burn to ashes, tree giant! Become a cage of flames—a cage of fire to be scorched to the ground!!

The wooden arm tore through the flames and grasped Red A in its palm. With a piercing creak, a humanoid cage was built from the branches that spread out from the bound Red A, and the flames spread rapidly, engulfing the tree giant.

The crackling of burning wood drowned out Red A's voice, and the spiraling pillar of fire, carrying golden particles of light, illuminated the sky above Mount Enzo. It was not the same world, but the same mountain gate. Tonight, Ryudouji Temple inevitably went through the process of a parallel world.

"Ahem, are you really Cú Chulainn?"

With spiritual energy emanating from his body, Red A, who was about to leave the field, looked incredulously at the dog floating down from the roof.

"Tch! Of course I am me. Just say what you have to say. I don't want to spend the night with a man."

With his thoughts exposed by the dog, Red A instantly adopted a serious expression, bracing himself against Kenneth, who could rival Hercules. Red A, possessing memories of the past, revealed a deep sense of apprehension in his eyes.

"That man is dangerous. Although I don't know his purpose, we must be wary of his actions. I've been there before..."

"Hey! Finish what you have to say before you leave! What happened in the past? How am I supposed to sleep tonight?!"

The dog's questioning was destined to go unanswered. Red A, whose fate wasn't particularly tough, was eliminated before he could finish speaking, thanks to the arrangement of Steins Gate. The embers were still burning, but the dog felt no sense of satisfaction at having defeated his opponent. He plopped down on the roof, pondering what the pangolin had said. Cú Chulainn looked at Kenneth, who was engaged in hand-to-hand combat with Heracles.

"Hiss! Is this guy really a magician?! What kind of magician can fight against a monster of that caliber! Watch out, I'll see what makes you so special."

Remembering Red A's parting words, Cú Chulainn wasn't in a hurry to return. Instead, he stood on the hilltop observing the man locked in a brutal fight with Heracles. Kenneth, of course, had no idea what the overpowered Red A had said to Cú Chulainn; his attention was now entirely focused on the great hero before him.

Since the Third Law was completed, Kenneth had never tested the strength of this human body. Admittedly, Kenneth could unleash his full firepower to end the battle, but there was no need. Familiarity with himself was the key to combat, and the universally recognized combat unit in the Moon World perfectly suited Kenneth's needs.

Hercules' battle cry continued. Faced with Hercules' martial prowess etched into his muscles, Kenneth, a warrior with little experience, chose the most extreme tactic: trading injury for injury. It wasn't that Kenneth was deliberately provoking a fight, but rather that only in a disadvantageous position could he quickly identify his weaknesses. The injuries he sustained now were to minimize future bloodshed. Having strength without knowing how to use it was useless. Since victory was already assured, Kenneth's task was to improve himself during the battle.

Basic fighting skills proved inadequate against Hercules's martial arts prowess. The force of Hercules's punches grazed his skin, causing deep pain. Like a canoe in a storm, Kenneth managed to dodge Hercules's attacks with remarkable composure.

"The difference in strength isn't significant, and the trajectory of the attack can be tracked, but is the body still unable to keep up with the reaction speed of the nerves?"

In a purely physical confrontation, Kenneth clearly recognized the gap between himself and these Heroic Spirits. Physically, he was no less capable than his opponents; in fact, he could even overwhelm Heracles in terms of stamina. However, his disadvantages were also obvious: Kenneth lacked combat experience, his body couldn't keep up with his mental commands, and his fighting skills were vastly different from those of the Servants. Having reached his conclusion, after exchanging a punch, Kenneth and Heracles were both forced back dozens of steps.

Chapter 210 One Slash Kills

With the flow of magic, Kenneth's body, damaged in the duel, recovered to its best condition in just a few breaths. He shook his slightly sore arms, exhaled, and Kenneth shook off the restlessness that had been plaguing him, returning to his usual calm.

"It seems I'll have to go back and learn some martial arts from Karna. My fighting skills are starting to hold me back."

Having made up his mind, Kenneth casually flicked his wrist, creating a gust of wind that forced the charging Heracles back. Battles are never about who has the higher stats; through this fight, Kenneth understood his own situation:

Like Jeanne Alter, her stats are strong but her weaknesses are also obvious. She can easily crush opponents of the same rank or lower, but she will be at a disadvantage when facing someone of similar strength but with superior martial arts. Kenneth knows that he will face many hidden threats in the future, and even if he doesn't plan to change classes, he needs to make his weaknesses usable.

With his weakness exposed, Kenneth had no intention of wasting any more time. He reached into his inner pocket, and the churning mercury in the test tube was thrown into the air as Kenneth poured it out.

[Fervor, mei sanguis.]

As the incantation to awaken it was uttered, the Moon Spirit Essence, now upgraded to the third level of magical attire, revealed its true form, the silver mercury replaced by a shimmering white light. Targeting the spreading soul aura, and watching the roaring Berserker, Kenneth slowly raised his right hand.

【Scalp! (Slash)】

With a sudden slam of his right hand, the Moon Spirit Essence Liquid, driven by the Third Law, transformed into a streak of light that swept past the charging Heracles. Everything happened too fast; the fear originating from the soul caused the Chaldea trio to instinctively retreat several meters. Even the charging Heracles stopped in his tracks due to Kenneth's attack.

"Roar? Roar! Roar—!!!"

First, Heracles touched his chest where the white light had slashed, but he couldn't detect anything amiss. Then, after letting out a slightly confused roar, Heracles roared angrily at Kenneth, who had turned to leave. Pulling his axe sword out of the ground, Heracles charged at Kenneth like a bulldozer.

"What are you doing! That Berserker is charging at you, do you want to be torn in two?! Ah—never mind! Get out of the way!!"

Olga Marie was anxious. Although she didn't understand why Kenneth's terrifying attack had no effect on Berserker, and she couldn't understand how Kenneth dared to turn his back to the Heroic Spirit, Olga Marie knew that they absolutely could not lose Kenneth as a fighting force.

"Berserker? The corpse is talking."

"What are you talking about? How could that Berserker possibly..."

Immediately afterward, Olga Marie, whose right hand was wielding a gun, froze. With the violent movement, a thin line of blood appeared on Hercules's body, running through his chest and down to his shoulder. His angry roar came to an abrupt halt, and Hercules's body slid to one side like misaligned building blocks.

Her upper body hit the ground with a dull thud, and her remains dissipated silently as spiritual particles. If it weren't for the traces of the previous battle, Olga Marie would have thought that everything before her eyes was an illusion.

"You...you...Berserker has left the stage?"

"I'm leaving. Is there a problem?"

Olga Marie was prepared for Kenneth's strength, but he kept redefining it. In just a few hours, he went from a somewhat capable magician to a monster who could instantly kill Hercules. Olga Marie found it hard to imagine just how strong Kenneth had become.

"You! You! How did you do that? Ordinary Moon Spirit Essence could never kill a Heroic Spirit. Who exactly are you?"

The scene before her was too horrifying. Olga Marie had seen Moon Spirit Essence Liquid before, but it could never achieve the same effect as Kenneth's. It was the same when she used it to defend against Archer's attack, and it was the same when she killed Berserker. In Olga Marie's mind, the mystery of modern magic could never harm a heroic spirit blessed by legend.

"He is strong, but I am stronger than him."

Kenneth was very familiar with Olga Marie's ideas, or rather, most magicians in the Clock Tower shared this view. It's undeniable that mystery loses its effectiveness in the face of even more ancient mystery, but this only applies to the mystery attached to magic; magic itself doesn't lose its power. Just look at how Rin Tohsaka used her dowry to blow up Berserker's life. Regarding Olga Marie's reaction, Kenneth could only say: the Clock Tower's rigid thinking is extremely harmful.

"El-Melloi's Moon Spirit Essence, Einzbern technology, who exactly are you?"

Before Romani could probe subtly, Olga Marie, quick to speak, once again directly inquired about Kenneth's background. Kenneth's demonstrated strength had already exceeded Chaldea's current capacity to handle the situation. Considering the subsequent transactions, Olga Marie could not allow an uncontrollable figure to enter Chaldea.

The fragile partnership was teetering on the brink. Kenneth glanced at Olga Marie, who seemed determined to make things clear, and leaned down to press his head against her side. The next second, his expression turned serious, his cheeks flushed red, and Olga Marie, clutching her body, retreated several steps in a panic.

"You, you, you! What are you saying? Nonsense! Utter nonsense! Ah—this guy is definitely making it all up!"

Kenneth is a pro at dealing with tsundere girls. By relying on some little secrets he overheard, Olga Marie, who was just moments before being arrogant, immediately wilted.

"Don't worry, little girl. Although this guy is a complete scoundrel, scent doesn't lie. Now that the deal has been made, he won't break it."

With the Druid's Staff draped over his shoulder, Cú Chulainn, who had finished watching the battle, joined Kenneth after he had dealt with Heracles. Cú Chulainn looked at Kenneth with a meaningful expression, while Cú Chulainn, feeling refreshed after defeating Red Archer, stood opposite Kenneth.

"A magician from another world. Although I am already dead, that little girl is still my Master. I don't care what your true purpose is. I just want to ask one question: what is your attitude towards them and towards Chaldea?"

Narrowing his eyes, exuding an imposing aura, Cú Chulainn tried to glean some clues from Kenneth's changing expression. Their red eyes met, and Kenneth spoke nonchalantly:

"They, interesting little ones, Chaldea, an organization trying to find the right in the wrong, I look forward to their next journey."

"Is that so? It seems my nose is still quite sensitive. You really are a capricious guy. You guys, and that spineless coward on the other side of the magic, this guy won't make a move against you. At least until the deal is done, you can rest assured that you can trust him with your backs."

At Red Archer's prompting, Cu Chulainn, out of a sense of duty as a Servant, probed Kenneth's attitude. Based on his experience traveling the battlefield, Cu Chulainn temporarily accepted Kenneth. As for what Kenneth had done to Red Archer, Cu Chulainn wouldn't ask Kenneth; getting Red Archer to open his mouth was in Cu Chulainn's nature.

With Cú Chulainn's assurance, Romani temporarily abandoned the idea of ​​testing Kenneth. The Great Hollow was close at hand, but the Chaldea trio had no intention of attacking directly. The previous ambush had inflicted considerable injuries on Mash, and now that only one enemy remained, Chaldea needed to face King Arthur at its peak.

Olga Marie was remotely directing the reconstruction of Chaldea, Gudako was studying the basics of magicians, and Fuyuki City entered the latter half of the night amidst Mashu's even breathing. Looking at the large hole below, Kenneth couldn't help but recall his struggle a year ago.

That year, Kenneth was 94. He was hollow in the woods and stood there like a lackey. But just one year later, Kenneth had the power to crush his opponents at will. When he caught sight of that faint Beast aura, the corners of Kenneth's mouth couldn't help but turn up.

"Has the Demon God Floros arrived yet?"

"What did you discover? Are they those so-called Demon God Pillars?"

Hearing Kenneth's murmur, Morgan, who was also watching the Great Hollow, floated down to Kenneth's side. The continuous noise had worn away Morgan's interest; if it weren't for Blackie's presence, Morgan would have even wanted to leave this city of only flames and ruins.

"Hmm, a blind guy, he must have just arrived and is currently hiding in another dimension observing this place."

Rafe's little tricks couldn't escape Kenneth's notice. After the other party saw some false information, Kenneth ignored this shadowy rat. Now was not the time, and killing him would allow Rafe to be resurrected in the Temple of Time. When the story ended, Kenneth would definitely prepare a big gift for Rafe.

Chapter 211 Morgan's Actions

Under the full treatment of Chaldea's black woman, Romani, Mash opened her eyes somewhat dazedly. Her unfocused vision regained focus, and as her memory remained frozen before she fell unconscious, Mash's pupils contracted, and she tried to stand up.

"Mash, Berserker and Archer have already left the field. You can rest for a while."

Seeing Mashu awaken, Romani, who had been remotely monitoring Mashu's vital signs, could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Doctor, I'm alright now. Time is running out, let's find King Arthur as soon as possible and resolve this anomaly!"

Seeing Mashu's unwavering concern for them, and knowing Mashu's physical condition, Romani reluctantly looked away from the projection, glancing discreetly at Kenneth. After much hesitation, Romani ultimately remained silent.

Mash's experiments were based on Einzbern technology, but without the support of the Einzbern family, Chaldea's technology was only functional; the lifespan and completion of the homunculus were far inferior to each generation of Einzbern Winter Saints.

Kenneth displayed technical skill far surpassing Chaldea's, which Romani couldn't possibly be unaware of. However, the relationship between Chaldea and Kenneth was merely a fleeting encounter, and having already analyzed some aspects of Kenneth's personality, Romani couldn't find a reason to speak up.

Hiding the worry on her face, Romani raised her head and gave Mashu her usual cheerful smile.

"It's alright. We plan to leave in an hour. Mr. Kenneth's companions have gone to investigate. Mash, you should get some rest beforehand. Maintaining your energy is a prerequisite for victory..."

Under the influence of Romani's mantra, Mashu, who never refuses anyone, lay down again after a moment's thought. The power within her had just awakened, and although it was still somewhat unfamiliar, the feeling of protecting the person behind her was firmly imprinted in Mashu's heart.

As Romani said, during Mashu's coma, Morgan, whose nature had been smoothed out, went to the Great Hollow after asking Kenneth for a barrier to cover the blind girl. As someone who had once been praised by Kenneth, Morgan was very curious about the side personality of this Artoria.

Following the winding cave, Morgan, who was very familiar with the Great Hollow, could arrive at the location of the Great Grail even with his eyes closed. The moonlight, obscured by dark clouds, fell, and in the space where the cave ceiling had disappeared, Morgan, whose figure was shrouded in darkness, quietly observed Artoria, who was holding a sword and standing on the ruins of the Great Grail.

The jet-black armor was covered with ominous blood-red patterns, and the holy sword given to him by the elves was also stained red with violent killing intent. Beneath the half-covered visor was a pale, bloodless face... Sensing the aura of the Black One, Morgan slowly emerged from the shadows.

"Finally willing to come out, Morgan?"

With her hands clasped over the sword hilt, Black Saber, determined to strike a pose until the very end, didn't even glance in the direction Morgan had sacrificed herself. Although she was essentially still Artoria, the cold-blooded side of her ahoge (antenna-like hair) was not as noble as her original self. To achieve her goals, Black Saber was completely ruthless and didn't hesitate to use oppressive rule.

"I was curious before why he valued you so much, but now I finally understand. Although you're still just as foolish, that naivety in you has finally disappeared. I have high hopes for you now, Lily."

Morgan still vividly remembered her first meeting with Blue Saber, but the reaction of Black Saber in front of her far exceeded Morgan's expectations. The jet-black aura armor, the violent aura, and the coldness that went to another extreme—as a witch, Morgan felt that this kind of personality of the ahoge suited her witch personality very well.

"Lily? Are you provoking me, Morgan!"

Upon noticing Morgan's address to him, the indifferent and ruthless Blackie drew his black and red holy sword and pointed it at Morgan as he walked away. Sensing the change in Blackie's tone, Morgan was certain that if he nodded directly, Blackie would really dare to shove a curry stick into his heart.

But who is Morgan? Artoria is nothing. Whether she's blue or black, even if she's piloting a Gundam and wielding a lightsaber, Morgan won't be afraid. She's just a brat. How could the witch who destroyed Britain not be able to deal with a color-changing dummy?

"Provocation? You can interpret it that way. After all, in your eyes, everything I do is a provocation, so what can you do about it?"

Morgan walked confidently toward Alter, and even with the tip of her sword pressed against his throat, he remained unfazed. Morgan tried to meet Alter's gaze, but her black mask completely obscured her expression. Even so, Morgan was certain that Alter was watching him.

"Get out of here! I don't have time to play those witch tricks with you right now!"