Earth Princess? No, it's Fujimaru Ritsuka!

Page 63

"Eh?!"

"Please offer incense and call me Your Majesty!" Nero said angrily, hands on his hips.

"I am very sorry, Your Majesty Nero, because my senior and I were so surprised that we didn't have time to explain. Actually, this happened in the First Singularity, back then my senior and I..."

With great reluctance, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mashu explained Martha's situation to her.

"A dragon-slaying warrior! Mmm, I never imagined my empire would have such a talent! Ritsuka, Mashu, what are you waiting for? Quickly follow me to support this dragon-slaying warrior!"

Nero was eager to lead his army straight into Provence.

""

Siegfried: "

—Speaking of dragon slayers, I should be the more famous one?

P.S.: Writing a book is so tiring and difficult...TAT

Chapter 58 Tears of Sorrow Beneath the Lavender

In Provence, the lavender fields surge like a purple galaxy, flowing with the sharp wind; Lake Geneva, like a blue crystal embedded in the mountains, reflects white figures in its shimmering waters.

Boudica retrieved the Holy Grail from the lake surrounded by mountains.

Sometimes she would recall the desperate scenes from her life, remembering her daughters lying in pools of blood, clutching her hands and whimpering.

—Queen, are you also an oppressor?

Spartacus's words were like a dull knife stabbing into her chest.

He pulled out a golden magic cube from his broad chest, and the Holy Grail's light, radiating immense energy, shone upon the lake surrounded by wild purple lavender.

According to legend, twenty years ago, a woman from the province of Judah came to this place to spread the faith of the Son of God. This woman was kind, gentle, virtuous, and even possessed great power.

The inhabitants of this land were plagued by Tarasque, a dragon said to be the son of the monster Leviathan, which lived in the Rhone River. So this woman, all alone, with only a staff and a pair of armor, vanquished the rampaging dragon.

The dragon's remains were left forever in the turbulent Rhône River.

The non-divine [miracle] magic rippled into the lake. Although Tarasque's soul had perished and his bones were buried under the accumulated silt, with the Holy Grail, a magical power far exceeding human strength, even the dead could be resurrected.

"Awaken once more, dragon. I need your vengeful spirit to trample on Rome, a city steeped in sin."

Boudica's feet began to shake, but she remained calm: "In a sense, we are the same, Tarasque. Obey my command and destroy Rome."

As soon as she finished speaking, the entire earth began to tremble uncontrollably, shaking violently as if it were a tectonic plate movement... Boudica's nerves were being torn apart by this powerful and forceful tremor, and the flame of revenge burned brighter and brighter in her consciousness!

A massive body, brimming with mystery, slowly emerged from the icy lake water. Its enormous beard stretched longer than a person's height, and its eyes, filled with murderous intent and destructive power, seemed to want to incinerate everything in the world!

"This is..."

Tarasque the Dragon!

Boudica's confidence in destroying Rome grew even stronger. With such a terrifying monster, a monstrous dragon that was tens of feet tall, even the fortified city of Rome would surely crumble in an instant.

At that time, she would recklessly cross the ruined walls of Rome.

(Note: This is because Romulus, the founder of Rome, explicitly stated that crossing the Roman walls was an unforgivable act of humiliation, and even his closest relatives and friends would be executed.)

"Roar--!"

The enormous dragon roared, tearing the clear waters of the Rhône River apart with its powerful dragon aura. Its terrifying body stood there, giving people immense pressure.

""

As Boudica admired Tarasque's massive body up close, lost in fantasies of revenge and the destruction of Rome, a pristine white figure stood behind her. She shuddered, snapping back to reality to find a beautiful woman whose eyes already showed signs of weariness.

The woman sat quietly on a flat stone bench, holding an old cross.

Perhaps it was the constitution of a saint and the blessing of the divine child that allowed her to retain the beauty of her youth, but it was clear that her mental state was like a candle about to burn out.

The Iron-Fisted Saintess, who dared to beat even the gods, and the sister of the resurrected Lazarus... was persecuted and fled to Provence in southern Gaul, where she defeated the evil dragon.

"What are you doing here, Queen of the Celts?"

Martha's voice was very gentle, and her expression was normal. She showed no anger at Boudica for reawakening Tarasque.

"You are..."

"She's just an ordinary rural woman, nothing like you important people."

Martha tossed her deep purple hair and said, not looking at Boudica, but staring at Tarasque’s massive body, as she put on the rusty iron gauntlets.

“Roar~~” Tarask’s pupils trembled.

Its enormous body began to sway, stirring up the lake water and creating towering waves!

"Tarask..."

"Are you scared?!"

Boudica frowned, ignoring Tarasque's unease, and asked the battle nun, "Are you Martha, the Dragon-Slaying Saintess?"

"It's me, but 'Dragon-Subduing Saintess' and such are just nicknames that everyone makes up."

After putting on her boxing gloves, Martha placed the cross down and then stood up to look at Boudica.

"Is that so? Then you've come to stop me."

"If you stop doing this, I won't come."

Martha stepped forward, her imposing and oppressive aura making Tarasque tremble. It seemed that only now had she regained the aura she had as a saintess, an aura that made Tarasque tremble.

“There is nothing to fear, dragon. Even the saintess who once defeated you is no weaker than you... She has long lost her peak power, while you, with the blessing of the Holy Grail, are far superior to what you once were.”

Boudica said to Tarasque, "You won't lose, so take your revenge."

Bathed in the light of the lake, Tarask seemed to have mustered his courage. Facing this opponent who had once nearly crippled him, Tarask was still extremely fearful, but... the difference in their sizes gave the massive dragon immense confidence.

"Roar--!"

"I feel like this time it'll work!" Tarask roared at Marda!

She's old, far past her prime, and even Iron Fist Judgment might not be able to use it anymore.

"Ah... how pathetic. Is being used like this your wish, Tarask?"

Keng!

Martha's boots slammed into the ground, her fists clenched into a boxing gesture as she faced the enormous dragon.

"End this quickly! I cannot allow you to continue harming innocent people! Even if it's for your own revenge, it's the same! I have no intention of trampling on your resolve... Therefore, I have no choice but to fight with all my might!"

“That’s true. I was originally going to spare your life... after all, you’re a good person. But since you’re standing in my way of revenge, I have no choice but to crush you! Kill her and take your revenge, Tarask!”

Boudica raised the Sword of Victory high, her ferocious eyes blazing with fire. At her command, the colossal dragon rose, roaring as it moved its massive body...

Without further ado, let the battle begin!

"So, it's still going to be a fight...cough cough...it's still going to be a struggle? How pathetic..."

"But, I can't believe there's actually a thing like fighting you, Tarask..."

She sprang into the air, accompanied by the clanging sound of her leg armor. Martha showed no sign of slackening and went all out from the very first exchange.

Lord... grant me courage...

The fist rubbed against the air, producing a terrifying explosion. Martha gathered all her strength and unleashed a powerful blow towards Tarax's face!

"!"

Faced with that terrifying punch that distorted the air, Tarask seemed to suffer from PTSD. The courage it had just mustered was now gone, and its legs went weak again. It would never forget the power of that iron fist. If it hadn't been so thick-skinned, it would have seen its own brains when that punch landed.

very scary!

However, there was no way to avoid it.

The fist landed!

A deafening boom echoed through the valley.

A hard fist slammed into Tarask's head.

"Hmm...?"

Martha held her breath, and suddenly a powerful counterforce traveled through her right fist, causing her to bounce back and fall into the air.

"My attack failed!"

We failed to penetrate Tarask's armor!

Could this really be?

Even though her strength was much weaker than before, she shouldn't have had any problem breaking through its defenses, even if she didn't knock it out with one punch, right? But she felt as if she had hit an unbreakable hard wall, and the powerful force of the rebound made her arm sore and numb.

"Roar?"

Tarask was equally surprised.

How could this be?

Martha couldn't break through its defenses. It never expected that her proud iron fist wouldn't leave even the slightest scratch on its hideous mask!

"Roar--!"

"It seems you are aware of your own strength. So, make your move, Tarask."

With Boudica's command, Tarasque raised its massive claws and slammed down! It was a dragon by nature, and now, having received the enhancement of the Holy Grail, it might not be inferior to Fafnir, meaning it was a level that a single Servant would find difficult to defeat. Moreover, Martha was now an old woman who didn't have many years left to live.

"Well...!"

Martha, whose mobility had greatly diminished, raised her arms and crossed them in front of her to defend herself. While she was in mid-air, she was struck directly by the huge claw and smashed into the steep cliff of the mountainside like a cannonball, creating a large circular hole in the cliff.

These old bones of mine feel like they're about to fall apart.

Is it not enough to just withstand one blow?

Martha's body was embedded in the round hole, and she looked solemnly at Tarask's enormous body.

"So, strength and speed are no longer what they used to be? And Tarask is a completely different person now. Just what is it?"

"You have no chance against the power of the Holy Grail. Submit, Martha, kneel before me, and perhaps I may spare your life."

Boudica held up the golden magic cube and said coldly.

"The Holy Grail? You mean... the Holy Grail—! Is it the Holy Grail from before Christ's Passion?! Queen Boudica... how could you do this, how could you do this..."

Martha gritted her teeth and forcefully pulled her arms out of the crevice in the cliff. Her eyes were filled with anger, and her gaze toward Boudica was no longer kind and gentle.

"Isn't this a bit too much?!"

"Who told you to side with Rome? Your hometown, your relatives and friends, even yourself, have all been persecuted by Rome. Some have been exiled, some have been killed—yet you, in this state, still fought for Rome... This is your fate."

""

"The Lord said: 'Those who oppose the sword will die by the sword.' We are martyrs simply because we don't want to see more people harmed. If our suffering can make the lives of the poor a little better, then it is worth it even if we are executed."

Martha bit her lip, her voice hoarse yet stubborn.

“Peter, John, and even Paul must have thought the same thing.”

It is said that among the disciples of the Son of God, there were those who wanted to use the Son of God's descendants to destroy Rome.

Rebellion and uprising are certainly a path, a means built on bloodshed and sacrifice, in the hope of changing the world.

However, including Christianity in history, when it first developed, it followed a populist approach.

This is a painful but the only path to victory—it also tells us that a violent revolution without a mass base will ultimately only drag ordinary people to their deaths and use blood to achieve its own goals.

"Are you lecturing me...? You and Spartacus...both have this kind of attitude..."

"You were persecuted by Rome too, weren't you! People like you... people like you..."

Boudica drew his sharp longsword.

Her eyes held an extremely twisted emotion.

She looked at Marda, who had been severely injured by Tarask's attack.

It's as if I'm seeing myself, scarred and battered, from my previous life.

"This idea that one's own suffering will bring happiness to others..."

"That's nothing but a naive delusion! Just watch, I'll make your salvation vanish right now!"

"Is that so...but..."

Martha wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and opened her mouth slightly: "Why, Boudica... are you crying?"