To become a king and a magician

29. Fujimaru Ritsuka's future is bleak.

What is the ability that Fujimaru Ritsuka needs to develop most right now?

If you asked Natsukawa Tora to say it, it would definitely be "survival".

When he previously discussed with Leonardo da Vinci the Mystic Codes for ordinary Masters, he specifically emphasized the importance of protection, with the primary goal of "ensuring the Master's survival no matter what," since Chaldea currently only has two Masters.

There's no need to worry about Hinako Akuta, since she can always jump back from the graveyard if she dies. But it's different with Ritsuka Fujimaru; she really has to survive.

Besides her Mystic Code, Fujimaru Ritsuka also needs to develop her escape skills. After all, Mystic Codes are not omnipotent; at most, they can only play a supporting role. The most important thing is Fujimaru Ritsuka's own ability to escape.

But that's a story for later. Right now, the priority is to teach Fujimaru Ritsuka how to use Mystic Codes.

In Chaldea's training room, looking at Fujimaru Ritsuka who had changed into a trial version of her Mystic Code, Natsukawa Torara asked, "How is it? Does it fit? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

"Hmm... it's a little tight around the chest, but otherwise it's fine. Is this strap at the chest adjustable?"

"Yes, it's a trial version based on the Chaldea uniform. Just adjust it to suit your own style of dressing."

That being said, looking at Fujimaru Ritsuka's figure accentuated by the Chaldea uniform, Natsukawa Torato couldn't help but wonder if Marisbury had ulterior motives when designing this uniform, as he had come up with a design that was almost like a straitjacket.

After slightly adjusting the size of her chest, Fujimaru Ritsuka looked at Natsukawa Torama: "I'm ready, Captain. What's the next step?"

"Currently, you will be trained in three specific areas."

Xia Chuanhu held up three fingers.

"First, your basic physical strength. In the future, long journeys will be unavoidable on the way to repair the singularity, so you need to train to have the physical strength to carry out long-term actions."

"Secondly, your ability to escape. Although I can handle the combat and Mash can handle the defense, there's a possibility that both Mash and I might be tied down and unable to protect you. In that case, you'll have to rely on yourself. If you get killed, that would be a very serious situation."

"These two points are goals that will require a long period of training to achieve later, so we won't do them today. Your training instructor will arrange your training schedule later. Right now, we need to do the third point—to become proficient in using the magical costume you are wearing."

"To put it bluntly, it's about activating the magic circuits in your body."

Fujimaru Ritsuka is a first-generation magician with magic circuits. This conclusion was reached when an external branch conducted a physical examination on her before she came to Chaldea. Moreover, her magic circuits are relatively complete, which is quite standard for a first-generation magician.

Of course, magical talent is not important. Chaldea's Mystic Codes are designed with the user in mind, even if they are not a magician. They are basically pre-programmed with magic formulas, and can be activated by injecting magic power.

Fujimaru Ritsuka has never used magic before, and her magic circuits are still closed and have never been opened. So what needs to be done now is to get her to open her magic circuits and try to use the magic that comes with her Mystic Code.

"Fujimaru, do as I say next—first, relax your whole body and immerse yourself in your body. Clearly perceive the magic circuits within your body and imagine the scene of your magic circuits being opened. That will be the key to activating your magic circuits every time you start in the future."

To be honest, Natsukawa Tora felt a pang of nostalgia as he guided Fujimaru Ritsuka in this way. Twenty years ago, during the Fourth Holy Grail War, Kenneth had guided him in the same way to activate his magic circuits. Back then, he certainly couldn't have imagined that he would one day be guiding someone else.

Following Natsukawa Torato's instructions, Fujimaru Ritsuka gradually sank her consciousness deep into her body. As her consciousness immersed itself, within Fujimaru Ritsuka's perception range, some paths resembling somewhat illusory electrical cables appeared, and a slight stinging sensation spread throughout her entire body at the same time.

An impression of some kind of switch being turned on came to her mind.

"Waaah..."

As the stinging pain intensified, Fujimaru Ritsuka couldn't help but open her eyes to bring her consciousness back to reality. She then saw some lines appearing on her arm.

"This is the magic circuit?"

"Hmm, it's very simple, right? There's nothing difficult about it." Natsukawa Tora laughed. "The only advantage we first-generation magicians have is that we don't have many magic circuits to open. Also, you should be able to feel magic power now, right? Try to input magic power into your Mystic Code."

"Is this... the input?"

Feeling the extra thread-like power within her body, Fujimaru Ritsuka gently grasped it and pulled it towards her clothes.

The next moment, after sensing the injected magic power, a flash of green light appeared on Fujimaru Ritsuka's body.

"Huh? What's this?"

“This is a recovery magic,” Natsukawa Tora explained. “There are three types of magic on your Mystic Code: recovery magic to heal injuries, basic illusion magic that can affect cognition to a certain extent, and enhancement magic to strengthen physical abilities or the performance of items.”

"The purpose today, and the purpose afterward, is to enable you to use these Mystic Codes proficiently. Not just this one, but you also need to be proficient in using the new Mystic Codes that Da Vinci and Orange create in the future, since they are all for the purpose of helping you survive in future battles."

"Given the current progress, you have about a week left for training before the investigation of the first singularity is completed. Therefore, the training intensity may be quite high. In addition, there will be necessary physical training and combat training. Your rest time will be—"

"I understand, Minister."

Fujimaru Ritsuka didn't let Natsukawa Tora finish speaking. Before that, she clenched her hands tightly and said, "Captain, you must be doing this for my sake. I can understand your arrangements, so I will complete the training properly."

"Your obedience really makes things so much easier for me. When I was a teacher, I had a lot of problem students, some of whom were spoiled and others couldn't handle hardship."

"Hehehe, I'm actually quite obedient, you know." Fujimaru Ritsuka smiled smugly. "So, as for training... will you be training me yourself, Captain?"

"No, I have my own things to do. It wasn't me who trained you, it was her."

As Xia Chuanhu finished speaking, a flurry of colorful petals suddenly appeared in the training room. Immediately afterward, a pair of fair arms appeared behind Xia Chuanhu, and a beautiful, dreamlike girl, like a fairy, suddenly emerged from the falling petals and gently hugged Xia Chuanhu from behind.

"My dearest King, I'm here~~~~~"

The world's foremost king-maker, Grand Magician candidate, and most outrageous entertainer has arrived.

"Fujimaru, let me introduce you. This is Merry, my fiancée, who will be your training instructor for the foreseeable future."

"I'm Merry, nice to meet you~"

30. Miss Meryl's Private Tutoring

When she first learned that she would be training, Fujimaru Ritsuka accepted it easily, but she still felt some fluctuations and nervousness, probably due to the bad impressions left by some past experiences.

However, if it's training by the captain, then it's acceptable. After all, the captain seems like a very easy person to talk to, and even if you get tired from training, you can still look at the captain's handsome face to please your eyes. Fujimaru Ritsuka thinks it's pretty good.

When Fujimaru Ritsuka saw Merry appear and was told that it was actually Merry who was training her, she felt even more relieved—girls are definitely easier to talk to!

But the truth is...

"Run faster, Ritsuka! If you slow down, you'll get tangled up."

In the center of the training field, Meryl ate potato chips while urging him on without any conscience. Following her gaze, you could see that not far away, Fujimaru Ritsuka was being chased by a group of unidentified creatures that looked dark and covered in tentacles, resembling octopuses.

These are the training tools that Meryl used to train Fujimaru Ritsuka. The specific training method is to have these unknown creatures chase after Fujimaru Ritsuka, and Fujimaru Ritsuka has to do her best to avoid being touched before Meryl says to stop.

It sounds like it doesn't have to be difficult, but—

"Little Ritsuka, you don't want to get caught and drenched in milk, with slippery tentacles reaching in from every corner and wrapping around your body, do you? Although it's all just my imagination, it's actually just milk filled with some little gadgets—"

"Teacher, please stop talking!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka shouted in great grief and indignation.

Seriously, if she had the chance to go back in time, Fujimaru Ritsuka would definitely want the club president to train her, even if it meant enduring more hardship. Training under this Ms. Meryl is like being in prison! Torture!

It was as if she had some kind of wicked sense of humor, and every day she would come up with some gadgets with various additional functions. The first day was fine, but starting from the second day, the training content became strange, making her afraid to see anyone after training every day. She could only stay in the training room until her mood returned to normal before daring to go out.

Today is no different. Even though the unknown creatures chasing her are actually just balloons filled with milk and with a few ribbons attached to their exteriors, Fujimaru Ritsuka absolutely does not want to be caught by such things!

She didn't want to be covered in milk and tied up like a turtle! She still had the reserve of a young girl!

Watching Fujimaru Ritsuka sprint around the training field at full speed, Merry smiled and glanced at the time on her phone: "Thirteen minutes... Although we slowed down the chase, being able to keep running for so long shows that the training in stamina and willpower has paid off to some extent. Also—"

As for the disguised tentacle monster closest to Fujimaru Ritsuka, Merry slightly adjusted its speed back to its initial level. The tentacle monster, which had been keeping a certain distance from Fujimaru Ritsuka, immediately closed in on her!

"Waaaaah! Don't come any closer!"

Sensing the immense danger behind her, Fujimaru Ritsuka quickly channeled her magical power into her Mystic Code, instantly boosting her speed so she could swiftly dodge the lunge and escape to a relatively safe distance.

(She can handle even unexpected situations, and she's very decisive when using magic... Well, there's probably an element of getting used to it from wearing the same Mystic Code for four or five days in a row, right? Even so, her adaptability is still very good, and her escape skills have improved somewhat.)

"But you still can't compare to His Majesty the King~~~ Little Ritsuka, it's okay if you run a little slower."

"I absolutely don't want to!!"

——————————————————————————————————————————

Several hours later.

The rest area of ​​the training room at noon.

"Waaaaaah~~~~ Mashu~~~~~ I'm not clean anymore~~~~~"

When Mashu arrived with the lunch she had prepared for Fujimaru Ritsuka, Fujimaru Ritsuka immediately threw herself at Mashu, buried her head in her chest, and began to sob and complain.

"Even though it's all milk, even though it's all plastic bags, but... but... Waaaaaahh ...

"Calm down, senior. I don't quite understand what you're saying... Miss Meryl, what did you do to senior during training today?"

When Mashu asked her this, Merry, who was also sitting there having lunch, waved her hand casually: "Nothing, I didn't do anything. I just threw hundreds of plastic balls filled with milk at her, making her all sticky. Her armpits, inner thighs, collarbone, and even places like this are covered in it."

Mary pointed to the slight cleavage that was showing on her chest.

"Also, I was tied up in a way that looks a bit like a defeat CG scene. My legs were forcibly tied into a duck-sitting position, and my chest and butt were sticking out—it's really not a big deal~~~ You'll get used to it, and it will continue every day, Ritsuka."

"Mash, help!"

Seeing the satisfied expression on Merry's face, and her senior looking utterly dejected in her arms, Mashu took a deep breath, preparing to demand justice for her senior: "Miss Merry, isn't this kind of training a bit—"

"Oh right, this is Mashu's share."

Suddenly, Merry handed Mashu several things that looked like photographs.

Mashu frowned: "This is..."

"Ritsuka's defeat CG, they even took a picture of it."

Fujimaru Ritsuka: "!!"

Mashu: "!!"

Seeing the two of them blushing, Mary, having absorbed another wave of emotional energy, revealed a rather satisfied smile.

(It's so much more fun to tease such young girls. Everyone else at home is such a shrew, they're completely unyielding. Even Ayaka has gotten used to it these past few years. Sigh...)

"Fufu~~~"

Just then, feeling a tapping sound at her feet, Meryl looked down and chuckled as she picked up Fou, who was scratching her leg. "Fou's here too, but she's not Merlin who threw you down. Hitting me won't do you any good."

"Smack!"

Fufu kicked Mary in the face decisively, and then followed up with a spectacular spinning flying kick, kicking Mary in the other side of her face.

"Fufufu~~~"

This is your punishment for teasing Mash, you bastard Merlin—Fou's cry seemed to convey that meaning.

After a moment of silence, Melly smiled, picked up Fou, went to the door, and threw it directly into the trash can across the hallway.

"Fu—!"

"Sigh, I miss my Fufu. She was so obedient and cute."

Mary sighed softly.