To become a king and a magician

"Huh? No, I can use that repeatedly." Natsukawa Tora said the terrifying words with a calm expression. "Basically, of all my abilities right now, only Holy Sword Release can be considered a finishing move. I can use the rest as normal attacks in succession. The only difference is the length of the wind-up."

"..."

The faint smiles on Fujimaru Ritsuka's and Mashu's faces froze for a moment.

(Yesterday's attack was considered a normal attack?! Minister, how dangerous are you?! You're overpowered!)

(My brother could destroy the world at any time if he wanted to... It's so good that he's such a good person.)

"However, with such incredible abilities, Minister, haven't you ever received any unfair treatment? I often see similar plots in movies and light novels where people mistake an overly powerful protagonist for a terrorist because they're afraid of him..."

"Yes, it did happen, but that was in a parallel world, which is a long time ago."

After all, it was fourteen years ago. After leaving that parallel world once, Natsukawa Tora never went back. He didn't know what happened to the people he met there.

Ayaka Sajou is doing quite well here.

"I'll tell you about my past later when I have time, maybe over afternoon tea. Let's get down to business first—you wait here while I go find the Holy Grail. Once I find it, I'll teleport back instantly."

The moment he said this, Xia Chuanhu disappeared from his spot and reappeared at the deepest part of the meteorite crater.

Because of the impact of the moonfall, there was actually nothing inside the crater; everything was destroyed by the moonfall, including Vortigern's body—that's how it should have been.

However, when Natsukawa Tiger arrived, he immediately spotted a [strange object].

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

A sound like the beating of a heart emanated continuously from the foreign object.

Looking at the strange object, Natsukawa Tora narrowed his eyes: "It has the same magical reaction as Vortigern, is it his... egg?"

In terms of appearance, this thing in front of us does indeed look like an egg. The whole thing is shrouded and wrapped in black magical mist, and there are also black vortexes swirling on its surface.

Stinky egg—that's the most fitting description Natsukawa Tiger could think of.

(The Holy Grail is inside... I'm a little curious about what it is, but as long as I retrieve it, everything should be fine.)

(No, let's just chop it up.)

Touching it directly might cause some problems, so to be on the safe side, Xia Chuanhu took out his holy sword, preparing to smash the black egg to pieces with one strike.

However, just as Natsukawa Torata drew the holy sword—

"laugh------!"

The magical mist that was wrapped around the surface of the black egg suddenly expanded and spread, turning into an unparalleled sea of ​​mist that swept out and instantly engulfed Xia Chuanhu, who was standing right next to it!

Oops.

This was Natsukawa Torato's final thought.

43. The lewd uncle, Natsukawa Tiger

(I never expected it to be a trap triggered by sensing the Holy Sword... I've really been tricked.)

In the thick, vast sea of ​​black mist, Xia Chuanhu sighed helplessly.

Was it carelessness? Or was it simply that we didn't take it seriously enough? We definitely need to be more cautious in handling the black egg; getting too close was really reckless.

"Speaking of which... what exactly is this black mist?"

In the instant it was initially swallowed by the black mist, Natsukawa Tiger thought it was being attacked, but the black mist simply surrounded it and did nothing else.

It's like a water balloon being popped and the water spilling out.

"Snap!"

With a casual swing, Xia Chuanhu could feel the ground in front of him crack open by his attack. But even under such an impact, the black mist showed no signs of being dispelled and remained completely unaffected.

Is it unaffected by physical interference?

(Considering that this black mist was stimulated by the Holy Sword, using the Holy Sword to dispel it probably won't work...)

"Minister! Can you hear me?!"

Just as Natsukawa Torama was pondering, Fujimaru Ritsuka's shout suddenly came from above.

"Yes, I can hear you. How's the situation on your end?" Natsukawa Tora replied. "This black fog hasn't affected you either?"

"Black mist? Minister, what are you talking about? Where is there any black mist?"

Standing at the edge of the crater, Fujimaru Ritsuka scratched her head in confusion. Where did this black mist come from? From her perspective, she could only see Natsukawa Tora standing in the center of the crater, and because of the distance, she couldn't see him very clearly.

"Minister, have you encountered some kind of enemy? We just saw you suddenly create a huge crack!"

(Fujimaru can't see the black mist? But he can see what I did?)

Xia Chuanhu frowned.

Could it be that only he himself can see this black mist?

After thinking for a moment, Xia Chuanhu shouted, "I'm fine, nothing happened here, you guys continue to wait over there."

"Huh? Got it!"

After receiving a response from Fujimaru Ritsuka, Natsukawa Torara continued to focus his attention on the black mist—or more precisely, on the egg that had released the black mist.

Although the thick black fog made it difficult to see clearly, for a spirit, even with its eyes closed, it could still keep track of its surroundings. After passing through a layer of black fog, Natsukawa Tiger once again stood in front of the egg.

"Let me prepare first... Three layers each of conceptual protection, physical protection, and magical protection, that will do."

After adding several layers of protection to his hands, Natsukawa Tiger clenched his fist and smashed it down on the egg.

"Boom--!"

A violent tremor immediately spread outwards.

The entire crater visibly trembled, startling Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mashu, who were standing at the edge.

"earthquake?"

"No, it must be due to my elder brother's actions."

Looking at the situation inside the crater, Mashu said, "It seems that my brother is trying to break something."

Within the black mist, staring at the unmoving surface of the black egg, Natsukawa Tiger clicked his tongue: "I used quite a bit of force, is this thing really that hard? If I can't break it, I won't be able to get the Holy Grail out... Eh? What's this?"

Just as Xia Chuanhu raised his fist to deliver another punch, a piece of information that suddenly appeared in his mind made him pause.

"【Don't... hit me...?】—What does that mean? Has someone used mental magic on me?"

No, that's unlikely; mental magic is one of the hardest types of magic to work on him.

How did this information get into his mind?

And what does "Don't hit me" mean...?

"It's...you?" Natsukawa Torato looked at the egg in front of him with surprise. "You mean, you want me not to hit you?"

【Yes】

Because of the pain.

I'm scared.

"It feels like Gray is talking to me when I was a kid." Natsukawa Torama lowered his fist. "If I don't hit you... the Holy Grail is inside you, I have to take that out. By the way, what exactly are you?"

I am not a thing.

【Votingen, my name】

[Daughter, in essence, that's how it is.]

"Vortigern's...daughter?"

Xia Chuanhu's eyes widened slightly, and he quickly pressed his hands on the egg: "You are that demonic dragon's...daughter?"

[Waaaaah, please be gentle, it hurts!]

"Ah, sorry... wait! You said you're Vortigern's daughter? I smashed him to bits, not even a speck of dust remained. Where would a daughter come from?!"

Ugh, the reason for this is...

Egg, who claimed to be Vortigern's daughter, explained her situation to Natsukawa Tiger in fits and starts amidst soft sobs.

In summary—

Yesterday, in the instant before Vortigern was crushed to death by the falling moon and completely vanished, he made the decision, during a conversation with Arthur, to pass on his thoughts and power to the next generation, using all his remaining strength to protect the Holy Grail, and at the same time making a wish upon the Grail: "My successor will fulfill my wish."

And from such actions and desires, this egg was born.

In terms of its nature, it is indeed a descendant of Vortigern, but as for why it has a female personality... who knows?

However, although she is said to be Vortigern's daughter and has inherited all of Vortigern's power and ideas, this egg is still an unborn baby and has no intention of carrying out the almost obsessive command in her mind. If it weren't for the aura of "I'm doomed" that she just sensed, she would still be fast asleep.

(It should be the Holy Sword... which means she really will be shattered by the Holy Sword now.)

This is all the information I know.

Please, don't hit me!

Your fist hurts.

"..."

For some reason, Xia Chuanhu suddenly felt guilty for bullying the little girl. Considering her situation, he even felt like he was bullying an unborn baby.

Even though he never cared about other people's opinions, this kind of thing was really unacceptable—he would definitely be despised.

"That's true, but if the Holy Grail is inside you, I'll have to shatter you anyway."

[Smash it, are you trying to break me?]

I don't want to be broken.

Please, please don't hurt me.

"It's numb."

With a slightly troubled expression, Xia Chuanhu rubbed his forehead and let out a long sigh before gently placing his hand on the egg. "Alright, I won't break you. However, for some reasons, I need to take you away from here first. I also need to discuss some things with you later, is that alright?"

Take me away?

Are you a scammer?

"Uh... judging from my behavior, there might be a little bit, but I'm not lying to you. At least I can assure you that I will not do anything to harm you now or in the future."