To become a king and a magician

Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mashu looked at Natsukawa Toramaru's glasses with some surprise.

"Minister, you actually had a magic eye?"

"This is the first time I've heard of this either..."

Natsukawa Tora helped up the Mystic Eye Killer: "Because there's no need to explain. Besides, if I use the Mystic Eye, it means the other person is someone I'm determined to kill no matter what. For example, I'll definitely use it when dealing with Goetia later, but not with Quetzalcoatl."

"I still prefer the kind of sunny, cheerful, and enthusiastic older sister. I would never think of turning her into a slave with no self-awareness who obeys my every word."

Looking at the man in front of them who uttered such ominous words with a seemingly carefree expression, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mashu, along with the Chaldea employees, were all somewhat helpless.

Considering his situation, it's indeed possible that such a thing could happen.

After letting out a soft sigh, Fujimaru Ritsuka asked, "By the way, what exactly are the effects of the captain's Mystic Eyes? It sounds like it could be quite dangerous, like slaves... Could it be a Mystic Eyes that controls mind?"

During the five-plus months that Natsukawa Torato was away, Fujimaru Ritsuka also crammed on various magic knowledge under Olga Marie's guidance, including the Mystic Eyes—and by the way, Olga Marie, in a high spirits, recounted the Mystic Eyes collecting train she had visited as a child.

Xia Chuanhu thought for a moment and said, "Well... fine, let him say it. We're all on the same side anyway."

"There are two sets of my personal information in Chaldea. One of them is the simplest one that anyone can see. Of course, apart from my name, gender, age, and background, it is almost entirely fake."

"The other one, which is listed as only accessible to department heads, is the real one, and my possession of the Magic Eye is also recorded on it."

"But in reality, that part is also fake."

The document listed Xia Chuanhu as possessing the "Binding Mystic Eyes," with the Mystic Eyes only having the "noblecolor" rank.

"However, my demonic eye is actually the [Demon Eye of Soul Erosion], a demonic eye that can erode the soul. Anyone whose soul has been eroded by my demonic eye will become my slave from body to soul forever, and even I cannot reverse it. It is currently classified as a gem."

Natsukawa Tora's explanation was quite simple, but Fujimaru Ritsuka, Mashu, and the Chaldea employees who listened to his words broke out in a cold sweat.

A gem-grade Soul-Eroding Demon Eye.

No one ever imagined that Natsukawa Torato had such a trump card.

"Minister, you're incredibly dangerous, in every sense of the word. I hope I won't become your slave someday."

"In that case, I'll definitely make you wear the Hero maid outfit from an 18+ game to warm me up right away!"

Before Natsukawa Toramaru could finish speaking, Fujimaru Ritsuka, her face flushed with embarrassment, threw a cup at his face.

"Minister, you're a pervert!"

With that, Fujimaru Ritsuka stormed off from the embassy, ​​prompting Mash to follow her with a worried expression.

Placing the now-frozen cup back on the table, Natsukawa Tora sighed softly, "She's really energetic. I quite like this kind of spirited girl... Hmm? Who is she?"

In one corner of Natsukawa Torato's field of vision, a figure that should have been elsewhere suddenly appeared and walked towards the embassy.

That was Siduri, Gilgamesh's assistant and also the high priest of Uruk.

(If Siduri shows up here... does that Kimihika need something from me?)

26. Boys' Club

Inside the Divine Tower.

Just as Xia Chuanhu thought, the reason why Siduri left the Divine Tower to find him was because Gilgamesh had something he needed to do.

Just as the overworked king in front of him finished dealing with a batch of government affairs, Xia Chuanhu entered the Divine Tower at the perfect moment.

"Oh, you've arrived, Holy Sword Wielder."

Gilgamesh's expression softened slightly upon seeing Natsukawa Tora arrive: "The last time we met was when you returned from the dense forest. It's been quite a while."

Xia Chuanhu returned from the dense forest about five days ago.

"Regarding the non-aggression pact you reached with the Goddess of the Forest, although it has already been mentioned, I still have to thank you, Holy Sword Wielder. Thank you for your hard work."

"Consider this my duty, and consider it payment for your free food and lodging," Xia Chuanhu laughed. "So, what's the reason you specifically sent Ms. Siduri to find me? Surely you don't expect me to go and behead the Goddess of Monsters, do you?"

Gilgamesh laughed and said, "Ha, if I had said that, you would have done it without hesitation, and the key point is that you would have been very likely to succeed."

"Well, let's not talk about that for now. Although I'd love to have you do that, besides the Goddess of the Beasts, there's also Enkidu over there. Even if you were to fight two against one, it would be a bit of a struggle. Asking you to do that now would just be a waste of your energy and time."

"The task I need you to do this time is something else—go to Kusa City and bring back my Destiny Tablet."

Heavenly Mandate Clay Tablet.

That was a blurry glimpse of the future that Gilgamesh saw through his clairvoyance during his journey back to Uruk from the underworld, before he became a magician.

Because it wasn't particularly important information, Gilgamesh didn't try to retrieve it after it was lost, and he himself didn't remember that part of the future.

"Originally, I entrusted this matter to Merlin, but he has not been able to find it. Now I am entrusting it to the two of you to handle together. With your abilities, you should be able to get it done within a day, right?"

“If all goes well, things will probably be different once we get to Kusa City,” Natsukawa Tiger laughed. “If I remember correctly, that’s Ishtar’s territory now, right? On our first meeting, I might be able to get to know her better because of the relationship between me and her possessed body, but in reality, Ishtar is still in control of the body, isn’t she?”

"You know King Gilgamesh, she's an incredibly spoiled goddess. You might get entangled with her and all sorts of unexpected situations might arise."

"Okay, then I'll give you an extra three days."

As someone who had suffered greatly at the hands of Ishtar, Gilgamesh could understand Natsukawa Tora's worries. That foolish goddess would definitely cause countless troubles to anyone who stepped into her territory; she was practically a walking trouble-making machine.

"Merlin, you can go find him yourself. I don't know where he is. Also, although it's a bit of a detour, remember to go to the Persian Gulf to investigate the water quality and bring back the seawater you collect there."

To investigate water quality in the Persian Gulf?

"That's almost the exact opposite direction, isn't it?"

"That's why I said it was a detour. Now that you know, hurry up and set off. There's another official matter to attend to."

That's really quite unreasonable.

Even though he has returned from the underworld and become a wise king, he is still essentially a heartless tyrant.

(But... a water quality survey of the Persian Gulf? It's to check on the condition of Tiamat, right? Tiamat is probably sleeping beneath the surface of the Persian Gulf because of the dream woven by Merlin and Meryl.)

After defeating the monster goddess Gorgon, Tiamat will awaken due to the shock of death.

(We need to get Merlin and Merry to end the dream before that happens.)

If the dream is forcibly broken, Merlin is a little better off as a Servant, as he can simply run back from Avalon. But Meryl comes in her true form, and in that situation she would definitely be seriously injured.

Natsukawa Tora didn't want to see his wife like that, so he made sure that Meryl and Merlin would prepare to explore the dream world later.

At worst, he'll just be a little tired from playing against two goddesses in a short period of time.

Upon arriving outside the Divine Tower, after glancing at the great halo in the sky, Natsukawa Tora sighed softly: "Anyway, let's go find Merlin first. I wonder where he's gone... Let's use our senses to see."

After closing his eyes, calming his mind, and dispersing his senses, Natsukawa Tiger quickly found the frivolous figure in Uruk.

however--

.......

A spatial teleport brought him to the vicinity of the Princess's House in Uruk. Seeing Merlin being blasted out just in time, Natsukawa Tora sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation.

"You're really living a leisurely life, Merlin, even having time to go chasing after women—I'll go tell Lia on you later."

"Eh eh eh eh? Xia Chuan!?"

Merlin, who had just gotten up from the ground, quickly put his hands together and begged for mercy: "Please spare me, if you tell Lia, she will definitely hang me outside Avalon Tower to dry for days!"

"Isn't that perfect?"

"It's not good at all!"

After a stern protest, Merlin slapped his butt: "Speaking of which, Xia Chuan, what brings you here all of a sudden? You already have those two at home, do you want to come out and smell the wildflowers?"

“If I do that, you won’t see me tomorrow.” Natsukawa Tora rolled his eyes at him. “Gilgamesh wants me to go with you to Kusa to find the Tablets of Destiny.”

"Huh? The Destiny Tablet is in Kusa?"

Merlin paused for a moment: "The previous king said it was in the western forest, but this time he says it's in Kusa. I really hope I don't make another wasted trip."

"Don't worry, it won't take much time. With me here, the round trip will be quick."

After saying that, Xia Chuanhu grabbed Merlin's arm and prepared to teleport him directly to the vicinity of the city wall.

However, Merlin stopped him.

"Stop teleporting back and forth like that, it's so boring."

"Huh? Not teleporting... you're planning to walk there?"

Merlin smiled and nodded: "Because the ladies inside just told me that my stamina is terrible and that it's a blasphemy against self-sacrifice, so I'm going to work out now."

"I think your constitution, which you've developed over thousands of years of staying at home, can't be improved by just walking around."

“It’s good to work out your physical strength!” Merlin declared. “Also, I have some things I want to tell you, such as about my other self and about Lia.”

"Let's just treat this as a simple trip. We'll take our time and walk there, talking as we go—if girls have their own clubs, then we men should have our own clubs too, right?"

Would a man do that?

Xia Chuanhu pointed to himself, then to Merlin: "You and a succubus who's thousands of years old and me, an elf who's almost forty... it's more like an old man meeting."

"Just keep your mind young!"

27. Mary broke all of their legs.

After telling Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others that he was going to Kusa, Natsukawa Torara set off with Merlin.

Given the distance between Uruk and Kusa, it would take about a day to walk there. Moreover, Natsukawa and Merlin set off around the afternoon, so they wouldn't arrive until around noon the next day.

Therefore, after nightfall, the two decided to find a large enough tree by the roadside, set up a simple campsite and tents under the tree, and then head to Kusa at dawn.

According to Uruk's records, Kusa is a place connected to the underworld. If you go there at night, you might accidentally enter the underworld, and then it would be troublesome to come back.

"Crackling..."

A campfire burned quietly, crackling softly in the still night.

Natsukawa Tiger and Merlin sat on either side of the campfire.

Merlin scooped a bowl of mushroom soup from the pot hanging above the campfire, took a sip, and exclaimed with satisfaction, "Mmm~~~ Natsukawa, your cooking is really good. It was definitely the right decision to come camping with you."

"As long as it suits your taste, that's fine. By the way, aren't succubi supposed to not need to eat? You and Meryl both feed on dreams and human emotions, right?"

"Yes, that's basically true, but I wouldn't refuse to enjoy delicious food, after all, it makes me happy," Merlin smiled. "Delicious food can bring a smile to one's face, can't it?"

Natsukawa Torato agrees with this point.

After taking a sip of soup himself, Natsukawa Tora asked, "Well, isn't it about time you told me? You've been dodging the question all afternoon. What exactly do you want to tell me about Meryl and Lia?"