To become a king and a magician

This is one of the four fragments that Chaldea was originally scheduled to experience before the end of the incineration of humanity and the beginning of the freeze of humanity—[Stage of Corpses and Blood: Shimosa Province].

The cause lies in the Shimabara Rebellion, which ended last year.

It was a peasant uprising caused by the shogunate's persecution of Protestants from overseas, which, led by a boy named Amakusa Shiro, had a considerable impact on the current shogunate.

Of course, the turmoil was eventually quelled, and all those who participated in the uprising were executed without exception.

The above pertains to pan-human history.

In this Lostbelt, Amakusa Shiro, who should have been killed, became like Miyamoto Musashi, a ronin who could travel between different worlds.

Therefore, Amakusa Shiro attempted countless times to lead his followers to change the outcome, but each uprising ended in failure. Ultimately, after countless failures, Amakusa Shiro abandoned his dream of saving all humanity and chose to apostatize, turning instead to revenge against the Tokugawa family and the world.

After that, he summoned heroic swordsmen and slaughtered the people of Shimōsa Province, turning their souls into the foundation for the ritual site, the Edo Castle. He then prepared to sacrifice a member of the Tokugawa family to achieve a great curse that would destroy the Edo Shogunate.

This is roughly what is about to happen in this world.

That earthen castle was the site chosen by Amakusa Shiro to become the Edo Castle.

Now, Yagyu Munenori's intention is to have Natsukawa Tora step into that castle, into that castle that is about to become the Edo Castle.

"Do you think I know nothing? To put it bluntly, I will not go in—I refuse the guard duty, Lord Yagyu Munenori."

Xia Chuanhu said coldly, "By the way, please pass on a message to the sorcerer behind you and the heroic swordsman Caster: 'Wash your necks and wait.'"

After saying this, Natsukawa Torama once again unleashed a vacuum rift around Yagyu Munenori, shredding him into countless tiny powders. The next moment, a shikigami talisman with an eye symbol appeared on the spot and slowly began to burn.

——————————————————————————————————

"It failed."

In a certain space.

Amakusa Shiro, his eyes bloodshot, sighed softly as he watched the negotiation between Natsukawa Torami and the shikigami Yagyu Munenori through the magic.

"It's a real pity that the negotiations failed. If we could have trapped him in the city of earth, we wouldn't have had to let the Heroic Swordsman carry out the massacre... It's such a shame. I thought we could have shortened the time."

"——Paraíso"

Glancing at someone hidden in the shadows behind him, Amakusa Shiro said in a deep voice, "Tonight, let's sever the Tokugawa bloodline."

18. I'll block the door and get through quickly.

The wilderness dissipated.

The surrounding scenery returned to the ornately decorated private reception room of Natsukawa Torato.

Looking at the spot where Yagyu Munenori had been instantly killed by Natsukawa Toramaru, Miyamoto Musashi and Tomoe Gozen exchanged a glance. Then Miyamoto Musashi asked, "Torama, you did this...?"

"Don't worry, it's just a fake body. The real Yagyu Munenori is still perfectly fine in Tsuchiki City, or perhaps in some unknown corner. This was just a messenger."

Natsukawa Torara picked up the last remnants of the burned shikigami talisman: "Using this method to test me... it seems that our situation is being watched by the other side. It's been a long time since I've been secretly observed like this."

"So, what are your plans for the next step, Lord Torata?" Tomoe Gozen asked. "If, as Yagyu Munenori said, Mochizuki Chiyome is indeed going to take Princess Kiyohime's life tonight, then you...?"

"Didn't I tell you? It's just a trap. Only an idiot would jump in like that." Xia Chuanhu spread his hands. "Besides, this trap is set in a very reasonable way."

"why?"

"Who told me to be the 'thief who deceived the princess's heart'? In the eyes of those warriors in Tuqi City, I am probably just a despicable person who used my looks and sweet words to swindle the princess out of her money."

Miyamoto Musashi blinked: "Isn't that right?"

"I don't deny that this is also a way to make money. If you have a problem with it, then spit out everything you've eaten. Most of the money I earn is spent on your stomach."

"Uh...hehehehe~~~"

Seeing that the fire was about to spread to him, Miyamoto Musashi quickly laughed it off.

"Getting back to the point, Tiger, even though it's a trap, we can't just leave Princess Kiyohime to die, can we? Why don't you make some kind of protective amulet for her? You have all sorts of tricks up your sleeve, you can definitely do something like this, right?"

Natsukawa Tora shook his head: "Amulets are useless against Mochizuki Chiyome. Even if it's just a fragment of her spirit, she can still communicate with Ibuki Daimyojin, whose level of mystery is very high. The amulet will break with the slightest touch."

"That......"

"So the two of you can go."

Natsukawa Torara poked their foreheads and laughed, "The enemy is just one Servant. The two of you together should be able to take him down easily, right?"

While the Heroic Spirit Swordsman is indeed powerful, his strength is still limited to that of a Servant; he can be viewed as a Servant who goes berserk and acts without restraint. Miyamoto Musashi or Tomoe Gozen might be overwhelmed individually, but the two of them together should be able to handle him without much trouble.

Not to mention—

"The knife I gave you isn't just for show. It's just a snake; you can cut it off easily."

"Will your blessing be effective in this regard?"

Splat!

Xia Chuanhu chopped Miyamoto Musashi's head with a chop: "Who do you think you are? I've said it many times, my blessing will give you power according to your mood and thoughts. As long as you are single-mindedly thinking about cutting the snake, it will naturally respond to you and give you enough power to cut the snake."

“That’s true. Alright, let’s do it that way then. Leave Princess Kiyohime’s safety to me and Lord Tomoe!” Miyamoto Musashi patted his chest. “But, if we’re going to deal with Mochizuki Chiyome, what are you planning to do, Toratana? You’re not going to just stand by and watch, are you?”

"Of course—though I'd love to say that, I now have a place I want to go."

Shaking the fragment of the shikigami talisman in his hand, Natsukawa Tora laughed and said, "I think this thing came from that Caster, Ashiya Dōman. If we use this thing as a medium to trace back, we should be able to get to Ashiya Dōman's side. When you deal with Mochizuki Chiyome, I'll go and meet that Ashiya Dōman."

If Natsukawa Tora remembers correctly, the enemy's main base should be near Katori Shrine.

"In short, this is the battle plan for tonight—"

"You two go and engage the bait they throw out, and openly restrain each other."

"As for me, I'll just go straight for their assets. If I'm lucky, I might be able to wipe out all the rest of them."

Abbreviation: blocking the door.

Or rather, raiding someone's base.

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

At the same time.

In Chaldea, far beyond the realm of human history.

Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash are preparing for their first mission to the Lostbelt.

After a six-month break, the two have been back in Chaldea for five days now. With the help of Gray and Sajou Rei, they have finally regained the feeling they had when fighting between singularities.

In peacetime, having to train in combat skills was something that Fujimaru Ritsuka never dared to imagine before.

Just yesterday, Roman and Leonardo da Vinci sent back a message from the control room.

With the help of Goetia and the Seventy-Two Demon Pillars, a Lostbelt that can be reached has been identified.

Although it's not certain whether that's the Lostbelt where Natsukawa Torato is, in any case, if we don't go and find out, we won't be able to bring back that minister who doesn't care about his family and only knows how to run around flirting with women.

So, after spending a day preparing for the spirit transfer, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mashu are finally ready to begin their first Lostbelt journey.

"What are the worlds of Lostbelts really like?"

On the way to the control room, Mashu couldn't help but ask.

Fujimaru Ritsuka thought for a moment: "I remember Ms. Meryl said that Lostbelts refer to worlds that have lost the possibility of development... Will it be a scene like the end of the world? Like in the movies."

During the six months that Mashu stayed at Fujimaru Ritsuka's house, Fujimaru Ritsuka dragged her to watch a lot of movies, and the two of them often went to the cinema on weekends.

Mashu has seen quite a few post-apocalyptic movies, but if the Lostbelts really are an apocalypse...

"By the way, the Lostbelt we're heading to this time, based on our pan-human history, seems to be 15th-century Russia."

Lostbelts are based on a major historical event that deviated from the normal course of events, leading to a world that lost its future and was abandoned. And what about 15th-century Russia...?

"I can't think of anything important."

"Me too. Let's conduct the investigation once we actually get there, senior."

While they were talking, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mashu had already arrived at the door of the control room.

Upon entering the control room, the two were greeted by a familiar scene, just like when they went to the singularity before. The control room was now bustling with staff.

Roman, who was acting as the director and acting operations minister and head of the medical department, turned around and looked at the two men when he heard their footsteps.

"Fujimaru, Mashu, you're both here."

"Then let's begin, Chaldea's first Lostbelt spirit particle transfer."

19. Listen up, you inside! You are surrounded!

That evening, in Tuqi City.

"Men! All of you, perk up! There's only one enemy! A female ninja who can summon a giant serpent! As long as we light up the city, she'll be nothing to fear! We'll make our entire city as bright as day!"

Among the samurai scattered throughout the city, a samurai dressed as a leader was loudly directing the overall layout.

At the top of the earthen castle, perched on the edge overlooking the defenses below, Miyamoto Musashi sighed softly, "The defenses are really tight; it feels like not even a swallow could fly in."

"In terms of time, all the samurai present are elites who have experienced the Shimabara Rebellion. Even if their strength is not comparable to the Heroic Swordsmen, their discipline and organization are first-rate," Tomoe Gozen said. "If we prepare in advance, it is not impossible to fight the Heroic Swordsmen for a while... if it comes down to our lives."

Mortals are no match for the Heroic Swordsmen. Putting aside their supernatural power, their immortality alone means that mortals have absolutely no chance of fighting and winning against them. No matter how many people are sent to fight the Heroic Swordsmen, they will only be annihilated in the end.

The best outcome would be to buy time.

To deal with Mochizuki Chiyome, we still have to leave it to Miyamoto Musashi and Tomoe Gozen. That's why the two of them are here in Tsuchiki Castle. After all, they were asked to do this by Natsukawa Torato, so they have no choice but to come.

only......

"Sigh...why wasn't it Lord Tiger who came?"

Princess Kiyohime leaned against the wall with a worried expression. The fact that it wasn't Natsukawa Torata who had come, but rather two women who were his companions, filled Kiyohime with extreme dissatisfaction and regret. She had clearly wanted to spend the entire night with Lord Torata until dawn.

Although it was just a gut feeling, Kiyohime felt that as long as Natsukawa Torami was by her side, it wouldn't matter if she didn't have those samurai outside.

It must be said that this intuition was indeed very accurate.

"Alright, alright, Princess Kiyohime, Torato has his own matters to attend to," Miyamoto Musashi said with a smile. "Besides... well, in Torato's words, your retainers might not be very friendly to him, so he wants to do something to win their hearts and minds before making a formal visit."

"Ah~~~Is that so?"

"That's right. Even though they do that kind of thing, men still have their own self-respect."

Kiyohime sighed softly, "There's nothing wrong with not having to do this... There's nothing wrong with marrying into the family..."

(Your Highness, you've already thought that far ahead?)