Chapter 871

Even His Majesty Morgan probably hasn't shared this unparalleled experience of pleasure with Shirou yet!

... That's amazing.

Shirou, you're amazing!

However, I won't lose to you either.

As if a power source had been unplugged, Lancelot's consciousness was disconnected.

Volume 11: 512 Fae Lancelot: Sorry, Your Majesty~ I won't be polite and will eat first~

That was towards the end of Shirou and Morgan's pilgrimage to Britain.

In order to investigate the "World Tree" standing at the edge of the world, they set off northwards, passing through a swamp.

Northwest Britain is a densely forested, foggy wetland.

The area has harsh terrain and climate, and is also home to Morrigan, hence the name Lake District.

There, they witnessed a horrifying sight.

Huge, enormous, the skeleton of some kind of creature.

The entire length is probably several kilometers, and the enormous skeleton blends into the earth, the rainforest, and the swamp.

Shirou and Morgan were dumbfounded.

"What... is this?"

Morgan, born in the Fae Kingdom, had no idea what it was, but Shirou, who came from Pan-Human History and had only lived there until he was seven years old, knew very well the identity of the skeleton.

"... dragon."

"Dragon?"

Shirou nodded and explained to her:

"The creatures that appear in myths and legends of Pan-Human History, I thought were just fantasies... Turns out they actually exist!"

Shirou's mouth suddenly started chattering like a machine gun, and he began chanting at high speed.

"Hey, Morgan, listen carefully... the so-called dragon is actually..."

"Wait, wait a minute! Shirou, there's something strange about your eyes!?"

"It would be strange if you could calm down, wouldn't it? That's a dragon! Every boy's dream... The mythical dragon is right in front of you!"

"I... I understand! I do know what a dragon is, but anyway, calm down first, Shirou!"

"Sorry, I got a little too excited."

"Snort..."

Morgan crossed his arms unhappily.

What's with this sudden surge of emotion? Do you really like dragons that much?

Although the witch herself felt it was childish to compete with a long-dead, decaying skeleton, there was nothing she could do about it.

Moreover... Morgan felt a slight sense of crisis for some reason.

"Hmm, isn't Albion handsome?"

Every boy loves dragons; that's been the case for thousands of years!

A cheerful voice suddenly broke the silence, interrupting Shirou and Morgan's conversation.

"...?"

Morgan turned his head and saw a fairy girl standing behind him, smiling at them.

Who... who are you?

The witch was startled and hid behind the boy.

Shirou gazed at the fairy girl and said calmly, "You've been with us since yesterday, haven't you?"

The fairy girl said happily, "That's right~, hello~! I'm Mira from the Mirror Clan!"

I sensed a very comfortable aura emanating from you, so I observed you for a while!

Morgan blinked as he overheard their conversation.

"Huh? Shirou, you noticed we were being followed yesterday? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't sense any malice from the child, so I let her continue following me."

Shirou said with a smile:

"Because, if I tell Ash, you'll definitely tie her up and torture her, right? That would be too pitiful."

"That's right..."

Morgan was speechless, his lips trembling. "Shirou, I'd like to talk to you alone later when I have some time."

"Haha... please go easy on me." Shirou smiled wryly.

Mira observed the two of them and said, "Did you save me from this vicious girl?"

Morgan protested angrily, "Who are you calling vicious in front of?!"

Mira laughed and said, "Thank you~! You're such lovely fairies~!"

Ah, wait... are you the king and witch that Princess mentioned?

"Your Highness?"

"The King and the Witch?"

Mira nodded and said, "Our clan chief Ainsel, once said that the king and the witch would visit here in the near future—"

This prophecy has come true! No wonder he's Ainsel!

Shirou and Morgan exchanged a glance.

It seems that the princess Mira mentioned refers to the clan chief of the Mirror Clan.

She had predicted years ago that Shirou and Morgan would travel north and pass through the Lake District.

The Mirror Clan is one of the fairy clans living in Britain.

They love peace and possess the ability to foresee the future, making them beloved by all and the most popular fairies in Britain.

"Instead of this, would you like to come to our settlement?"

While Shirou and Morgan were still figuring out how to respond, Mira had already extended an invitation.

"The settlement of the Mirror Clan...?"

"Is this also Her Highness's request?"

Morgan asked curiously, Mira shook her head. "I wanted to invite you all over!"

Looking at the girl's innocent and carefree smile, even someone as harsh as Morgan couldn't find an excuse to refuse.

Afterwards, they met the Mirror Clan, who lived in seclusion in the Lake District, and also met with the clan chief of the Ainsel Clan.

Morgan assumed that the Mirror Clan was similar to the Rain Clan, but he was quite surprised.

Morgan couldn't find the right words to describe it, but Shirou came up with a term that Pan-Human History.

"He's practically like a robot..."

Fairies of the Mirror Clan generally lack emotional fluctuations; a girl as energetic as Mira is extremely unusual.

However, Ainsel himself seemed quite normal.

Incidentally, Shirou and Morgan's visit to the clan's settlement was exactly what she had expected.

"Future King of Britain, I have a favor to ask of you."

"Wait? What about me? Don't ignore me!"

The Mirror Clan Chief addressed Shirou as the future king, ignoring the witch beside him, which made Morgan very nervous.

Ainsel glanced at the Paradise Fae and gave a meaningful smile.

"...?"

Morgan grew even more uneasy and gripped Shirou's clothes tightly.

Could it be... that something terrible is going to happen to me in the future? That I won't live to see that day? No way!

Ainsel explained the request to Shirou.

An astonishing number of Mors has suddenly gathered in the swamp today; hopefully, he can help deal with them before the "Calamity Accumulation" occurs.

For Shirou, this was a simple matter, and he readily agreed.

By this time, Shirou and Morgan were already seasoned veterans, and they completed this request without much effort.

The two of them swept away the Mors near the swamp and were preparing to return to the Mirror Clan settlement when—

Shirou saw that thing.

In the very heart of the dark swamp, a mysterious, amorphous, pitch-black mass stirs, radiating endless magic.

Without a doubt, that was the real reason for the unusual gathering of Mors.

Shirou had seen many ominous things that summoned curses on their journey, but none had ever been as bizarre as the one they encountered today.

Most surprisingly, it was completely unaware of anything.

Such a presence exists even in mere unconscious Magic Lump.

Let alone a once-in-a-century or once-in-a-millennium catastrophe.

If left unchecked and allowed to continue growing, it may give rise to an unprecedented... the strongest calamity in history.

Morgan frowned, gripping the pilgrimage staff tightly with both hands.

Just as she was about to use Magecraft to burn the area down, Shirou stopped her.

"Etc."

As Shirou spoke, he began to take off his clothes.

"Wait... what are you doing all of a sudden!?"

Morgan blushed and covered her face, but peeked through her fingers.

"Is it finally reached its breaking point and is planning to attack me!?"

Hmph... Shirou is a hot-blooded young man after all, there's just no way to deal with you...

But... but this place won't do! This kind of thing should at least be done indoors..."

Shirou threw his clothes to Morgan and then walked naked into the swamp.

"Wait a minute? Shirou! What are you doing? In a place like that, you'll be corrupted by the curse of the swamp!"

Shirou turned to his witch and smiled, saying, "I'll have to ask you to break the curse then, Ash."

Morgan paused for a moment, then muttered "idiot" with a slight blush.

Shirou had reached the center of the swamp and stood before the restless, dark mass.

That's exactly right...

This is a cell of some kind of organism.

Perhaps it will become a great calamity that destroys Britain in the future, but for now it is still an innocent child who knows nothing about this world.

It was neither malicious nor benevolent, and should not be treated as a curse.

"... Ash, am I wrong?"

Who knows? I'm not going to care about you anymore!

Shirou heard his partner's smug voice from behind and laughed happily.

Then he took a deep breath and reached out his hand towards the black mass.

Something happened the instant it was touched.

This is some kind of sensory phenomenon.