Of course, it would not have mattered if he was not ruthless enough. The geis she possessed—the "contract" of Celtic Magic—could ensure that he would be utterly merciless whenever he faced her.
So she had originally chosen that target: the fierce hound named Cú Chulainn, Ireland's Child of Light, as that safeguard.
But that guy had died.
And in such a humiliating way, too. It was absolutely hilarious.
Thinking of it that way, she was even more satisfied with Arthur.
This guy looked like a seasoned old schemer. Ruthless enough, shameless enough. Surely, if necessary, he would strike at her without hesitation. With his sword, his spear, mercilessly and fiercely piercing her body.
But that was not the case at all.
"Why the hell should I put myself through that?"
Artorius mercilessly refused her. "I came here to discuss something with you—something that concerns the entire world."
Facing the somewhat bewildered Scathach, he said without hesitation:
"If you had wanted to be my teacher before I made something of myself, I would have accepted it. But now, my status is different.
At the end of the day, I am a commander, a leader, a prince. In the future, I am meant to become an emperor.
If an emperor has to fight personally, then wouldn't that empire be a complete failure? What would be the point of having so many subordinates?
So I only need enough combat strength to protect myself. I'll leave everything else to my subordinates.
Ah, of course, if you have some teaching fetish and cannot stand not being someone's teacher, that is fine too. I can introduce you to my little sister. That child is the one who..."
"Wait."
When Arthur reached that point, Scathach interrupted him.
"In other words, you did not come here to seek instruction from me in martial arts, Rune Magic, or anything like that?"
"Not at all."
"Then..."
"I already told you. I need your help—not teaching, but magical research. Now that the gods have vanished, you are the mage I can find who has researched Fate the most deeply."
"No. That is not right."
Before Arthur could tell Scathach about his "Grand Plan"—his plan to "usurp the Mandate of Heaven belonging to Frankia"—his ambitions, and all the other matters, before he could try to persuade her to help him, Scathach interrupted his torrent of words.
She rose to her feet and approached Artorius.
For an adolescent boy and an old woman who was ○○○ years old, this distance was far too dangerous. So Arthur could not continue what he had been about to say. He could only stare blankly as she imperiously reached out and pinned him against the chair.
Filled with intense humiliation, Scathach stared seriously at Artorius like a predator.
She had gotten it wrong?
That meant everything just now had been her misunderstanding?
In other words, she had made a complete fool of herself in front of this adorable boy?
She had been so smugly clever???
Look at that child's eyes. His gaze was full of contempt. Though he had not said it aloud, Scathach was certain that he was utterly dismissing her teaching ability. It was as though he were saying:
"You, an outdated old woman, want to be my teacher? You must be dreaming.
An outdated old woman like you can stand alongside Chiron? Look at Teacher Chiron—he has countless disciples, and his finest students are Greece's first and second greatest heroes. Your best student is a dog.
You look wise and brilliant on the surface, but you screw up this badly. You are actually from the Tohsaka Family too, aren't you?"
Thinking that, Scathach forcibly suppressed the urge to stab Arthur to death with a single thrust and made her decision.
If that was the case, there was only one path left.
"Speak."
She stared at Arthur seriously, her crimson spear twitching in her right hand. "You came here because you covet my peerless, dazzling martial arts and the finest Rune Magic in the world. You want me to teach you how to become strong."
"I—"
In an instant, one hundred and eighty thoughts flashed through Arthur's mind.
They ranged from This woman has gone insane to She wants to imprison and rape me.
Before he could select the most reliable answer from those one hundred and eighty possibilities, the Spear of Piercing Death struck the ground with a BOOM, plowing a trench dozens of meters deep and hundreds of meters long and shoving Arthur's words back down his throat.
A wise young man did not pick a fight he could not win.
After swallowing hard, Arthur calmly repeated what Scathach had just said:
"Yes, I came here to seek you out, to pursue your wisdom, and to hope that you could teach me how to become stronger."
After saying that, and seeing Scathach's expression turn pleased and relaxed, Arthur added the latter half of his sentence:
"By the way... I also need to discuss something with you. Something significant that concerns the fate of the world."
"Hmm?"
Scathach, now feeling much better, neither agreed nor objected.
Author's note:
As usual, the first update at midnight!
Before I knew it, this book had already reached 100,000 words!
I hope I can keep working hard!
Arthur's Deed of Sale
In the end, Artorius reached a "contract" with Scathach. In other words, a geis—the unbreakable oath of Celtic Magic.
Scathach would teach Arthur everything she knew. However much Arthur could learn, she would teach him that much.
This was the "price" Arthur had to pay.
And the "price" Scathach had to pay was to "seriously discuss" with Arthur "a major matter concerning the fate of the entire world." Furthermore, "as long as Arthur proposed a feasible plan," she had to "provide Arthur with sufficient assistance."
Thus, that geis—the oath contract—was signed. This evil, unequal treaty was forced into existence by Scathach...
—Originally, she had only wanted to teach someone. She had not intended to help with work. But Artorius Pendragon remained steadfast and unyielding. He declared that learning was not for sale. He would sell his body, but not his skills—unless she paid enough.
So in the end, Scathach still compromised.
Then, looking at this brat whining in front of her as though he had suffered some terrible injustice, Scathach realized she had still been tricked.
What the hell.
She had to be his teacher and teach him skills. She also had to risk her life helping him accomplish some grand undertaking... No matter how she looked at it, she was the one getting the worse end of the deal, wasn't she?
What was even more excessive was that this brat was still looking at her with a resentful expression. Then Arthur said, "I am prepared, Teacher Scathach."
He stood up and, under Scathach's gloomy and furious gaze, spoke with unwavering determination:
"Although this contract was signed only because you used force to threaten and intimidate me.
As a knight, a ruler, and an honorable person who keeps his promises, I will still fulfill our contract to the letter."
Scathach said, "It is best that you think that way~"
"Teacher, your smile looks terrifying. Did you eat something bad?"
"Not at all. Teacher has caught a very strange illness. The name of this illness is, 'I Cannot Help but Ruthlessly Bully Adorable Little Pretty-Boy Brats.'"
Arthur said, "Teacher, please do not joke around, Teacher.
How could there possibly be such a ridiculous illness in this world?
Teacher, Teacher, what is wrong, Teacher?
Do not come closer with such a terrifying face—
Ah—no, nooo—Teacher—I am still just a child—
Waaaaah—"
That felt good.
After brutally ravaging Arthur's adorable, handsome face for half an hour, Scathach finally returned to her cold and arrogant bearing. Like the crimson Manjusaka of the land of death, she was bewitchingly beautiful and utterly untouchable.
At the same time, Artorius rubbed his face and looked resentfully at his future teacher.
Although he occasionally pretended to be an innocent little boy, he really was already sixteen. Being treated like a child and having his cheeks pinched was truly...
"Alright, stop pretending."
Once again, Scathach said, "I am very happy that you cooperated so well with my ravaging. But it is a little too much to keep making that wronged expression."
"No, this time I am not pretending."
Arthur continued looking at her pitifully. "Teacher Scathach, you really hurt me—the fragile self-esteem of an innocent young boy."
"You really are something..."
Hearing Arthur say that, Scathach shook her head helplessly. "You are always smiling and lying. I do not even know which of your words I should believe."
"Then believe all of them." Arthur looked as though it were only natural. "As your disciple, I would never deceive my teacher, right?"
Scathach said, "Hehe."
The purple-haired beauty stretched her waist, and her slender yet toned figure was a feast for Arthur's eyes.
Scathach offered no comment on the little pervert's 4K digital camera function. She had enjoyed herself enough today. And she did not dislike a calculating Arthur like this, either.
Because she knew that the more words, thoughts, and schemes Arthur used, the more he valued her.
She truly did not dislike a clever, cunning, handsome, outstanding little brat like him.
"Starting tomorrow, prepare to welcome hell."
She told Arthur, "I will train you properly, Artorius."
After saying that, she turned around and vanished without a trace. It was unknown whether she had returned to the Shadow Country.
At the same time, Arthur waited a while longer, only to discover that he still had not woken up.
"Is it not time yet? Then where else can I go next?"
He muttered to himself.
Within the "dream" of the "Inner Sea of Stars," he theoretically could go anywhere, yet somehow could not go anywhere at all. The only two reliable options were Avalon and the Holy Spring, the two landmarks stored in his memory.
"Should I go find that pink-haired, green-eyed girl and finish what we did not finish yesterday, or should I comfort Big Sister Vivian's wounded heart? This is really difficult."
Arthur pondered that, then decided that going to Avalon was more important after all. Big Sister Vivian was so soft and so easy to fool. If he did not treat her better, he would be too much of a scumbag.
With that thought in mind, Arthur appeared beside the Holy Spring.
Then he took off his clothes and began bathing.
The spring water was cool. The mental wounds he had suffered from beating each other up with Teacher Scathach vanished completely.
But he had clearly intended to go to Avalon, so why had he come here instead? Could it be that deep down, he was actually a scumbag?
"No, absolutely not. I just got lost normally. Tomorrow, I will definitely reach the real Avalon."
Submerging his whole body in the Holy Spring and blowing bubbles, Artorius thought that to himself.
At the same time, in the forest beside the Holy Spring, the treetops shifted slightly.
The next morning, although Teacher Scathach had beaten his head, once the Holy Spring's healing was factored in, Arthur had still come out ahead.
So when Arthur woke the next day, he felt refreshed. His mind was clear, and his efficiency at work had greatly improved.
"That spring's effects are pretty good. I can go there often in the future."
He thought that happily, completely unaware that after he left, something else interesting had happened at the spring.
"Damn it."
It was Maeve, who had spent all day yesterday searching for Arthur and failed to find him anywhere.
After Arthur left, the pleasure she had gained from peeping on the bishonen bathing vanished, leaving behind only embarrassment and regret.
Grinding her teeth, she walked toward the Holy Spring.
Before you continue