Typemoon: Starting Out as the Lion King [213] 

Credits: Resid Kuliyev

"Let me explain everything in detail," Alaric cleared his throat and raised his index and middle finger in a storytelling gesture.

Mash, seeing Alaric's stance, immediately lit up with excitement. "You're going to tell a story, right? I've read about this in books! Sir Alaric, do you know how to do this too?"

"Oh, oh, a storyteller!" Fujimaru Ritsuka, who had just managed to suppress her nervousness, couldn't help but join in the lively atmosphere.

But before Alaric could explain the whereabouts of the Holy Grail to Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash, Siduri's voice interrupted him.

Siduri, who had just stepped out of the ziggurat, bowed slightly toward Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash. In a gentle voice, she said, "Honored guests, I will arrange your accommodations. Please follow me."

Alaric, his storytelling interrupted, lowered his hand and asked curiously, "I thought I was supposed to arrange accommodations for them. Miss Siduri, are you planning to take them to an inn?"

"The king feels it would be improper to neglect such distinguished guests who have traveled so far," Siduri replied. "He has assigned me to oversee your daily needs and routines."

Fujimaru Ritsuka studied Siduri curiously. "You're the assistant who was just with King Gilgamesh, right?"

"Indeed," Siduri responded. "I am Siduri, the overseer of the temple."

As she led the way, Siduri continued, "Additionally, the king has decided that your tasks here will not involve working directly with Lord Alaric. Instead, you will temporarily assist with routine matters in Uruk.

Since I am responsible for your stay, I will also handle your work arrangements. I will do my utmost to ensure everything proceeds smoothly."

Alaric understood immediately what this meant. His plan to bring Fujimaru Ritsuka and company to the northern wall, where Kingu's involvement posed a major threat, had fallen apart.

Still, Alaric wasn't too disheartened. Once the conflict escalated to its peak, Fujimaru Ritsuka would inevitably have to make her way to the northern wall.

And the decision to escalate the battle rested in Alaric's hands. Whether the war would intensify depended on his initial decision.

The demonic beasts created by the Beast Goddess Gorgon were still in a phase of trial and error, evolving continuously. For them, a prolonged battle was the best strategy.

On the other hand, Alaric preferred a swift and decisive blitzkrieg. But Kingu's presence made such a strategy impossible for now.

"The Alliance of the Goddesses..."

With the leyline's support, Alaric considered testing the waters with a probing strike. If it could disrupt Gorgon, so much the better. Even if it didn't, it might yield valuable information.

A true blitzkrieg could only be launched once the divine contract binding Quetzalcoatl was dealt with.

While Alaric was lost in thought, Siduri was introducing Uruk's customs and culture to Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash. In this harmonious atmosphere, the group finally arrived at their lodging.

As the door swung open—

"Fouuu!!"

A small, pure white creature darted into the inn like a spinning bullet and promptly kicked over the flower magus Merlin, who had been standing at the entrance to welcome them.

"Fou fou! (Merlin deserves to die!)"

"Ah, ah! Cath Palug, you little beast, is this how I taught you to behave?" Merlin struggled with all his might against Fou but was unable to defeat the terrifying embodiment of humanity's evils.

Mash, feeling a little helpless, was pulled past the struggling Merlin by Alaric as they followed Fujimaru Ritsuka into the inn.

Alaric then noticed Ana standing silently in a corner. He casually raised a hand in greeting, "Hey, Ana. You seem to be in good spirits. Did something nice happen?"

"Nothing." Ana, who hadn't seen Alaric in a day, replied casually. She glanced briefly at Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash before saying nothing further. Instead, she turned her gaze to Merlin, who was still grappling with Fou. "Merlin, if you're going to display such disgraceful behavior, please do it in the middle of the night when no one's watching."

"Come now, it's just the joy of a reunion—" Merlin managed to escape Fou's wrath and climbed to his feet, the little beast still perched on his head.

Meanwhile, Mash and Fujimaru Ritsuka, who had been setting up the round table for communication with Chaldea, turned their heads in unison upon hearing Ana mention Merlin's name.

"Merlin?"

"Is that the Merlin?"

The same identity flashed through both their minds.

"Ahem," Merlin said, brushing himself off. "Since this is our first meeting, let me introduce myself. My name is Merlin, as you can see, a Caster-class Servant. And this here is Ana. Ana, would you care to say something?"

Ana, still in the corner, replied indifferently, "Whatever. Just call me Ana."

At that moment, the communicator on Fujimaru Ritsuka's wrist crackled to life with a shout from Romani. ["Wait a second—Merlin?!?"]

The shock was evident not only in Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash but also in Dr. Romani, who was so startled he pressed his face against the screen. ["Did you just say you're Merlin?]

[The Merlin of Britain? The half-incubus, half-human who crowned Artoria Pendragon as king, later became her court wizard, and is one of the world's greatest king-makers—as well as one of its most useless individuals?]

 [And you're a Servant now?!?]

 [The same Magus who won't die until the world ends?!?"]

Romani practically rattled off his words at lightning speed, leaving himself gasping for breath. Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash were stunned by his reaction.

"Doctor…"

"You said that all in one breath," Mash added, amazed.

The culprit himself, Merlin, with Fou still on his head, walked over to Fujimaru Ritsuka and touched the communicator on their wrist with a smile. "Haha, what a wonderfully thorough introduction, Dr. Roman. Thank you! But I'm merely a magus with the qualifications of a Grand Caster—just an ordinary magician."

["This—can't—be—true!!"] Romani exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief. ["You're a fraud! If you're the real Merlin, then show us your true form!"]

"Why is the doctor so agitated?" Fujimaru Ritsuka asked, puzzled.

Mash, while continuing to set up the round table to establish a Chaldea link, laughed softly and said, "It's probably because the legend of Merlin doesn't quite align with his current circumstances.

In the tale, the magus Merlin built a tower in the utopia of Avalon and sealed himself there for eternity. He cannot die and spends his time watching over the world.

So—"

"Living beings can't become Heroic Spirits. So how is Merlin—?"

Understanding dawned on Fujimaru Ritsuka, who looked at Merlin with curiosity.

With Mash's setup complete, Chaldea successfully linked to the round table, and Romani's image was projected onto its surface.

Arms crossed, Romani nodded. ["Exactly. And on top of that, this man is utterly useless in battle. Even though he has the qualifications of a Grand Caster, his Clairvoyance pales in comparison to others.]

[The Clairvoyance of King Solomon, the Magecraft King, allows him to see the past and the future. King Gilgamesh's Clairvoyance enables him to see the future. But Merlin's Clairvoyance can only see the present—and he can't do anything about it. It's just... convenient.

That's all—"]

As Romani continued, he seemed to realize something. Noticing Merlin's faint smile on the screen, he abruptly collapsed onto his desk with a thud.