[FMMIKA] Chapter 238: Reunion

Year 632 AD.

In a world where the Middle East was once again a chaotic mess, the long-standing Sasanian Empire was unexpectedly swallowed up by the Arabs.

Amid the rising tide from the Arabian Peninsula, the Dragon Emperor moved forward peacefully within the world's confines.

"How does it feel to pretend to be your own son?"

Beside him, Scathach, asked semi-playfully, semi-seriously.

"Cosplay, it's fun to play around with occasionally." Artorius said calmly.

In the ninth year of the Dragon Emperor's rule, the 'legitimate eldest son' of the Dragon Emperor was born to Empress Artoria, becoming the Empire's Crown Prince.

Compared to the domineering and proud Dragon Emperor, the Crown Prince appeared low-key, gentle, and reserved.

He was a man praised by beggars to royal relatives and was known for his exceptional intelligence, competence, and numerous other adjectives fitting of a genius. He made significant contributions in handling state affairs, military matters, and laws.

In terms of civil governance, the Dragon Emperor had an unconventional approach—he made his son start at the grassroots level, working his way up from township officials to the highest echelons, eventually becoming the Chief Chamberlain of the Emperor's Chamberlains.

In terms of martial prowess, the Crown Prince had even commanded an army of a hundred thousand, battling the Slavic-Cuman alliance in the Volga River, achieving an overwhelming victory, much like the Mongol invasions in the original history.

Though his accomplishments and merits seemed somewhat staged, nobody could deny those achievements.

Thus, after the Dragon Emperor turned sixty, the Crown Prince, in a shared ruling arrangement, began to handle state affairs comprehensively, seamlessly taking over the reins of power.

Under his rule, the empire continued to prosper and advance steadily.

Of course, all of this was a facade.

The Crown Prince—Artorius II, had never truly existed. He was merely a puppet created by the Dragon Emperor's True Magic.

The Dragon Emperor retained full control throughout.

Nothing had changed.

This was why Scathach inquired as she did.

"It's a matter of necessity... and more than that, I'm a bit sensitive when it comes to the issue of heirs." Artorius's first sentence, he didn't continue. But in the second, Scathach detected a trace of inner turmoil and a little embarrassment.

Though he had surpassed three centuries in age, Artorius Pendragon retained youthful vigor and longevity. His true psychological age probably didn't exceed thirty.

And this thirty was according to the standards of the 21st century, a time he rather enjoyed frolicking in.

In this world, there were so many interesting and exciting things for Artorius to do. So why focus on matters of family and offspring? He still wanted to enjoy his youth.

For ordinary people, it meant the continuation of life, the inheritance of family, and so on. But for the Dragon Emperor, there was no such concern.

"..."

Hearing Artorius speak that way, Scathach's lips curled upward, and she didn't press further. She merely teased him a bit, enjoying his embarrassed expression.

This was one of her ways of communicating and flirting with Artorius.

Seeing her revered and magnificent emperor, who appeared great and sacred to outsiders, displaying an embarrassed expression like a little boy was quite pleasurable to Scathach.

If she could, she'd continue playing this kind of game indefinitely.

Perhaps, during the course of this game, she could add some naughty things as a bonus—of course, if it always went that way, she might not necessarily hold the advantage and the initiative.

After all, Artorius was famous within the harem as undefeatable in bed.

Even Scathach, as one of the strongest women and as the God Slayer as well as the Queen of the Land of Shadows, got dominated by him and must admit defeat. The proof was what he had done to her before, so wild and full of energy. The lust of a dragon plus inexhaustible energy from the Third Magic was no joke.

Although that kind of game was quite enjoyable too.

After what seemed like an endless journey, Artorius and Scathach came to a halt.

"Finally, we're here..." Scathach muttered to herself, feeling a bit conflicted.

Of course, this sense of disappointment only lasted for a short while. Scathach quickly returned to her usual self, becoming the flawless warrior she was.

They had come here for a reason—obviously, not to engage in secret rendezvous with other women or the like.

"It's quite nostalgic..." Artorius sighed, feeling the pure water and magical energy around him. "Back in the day, after my—um, our training sessions, we used to come here to bathe."

"Yes, with Mordred, plus someone who likes to peep." Scathach replied.

"Let's not dwell on those little details, Teacher."

"Are those little details?"

"Absolutely."

They continued walking and chatting, their destination now in sight. And it seemed that their target had noticed them as well.

The figure that had been lying there, seemingly as lifeless as a salted fish, hesitated for a moment before instinctively trying to slip into the nearby bushes. But before that could happen—

"No need to hide; we've already seen you." Artorius declared, freezing the figure in place as if he'd cast a binding magecraft on the said figure.

Centuries of time could really wear away at one's will and intelligence.

The more you used it, the sharper it became. But after a long period of disuse, it could deteriorate, like the woman now standing before Artorius and Scathach. She had long pink hair and was dressed in revealing attire.

Who else if not Medb?

A woman who had lived on the Reverse Side of the World for over a century and used Artorius's bathwater as a copium to keep living.

The first ten years were boring.

The next ten were filled with daydreams and restlessness.

The following ten were pure, maddening loneliness.

After that, her mind began to deteriorate. She had become almost like an animal, living purely on instinct.

Of course, that was a bit of an exaggeration, but that's how it is.

Now, Medb looked somewhere between an underage child and a wild beast. Even the intense regret that once consumed her, the feeling of 'I'd rather be dead' had nearly faded away.

Soon, she would disappear entirely into the Reverse Side of the World, returning to the Inner Sea of the Planet like any other forgotten god.

But before that happened, Artorius reunited with her.

"Be useful for once, Medb."

"???"

Queen of Connacht, who had lost the ability to speak, tilted her head and looked at Artorius with a mixture of shyness, self-doubt, intense lust, and curiosity.

"Eternal life isn't always a blessing..."

Scathach, standing next to Artorius, commented with a complex tone in her voice.