CH 104

Chapter 104: Let Me Talk About the Supermythical Circle Crusher

TL: Akabane

***

Testing season was approaching. But most college students don't take studying for tests seriously. That's why they are always in the mood for a pre-test BBQ. We in the architecture department were enjoying escaping reality at a BBQ place by a river in Okutama.

"The river feels so nice. It's cool and refreshing."

"It sure is. It feels good on my feet. It really does."

Igarashi and I sat on a rock, soaking our feet in the river water and enjoying our drinks. Every once in a while Igarashi would move her feet and the water would splash. I felt somewhat sexy from her water-drenched ankles to her calves.

"Igarashi! The boys brought Dom Perignon! Won't you drink it!"

I heard the voice of a girl from the same department from behind me.

"What? Dom Perignon! Let's go, Tokiwa!"

"Yeah. Yes, that's fine. I'm tired of drinking Dom Perignon."

"Is that Suo's? No, Tokiwa! You're too much of a college student, aren't you?

I had already been to Suo's many times, building Dom Perignon towers and champagne towers. I personally think that kind of alcohol is best drunk at night in a restaurant, not outside in nature.

"Well, yeah. Just go ahead and go. I'll just stay here and cool off."

"Yeah? See you later! Dom Peri! Dom Peri!

Igarashi went to join the others in the department to drink Dom Perignon. I stayed there for a while to cool off. Then I suddenly saw Mashiba setting up his fishing rod on a rock upstream. It might have been the first time I saw a girl fishing. I was intrigued, so I approached her and called out.

"How's it going? Can you fishing?"

Mashiba quietly turned to me and nodded. There were two fish swimming in the tub beside her.

"Do you like fishing?"

"Not really. I just do it because it gives me a reason to be alone. Not that I enjoy it."

"Yeah. That's a hard reason to say."

She's saying some kind of dark things. Igarashi was saying that Mashiba was saved by Hagiri.

"You do it too. Here, I'll lend it to you."

She took another rod out of her long, thin bag and handed it to me. I baited the hook and tossed it into the water. Fishing with two girls side by side seemed quite surreal. Just as I was thinking this, Mashiba opened her mouth.

"Hagiri saved our house. My parents were incompetent sycophants and forced me to cosign a debt. We were living a helpless life, always having half-religious people coming to our house, rioting, and collecting the money. Hagiri collected the debt from the half-gangs by putting his body on the line. We were still without power, so Hagiri was beaten to a pulp. But you know, he protected us. No one had ever done that for us before in our lives. So there was nothing we could do except love him. Isn't that right? Am I right?"

It's a little hard to imagine. Hagiri is a cunning man. He doesn't look like the kind of hot guy who would put his body on the line to save a woman. But people are multifaceted creatures with multiple sides. It's not surprising that there are parts of him that he doesn't show me.

"But there were other boys like that besides Hagiri. Riri has been the target of many men in the past. Hagiri has managed all of them, but there was someone else who protected Riri besides Hagiri. We love Riri. She was always kind to us, even though we didn't get along with other people or society."

It reminds me of the previous world. I think Igarashi continued to respect Mashiba to the end. Well, there were times when she lost her temper, but the friendship was still strong. Even Mashiba kept telling me to start over with Igarashi. Even if it was the wrong way, Mashiba had Igarashi's best interest at heart.

"I see. You and Igarashi must be the best of friends."

"Yes. I'd be happy if that were the case. But you know, you can't stay by the side of a goddess forever while you're just a woman."

"Goddess? You mean Igarashi? Isn't that an exaggeration?"

Mashiba only smiled vaguely at my question.

"Hey, do you know the legend of King Arthur?"

"Well, at least an overview."

Personally, I don't like it. My heart tingles at the mention of King Arthur, a big name in the NTR world.

"What about King Arthur? If you said I looked like King Arthur, I'd throw you in the river."

"I know you don't like King Arthur. I'll keep going. King Arthur became king by pulling out a sword stuck in a rock. You know that, right?"

"Well, yes, I know that."

"Well, then a question. Why does pulling a sword out of a rock make you king? Why?"

Huh? That's a mystery to me. Pulling a sword out of a rock and you're king is emo, but it doesn't seem logical to me.

"The sword chose Arthur as king, didn't it?"

Mashiba heard the answer and huffed a mocking smile at the person. That kind of pisses me off. I think it's pretty cute, though.

"Indeed, many people think so. It seems like the Holy Sword chose Arthur to be king. But you know what? I have a more reasonable theory. It wasn't the sword that chose Arthur as king. It was the rock."

"The rock? Ah...that makes sense now that you mention it. It's the rock that is clamping and holding the sword!"

"The original Arthurian legend is in Celtic culture. Celtic culture is a good reflection of old European beliefs. Many Stonehenges have been found in Celtic areas. They used rocks as objects of worship. Even today, Ireland uses a square of upright rocks called the Lear Fil as a symbol of national unity. The British royal family even sits on a rock throne during coronation ceremonies. So the rock is more important for the selection of royalty. The sword, you know, is just an extra toy."

"Wow. That's an interesting story. You're a smart girl, aren't you?"

"What did you think I am? Well, it doesn't matter. There used to be a ceremony in Ireland where a king married a goddess who dwelled in a rock. The marriage ceremony gave legitimacy to the kingship. So King Arthur's rock probably had a goddess in it. Now that I've said all this, you already know what I'm talking about, don't you?"

"The goddess inhabiting the rock chose Arthur as king. King Arthur became king because he married the goddess who dwells in the rock? Huh? But Arthur had a human wife, right? Guinevere, the b*tch."

"Don't call her a b*tch. Guinevere, the name means "white ghost". Guinevere is. In the mythological sense, she is an incarnation of a goddess. Let me give you an example. King Arthur is a knight of the Round Table, right? The Round Table is actually Guinevere's wedding present. Don't you think it's strange? There is no order of seating at the round table, so the knights are equal. That's where Arthur is sitting. Even though he is the king, he is treated the same as the knights under him! Arthur is placed on the same rank as the other men by the round table brought by Guinevere, who is only the queen! He's a king! He's on the same level as all the other knights! King Arthur may be a hero, but as a king, he has no "authority" at all. His kingship is only granted by Guinevere, the goddess incarnate. King Arthur is always watching her face. If he is in a bad mood, he can't be king."

"Oh. Wow, I didn't know there was such logic... wow..."

I was impressed. I felt myself being fascinated by the depth of the myth.

"I digress. I think it's a shame. You and Hagiri will never get along. I'm sure anything is possible if you cooperate with Hagiri."

Hagiri and I will never compromise with each other. One of us will always end up ruined. I'm sure of it.

"I hate to say this, but as long as Riri is around, Hagiri and you will never be compatible. Girls love a guy who can build a harem, but I feel sorry for boys. You can never share the one you love with another man."

Mashiba smiled sadly. Then she took something out of her bag and handed it to me.

"Hmm? What's this? Cellophane tape? Hmm?"

What she handed me was a thick, wide piece of cellophane tape. There didn't seem to be anything unusual about it.

"I won't tell you how to use it. I don't want you around Riri if you can't think of how to use it."

She then handed me a tub of fish.

"Take it to Riri. I think it would probably taste good grilled."

"Why don't you come too?"

"It's an offering. It's an offering to the goddess. Only kings and goddesses eat them."

Saying this, Mashiba turned her eyes to the surface of the water. I sensed a clear rejection. She said that this fish should be eaten only by me and Igarashi. I decided to accept the favor. I stood up, turned my back on Mashiba, and headed toward Igarashi.

"One last thing. Be careful with Suo."

Those words left a deep impression on my mind. Mashiba is trying desperately to tell me something. But she also has no intention of betraying Hagiri. It seems like such a mess. Mashiba's consideration is not in vain. I bowed to Mashiba and left her side.

***Author's musings***

Incidentally, there is a theory that Maeve, the nemesis of Cu Chulainn in Irish mythology, is the goddess of holy matrimony who dwells in a rock. There is also a variation of the myth in which Cu Chulainn and Maeve were reconciled and Cu Chulainn married Maeve's daughter. Maeve's daughter has the name "White Ghost" which means the same as Guinevere. As is customary, a single goddess in a myth is sometimes split into several characters. For example, Artemis and Calisto. Maeve and Guinevere are spoken of as mother and son, but perhaps they are different aspects of the same goddess. In other words, Cu Chulainn and Arthur are super-space-hole brothers!

Incidentally, but there is a variation of the myth that Guinevere had mistresses with Gawain, Kay, Mordred, etc. in addition to Lancelot. So the true master of the Knights of the Round Table is not Arthur, but Guinevere! King Arthur is at best only the leader of the knights in Guinevere's eyes!

Super mythic circle crusher Guinevere! What the hell... that's too much, isn't it! There are so many events in the Arthurian legend that make sense if you reinterpret it around Guinevere instead of Arthur. In particular, the fact that he was the first to kidnap Guinevere and try to marry her during Maudette's rebellion makes a lot of sense from the perspective of kingship. Arthur is not a king because he wields the Holy Sword, but because he is Guinevere's husband. In fact, the cause and effect are reversed.

Incidentally, Arthur's sister Morgan is mentioned as a goddess in Irish mythology. She fought Cu Chulainn and became his ally in a tsundere, but Cu Chulainn was eventually killed by Maeve.

And in the Arthurian legend, Morgan is also a dedicated Arthurian. In the legend of King Arthur, Morgan is trying to ruin Guinevere, but it doesn't work out. In any case, his own relative Gawain and his son Maudette are both NTR'd by Guinevere....

Morgan and Arthur are both NTR'd by Guinevere, and it's hilarious! And they can't win!

Everyone, please read The Legend of King Arthur again! It's very interesting!

It's more like a story of Guinevere's super circle crush than a legend of a brilliant knight. I seriously recommend it! I hope you will discover the fun of King Arthur's Legend as a NTR silly fantasy.