Lu Mingfei, become the King of Elden!

Chapter 164 Do you like festivals? Or do you like flowers?

"...Do you like festivals? Or do you like flowers?"

Natsuki Subaru cleared his throat, straightened his back slightly, and put on a strange expression. He deliberately lowered his voice, making it hoarse and aged, imitating the character perfectly:
"To the south lies a grand ceremony that moves the stars—"

"There are flower buds waiting to bloom in the east—"

"...So, are you going?"

Finally, he gasped sharply, as if startled by something, his neck jerking dramatically as he let out a shrill cry:

"Alas--!"

After finishing his imitation, Subaru Natsuki instantly reverted to his carefree self and clapped his hands:
"That's how it was. In front of the burning wall of fire, a strange-looking old woman said it. She looked a lot like Grandma Eun-ya, who bestowed great blessings."

“That’s the ‘Old Woman Who Unravels Her Finger’.”

Kaneki Ken's gentle voice rang out at the opportune moment:

"It seems to be a special position at the border, dedicated to interpreting the advice conveyed by the 'fingers'. They are scattered everywhere, guiding the faded."

"Ah."

Emiya Shirou nodded slightly:

“Kaneki-kun is right. I also encountered an old woman like that on the Stoneville Bridge.”

She told me, 'Go towards the foot of the Golden Tree. Cross the Realo Lucaria—the Night of Pyrostone Stars—and meet the Half Moon in the Great Elevator.'

After that, I went to the Lake Lienia region and have been active there ever since. However, I still don't know what a 'coincident crescent' is.”

As Lu Mingfei listened to these cryptic riddles, he felt as if his head was stuffed with a tangled ball of yarn, buzzing around.

He raised his hand high, like a primary school student answering a question in class:

"Ask a question!"

Natsuki Subaru immediately switched into his dramatic persona, swinging the menacing hunting god's greatsword in one hand, creating a dull whistling sound as it sliced ​​through the air, pointing it at Lu Mingfei:

"Please speak, Lu Mingfei!"

Lu Mingfei rubbed his still throbbing temples and looked at Emiya Shirou with a puzzled expression:

“Um… Brother Shirou, didn’t you send me a message earlier saying you had news about General Rataen of Shattered Stars? But… but what you just said…”

He pointed at Subaru Natsuki, then looked at Shirou Emiya:
"Festivals, flowers, a starry night of brilliance, and a coinciding crescent moon... This sounds completely unrelated to that fierce general who can shatter even the stars, doesn't it?"

A brief silence descended.

Several "heroes" from different worlds looked at each other, and it seemed as if countless ellipses were floating in the air.

Although the border area is a place where everyone is a riddle teller, and the first priority for the Faded Ones is to learn how to solve riddles, they are clearly also clueless about this riddle.

Subaru told me.

Shirou Emiya said this.

Everyone then looked at the black figure sitting to the side.

"Huh huh huh~"

Natsuki Subaru crossed his arms, a hint of smugness on his face.

He stood up, cleared his throat, and looked like an old professor about to give an academic lecture:
“Let me tell you!” Natsuki Subaru straightened his back, trying to make his voice sound more authoritative:
"First, let's clarify a basic issue."

"Who is the master of this region of Galid? That's right, it's the legendary Red Lion General Rataen, who can shatter stars!"

And his Red Lion Legion, as fierce as lions! I'm sure all of you 'Faded Ones' here know this by heart, don't you?

Lu Mingfei nodded slightly in agreement.

This is common knowledge among the Faded Ones, and Lu Mingfei has also dealt with the Red Lion soldiers stationed there several times. These soldiers are clearly more well-trained and far more powerful than the soldiers under Grik in Nymgford.

"very good!"

Natsuki Subaru expressed his appreciation to everyone, then changed the subject, pointing eastward:

"Now, here's the important part. That eccentric old woman mentioned that to the east of the wall of embers, there are flower buds about to bloom."

"Although I don't understand how that godforsaken place could possibly have any romantic connection with 'flower bud,' it's highly likely that she was referring to that place—"

"—Crimson Ionian Swamp."

Natsuki Subaru looked around at everyone, a rare serious expression appearing on his face:
"However, I, Natsuki Subaru, strongly advise, based on my countless experiences, that you all! Don't even think about touching that swamp for now! Stay away from it!"

"That area is the most polluted by the crimson putrefaction. Anyone who steps into it will inevitably be infected with putrefaction. Even the pollen sprayed by the Miranda flowers on the shore is crimson putrefaction."

Lu Mingfei can also attest to this.

Lu Mingfei nodded slowly.

Indeed, in that unfortunate place, Lu Mingfei experienced the effects of the putrefactive disease for the first time. The pain was almost unbearable, surpassing any death he had ever suffered in the border region!
If it weren't necessary, Lu Mingfei would never want to go there again.

"so."

Natsuki Subaru abruptly changed the subject, his eyes lighting up as he brandished the greatsword used to hunt down the gods, like a teacher wielding a pointer:

"Festival! The emphasis is on the 'festival'!"

"What kind of place is Galid? It's a land of warriors who worship strength and revere heroes! Red Lion City, as General Rataen's stronghold, is a sacred place on this land, and they have a long tradition of holding grand 'battle festivals'!"

"Think about it! 'The Grand Festival that Moves the Stars'! Apart from the 'Battle Festival' held in Red Lion City, what else can be worthy of such a description? What else can 'move the stars'?"
Only that general himself, capable of shattering stars!

He took a breath, as if he were a famous detective at the end of the century who had just completed a significant deduction.

Subaru Natsuki looked around, waiting for the audience's reaction.

After thinking it over, the three of them couldn't find any major flaws in Subaru's reasoning, since Subaru was the one who knew Gailed the most.

"So, Subaru-kun."

Ken Kaneki spoke softly:

"You summoned us this time hoping we would shift our focus to Galid and search for the Red Lion City in the south, is that what you mean?"

Natsuki Subaru shook his head slightly:
"No, exploring Galid is enough for me and Lu Jun to handle. We've already established enough Blessed Points in Galid."

The terrain here is too complex; if you two aren't familiar with it, you'll waste a lot of time. The most efficient way is for the two of us to go and find traces of Red Lion City, and then draw a route.”

Don't let Subaru's usual carefree attitude fool you; he's actually quite smart and never lets you down when it matters.

Emiya Shirou nodded, approving of Natsuki Subaru's plan. He added:
"Then let's use this time to strengthen our capabilities and prepare supplies as much as possible. If needed, please call us anytime."

(End of this chapter)