Even though her intuition screamed incessantly that she had overlooked something extremely important, Artoria simply could not figure out what the problem was, no matter how much she thought about it.
Artoria murmured slowly:
"I vaguely feel… as if something is wrong… as if there's something out of place… but… where exactly?"
It could only be said that her Rank A intuition was desperately trying to warn her that her fate was being manipulated.
Unfortunately, she had no means to resist.
Because the one manipulating her destiny was Leon.
A monstrously powerful man, someone whose existence completely surpassed the Knight King's understanding.
Artoria closed her eyes for a few seconds before sighing.
"…Forget it. No matter how much I think about it now, nothing will change. The problem we must face at this moment is this war. Since there is no hope of victory… then at the very least, we cannot lose."
Even if, to her, a draw was equivalent to defeat…
It was still better than suffering a true loss.
Bedivere nodded solemnly.
His face showed shame and guilt.
He hated his own powerlessness for being unable to ease the burden carried by his beloved king.
"It would be wonderful if Gawain were here…"
"Yes… if Gawain were present, at the very least we wouldn't be pressured like this."
Artoria agreed quietly.
If Gawain were there, then with the help of "Excalibur Galatine" and the release of its true name, no matter how refined Sangonomiya Kokomi's strategies were—
Everything would become meaningless.
Artoria's Excalibur was the concentrated light of the planet itself.
Meanwhile, Gawain's Sword of Revolving Victory represented the blazing rays of the sun.
One was a Noble Phantasm focused on concentrated destruction.
The other was a massive-scale anti-army Noble Phantasm capable of devastating entire lines of soldiers at once.
If Gawain were present and used that attack…
Mordred's army would probably collapse instantly.
But that idiot had been captured.
Thinking about it, even Artoria, who normally possessed impeccable self-control, could not stop the change in her expression.
"Damn that Gawain… he should have at least protected the holy sword before being defeated…"
And then there was Lancelot as well…
Thinking of that, Artoria could not help but smile bitterly.
"If the Knights of the Round Table were still at their peak… this definitely would not be happening. Or perhaps… if I had treated Mordred a little more kindly…"
"My king…"
Bedivere did not know how to respond.
Artoria then slowly shook her head.
"Pretend you didn't hear that, Bedivere. Even if I regret it, I cannot change the past. Still… as long as I remain the king of this land, I have the duty to continue leading everyone forward."
Bedivere immediately knelt down.
"Yes, my king!"
Artoria's crushing defeat was not happening solely because of Kokomi's absurdly refined strategies.
A large part of the blame also came from the fact that the glorious Knights of the Round Table had already collapsed long ago.
Lancelot and Gawain, her greatest combat forces, had been captured before the war even began.
Mordred, the third strongest force of the Round Table, had become an enemy.
In addition, several knights had already departed.
Tristan had abandoned Camelot after declaring that "the Knight King does not understand the hearts of people."
Galahad, Percival, and others had departed in search of the Holy Grail, and their whereabouts remained unknown.
The current Knights of the Round Table possessed less than one-tenth of the military strength of their glorious days.
Their morale was shattered.
Supplies were running out.
The enemy's strategies completely crushed their tactics.
It would be strange if they still managed to win.
At that moment—
"Report! My king, Mordred has sent an official request for a duel!"
"So it has finally arrived…"
Artoria interrupted her thoughts about the former Round Table.
Her eyes became firm and resolute once more.
The moment the knights saw that gaze…
All of them felt a shock run through their bodies.
Their king had not yet fallen!
As long as that king remained standing, their faith would never collapse!
Wherever the king's sword pointed…
Their hearts would follow as well!
"This time… I will use everything."
Artoria slowly raised her gaze.
"Not only the holy sword… even the holy lance shall be used."
"Yes, my king!"
The knights immediately brought forth the white weapon wrapped in a divine aura.
The instant Artoria grasped the lance—
Rhongomyniad released an extremely brilliant golden light.
A sacred aura completely enveloped the immaculate white lance.
At the same time, Artoria transferred Excalibur to her left hand.
"Ohhhhhhhhhh!!" ×N
Witnessing that divine and majestic figure, the knights became completely emotional.
Their faith in the Knight King grew even stronger.
They firmly believed that king was invincible.
However…
The stronger that belief became…
The more devastating its destruction would be.
Even so—
Artoria raised the lance and declared with absolute determination:
"The time for the expedition has come! As always… I promise victory!"
Even if she no longer considered herself worthy…
As long as she still carried the crown of that land, she could not stop.
Only death could halt a king.
That was the duty of one who wore a crown.
That was the destiny of all those who called themselves kings.
At the same time, in Mordred's camp—
"Your Highness Leon, Kokomi has fulfilled your orders."
"Very good. Achieving this result in your very first performance… you are qualified."
Leon observed the pink-haired girl before him with satisfaction.
Sangonomiya Kokomi.
A priestess from Inazuma, a distant island nation located in the far east.
It was said that her homeland, Watatsumi Island, had rebelled against the brutal policies of its local rulers, the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree.
However, the rebellion had failed.
Her land had been annexed.
With no alternatives left, Kokomi led the few survivors of her tribe across the ocean to the Magic Kingdom.
After hearing countless rumors about Leon and witnessing his wisdom and power, she decided to swear loyalty to him.
Kokomi had said she desired neither wealth nor power.
She only wanted a place where her people could survive.
"No problem. My aquarium is quite large."
Leon immediately agreed.
After all…
She was a mermaid!
An extremely rare race!
The dream of countless fishermen!
Leon already had countless monsters and creatures under his command.
But a mermaid?
Now that was something new.
His collector's instinct awakened instantly.
Moreover, Kokomi was absurdly beautiful.
A pink-haired mermaid girl perfectly matched Leon's personal aesthetic.
Leon had even casually commented:
"Don't move around so much… you would be perfect as an ornamental fish in my castle."
Originally, he had planned to build a gigantic aquarium inside the castle, inspired by the villains from movies in his previous life.
His initial plan was to place giant and dangerous sea creatures inside it to devour possible intruders.
Practical and efficient.
But after Kokomi's arrival…
Leon began to think that a mermaid would make everything much prettier.
However, after observing her for some time, he unexpectedly discovered that Kokomi possessed absurdly high military talents.
Therefore, after seriously reflecting on the matter, Leon abandoned the idea of turning her into a mere ornament.
He decided to cultivate her properly instead.
"I will give you an opportunity."
Leon looked directly at Kokomi.
"And you will give me a victory. If you win this war, you will become my official strategist. But if you lose…"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Then you will be nothing more than an ornamental fish from now on."
Kokomi replied calmly:
"I will not disappoint you."
In truth…
She actually thought becoming an ornamental fish sounded like quite a comfortable life.
Sleeping.
Eating.
Resting.
No longer needing to worry about wars or responsibilities.
But in the end…
She still chose to fight.
Because she was the leader of her people.
The living Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island.
Sangonomiya Kokomi!
Moreover, becoming Leon's strategist held infinitely greater value.
If she succeeded, she could secure a much better life for her tribe.
Perhaps she could even reclaim her homeland someday.
Kokomi discreetly clenched her fists.
"Raiden Shogun… just wait. Do not underestimate a defeated girl! Wait until I firmly cling to His Highness Leon… then I shall return!"
(End of Chapter)