London, Glastonbury.
Naoki and Mordred were walking along a small path nearby.
"It's been five years since I walked this path. In that other world, every time I went somewhere, the Church and the Mage's Association were on edge. Strolling so carefree like this, without a worry in the world, is something I haven't felt in ages—how about you, Mordred?"
"My whole body feels uneasy!"
Mordred crossed her arms over her chest, her face full of irritation.
Of course, she knew this place. Though it was just a memorial, a sort of symbolic tomb, it was her father's grave!
How could she possibly feel happy coming here!
"Master, why'd you bring me here? Don't tell me you're scheming something bad?"
"No way! I just wanted to introduce you to one or two people, though I'm not sure if one of them is even here. But I met her here last time, so let's just try our luck."
Naoki said, pulling Mordred into the dilapidated abbey, heading toward the simple grave.
Standing before the tombstone, while Naoki's face showed nostalgia, Mordred reacted like a wild cat whose tail had been stepped on—her entire body bristled, her eyes glaring sharply ahead.
There, though faintly illusory, was indeed someone.
That figure waved at Mordred, then stepped aside. Mordred bit her lip, her expression a complex mix of emotions, before saying to Naoki, "No, I can't take this anymore, Master! I'll wait for you out there!"
"Huh? Mordred—"
Before Naoki could finish speaking, Mordred had already bolted out of the abbey. Watching her flee, Naoki sighed in resignation.
After running out and ensuring Naoki couldn't hear her, Mordred finally faced the figure before her. "Why are you here, you jerk?! Kay!"
Kay—the third member of the Knights of the Round Table—was the identity of the figure in front of Mordred.
With a cynical smile no different from when he was alive, Kay said, "Well, let's say I'm guarding the King's tomb, like a land's guardian spirit. As for you, it's kinda ironic for a Rebel Knight to show up here. Come to clean Father King's grave?"
"Believe me, I'll dig up that grave right now!"
"Have you changed?" After a brief pause, Kay said with slight surprise, "The old you wouldn't talk like that—you'd just act. By the way, is it just me, or do you seem a bit more… feminine?"
"I'll kill you!"
Her way of speaking was still as crude as when she was alive.
Kay smirked. "Sure, if you can even hit me. In my current form, you can't do anything to me—unlike that young guy over there."
As a spirit guarding the tomb for ages, Kay actually knew Naoki, though he'd never spoken to him. For one, Naoki's eyes were too deadly; even if suppressed, Kay didn't want to get close.
Who'd approach an angry lion?
Kay didn't want to end up as an evil spirit purified.
Another reason was curiosity about what this guy was up to. Suddenly visiting King Arthur's tomb, talking about another King Arthur—Kay initially thought he was a fool.
"But you two make a weird pair. That young guy has the power of another King in his body. Why's a Rebel Knight like you following him?"
"He summoned me in a Holy Grail War in another parallel world." Mordred said. "Same deal now. I got the Grail, got my body back, and ended up here."
Got her body back?
Kay's face darkened instantly. "Oh, crap. Of all people, it's you who reincarnated… Will modern society collapse? Might as well let that jerk Lancelot revive instead."
"Hey, you saying I'm worse than that traitor?"
"Aren't you two the same? Both betrayers—Okay, okay, don't call her here, I'm not ready to die!" Kay quickly stopped Mordred, who was about to pull out her nuclear weapon. "But I'm surprised you wanted to revive… Why?"
"It's a long story."
Leaning against the wall, Mordred recalled the events of four years ago. "In that Holy Grail War, I made two wishes to the Grail. One was to get a body, and the other was to return to the Day of the King's Selection to challenge the Sword in the Stone."
"No way, you'd never pull it out. You're not suited for it."
"That's why I failed! Tch, you talk too much. I've realized that over these four years." Mordred pouted. "After failing the challenge, I thought about returning straight to the Throne of Heroes, but Master told me one more thing."
"Father King isn't fully dead. She's still lingering, waiting to join a Holy Grail War and seize the Grail, so everything can start over."
So everything can start over.
Kay vaguely understood. "That means…"
"Father King wants to return to the Day of the King's Selection, letting someone more suited than her pull the Sword in the Stone—stupid, right?"
"Totally stupid, dumber than a pig, brain kicked by a donkey, huh?"
"Anyway, I smashed her skull hard—maybe it got damaged from my hits."
"Then you did a damn good job."
King Arthur's brother-in-law and daughter, two noble Knights of the Round Table, unhesitatingly criticized their King—it was only natural. Other Round Table Knights would likely react the same.
The perfect King, the true King, the irreplaceable King, thinking someone else was better suited to be King?
There's a limit to brain damage.
"So I made my second wish, got a body, and want to bash Father King's head again in the upcoming Holy Grail War. Usually, broken stuff gets better after a few hits."
"Holy Grail War… You sure she'll show?"
"Avalon, me, plus the power of another Father King in Master's body, a vessel made by Mother Queen to revive Father King—countless catalysts, it's practically a targeted summon."
Such insane summoning conditions made Kay's mouth twitch twice. With this, his sister-in-law couldn't not show up.
Kay glanced at Naoki nearby. "Summoning King Arthur herself, then letting you kill Servant—does that kid have a screw loose?"
"Really? I think if Father King was replaced by her, I might not have rebelled." Mordred laughed. "Being with her is pretty fun, and my life's been happy."
"Hmmm… Well, I guess you won't be happy much longer."
"Huh? Why?"
"Because your mom's coming soon."
As soon as Kay finished speaking, he vanished, leaving Mordred alone, frozen in place.
Her mom was coming? What did that mean? Was Mother Queen showing up? Come to think of it, Master did mention Mother Queen got a body like hers ten years ago. Could she be nearby now?!
[I just wanted to introduce you to one or two people.]
Suddenly, Mordred recalled Master's earlier words.
(N-n-no way—)
"Oh, what an unexpected meeting. Strolling on a sunny day and encountering something like this."
A voice as cold as a reaper's sounded behind Mordred.
Mordred froze instantly, as if plunged into an icy cave.
(It's Mother Queeeeeeeeeeen—!)