Camelot, within the royal city—Lion King's bedchamber.
"What are you looking at?"
Shiomi, seated motionless on a bench, was studying the Singularity map when he heard the Lion King's voice. His eyes didn't leave the map.
"The map," he replied.
"Most of this Singularity has been swallowed by the desert. My forces cannot fully penetrate it. But that doesn't matter," the Lion King said, standing before the map and gazing at its contents. "In the end, the only place that will remain… is this Holy City."
"I can see that," Shiomi responded without expression.
He was, for all intents and purposes, a prisoner here. Despite the fine treatment and food, there was little he could do.
Studying the map and speculating on Morgan's possible actions had become one of the few things left to occupy his mind.
"How do you think Chaldea will move?" the Lion King asked. "Morgan is with them. After the Holy Selection concludes, the Knights of the Round Table will be dispatched to eradicate them completely."
Shiomi frowned. "You expect me to analyze my allies and give you tactical insight? Don't be ridiculous."
"It's fine if you refuse. One way or another, Chaldea won't abandon you so easily. If we can't find them, we'll just wait here in the Holy City until they come," the Lion King replied calmly. "And once Chaldea is destroyed, you can remain here peacefully—as my Master, my prisoner—and witness the end of the world at my side."
"You're still not giving up, huh…"
Shiomi understood well—it wasn't him she was interested in. It was the immature divine authority within him. In her eyes, he was a god in the making.
And gods only treat other gods as equals.
Just like before, the Lion King had summoned the Knights of the Round Table because she needed people to carry out her plan, allowing them to choose their own paths.
Likewise, she needed companions to help her guard the preserved remnants of humanity—thus, Shiomi was being held here, confined but unharmed.
"You're the one who hasn't let go. So long as you reject your true self, you'll never be able to stand at the end of the world," the Lion King said, watching him.
"Is that so…" Shiomi gave her a sidelong glance, then returned his gaze to the map.
Wherever Morgan had led the others, she would no doubt make time to visit the Atlas Institute.
It would be foolish not to. It was the only known location with potential ties to the Mage's Association, which might still have surviving members.
Information, weapons—whatever they could get, it would be worth the effort.
Then, another thought struck him.
It had already been three days since his capture.
"You didn't come here just to check in on me, did you, Lion King?" Shiomi looked up to meet her gaze again.
She had already stepped closer.
"Tonight is the night of the Holy Selection," she said. "As promised, I will allow you to accompany me to the main gate of the Holy City—to witness the process where those worthy of entry are chosen."
"But you still haven't told me… Why a selection at all?" Shiomi asked once more.
The Lion King turned away without answering, slowly walking out as the helm lowered to hide her face, her expression concealed beneath the shadow of steel.
"It doesn't matter. Come with me—you'll understand soon enough."
The implication was clear. The chains weren't absolute; sometimes, exceptions were allowed.
"Is that so…"
Shiomi knew there was no point in pressing further, so he rose from the bench and followed the Lion King outside.
Night had already fallen. The pure-white Camelot, now cloaked in darkness, possessed a different kind of beauty than it did in the day. But within that beauty, there was nothing—no warmth, no life. It was an empty utopia.
He followed the Lion King up to the battlements above the Holy City's main gate.
The gate itself was flanked on both sides by walls that jutted outward, enclosing the area outside into a narrow corridor. The only way in or out was straight through the front.
To assault a fortress like this, one would have to either destroy the gate head-on or somehow bypass the defenses and open it from within. Otherwise, even with equal numbers, a direct assault would be near impossible.
As Shiomi stood there thinking, his eyes drifted toward the thousands of refugees gathered outside the gate. Amidst the crowd, he sensed something—familiar presences mixed in.
'Morgan… have you brought everyone here already?'
The thought stirred both relief and anxiety. He hadn't yet found a way to breach the city, and yet she'd already come.
Most likely, she'd heard about the "Holy Selection" somewhere on the way and had chosen to approach the city during the ensuing chaos—perhaps hoping to extract him.
But it wouldn't be that easy.
Shiomi touched the collar around his neck. For now, while walking beside the Lion King, he felt nothing. But if he were to leap from the battlements and try to blend in with the refugees below, the restraints would surely activate.
Below, Gawain's voice rang out:
"Everyone, I sincerely thank you for coming to the Holy City. The age of mankind has already ended, and this small world stands on the brink of collapse. The Lord has passed judgment. Beyond Camelot, there is no longer any land fit for humanity. This Holy City shall be a perfect, flawless millennial kingdom. Beyond these gates lies your ideal world."
A millennial kingdom. The phrase made Shiomi physically uneasy.
But the refugees didn't care. When survival itself was uncertain, who had the strength to question Gawain's words?
The only response was wave after wave of cheering and joy—a sound that filled Shiomi with growing dread.
"My king welcomes all people, regardless of race or faith... but first, you must be granted her permission."
With those words, the Lion King stepped forward from behind Shiomi.
Unlike Gawain, partially hidden behind the protruding wall, the Lion King stood fully in view, gazing through a gap down at the people below.
"The number of those who can be guided to the end is limited. The essence of humanity is corruption and ugliness. Therefore, I will conduct a selection. Only souls untouched by filth, undisturbed by the world's evil, and untainted since birth—only such pure souls will be chosen."
As she spoke, she extended her hand toward the gathered crowd, just as she had when she first examined Shiomi three days ago. But this time, among the sea of refugees, only three individuals were bathed in golden light.
"The selection is complete. Only these three shall be granted entry. Go and retrieve them, Gawain."
At her command, Gawain responded at once.
Shiomi, feeling a deep unease rise within him, stopped the Lion King as she began to turn away.
"You said 'retrieve'... What about the others who weren't chosen?"
"Those who are not chosen shall receive divine punishment."
The Lion King answered without even turning her head.
And then—from below the gate—came the sound of screams.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake