During the time the ritual was being prepared, Artoria had gained a considerable understanding of the basic situation in the Campione! world.
She knew that beings called Heretic Gods frequently descended to this world, and she also knew that her Master was not a god, but the opposite—a Godslayer.
However, she really didn't know how a Heretic God could have anything to do with her. Back in the late Age of Gods, she had never met any gods!
Erica, on the other hand, quickly understood Su Mo's meaning after hearing his words.
"Senior Artoria, perhaps you haven't noticed, but the Arthurian legends themselves belong to Celtic mythology," she promptly reminded her.
"You mean to say...?!"
Artoria's eyes widened as she immediately understood.
Just then, the sun above suddenly shot out an unusually brilliant ray of light. Artoria's ahoge sensed the appearance of an exceptionally powerful presence.
The light slowly dissipated, and a male knight wearing silver armor engraved with Celtic patterns, reflecting the dazzling sunlight, appeared before them.
He was a being who gave the impression of a Prince Charming at first glance, because he really did have a white horse behind him. In fact, the being before them was the very origin of the term "Prince Charming."
"Mmm~ Master is still better looking," Erica muttered to herself before clearing her throat and taking a step forward.
"May I ask, which knight of the Round Table might you be?"
Just by looking at the astonishing divine aura emanating from him, she could tell he was definitely a Heretic God, but she didn't know which one specifically.
In the tales sung by poets, the knights of the Round Table were all generally of upright appearance and noble character. The Celtic patterns and the white horse were not enough to distinguish them.
Faced with Erica's inquiry, the Heretic God before them gave an apologetic smile.
"I apologize, but before I answer that question, there is something more important I need to know."
After speaking, he turned to look at Artoria, his eyes filled with a mixture of doubt, excitement, and awe.
"May I ask, do you know me?"
Faced with the Heretic God's question, Artoria turned and met Su Mo's gaze.
"Master, could it be?"
Clearly, she already had a guess, but she didn't quite dare to believe it.
"Such an obvious solar blessing. Your guess is correct."
Su Mo, who had already seen through the other's identity, gave Artoria a reassuring nod.
The ahoge-king took a deep breath before finally looking at the brilliant Heretic God and calling out his name.
"Sir Gawain."
"The Sun Knight, Gawain?"
Hearing Artoria's words, Erica was slightly surprised. Even among the entire Knights of the Round Table, the Sun Knight Gawain's martial strength was top-tier. As King Arthur's right-hand man, the myths even claimed he possessed strength on par with King Arthur himself.
Thinking of this knight's myth, Erica couldn't help but look up at the sunlight above. If conditions were a factor, this battlefield seemed a bit disadvantageous. However, the moment she thought of Su Mo's overwhelming power, that small worry in her heart immediately dissipated.
On the other side, seeing that Artoria had indeed recognized him, Gawain no longer had any doubts. He immediately knelt on one knee, showing an attitude of submission to Artoria.
"My King! It really is you!"
Even though he could see that her state was inferior to that of a god, Gawain did not hesitate in the slightest. For him, who strictly adhered to the eight virtues of chivalry, as long as the person before him was King Arthur, it didn't matter if she wasn't a god.
Even if she had become a mortal with no strength to even truss a chicken, she was still his lord. To his lord, he must naturally offer the greatest loyalty.
"Sir Gawain, rise. Although I am indeed King Arthur, I am probably different from the one you are thinking of."
Seeing a god-level being kneel before her, even Artoria was stunned for a few seconds. However, drawing on her experience as a king, she quickly adapted.
Though their power levels were completely different, it seemed that Sir Gawain, regardless of which world he was from, was just as loyal and peerless.
"Yes!"
Gawain naturally would not refuse Artoria's command. After standing up, he also voiced his own doubts about what Artoria had mentioned.
"My King is indeed not quite the same as in my memory. Setting aside the matter of height, why are you wearing a battle skirt? And your hair seems a bit androgynous?"
Although Gawain phrased it as tactfully as possible, the core idea was only one thing.
My King, why are you so girly?
In his impression, King Arthur was tall and mighty, with a much more rugged appearance—a big, macho man. The king before him was not only petite, but her clothes and hairstyle lacked any trace of manliness.
If not for the familiar fluctuation of her Spirit Origin and her sufficiently dignified aura, he really wouldn't have thought this was his lord.
Hearing this question, Artoria nearly choked.
"Ahem! I was always a woman. I just dressed as a man to inherit the throne!"
"Huh?"
The Heretic God before her was dumbfounded. Was that how it was in the myths?
After clearing up this doubt, the Heretic Gawain glanced around, his gaze lingering on Su Mo and Doni for a moment before speaking to Artoria.
"If I heard correctly, my King just called this Godslayer 'Master'."
"To offer loyalty to one's lord is a knight's duty. On this point, I do not intend to admonish you... However, what do you intend to do here? To execute this son of a fool?"
When he said that last sentence, he was clearly referring to Doni. No matter how you looked at it, the guy looked like a sacrifice about to be offered up.
"...You, Heretic God, could you say something nice? Stop reminding my dearest friend to kill me!"
Doni was utterly speechless. It was bad enough that he couldn't fight this Heretic God he had finally encountered, but now he was being teased by him.
If he weren't unable to fight, he would have definitely given this Heretic God a good taste of his sword.
"No, Master does not intend to execute him yet."
Artoria shook her head. After answering Gawain's question, she immediately added, "There is one thing you seem to have misunderstood. I am not from your world—"
Just as she was getting to the most crucial part of her explanation, a dignified roar suddenly came from the sea, interrupting Artoria's voice.
"Sir Gawain, what are you doing? It is still daytime, yet you can no longer recognize your own king?"
Aside from Su Mo, who had already sensed it, the others immediately shifted their gazes to where the roar had come from.
There, not far from the port, upon the turbulent waves of the sea, a Heretic God clad in full plate armor was charging toward the port, treading on the waves.
This Heretic God was not wearing a helmet, so Gawain saw his face and sensed his Divinity at the first moment.
"Arthur... King?"
Confirming that the Heretic God in the distance should be his king, Gawain looked back in confusion at Artoria, who, though she did not possess a Divinity, had a Spirit Origin fluctuation identical to his king's.
"Why are there two kings?"
The peerlessly loyal Sun Knight was completely bewildered.