A face that absolutely shouldn't be here.
In the Tower of Radiance, where loyalty and honor nearly solidified into tangible light, surrounded by knights, even the girl herself felt out of place.
"Um… I'm… Mash…"
"Mash Kyrielight."
"I don't know why I'm here… I just woke up and found myself in this place…"
Sensing the gazes converging on her, the bewildered girl instinctively gave her true name.
"Oh... "
The proud knights exchanged glances at the unfamiliar name.
Some showed surprise, others realization, some contemplation, and one a mischievous grin... while another's face betrayed panic, as if they'd seen a ghost.
"Well, we don't know you." Gawain said.
"But your presence here proves a bond with us."
"Perhaps, in the future, you'll become a Knight of the Round Table."
The gorilla... or rather, Sir Gawain, the king's most trusted and relied-upon knight, wore a reassuring yet enigmatic smile.
He understood what was happening.
No, most of the Knights of the Round Table did.
But none spoke the truth... out of respect for the noble knight and, more so, for the girl named Mash Kyrielight.
"In any case, my king." Gawain continued.
"At your summons, the Round Table is assembled."
"Please issue your command!"
Alaric watched the king, surrounded by her knights.
He could tell Artoria was dazed.
Though unsure of what had transpired, her instincts told her it was a good thing. No need for hesitation... just accept the situation.
That was likely Artoria's mindset.
This state persisted until they left the Tower of Radiance and returned to the real world, where her mind began to clear.
"Talk of commands is too formal. It's merely a task I need your help with." Artoria said.
"But it's not urgent. First, please brief me on your circumstances, and allow me to host a banquet for my far-traveled knights."
Breathing the fresh air of the outside world, Artoria's clarity returned.
The Perfect King's poise shone through... flawless in word and deed.
Good. She'd adapted to her role.
Alaric thought as much, silently preparing to leave.
He had no interest in these knights or the Holy Grail War about to unfold on the island. Finding the Grail? Fine. Not finding it? No matter. As long as he stood here, the greatest miracle remained on this island, ensuring it would never again fall to apocalypse or despair.
But...
"Wait!"
Just as Alaric turned to go, Artoria, who'd been focused on her knights, called out to him.
"Um… what's coming next might not be suitable for this girl."
"Could I ask you to look after her? Show her around, maybe?"
As she spoke, Artoria gently pushed forward the purple-haired girl, her face etched with questions like "Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?"
"…"
Alaric instinctively steadied Mash as she stumbled.
But his eyes lingered on Artoria... specifically her face, her emerald eyes.
He searched for some hint of her intent.
Yet Artoria appeared utterly guileless, not scheming in the least.
"Fine." He said.
Withdrawing his gaze, Alaric patted the girl's shoulder and parted ways with the knights, their eyes blazing with curiosity.
"Come back for dinner tonight!" Artoria called.
"…"
Eat, eat, eat... always eating!
The investigators were here, and she was still thinking about food!
Alaric led Mash through the bustling streets of White Castle.
It was a quiet yet far from dull outing.
Though Alaric was indeed reserved, preferring minimal speech and using the briefest words when he had to talk, the seemingly demure purple-haired girl was a true optimist and adventurer.
After her initial panic, realizing she was in no danger, she cast aside her doubts. What emerged before Alaric was a girl who appeared timid but burned with curiosity for everything around her.
"Are those bards? What are they singing?"
"What are those golden inscriptions on the walls? What do they do?"
"Wow, a market for mages? Such a place exists?"
"What's this white creature? I've never seen it in any textbook… but it's so cute!"
These thoughts swirled in her mind.
On the surface, she maintained a cool demeanor, her expression barely shifting.
Only when she saw Fou did a flicker of surprise cross her face, followed by a gentle smile as she reached out to touch the adorable white beast.
In ACG culture, a girl like her might be called "pseudo-three-noes."
But Alaric preferred to call her "cool on the outside, passionate within."
"Though she seems serious, she's just a child who's never experienced the world, barely touched the outside."
"She doesn't even know how to express her emotions properly yet."
In a single glance, Alaric understood her situation:
A test-tube creation made to save the Human Order, with a Servant summoning already complete. But due to deep resentment toward such inhumane acts, the pure knight within her refused to aid the salvation organization called "Chaldea." He remained in her body solely to ensure she, his vessel, wouldn't die from his absence.
This was why an ordinary girl like her could be summoned to this era.
As the gorilla said, in the future, she would indeed become a true "Round Table" knight.
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