"Lucius, are you also participating in the Holy Selection?"
"No, I am..."
"Let me guess. You intend to use the commoners as a cover to meet the King?"
"—!"
"I understand that you're desperate, but narrowing your vision isn't good. The path you walk isn't that narrow. Don't you still have a wide range of choices?"
"—You are..."
"Just a wandering Servant. ...My Lord says the battle is beginning. I shall go as well. —It seems there is something I must accomplish."
"...I am..."
"You want to hire us, huh?"
"Here is gold. Take it."
"We'll follow you for life, brothers!!"
(That's an incredible money play, Senpai!)
(So this is what 'Gorgeous' means...)
"Alright, then first, give us information. The summary of the Holy Selection you know, everything."
—To think you would bribe merchants... I never thought of that...!
(It's cunning because it makes sense!)
"Leave it to us, brother! But it ain't a pleasant story to hear."
"I do not care. Speak."
"Yeah... the 'Chosen Ones' bit is a lie. That is—"
Chapter XIV: The Holy Selection
[Holy Selection]
Before the castle gates of the Holy City, refugees had gathered to undergo the ritual known as the 'Holy Selection.'
Those who could not fully believe in the liberation of the Sun King's territory.
Those who could not let go of their faith.
Those who knew of the Sun King's mercy but could not bring themselves to leave the Holy Land.
In other words, those who 'wished to live in the Holy Land' had gathered for this Holy Selection.
Due to the battles of the Sun King, Hassan, and the Impossible Heroes, the number of refugees had greatly decreased, leaving only '100 people' participating in this Holy Selection.
Every one of them was participating with the hope that 'someone here might be saved.'
Their neighbors.
Their wives, their husbands.
"Mom, is this really okay?"
"Yes, surely. ...Before we go to the Sun King, at least you, Rushd, you alone..."
"?"
Their precious children.
They had traveled to the Holy City to secure complete and perfect protection and salvation for them.
"..."
"..."
At the edge of the refugees, two figures wearing cloaks and mantles blended in: Mash and Ritsuka.
—...
(—...)
"..."
High above, glaring down at the lower world from the Vimana, were the King of Heroes and the Knight King.
(The atmosphere is incredibly heavy. It's understandable, though...)
Fou stiffened his fur and braced himself.
The group held their breath, waiting for the 'Ritual' in the darkness of the night.
Around them, Knights with swords and shields surrounded the refugees, forming a circular formation.
The cloaks were specially made items found by the King of Heroes, pitch-black mantles capable of erasing one from all recognition.
Thus, they did not notice Mash and Ritsuka.
Knights waiting for orders, standing at attention, and...
"—!"
Ritsuka looked up at the sky with a start.
"The sun..."
The darkness of the night suddenly vanished, and a brilliant sun appeared in the zenith.
It did not rise; it appeared. 'As if erasing the night.'
"I see, so this is the Gift of 'Unwaning.' To make the sun rise constantly. Even if it is night. —Hah, there is a limit to lacking elegance."
The King of Heroes snorted.
—There is only one person who exerts his power in the day.
"—He is coming. King of Heroes."
The Knight King's sharp voice and gaze pierced the lower world.
The refugees could not hide their confusion at the sudden morning, at the sun.
"What is happening...?"
"When did the sun rise...?"
A single Knight blew away those doubts and confusion.
"Calm yourselves. This is a miracle brought by the Lion King. 'May there always be the blessing of the sun.' It is a Blessing (Gift) my King has bestowed upon me."
Chestnut hair, upper body covered in a black inner garment, wearing a cloak with fur. A shining Knight.
In his hand was the sister sword of Excalibur. The Holy Sword of the Sun, pairing with Excalibur which represents the Moon.
"—Sir Gawain..."
Mash muttered, as if groaning.
"..."
Ritsuka simply stared at the Knight. The Command Spell on her right hand shone.
"Sir Gawain! It's the Knight of the Round Table, Sir Gawain! The Holy Selection is starting! We can enter the Holy City—!"
Convinced that their hardships would be rewarded, the group grew excited.
We will be saved with this. We can reach the Eternal Kingdom.
"Ah, Rushd...!"
"We did it, Mom!"
('...Ritsuka, Mash. You absolutely cannot let your guard down.')
"I know."
('Their fate depends on us. ...Be careful.')
"Yes, Doctor."
Mash and Ritsuka lowered their stances, ready.
"—'Selection'..."
—...
Air stared at Gawain without uttering a single word.
Harboring determination and courage. To see through the battle she was about to undertake.
(Do not take too much upon yourself. I am the only one permitted to shoulder the worries and suffering of people.)
The King of Heroes gently stroked Air's cheek, which had become too stiff.
(There is nothing impossible for us. If there is, it is only human error. Trust those who fight with you. Isolation is foolish and disrespectful, you know?)
The King's words. And—
(It'll be fine. We have the King of Heroes and lots of Kings on our side!)
Fou's warmth unraveled Air's tension.
—Yes...! Suuu, haaa...
She took a deep breath, calming her mind.
...It's okay. Thanks to everyone's battles, the number of refugees has dropped from a thousand to a hundred.
With this number, we can fully manage. It's okay. —If we all work together, absolutely—
"Everyone. I thank you for cutting off the temptation of the false sun and gathering at the Holy City of your own accord. ...The age of humans has perished, and this small world, too, is about to perish. The Lord's judgment has been passed. There is no longer any room for humans to live on any land upon the earth."
"—Underestimating Egyptian civilization too much."
Mash soothed Ritsuka, who muttered under her breath.
"Yes, the territory of that Sun King will perish. Therefore, except for this Holy City of Camelot, there is nowhere. Unlike the sun that will eventually set, our Holy City is a complete, perfect Pure White Millennium Kingdom. An ideal world awaits beyond this main gate."
"Ohh, the rumors were true!"
"A Knight of the Round Table, how divine... Even if he is a Knight of a foreign land, that brilliance is genuine..."
Gawain returned smiles and waves to the refugees who praised him one after another.
"Thank you. It must have been a long and painful journey to reach this place. My King accepts all people. Without exception, be they foreign tribes or pagans."
Then, he sent his gaze to the sky above the main gate.
"—However, before that. Only if forgiveness is granted by my King."
"Hey! Look!"
One of the refugees pointed.
"Ohh, that is...!"
Standing there was a pure white Knight wearing a lion's mask. A white cloak, silver armor.
And radiating—power and spirit far surpassing a Servant.
The mysterious Knight boasting that majesty spoke from atop the main gate.
—Air felt it.
The King's deep nostalgia, sentimentality, flowed through her soul.
—My King...?
(Do not look, Air.)
The King of Heroes restrained Air with his hand as she tried to turn around.
(I am not... currently wearing an appearance that can be shown to you.)
—Y-Yes.
(...It's like your first crush becoming the number one worker at a soapland, right?)
"...King of Heroes."
The King leaked a voice as if squeezing it out.
"—Truly, to have been reduced to such a worthless existence."
The ultimate end of a single ideal, its extremity.
Because he had glimpsed the treasure of the past that had gone completely mad.
—My King...
『—Those guided to the Farthest End are limited.』
The voice became a royal sound, filling the area.
『The roots of man are things that rot away.』
Unshakable goodness, becoming conviction that struck the chests of listeners.
『Therefore, I shall choose. Souls that are never stained, souls that remain undisturbed by any evil.』
————!!!
—She is watching.
She, that existence... is looking this way.
(—A mere piece of filth sends a gaze to my supreme treasure? Impudent.)
The gaze of the King of Heroes in the heavens and the Lion King collided.
(Air, keep your soul and heart strong. 'Don't let them be taken away'.)
Conscious of the King's soul and Fou's warmth, she faced the divine authority directed at her with pride, puffing out her chest.
『—Humans who are immutable from birth, eternally innocent.』
In an instant, the area was filled with light.
Though incredibly strong and brilliant, there was no tyrannical violence that would blind the eyes.
"Khhh—"
Ritsuka's shadow stretched deep. Its shape took the form of a hideous three-headed dragon depicted on the earth.
"What, what is this light!?"
"It's such a bright light, but—!"
"Wow—Mom, it's sparkling...!"
Three people. Out of the hundred, three were illuminated by that light, emitting a glow.
—No, they were not the only ones shining in that place.
"Kh—!?"
The Knight King beside her covered his eyes.
—Ah, Fou is shining...!
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded over 40 chapters of this story on Patreon.
If you're enjoying it and want to read ahead, feel free to check them out here:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thanks a lot for your support, it really helps me keep going.
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"