Chapter 34 Ayaka and Richard's Strange Adventure
"Put me—! Down—!"
Richard calmly loosened his grip, and the sound of a heavy weight hitting the ground echoed in a corner of the deserted alley.
The bespectacled girl, like a small animal, lunged out of Richard's reachable range in a single bound. Then, smoothing her disheveled clothes, she demanded with a face full of disbelief:
"Saber, why the princess carry?"
Poor Ayaka's face was still flushed bright red, her composure completely gone. The shame still lingered on her lips.
Richard replied as if it were the most natural, even righteous, thing in the world: "Ayaka, you cannot be busy deciding on a transport method during an emergency escape."
'He's gaslighting you, Ayaka! This man actually turned it around and started preaching...'
But Ayaka, after a brief flare of anger, slumped and fell silent, failing to stand her ground.
After defeating the Dead Apostle at the opera house, in order to escape the police station—which was actually the Caster faction—the golden swordsman used his sheer leg strength to sprint away with Ayaka, finally shaking off their pursuers when they entered this alley. With his strength, he certainly didn't need to run; he was clearly prioritizing Ayaka's safety.
Because of that, she couldn't stay mad.
"Ahaha, we must be the only ones who would duck into an alley like this to shake a tail..."
Ayaka lost her momentum and tiredly pushed up the bridge of her glasses. Why would anyone else crawl into an alley like this? It's not like they're cats.
Only protagonists duck into alleys like this, surely.
But this time, the "protagonists" were Ayaka and her companion.
"Sorry, I was just a bit embarrassed... but thank you for saving me again, Saber."
Once she calmed down, Ayaka thanked Richard and then blinked in confusion. Richard was staring straight ahead. He still looked devoid of any shadow, his young, handsome face reflecting the radiance of the sun, but he was simply staring blankly at a wall in silence.
Noticing her gaze, he gave a frank smile. "If you are truly grateful, would you like to formally sign a contract with me?"
Seeing her awkwardly avert her eyes, Richard didn't get annoyed. Instead, he spoke freely: "In any case, we've finally shaken off those respectable guards who thought to challenge a Heroic Spirit with mortal bodies. Use this chance to say whatever is on your mind."
His radiance was so overwhelming that Ayaka had to squint. For some reason, Ayaka felt something was off; a short while ago, Richard's smile was at 100%, but now it seemed to be only at 70% or 80%.
"I'm really going to say it, okay?" Ayaka asked tentatively, receiving an affirmative nod from the leisurely Knight of the Sword. "Are you... upset because of what that vampire said?"
The moment she said it, Richard's expression froze. He tapped his knuckles against his forehead as if thinking how to answer.
"How could I be upset... Ayaka, try to imagine this: if someone stepped forward and said you were a girl with dark glasses, dyed blonde hair, about 160cm tall, and looked like a high school or college student, would you be upset by that?"
'What, do people get angry over facts?'
She understood then. Ayaka almost let herself be fooled by that phrasing. But a few beats later, she jumped up with a start and pulled on his braid: "That makes it sound like what that vampire said was the truth!"
'Under that brilliant Saint Graph of yours, there hides a stroke of demonic nature that will never vanish no matter what! To be so fair and upright to such an extent, yet to be so sincerely evil in your heart to such an extent—is there anyone else besides that one man?'
Even though he was currently doing things completely contrary to those impressions, Richard looked at her and spoke with unreserved honesty:
"He wasn't wrong. Though he used hyperbolic flourishes, I don't think I can entirely deny it. While I think such a misunderstanding is fine, you ought to know. I cannot be called a 'good person' at all."
The golden knight spoke plainly: "If you want to know what kind of person I am, just flip through a history book. I suspect that'll be accurate."
Since the speechless Ayaka was a zero in history, Richard provided the answer himself in a tone that was both sorrowful and solemn:
"...It is war.
Depending on the circumstances, even my most revered ancestor, King Arthur, might view me as a heretic and seek to strike me down. That is the only thing I am capable of."
All the past had already become history. The King of England, who provoked battles and then gladly accepted his fate and death, looked toward the blue sky far away from Ayaka.
A long silence followed. Perhaps the reality was too cruel for the young girl who lived far from the past, leaving her unable to say anything. Considering this, Richard smiled and raised a finger, intending to change the subject.
"...I'm here."
To the Saber's surprise, a voice as thin as a mosquito's buzz reached him.
"I don't understand. But perhaps everyone else has the right to criticize you, but I'm the one person who doesn't. Because up until now, I've been saved by you twice... no, three times... wait, maybe it's four times."
"Ah, thank you."
Even though she was losing count, Ayaka insisted on finishing her thought. The Saber was astonished; he murmured a word of thanks as if receiving a gift he had never expected.
"I'm the one who should have said 'thank you' long ago. To hesitate to say that after being saved so many times—that's what's truly out of line! Whether to judge you or not, that's King Arthur's business, not mine. Besides, he's not here anyway, is he?"
The air truly went quiet then. Richard didn't smile. A fleeting look of peace and gratitude crossed his face.
"Yes, unfortunately, that is quite unlikely," he said, sounding both satisfied and regretful.
Then, Richard noticed something and turned his gaze behind the wall. The expression on his face shifted instantly: "Someone is coming."
"The people from the police station caught up?"
"Certainly not. If anything, unlike them, the footsteps sound like two experts. It's truly miraculous that an alleyway in this era can gather so much talent. Ayaka, stay here for a moment—I'll go meet them!"
Boldness and excitement were written all over his face; the brief moment of silence Richard had just shown vanished like a bubble.
"Wait, Saber!?"
Saber didn't hesitate, joyfully peeking around the corner. The bespectacled girl scrambled to her feet and ran after him.
What Ayaka saw was—
On the other side of the wall, two people had also poked half of their bodies out.
An unfamiliar red-haired boy showed his profile, his lightning-shaped eyebrows slightly curved, his eyes silently appraising Saber. Incredibly, he showed not a single trace of fear; his baby-faced features, which matched Saber's aura, were filled only with a strange "now what has someone gone and done" expression.
In the spot his tall frame was intentionally blocking, a petite girl helplessly pushed down his obstructing hand and looked over.
She was so beautiful. Jewel-like pupils, fine hair like golden sand, and eyes that were moist and moving. But she was so cute. A blissful aura that matched her petite height—a mesmerizing tranquility that made Ayaka feel utterly inferior.
Two against two.
If it were a contest of aura, the red-haired boy and Saber were actually evenly matched; Ayaka was utterly defeated. As for other types of contests... well, Ayaka didn't know yet.
Wait, come to think of it, whose fault is it that Ayaka and the others are here in the first place?
Let's organize. Someone cut down the Assassin known as the Zealot, which caused the Assassin to stay at the opera house. The staying Assassin attracted the Dead Apostle. The Dead Apostle attracted the police station. Richard and Ayaka, unwilling to entangle with the police, came here. Then, they heard the responding footsteps.
In other words—the innocent parties who, without even realizing it themselves, threw a metaphorical die that changed Ayaka and her companion's battle route, are currently right before their eyes.
A wild culprit has appeared in broad daylight! A wild King Arthur has appeared in broad daylight!
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