Unexpectedly powerful.
Neither Lancelot, Gawain, nor Tristan underestimated Naoki in the slightest.
After all, he was a warrior acknowledged by their King, the third Holy Sword wielder capable of saving the world. As knights, failing to exert their full strength would be the height of foolishness.
Thus, in the earlier confrontation, despite it being just one attack, Gawain had struck with full force, holding nothing back.
Yet, even so, Naoki's strength exceeded their expectations.
A fairy and, at the same time, the wielder of the Star's Holy Sword.
Imaginary Manifestation that reshapes the world.
The Star's Holy Sword that saves the world.
For these two qualities to converge in one person was something entirely unprecedented.
"Are you alright, Sir Gawain?"
Shielding Gawain from the front, Lancelot asked with her back to her. "Can the frostbite be healed?"
"No problem. An injury like this can easily be healed with the Holy Grail's power. No need to worry about me—but thank you for helping me earlier. If I'd been restrained like that, I might have had to give up."
"In fact, you already lost."
Tristan, holding a longbow resembling a harp, laughed. "I don't mean to mock you, but the opponent's strength is indeed beyond our expectations… So, are we just going to hand over the city gate like that?"
"Absolutely not."
After using the Holy Grail within her to heal the frostbite and thaw her Holy Sword, Gawain stepped back in front of Naoki. "His Majesty's order was for me to guard the city gate, so no matter how many times I fall, as long as I, Gawain, can still move, I won't let anyone pass through the front gate!"
"Even if this could be called an annoying and unfair stance."
Gawain and Naoki had agreed that if she was defeated, she wouldn't block his entry into the city, but she had only been pushed back, not defeated, so the condition wasn't met.
Seeing Gawain's resolve, Lancelot and Tristan exchanged glances, both seeing a hint of helplessness in each other's eyes. Then, they stood on either side of Gawain.
"If that's the case, let us assist you, Sir Gawain."
"Though I'm concerned for His Majesty's safety, before that, I have no intention of disobeying His Majesty's orders—my apologies, Sir Natsukawa. If you want to enter the city, you'll have to defeat all three of us first."
Gawain, Lancelot, Tristan.
Though each had their own thoughts, the Knights of the Round Table were always united in obeying Arthur's orders.
"[Invoke the Holy Grail]"
"[Knights of the Round Table, Gawain/Lancelot/Tristan, hereby request the blessing of victory!]"
As the three shouted in unison, three dazzling lights erupted from their chests simultaneously, and an immense surge of magical energy exploded within their bodies!
It even triggered a raging gust of wind!
(This Mana intensity… though slightly lacking, it's undoubtedly the Holy Grail.)
Raising his hand to shield against the fierce wind and dust storm, Naoki sensed the three waves of Mana and sighed slightly.
(That guy really is followed by an extraordinary group of knights… Using the Holy Grail so decisively for his sake. If this Mana is injected into their Spirit Origins, there's no way it won't cause issues.)
It's not that using the Holy Grail inherently causes problems. Normally, the Holy Grail's enhancement of a Servant is genuine and error-free. But if the Holy Grail is misused or overused, problems are bound to arise.
Judging by the Mana intensity he could sense now, the three had pushed their enhancement to the limit of what they could endure. It wouldn't be an issue for a short time, but the problem was that Naoki wasn't someone who could be defeated quickly—plus, he had no intention of holding back.
(It'll have to be like this. Though it's my first time, if I cause them internal injuries, I'm not responsible.)
*VROOM!*
The dust storm stopped at that moment.
Within the storm, as if they had undergone multiple Ascensions at once, the three Knights of the Round Table, their power enhanced to the limit by the Holy Grail, appeared before Naoki.
(This Mana intensity… If the three combined, they might be able to take down three or four Demon God Pillars. They're really giving it their all.)
"Come on!"
Raising her blazing Holy Sword, Gawain led the charge.
But she couldn't take a single step forward.
Chains.
In the blink of an eye, hundreds of thick chains appeared in the previously empty space, instantly locking every inch of movement around the three! Then, they tightly bound their limbs and bodies, pulling them into a '大' shape and suspending them in the air!
"This is a chain barrier with a fifty-meter radius."
Standing outside the chains, Naoki said in a low voice, "Each chain weighs five hundred tons, and their weight increases with your own strength. They also block Mana flow—I don't intend to trample on your resolve to stop me, but sorry, I don't want that guy to have no knights to welcome him when he returns to normal."
"So, my apologies, please hand over your Holy Grails."
Approaching the three bound knights, under Gawain's embarrassed and angry expression, Naoki plunged his hand into her chest!
"You—huh?"
Gawain, who was about to scold Naoki for his sudden and shameless action, was stunned the next moment—she felt no violation of her body, but she distinctly felt the Holy Grail within her being grasped.
Looking down, she saw a strange gate of light, composed of countless prism-shaped light fragments, at the point where Naoki's hand met her chest.
"This is Displacement Magecraft." Naoki explained. "Sorry, it's the only way to take the Holy Grail without hurting you three. This is my first time, so it might cause some discomfort. Please bear with it, Sir Gawain."
"Uh… ah… eh…"
As if something was forcibly pulled from her body, Gawain couldn't help but groan. Soon after, the golden-glowing Holy Grail was extracted from her body by Naoki.
At the same time, the powerful Mana filling Gawain's body receded like a tide. As the chains binding her vanished, she collapsed to the ground limply.
Storing the Holy Grail, Naoki turned to Lancelot and Tristan.
"Alright, now it's your turn. Please bear with it."
"Ugh—!"
"Ah—!"
As Naoki's hands entered their chests, Lancelot and Tristan each let out an ambiguous groan.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Watching this scene from not far behind, Jeanne Alter suddenly felt Gray, within her body, displaying a mix of dissatisfaction and helplessness.
(What's wrong with you, kid?)
[Nothing, just… I'm getting some weird deja vu… It feels like I'm back a few years ago when Big Sister and I were out solving problems.]