Chapter 1078: Expelling Koyanskaya
Oberon?
Eiji remembered this Servant. Although he was an ally from Chaldea, he was rather enigmatic.
According to his own account, he was a local Servant summoned several months ago, leaning toward the side of Proper Human History. Because he wasn't skilled in combat, he traveled across Britain on a supersonic flying bird to gather intelligence.
His personality was somewhat frivolous, but the information he uncovered was quite reliable.
"Did he borrow the power of a Beast because he detected reinforcements in advance, all for the sake of the Round Table Army's victory?"
Eiji speculated.
Though he never said it outright, Oberon seemed like the type who would quietly clean up after the main group behind the scenes. People like him were always conscious of taking on the less savory tasks voluntarily.
Thinking about it that way, it made sense.
"I'd like to ask you too—how did you know I came here?"
Koyanskaya narrowed her eyes, her slender gaze exuding a sinister aura.
This time, she had come in her true form.
The number of people who knew she was here should be few and far between.
"It was Muramasa who told us!"
Eiji flashed a mischievous grin, as if delighting in the chaos.
"...I see."
Koyanskaya paused, a resigned expression spreading across her face.
"It must have been the Fairy Ball. I advised her not to send invitations to the royal palace, but she wouldn't listen. I suppose this is what they call reaping what you sow."
"Koyanskaya."
Eiji spoke again.
"Letting you leave isn't an issue, but on the condition that you depart from this Lostbelt. A trivial matter like that shouldn't be a problem for you, right?"
"No problem."
Koyanskaya laughed indifferently.
"After all, I've already accomplished everything I needed to do here. Staying any longer wouldn't benefit me, so leaving early is just as well."
Rather than remaining here as a thorn in everyone's side, constantly under scrutiny, it was better to quit while she was ahead.
Besides, she was currently in a hurry to heal her wounds.
"After you."
Eiji opened a gap in the dream realm.
"Bye-bye!"
Koyanskaya didn't waste any words.
She waved at the two with a smile before swiftly making her escape.
"Oh, by the way, there's a little surprise beneath your feet. Though, for you two, it probably won't be much of a hassle~"
As soon as she finished speaking, she vanished without a trace.
"Boom!"
The swamp beneath them erupted like a geyser, releasing an overwhelmingly foul stench.
A massive lump of flesh emerged from the depths of the swamp, transforming into a pitch-black Magical Creature over ten meters tall. It roared and lunged at them, jaws wide open.
"Damn that trash fox! Even as she leaves, she has to pull this crap!"
Eiji instinctively soared into the air above the swamp, hovering in midair.
"That flesh... is it Albion's rotting remains? The resentment is so strong... I see. The lingering resentment swirling in the sky must be emanating from here. This vast swamp itself is the accumulated resentment of the northern fairies, isn't it?"
The hatred of the annihilated northern fairies had formed this swamp, covering half of the rainforest.
And who would have thought that this resentment would manifest upon Albion's remains?
The southern fairies truly bore sins too numerous to record!
The magical power of that pitch-black Magical Creature even surpassed the Great Calamity of Norwich. Had it been the previous Eiji, it would have taken considerable effort to resolve.
"Knight of the Fae, Lancelot, hereby releases her True Name!"
With a cold gleam in her eyes, Melusine charged forward without hesitation.
"I am the last descendant of Albion, my True Name is Melusine!"
A dazzling light enveloped her entire body, forcing Eiji to squint.
By the time the light faded, both her armor and dress had vanished from the girl's form.
Dark patterns emerged across her slender figure.
Draconic elements mechanized into her battle armor.
Crimson lightning radiated from her core, emitting astonishing heat and brilliance!
"Is that the true form of the Dragon Fae, Melusine?"
Eiji's eyes widened slightly.
"The scent of curses... so potent..."
Meanwhile.
"To think Muirenn truly betrayed me... I thought it was just the Vile Consort's delusion..."
Gloucester.
Koyanskaya had slipped unnoticed into the ballroom, learning everything that transpired the previous night from the guards.
She initially believed the Vile Consort had found her under the Queen's guidance, never imagining Muirenn would actually sell her out.
"As the last of our respective races, I thought the mutual understanding between us meant something. Yet you still prioritize your goals above all else."
A rare flicker of disappointment crossed Koyanskaya's face.
"Though forced, you made the first move—don't blame me for retaliating. A rabbit's heart was never large. From now on, play your games alone. I'm done."
"Fortunately, though I cannot take Albion's remains, I've obtained crucial intelligence from them. The moment to elevate myself and become a complete Beast has arrived!"
With a turn,
Under her Independent Manifestation skill, she left this Lostbelt without a trace of nostalgia.
It was time to construct her own Singularity!
...
Though a monster rivaling the Great Calamity, under Melusine's relentless assault, it stood no chance.
The true Dragon Fae in her original form possessed strength no less than Woodwose's, perhaps even surpassing it!
Even Woodwose couldn't have handled the Great Calamity as effortlessly as Melusine did.
Crimson lightning flooded the vast swamp.
The dark Magical Creature was repeatedly shredded, losing nearly half its body.
"Go, Alnasl Minium."
Under the scarlet vibrational waves of the Bicorn,
The black Magical Creature shattered into fragments and dissipated completely with a single strike.
Melusine stood silently.
Her gaze rested on Albion's remnants, yet seemed to drift across the expansive rainforest, lost in contemplation.
"You're not... angry at me, are you? Just because I stole your kill?"
Eiji dismissed the dream realm, manipulating gravity to descend slowly from the sky.
"I'm not as petty as you."
Melusine snapped out of her reverie, shooting Eiji a sidelong glance.
Light flashed over her once more, and when it faded, she had resumed her Knight of the Fae Lancelot attire.
"It's just... every time I come here, I remember the city that once stood in this place..."
She gazed into the distance.
Her expression was utterly ethereal.
She had done all of it—burned the vast city to ashes, slain tens of thousands of innocent fairies—yet received nothing in return.
No.
Of course, she hadn't done those things seeking any reward. The sins she committed were purely her own doing, a consequence she brought upon herself.
But.
Under the weight of overwhelming unease and the torment of her conscience, even she longed for a sliver of comfort.
After exterminating the Mirror Clan, Melusine returned to Salisbury. If only she could hear even half a word of praise from Aurora—something like "You did well"—it would have been enough to console her.