"Your Majesty Lot, what's happening to Artoria?"
Seeing the light emanating from her body, Guinevere asked Lot with concern.
"It's fine. She's just obtained another weapon that belongs to her. For her, this is a good thing."
[Though for you, it might not be such a good thing.]
Lot's expression turned somewhat peculiar as he thought this.
However, Guinevere didn't notice his strange look, nor did she catch the pronoun "she" that he had used.
Her gaze remained fixed intently on Artoria.
Her body was changing.
She grew taller, her figure becoming more statuesque.
Seeing this transformation, Guinevere's face lit up with joy.
Artoria had always been perfect in every way except for one thing: her height was far too short.
She had always looked like a delicate, handsome youth.
Then, her face
Compared to the soft features of a boy, it had now matured.
But...
Why did it feel so off?
Guinevere stared at Artoria's current face, an indescribable sense of strangeness welling up in her heart.
What exactly was wrong?
As she pondered, her gaze unconsciously drifted downward
And landed squarely on Artoria's chest.
Huh?
Why did it seem… a little too big?
Were those pectoral muscles a bit too developed?
No
Those weren't pectoral muscles.
Those were…
Breasts!
What the hell?!
What was Artoria developing?!
"W-What's going on?!"
Guinevere pointed at the rapidly "growing" Artoria, her voice trembling as she turned to Morgan and Lot.
"What kind of Holy Lance is this?! How could it make someone change genders?!"
She directed the question at Morgan.
"Guinevere, calm down. The Holy Lance Rhongomyniad doesn't have the power to alter one's gender," Morgan said, watching her reaction.
"So… you mean…?"
Hearing Morgan's words, Guinevere seemed to realize something.
"Yes, exactly. What you're thinking is correct."
Morgan looked at this girl who loved her sister, a trace of pity in her eyes.
There was nothing wrong with love.
But unfortunately, this Guinevere did not love women.
And likewise, her sister did not love women either.
So
This romance was doomed from the start.
"Ah…?"
Guinevere's eyes widened in disbelief.
Yet her gaze remained locked onto Artoria, as if hoping this was all just an illusion.
Alas
Such hopes were destined to be in vain.
Artoria's transformation was complete.
The Holy Lance Rhongomyniad had reshaped her into a tall, statuesque beauty.
The armor she had worn from later eras, unable to accommodate her sudden growth, now clung to her in a tantalizingly revealing manner.
Especially those long legs the taut fabric of her pants accentuated their stunning curves.
Morgan stared intently at Artoria.
Seeing her expression, Lot initially wondered if she was having some sort of realization.
But then
A look of utter defeat spread across Morgan's face.
"I lost… completely lost. There's just no competing."
She muttered under her breath.
At first, Lot didn't understand. But soon, his eyes followed Morgan's gaze to Artoria's chest and he immediately grasped her meaning.
[I can't laugh. If I do, Morgan will definitely pinch my waist hard later.]
He kept his face perfectly composed, suppressing the urge.
Seeing his expression, Morgan seethed.
Oh, you. I'll remember this. When we get back, we're settling this properly.
After mentally noting her revenge, Morgan turned her attention back to Artoria.
Disciplining her husband could wait.
Right now, the most important thing was watching Artoria's battle.
She wanted to see just how much power the Holy Lance would grant her.
Meanwhile, many of the Round Table Knights who had charged into the enemy ranks were stunned when they saw their First Knight suddenly transform into a bombshell.
Some nearly got knocked back by the fairies in their distraction.
But even so, their expressions of shock didn't fade in the slightest.
What the hell is going on?!
Why did he turn into a woman?!
Everyone was utterly bewildered.
...
"So this is your new power?"
Melusine spoke cautiously.
She could clearly sense the energy radiating from the Holy Lance.
It was power capable of rivaling her own.
"Yes."
Artoria spoke again.
Compared to her previous boyish voice, she now sounded like a full-grown woman.
Then she gripped Rhongomyniad tightly.
She dashed forward. Charged.
And swung the lance in a devastating thrust.
In an instant
A blinding beam of light shot toward Melusine.
The sheer force of it
The radiance alone made it impossible to keep one's eyes open.
Melusine had no choice but to evade.
After dodging, she glanced back.
A miles-long trench had been carved into the earth.
Terrifying.
Melusine's gaze shifted from the devastation back to Artoria.
"That power… is impressive. So, I'll have to get serious too."
With those words
Melusine accelerated.
And this time, she took to the skies.
She had observed that Artoria couldn't fly.
If so, she couldn't afford to waste this advantage.
Earlier, when she had an overwhelming edge over Artoria, she hadn't bothered using it.
But now that her superiority had diminished, she had to utilize every strength she had.
"The skill of flight, is it?"
Artoria watched Melusine darting through the air, her tone indifferent.
Then
She swung the lance again and again.
Beam after beam of light streaked across the sky.
After several sweeping barrages
Melusine was forced back to the ground.
Seizing the opportunity, Artoria lunged.
Mid-charge, she raised the Holy Lance high
And brought it down with crushing force upon Melusine, who had just landed.
Seeing this, Melusine crossed her twin swords in front of her chest.
Assuming a defensive stance.
At the same time, an unusual aura began to emanate from her body.
The two collided
And in that instant, a dazzling light erupted.
Forcing everyone to look away.
By the time they could turn their gazes back
All they saw was a massive mushroom cloud of dust.
Who won? Who lost?
That was the question on everyone's mind.