"So, all I need to do is press here, and then the timer starts, right?"
Taking Artoria's pocket watch, Bargast pointed at a certain spot on it and asked softly.
After Grim had cleared away all the Cursed Hands and everyone else had unleashed several rounds of attacks, Cernunnos seemed to have quieted down, silently restoring its body in place. Based on Grim's judgment, unless they drew too close, Cernunnos wouldn't take the initiative to attack again. That gave them a little bit of time to adjust their plan.
"Yes, once you're ready, press the button and toss it back to me,"
At this moment, in order to conserve mana, Artoria had also released her exalted form. She pointed to the button on top of the pocket watch and explained to Bargast:
"We'll keep track of the time here. Close to the twentieth minute, we'll press it again to change you back… but you'll need to be ready to retreat beforehand."
She paused for a moment, then added:
"But this only works on the living. If you're dead, then that's it… so don't you dare die, you big oaf. Even if you did, I can't even begin to imagine your hardships."
Bargast gave a small nod. Yet, as she looked at Artoria, who had just gnashed her teeth and called her a "big oaf," Bargast froze. A memory suddenly flashed in her mind—the first time she had ever met Artoria.
Back then, it was inside Lord Ector's smithy. After she had suggested that Ector recruit her, a small Artoria had jumped out angrily to challenge her.
She had held back only because of Lord Ector's face and didn't make things too difficult for his apprentice. But before leaving, she couldn't resist sneering:
"But no matter what, you'd better grow up a bit before you talk big with me. I'm very tall, and talking to little runts hurts my neck. With your figure, you can't even imagine how tiring it is for me."
She had indeed said something so excessive back then… but she hadn't expected Artoria to hold a grudge to this very day.
Thinking of that, her lips curved slightly.
"Honestly… even after all this time, you're still the same height. But talking to you now doesn't make my neck ache anymore."
After all, as companions—leaving aside her occasional slip-ups—Artoria had proven to be unexpectedly reliable.
"Hm? Should I take that as an apology?" Artoria blinked.
"If you want to, that's fine," Bargast tilted her head slightly, then added, "But depending on how things go, if staying transformed turns the tide of battle in our favor, then don't bother changing me back."
At first, the reason she had sided with the Child of Prophecy was simply to follow Guinevere's path. But now, her reason for fighting had long since grown beyond that.
After going through so much together with Artoria and the others, Bargast had gotten used to having these noisy companions by her side.
They often messed up, fought over all sorts of trivial things, and carried countless flaws… Yet for someone like her, who had been used to solitude, this lively clamor had become precious beyond words.
To protect Britain, she was willing to fight to the death as the Fairy Knight Gawain. But for the sake of these noisy comrades, she was willing to take a step further—
to truly face herself.
"Hey, don't say stupid things like that—"
Artoria widened her eyes, about to continue, but a large furry hand suddenly pressed down on her shoulder, cutting her off and gently pushing her aside.
"Enough, Child of Prophecy. Don't bargain with a warrior who's already resolved. If you still have words for her, save them until after the battle—if you're both still alive then."
Startled, Artoria turned her head and saw two tall figures: a white lion's head and a black wolf's head.
"Bogart. Woodworth."
Seeing them stride forward side by side, Bargast softly called their names.
"It's been a long time since we've spoken face to face. You've grown from that little girl into a fine warrior now. That look in your eyes—prepared and resolute—is admirable."
Bogart said slowly, gazing down at her.
Though Bargast's height of 1.9 meters made her a giant compared to Artoria, among the Tooth Clan—who were all tall and powerfully built—her stature was nothing unusual. Before champions like Bogart and Woodworth, she didn't seem imposing at all.
"After all, I am a daughter of the Tooth Clan," Bargast replied softly with a nod.
"Indeed," Bogart bared his fangs in a slightly menacing grin, "Even though you were born as the Black Hound destined to destroy the clan, you are still one of us. And now, in this moment, your strength will be the pride of the Tooth Clan."
"Thank you." Bargast nodded again. "If I lose control later… I'll leave it to you two to deal with me."
"That's not something you can ask of us," Woodworth frowned and said suddenly.
Bargast blinked in surprise.
"Because in a moment, both of us will be charging in with you," Bogart explained. "We are the proud Tooth Clan. Even when resisting the Moors, it has always been us at the very front. Hiding behind and throwing stones is not in our nature—it would suffocate us with shame."
Woodworth's words were simpler: "I won't let you hog all the Tooth Clan's glory."
"I see. I understand."
Accepting their resolve, Bargast turned away, hesitated briefly, then walked toward Guinevere.
"Guinevere… may I entrust this to you?"
She spoke as she held out Stormbinder with both hands, offering it to him.
"I'm sorry… though I've heard many tales of knights from you, right now, I must give up my identity as a Fairy Knight. Otherwise, I don't know how I can defeat that god."
"This sword, it seems to be the very Stormbinder once wielded by the Onion Knight. I wish to entrust it to you. If—if in the end, I become an obstacle to everyone, then use this sword to kill me. Just as the Onion Knight once carried it to face Yhorm."
"You…" Guinevere froze, his expression growing complex. "Why go that far?"
"I'm sorry,"
Bargast bowed deeply to him, then lifted her head slightly, meeting his gaze.
"This promise must be troublesome to bear. But other than you, I don't know who else I can entrust with this. Please… help me."
After a few seconds of silent eye contact, Guinevere let out a faint sigh and accepted Stormbinder.
"…Very well."
From her eyes, he had seen Bargast's unwavering resolve.
"My deepest thanks."
Bargast nodded, then straightened up, turned, and moved to join Bogart and Woodworth, who were waiting ahead.
Before that, she pressed the pocket watch button Artoria had lent her and handed it back. After this, the Tooth Clan would launch their final, proud charge together.
But as he looked down at Stormbinder in his hands, Guinevere stayed silent for a few seconds. Then he raised his head and called out to Bargast's back:
"The most important emblem of a knight is not the armor they wear or the sword they wield."
Bargast froze in her tracks.
"What truly defines a knight is their chivalry—the resolve they show to protect all that they must protect."
Guinevere continued slowly:
"Bargast, no matter what the outcome of this battle, you are the finest knight I have ever seen in Britain."
"Thank you—for everything you've done for us, and for all the people and fairies of Britain."
Hearing his words, Bargast stood still for a moment. But she did not turn back. Instead, she straightened her back further and strode ahead with long, firm steps.
Moments later, an earth-shaking roar suddenly erupted ahead. The entire land seemed to tremble with its deafening cry.
At the same time, on the screens visible to Guinevere and the others, the blackened parchment interface that had once only shown Cernunnos and its countless Cursed Hands was suddenly overwritten. Flames surged, burning away the moldy script:
[Warning: Multiple "Calamities" detected simultaneously.]
["Beast of Calamity" has descended.]
[Bargast]
A suffocating aura of dread soared skyward. A black hound nearly a hundred meters tall raised its head and roared, spewing thunderclouds and fire. Its long, jet-black fur billowed around it like storm clouds, while torrents of flame spread outward from its body, igniting the land around it in an instant.
And those crimson eyes of the Black Hound immediately locked onto Cernunnos ahead.
As Bargast had guessed before transforming, now as the Beast of Calamity, she ignored the Bogart and Woodworth behind her. Her target was solely Cernunnos' colossal form. She—no, it—lunged forward like a raging black hurricane.
Sensing the Black Hound's approach, Cernunnos stirred at last. Countless black spheres floated into existence around its massive body, like the eyes of some titanic beast. From them, torrents of cursed light erupted, lancing toward Bargast.
Yet those beams—laden with curses so dense they made even Bogart and Woodworth shudder—meant nothing to the Black Hound. It simply charged straight through them, absorbing every blast as if they were nourishment. Cernunnos' otherworldly curses had no effect at all. In fact, its colossal body swelled slightly larger, as though it had fed on the curses themselves.
Its pace quickened again. Forcing through the storm of curses, it leapt upon Cernunnos' massive frame, its bloody jaws yawning wide as it bit down with unstoppable force.