"...It can't be wrong. Someone reckless enough to charge straight into the enemy's stronghold, powerful yet small in stature, and also a knight... To fit all these traits, it could only be Melusine, no one else."
Guinevere muttered.
What she didn't understand was why, this time, Melusine suddenly seemed to be acting out Muramasa's role, only to get beaten up by Proper Human History's Lancelot... which was rather amusing.
Still, with Artoria back on their side, Guinevere felt their combat strength was now almost fully replenished... But in that case, it might be necessary for them to venture into the desert.
Thinking it through, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing... Never mind that in the original storyline Chaldea had to visit the obelisk in the desert to meet Holmes—he now had two more chances to invoke King Lot's possession, which meant he could also challenge Ozymandias again and properly redeem himself.
After recalling the skills granted under King Lot's possession, Guinevere felt brimming with confidence.
"Eh? So you're saying you want to go into the desert to look for allies, Guinevere?"
After Guinevere explained his plan to the others, Fujimaru Ritsuka blinked and asked.
"That's right. Melusine is stupid, shameless, and annoying... But she is still our Fairy Kingdom's Lancelot. Just from that, you should understand her strength," Artoria interjected.
"If we can bring her back, our chances against the Holy Capital will rise significantly."
"In that case, it works out well," Ritsuka nodded thoughtfully. "Chaldea was also planning to negotiate once more with King Ozymandias for support. Plus, Da Vinci said she detected a special zone in the desert where time and space differed from the rest of the Singularity. We need to investigate that as well."
"That's all good, but we also need to think about defense," Bedivere added. "Since the location of the Western Village has likely been exposed, we must leave behind sufficient forces to repel any Holy Capital knights attempting another massacre..."
.....................................
While Guinevere and the others discussed who would venture into the desert, far away in the Holy Capital, the Round Table convened once again.
"Then, I shall begin this session's report."
After bowing to the Lion King on the throne, Agravain turned back and spoke:
"A report came from the border: the invader who once breached the royal city has fled toward the desert without stopping. Our soldiers attempted to track her, but found no trace."
"What's the point of tracking her? None of those soldiers would stand a chance against her anyway," Mordred scoffed. "That's the knight who broke through Gawain's defense at the main gate. Honestly, I'm starting to suspect Gawain held back."
"Mordred, it is my report time. Who permitted you to interrupt?" Agravain snapped.
"...But Mordred isn't wrong. I failed to stop the sudden attack of that female knight. I am ashamed and request punishment from my King," Gawain sighed.
"No, Gawain, this is not your fault. I witnessed her strength myself. In direct combat, you are not weaker than she, but her speed and ability to fly are perfect for surprise strikes. That you failed to intercept is understandable," the Lion King replied calmly. "Still, I am curious—where, in this land, could such an extraordinary knight have appeared?"
"That, in fact, is what I must report next," Agravain continued formally. "During our recent operation, aside from the Sun King and the mountain folk, we discovered another great threat. I believe this to be the one foretold by the prophecy of the foreign star."
"Oh? You mean that group calling themselves Chaldea?" The Lion King raised an eyebrow. "They may have repaired several Singularities, but I doubt such frail magi could threaten me or my knights."
"No, my King. The threat I speak of is not the mediocre magi of Chaldea, but the one our Round Table has always dreaded... my mother—the witch Morgan."
"What?" Mordred jumped up in shock, her expression a mix of alarm and disbelief. "Mother? You mean our opponent is Mother? You're serious? Where did you hear that?"
"Quiet, Mordred." The Lion King frowned. "Agravain, from where did you obtain this intelligence?"
"It came during an operation with Gawain and Lancelot days ago. We anticipated Chaldea and the Hassans would attempt to rescue the Assassin of Silence held in our fortress. We ambushed them, aiming to annihilate the enemy... but we failed."
Expressionless, Agravain continued:
"In that battle, we encountered one calling himself the Fairy Knight Gawain, a warrior blessed by Queen Morgan from another world's Britain."
"Oh? Another world's Britain, ruled by my elder sister?" The Lion King's gaze grew sharper. "And she dares give her knights your very names? I did not foresee that."
"Yes. And aside from that Fairy Knight Gawain, we are certain there are others. Most likely, the knight who attacked the throne was another—bearing the name Lancelot. What say you, Lancelot?"
"...It is quite the honor, to have such a beautiful woman bearing my name... Ah, no, I mean—it is an outrage, that an assassin who attacked our King would wear my name..."
Feeling the Lion King's glare, Lancelot hurried to correct himself.
"You are as hopeless as ever," Agravain sneered.
"I see..." Tristan murmured thoughtfully. "Then perhaps the archer I fought was also a fairy... That would make her the Fairy Knight Tristan."
"Is Fairy Knight Gawain really that strong? Strong enough to face Gawain and Lancelot together?" Mordred asked.
"No, not that much. One on one, her strength is about equal to mine," Gawain replied. "But aside from her, I also encountered another Servant... One who appeared to be King Lot from another timeline."
At that name, the knights all reacted differently—Agravain fell silent, Tristan thoughtful, and Mordred spoke with amusement:
"...Oh? So, facing your old man, you couldn't bring yourself to strike?"
"No. That King Lot was incredibly powerful... Truthfully, had he not spared us, Agravain and I might have perished there. As for Lancelot, I imagine he would also have been slain after escaping prison, cut down by Lot and the Fairy Knight Gawain together."
"Gawain, are you sure this isn't just an excuse for letting them go?" Tristan pressed coldly. "A cover for your mercy?"
"Tristan, if you would hold me responsible for failure, I accept. But do not question my loyalty to the King," Gawain retorted firmly.
"Then why did you never tell us that Bedivere had joined the rebels?" Tristan shot back.
"No, wait a moment." Suddenly, the Lion King spoke with some confusion:
"Bedivere... Who is that? And this King Lot... Who is he?"
The chamber fell silent.
"...My King," Agravain finally said, breaking it.
"In any case, I believe we must begin war against the Sun King as soon as possible. Should Morgan and the Sun King ally, we may truly find ourselves at a disadvantage."
.........................................
In the end, the chosen desert party consisted of Guinevere, Fujimaru Ritsuka, Mash, and Artoria.
"That's how it has to be. Even with Miss Barghest's help, the Round Table knights are too strong. The rest of us must stay behind to protect the Western Village. After all the help we've received from the Hassans and the mountain folk, if they were wiped out because of us, that would be far too cruel," Da Vinci explained before their departure.
"As for the Sun King, since Guinevere says he is confident in victory, I entrust Ritsuka and the others to him. I trust you won't disappoint us, right?"
Naturally, Guinevere's reply was firm. With King Lot's possession, Artoria's aid, and possibly Melusine's support, if he couldn't trample Ozymandias this time, he might as well hang himself from the nearest tree.
And so, they departed aboard Da Vinci's newly crafted Sphinx.
Their first destination, according to Hundred-Faces' intel, was a ruined land even beyond Ozymandias' dominion.
Guinevere, of course, knew what awaited in those ruins.
The Atlas Institute—and within it, the Tri-Hermes Monolith, capable of answering nearly any question of Earth.
"According to Hundred-Faces' report, there are also some oddly dressed people wandering these ruins..." Ritsuka said.
Naturally—after all, Holmes' clothing would look far too strange for this era.
As Guinevere thought this, defeated the blocking sphinx, and leapt into a suddenly revealed underground entrance, he finally found the oddly dressed man. But upon seeing him, Guinevere's eyes widened in shock:
"Wait... Who the hell are you?"
Before him stood a tall, imposing man, robed in splendid garments, with a thick beard.
Guinevere slowly formed a question mark in his mind.