A... a trick of the eyes?
Mordred was shocked by the bold thought that popped into her head.
She scrutinized the golden-haired girl who had returned to the living room and was now sitting quietly.
Her features vaguely resembled Father's, yet she lacked any of Father's regal majesty.
Not to mention, her chest was as flat as a board, with almost no discernible curves.
If this were Father, then the little friend beside her would have to be the Beast of Humanity!
Mordred lowered her voice and asked, "Seems you have a guest at home."
"Oh, don't mind her. She's just a shameless freeloader who comes for meals. She's Souma's childhood friend," Roya replied casually.
Just mentioning it filled her with resentment.
Ever since this bottomless pit started mooching meals, none of the snacks at home could last.
Even a wealthy household would run out of supplies!
Damn it, when they first met, she'd shyly said, "I don't eat much, just a little bit."
But that "little bit" of hers was clearly a cosmic-sized lie, wasn't it?
Despite her petite appearance, her appetite was bigger than Roya and Souma's combined.
Rather than worrying about her stealing Souma, Roya was more concerned about her eating them out of house and home!
"Childhood friend?"
Mordred felt slightly relieved.
That made things even less concerning.
Her Father had only arrived in Fuyuki City a month ago.
Besides, the little friend's guardian was just an ordinary local high school student in Fuyuki.
To find Nameless, she had already investigated everything thoroughly in advance.
But!
No matter how hard she looked, she just couldn't find him!
She had originally assumed he was still traversing through history, battling terrifying enemies.
Yet during the previous fights against the Omnipotent God and the Alien God's vanguard, he had appeared both times—clearly active in the present.
As she pondered this,
Roya had already walked into the kitchen and called out, "Souma, I brought a friend over for dinner. You made enough, right?"
"Oh, don't worry, there's plenty," Souma replied offhandedly.
Since the King of Knights was coming over to freeload, how could he not make extra?
This was the legendary bottomless pit with the stomach of a Red Dragon, after all.
Without turning around, he asked, "Who came over? Illya or Miyu?"
Those three little loli often played together and frequently dropped by for meals.
Unfortunately,
Other people's loli are always better.
His own was giving him more and more headaches, always causing trouble.
Roya tiptoed closer and whispered in his ear, "You won't believe this—it's one of the Knights of the Round Table from Britain... Mordred!"
"???"
Souma wondered if he had misheard.
How could Roya bring home Mordred on the same day the King of Knights came over?
"Heh heh, she and I are as close as sisters! I invited her over," Roya whispered excitedly, barely containing her glee. "Surprised? Shocked? This is a real-life heroic spirit in our home—something you can brag about for the rest of your life!"
She tilted her little face up, beaming with a bright smile that begged for praise.
Joking aside, for ordinary people, getting close to a Heroic Spirit was as difficult as reaching the heavens.
In this era where Heroic Spirits gathered, every one of them was a bona fide idol, worshipped by millions, tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of fans.
Those so-called idols with their flashy gimmicks and shallow appeal couldn't even hold a candle to them in this day and age.
Even if capitalists tried to force their way with money, they'd be mercilessly crushed under the absolute power of the Heroic Spirits.
And now, such a top-tier superstar had descended upon their humble home, instantly elevating it to new heights!
"..."
Souma took a deep breath.
Looking at that smug little face, he almost couldn't resist giving her the slap she loved most.
Damn it, I raised you, and now you're bringing another troublemaker into my house.
Two troublemakers under one roof, and with King Arthur here too.
This is worse than dealing with Fou!
After defeating Attila, he had told Mordred he was busy fighting silently to protect human history.
Seventeen years—how had he survived these seventeen years?
Every day, he enjoyed a peaceful and warm ordinary life, far from all battles and conflicts, living as a normal high school student in Japan.
If Mordred found out, all hell would break loose!
The battle that destroyed Britain at Camlann over a thousand years ago would replay right here in this house!
Roya patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, Mordred has a great personality. She's really friendly to ordinary people like me, without any of that Heroic Spirit arrogance."
"Great personality, huh..."
Souma was stunned.
Mordred had been spoiled rotten by him since childhood, yet still ended up stabbing King Arthur—what a fantastic personality indeed!
And you're saying the Rebellious Knight has a good personality?
Oh right, in the eyes of a world-ending troublemaker like you, Mordred must seem sweet and adorable!
Souma fell into silence.
One troublemaker was terrifying enough—now there were two in the house.
This is truly the end!
No, stay calm. I should be able to get through this.
Souma recalled how even the King of Heroes, with his clairvoyance, had nearly missed the truth the first time he visited.
Unless deliberately tricked, no one could uncover his identity.
So how could little Mordred possibly see through it?
Souma replied with feigned calm, "Then take her to your room to play for a while. I'll call you when dinner's ready."
"Okay."
Roya stepped out of the kitchen and said to Mordred, "Come take a look at my room first. I've got a little surprise for you."
"Oh? What kind of surprise?"
Mordred followed her into the bedroom.
And then.
She saw that one entire wall of the small room was covered with figurines and posters of various Heroic Spirits.
In the most prominent spot were figurines of her and King Arthur.
The pose looked slightly familiar.
It depicted Mordred kneeling anxiously as King Arthur placed a crown on her head.
Beside them stood the Sun Knight Gawain, watching the scene.
Roya said with a smile, "I know you've been working hard to earn your father's recognition, so I specially bought this expensive figurine set!"
She had originally wanted to collect the entire Round Table Knights series, but her budget fell short.
Just these three figurines alone had drained her savings.
"Thanks…"
Mordred's expression turned odd.
This scene was exactly from after Alaya released the Sacred Round Table Realm video, when the corrupted Lion King faced widespread condemnation.
To quell public outrage, King Arthur had tried to pass the throne to her—while planning to elope with China for a political marriage.
It was blatantly obvious she just wanted to ditch the throne, run off to live a quiet life with Nameless, and maybe even have a dozen kids.
That "crown" was nothing but a cuckold's hat!
And Gawain had been there too!
Mordred grew increasingly suspicious.
How could this scene be so eerily similar?
Could it be…
You have clairvoyance like that bastard Merlin?
Mordred glanced around and noticed an album beside the Heroic Spirit merchandise.
She pointed curiously. "Can I take a look?"
"Of course! It's mostly photos of me and Souma." Roya walked over, a little shy, and opened it for her.
Over the years, the two had often taken photos together to mark the passage of time.
Mordred examined the album.
The first picture showed a four- or five-year-old child standing inside a trash can, looking up at a teenager.
Ahem. "That guy always said he found me in the trash and even staged this photo as proof," Roya coughed awkwardly.
Long ago, she'd asked where she came from.
But he'd insisted he'd picked her up from a trash can—even producing this photo as evidence.
When pestered further, he'd claim things like saving the world and finding her on a battlefield.
That they'd been mortal enemies in a past life.
That he'd been the hero who defeated her, the Demon King, and kept her close to prevent her from wreaking havoc again—hence why she caused him so much trouble.
Seriously, what kind of nonsense was that?
How could an angelic, kind-hearted girl like her possibly be some world-destroying Demon King?
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
Mordred flipped casually through the album, browsing snapshots of their daily lives together.
Eight full years had passed since Souma picked up the five-year-old Roya when he was ten.
"Childhood sweethearts, relying on each other for survival... how wonderful."
Mordred's tone unconsciously carried a hint of envy.
"Yes. Do you know what it feels like to be abandoned by the entire world, with only one person who cares about you?"
Roya recalled the beginning of her memories.
Standing alone by the roadside, only to be taken home by him—they had relied on each other ever since.
He had long become the person she cared about most in her life, and no one could take him away.
Not even a heroic spirit!
"I understand~"
Mordred sighed softly.
The beginning of her own memories was being sent by her mother Morgan to King Arthur's side, tasked with assassinating the king.
It was Nameless who personally taught her swordsmanship and secretly provided her with all kinds of delicious food.
He was the great hero in her heart.
Yet in the end, she lost everything—not only was she never acknowledged by her father, but even Nameless was taken away by the king.
Absolutely intolerable!
In that despair, she finally raised a rebellion, personally destroying the Britain her father valued most.
Perhaps... this was what growing up meant.
Their somewhat similar experiences made Mordred care even more for this little friend of hers.
They must have been sisters in a past life.
Roya smiled and offered her blessing: "Then I hope you find Nameless soon and can be together with him."
"Mmm, but finding him won't be easy."
Mordred fell into contemplation.
If only she possessed the clairvoyance of the King of Heroes or the Flower Mage, she could definitely locate him.
Alas, that was nothing but wishful thinking!