Chapter 123: Lamenting Music of the Painful Phantasm
Roland, dead drunk, fell straight into the water, completely losing consciousness.
"All right, now it's three against one…"
Having dealt with the greatest enemy, Eikou finally let out a sigh of relief.
Knight Roland had been eliminated, and Charlemagne was already exhausted, nothing left to worry about.
"Do you have anything else to say, Charlemagne?"
He turned his head toward the King of the Franks.
Charlemagne, the last remaining member of the Twelve Paladins team, shook his head with a bitter smile:
"Another defeat in a lopsided match, huh… Never thought I would end up losing in such an unseemly way. This sight is far too disgraceful, nothing like the grandeur I always envisioned."
Then, the imposing Charlemagne raised his longsword high:
"Even though there is no chance of winning, I don't intend to surrender! As the class president of France Class, I also have my own pride. Even if I must fight one against many, I am ready! In fact, I feel this is exactly the moment to show off my badass side!"
"Not intending to surrender, huh…"
Eikou sighed:
"Fine then, I'll let my teammates withdraw first, and I'll stay here with you, one on one, would that be fine?"
"What? You're giving up your numbers advantage to duel me?" Charlemagne froze, "Win or lose, once you leave your team, you'll also be considered eliminated."
"That's right."
Eikou stood firm, raising his fist into a fighting stance:
"Perhaps what I'm about to say will surprise you… but in truth, I do feel a little guilty. As an ally, I couldn't help you at all, and in the end, I even had to face you head-on. This way of doing things isn't really good. So if a duel can make you feel a little better, then come on!"
"I see…"
Charlemagne pondered slightly,
"Mochizuki Eikou, your nature is clearly honest, so why do you always come up with so many tricks?"
"Because this is a match I absolutely cannot lose. I want to use the Holy Grail Shard to make a wish, a wish that is extremely important."
"Does it have to do with a girl?" Charlemagne suddenly asked.
"Uh… to be blunt, yes. This is something concerning the future of a young girl. For her sake, I must win."
Charlemagne looked into his eyes, then glanced over at the bicycle on the other side, where 'Lancelot' in heavy knight armor was sitting.
Considering how Lancelot had suddenly fallen into Berserk state and changed class recently, together with Jeanne Alter's disappearance without a trace…
He seemed to have realized something.
"So that's how it is…"
Charlemagne laughed easily,
"Then I won't fight you anymore, I want to surrender!"
"??"
"This isn't anything surprising, I just thought it over. If I keep clinging on, it would truly be un-gentlemanly. Better to step down with my clothes still clean. By the way, it seems one of my skills has finished recharging!"
[Charlemagne has used the skill「Holy Knight Emperor EX」on you]
[Your entire team has been strengthened.]
Feeling the surge of power in his body from the opponent's skill, Eikou was slightly surprised.
"Charlemagne, you..."
"France Class has no hope of taking the lead anymore anyway, so I might as well hand this skill over to you. Give it your all!"
Charlemagne gave him a thumbs-up.
...
Inside the simulation room, the two homeroom teachers were watching everything.
When Charlemagne declared forfeiture, Finn couldn't help but smile.
"Haha, truly a free-spirited, youthful, and optimistic King of the Franks. Not dragging things out endlessly, but gracefully yielding the number one spot. Napoleon-sensei, apart from being inferior to my student, your student's character actually isn't bad."
"Finn-sensei, you flatter too much. Only you could raise the kind of student who drinks vodka with a 'little bird.'"
Napoleon immediately countered.
"Haha, that proves I teach Biology really well." Finn laughed, "So it looks like the top contestants of France Class have been completely eliminated. Next will be the championship battle of our Britain Class. The finish line is getting closer and closer—who will the final victor be, Mochizuki Eikou, or——"
Finn's words weren't even finished when a blood-red figure, carrying an immensely powerful surge of magical energy, shot forward like a sharp arrow.
Before she appeared, no one had been able to detect her.
But the moment she chose to reveal herself, not a single person could ignore that blood-red silhouette—domineering, merciless, with crimson hair trailing a streak of pure blood, an arrow whistling across the water's surface.
It was Baobhan Sith!
In the blink of an eye, she had already activated her Noble Phantasm.
At that instant, the burst of mobility from a Quick-class Servant far surpassed anyone else present, not to mention that Baobhan Sith's entire team possessed Riding Skills of B rank or higher. Her scarlet hair streamed behind her like a blazing meteor, shooting directly at their weak point!
Noble Phantasm unleashed, 「Fetch Failnaught: Lamenting Music of the Painful Phantasm」!
By the time Eikou and the others reacted, it was too late. He only heard the violent clash of iron hammers and sharp nails, and in the next moment, the enemy had turned into a crimson gale streaking across the sea, heading straight for the finish line!
"Baobhan Sith, you——"
Eikou quickly turned to look behind.
He saw Barghest clutching her chest in pain, the enemy's Noble Phantasm had struck her squarely.
"Are you all right, Barghest?!"
Eikou hurriedly rushed forward to ask.
"I'm fine, keep going..." Barghest bit down hard on her teeth, forcing herself to speak.
But Eikou could already see the cursed magic spreading from her wound.
Because Baobhan Sith's Noble Phantasm, 「Lamenting Music of the Painful Phantasm」, was not only a sure-hit attack, but also carried the effect of curse damage.
The energy from her Noble Phantasm was supposed to be sustained to power the bicycle forward, yet Barghest had been ambushed at this most critical moment…
He sighed silently in his heart.
With her body in this state, she could no longer hold out until the finish line. The only option left was to rayshift her back to Chaldea Academy to rest.
"Sorry… but I can still hang on a little longer…"
Barghest said this while biting down on her teeth.
"Don't push yourself any further, Barghest, you've already done great." Eikou said, "It's thanks to you that we've made it this far. Please return to the academy to rest first, leave the rest here to me and Lancelot."
"Damn it, to make you guys lose face again…"
...
Inside the Simulation Room, the two homeroom teachers stared at the broadcast screen, craning their necks, unable to contain their curiosity about the coming showdown.
"Just when the finish line was right before their eyes, contestant Barghest of Team Eikou has unfortunately been forced out of the match…"
"Without Barghest's Noble Phantasm as their engine, does Team Eikou still have any hope of overtaking Team Baobhan Sith?"
"Only Team Baobhan Sith and Team Eikou remain ahead, the outcome between them is about to be decided!"