"Listen to the voice deep within my heart?"
"You mean the heroic spirit residing in my body?"
Alaric's suggestion caught Mash off guard.
She was unique.
As the only "heroic spirit" Summoned to this era in the guise of an ordinary human, her body housed an extraordinary presence.
Of course, Mash was well aware of this.
Though she had never spoken of that heroic spirit's deeds, its true name had already surfaced in her mind, ready to be called forth.
She might lack worldly knowledge, but she was well-versed in the histories and mythologies of various nations and peoples. With twelve of the thirteen Knights of the Round Table around her, how could she not know the identity of the last?
Galahad.
Seated at the throne of calamity, yet the purest of knights. Chosen by the Holy Grail, he returned it to the heavens, his soul ascending alongside it.
To stand alongside such a knight filled Mash with pride.
But at the same time, she felt a pang of frustration.
"I've tried to communicate with him."
"But… there's been no response."
"Not before, not now... it's as if he doesn't exist at all."
"If only the one inside me was this little guy."
Mash stroked the fur of the white beast... she'd rather it be this adorable creature residing within her.
At the very least, it responded to her calls with cute "Fou" noises.
However...
"Hm, wanting to become the vessel for a Beast? That's quite the ambition!"
"What?"
"No, nothing. I mean… you should listen to the voice deep within your heart."
"Not anyone else's advice, but your own thoughts."
"You don't need to worry so much... just do what you believe is right."
A baffling conversation.
Even as she left the temple, Mash couldn't figure out what this cryptic man wanted her to do.
... But that was fine.
It was never a suggestion, but a reminder.
A reminder to help her "awaken" At the right moment.
…
Time passed in a flurry of chaos.
Another week went by.
Not only did the kingdom's affairs show no signs of improvement, they grew worse.
Not just officials, but common folk began to grumble... the Knights of the Round Table, fully aware of their missteps, still refused to change course, botching everything.
Finally, the king took notice.
"My knights, I trust you know why I've summoned you here?"
Camelot, the Round Table chamber.
This room, usually filled with camaraderie or at least lively clamor, was eerily silent today.
The king sat at the head, her icy gaze sweeping the room, as if looking at men condemned to death.
The other Knights of the Round Table lowered their heads, avoiding her eyes. Only Mash, as a "half-outsider." raised her gaze, frowning at Artoria's frost-cold face.
"Bedivere... "
The king's voice suddenly sharpened.
The knight, who had followed her for over a decade, flinched and rose from his seat.
"Yes, my king!"
"Tell me, Sir Bedivere... why was this man's fine reduced by thirty percent compared to others?"
"Well, my king… he's an important merchant here. In the early days, he contributed greatly to the kingdom's development."
"And that's your excuse for reducing his fine, prompting complaints from other merchants?"
"…"
"Sir Lancelot, can you explain the treasury's accounts?"
"Well… I just thought we should stock up more… There was a merchant offering a great deal… Better safe than sorry…"
"So that's why you spent the entire month's budget in two days, forcing us to halve our food rations?"
"…"
"Sir Agravain, what's with these complaints from the officials?"
"My king, I regret the trouble I've caused. But they failed to follow the established procedures. Any errors are their deserved lesson."
"…"
Artoria called out each knight.
She spared no one, not even Gawain, her most loyal knight, who was berated mercilessly. In this chamber, reserved for the Knights of the Round Table, both king and knights shed their facades, revealing their truest selves.
Mash was the only one spared.
Partly because she was only "half a member." And partly because her work, as a temporary assistant, had no flaws... what trouble could a temp cause?
But...
"This isn't right."
Watching the Knights of the Round Table, heads bowed under Artoria's scolding, Mash felt a pang of unease.
"It shouldn't be like this!"
Her mind flashed back to a month ago, when everyone worked together in harmony, striving as one.
Life had been so wonderful then.
So why, in just a week, had it turned into this?
Was it the knights' fault?
Perhaps... they'd certainly made mistakes, or the people wouldn't be so resentful.
But the root cause of this chaos wasn't the knights.
It was the king.
The king who, posing as the "victim." reprimanded her loyal knights.
"She knows."
"She clearly knows."
"Sir Bedivere excels at diplomacy, so his ideal role is in the records office, relaying orders and gathering intelligence."
"Sir Agravain is meticulous, making him perfect for the impartial court."
"Sir Kay is shrewd and frugal, ideal for managing the treasury."
"She knows all of this!"
Mash gazed at the king, loudly chastising her subordinates, her expression a mix of confusion, bewilderment, indignation, and conflict. In that moment, an extraordinary impulse surged within her, urging her to act:
"No!"
She slammed the table, the loud thud cutting off the king's reprimands and drawing the eyes of every Knight of the Round Table.
The heroic spirit knights looked at the girl standing at the thirteenth seat with gazes of surprise or astonishment.
... In that moment, her silhouette seemed to merge with a familiar figure.
"My king, forgive my impertinence."
(My name is Galahad.)
"But the one who truly erred... is you!"
(My mission is to correct the king's mistakes.)
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