"As long as you can pull out the sword, you can become king?"
Listening to Kay's words, Artoria's expression also grew surprised.
"Doesn't that mean..."
"Just anyone could become king?"
"How could it be that simple?"
Kay glanced at his "little brother."
"That is a sword that only the chosen one can pull out!"
"What do you think it is, a wooden stick?"
"However..."
Kay stretched his muscles.
"The prophecy didn't say anything about limiting the identity of the one who pulls the sword."
"Anyone who wants to try can go and give it a shot."
"This—"
Artoria blinked, as if she had thought of something.
She looked over at Ian not far away and found that he was also looking at her.
Quickly, their eyes met in agreement.
"Brother Kay, I'm heading out for a bit!"
"..."
"I'm going out for a bit too."
Swoosh, swoosh.
Artoria and Ian ran out one after the other.
Leaving Kay all by himself.
Watching their retreating figures, Kay's brow furrowed.
"Those two... they're not even going to pretend anymore, are they?"
Meanwhile.
On the village path.
"Ian, did you hear that?"
Artoria said excitedly.
"As long as you can pull out that sword, you can become king—"
"Mm, I heard."
"You want to go and try, don't you?"
"Hehe~"
Artoria scratched her cheek, a little embarrassed.
"Was I that obvious?"
"Yes," Ian nodded.
"You really just say it outright, don't you!"
Artoria pouted.
"So what you mean is—"
"Go."
"I'll go with you."
"..."
Although she had already planned on it, actually hearing him say it before she did still touched Artoria's heart.
"You... you're not even going to think about it?"
"No need."
"If you want to, I'll go with you."
"..."
A simple and unadorned reason.
Artoria's face turned a faint red.
"I understand."
"Then, let's set out as soon as possible!"
"Okay."
A simple and clear exchange, yet it conveyed a meaning that was easy to understand.
Artoria felt herself fill with strength.
However—
The process wasn't that simple.
At least, when Artoria asked Kay for help, coming up with a reason convincing enough for him was very difficult.
But Kay seemed completely unconcerned.
"Oh, you're going out."
"Then go."
"It doesn't matter where you go, anyway."
Despite his sharp tongue, Artoria still got a horse and carriage big enough for her and Ian, as well as food for the road.
It was as if he knew everything, and yet, knew nothing at all.
Deep night, a campfire.
This was already the second day since they had left the village.
Reaching Camelot, the capital where the Sword of Selection was located, was not something that could be done in an instant.
By the fire, Artoria gnawed on rye bread, her eyes shining like jewels.
"Ian, do you think I can do it?"
"Do you mean pulling out the sword?"
"Mm!"
The young woman nodded.
Her beautiful golden hair was tinged with the light from the fire.
"After all, it doesn't sound that simple, does it?"
"I don't know."
Ian also took a bite of rye bread.
"So I can't tell you."
"You're not even going to encourage me?"
Artoria muttered with a pout.
"Doesn't that sound a little discouraging?"
"But I don't think you need my encouragement. Artoria, your conviction has been firm from the very beginning, hasn't it?"
Ian's eyes met Artoria's at that moment.
"So, while I'm not certain you can do it, I believe that you can."
"..."
"..."
"If you want to do that, just say so."
Artoria stared at Ian.
"Giving a big speech before expressing your desire just makes you seem insincere, you know."
"Then I do want to do it, but I also do believe in you."
"..."
"You, you..."
Artoria sighed helplessly.
She looked left and right. After confirming there was no one else in the silent night, she finally nodded.
"Just for a little while, okay..."
"We have to travel tomorrow."
"Okay."
By the campfire, the young woman's shoulder was revealed from under her simple cloth shirt.
It was a sight that, once seen, was hard to forget.
However, as beautiful as it was, it was not the main event right now.
Slurp—
Slurp—
Artoria looked at Ian at her chest.
The her from a month ago could never have dreamed that the her of a month later would be doing something like this.
But...
It seemed to be gradually becoming normal.
Dragons seemed to have a natural gift for this sort of thing.
If his previous actions could be considered tearing and biting.
Then now, it could definitely be considered a caress.
Of course.
Artoria would never say it out loud.
If she let Ian know, wouldn't his tail shoot right up to the sky with pride?
But speaking of which...
Does he actually have a tail?
"Alright."
"That feels much better."
Before Artoria's wandering thoughts could conclude, she heard Ian's voice.
"So soon—"
"How come you..."
Artoria stopped mid-sentence.
She realized it sounded a bit like she was saying, "Why don't you continue?"
But Ian was straightforward.
"We have to travel."
"I want you to rest well."
"..."
Artoria naturally understood the weight of this act.
What stopped was his mouth; what was restrained was his desire.
"You don't have to go that far..."
Before the young woman could finish her sentence, she felt herself being lifted up.
"Let's go back to the carriage to rest."
"No, wait a minute..."
Artoria wanted to struggle a little, but found that when it came to strength, she was no match for him at all.
It can't be helped.
He's doing this for my sake, after all.
At least...
I should fix my clothes first.
The young woman hurriedly tried to fix her unbuttoned shirt, but she soon noticed that Ian, who was carrying her towards the carriage, had stopped.
"What are you doing?"
"You're not having second thoughts and want to continue, are you?"
"I'll get angry if that's the case!"
A cold wind blew past.
"Don't make a sound."
Ian covered Artoria's mouth directly.
It was a savagery completely different from the gentle concern of moments ago.
After their surroundings fell silent, a blood-red light flashed in the boy's eyes.
Artoria could feel his body undergo a strengthening visible to the naked eye.
She grew alert.
"Ian, what's wrong?"
"There's something that smells wrong nearby."
"What?"