Chapter 23: The Return of the Holy Sword
Merlin had once said to Bedivere: "Regardless of the outcome of the battle, you will perish. Your soul will be exhausted, you will deviate from the path of reincarnation, and the existence that is you will inevitably fall into nothingness. Knowing this, do you still wish to proceed toward the end of this journey?"
Bedivere had answered without hesitation: "Yes. My heart still beats for the light of that King, even now."
Merlin nodded noncommittally, waved his wand to forge the Holy Sword into the "Silver Arm," and continued: "This 'Silver Arm (Agateram)' will burn your soul violently every time it is used, but you must endure it. Your goal is a possibility—a world at the end of its life where chivalry is about to take its ultimate form. Even if you must cross blades with former comrades, even if you must face past sins, the brilliance of this arm will never diminish by even a fraction. Because this is the very greatest sin you have committed."
Having said this, Merlin pushed Bedivere out of 'Avalon.'
"Give my regards to the people at Chaldea. Farewell, Sir Bedivere."
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Shirou casually hoisted Mordred over his shoulder and began walking toward the stairs leading to the summit of the Holy City. The outcome of her challenge to Shirou was obvious. Now, having been thoroughly devastated by Shirou once again, Mordred had no strength left to resist.
"Damn it, damn it! I don't accept this!"
Mordred, draped over Shirou's shoulder, weakly pounded his back with a fierce expression, though the force of her blows felt more like a massage.
"Hmm, put some effort into it. Out of energy already? Too weak."
"Damn you...!"
Mordred changed her pounding into a firm kneading motion. It turned into a massage after all.
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As he stepped onto the final stair, the view before Bedivere opened up. The cloudless, azure sky cast a clear, bright light over the long corridor leading to the palace. Shirou, Gudako, and the others had already arrived.
"I... have made it." Bedivere addressed Shirou and the others.
Shirou smiled. "Yes. Continue forward, Knight."
Bedivere nodded firmly and cast his gaze ahead. The Lion King was seated upon her throne, watching the group with cold, piercing eyes.
"I am the Storm King, Lord of the Tower of the End, the Lion King—a remnant of a Heroic Spirit wielding the Holy Spear Rhongomyniad."
The Lion King's gaze swept over them. "Answer me: why have you climbed this tower?"
"To correct human history and reclaim the future!" Gudako replied without hesitation.
The Lion King looked at her with indifference. "Human history has already been incinerated. Salvation exists nowhere but within this Tower of the End."
"No, how can you call this salvation!" Gudako said indignantly.
"If humanity is lost, then the gods will also cease to exist."
The Lion King stood up, and the Holy Spear manifested in her hand. "I love humanity deeply. Therefore, I cannot tolerate your disappearance... I have gathered the pure individuals remaining in the world, fixed them as data, and granted eternal life to those nearing their end—this is the ultimate conclusion for protecting humanity; it is your happiness."
Golden radiance bloomed, releasing a power that threatened to tear this world—which was already nearing destruction—asunder.
"Holy Spear, Anchor Unbound—it is the storm anchor that rends the sky and connects the earth."
Hearing the Lion King's chant, Mash also spoke earnestly to Gudako. "Master, I am going in!"
"Yes!" Gudako nodded, then activated the Command Spell to release Mash's Noble Phantasm. "Please watch, Director. Now, I must prove the foundation of human history!"
Mash raised her shield. "It is the hometown of our hearts, healing all wounds and all grievances..."
The voices of the Lion King and Mash rang out simultaneously.
"Bloom at the end of the world—『Rhongomyniad』!!!"
"Reveal yourself—『Lord Camelot』!!!"
The suddenly released light of sanction was blocked by that shield. Scattered glows flickered in the wind.
Bedivere stepped forward. Seeing this knight, the Lion King frowned slightly. "Who are you? It seems you are also a knight."
Mash's eyes widened upon hearing this. "It is impossible for you not to know! This is Sir Bedivere, a Knight of the Round Table!"
However, the Lion King shook her head. "What are you saying? I do not know a knight by that name."
Bedivere nodded gently. "I suppose that is true... However, seeing this, perhaps your memories will become clear."
As he spoke, Bedivere raised his right arm. The "Silver Arm" began to glow with a dazzling golden light, entirely different from the silver radiance it had displayed before. The Lion King's pupils constricted—how could she not recognize the light of her own Holy Sword?
"This radiance... I know it... I know this...!"
Bedivere wore a gentle smile, casting one last look at Shirou, Gudako, and the others behind him, as if saying goodbye.
"Everyone, I cannot possibly repay the help and kindness you have shown me thus far. If we ever have the chance to meet again..."
At this point, Bedivere shook his head with a bitter smile. "No, there will likely be no chance... My soul has burned to its end..."
The knight's body was already flickering in and out of existence; the only thing sustaining him was the conviction deposited in his right arm. Continuing to step forward, blood flowed down his armor; with every step he took, a fresh crimson footprint was left upon the ground.
"This arm... is Excalibur..." the Lion King said. "Bedivere, I remember now—your name."
"Yes. I made a mistake." Bedivere closed his eyes.
"In that forest, I hesitated to carry out your command. If I had returned the Holy Sword to the lake, you would have truly died... I was afraid of that happening, so I could not return the Holy Sword even the third time. When I returned to the forest, the King had already vanished... Later, I learned that because the Holy Sword was not returned, the King took up the Holy Spear left behind and became the King of Ghosts wandering the world. To atone for my sin, I have been searching for you."
Having finished, Bedivere stood before the Lion King, the light from his right arm now blindingly brilliant.
"King Arthur, please allow me, on behalf of the Round Table, to offer you my gratitude."
The knight knelt on one knee before his King and held up the reappearing Holy Sword with both hands.
"Gratitude for you, who stood alone, busy bringing that dark age to an end. You are the light of the stars shining in the night sky; it was you who showed us the path and led us forward. Now, it is time to return this sword to you."
Endless, warm light enveloped everything, dispelling the darkness and bringing gentleness to the world. When the light faded, the waves of the end, the storm, the Holy Spear, and Bedivere had all vanished.
The knight's will, which had spanned 1,500 years, was affirmed by the world, allowing his soul to gather once more in the Throne of Heroes after dissipating.
"...Bedivere. Confirmed. Holy Sword returned."
The Lion King held the Holy Sword in her hand. Everything from the past surged back into her heart. Two sets of memories, nearly identical yet slightly different, were clashing—neither able to melt into the other.
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