[—You're only learning how to say goodbye to the past.]
…
…
The scene returns to the Einzbern family's stronghold.
A blade shimmering with layered mana, its edge enchanted with azure wind, dragged along the stone path, emitting a resonant "Clang—!!" As it sparked brilliantly. The golden sword carved a deep gash into the rough stone.
A black-haired man, one hand gripping the golden sword, the other a white staff, stepped out from the castle's shadow, standing alone under the serene moonlight in the courtyard.
His eyes glinted faintly, mana rippling around him, casting a kaleidoscope of colors into the night.
"What is this…?"
Noticing the changes in Roy, Artoria, standing opposite, furrowed her brow.
Before she could say more, the young man advanced with steady steps, bolstered by magecraft, and swung his first strike at the invincible King of Knights with blazing speed.
—Clang!!
Sparks flew with a piercing clash, igniting a battle between knights.
Though one of the duelists was no knight at all.
"Hm?"
After a brief exchange, the humanoid red dragon held the clear upper hand.
Artoria gripped her Excalibur, effortlessly parrying Caliburn's strike in midair. Her brows knitted, her emerald eyes fixed on the youth inches away, then on the achingly familiar golden sword. She spoke, "Is that truly… Caliburn?"
"What else? Surely the great King of Britain wouldn't forget her first holy sword?" Roy raised an eyebrow, countering.
"Do you still remember your earliest self, King Arthur?"
As the golden sword was firmly blocked, Roy wasn't surprised.
He was human, facing a Heroic Spirit. Engaging in close-quarters combat was reckless, even with runic enhancements granting some resistance. His stats were still outmatched by the humanoid mother dragon—let alone the Knight of Knights, the pinnacle King of Knights.
With sword skills forcibly instilled in him, matching or defeating her was a pipe dream.
"Mr. Roy…"
Artoria's green eyes flickered with resignation. Gripping her sword, she pressed down on his golden blade, speaking softly, "Enough. Though we're enemies, I don't know where you got that Caliburn."
Despite their opposing stances, she held back from lethal force, her words laced with admonition. "I can guess you're tied to the Round Table or someone from Britain's past. I don't know what Merlin tasked you with, but for the sake of that letter, I urge you to stand down. You're no match for me, and there's no need to risk your life. Step back, and let Queen Scáthach face me."
"And if I refuse?"
Unswayed by Artoria's counsel, Roy met her with a smile, channeling more mana into the golden sword, its radiance intensifying.
Sensing the unyielding will in his blade, Artoria's emerald eyes flashed with resignation, quickly replaced by resolve.
"If you're here to persuade me, knowing my wish, you should understand I won't hold back just because you're linked to Merlin or one of my knights."
With that, she ceased debating, her sword's force and mana surging, sending Roy staggering back over ten meters.
She glanced at Scáthach, lounging on the castle steps, spectating leisurely, and frowned silently.
"Still not taking me seriously? Am I being underestimated?"
Noticing Artoria's persistent dismissal, Roy scratched his head, exasperated.
"It's not underestimation, it's…"
"Persuasion, right? Like I'm trying to persuade you. Heh, you're too arrogant and clueless, Saber."
Roy angled his sword, mimicking a flourish from memory, resuming a combat stance.
"I came all this way to find you, promised that scoundrel I'd help you. A promise must be kept. Giving up without trying? That'd be too shameful. And…"
Staring into Artoria's emerald eyes, he said calmly, "It's not just about that inhuman thing's promise or you, the confused Sleeping Beauty. It's my own desire. Right now, I want to clash with a Heroic Spirit like you, to feel the power of a hero from the Age of Gods, to understand my own weakness and place. That's preparation for what's next."
"You'd risk your life for a rehearsal?!"
Artoria's eyes widened, unable to fathom his reckless logic.
"Guess. Picture this: in a quiet, empty castle, two swordsmen meet. It lacks the grandeur of a true duel, but wasting a chance for a swordfight would be a pity, no? What's the term…"
"Oh, right—Heroic Swordmaster. You're the Heroic Swordmaster, Saber Artoria. I'm your challenger. Just remember that and treat me as your enemy."
Roy half-joked, the golden sword flaring with infused mana, its golden glow intertwining with moonlight, casting chilling gleams.
"If possible, I'd prefer dueling at Ryuudou Temple—more atmosphere there."
Even now, he teased her.
"…I understand."
"King of Britain, Artoria Pendragon, accepts your challenge."
Challenger: Ordinary Magus, Roy Crowley.
Opponent: King of Britain, King Arthur, King of Knights, Artoria Pendragon.
—Extraordinary!
Let the duel decide—!!
…
Her final warning issued, but seeing his resolve unshaken, Artoria closed her eyes, exhaled, and reopened them, speaking slowly, "Then, Mr. Roy, show me your resolve with your sword."
Her tone grew icy, giving him one last confirmation.
"Of course, wasn't that clear? I'd rather scheme from the shadows, breaking you with tricks, but…"
Roy shook his head, continuing, "A promise kept is a promise done, right? Like the purest principle in alchemy…"
"Nothing in this world is created from nothing, no philosopher's stone. It's all equivalent exchange."
His expression calm, he gazed at Artoria. "So, Saber, after all this time, have you opened the envelope I gave you? Have you found answers to my three questions?"
The envelope, the answers…
Roy's words pierced her heart like a blade, making her falter, recalling the questions he posed at the King's Banquet, instinctively pondering their answers.
"…"
"You didn't take my words to heart at all, did you?"
Seeing her reaction, Roy sighed. "No surprise. If you could figure it out, you wouldn't be stuck so long. Let me help you recall and find those answers."
"Saber, first question: Are you still mired in the past, unable to look to the future?"
"That's…"
His words left her dazed. As she hesitated, a blinding golden light slashed toward her head with a piercing whistle.
"Wrong answer. Try again."
—Boom!!
Golden light flashed. Artoria's eyes sharpened, her intuition predicting Roy's sudden strike. She swung her Excalibur, clashing with it.
Azure gales and golden swordlight collided, their opposing forces merging, unleashing a terrifying shockwave that shattered the stone pavement beneath them.
"Useless!"
With innate intuition and battle experience, Artoria blocked Roy's assault again.
"Your swordsmanship and strength are far inferior. No matter your tricks, you can't win. You should know that."
"True. My hastily learned swordsmanship from dreams and runic-enhanced strength are no match for you. There's no hope of winning like this. But…"
Before finishing, Roy released his staff, planting it in the ground, switching to a two-handed grip on his sword. Facing Artoria's spinning azure hammer, a sudden floral scent emerged behind him, and he launched a fiercer strike.
—Boom, boom, boom!!
Faster this time, the clash of blades rang out, the terrifying force erupting, kicking up dust.
Despite the same moves, Artoria tried to repeat her defense, aiming to disarm him, but was stunned. As azure gales met golden swordlight, despite her superior stats, she was pushed back several steps.
This bizarre scene shocked her calm eyes, unable to comprehend Roy's change.
"Hey, King of Knights, didn't Merlin tell you never to underestimate any opponent? Even a frail human like me, under certain conditions, can match heroes like you…"
"Ehe, my turn, right?"
Seeing Roy release the staff Merlin gave him, a white-haired man in the Reverse Side of the World grinned excitedly.
"Artoria-chan, don't blame me later. This is for your own good—you've been stuck too long…"
Though apologizing, his face showed no remorse—only glee?
[Dreamlike Charisma A.]
[Hero Creation EX.]
From his tower, Merlin waved his staff, channeling his finest enhancement magecraft through his dream-link with Roy, shouting, "You're powered up—go get 'em!!"
That familiar scent, that mana…
No mistake—it was him. Her intuition was right.
"It's Merlin!"
In the fleeting moment of floral scent and mana, Artoria recognized the culprit, exclaiming.
Roy, however, didn't explain. Twirling his holy sword, his aura surged.
"Finally here, Merlin…"
Not just Scáthach's Primordial Runes, but Merlin's cheat-level buffs gave him stats to rival top-tier Servants like Artoria.
"Even Merlin's involved? Who else? How far will you mock me?!"
Seeing a former ally against her, Artoria felt sorrow. "Why do you all oppose me, even in death? If only…"
"What do you want?" Roy cut her off.
"Just win the Holy Grail to change past tragedies."
He chuckled, his gaze pitying. "How sad. In this Holy Grail War, you're the only one clinging to that beautiful lie."
"What are you saying?!"
"I've said it already. Now it's your turn to think. King of Knights, I ask again: Is what you pursue truly right? Are you still trapped in the past, unable to move forward?"
As they spoke, both moved again, swords clashing with a piercing "Clang—!!", locked in a stalemate.
"I'm no knight, and my swordsmanship was force-fed by that dream demon to keep you from killing me in seconds. But I sense your heart wavers—because of triple betrayal, or something else…"
"Shut up!"
—Clang!!
Their swords flashed, sparks flying as their figures darted far apart.
Under the night, blades gleamed, clashing not just steel but wills. Though Artoria's skill outshone, Roy, enhanced by Merlin, barely kept pace.
Scáthach, watching from the steps, clapped, impressed.
Not bad. This wasn't just play anymore—it had the mark of true warriors.
Her gaze fixed on the dueling figures, pondering her earlier jest.
If Roy died, could she take his soul to the Land of Shadows, molding him to her liking?
It was a joke, but now it seemed appealing…
A fun, talented apprentice who wasn't intimidated by her and could make her smile wouldn't be bad company.
With him, her future years might not be so dull.
Watching the duel, Scáthach mused.
***
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