Up until the end, Souya didn't accept the System's suggestion to act like a scumbag, deceiving Britomart's feelings just to scam her out of her Gundam and demonic lance.
Souya felt that since this girl trusted him so much, he naturally shouldn't betray her trust as a qualified knight.
Of course, Souya was still very covetous of Britomart's Gundam and demonic lance.
After all, no man can resist a Gundam, and Souya was no exception.
Therefore, he planned to travel with Britomart first. Once their relationship improved, he would borrow her 'Queen's Fortress' to play around with.
As long as this piece of armor accumulated enough deeds on his person—Lamorak—who knows, maybe when he was inscribed as a Heroic Spirit in the future, he might just bring this thing along with him.
After all, certain special Noble Phantasms support shared ownership.
The most typical example was Rider Medusa and the Age of Gods' Shinji Matou, Perseus, who both could use the Noble Phantasm derived from the pegasus, 'Bellerophon'.
And so, Souya temporarily accepted Britomart as his partner.
That night, after adding enough firewood to the campfire, Souya no longer resisted the encroaching sleepiness and leaned against the cave wall, falling into a deep sleep.
The next day, he woke up on Britomart's lap pillow.
"You're awake!"
The girl's slightly joyful voice rang out.
Feeling the softness beneath his head, his eyes slowly focusing on the beautiful face before him, Souya zoned out for a few seconds.
Then, he recalled what happened last night.
Yes, the author dragged out one night's worth of events into two chapters.
Aren't I amazing?
"Good morning, Britomart."
Although the fairy girl's lap pillow was very comfortable, Souya still propped himself up and stood.
He then looked at the smiling Britomart.
"How are your magical energy reserves? Do you need me to replenish some more?"
"It's already enough! Thanks to you, Lamorak, with this magical energy, I won't have to worry about daily magical energy consumption for at least a week."
Hearing this, Souya immediately understood.
Not having to worry about daily consumption... doesn't that mean if she engages in combat, Britomart's magical energy consumption will be even greater?
Thinking of this, Souya subconsciously checked the magical energy within his body.
Upon discovering that despite a whole night of Britomart's extraction, his magical energy reserves were still full to the brim, Souya instantly felt relieved.
He then smiled and said to Britomart:
"Don't worry about magical energy. My recovery rate is still very strong."
"Mm-hmm! Thank you, Lamorak."
Britomart returned a sweet smile.
Afterward, Souya got up and first went to the cave entrance to check the weather.
Seeing that the rain was still pouring outside, even heavier than yesterday, he helplessly retreated inside.
It seemed they wouldn't be able to continue their journey for a while.
Fortunately, Souya's food reserves were somewhat adequate, and he had the foresight to gather extra wood yesterday, so there was no immediate need to worry about supplies and warmth.
After roasting some dry rations for himself and Britomart, the idle Souya began chatting with her.
Souya then learned from Britomart that she had actually sensed his fairy aura in a crowd five days ago and had been tailing him ever since. It wasn't until yesterday, when she confirmed his fairy aura wasn't because he had imprisoned a fairy, but stemmed from his own bloodline, and decided he wasn't a bad person, that she chose to show herself.
Souya was very surprised by this. Although he had occasionally felt someone watching him, his Fairy Eyes had revealed nothing out of the ordinary during his investigations.
Britomart's answer was that because her bloodline was that of a Wind Fairy, and she had mastered 'Mana Burst (Wind)', she was able to evade the detection of Fairy Eyes.
Alright, Souya understood. Looking at it this way, his Fairy Eyes were only rank B, while Britomart's Mana Burst was at least rank A.
Souya then asked Britomart about her views on the current state of Britain and Vortigern, as well as her plans for the future.
To Souya's surprise, as a somewhat alternative Knight of the Round Table, Britomart remained indifferent toward both the future King Arthur, Artoria, and Vortigern, who sought to regress Britain back to the Age of Gods.
Simply put: It's none of my business.
After a little thought, Souya understood her perspective.
After all, she was a Fairy Knight raised in the Fairy Kingdom. Even if she possessed a human half, she had no interest in human power struggles.
Furthermore, whether Britain's Age of Gods reverted or not didn't really affect her. As long as she returned to the Fairy Kingdom on the Reverse Side of the World, even if the British Isle collapsed, it wouldn't impact her.
As for Britomart's plans for the future...
She didn't explain clearly, only mysteriously telling Souya that she wanted to walk the same path her mother did back then.
When she said this, her face flushed red, and she seemed a bit afraid to look at Souya.
Souya was completely clueless. He had never read 'The Faerie Queene', so how was he supposed to know what the first-generation Britomart did?
Just as Souya was about to ask the System about this, he suddenly heard a strange sound.
It was a bizarre noise, like forty hounds barking simultaneously. Even with the torrential rain outside, the sound pierced through the curtain of rain and echoed into the cave.
Souya's expression shifted slightly. He instinctively picked up his weapon, walked to the cave entrance, and looked outside.
The rain was still pouring like a waterfall, but through the veil of silver threads, a blurry, dark silhouette could be seen in the distance.
"Looks like we have trouble."
Souya could feel a gaze full of malice piercing through the rain and landing on him. It made him very uncomfortable.
Because this gaze wasn't the pure killing intent of a human; it was the greed and drool of a beast looking at what was about to become its prey.
"System, what is that thing?"
Souya donned his armor while mentally asking the System.
But before the System could answer, a pleasant, girlish voice rang out behind him.
"That's an Afanc. In human terms, it's also called a Questing Beast. I suppose this guy must have been attracted by our fairy auras."
Behind Souya, Britomart was standing with a silver-white broadsword that had appeared in her hand at some unknown point. She spoke, looking somewhat eager to try it out.
"Mm, after absorbing so much of your magical energy, I want to stretch my muscles too. How about leaving it to me, Lamorak?"
"No, leave it to me. My goal was it to begin with."
"Eh?"
Contrary to Britomart's expectations, Souya refused her request.
Although confused, Britomart didn't press the matter. She thought for a moment, then informed Souya:
"Since you say so, I won't fight you for it. But Lamorak, you must be careful."
"Mother told me that Afancs are the minions of evil magicians. They feed on fairies, and their claws and fangs possess the power of curses. You must be careful not to get hurt by it."
Hearing this, Souya was slightly stunned, but then a smile appeared on his face.
"Alright, I understand."
"Wait! One more thing!"
Seeing Souya about to step out of the cave, Britomart hurriedly stopped him.
When Souya stopped and turned around, Britomart handed him her silver-white broadsword. Then, under his bewildered gaze, she smiled and said:
"Besides its claws and fangs being magically enhanced, the Afanc's pelt is also enhanced. Only weapons with supernatural power can harm it. If you use your regular weapon, Lamorak, you won't be able to scratch it at all."
"Then this sword..."
"It's not a sword; it's a lance."
"Hmm?"
The next moment, under Souya's astonished gaze, Britomart placed her hand on the silver-white broadsword and murmured a few words. The sword began to emit an emerald-green radiance.
Following that, amidst the glow, the broadsword slowly dissolved into specks of light, replaced by a strangely shaped, verdant lance that gradually solidified.
"True Name Release. Demonic Lance: 'Penetrate Blaiddyd'."
[On a night of raging wind and torrential rain, you encountered your fated monster: the Questing Beast, Afanc.]
[You received the help of Fairy Knight Britomart, temporarily gaining a handy Noble Phantasm, 'Penetrate Blaiddyd'.]
[You felt the blessing of the wind, and so, hesitating no longer, you launched an attack against the Questing Beast.]