After Souya "caught" Fou, he had it lift the effect of 'Comparison' from the townspeople.
After their initial confusion and bewilderment, the townspeople gradually began to return to normal. Of course, after experiencing such a soul-baring process of comparing themselves to others, interpersonal relationships among some of them would probably undergo a few minor changes in the future.
Souya then took Artoria to a random tavern in town, ordered some food and fruit wine.
However, Souya soon realized he seemed to have forgotten about the bug-like ability that was the 'King's Stomach'.
"May I have another portion?"
Placing the completely empty plate aside, Artoria looked at Souya with some embarrassment.
"...Boss, another 5 portions... no, 10 portions, please."
Having lost count of how many times he had heard this, Souya glanced at the mountain of plates nearby and silently took a sip of his fruit wine.
God knows how such a petite and cute girl could eat food equivalent to the portions of several grown men.
Souya now truly doubted whether Artoria would be the first to starve to death if the Age of Gods ended and crops in Britain suddenly failed to grow for a short period.
"Thank you, Lamorak! You're so kind!"
Hearing this, Artoria looked at Souya with some emotion, then took the food handed over by the boss and began to feast again.
"By the way, Artoris."
Souya suddenly asked.
"What is it, Lamorak?"
Hearing Souya call her name, no matter how much she loved the food in her hands, Artoria still put it down and raised her head to look at him.
Even the ahoge on her head bobbed along with the motion.
"How did you recognize me? I recall we haven't met since I became human, right?"
Souya picked up his fruit wine and took another sip. Compared to the ale favored by most Britons and knights, he preferred the slightly sweeter apple cider.
He looked at Artoria, trying his best to keep his tone casual.
Faced with this question, Artoria seemed to just realize this, her expression turning blank.
Then, Souya saw a look of conflict appear on the 'boy's' delicate face. It took a long moment before she seemed to make up her mind and spoke.
"Actually, we've met before."
As she spoke, Artoria's face flushed slightly, and her tone carried a hint of shyness.
"Speaking of which, this is kind of a secret. Originally, Merlin wouldn't let me tell anyone besides Brother Kay and my foster father, but if it's Lamorak, I'm sure it's fine."
"Hmm?"
Souya was somewhat confused.
"Um, do you still remember that time with the Mountain Giant a long time ago? When you were fighting the giant, someone came out to help you but ended up being saved by you instead."
Speaking of this, Artoria felt a bit embarrassed. After all, she had gone out with the intention of helping someone, but ended up needing to be saved instead.
It was indeed quite shameful.
Souya also showed an appropriate expression of surprise and sudden realization at this moment.
"You mean, that girl was you?"
"Yes. Due to certain reasons, I've been hiding it from you all. I'm actually a girl."
Seemingly afraid Souya might misunderstand in another direction, Artoria's tone carried a hint of urgency. After finishing, her eyes grew somewhat apprehensive again.
"Lamorak, will you blame me for deceiving you? Or because I hid my gender, will you..."
"Of course not."
Before Artoria could finish, Souya directly interrupted her.
Faced with the latter's somewhat astonished expression, Souya helplessly reached out and patted her head, unable to resist giving some advice.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Artoris."
"There are so many people in this world, and everyone's life is too short. If you are overly harsh on yourself, life will be far too exhausting."
"But... Merlin said that to become the Perfect King, one must be strict with oneself..."
Artoria looked somewhat blankly at Souya before her.
Feeling the warmth transmitted from the large hand on her head, she inexplicably felt this scene resembled when she was young, and someone had also comforted her, telling her not to push herself too hard or she would make herself unhappy.
"Don't mind what Merlin says. He probably hasn't even figured out what a true King is himself."
Souya increased the pressure of his hand, rubbing Artoria's small head, messing up her neat blonde hair, leaving only that one ahoge standing firm.
"You have to understand, Artoris."
"Before a King becomes a King, they first exist as a human being. No one is born a King."
"As long as one is human, they cannot be perfect. They will have all sorts of strengths and weaknesses. And lies aren't always bad; there are times when one lies out of good intentions."
"Before becoming a King, you must first become a human. Only then can you understand the human heart, Artoris."
"Hmm..."
Listening to Souya's words, Artoria felt her heart had been somewhat touched.
Lamorak's tone sounded similar to Merlin's, but the principles they taught her were completely different.
Merlin always told her: You are great, you are important, you were born to be King. You must constantly struggle and strive for the throne and the future; you cannot slack off.
Yet Lamorak told her: You weren't born a King, but a human.
You should first be yourself before learning to be a King.
So, who was right and who was wrong?
Artoria didn't know. She hadn't yet experienced the war against the Vile King. She hadn't experienced the British Kingdom she built with her own hands going from prosperity and flourishing to decline and ruin. She hadn't seen her Knights of the Round Table leave one by one.
Right now, she was merely a pure white Knight Princess about to finish her trials, bearing the destiny of a King, with some understanding of the human world and its current state.
But this didn't stop her from feeling that Souya's words held a mysterious attraction, feeling that this knight, who looked only three years older than her, was shining brightly in her eyes.
Souya also noticed the young girl's gaze, which was already looking at him differently, shining even brighter after hearing these words.
This made him smile slightly, but simultaneously, an inexplicable, strange feeling rose in his heart.
This feeling was strange, but not vague.
With a little thought, Souya understood what it was.
It was guilt.
Yes, guilt.
The unease and guilt of being about to deceive someone who trusted him.
Souya was a complex person; he was both rational and emotional.
Rationality told him he shouldn't become emotionally invested in Artoria. For the plan, for Morgan, he should be more ruthless. He should exploit her emotional attachment to him to trick her into a duel, then rely on Fou's principle of 'Comparison' to shake her King's heart, taking the opportunity to shatter the Sword in the Stone.
This would complete Morgan's task and make him world-renowned.
The only thing he stood to lose was his conscience.
A hundred benefits with no harm.
But his emotions prevented him from acting so heartlessly toward a girl he had liked in his past life and had once taken care of.
On one side was the command of the person he had sworn allegiance to; on the other was a girl who admired and trusted him. Even though Souya had previously comforted himself that this was nothing, and even formulated a plan centered around Fou's ability based on this...
When it truly came down to it, he was still indecisive.
What the hell are you doing, Lamorak...
Souya lowered his head, pinching his thigh in annoyance.
He didn't understand it himself. He, who could decisively kill heretics in the past, who could slaughter thousands without blinking for Morgan's command, why was he hesitating to proceed with Artoria because of this insignificant conscience?
Damn it all! Shouldn't that broken 'Karmic Bond' status be affecting Artoria?!
Why am I the one being so heavily influenced!
Souya was feeling a bit frantic.
Right at this moment, the young girl's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Souya's chaotic thoughts.
"Lamorak, you're here because of my sister's orders, aren't you?"
"Hmm?"
Hearing these unexpected words, Souya instinctively looked up at Artoria.
What met his eyes were the young girl's starlit eyes, containing complex emotions and a faint trace of sorrow.
"I..."
Seeing those azure eyes, Souya fell silent for some reason.
The words he had prepared to explain and play dumb failed to leave his mouth.
For a moment, the atmosphere grew bizarre and quiet.
And wasn't this silence an answer in itself?