What do you make of this? Sir, whether I look at it standing up or sitting down, I just don't want any part of it.
Numb. Souya truly felt numb at this moment.
He originally thought he was just a bystander and a witness in this sword-bestowing ceremony. He figured that even if his relationship with Artoria had an indescribably ambiguous feel to it, she would restrain those emotions in such a setting under the watchful eyes of Merlin and Morgan.
Well, so much for that.
The connection between the two of them had been thrust directly into Morgan's face because of that single sentence.
Morgan was already somewhat displeased earlier because Artoria ignored her words and greeted him instead. At that time, Souya felt he could gloss over it using the excuse of mutual respect between rivals.
But now, facing such an important question, Artoria did not ask Merlin; she asked him, Lamorak. Souya felt that if he put himself in Morgan's shoes, he would not believe that he and Artoria were simply rivals who respected each other either.
And the reality was indeed just that. Almost the instant Artoria finished speaking, Souya felt two sharp gazes lock dead onto his body.
Wait, two?
Come on, man. I get Morgan glaring at me, but why are you glaring at me too, Merlin?
Artoria and I have a pure friendship!
Even though his heart was as turbulent as a storm, facing Morgan's death stare and Artoria's expectant eyes, Souya knew he could not delay any longer.
Dragging it out was useless. It was better to quickly resolve the matter and prevent this little girl Artoria from pulling any more stunts.
So, after a brief moment of thought, Souya braced himself and tried to answer the question using the most tactful tone possible.
"I think, regarding the choice between the sword and the scabbard, you need to choose carefully, Artoris. You must understand the true meaning represented by the sword and the scabbard."
"The true meaning of the sword and the scabbard?" Artoria revealed a thoughtful expression.
"Yes, exactly. Only by truly understanding what they represent and what you currently need can you make a choice worthy of your heart." Enduring Morgan's icy pressure, Souya hurriedly finished his sentence.
"For example, the sword represents power. It gives you the strength and capital to defeat Vortigern. Although this is limited, it is what you need the most right now."
"The scabbard represents protection. The meaning it brings you is the resolve to protect the kingdom and its people in the future. This is a choice for the greater picture."
"Alright, Artoris. These insights are what I believe, told to you in my capacity as a rival and... a friend. The true choice still depends on you. Whether it is power or protection, that is your choice."
With that, Souya had said everything he wanted to say. His attitude was also very clear: he was only explaining these things to her as a rival and a friend. Whatever choice she made was her own business and had nothing to do with him.
But the help he provided was also obvious. This was the meaning the sword and the scabbard represented in this question.
Morgan also understood that Souya's repeated emphasis on the word 'rival' was a show of loyalty to her, and the expression on her face softened a bit.
But only a bit.
As for Merlin, he cast a strange look at Souya. He did not expect this mere Lamorak to have such a profound and clear understanding of the sword and scabbard of the Holy Sword of the Planet. This gave him a few more thoughts regarding this knight who always served by Morgan's side.
However, for now, he was more interested in seeing how Artoria would choose after learning the meanings of the sword and scabbard.
After listening to Souya's explanation, Artoria fell into deep thought once again.
She stood by the lake, looking down at the Sword of Promised Victory in her hands. Although it was not as flashy as the Sword in the Stone, its patterns were more complex and intricate. Her azure eyes were filled with endless contemplation.
At this moment, even the ahoge on Artoria's head swayed in the wind, as if struggling and thinking over these two choices alongside its master.
In all fairness, based on her current needs, choosing the sword was obviously more suitable.
Only by obtaining the power of the Holy Sword could she defeat Vortigern, reclaim the royal authority of Britain from his hands, and become the Perfect King her teacher and Royal Father hoped she would be.
This was also her choice in the epic.
Yet, when she was truly about to open her mouth and say she chose the sword, Artoria hesitated again.
Was this choice truly what she wanted? Was this King Arthur's choice, or her, Artoria's, choice?
Inexplicably, the words Souya had said surfaced in her mind.
"No one is a born king, and as a human, there is no such thing as perfection."
"Artoris, before becoming a King, you should first be a human."
"Only by first becoming a true human can you later become a King who understands the human heart."
"Whether power or protection, that is your choice."
Slowly, Artoria's eyes brightened. She seemed to understand something.
She should not think from the perspective of a King, but should answer this question from the perspective of a human, of humanity, of the person Artoria.
So, as Artoria first and King Arthur second, what choice would she make?
"If the sword is power, the resolve to attack forward and forge the future, then the scabbard is the conviction to protect the present, to protect everything I cherish."
After softly speaking these words, the young girl finally understood what her true self wanted, and what she should do and choose in this moment.
"Regarding the choice of the sword and the scabbard, I have my answer."
She slowly tightened her grip on the Holy Sword. This time, Artoria could clearly feel a connection form between her and the Holy Sword. Both the sword and the scabbard had accepted her.
Looking up again, there was no longer any confusion in the young girl's eyes. They held only a fearless yearning for the sea of stars.
"The sword and the scabbard. I want them both."
"Whether it is the present or the future, I will not abandon either. I will firmly grasp them both, in the name of Artoria."
As she spoke, the young girl could not help but glance at Souya, her eyes filled with deep gratitude and admiration.
She knew that Souya was the one who presented this question to her and taught her.
Hearing the resolve revealed in the young girl's youthful voice, Morgan and Merlin fell silent in unison.
They had both thought the girl would ultimately choose the sword, but they didn't expect her to choose neither just the sword nor just the scabbard, but both.
Who exactly taught her this? Can a person really demand to have their cake and eat it too?
As for the true culprit, Souya, after hearing Artoria declare that she wanted both the present and the future, he could not help but feel an inexplicable wave of emotion.
Because of him, the Sword of Selection broke far earlier than in the previous deductions, and the current Artoria had not yet learned the truth about the fading of the Age of Gods from Merlin.
She did not know that everything she was protecting now would completely become the past the moment she obtained the qualifications for the future, forever left behind in the old era.
That included the Lamorak she yearned for.
Artoria did not know, but Souya knew. For the Britain of today, it was impossible to possess both the present and the future simultaneously. To preserve one, the other had to be sacrificed.
This was not Vortigern's fault, nor Merlin and Uther's fault, and certainly not Artoria's fault. The only thing to blame was that the rules of this world could not tolerate the current Britain.
Therefore, after hearing the young girl's hope to grasp both the present and the future simultaneously, Souya wanted to smile, but found he simply could not smile from the bottom of his heart. All he could muster was a twitch of his facial muscles, containing an unconcealable sorrow.
It was just like Agni from Fire Punch, who, after enduring all forms of suffering, was entrusted by someone he cared about to keep living right before they died. That kind of fake smile born from true sincerity.
For the first time since gaining a physical body, Souya had the thought of wanting to do something else besides pledging loyalty to Morgan.
Not for anyone in particular, but simply to do something for this land that had birthed him and the people he cared about.