Chapter 96. Holy Lance, Rhongomyniad
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Frustration!
An overwhelming frustration!
That expression, as if she could give everything for the person in front of her!
That gaze, no matter how far, always chasing after!
What do you understand?
Don't you dare analyze the bond between me and the King with that tone, as if you know everything!
My relationship with him isn't…
"You are fake."
Shut up!
Hephaestion's hands trembled, but everything Lord El-Melloi II said was true, and she knew it. She had always been aware.
When she was young, the King, who was once so endearing but grew rough over time, would always pat her head and say:
"Let me give you a name."
"I refuse."
Every time, she would refuse with utmost determination. This was perhaps the only order from the King that she ever defied.
"You are a decoy to ensure the King's safety."
Yes, for me, that is enough.
A name doesn't matter at all; as long as you can keep moving forward, I'm satisfied.
As long as I spread false information, even curses wouldn't harm the King, because I...
"Am a sacrifice, a substitute for the King to ward off disaster," Lord El-Melloi II lowered his gaze.
He wasn't someone who took pleasure in others' misfortune, unlike Melvin, who stood nearby, looking gleeful, his eyes shining like lasers. Digging into someone's past wasn't fun for him.
But he had no choice. He was too weak. The only way to reduce Gray's burden was to continually dismantle the Servant's mystery before him.
"That's right. That's why she manifests under the Faker class," Dr. Heartless spread his hands. "A fake Holy Grail summons a fake Heroic Spirit. That's who she is—an unnamed Faker."
"So? What does that change?" Hephaestion—no, Faker—raised her sword.
"I've always wondered why I never saw you among the King's army," Lord El-Melloi II exhaled, knowing what he was about to say might be more cruel to Faker than revealing her truth. "That King, who always charged ahead with a laugh, would never tolerate such a reality. He once said that the King's army wasn't just his Noble Phantasm, but a bond with his comrades. So he remembered everyone; he would call out to every single one of his comrades, but…"
"Shut up!" Faker roared as she rushed at Lord El-Melloi II.
Clang!
Shield and sword clashed heavily. Gritting her teeth, Gray pushed Faker back. "Master… let me protect you!"
"You refused! You refused the King's call!" Lord El-Melloi II shouted, almost in a rage. "He never forgot you! This was the greatest King of Conquerors in history—Iskandar! But you refused!"
"Don't act like you know everything!" Faker bit her lip until it bled. "Because… because with fools like you around, the King can't stop! I told him so many times… that place doesn't exist! [Because the King you long for is always on the path of conquest. A Conqueror who doesn't conquer is no Conqueror, so go and conquer the impossible.] Just for you fools…"
The flames of anger burned in her chest. It wasn't just Lord El-Melloi II's words, but those fools and the King who forgave them.
"Hey, Faker, calm down," Dr. Heartless's expression grew serious as a massive amount of magical energy began to converge on Faker.
She was about to use her Noble Phantasm!
Creaaaak—
The closed door slowly opened as someone walked in, but everyone was too focused on the magical vortex around Faker to notice.
"Don't try to stop me, Master. Though I've manifested to serve you, this man… this man alone must die!" Faker raised her sword toward the sky. "Come forth!"
"Ah~ just as you wish," Dr. Heartless sighed. "After all, a Hero has their whims too. That's one of the things I've learned."
"Sorry to drag you along for this!" Faker swung her sword.
Boom—
The void was torn apart, and the divine chariot, wreathed in thunder, halted above Faker.
"Serving my Servant's whims is also a Master's duty," Dr. Heartless laughed as he leaped onto the chariot.
It was all so familiar…
Watching the figure standing on the divine chariot, even though he knew Faker was just a substitute, Lord El-Melloi II couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.
This was the stance befitting the King who conquers the world!
In some ways, Faker was indeed that King. If he could defeat her here…
A smile slowly crept across Lord El-Melloi II's face.
Would that mean he had, in some way, surpassed the man who had always been ahead of him?
If that day ever came when they met again, could he boast with pride? At least to see that man's troubled expression.
Even if that man probably wouldn't remember him.
But…
"Master, I'm going in!" Gray took a deep breath and raised her scythe above her head.
The opponent was about to use her Noble Phantasm. To protect everyone on this train, to protect Master, she had to unleash the Noble Phantasm hidden within Add.
Even if it meant becoming something else…
"Leave it to me."
A hand gently patted Gray's head.
"You've done well."
"So, you finally arrived?" Lord El-Melloi II adjusted his glasses. "I thought you'd wait until the end."
"No way," Cyd shrugged and, to Gray's surprise, took Add from her hands.
"But…"
"When the opponent is a Servant, don't overdo it," Cyd flicked Gray's forehead. "It's enough that you caught up."
But if it meant putting his student in danger, then perhaps it's better to forget about it.
"So, this was your plan?" Lord El-Melloi II sighed. "I leave it to you, then."
"Hey, kid, let go! Right now, unleashing Gray's Noble Phantasm is the only way to save everyone!" Add shouted as he transformed back into a cube.
Cyd tossed Add into the air. The crystal embedded in the wristband hidden in her sleeve slowly began to glow, and beams of light started to spill from Add's form. "Now, it's time for Gray to rest."
"Hey, hey, hey! This must be a joke! How can you use it?"
Add's form completely disappeared within the light, leaving only a pillar of light before Cyd.
Cyd exhaled and reached out with both hands to grasp it.
"This is a joke," Gray covered her mouth in shock. "That lance was…"
"That light… I can't believe what I'm seeing," Dr. Heartless's eyes shone even brighter.
"Don't even think about it!" Faker's eyes widened as her golden and silver eyes emitted a blinding light.
"Mystic Eyes! She still had a trick up her sleeve!" Lord El-Melloi II shouted in disbelief.
With Anti-Mystic Glasses, he should have been immune, but…
"Ugh—" Gray trembled as she lunged at Cyd, wrapping her arms around his neck, tightening her grip. "I'm… sorry…"
"Gray, I told you," Cyd calmly grasped the pillar of light before him. "Your will, your soul—even a Hero cannot twist them. So listen carefully to its voice."
[The Council of Thirteen Round Table…]
A gentle voice rang in Gray's ears, but it was interrupted almost immediately as if something interfered.
"Wait, why am I still here?"
Add shouted in disbelief.
He was just a simulated personality. Once the seal on the Holy Lance was lifted, the simulated personality should cease, but now he was still here! He was experiencing some kind of miracle.
[The Council of Thirteen Knights begins.]
"This can't be real!"
[No objections… never mind, too much trouble. Anyway, all approved~]
[Fine.]
[As you wish.]
[Hmph.]
…
"As I thought… you've always been there, just far away from me," Cyd sighed. "Swearing an oath in this way is really… such a headache."
"Mr. Cyd…" Gray's eyes widened.
Cyd's slender fingers reached into the light.
"Holy Lance—"
A smile slowly formed on Cyd's face.
"Rhongomyniad!"