-840- Please don't stop me

In the basin, a small space near the center was cleared for Rozen and his group.

Over a burning campfire, a makeshift shikigami was roasting deer meat silently handed over to Rozen's group, creating a harmonious atmosphere as they ate and talked.

The locals kept their distance, seemingly still fearful due to Rama's earlier disturbance.

After a conversation, Rozen and his group found that, despite Rama's slight arrogance, he was easy to get along with.

His inherently good nature and regal demeanor made him appear more like a somewhat arrogant but not unpleasant young child, rather than a detestable character.

Through their conversation, Rama also learned about Rozen and his group's situation.

"I see, not affiliated with any faction, just a Master and Servant duo from a distant future, here to repair this Singularity?" Rama acknowledged Rozen with newfound respect.

"Yes, fighting for justice is a noble cause. This land was filled with warriors driven to madness and corruption. Discovering someone like you gives me some hope. I've managed to persist without dying; that's a gain in itself."

Rama's perspective changed because of this.

This showed that Rama, the hero with an unwavering sense of justice in "Ramayana," remained steadfast on the side of righteousness.

Even though, after becoming a king, he had somewhat lost the heroic qualities and was overshadowed by responsibilities, prosperity, and obligations, he still stood for justice.

However, due to his current appearance as a youth and occasional traces of arrogance, he looked more like a child imitating a hero than the actual King of Kosla.

Rozen found this amusing but also acknowledged Rama's strength, especially after witnessing the power of his Noble Phantasm.

Mash, being kind-hearted, asked Rama, "Mr. Rama, were you attacked by Celtic Servants and then saved by Mr. Karna?"

After the recent conversation, Rama has learned Karna's true name and is aware that it was Karna who saved him.

Therefore, Rama feels both exhilarated by the presence of the "Mahabharata" hero, the "Hero of Charity," and grateful towards Karna.

While expressing respect for Scáthach, the Queen of the otherworld, Rama seemed to admire her remarkable spear skills and treated her with equal regard as a fellow monarch. There was no prejudice based on her Celtic origin.

Despite Rama's immature demeanor, his qualities as a hero and a king were evident. In some ways, he surpassed many.

If the Rama who went through numerous trials, emerged as a hero and king, defeated the Demon King, and ascended the throne, he would undoubtedly be on par with unconventional Heroic Spirits like Scáthach and Karna.

The present Rama hasn't reached that stage yet, but still, his accomplishments are commendable.

However, Rama seemed to harbor some lingering shame. He reluctantly admitted, "I did suffer severe injuries and fell under pursuit because I challenged the Celtic faction. I ran out of magical energy and collapsed under their pursuit."

This revelation surprised Rozen, who asked, "You challenged the Celtic faction yourself?"

Rama nodded with a slightly somber expression, "Yes. It's true. Because the people from Celtic took away my wife, Sita."

These words left everyone in the group stunned.

So, Rama and Sita manifested together on this continent as neutral Servants summoned by the Holy Grail. Unfortunately, they were separated by a considerable distance, with Rama in the western part of the continent and Sita in the east. Despite being aware of each other's presence since the moment of summoning, they repeatedly missed encountering each other and got entangled in wars, unable to reunite.

Then, Celtic Servants discovered Sita and captured her.

"Celtic Servants have always despised neutral Servants and have been systematically eliminating them to prevent interference. They knew my true name and the connection between Sita and me, so this was a deliberate move to lure me out," explained Rama with a heavy tone.

With no other choice, Rama had to charge into the Northern lands to save Sita.

If things had continued this way, Rama would undoubtedly have fallen into the enemy's trap, resulting in an attack by Celtic Servants.

However, the sudden destruction of the indigenous nation created chaos in the entire continent. Celtic forces, aiming to wipe out the remaining indigenous strength, mobilized completely, leaving only a single Servant to guard the rear—a vulnerability that allowed Rama to exploit the situation and infiltrate.

Due to these circumstances, Rama, despite severe injuries, managed to kill the guarding Servant and entered the prison where Sita was held.

However, he had to retreat in bitterness when Celtic forces returned in time.

Eventually, the intervention of Greek mythological Servants escalated the chaos in North America, and Rama found himself entangled in various conflicts. He narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by two spearmen from the "Knights of Fianna," saved only by the sudden appearance of Greek Servants that forced Fionn and Diarmuid to withdraw.

Even with this, Rama collapsed due to magical energy depletion and severe injuries. It was only then that Karna discovered him and brought him back.

"You saved me, allowing me to recover and have another chance to rescue my wife," Rama expressed his gratitude, glancing at Rozen and the others. "I won't forget this great favor. If the opportunity arises, I will definitely repay this kindness."

Having finished the deer meat, Rama stood up, and the others followed suit.

"You plan to venture into the Northern lands again to rescue Sita?" Rozen discerned Rama's intentions.

"It's too dangerous," Mash quickly intervened, expressing concern.

However, Rama's face showed a fearless smile. "I know it's not wise," he admitted. "But I want to see Sita. I dream of seeing her. I'm willing to sacrifice everything for her. It's something only I can do now, the only compensation I can offer to Sita. So, please don't stop me."

With these straightforward words, Rama revealed his deep love for his wife, his frustration at his own powerlessness, and his unwavering determination to face any challenges ahead.