This Time, He Wants to Be the One to Save Her

Human understanding is very limited.

Everything must rely on feelings to make judgments.

Because there is light and heat, so we know it is fire;

Because there is coolness and breeze, so we know it is wind.

In short, things beyond cognition cannot descend before people in a concrete form.

But for Artoria, that's not the case.

She is indeed a human, this is an undeniable fact.

But at the same time, she is also the miracle child born in Camelot through conceptual conception, possessing a heart comparable to a dragon.

Therefore—Artoria can touch things that humans cannot touch.

This is determined by the "dragon" trait.

But similarly, the human part cannot be erased.

This also makes everything she touches collapse into things that humans can understand.

The two intertwine and spiral upward in this process.

Finally, the shining spear of the end, Rhongomyniad, is formed.

This is a conceptual weapon that appears here due to the king's prayer.

Although it is called a "spear", its actual true appearance is a far more profound existence—its name is "the tower connecting the surface and the inside of the world".

The reason for gathering into the concept of a "spear" is just to allow Artoria's human part to touch the existence.

But all this is described from the perspective of "human".

For Vortigern, who also has the "dragon" trait, it is another kind of vision.

The weapon Artoria holds in her hand is the holy spear he has been searching for, which can bring the age of gods back to the earth.

"Why?!"

Vortigern, who had turned into a dragon, roared hysterically.

The storm, mixed with his anger, swept across the final battlefield.

"Why is it you, an empty shell with nothing to protect, who has gained its approval?"

"Why not me?!"

"If I could get such a weapon, the age of gods would definitely cover the land of Britain again!"

"Yes."

Artoria gripped the Rhongomyniad, which was gradually gathering in the pillar of light.

Her expression was resolute and sad.

"Why did I gain its approval?"

"Even now, I have never thought of a reason to explain it clearly."

"But—"

The Knight King wiped away the few stars left on the forming spear.

"Vortigern, since it chose me, then it shows that everything you have done is definitely not what Britain needs."

"I will kill you here, according to the arrangement of fate."

"Please sleep forever."

Rhongomyniad indeed has enough power to completely kill the huge white dragon in one blow.

This was the first time Vortigern had felt the fear of death.

It was so real that it could not be explained as an illusion.

"No! I don't accept it all!"

Vortigern's resistance was futile.

Rhongomyniad was thrown into the air by the king in an elegant manner.

A golden streamline drew across the sky.

The white dragon, unwilling to die like this, waved its sharp claws, trying to smash the forming spear.

But the moment it touched it, he realized that he could never do such a thing.

Because what is entrusted to the spear is not only Artoria's own will, but a higher-level concept.

It does not bring "death", but declares the "end" of the target.

Tear—

The spear pierced through the white dragon's palm, then the skin on its chest, then the muscles under the skin, and finally reached the heart.

"No—!!!"

Blood spurted out of the white dragon's body, dyeing the ground red.

The huge shell began to disintegrate, turning into tens of thousands of particles, slowly rising towards the sky.

In this silence that announced the fall, Vortigern slowly returned to his original shape.

No.

It's not the original look.

A hole had been pierced through his chest.

But compared to the physical scars, the complete spiritual destruction was a more serious blow.

"People of Britain, why don't you choose me?"

"I must kill you... kill you!!!"

With a plop.

Vortigern fell on the boulder.

His body was motionless, silently telling the fact that life had passed away.

The white dragon is dead.

Rhongomyniad also began to fall down.

The moment it touched the ground, a golden light spread out like a ripple from the landing point.

[This is a wave enough to shake Britain.]

[The Round Table Knights inside and outside the battlefield felt this.]

[Even if they didn't witness this great battle.]

On the street.

Kay was looking at the parchment in his hand, planning the use of military expenses.

Like many years ago, he was very stingy in spending, and people who knew him called him "stingy knight" behind his back.

But only Kay himself knew that these were all things "borrowed" by Artoria, and he must not waste even a nail.

The holy spear landed, and the wave spread throughout Britain.

He looked up and looked into the distance.

"Artoria, did you cause any trouble again?"

Although he said so, Kay's heart was full of worry for his sister.

On the city wall.

Agravain was looking at the distant horizon.

He felt the breath that came over him.

He whispered in a voice that only he could hear:

"Father... have you succeeded?"

In the palace.

Bedivere was dealing with many affairs—appointed as the court steward by King Arthur, he worked hard and conscientiously every day.

He stopped the pen on the parchment and looked through the small window at the thousands of miles of wheat fields.

His eyes were not happy, only worried.

"King... are you paying the price for Britain with yourself?"

This was a drastic change.

The things that each Round Table Knight felt from it were different.

[You don't know these things.]

[Because you and Lancelot, who were at the landing point of Rhongomyniad, were the two Round Table Knights who were most affected.]

[You and him fainted.]

[Gift of the Red Dragon+ activated: The blood of the red dragon flows in your body, providing you with protection from Artoria.]

[You woke up earlier than Lancelot.]

[You feel something is wrong.]

Killing the tyrant Vortigern with Rhongomyniad should have been a happy thing.

But Ian found that it was not the case.

The magic power flowing in the body silently told him that some drastic changes were taking place at the landing point of the holy spear.

What caused all this?

Ian's eyes searched around.

The first thing that caught his eye was the three holy swords from the lake.

At this moment, they were inserted into the ground, one here and one there.

Ian almost instantly ruled out this possibility—because he didn't feel any abnormality in Excalibur Galatine.

Arondight and Excalibur, which are also holy swords from the lake, should not have any problems.

Then—he looked ahead.

Artoria was standing in front of Rhongomyniad.

The conceptual weapon that responded to her wish and descended into this world was flashing an indescribable light.

It should still be its problem.

Strongly propping up the ground with trembling hands, Ian climbed up little by little.

It has to be said that even if it is just the aftermath of the landing of Rhongomyniad, it is definitely not an impact that ordinary people can bear.

If he hadn't absorbed enough magic power from Artoria, he would probably be unconscious like Lancelot now.

Of course, it wasn't much better.

Every step Ian took forward, he could feel the bones all over his body making a cry.

[Even though there is only a short distance between you and Artoria, you feel like you have walked for a long time.]

[You finally came behind her after all kinds of hardships.]

[You called her name.]

"Artoria."

If it were in the past, the girl would definitely turn around happily, then pounce on him like a nimble rabbit and hug him, then bury her head in his chest.

But at this moment.

Artoria did not respond to Ian's words.

"..."

Ian found it a little unbelievable—didn't she hear him?

"Artoria?"

He shouted again.

This time the voice was much louder, but the result was exactly the same.

Ian felt that something was wrong.

He reached out and tried to touch the girl's shoulder.

But the moment he touched it, a powerful force blocked it.

This was unprecedented.

[You are not flustered.]

[You know there must be a reason for this.]

[You quickly analyzed it.]

[You and Artoria have not changed.]

[The only thing that has been added is Rhongomyniad.]

[You realize she is making some kind of contract with this holy spear.]

What kind of contract would that be?

Ian couldn't guess at all.

After all, neither Artoria herself nor Rhongomyniad was an existence he could fully understand.

But—looking at Artoria's motionless back, Ian felt that it was definitely not something beneficial to her.

Then—even if there might be some danger, he had to figure out what kind of contract it was.

Ian took a deep breath and reached out to Artoria again.

[You are resisting that powerful force with a mortal body.]

[You can feel every part of your body bearing tremendous pressure.]

[Blood flowed from the corner of your mouth, and the sound of broken bones echoed in your body.]

[But you didn't let go.]

[You know you have to figure it all out.]

[This is what you should do.]

[Like a destined fate, you broke through this force that was blocking you.]

[You witnessed an ongoing sacrifice.]

There is no free lunch in the world.

The appearance of Rhongomyniad was not without a price.

This conceptual weapon that transcends conventional cognition cannot be simply held in the hand by a king.

Therefore—after killing Vortigern, it was necessary to pay enough chips to it.

Artoria chose the part called "human".

She would dedicate all her concepts about "human" to Rhongomyniad, in order to achieve complete repayment of the price.

This girl in her prime would gradually lose all connection with the existence of "human", and no longer think about problems in the way of "human".

In the long years to come, she would become a wandering ghost.

And all that was exchanged was the return of the age of gods.

"..."

How could this be?!

The price of defeating Vortigern was to sacrifice Artoria's concept of being a "human"?

Why was there such a price?

No!

Absolutely not!

This was not her ending!

That's right!

Then use himself as a substitute for her!

Ian looked at his hand, no longer hesitated.

He had been a scoundrel for too long.

This time, he wanted to be the one to save her.

[Gift of the Red Dragon+ has been lost: Even the blood of the red dragon cannot protect you who forcibly interfered with this contract.]

[Gift of Excalibur Galatine++ has been lost: The blessing from the sun cannot protect you either, you can no longer hold Excalibur Galatine.]

[Gift of King's Shadow+ has been lost: Your existence begins to become thin, no one will regard you as King Arthur's shadow again.]

[Gift of Eternal Knight+ has been lost: The interference of the holy spear makes you unable to be remembered as a knight, but the Round Table Knights will still live on.]

[Gift of Battle Continuation has been lost: This is a concept beyond "death", you cannot avoid it.]

[Girl's Awakening has been lost: You, who have been deprived of the nature of "human", can no longer be a repository for Artoria's emotions.]

"Artoria."

Ian tried his best to touch the girl's cheek.

"Finally, I can return it to you."

He kissed her—returned the girl's last emotion to her.

"I'm just a despicable scoundrel, unworthy of your feelings."

"From now on, please live in the way you like."

"Your destiny should not be dominated by anyone."

[You have lost your qualification as a "human".]

[Princess's Curse+++ has been strengthened to Princess's Curse EX: Without any protection, you are completely corrupted by Morgan's curse and become a concept other than "human".]

[And you, like this, have a target that must be removed for Artoria.]

[You want to completely cut off the chains of fate imposed on her.]