The True Use of the Simulator

[After you and Artoria met in reality, Fairy Knight Tristan ambushed you both and forcibly dragged you to the cells in New Darlington.]

[That night, after interrogating you and Artoria, Fairy Knight Tristan thought it over and semi-compelled you to enter New Darlington's slave gladiator duels, promising that if you win, she will grant you one wish.]

[You feigned compliance, planning to escape once she left; before you could flee, however, you were intercepted by a mysterious maid.]

[Though she claimed to serve Fairy Knight Tristan, she showed no real interest in stopping your escape, only warning that powerful guards awaited outside the dungeon, and politely advising you to abandon the plan.]

[Your choice is…]

[A: Heed her advice, eat well, and hold off on escaping for now. If she says so, it's better to temporarily shelve the idea and obediently join tomorrow's slave gladiator duel.]

[B: Being told not to run makes it a point of pride—you can't stay a second longer in this rotten place! Proceed with the escape plan!]

Gawain unhesitatingly chose option A. Although the maid's words had a great influence on him, that wasn't the main reason. The crucial motive was that he indeed had no intention of fleeing at this moment. Since the simulator isn't single-player but multiplayer… if he tried to escape within the simulation, wouldn't Tristan simply kill him the instant he slipped away? Thus in this run, he must not show any hint of escape. Moreover, he needed to perform well before Tristan—ideally, he could use this simulation to win her full trust, so that after this session she would tell Gawain he need not participate in the slave duel tomorrow.

This is also why Gawain must conceal that he himself has a simulator. On one hand, if Artoria learned he had a simulator, she might see their shared ordeals in prior runs as mere "gaming together," making their relationship awkward—even suspecting ulterior motives in his simulated advances. On the other hand, by keeping others unaware he also simulates, he gains a strategic edge: with the simulator, Artoria and the three fairy knights will inevitably rely heavily on simulator-driven forecasts to define allies and enemies, adjusting real-world actions accordingly. They would only guard against someone else who also had a simulator. Information asymmetry thus benefits Gawain in real life. If in every simulation he never actually fled, Tristan won't consider flight an option, which is his chance. And since he travels with Artoria, she becomes his shield: decisions they make jointly will be attributed to her, not him. The only drawback is that Artoria might grow suspicious of him, but that too can be managed—he can guide and then hand decision-making to her so she unknowingly follows his plan.

In short time, Gawain mapped out his strategy for this run: whatever happens, stick closely to Lady Tristan, but at the same time glean their intended escape route from the simulation, learn details and weaknesses of the powerful guard the maid mentioned, and also observe that maid herself. Even though she claimed she wouldn't block their departure, Gawain wasn't foolish enough to trust mere words—he would verify her allegiance.

[You quietly remained in the cell through the night. During this time, using the mysterious maid as pretext, you persuaded Artoria to temporarily abandon thoughts of fleeing.]

[Early next morning, the maid again delivered breakfast: as before, only plain loaves for Artoria but a hearty meal for you.]

[After breakfast and some waiting, Tristan came for you both and led you out.]

[Under her escort, you arrived at New Darlington's National Killing Arena.]

"Luckily it wasn't destroyed again… otherwise I wouldn't know what to do next," Bawanshi murmured softly before entering the arena. In the last simulation, driven by hatred of Beril, she had attempted to kill him; failing that, she vented all her rage by smashing the arena to pieces. In reality, having that memory, she refrained from destroying the theater again immediately after failing to kill Beril. After all, she could always take out her frustration via the simulator. And, in that previous run, after Beril's betrayal she had died soon thereafter; but being saved by someone radiant had shifted her priorities somewhat. Rather than chasing Beril, she felt compelled to investigate someone in Salisbury who troubled her thoughts.

Why? It wasn't solely because he saved her when she nearly died at Beril's hands—well, that was part of it, but not the whole. Also because he had once been an outstanding Fairy King. Perhaps… because he governed well, so well that some said he outshone her own mother. Though Bawanshi scoffed at such claims, she genuinely felt curious about him. Very curious: who was this person who, despite his brilliance, seemed inseparable from bloodshed?

That was the crux. Why place Gawain above killing Beril? Even Bawanshi herself hadn't fully realized her motive. For ten years, Gawain's memory as king had shown her that this man's radiance did not depend on the Prophetess at his side—he shone on his own, and she had only shared his light. Moreover, his reign had been stained by blood, countless fairies dying by his command—indeed, his crown was tainted. So perhaps he and the Prophetess truly belonged together, shining brightly side by side. She had once tried to seize him from Artoria out of jealousy, but lost hope—he was destined for Artoria. Yet that memory run revealed that his brilliance stood independently: even alone, he was formidable. This made her wonder whether she too could have stood beside him in some other fate.

However, in that simulation she died convinced she was too late—he already belonged to Artoria. Yet it was only a simulation. In reality, she could still try. Thus, she deprioritized hunting Beril and rushed to Salisbury, where she recalled Gawain had been in earlier runs. Though she arrived hurriedly, she found Artoria had just beaten her there. Seeing them together, bewildered, she decided first to bring them back and figure things out later. Fortunately, in conversation she learned she wasn't entirely too late: Gawain said he had only just met Artoria. So Bawanshi had a chance. But then, how to proceed? She had seized Gawain, but what next? How to forge the bond that he and Artoria held? That lay in her blind spot; she didn't understand such matters. Though their bond reminded her of her own past with Beril, that had ended badly and wasn't a model. What to do?

In confusion, Bawanshi recalled Beril's National Killing Arena. Since Gawain was skilled at fighting, perhaps sending him into the slave gladiator duel she created could yield clues? So she did just that: enter Gawain into the duel. Of course, unlike before she would not kill the victor; if he won, she would honor her promise and grant his wish. But what happened next was beyond her expectation.

[Gawain participated in the slave gladiator duel, fighting the opponent you designated.]

[Gawain was killed.]

"…Huh?"

Seeing that line on the screen, Bawanshi leapt up in shock and tumbled off her bed.