The God King Ozymandias (1/3)

Foooou!

Looks like the little kitty's happy to be outside again. Of course, I'm very happy, too... I'm at a loss for words!

It was a long corridor, after all. Looks like the sandstorm died down, as well.

Most likely because it was directly above the Atlas Institute. This region does not belong to the Sun King, after all.

We don't have time to savor the moment. What a despicable man, to await us at the exit.

...

Sir Lancelot! Master, we're surrounded!

Your escape ends here. There is nowhere to run. Surrender.

We have no more time to waste on you. If you choose to resist, then we will not hesitate to kill you.

...Looks like he's serious. Fujimaru, please stand back.

A failure of one of the Knights of the Round Table... must be dealt with by a knight...

？！

Th-That is an excellent point... It seems I let the blood rush to my head, as well.

The Knights of the Round Table all believe in the king, but that does not mean they know what the lance represents...

Yes. If they are following the Lion King without understanding the role of the lance, it makes sense that they would be convinced.

Sir Lancelot. Before we fight, I have a question for you. Do you know what the lance really is? What the Lion King is after?

...What?

The Holy City is no ideal city. That is the Tower at the Ends of the World. It gathers the most ideal humans, and places them in a cage...

And when that is realized, this entire area will disappear. What the Lion King is doing goes beyond what humans must do.

...No way.

(Sir Lancelot... lowered his sword. It seems like even the Knights of the Round Table weren't informed about the lance.)

Hrng!

I did not expect you to know so much. I suppose that means those over there are privy to the same information?

...All the more reason I cannot let you escape. You would only spread fear where it is not needed.

Guh! Lancelot, how could you...!?

You knew of the sacred lance, yet you still serve the king!? Have you any idea what he intends to do?

Enough! We of the Round Table tolerate no disloyalty to the king!

When the city has enough human souls, the doors to the Tower at the Ends of the World will open.

This is what the Lion King announced as soon as he summoned us.

And we decided to obey. Based on his ideals, we slaughtered the Crusaders...

...and decided to become enemies to all in this era. We have done this even knowing that what the king is doing is inhuman!

...!

Enough talk. If you wish to continue this debate, then you must put your life on the line.

AAAARGH! NOW! I AM! MAAAAD!

What!?

Milady!?

？！

You were able to stop my Arondight? ...No. This shield, this presence... Don't tell me you're...

Furious! Although he is no longer within me, I'm sure he feels the same!

Which is why I must have you pay the price! Sir Lancelot! Stop this nonsense!

S-Stop this...? Are you scolding me?

Forget scolding, I'm disgusted! How can you possibly take pride in yourself as a knight of King Arthur!?

If you disagree with the king, raise your case! If the king is wrong, then you fight!

That is the heart of chivalry. That was entrusted to you. Only you!

Wait... Just wait! That disrespectful and rebellious tone... That hair that covers one eye...

You couldn't be...!?

No more words, Sir Lancelot! No, I challenge you to a duel once more!

？！

Rest assured, Master! I will not lose to this person!

This shield, this armor, this burning heart... They're all crying out to me! Because... Because...

Foooou!

Milady! No, Sir Mash! Y-You look just like...

I am Mash Kyrielight. My True Name as a Heroic Spirit... is Galahad!

With this flesh and bone I have been granted, I will purge the filth from the proud Knights of the Round!

Ugh... The attack is so strong it reaches the core of my body... There's no doubt...

Now do you see, Sir Lancelot? If you don't understand after this, I'll smash you with my castle!

That much!?

...No. It's just as you say, Mash.

I fought a Knight of the Round Table, and was defeated. I can no longer call myself a knight of the king.

This doesn't clear away my foolishness... but I have lost my reason to fight you all.

Finally, you've come to your senses. Any way you look at it, you were fighting reluctantly, after all.

...But still, someone that stubborn accepting their loss so easily... I wonder why?

？！

What?! Those two are related!?

Fuuu, Foooou!

No, not quite, Sanzang.

The only time he seemed like a father was when Galahad was a child. Galahad's Spirit Origin wants to make that known.

In reality, the relationship between Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad was not very good.

Isn't that right, Dad?

Ah, I wanted things to go well... I'm sorry, calling me that is bad for my heart.

If I'm not ready for it, I'm liable to die from shock...

(What a complicated family background... becoming a Heroic Spirit, and being referred to in the way you've most desired...)

Hm. The hostility and bloodlust have been neatly and cleanly erased. Sir Lancelot is no longer an enemy, I see.

Now what do we do, Fujimaru?

Capture Sir Lancelot and enter the Holy City, or entrust him to the mountain people? That is an option as well.

An ally? ...Hah. You are right. You say so naturally what even I would have difficulty spitting out.

If Sir Lancelot became our ally, I could not ask for more.

...

？！

...As I was defeated, my life is yours. However, before that, I want to show you something. A certain place.

If I disappear, all knowledge of it will be lost. More than anything, I would like to avoid that.

My unit will escort you. From here it is only half a day's travel.

...He seems to have his reasons. What should we do, Fujimaru?

？！

I understand. But I wonder what kind of place it is...?

...A campground!? In a place like this!? And what's more...

It's full of people! Mountain people, desert people, and even people from the Holy Land!

On top of that, this place wasn't built yesterday! You could even say this is a refugee village!

Sir Lancelot... You gave the refugees shelter here?!

...There was no choice but to send those chosen by the Holy Selection to the Holy City.

I was free to do as I wished with those who weren't chosen. The king didn't order me to execute them.

Moreover, there were quite a few knights who disobeyed the king. There also needs to be a place for them.

So I used them to guard the refugees. In short, my private army.

What amazing sophistry! This is serious treason, Lancelot!

But it's fantastic! Come on, Mash, let him have it!

Loafer! Good-for-nothing! Loser! Although this is something, it almost doesn't suit you, deadbeat Dad!

I told you, please stop calling me that...

Well well, just when I was wondering what all the ruckus was! I see you've finally arrived! Sure kept me waiting!

...What.

Foooo...

？！

Hey, nice reaction! The reappearance of the Universal Genius Da Vinci☆ Miss me?

How have you been, Fujimaru? Shall we start with a toast celebrating our reunion?