The End - Coronation -

Gooooood morning, everyone! It's coronation day!

Now come on, wake up! We need to get to the cathedral before it gets too crowded!

I don't think we need to worry about that. We've already got special seats put aside for us.

Plus, the coronation should only take an hour. Have you all thought about what you'll do afterwards?

Senpai, Da Vinci, and I are going to wait for Percival.

That way, we can help him transport the sacred lance.

I'm going to go back to the Welsh woods to tell them my journey was a success.

After that...

I think I'd like to help the recovery effort in Londinium until things settle down there.

Good idea. Once I see things're in order there, that's when I'll know my job's done.

The bit about making sure Morgan's defeated is done at this point.

So once your journey's come to a complete end, I'll be able to put Britain behind me with a clean conscience.

Huh? You mean you have a home of your own, Muramasa!?

'Course I do. I ain't a vagrant, you know. I'm actually something of a royal assistant, believe it or not.

Plus, I still got a weird colleague waiting for me to get back. I can't up and quit for no good reason.

Too bad. I'd love to recruit you to our side, but I know you're not the kind to break your existing commitments.

So realistically, just agreeing to a truce while we're all still in Britain is more than enough.

...By the way, what about Habetrot? Is she still holed up in her room?

Yup. Said she's too tired to do anything but sleep, and to go enjoy the coronation without her.

...Um, maybe we should go check on her again, just to make sure.

I'll

？！

You have chosen to be a dream. You have chosen a path that will prevent you from existing in my Britain.

The only time you will have is the period between when she first arrives, and when she is sent back in time with my Water Mirror.

Remember this, Totorot.

Your dream will end when the morning lark sings.

...

？！

Huh? You went to the trouble of checking on me!? Wow, you're a really good person, aren't you, Fujimaru!?

But don't worry about me! Go on, get going! Everyone's gotta be waiting for you outside!

I'm just tired, okay? I'll be fine once I've properly woken up.

Yup, sounds good. Don't worry, I'm all about saying proper goodbyes!

Okay with what? You got some reason to be worried about me?

What, you think I've got a secret? You think I'm actually one of the most important faeries in the fae world or something?

？！

？！

Right? Good!

If even a single person knew who I was, it'd put me in a real pickle.

So it's fine not to remember me. I just have one or two things left to do, after all.

But thanks for asking, yeah? It's still too soon to say goodbye, but I appreciate your checking in.

Make sure you and Mash look out for each other, Fujimaru! You turned out to be a pretty great groom in your own right!

...I can't believe Duhbinchi is going home...

Although... Where IS her home, anyway?

What's the outside world? What is there outside Britain?

Is her condition gonna improve if she goes there? If it does, then that's a good thing, right!?

... ...(Sniff)... Ahhh...

This is the worst... What'm I going to do?

Why does she have to leave just when every day was starting to get fun?

You can't do this to me. You can't take Duhbinchi away from me now...

Without her here... I'll just go back to being my boring old self...

...What can I do? What can I do to make Duhbinchi stay...?

We're here! Gosh, I've never seen so many upper-class faeries all in one place before!

Look, up on the second floor! There's Aurora and Spriggan in the VIP seats, and a whole bunch of other famous faeries, too!

But hey, we're kinda big deals too.

I might've relinquished my claim to the throne, but I was still one of the key players in the assault on Camelot!

Our seats must be at the very front of the... Huh? They're all full?

Uh, let me see... It looks like our seats are on the first floor...all the way in the back...

...These are like the seats you give to a friend of a friend if there're any left over, right?

？！

Oh good, you're all sitting here, too.

？！

Yes, well, that was my original intention, but Lady Barghest insisted otherwise.

Let me guess. She said that it would be ridiculous for the commander of the Round Table Army not to attend, and that she could easily handle things while you were away?

Got it in one. Verbatim, even. She did also say to give you her regards, though.

She really is a thoughtful guardian knight, isn't she? I'm fully in favor of you being here, too.

Oh, how's removing the sacred lance coming along?

If you need help with it, I can always come back with you to Camelot once this is over.

No need to worry. It's coming along great.

It should be done by noon today, and the lance should arrive in Salisbury by tomorrow night.

Awesome. I don't know if a sacred lance made by Morgan is something we can actually use ourselves...

...but even if we can't, it'll be an invaluable Divine Construct just as a reference. Thanks again, Percival.

Quiet, everyone! Cnoc na Riabh's here!

...

？！

I know! I can hardly tear my eyes away from her!

Don't you think she looks beautiful, Altria!?

...Yeah, I do! Dammit, Cnoc na Riabh!

I hate to admit it, but you're the best!

...

Good day, everyone. Thank you all for being here.

Temporary though my position may be, it is my honor to lead this coronation ceremony on behalf of the six clans.

Lady Cnoc na Riabh of the King clan, our new ruler who will surely lead Britain to a more prosperous future.

Please make your way to the cathedral altar, and the coronation pedestal.

...

It's begun... It's a very solemn affair, isn't it?

So that crown has been blessed by all six clans, and once Cnoc na Riabh puts it on, that will mean she's officially become queen...

Yup. Pretty simple as far as ceremonies go.

And since the clans have already come to a consensus, there shouldn't be anyone opposed toHm?

Here, everyone. These goblets are for you.

The moment the blessing is complete, you're to drink this wine to celebrate.

？！

(Are you going to drink that, Senpai?)

？！

(Understood! Then I'll follow your lead!)

(I will too, then. I'm not really much for wine, anyway...)

(Really? Hmm. Guess I'll toe the party line, then.)

(I, um, don't care much for wine either, so...)

(...All right. I can see where this is going.)

Now, let us offer our blessing to celebrate the beginning of our new queen's reign.

Cnoc na Riabh, our new queen. Please attest to your impartiality, your diligence, your commitment to coexistence, and your integrity.

...Very well.

As a faerie of Britain, I swear to be impartial in all matters.

As the head of the northern faeries, I will continue to be diligent.

As the faerie entrusted to rule by the Child of Prophecy, I believe firmly in coexistence.

And as the daughter of the great Queen Mab, I promise my entire life will be one of

Objection.

You can't trust a single word she says.

Cnoc na Riabh is evil. The northern faeries have no place in Britain.

Who said that!? Show yourselves!

Huh? But you're...my subjects...

We attest that Cnoc na Riabh has no right to rule.

And we are prepared to tell you all about the atrocities she has committed!

Her regime in the North was a nightmare.

Every faerie she shares her blood with becomes her slave, and loses the ability to refuse her!

She controls every aspect of our lives, makes army service mandatory, and even takes away our original faerie professions!

And that's not all! My brother and I were both infected with mors disease!

We only went to Edinburgh and became Cnoc na Riabh's subjects because we'd heard it could be treated there!

But the truth was horrifying!

Her "treatment" was transferring our mors curses to faeries she deemed worthless, condemning them to death!

I was lucky enough to survive...

But my poor brother was given mors curses from several other faeries, turning into not just a hideous monster...

...but one of Cnoc na Riabh's giant soldier slaves!

And what's wrong with that? Every one of those faeries knew exactly what they were signing up for!

They volunteered of their own free will to sacrifice their bodies when they were already on the verge of death so they could save their fellow faeries and help defeat Morgan.

I also gave each and every one of them rewards to suit their sacrifice. They weren't being exploited in any way, shape, or form!

Then what about what's underneath the queen's city? How do you explain that horrible system?

...You

Hear me, everyone!

Let me tell you about Queen Mab and Cnoc na Riabh's secret betrayal of Britain!

You probably all think Queen Mab is dead, but the truth is, she's still alive!

Do you know why Edinburgh is known as "the queen's city"?

It's because Mab transformed her own corpse into that city, where it continues to function today!

And for what purpose, you may ask? It disgusts me to say, but I'll power through.

Mab planned to consume the bodies of other dead faeries to expand her city and create a stronger version of herself.

And the result is Cnoc na Riabh! Cnoc na Riabh, the corpse golem!

I trust you understand now why the landmass in the north never actually grew?

It's been fifteen hundred years since Edinburgh was first made!

In all that time, instead of faerie bodies growing Britain's landmass, they all went into the creation of the woman you see before you now!

What else could you call that but a betrayal of our land!? How dare they call themselves the King clan!?

The truth is, Mab and Cnoc na Riabh see us British faeries as no more than food for their own consumption!

Betrayal? You have no idea what Mab put herself through for your sakes!

This land can't exist without a faerie strong enough to sustain every other faerie!

That's the only reason Mab became a city of all things!

Fine, if you want to know the truth so badly, I'll tell you!

I'll tell you the reason British faeries are still alive today after being wiped out once before.

I'll tell you the truth behind the Britain we inherited from Queen MorGhh!

Lady Cnoc na Riabh!? That's impossible! Why is she coughing up blood!?

Dammit, somebody stop those insolent bastards already! What are the guards doGuh!

There, you see! Now that her sins have been exposed, they couldn't bear the weight of their shame!

Now's your chance, guards! Bring Cnoc na Riabh to justice! Don't let the false queen get away with this!

We can't let the northern faerie queen of all people take the throne! Especially when there's someone else much better suited for it!

？！

What the hell do you all think you're doing!?

I realized what was happening as soon as I'd finished drinking the wine in my goblet.

The wine they were passing out had been poisoned.

At least, the wine given to me, the northern faeries, and Altria's group.

I'll be fine. I would've kicked the bucket a long time ago if my body couldn't handle a little poison.

But I doubt Altria and Fujimaru can say the same.

I took a casual look at the back row, and saw that none of them had touched their goblets.

I don't know why that isprobably just a coincidencebut at least I knew they were safe.

I can't imagine Altria would've caught on, so it must've been Fujimaru's idea not to drink any.

The northern faeries here are all my long-serving subjects, so their connection to me is strong.

They should be able to handle the poison as well as I can. So I'll pretend nothing is wrong and let the coronation proceed.

There's no way I'm letting anyone spoil things now.

There's no telling when the Great Calamity could begin. Britain needs a new king as soon as possible.

There's no question who tried to poison us, but I guess things just aren't going to go their way. Sucks to be the

You can't trust a single word she says.

Cnoc na Riabh is evil. The northern faeries have no place in Britain.

But the second I saw which faeries were raising objections, I knew I was in trouble.

The fact that members of my own clan were denouncing me meant that the enemy had prepared much better than I thought.

I felt fine at first, but then I started to grow numb. I could feel my fingers losing their strength, and my throat and organs burning as if on fire.

These aren't the only self-proclaimed King clan faeries denouncing me. Similar denunciations must be taking place all across Britain.

My subjects' loyalty to me is both my greatest weapon, and my biggest weakness.

If I lose their loyalty, I lose the power I shared with them, too.

In an instant, I lost over half my power. I could tell as soon as it happened.

The poison, which I'd been able to shrug off earlier, starts to kick in, causing my oldest subjects to collapse.

Normally, the guards' spears would only tickle me. Now they pierce my stomach and punch out through my back.

...Aw man. I guess I was more immature than I realized.

I must have been so excited about finally getting to wear this dress that I didn't notice until it was too late.

Eep! The Child of Prophecy attacked the cathedral guards!

I knew it! I knew the Child of Prophecy and Cnoc na Riabh were in cahoots all along!

This is the true face of the faerie of paradise and the descendant of the northern faeries! What a bloodcurdling team they make!

This is why we can't trust anyone but British faeries! Quickly, someone's got to rid us of these outsiders once and forAaah! What was that!?

Shut up and get out of here, or the next one roasts you alive.

Cnoc na Riabh! Cnoc na Riabh!

No, no... Come on, Cnoc na Riabh, don't give up on me!

...

What's going on? Why doesn't she stop bleeding!? Why aren't her wounds closing!?

What's wrong with you, Cnoc na Riabh!? These should just be little scratches for you!

...She's not generating nearly as much magical energy anymore. It's almost like her Spirit Origin is shrinking...

No, wait. Is she...reverting to a child?

Come on, Cnoc na Riabh! Wake up already!

You're going to be queen, right? That's what you've been working towards all this time, right!?

You're supposed to be looking down your nose at me and laughing like you always do! Come on, you big jerk!

...Huh? Uh-oh. Was I sleeping?

Cnoc na Riabh! You're awake! Oh, thank goodness! Hang on! I'll treat you right awa

Oh, no... That's okay. I'm okay. I'm used to...this kind of thing.

Um... Huh, that's weird. I kn-kn-know your face.

I always remembered it...when things were hard... You're my r-r-rival. Y-yeah...

But...I'm sorry. It's strange. I know I know you...

But, I don't...know your name... I'm not sure...what's going on...

What...is this place...? Oh, right. I'm...Cnoc na Riabh...

I have a very...very...important... Huh? What was...my duty again...?

That's weird. I keep...forgetting...things...

...Oh...right.

It's because...I gave it...to so many...other faeries.

I guess...I didn't have...any intelligence...of my own...left over.

WhaWhat are you saying, Cnoc na Riabh? You gave it all away...? Everything?

You gave away your magical energy? Your miracles? Even your intelligence?

You used it all up to get here...all for those ungrateful faeries? For this awful Britain?

Uh...

Um...

...I'm...sorry... Please...don't cry...stranger...

I still know...who you are... You were...always...my guide...

As long as...I follow your light...I know... I can always...find my...way home...

D-don't give me that! Come on, cut it out!

Besides, we haven't had our rematch yet, right!? You still need to fight me!

And once you're queen, you're going to have a great romance, right!? You haven't even taken the first step yet!

So come on, Cnoc na Riabh! You can't give up now!

...That's not true. I beat you...there, too, stranger.

I already...had a taste...of love. It was...really...really lovely.

And once...this ceremony...is done... I'm going...to make him...mine...

Hehe. It'll be...way...harder...than becoming...queen...

It's okay. I heard...in another world... I have lots...and lots...of romances.

...That's funny. I can't...remember...her name...

It wasn't...the queen's cairn...

I'm sure...it must be like...a flower...

Wait... Hold on, Cnoc na Riabh. Don't disappear on me. I told you! You can't give up now!

I never would've made it this far if I hadn't met you.

If I lose you too, I don't

Liar. You'd never...give up...that easily. You're too...stubborn...

Even if...you're all alone... I'm sure...you'll find...your star...

...She's dead.

？！

...I took care of the guards who pulled their swords on us. The other spectators all fled.

Did Spriggan do this? ...Nah. He ran off in a panic as soon as things started going south.

I don't like it. It ain't just arguin' I hear out there. Those faeries are killing each other.

And here I thought faeries didn't fight if they weren't part of an army.

I think...the faeries of Salisbury are probably trying to get rid of the northern faeries.

I don't know how much of an effect those King clan faeries' testimony had...

...but now, I'm afraid Lady Cnoc na Riabh isn't here to stop them anymore.

Now, the southern faeries feel justified in attacking Edinburgh...

And the northern faeries who still consider themselves King clan will fight to avenge Lady Cnoc na Riabh's death.

The way things are going now, Britain will be consumed in civil war again... What a terrible waste.

Yes... This was supposed to be the start of a new era, with a benevolent new king leading the way...

Instead, it's just like what happened with the coronation at...

...Londinium...?

Sorry, but we'll have to pick this discussion up later, with clearer heads. Those guards have got the cathedral completely surrounded.

We've gotta figure out a way out of here, before they come for us, too.

？！

...Whoever did this just assassinated the northern queen who managed to conquer Camelot.

I don't know what charges they'll level at me, but I'm definitely next on their list.

My guess is some nonsense about me conspiring with Cnoc na Riabh to take Britain for myself or something.

...No, on second thought...

I doubt there's a faerie in Britain who isn't already dying to kill me.

That ain't it. Whoever poisoned that wine had no idea what the faerie of paradise's mission is.

If they had, they'd never have killed Cnoc na Riabh.

She was the only one who could've saved Britain... Or rather, its faeries.

And now, her assassin has just killed the last hope they had of survival, which I doubt they realize.

...

But never mind that. What're you gonna do now, Altria?

You gonna follow Cnoc na Riabh to the grave, or are you gonna pick up where you left off?

I'm a reasonable guy. Just this once, I'll respect whatever you decide.

？！

...

That's far enough, Child of Prophecy, foreign mage. Lay down your weapons and surrender.

You stand accused of murdering Lady Cnoc na Riabh.

We've received testimony from many different faeries that you not only interfered with the coronation...

...you also murdered the guards who tried to stop you.

As the head of Salisbury's security, I am placing you under arrest.

Arrest? What are you saying, Lady Coral? We obviously caught them red-handed.

The Child of Prophecy deceived us. The foreign mage can't be trusted. And Percival of the Round Table Army instigated the whole thing.

We can't let them leave here alive.

Let's just cut them down now and stick their heads on pikes in the town square. That should calm things down.

Absolutely not. Testimony alone cannot be taken as facts.

They have a right to share their side of the story, and as the Wind clan, we must strive for impartiali

What do you think you're doing!?

C'mon, let's get them. But don't go easy on them just 'cause we outnumber them.

They managed to survive a fight against Morgan. They've gotta be tougher than the Londinium soldiers.

Fight back if you want, but any resistance will be taken as a confession of your guilt.

But if the three of you give yourselves up, we'll let the other faeries live.

So, what'll it be? All of you dead, or just three of you? Go ahead. The choice is your

H-how!? This is...custom-made mithril armor...!

Shut up. We don't have time for this crap.

Ah... Ah... You... You just killed more guar

If you want to run for it, go right ahead. You seem like the reasonable sort. I don't see any reason to burn you t

Cú Chulainn!

You blocked my attack!?

Of course I did! Such a cowardly sneak attack doesn't hold a candle to the real Lancelot!

Mélusine!? You're here, too!?

Then...then, the one responsible for all this must be

Shut up, Coral. It's not my job to keep you safe.

My job is to neutralize the Child of Prophecy and the Chaldeans.

You can handle the aftermath how you like, as far as I'm concerned.

Turn them into rabbits, strangle them, imprison them... It doesn't matter to me.

...Oh, but I will say this. I wouldn't go outside for the next few hours if I were you.

The city's erupted in fighting. You wouldn't last two seconds out there.

And now Lancelot, huh. Just what we needed. We might be able to take her if we all face her together, but...

(Altria's still in shock. Without her protection, we'd probably lose at least one or two)

There's no need for that! I can handle Lancelot myself!

Go on, everyone! Now's your chance to escape! I'll meet you at the usual spot outside the city!

Huh? What are you saying, Percival? I only need to take care of the Child of Prophecy and the Chaldeans. You have nothing to do with

Oh yes, I do! They're my comrades! I've trusted my life to them in battle. Most of all, they're friends I admire and respect!

I don't care if they're the faerie of paradise, or residents from the outside world, or even if they're from a different world altogether!

None of that changes the fact that we've all lived and fought together!

These people have done everything they can to follow the path they believe is right, and to help their comrades do the same!

They've devoted themselves to that purpose, and I'm going to do everything I can to help them!

That is what it means to be a knight. That is what the Round Table signifies. That is what I was taught at this very cathedral!

I was raised to become a knight worthy of the Spear of Selection! To be a replacement for the Child of Prophecy if necessary!

...

That's right.

Just because the reasons that brought you children here were tainted doesn't mean your spirits need to be tainted too.

I'm so proud of the man you've grown into. That's why I don't want to lose you now.

...You've already used the Spear of Selection twice: once six years ago, and once against Woodwose.

If you use it again, you

I don't care. Besides, I still need to repay you for the blow you dealt Lady Gareth.

Even now, her bravery and spirit live on in this spear.

Tam Lin Lancelot.

If you insist on going by that name even now that Morgan is gone, then I will show you no mercy.

If you're going to repeat that terrible mistake...then I'll do everything in my power to correct it.

... ...

Phew. Thank goodness. I don't know what we would have done if that hadn't worked.

？！

Yes. My sisLancelot is actually much kinder than she seems.

I knew there was an excellent chance she'd listen to reason if I made a compelling argument, so I took a calculated risk.

(I don't know about you, Senpai, but that seemed more like a harsh scolding than a compelling argument to me...)

There's no telling when she might come back, though. Either way, now's our best chance to escape.

Come on, Altria, Fujimaru. We've gotta find a way through the blockade and get out of this city.

...

...What a wonderful knight Percival's become.

He's honest, gentle, dependable... But I've never seen him so angry.

...He's actually the one who taught me what it means to be human, now that I think about it.

...I know.

...I know what I'm doing is foolish. But I just can't help it.

...Hm? Are those screams coming from around Salisbury?

...No, it's not just Salisbury. I can hear them from all over.

Gloucester... Oxford... Norwich... ...Are those mors?

They're not just keeping to the forests and ravines. They're coming out to the plains and highways too... No, wait.

...Faeries are turning into mors on their own!?

We've just received a wind tiding from Salisbury! Queen Cnoc na Riabh has been assassinated!

Accusations from King clan faeries have stoked resentment against Edinburgh...

...and now the northern faeries and upper-class faeries in the castle are fighting amongst themselves!

Those idiots! How could they let themselves be riled up like that without a shred of evidence!? Where are they!? I'll go silence them myself!

You there, capture the faeries who are spreading the wind tiding! I'll slap them with the new administration's first charge of treason!

Emergency! A pack of mors has appeared within the castle town limits!

We've received a ton of incident reports from all over the city! We don't have enough soldiers to handle them all!

What would you have us do, Your Excellency Acting Commander Barghest!?

Don't call me "Your Excellency"! It makes me all twitchy! Er, I mean...

How could you let the mors get inside!? Hasn't the main gate been repaired by now!?

Yes, ma'am! But there's no sign of them having entered from the outside!

These mors have been spontaneously appearing inside the city, and making their way outside!

What!? ...What about the sacred lance removal!?

I'm afraid we haven't heard anything from that team for over an hour!

And that's not all! All the faeries inside the castle are experiencing numbness in their limblimb

Limblimb limb limb limb limb limb limb

Dremd!? But, the mors didn't even touch him!

WhaAaah! What IS that!? It's coming from the pit!

...What IS that?

They're not mors... They're something more primal... More horrifying...

Ghh...!

Acting Commander Barghest!?

Dammit! Here, give me your hand! We need to get you away from the pit!

Don't worry about me! I can stand on my own! You all need to get away from here!

The pit is causing all these mors to appear! They'll overrun the castle soon!

Get to the plains while you still can! Tell all the other Round Table Army soldiers as well!

Y-yes, ma'am!

But what about you!? If we're going to run, you and the other faeries should come wi

Never mind me! And any faerie who could have gotten away has surely done so by now!

Now go on! Leave! Forget about Camelot! I'll hold the rear while you all make your escape!

You only need to worry about survival! Dying out here is not an option!

Yes, ma'am! I know we'll be fine with Tam Lin Barghest protecting us!

...They really are good soldiers. Strong, earnest, friendly... The Round Table Army did an excellent job training them.

...!

...My body feels hot. Is that the mors poison? ...No, wait. This...

...This is the curse Queen Morgan was keeping at bay...

Now that I'm no longer Gawain, it's only a matter of time until I...

No. Not yet. There are things I need to do first! I have to save as many faeries and humans as I can!

I'll defeat the mors in the castle town myself, or I'll never be able to look the Chaldeans in the eye!

...That's right. As long as Fujimaru and the others are alive, hope is not yet lost.

I can still save at least a handful of British faeries by helping them migrate...and I can get Adonis out of Britain.

That's the reason I'm still alive!