Chapter 68: Swordbringer

Ethan! There you are!

Bedivere...?

I heard about it on the way here.

To think you two took down the infamous Vortigern all by yourselves... That's amazing!

...

Actually, I caught one of the Church of Tiamat's apostles, too.

I came to brag about it, but as expected, you always go beyond anything we imagine, Ethan!

...

But... where is the Princess?

...

Ethan...?

Huh?!

I'm sorry, Bedivere...

Even this time... I couldn't protect our precious comrade...!

...

We were a step too late.

Huh...?

...! This mana... Don't tell me... Morgana?!

...I'll explain later.

Ethan. The one who kidnapped Elizabeth... was it Vivien?

...That's right.

It was like she... already knew we were coming.

...Even hearing it again, I still can't believe it.

To think the head of the Church of Tiamat... is Vivien.

...

She was watching... everything.

...I'm sorry, Morgana.

Even this time... I couldn't keep my promise.

This isn't your fault.

The Vivien we face now isn't someone an ordinary human can stand against.

If even you say that, Morgana...

Then she must be far stronger than the apostles.

Comparing them is an insult.

She's already... absorbed the power of the ancient fairies.

Fairies... you don't mean... your friends?

...

Vivien... never had a talent for magic.

She was smart, but she didn't have much mana.

For someone like her to plan something this big...

She's definitely dabbled in taboo arts.

...

So I'm planning to pay her back properly.

Not only did she dare deceive the Fairy Queen that I am...

She used me however it suited her.

Then that means...

She's the culprit you were looking for.

...

All right. I've decided.

You remember what I promised earlier, right?

That I'd find that mastermind and give her a good smack.

I'm going to save Elizabeth...

And this time... I'm keeping my promise to myself.

Ask the other pigs for help, too.

To reach the Church of Tiamat's base, we have to cross the Titania Empire's border first.

No, the place we need the allied forces is somewhere else.

Vortigern is down, but the army under Gaheris's command is still intact.

Dame Gawain...

Yeah. And if word gets out that Elizabeth was kidnapped...

It'd be like helping the Empire's remnants and the Ygritte Empire...

We're the only ones who can move right now.

...

Hehe. Just like always.

Don't worry, Morgana.

Just like you all came to get me...

This time, I'll rescue the Princess!

...Who is worried about whom, exactly?

I'm not the one at risk here, it's you.

There's no way the Fairy Queen would ever be defeated.

Don't worry. Like you said, with the great Fairy Queen fighting alongside us, what is there to fear?

...You always called me a brat and looked down on me, but now you're suddenly being all considerate, you pig.

C-cough... Did I? I don't remember that.

It's no use!

All those days you belittled me...!

I remember every single one!

Gah... O-okay!

I'll apologize later, so let's just go!

...

Lisa. You deceived me?

What is this all of a sudden?

Everything is going exactly as she planned.

Tiamat's resurrection is right in front of us... Aren't you happy?

How shameless.

Even now, after Vortigern has fallen... you're still hiding behind that disgusting mask.

I already know.

That your true objective... is something else.

Hmm?

It looks like... an uninvited guest has arrived.

So, what are you going to do now?

Take me... to where your master is.

As a priestess of the Church of Tiamat...

I have the right to face the truth.

...

...Hee-hee!

Ahahaha!

That's a funny joke.

Kyaaah!

A priestess of the Church of Tiamat...

With that sharp mind of yours, try thinking for once.

You, nothing but a dim-witted barbarian,

why do you think we put you in that seat?

...

We just needed a supporting actor.

To make the star of the stage... shine even brighter.

So from the start... you planned to discard us...!

That's right. Now you're finally starting to understand?

Don't get above yourself.

Unless you want to be chased back to the North again.

Morgana. Is that form... your true form?

Heh. Heh! That's right.

Well? What do you think?

...You're beautiful.

Hehe... You're like a goddess from a fairy tale!

...!

Hmph, of course.

So consider it an honor.

A being this beautiful is something you might only see once in a lifetime.

...Your personality's the same, though.

What did you say?!

If you want to test my patience, go ahead.

I'll turn you into roast pig first!

S-sorry... it's a habit.

Grr...! Just how much have you been looking down on me all this time?!

Show me a little more reverence!

Hehe. Isn't that actually better?

If you suddenly became all grown-up... you wouldn't be Morgana anymore.

Grr...! So you're saying I'm a brat in the end?!

S-sorry, Morgana! I only meant it in my head and it just slipped out...

...

Both of you... you'd better be ready.

Once we rescue Elizabeth, I'll teach you every last one of this great Fairy Queen's achievements!

...No matter how I think about it, I don't get it.

If Vivien's goal was to use the Church to capture us...

Why did she leave us alone all this time?

She had plenty of chances.

...That part bothers me too.

Vivien... helped me learn to wield the World Tree's power.

Right. If anything, we... got a lot stronger fighting the Church of Tiamat.

So why show her true colors now...

...

That was the goal from the beginning...

What...?

Like you said, if her goal was to eliminate us...

We wouldn't have made it back alive from Avalon.

She wouldn't have bothered with something as troublesome as kidnapping, either.

So she waited until we got stronger...

But why?

The more we grew, the more danger she put herself in.

Who knows.

All I'm sure of is this...

Vivien needs your power.

Leaving a perfectly intact Holy Sword behind just to come after me...

The more I hear, the more it creeps me out.

And you said there was never a Swordbringer of the Holy Sword... until now, right?

It just shows how meticulously she planned it.

Well, of course.

Vivien... is the Fairy Queen's one and only disciple.

She was waiting for you...

to overcome every ordeal and make it this far.

...Then shouldn't we come up with a countermeasure?

Why?

The answer is right in front of you.

Yeah, but...

Hee-hee! There's no need to be afraid.

The one variable Vivien couldn't account for... is the Fairy Queen standing right here.

No matter how hard they struggle...

fairies can never escape the palm of my hand.

So keep your head on straight.

Unless you want to regret it again, crying your eyes out.

W-who said I cried?!

Ethan. Have you already forgotten?

That day you saved me, you definitely...

Aaaagh! Stop... stop!!!

Enough chit-chat. Let's get going!

Where are you rushing off to?

Rowena? Why are you here...?

That's what I'd like to ask.

This direction is clearly the Titania Empire...

My homeland... do you have some business there?

...

...You people really have no shame.

You kidnap Elizabeth and then... what? You ask what business we have?

Of course we're going to smash everything to pieces.

Until we get our precious comrade back!

Kidnapping...

Heh... ahahaha!

You keep deceiving me until the very end.

Then, as always, we'll find a new path.

A path that will surely... betray your will, yet you won't mind, will you?

Because the one who betrayed first... was you!!!

Kyaaah...!

Move.

Vortigern is down...

And two of the apostles you were so proud of have already fallen.

If you don't want to pay for your crimes with your life... give up now.

Heh... That still doesn't change anything.

If I withdraw quietly here...

Can you... forgive our Titania Empire?

...

That's how war works.

I only have two choices left.

Accept death quietly...

Or stake everything... and win the war!!!

Ethan! All the monsters around us are charging this way!

Chimera... Cerberus... even the Grim Reaper...!

It's packed with calamity-class monsters!

Damn...!

Rowena! Stop your magic right now!

Are you trying to get us all killed here?!

Hehehehe...

Ahahaha!!!

O master of the false faith...

I simply cannot bear... watching you sit back and enjoy this spectacle.

If you want to protect the Swordbringer, show yourself!

Is it already too late...?!

Seriously... you stay troublesome to the end.

Ethan! Hold back the monsters.

That woman is mine...

That's enough.

Rowena. Your rampage ends here.

Guinevere...?

My husband. You've been waiting, haven't you?

Leave this to us.

Guinevere... Dame Gawain...?

Hee-hee. Don't worry.

Dame Gawain is safe.

You're heading to the Titania Empire, yes?

We'll guide you to the Empire.

...Why are you helping us?

The Alliance's war is over. Vortigern has already fallen.

Isn't this an opportunity for you instead?

If you take control of the Alliance, ruling your nation will be much easier from now on.

Morgana!

Stay quiet.

Not every human is a gentle little pig like you.

What's the reason?

Why are you helping us even if it means bringing in your own soldiers?

...

There is a reason, one that's persuasive and intense enough...

but I don't want to say it.

If I share this feeling... I won't be able to face Princess Elizabeth.

...?

The reason Cameliard is helping you is simple.

Because you risked your life and devoted yourself to the people of Cameliard.

The other nations are the same.

We're simply... repaying the debt we owe the Swordbringer.

So this is... the Church's headquarters.

Be careful, Ethan.

The World Tree's power... is surging.

They don't seem to be... ordinary believers, either.

Don't worry.

Just like we always have...

We just have to sweep them all away.

Hee-hee. I was worried you might get lost...

but you found your way here nicely.

...

Vivien. This is all part of your plan, isn't it?

So tell me now.

What exactly is your goal?

I just can't understand it.

Why would you, the head of the Church of Tiamat...

need the Swordbringer's power... a product of a false prophecy?

Quite the insight.

To see through my plan... without even facing the truth of the world.

That's right. I need the Swordbringer... your power.

The reason... you'll see for yourself.

...!