Are You Playing Matchmaker?

"No need, I've already tasted enough."

Rovey waved his hand, refusing to discuss the rest with this guy.

"Let's get straight to the point, Merlin."

"Alright, alright... It seems you know more than I do. I'm so curious. But since you said you'd leave it to the people behind, I won't ask any more questions. You were just asking about Artoria and Bedivere's location and situation, right?"

"That's right."

Rovey nodded in reply.

"Okay, okay, let me think about it carefully... Bedivere's body, soul, and spirit... all three elements of the trinity are rusted and he continues to wander. Not long ago, I released him from Avalon so that he, as a sinner, could fulfill the original agreement. This is the last chance."

When Merlin mentioned Bedivere, the knight who made a mistake and ended up doing more harm than good, a hint of emotion appeared on his face.

"Moreover, I have confirmed with him that no matter what the outcome is this time, he will definitely die, exhaust his soul, break free from the cycle of reincarnation, and his very meaning will fall into nothingness. But even so, he embarked on the journey without hesitation. To be honest, although there are no special emotional factors involved, I quite like that guy. It was truly helpless to watch him disappear like that. If I had known about this change in you beforehand, handing the Holy Sword to you would probably have solved the problem long ago."

"It's pointless to dwell on these things now, Merlin. Although I can solve problems the fastest, it's ultimately inappropriate for me to solve some things. The one who tied the knot must untie it. My solution only resolves the issue at the event level, but I can't help the people involved with their inner conflicts and souls."

"In that case, even if the matter is resolved, the obstacles in their hearts will not be overcome."

"Yeah, you're right... I doubt he'd agree to this even if I brought it up."

Merlin nodded, then looked at the young man in front of him with some surprise and said, "To be honest, I really don't understand your form of existence. You have already begun to assimilate into the Holy Spirit, and even though you have acquired divinity, your humanity has not been weakened in the slightest."

"Logically, you should have gradually become like the Lion King, but you haven't. You possess intellect, emotion, humanity, and divinity simultaneously. Your existence is truly complex and unfathomable. Is it because of your soul? Are you really like a Bodhisattva, an outsider who manages a galaxy? Well, I don't understand that level, but I've actually become interested in you, especially your soul..."

"If you keep acting like a jerk, I'll definitely slap you today."

Seeing Merlin sidling up to him and hearing his awful words, Rovey felt the atmosphere suddenly become tense, and then he stopped indulging in his nonsense.

Because he was in a dream at the moment, he only had a slight thought, and then a huge palm Marble Phantasm directly above his head, which made Merlin nod repeatedly.

"Let's talk this out. Bedivere is almost here, and your Artoria arrived here hundreds of years ago. To find her way back, she went to Chaldea under my guidance, hiding her identity as a living person. She survived the Humanity Incineration and should be here soon! Let go of your big brother!!"

Merlin, who had been grabbed by Rovey, finally dared not continue his antics and quickly began to say whatever came to mind.

"You mean... Artoria is in Chaldea?"

"Yes, yes, yes, in this world, I saw someone who had accidentally entered this world, so I took the initiative to contact them, and then I found out that it was actually my old acquaintance Lily! Moreover, it was a completely different Lily style that I had never seen before."

Merlin nodded repeatedly like a chicken pecking at rice, and then replied, "So I was thinking of taking her to... I mean, to live with her in Avalon, and to make up for the regrets and self-blame from back then, but Lily on your side really took me completely by surprise."

"She accepted my apology, which was over a thousand years late, with great composure. And this time, she didn't even draw her sword to kill me. She said that she had already forgiven me in her heart. She now has a new life and someone she cares about more. She wants to go back and reunite with him. She was so sensible that it broke my heart."

"I see..."

Upon hearing this, Rovey nodded slightly, then released his massive arm and planted Merlin upside down in the fertilizer-filled soil.

"It is true that I am late."

"... Pah! Isn't that right? Although I don't know how you managed to breed this kind of Lily, that ferocious Britannia rex has turned into a beautiful woman with a great figure and appearance. Not to mention, her personality is the most rare kind ever! A unique specimen, a truly unique specimen!!"

"Why do you describe Artoria like a collectible figure..."

"Cough cough, I'm used to it, I'm just used to it."

Merlin scratched his head. Because he hadn't experienced pleasant emotions in this world, he was still somewhat awkward and hypocritical.

"But you're really amazing... I'm getting more and more envious of my counterpart on your side. If I were in that world, with someone like you, my life would definitely be very interesting. So, would you mind having another me? Big brother, I can do divination, prediction, swordsmanship, and everything else, plus I can warm your bed..."

--Bang!!

Before he could finish his irritating words, Merlin was sent flying backward.

However, after his brief display of silliness, he didn't continue his pranks.

Merlin was clearly in a very good mood after encountering Rovey.

"Well, the night is still long, so let me tell you a story..."

He rubbed his body, which had been bent over by Rovey's punch, and continued weakly, "This time I'll tell the story of the king again, but not the King Arthur legend that we're all tired of hearing. Instead, it's the story of your Artoria's adventures in this world."

"..."

Rovey did not answer, but listened quietly to the story he had never heard before.

Then, the flowers gently floated before my eyes.

This time, Merlin did indeed put away his previous playful attitude, and then a stone table and chairs rose up between the two of them.

Then, amidst the soft whispers, a story that even Rovey had never heard of echoed in his ears.

The wonderful time of sleep lasted only a short while.

It was because Rovey sensed Merlin calling him that he found a spot in the Great Temple of Radiance and fainted. Nitocris was so frightened that she forgot to pay attention to Rameses II, who had been rolling on the ground for who knows how long, and picked up Rovey's body to examine him for a long time.

Having just experienced the infiltration of terrifying assassins, she assumed that King Hassan had killed Rovey by some unknown means, but the voice in her ear said...

"It's alright, he's just asleep. This kid's soul is incredibly tough; even my Underworld can't take it in."

When Nitocris heard that familiar voice, she was startled and asked in a trembling voice.

"You, you are not..."

"Yes, I am Anubis. I was summoned when you offered your sacrifice, and there happened to be my blessings and authority in the Great Temple of Radiance. So I sent my soul to take a look. Then I saw that kid who called himself Ra rolling on the ground for almost ten minutes, while you were still here with your lover, motionless."

Behind Nitocris, a figure with a nearly identical appearance to her, except for white hair, spoke softly.

It was this sentence that startled Nitocris, making him realize that Rameses II's head had already rolled quite a distance, and the guards outside were about to come in, so he had to clean up the scene.

Although Anubis suggested that instead of dealing with that arrogant boy named Ozymandias, it would be better to let him suffer for a while now, since you've already fallen for him, you might as well sneak away and kiss him, or bring him into the room and make him yours.

Anyway, you're the Pharaoh, and you're still an unmarried young woman, so it doesn't count as remarriage. Besides, your original husband was a political marriage, and by the time you avenged your great enemy, your memories of him had almost completely disappeared, so the young you would almost certainly not appear. As for now, you don't owe him anything, so since you've fallen for him, just go for it.

Since you're Heroic Spirit anyway, you can just treat it as a beautiful dream.

As for your question about whether he is the reincarnation of Moses, Nefertari, and your husband?

Anubis was also very honest when faced with this question.

She said, "If you think so, then he is."

"This kid's soul is immeasurable. It is the purest kind, without Original Sin. In ancient Egypt, his soul could make the gods in the sky fight. Even if he dies, he will surely become a chief god in the sky."

"And the shadows of the old friends you see are not an illusion, because what you are looking for is that lost beauty."

Admittedly, Nitocris was indeed somewhat tempted, but being timid by nature, she ultimately did not rush forward as Anubis had suggested. Instead, she shook her head repeatedly and went to help Ozymandias reattach his head.

Anubis was so disappointed by this scene that he couldn't help but shake his head.

She couldn't understand why humans were so complicated. If you like something, just pursue it; if you want something, just get it. Gods are like that; they never bother to hide their joys, sorrows, and desires. Since the Pharaoh claimed to be the incarnation of a god, he should be the same.

However, seeing Nitocris's embarrassing state, she felt she might miss out, so...

Should I help her?

Anubis suddenly had a bold idea.

—If she finds an opportunity to take over his body, then pushes him away, and then returns the body to Nitocris, she can't refuse, right?

The so-called divine mindset is so simple and brutal; they never bother with scheming.

Shortly after King Hassan left, Nitocris reattached Rameses II's severed head with thread.

At that time, the resurrected Ozymandias, surrounded by a group of maids and servants, got excited once again.

His frightening appearance suggested he might just pick a few small bread rolls from the onlookers.

Realizing that things were almost over, Ozymandias, being the type who doesn't learn from mistakes, decisively forgot about the time he was punished by King Hassan, raised his wine cup again, held a grand banquet, and invited everyone to continue playing music and dancing.

"Come, Anubis, I toast you."

Ozymandias, clutching his chin to prevent his head from suddenly falling off, raised his wine cup in a toast toward Nitocris, but he was toasting the phantom behind her.

Inside the Grand Temple, as the Almighty Pharaoh, he could naturally sense that Nitocris seemed to have summoned the phantom of the god of the Underworld. In that case, he should naturally offer a toast.

"No, I share a body with Pharaoh Nitocris, so I can't feel it even if I drink," Anubis replied calmly through Nitocris's voice.

"Since that's the case, then I won't insist. I'll just have to decide for myself."

Upon hearing this, Ozymandias laughed heartily and then drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.

In an instant, from the cut on his neck, a "sizzle!!" sound was heard, and many tiny streams of water kept spraying out, like a shower, soaking Ozymandias's trousers.

Ozymandias: "..."

Nitocris was somewhat worried upon seeing this.

"Pharaoh, is it really safe for you to drink alcohol like this?"

"Haha, it's nothing, nothing at all, just a fatal wound. I am the King of Kings, how could I be unable to drink just because my head was cut off? But that Grand Rank Hassan is indeed quite capable, actually forcing my body into such a state. Not bad, not bad..."

Even in this predicament, Rameses II pretended to be completely unconcerned and praised King Hassan.

Although he was indeed furious inside, anger and admiration were not mutually exclusive. King Hassan was truly incredibly powerful, and his current Spirit Origin was far inferior. However, Nitocris had no idea what he was really thinking.

Anubis couldn't help but admire this stubborn kid.

Putting everything else aside, his arrogance and confidence even after being beaten is unmatched.

However, Ozymandias was more concerned about others than Nitocris and Anubis. He turned his head and slowly looked at Rovey, who was sitting at the table deep in thought. Lovi's pensive expression made it seem as if the banquet was not around at all.

That won't do, after all, this banquet was prepared for him.

Ozymandias raised his wine glass, pointed at Rovey, and then said in a deep voice, "What is my dear friend thinking? Although I know this banquet is rather simple, there are reasons for it. This is the highest standard we can offer at present. Are you dissatisfied? Do you feel that I am being disrespectful and not pleasing to your eyes?"

Upon hearing this, Rovey, who was reminiscing about Artoria's great adventure, suddenly came back to his senses. He looked at Ozymandias, shook his head in response to his question, and said, "That's not the case. This banquet was very good. Ozymandias, thank you for arranging this welcome banquet for me."

"Then what is this, my dear friend?"

"I was just thinking about one of my lost companions," Rovey said. "We haven't reunited yet, and I don't know when we'll be able to."

The thought of Artoria arriving soon filled Rovey with uncontrollable joy.

Especially considering that the King of Knights, who was so rigid a long time ago, has now shed his constraints and unleashed his true nature, he couldn't help but feel incredibly excited about it.

However, when Merlin told him that Artoria still cherished her promise to him during her more than a thousand years of travel, and that their feelings had even changed somewhat, he felt a bit of a headache.

After all, it's been over a thousand years. Even five hundred years can corrupt a Hero of Justice and cause him to fall. A journey of fifteen hundred years—although he believed Artoria couldn't possibly fall, seeing Merlin's amused expression, he could roughly guess the outcome.

Longing and attachment...

But that is the furthest distance from understanding.

"Oh, a lost companion? Moses, you still care about those around you as always... But that's not difficult. Just watch me. After all, I've prepared a few gifts for you. Let me show them to you now."

Upon hearing this, Ozymandias laughed and clapped his hands.

Click, click—!

The sound of the stone slabs turning reached their ears, and then the stone slabs beneath the Great Temple of Radiance suddenly opened, revealing a huge pit beneath their feet. Then, at Ozymandias's signal, two Sphinx flapped their wings and flew out from within.

—Bang!

With a piercing thud as the massive iron cage crashed to the ground, the two Sphinx slowly descended.

"This is?"

Upon seeing the iron cage, Rovey's expression faltered slightly. If Kay and Percival were here, they would surely have screamed too.

Because there were three very familiar figures inside that iron cage.

One of them was Gaheris, and the other was Bors, both of whom were lost by Rovey during the Lion King's attack. The other woman, who was squatting in the corner with a dark figure, was not a strange stranger. She was the Hassan's suicide squad that Hundred-Faced Hassan Cursed-Arm Hassan had mentioned, sent to assassinate Ozymandias or kidnap Nitocris.

"Bors, Gaheris?"

Rovey called out to them.

"Um?"

"That voice is...?"

As Rovey finished speaking, the ears of the two people in the iron cage twitched slightly, and then they both turned their heads behind them.

Chapter 187 Are you playing matchmaker?

Inside the enormous Magecraft iron cage.