Hero Simulator in Type-Moon, Chapter 2

Even without deliberately seeking it out, Fujimaru Kyoya had heard tales of King Arthur's story—the struggle between the Red Dragon and the White Dragon, the fracturing of the Knights of the Round Table, the choice between the sword and the scabbard...

He truly wondered what kind of heroic figure that was.

"Hm? That tuft of ahoge?"

Just as Fujimaru Kyoya was pondering, a strand of ahoge swaying in the wind caught his attention. He recalled a person—short and slender, yet remarkably powerful, who had once defeated him.

"Artorius?"

"Lloyd? Have you seen my brother? He forgot to bring his sword."

The "youth" named Artorius, hearing someone call his name, quickly spotted Fujimaru Kyoya among the crowd.

"Kay? Didn't notice, but look wherever it's the most chaotic—that guy's got a foul mouth, he's bound to stir up plenty of trouble."

Fujimaru Kyoya felt a wave of nausea just thinking about Kay. The first time he realized just how vile Kay's tongue could be, he even wondered if this place was Britain or Zaun.

"Thank you, Lloyd. Then I..."

"Artorius, are you just delivering the sword?"

Fujimaru Kyoya looked at the "youth" before him. Despite clearly having the appearance of a woman, for some reason he always saw them as a man.

Beyond this inexplicable impression, Fujimaru Kyoya also understood what kind of power dwelled within this "youth."

This "youth" was practically a humanoid dragon.

Artorius said nothing, but those emerald-green eyes fixed on the direction of the Sword in the Stone, the meaning clear without words.

"So it really is you."

Fujimaru Kyoya left with those words and turned back.

[You have discerned Artorius's identity, but this has not dampened your fighting spirit; instead, it has only intensified your desire to grow stronger.]

[You sense a power drawing you in, as if it was always a part of you, now calling to you under the influence of your awakened resolve.]

[You walk into the forest and wade into a stream. You feel it drawing closer.]

[You reach your hand into the flowing water.]

On his way back, Fujimaru Kyoya clearly felt a force pulling at him. As the distance shrank, he understood more and more that this was his own holy sword summoning him.

"Found it."

Grasping something, he pulled it from the stream. A sword buried in silt finally saw the light of day.

"'Running water never stagnates, a door hinge never rots'?"

Fujimaru Kyoya read the Celtic script on the blade. It was a long, slender sword, and when he held it, it felt like an extension of his own body.

[You have obtained the "Sword of Perpetual Purity." You have grasped the true meaning of flowing water. Noble Phantasm unlocked.]

[Noble Phantasm "Running Water Never Stagnates, a Door Hinge Never Rots" unlocked: Anti-Personnel Noble Phantasm. Sword techniques flow like endless water; until you or your enemy falls, the sword never stops.]

Just as Fujimaru Kyoya found his holy sword, before the Sword of Selection, a "youth" grasped its hilt and pulled it free. King Arthur ascended to Britain's throne.

Chapter 3: Rhadagon is Marika.jpg

[The Sword in the Stone has been drawn. You sense the shift of the era and set out on the path of training.]

[You eliminate a band of mountain bandits. You gain some coin.]

[You punish a noble who bullies men and women alike. Your name begins to spread.]

[You encounter a squad of Vortigern's soldiers. You annihilate them single-handedly. You gain a large sum of coin. Your reputation grows.]

"A mug of ale."

Fujimaru Kyoya entered a tavern. Though it wasn't his first time, the feeling of killing still unsettled him. He needed alcohol to numb himself.

But before he could even take a drink, a commotion broke out—someone was causing trouble in the tavern.

[The noise in the tavern disrupts your thoughts. Some sharp, venomous words reach your ears, sounding oddly familiar.]

[You follow the sound and see three people surrounded: a somewhat familiar girl in a white dress—a Maiden Knight—a white-robed mage with an irritating grin and a self-generating flower effect, and finally, your acquaintance, Kay.]

[You feel the girl looks very familiar, but you can't recall where you've seen her.]

A girl?

Fujimaru Kyoya stared at the ahoge swaying in the wind atop the Maiden Knight's head. What was this sense of déjà vu?

Artorius!

Fujimaru Kyoya remembered the one he regarded as his arch-nemesis—Artorius, the King Arthur who had drawn the Sword in the Stone.

This girl had the same golden hair, the same green eyes, even the same ahoge. Could it be... she was Artorius's sister?

For some reason, Fujimaru Kyoya's mind took a sharp detour. This was all thanks to Merlin's illusion, which isolated the "concepts" of Artoria and Artorius from each other.

Even if Artoria appeared as a girl, no one would recognize her as King Arthur.

Likewise, when Artoria appeared as King Arthur, no one would think she was a girl.

Rhadagon is Marika.jpg

Such was the masterstroke of Merlin, the greatest illusionist of the age—an illusion that could deceive even the world itself.

Since she was the sister of his arch-nemesis, there was no reason not to help.

Fujimaru Kyoya had never been a hero; his life's creed was to side with his own over what was right. He didn't even care why they had clashed with these people in the first place.

But this was Vortigern's territory. If her identity were exposed, she would become a hostage to restrain Artorius.

For that reason, Fujimaru Kyoya had to save her.

"You little brat, I regret the day you were born with a mouth."

The scar-faced man with a vicious look brandished a sharp longsword.

He had been in a great mood today, and luck had smiled on him—finding such a pretty girl in a rundown tavern like this.

She was practically a sure thing.

Scarface had already "stood up," just waiting for the "one-shot," but his refined pleasure had been completely ruined by that damned brat.

"Just wait, I'll do it right in front of your—"

"Bam~"

A heavy thud came from the back of Scarface's head. Under the massive impact, he rolled his eyes back and collapsed to the ground.

Only then did the crowd see a black-haired knight standing behind Scarface, a thick wooden club the size of a bowl in his hand, still dripping with fresh blood.

"I'm going to ambush you."

You already ambushed him, didn't you?

Even someone as scummy as Merlin couldn't help but silently complain, wondering how this clean-cut young knight could so calmly announce an ambush while already having pulled it off.

You're clearly stronger than this scar-faced guy, aren't you?

"Lloyd?"

"Let's go. This place isn't safe to stay."

Fujimaru Kyoya glanced at the surrounding crowd. Soon they would call the guards, and then they'd face a city-wide manhunt.

That wasn't a real threat, but if they drew the White Dragon's attention, leaving wouldn't be so easy.

"What about Artorius? Isn't he with you?"

Fujimaru Kyoya didn't know where the King of Knights had gone, but Kay was Artorius's elder brother, and that girl clearly had some deep connection to Artorius as well.

Kay glanced at Artoria. Aside from silently marveling at Merlin's impressive illusions, he didn't know what to say.

"Forget it. Let's leave quickly."

Kay didn't answer, and Fujimaru Kyoya didn't press further. After all, many people were looking for the King of Knights these days; if they didn't trust him, so be it.

But getting out of here was the priority now.

"This guy's tough. Brothers, let's jump him together."

As they spoke, the people around finally realized what had happened. Seeing their boss taken down, they planned to swarm him.

After all, how strong could a knight who relied on sucker punches be?

A reasonable thought, but it had two flaws.

First, Fujimaru Kyoya's strength was beyond doubt—not just anyone could cross swords with the King of Knights.

Second, they seemed to have overestimated Fujimaru Kyoya's moral limits.

Fujimaru Kyoya coldly eyed these reckless fools. With a wave of his hand, a cloud of white mist hit their faces, and they instantly lost their sight.

"Lime powder? A knight using this..."

Artoria stared at Fujimaru Kyoya in shock. She had sparred with him more than once, and his sword style was upright and grand—completely at odds with the man who sucker-punched people and threw lime powder.

"Why bother with knightly chivalry against these heretics and evildoers?"

Fujimaru Kyoya had never possessed any knightly spirit. He just came from a knightly family, so people assumed he was a knight.

But that worked in his favor. Who would expect a knight to sucker-punch and throw lime powder?

It provided the perfect cover for Fujimaru Kyoya's dirty tricks. And for those who thought he only knew how to sucker-punch and throw lime, the Sword of Perpetual Purity at his waist would soon be drawn.

"Then what about before?"

"Fighting and training are different. The goal of battle is to survive; the goal of training is to grow stronger. Playing tricks in training only hurts yourself in the end."

The golden-haired girl before him seemed to know about Fujimaru Kyoya's training sessions with Artorius, but that didn't surprise him.

He could already picture that bastard Artorius bragging about his victories to his little sister.

I'll remember this grudge.

"What's going on?"

"What's going on?"

"What's going on?"

"What's going on?"

The essence of humanity revealed itself then. Everyone turned into a bunch of parrots, and the massive crowd gathering inevitably drew the attention of the city guards.

[Your actions have alarmed the soldiers.]

[You and your companions broke through the encirclement, and an army of hundreds could not stop your advance. This earned you great renown.]

[Your name has become known to Vortigern.]

Chapter 4: A Kamen Rider Is Also a Knight

On the wilderness, Kay and Merlin were making a fire to cook, while nearby, Fujimaru Kyoya had begun a sparring match with Artoria.

It was truly unbelievable.

Fujimaru Kyoya thought this more than once. Even though this girl was Artorius's sister, her strength was already nearly a match for his.

If not for the fact that the "Arch-Nemesis" state hadn't triggered, Fujimaru Kyoya would almost have believed the person before him was Artorius in women's clothing.

After all, that guy was already... somewhat effeminate in appearance.

"Lily, we need to go."

Just as the two were locked in fierce combat, Merlin suddenly walked over and stopped their spar. His expression was unusually serious.

Clearly, something major had happened.

"Vortigern's army is beginning to move in our direction. Their target is very clear—there must be a magician's familiar nearby."

"An army? A lot of people?"

Artoria didn't think a small number of enemies could do anything to them.

"It's not a matter of numbers. Vortigern is personally leading the troops here."