In Type-Moon, with a Hero Simulator

Vortigern!

Those words immediately startled everyone present. Although Merlin's prophecy foretold that King Arthur would defeat the Vile King, Artoria had yet to fully mature. How could she possibly be a match for Vortigern?

"Then we should leave quickly."

Fujimaru Kyoya slung his already-packed luggage onto his back. According to the simulator's prompts, he had known for some time that Vortigern had his eye on him. As a qualified knight, he had long been prepared to make a run for it.

"Vortigern is coming for us? Could it be that he..."

Kai's expression darkened. They had restored Artoria's female identity precisely to avoid Vortigern's notice, but it seemed to have had no effect. On the contrary, it had exposed the fact that King Arthur was a woman.

"No, he isn't coming for us. He's here for..."

Merlin glanced at Fujimaru Kyoya. With EX Clairvoyance, he naturally understood the Ancestral Phenomenon within Fujimaru Kyoya.

A Divine Era Warrior of such pure blood was exactly the sort of person Vortigern wished to recruit.

"He's probably here for me. We've traveled together for a while; it's about time we parted ways."

"Wait. If we face Vortigern, our odds will be better if we fight together."

Fujimaru Kyoya had already prepared to flee at the first sign of trouble, but Artoria had no intention of abandoning her friend.

The gap between her and Vortigern was still immense. She had to unite every force she could if she wanted any chance of victory.

This knight named "Lloyd" had methods that were somewhat... unconventional, but Artoria knew he was a good person. She did not want such a good person to die like this.

"I'll be more mobile on my own. Besides, if something happens to you, Artorius will only be held back in battle."

Fujimaru Kyoya rejected Artoria's proposal. Vortigern's target was him, so there was clearly no need to drag more people into it. Besides, it would be much easier to escape an army alone.

"Never burdening friends, never oppressing the weak, punishing evil and rewarding good, standing up for justice, staying humble in victory and unyielding in defeat... Aside from his somewhat unconventional fighting methods, he truly is a perfect knight."

Artoria watched Fujimaru Kyoya's retreating back and sighed sincerely.

She still remembered meeting him for the first time as a child. Back then, Fujimaru Kyoya had already been a renowned young talent throughout the region, while she had been nothing more than an unknown nobody.

Artoria could not help but wonder now: if she had been defeated by an unknown nobody, could she have remained as calm as the young Fujimaru Kyoya had been back then?

Even after losing, he had not flown into a rage out of humiliation. Instead, he had regarded the person who defeated him as his Arch-Nemesis, training day and night without pause, all for the sake of winning their next battle.

After that, they had fought countless times, and every battle had ended in Artoria's victory. Yet those repeated victories had not made her feel confident; they had only made her feel pressure.

She could feel the boy before her constantly closing the distance between them.

Especially after witnessing Fujimaru Kyoya's indiscriminate "knightly spirit" toward his enemies these past few days, she truly could not say who would win or lose if she faced a Fujimaru Kyoya with no bottom line in a fight to the death.

A knight like that would never surrender to Vortigern. If Vortigern truly intercepted him, then he would likely meet an end worthy of a knight.

[You picked up your pace and moved through the mountain forests. Though the terrain hindered your steps, it also limited the cavalry's speed.]

[You dealt with one of Vortigern's forces. Your reputation rose slightly.]

[You dealt with one of Vortigern's forces. Your reputation rose slightly.]

[You encountered an old man claiming to be Vortigern. He appeared before you without bringing any soldiers.]

[You attempted to fight him, but the vast gap in strength quickly led to your defeat. Once again, you confirmed that the current Vortigern was absolutely stronger than King Arthur. Acting alone had been the correct choice.]

[Vortigern seemed to admire you greatly. He overlooked the many soldiers you had killed and only asked that you swear loyalty to him.]

[As a knight chosen by a Holy Sword as clear as a stream, when faced with such an offer of surrender, would you break your cane and offer your loyalty?]

[Absolutely! Easily!]

Good grief, so I'm a Kamen Rider.

Watching sentence after sentence pop up in the simulator, Fujimaru Kyoya nearly spat out a retort.

Naturally, he would surrender. The difference in strength was right there, and Fujimaru Kyoya could accept humbling himself for a while in order to survive.

There was just one thing he did not understand.

"I killed so many of your soldiers. Won't taking me back like this cause discontent within the army?"

Fujimaru Kyoya did not believe Vortigern had failed to consider that he might be pretending to surrender. As Britain's former hero and now its greatest Traitor, Vortigern would never have lived to his age without such wisdom.

"They were merely Anglo-Saxons. You killed them, so what? Why should I care?"

There was unmistakable contempt in Vortigern's tone. Clearly, he still placed great importance on his Celtic identity and held those Anglo-Saxon barbarians in utter disdain.

"You look down on them? Then why did you lead them to invade Britain?"

Fujimaru Kyoya could not understand why Vortigern had fallen out with King Uther. The matter of succession between the brothers had long since been decided. If they had truly been at odds, their conflict should not have erupted only in their old age.

"That is a secret. But... you have the right to know."

Vortigern looked at the increasingly famous knight before him. Merely by drawing near, he could sense the dense aura of the Divine Era around him. Coming alone had indeed been the right choice.

They were both the last Ancestral Phenomena of the Divine Era. As such, they should share the information they possessed.

Blade of Vortigern

[You listened as Vortigern revealed his secret and learned the truth behind the Divine Era Decline.]

[You faced a choice...]

"Is this the truth?"

Fujimaru Kyoya instinctively took this for one of Vortigern's lies, but then he remembered—why would someone this powerful need to deceive him?

Vortigern did not know of the relationship between King Arthur and Fujimaru Kyoya. Otherwise, he should have gone after Artoria.

Yet he had still come for Fujimaru Kyoya. It was recognition of one of his own kind, and so he spoke the truth.

"Of course. If not for that, why would I join forces with outsiders to invade the homeland I once protected? If not for the continuation of my race, why would I risk the condemnation of the world?"

Vortigern had cast everything aside and been branded a traitor by all, yet he still chose to walk this path.

How could he not know that Lloyd, the somewhat renowned Knight before him, might be faking his surrender? But what did it matter?

He did not acknowledge those Anglo-Saxon bandits, and those he had once protected did not acknowledge him.

Vortigern had borne too much alone. Now, faced with a rare "kindred spirit," he unusually opened his heart.

Even if the man before him truly betrayed him, it would merely mean one more enemy. The world was already almost entirely his enemy; he did not care if there was one more.

"What will become of us after the Divine Era Decline?"

"Death, naturally. The decline of the Divine Era means that all things of that era must vanish. In recent years, Britain has seen fewer and fewer Fantasy Species, and even the harvests have steadily dwindled. In the end, we will all starve to death."

Vortigern stated the merciless facts. Survivors of the Divine Era like them had no right to board the great ship of the new age.

"What do you think King Arthur is? Nothing more than an Artificial Human created by my foolish younger brother and Merlin—a Child of the Red Dragon born to restrain me. Does she think she can defeat me with nothing but those borrowed ideals? Ridiculous."

Fujimaru Kyoya could sense that this aged king did not consider his Arch-Nemesis worth his attention at all. At this moment, he was less a man than the incarnation of an era, the final will of that entire age resting upon a single person.

"Knight Lloyd, I do not care whether your loyalty is sincere or false. But if there is still someone you wish to protect, then join my faction."

Vortigern issued the invitation once more, but he did not need Fujimaru Kyoya's answer. After leaving those words behind, he turned and departed, while Fujimaru Kyoya followed close behind. That was answer enough.

This was not loyalty. Fujimaru Kyoya had been born into a family of Knights, but he had never been interested in becoming one.

He simply understood that if he stood by and watched the Divine Era Decline unfold, those people he knew would become sacrifices of the age.

That was not the future he wished to see.

[You joined Vortigern's faction and became hostile to King Arthur's faction. Vortigern placed sufficient trust in you, and you soon established yourself within the army.]

[Your former friends could not understand what had happened. Artorius also sent you a letter urging your surrender. You handed it to Vortigern to demonstrate your loyalty, then burned it all.]

[Your actions made Vortigern appreciate you even more. He entrusted an army to you, and you gained the talent "Charisma."]

[Talent "Charisma" awakened: The ability to lead an army. Under your rule and violence, your army will become even stronger.]

[Strict rules and violence kept your army in perfect order. Compared to yours, Vortigern's other armies were practically bandits.]

[Your army worshipped your strength, followed your system, and unleashed overwhelming combat power. Vortigern's soldiers took pride in joining your ranks, while your name made your enemies grit their teeth. They called you the "Blade of Vortigern."]

[You gained the talent "Blade of Vortigern."]

[Talent "Blade of Vortigern" awakened: The strongest Knight under the Vile King Vortigern. You are the enemy of all Britons and gain a special attack effect against enemies of the Britain faction.]

The Blade of Vortigern?

Although many people called Fujimaru Kyoya that, both he and Vortigern understood that it was merely a title repeated by others.

They were comrades on the same front, without any relationship of subordination.

But that did not stop the people of Britain from calling him a "lackey," nor could they understand why the legendary Holy Sword, as clear as a stream, had chosen such a person.

The Sword of Perpetual Purity possessed neither the nobility of the Sword in the Stone, nor the resilience of Unbroken Lake Light, nor the blazing heat of Victory's Turning Wheel. This sword represented those intangible things; it was merely a symbol of clear, pure courage.

Clang—

Under the blazing sun, their longswords clashed. Through exchange after exchange, Gawain could sense the purity in the heart of the man before him. Why would someone like this aid Vortigern in his evil deeds?

"Lloyd, you are no match for me."

Gawain increased the force behind his sword. Beneath this blazing sun, his Blessing of the Saint had taken effect. With his strength tripled, there were few in all of Britain who could stand against him.

Lloyd, the "Blade of Vortigern," was also a famed Knight. Gawain could not have defeated him easily under normal circumstances, but in this tripled state, Gawain believed himself invincible.

Their blades collided once more. Fujimaru Kyoya, who had directly received Gawain's full-force blow, could not help coughing up blood.

Fujimaru Kyoya had voluntarily stayed behind to cover the retreat of his soldiers. Gawain admired him for that, but he would soon regret that admiration.

[You were attacked by Gawain. You feel that if you continue to withstand his attacks head-on, defeat is inevitable.]

[As an upright and honorable Knight, you diligently consider a way to break the deadlock.]

[You used "Blinding with Blood." The effect was outstanding.]

"What?"

A mouthful of bloody spit burst from Fujimaru Kyoya's mouth, startling Gawain. He had considered how his opponent might respond, but he had never expected such a lowly trick, the kind only street thugs would use.

Caught off guard, Gawain was sprayed full in the face with blood. His vision was briefly lost, and that was precisely the opening Fujimaru Kyoya needed.

"Running water never rots; a door hinge never rusts."

Azure streams of light flashed from the Holy Sword. Fujimaru Kyoya's blade flowed on without end like running water, leaving the briefly blinded Gawain in a wretched state.

"Can you still call yourself a Knight after fighting like that?"

Gawain used his Holy Sword to guard his vital points. With the blazing sun overhead, he remained in his tripled state. So long as he did not suffer a fatal wound, he would not be defeated.

"You hit so hard yourself—are you saying I'm not even allowed to spit out blood?"

Fujimaru Kyoya showed no mercy. With the True Meaning of Flowing Water, once the sword momentum stopped, it would not be easy to build it up again.

That mouthful of blood could not possibly delay him for long.

Sure enough, Gawain released his magical energy and evaporated the blood in an instant. Just as he opened his eyes, intending to teach Fujimaru Kyoya a lesson...

"Fuck."

Even someone as refined and easygoing as Gawain could not help swearing.

With a wave of Fujimaru Kyoya's hand, a handful of lime flew out, instantly plunging Gawain—who had only just regained his sight—back into darkness.

Hmph~ Only a brain-dead idiot would face a Muscle Ape like you head-on.

Chapter 6: A Gentleman Deceives with Method

[Your battle with Gawain dragged on from day to night. After losing the Saint's Blessing, Gawain was no longer your match, and you defeated him.]

[News of your defeat of Gawain shocked all of Britain. The Britons grew even more fearful of you, and the effect of the talent "Blade of Vortigern" increased.]

[Vortigern was greatly pleased with your achievements and entrusted you with more troops. The effect of the talent "Charisma" increased.]

"I never expected you to lose to him. You've truly opened my eyes."

Agravain looked at the battered Gawain. Though he and this elder brother of his could never see eye to eye, he still understood his strength.

Was the Blade of Vortigern really that powerful?