Chapter 601

Hearing him say that, Alcides frowned slightly:

"Has it become so chaotic that they can't even perceive the difference in power?"

It's a real shame I can't fight you in your full form... but since you're so eager to die, then so be it—"

Shirou remained unfazed. "Are you sure you want to say that? The last guy who abandoned me like this is already back in his seat."

Alcides raised his bow. "Don't compare me to that kind of king..."

Just as he was preparing to destroy the enemy along with everything around him,

A small, trembling hand touched Shirou's back.

"... snort."

Shirou, sensing that, curled the corners of his mouth and responded.

The next instant, Shirou and Tiné's magical portals connected.

"Bang!!"

The "Blades of Chaos" that Shirou drew from the void collided with the arrow fired by Alcides.

The top floor of the "Crystal Hill" casino hotel was reduced to ashes in an instant.

West of Snowfield, a great forest.

"Gil has left the stage."

Lancer Enkidu did not take any action tonight, but instead accompanied his Master, Silver Wolf, spending a day and a night completing the barrier creation of the entire forest.

Enkidu possesses the highest level of "Presence Detection".

Even if the stronghold is built in a forest far from the battlefield, it is still possible to sense the general movements of the opponents.

He sensed the magical fluctuations emanating from the direction of the town and his face lit up with an expression of utter shock.

"I was worried that Gil might be careless when facing opponents other than me..."

He drew the Vortex Sword but was still defeated; it was unbelievable, but it seemed true.

What exactly happened? Gil... what kind of opponent are you fighting?

Perhaps sensing Enkidu's sadness and tension, the silver wolf leaned over and licked the back of his hand.

Enkidu gently stroked his Master's back as he spoke.

Thank you for your concern, Master, but I'm fine.

Being unable to fulfill my promise to fight Gil again really hurt me...

But since I've been given a second life as Servant, I've been mentally prepared for that.

I am indeed a little bit resentful, I wasn't the one who defeated Gil... really, just a little bit.

"Awoo~"

The silver wolf raised its head and howled, Enkidu revealed a lonely smile.

"Heh, you mean, 'What you're unhappy about isn't that you weren't able to say a proper goodbye to Gil again this time!?'"

Gil and I didn't need that kind of farewell; my only regret was not being able to defeat him with my own hands.

An enemy capable of defeating Gil must be an incredibly powerful and terrifying being...

Thinking about this, my body couldn't help but tremble.

Yeah, I need to start preparing now... I'll avenge Gil's arrow wound! Just kidding."

Enkidu soothed the intelligent beast with a half-joking manner.

However, he did not voice another question that was on his mind:

What exactly happened...?

The aura that defeated Gil was something I'd never encountered before, yet it felt strangely familiar.

Due to the mythical battle fought by the extraordinary heroic Heroic Spirit in the neighborhood, Snowfield Cathedral became a temporary sanctuary.

The blonde woman, Sajyou Ayaka, who had been peeking out the window to observe the situation outside, finally breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that tonight's battle was over.

Although we know Servant are monsters, this clearly goes beyond the category of monsters, doesn't it?

The real monster, Cerberus, looks no different from a puppy in their eyes!?

She turned to look at her Servant, only to find that the other had already turned to stone.

"Saber?"

"..."

Sajyou Ayaka's Servant, Saber—"Lionheart King" —Richard I petrified, gazing at the distant sky.

He's been like this for the past half hour.

What on earth happened? The girl was puzzled.

Richard I was usually the embodiment of action and adventurous spirit; Sajyou Ayaka had never met anyone as active and energetic as him.

After manifesting as Servant, he enjoyed the modern world with great curiosity.

They wore modern clothes, ate modern food, and listened to the latest popular rock music.

This guy (Saber), who has a personality just as strong as the King of Heroes on another level, has remained silent and hasn't uttered a single word since just now.

"Hey... Ayaka..."

"W-What's wrong?"

Sajyou Ayaka had only a bad feeling in her heart.

Saber's voice trembled. "Did you just see that?"

What is that?

"Arthur! Didn't you see? The legendary king was just fighting right before our eyes!"

Richard I suddenly jumped up from his church chair, pointing excitedly to the airspace where the red-haired boy had fought Gilgamesh not long ago.

"King Arthur... uh, you mean that red-haired boy?"

"As expected of Ayaka! She recognized King Arthur at a glance!"

"Sigh... I didn't recognize you. You were the one who insisted on this..."

"There's no mistake, that is our ancestral king, the King of Knights who returned from the Fae Village."

Richard I crossed his arms and nodded with certainty.

"What a majestic and fearless figure!"

Even when facing the Golden King, their solemnity was in no way inferior; I was deeply moved...

If only I had that prop called a "camera" on hand!

It should still be possible to buy it at the mall now, Ayaka, let's go... We can't miss out on recording next time!

"Wait, wait a minute!"

Sajyou Ayaka shook off her wrist. "Calm down, Saber."

"Hmm? I'm very calm."

Where are you calm...?

The girl sighed, rubbing her forehead. "First, let me ask you, do you have any evidence that he is King Arthur?"

Richard I frowned. "Ayaka is really rational. This isn't a mystery novel; you don't need evidence for this kind of thing!"

As someone who has been constantly searching for King Arthur, I can tell at a glance, "That's King Arthur," and I believe in that feeling!

My body was trembling, my heart was roaring... constantly telling me that King Arthur himself was right before me!

"Simply beyond saving..."

Sajyou Ayaka was speechless.

Although I already knew Saber was a fan of King Arthur, I didn't expect her to be this fanatical.

"First of all, the ages don't match up, do they? That boy looks only fifteen or sixteen years old, younger than me."

Richard I wagged his finger, striking a pose of seasoned veteran, looking incredibly irritating.

"Ayaka doesn't understand anything~"

I once heard Magecraft say that King Arthur might have been a beautiful young man who maintained the appearance of a 15-year-old.

Hey! Don't you think that's amazing?

Despite his youthful appearance, he could inspire knights across the country to follow him wholeheartedly!

Wow! King Arthur was truly amazing!

"... A handsome young man?"

Sajyou Ayaka frowned: Can that be considered a beautiful boy?

Indeed, the red-haired boy had fairly regular features, and one could even see the potential to grow into a handsome young man.

But he doesn't seem to fit the description of a handsome young man at all.

In Sajyou Ayaka's mind, a beautiful boy should be more delicate and gentle, with blond hair and blue eyes...

"I'm asking you, Ayaka... if he's not King Arthur, then who is he?"

Seeing that his Master remained unconvinced, Richard I countered with a question.

"Who do you think could defeat that golden archer besides King Arthur?"

"Well..."

"If that magnificent Holy Sword of the Stars of light we saw wasn't the Excalibur, then what was it?"

Sajyou Ayaka was unable to answer.

But she had a vague feeling that even the real King Arthur might not be able to defeat that golden archer.

"Mr. Shirou!"

When Haruri saw the boy return, she quickly went to greet him.

"Are you alright? You suddenly disappeared halfway through, so I was a little worried..."

"Are you worried about me? Thank you, Haruri."

Shirou stroked her head.

"Waaah!"

The girl blushed as she accidentally let it slip.

Why would she worry about a complete stranger she'd just met today? Haruri herself couldn't understand it.

"Where did you go?" Haruri asked.

Shirou replied, "I've gone to track down the black-clad archers."

"How about it?"

"He got away. That guy... apparently, his Master back."

After that, Shirou and Alcides exchanged two more tentative blows.

But no one used their true abilities, and under those circumstances, Alcides retreated.

"It's good that you're alright. Just being able to defeat Gilgamesh is already a remarkable achievement."