Chapter 693

Who's there?

A few seconds later, the Silver-haired girl's head peeked out from the other end of the opened door.

"..."

Leinys pressed her forehead in exasperation, and Gray quickly said something.

"Um... Your Majesty, I was worried because you hadn't returned, so I came to check on you. I didn't mean to eavesdrop..."

"When did you start eavesdropping?"

"It all started when you said you wanted to conduct a thorough search of the village..."

"... Haa."

Shirou let out a long sigh.

Things have become complicated again.

Shirou beckoned to the bewildered girl standing in the doorway. "Anyway, come in and let's talk."

Gray shrank back nervously and said, "If I... if I go over there, won't you tap me on the forehead?"

Leinys laughed and said, "Do you usually get rough with girls, Your Majesty King Arthur?"

Shirou rolled his eyes, speechless. "How should I know!?"

All of these were settings added by "Logos React," and he had no recollection of them at all.

Gray closed the door behind her and cautiously entered the hunting lodge.

Leinys walked up to her, extended her hand confidently, and gave her a mischievous smile.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Leinys."

Gray hesitated for a moment, then grasped the other's hand in return.

"I am Gray, a novice knight in His Majesty King Arthur's entourage... Um, what's wrong?"

Leinys gripped her hand tightly and leaned forward, as if observing Gray's face.

"It's nothing... Hehe, you look so cute with your hood off. No wonder Shirou chose you as his attendant."

"Yes, I want one too! A beautiful silver-haired knight who can take care of my every need."

Gray was stunned.

Then, sensing something from Leinys's wicked smile, she said with displeasure, "The King and I don't have that kind of relationship."

"Wow... what kind of relationship is that?"

"The king is the star that changed my life."

Gray responded to Leinys' flippant question with a very solemn and serious tone.

"If His Majesty Arthur hadn't taken me from this village three years ago..."

I would still be a country girl hiding in a dusty corner of a room, spending my days engrossed in chivalric novels and indulging in unrealistic daydreams.

It was because I met the King that I became who I am today—I have only boundless gratitude, loyalty, and longing for the King.

"Heh, what a noble sentiment! It almost moves me to tears. But... Miss Gray, you were actually lying, weren't you?"

Gray was startled. "What?"

Leinys narrowed one eye. "Is that all you feel for him? Nothing more?"

"..."

The beautiful young girl's face suddenly turned flustered.

"Of course! What else could it be? I... I am devoted to the King, and I have absolutely no other evil thoughts that go beyond the bounds of knighthood!"

Please, please stop talking nonsense! I... I don't care if I'm slandered, but Wang has a happy and fulfilling family!

The king has Guinevere as his wife, a woman who is both beautiful and noble...

Leinys nodded. "Yes, is it because of the existence of such an invincible enemy as Queen Consort Guinevere that you suppressed your true feelings?"

Gray bit her lip. "Hmm... how could an ordinary country girl like me possibly win over that person..."

Wait, wait! What did you make me say in front of the King?! Forget it all!!

The Silver-haired girl's face and ears flushed crimson as she glared furiously at Leinys.

"Okay, stop teasing Gray."

Shirou forcibly intervened in their conversation.

Gray patted her cheeks, finally regaining some composure.

"My lord, what were you talking about earlier? And what does it mean that this face 'is not my own'...?"

Shirou and Leinys exchanged a glance.

Now that things have come to this, there's nothing left to do but tell Gray everything.

After organizing his thoughts, Shirou briefly explained to Gray what was happening in the village.

The weapons of the Atlas Institute, the Black Madonna's plan, and Gray's true identity, born as a result of the plan.

"..."

Gray stood frozen in place.

Once the situation was explained to her, she would remember what had happened—but such a good thing did not happen.

The girl forced a wry smile, "Heh, Your Majesty... what are you saying?"

What was that story we just heard? Even if it were fiction, wasn't it incredibly imaginative?

Your Majesty is not the real King Arthur, and I am not your attendant... This is a fictional world...

In the real world, I am a vessel created to become King Arthur... Heh...

Gray shook violently. "This face of mine doesn't belong to me...!?"

An ordinary person would probably laugh off Shirou's words, but she couldn't.

In this world, Gray sees Shirou as the one who redeemed her life.

According to the village's ancient traditions, they are instilled from a young age with the idea of becoming Miko and dedicating themselves to the king who will one day descend upon this land.

She successfully completed her mission, encountered the ideal king, and gained his approval.

However--

Now, her beloved king is telling her personally that it was all a lie, denying her existence.

Gray bit her lip hard. "Why... why tell such a terrible lie? Even if it was a joke, it's too much...!"

"I'm sorry to say, every word I said is true."

"It's not real! It's a lie!"

"Gray..."

Shirou walked towards her, but was pushed away in a very agitated manner.

After pushing Shirou away, Gray turned to the other person in the room—

Is that you?

She glared angrily at Leinys and demanded, "Ever since I met you, the King has started saying all sorts of nonsensical things..."

What exactly did you do to my king? What did you say to him?

I understand now, you must be an enemy sent by that witch (Morgan)...!

As she said this, Gray reached under her cloak, and a birdcage appeared between the girl's fingers.

Inside the cage was a cube with special patterns and textures, resembling a Rubik's Cube.

"Add!"

As the girl infused magic into it, the cage containing the cube began to transform and unfold.

That's a harvest shape that everyone knows.

The form that reaps souls—the Grim Death God's Scythe.

"Stop it!!"

Shirou immediately stepped in front of Leinys, using the Projection sword to block Gray's scythe.

"Please step aside, my king! You have been bewitched by that woman! I beg you, please wake up!"

"You're the one who needs to wake up, Gray! First, put that dangerous thing away!"

The two sides clashed swords and spears, neither willing to yield.

Shirou realized early on that Gray possessed the talent of a warrior, which was not a knightly ability granted to her by "Logos React".

However, he was unaware that Gray possessed a Magecraft weapon of Noble Phantasm level.

The transforming scythe, which the girl called "Add," held a magical power that Shirou deeply missed.

Without a doubt, it was the brilliance of the Rhongomyniad Rhongomyniad.

Now Shirou finally understood why he sensed that familiar aura from Gray when they first met.

In other words, this scythe, which resembles the Holy Lance, is Gray's own Mystic Code, which she has now brought into this world.

Huh? That's strange...

Shirou frowned.

Why was Leinys's Mystic Code, "Volumen hydrargyrum," allowed in this world when Gray's was not permitted?

Was it simply because she was assigned the role of a knight in the script written by "Logos React"?

"My King!"

Gray screamed and tried to get around Shirou's body to attack Leinys behind him.

She was extremely agile.

Compared to Artoria (the real one), who possesses the Dragon Core and Divine Sword Technique, high-speed combat is Gray's forte.

Shirou stretched out his arm to block the scythe that was aimed at Leinys.

He couldn't let anything happen if Leinys died in the script world.

"!!!"

Just as she was about to strike Shirou, Gray quickly pulled back, but the blade still inevitably grazed her shoulder.

"Ugh...!"

Gray took a step back, her face instantly turning deathly pale.

"No... My King... this was... I didn't mean to..."

This person was someone I swore to protect, but I hurt him...!!

The Silver-haired girl, with an expression as if she had witnessed the end of the world, shook her head and kept backing away until she crashed into the door.

"Gray, wait!"

Shirou called her name loudly, but Gray turned and ran outside without looking back.

The room returned to silence.

"I'm saved... Thank you, that was really cool!"

Leinys walked over to the boy.

"Just as you thought, not telling Gray the truth was indeed the right thing to do."

Now things have become complicated again. We can only hope she doesn't tell the villagers what she just said.

"Let's go after Gray."

Just as Shirou was about to rush outside, Leinys grabbed his wrist.

"She's already run far away; it's not too late to catch up later."

Before that, Shirou, let me treat your wound.