Chapter 924
Tristan rolled his eyes and took out the documents he had obtained from his mother.
"What nonsense are you talking about? How is that possible... Huh!?"
The girl's eyes widened.
"Even if it is by chance, I still commend the achievement of ringing the Bell of Pilgrimage, and grant the Child of Prophecy an exceptional audience..."
The Queen's documents only mentioned the name of the Child of Prophecy.
"Well..."
Tristan looked dumbfounded.
She naturally assumed that her mother had invited Shirou and Artoria, but in fact, she didn't mention the man at all.
Why... does Mother already know that Shirou isn't in Lundinium?
Speaking of which, Artoria is acting strangely today too.
The last time we met, she was a fussy, country bumpkin. When did she become so gloomy?
It was as if he had become a completely different person, exuding an aura of resentment from head to toe, almost like a walking Mors... It was terrifying.
Is this an effect of ringing the bell?
Well...
A sudden unease flashed through the red-haired girl's mind, but it was interrupted before it could spread.
"Can we go now?" Artoria urged expressionlessly.
Tristan snorted unhappily, then ignored Artoria and turned to walk towards the waiting carriage.
Artoria turned to look at Percival and Gareth.
Upon hearing of Shirou's death, Jeanne d'Arc also left Lundinium, leaving the city's defense and Hope's care to them.
After exchanging glances, Artoria caught up with Tristan's retreating figure.
Once inside the carriage, the scenery outside the window immediately began to move.
Inside the carriage, Artoria and Tristan sat facing each other.
Neither of them spoke, letting the terribly awkward atmosphere permeate the air.
If Shirou were still alive, things wouldn't be like this now...
"It might turn into a romantic comedy," Artoria thought detachedly, her body swaying with the movement of the carriage.
When the carriage had reached a considerable distance from Lundinium, Tristan gave instructions to the goblin horse pulling it.
"..."
Artoria sighed deeply.
Although I had a premonition, it still turned out this way.
How could Tristan possibly obediently escort me to Camelot?
After the carriage stopped, she and Tristan got up from their seats at the same time.
The Faerie Knight's body trembled slightly.
Was the trembling due to tension, or excitement at finally being able to bring things to a close?
Artoria stepped off the carriage with the Staff of Selection.
"Tsk. It saves me the trouble of explaining, but it's still really unpleasant to be seen through."
Tristan clicked his tongue and followed the Paradise Fae off the carriage.
The Child of Prophecy and the Child of the Queen confronted each other in a deserted wilderness far from the carriage.
"Tsk... I originally planned to show this outfit to Shirou first, but never mind."
Tristan muttered something under his breath, clearly annoyed.
As the incantation was chanted, the Red-haired Fae's Western-style dress transformed into a "battle fairy" outfit that revealed large areas of pale skin and graceful curves.
Artoria stared coldly at her transformation and spoke.
"Even though saying it probably won't make any difference... it's probably better not to do it, okay?"
In the past, she would have said this because she was genuinely worried about Tristan, but now—
Artoria clearly just found it troublesome and was simply bored.
"Since you know it's pointless to talk about it, just shut up... It's not a question of whether you can do it or not."
Tristan adopted a serious fighting stance.
In contrast, Artoria calmly held the Staff of Selection throughout.
"You seem quite composed, huh? I'll make sure that smug look on your face never smiles again!"
"I'm sorry... I'll never laugh again," the Paradise Fae thought somberly.
Tristan took out the magic lyre that symbolized his identity Faerie Knight and placed his slender, graceful fingers on the strings.
"------!!"
She gently plucked the strings, and invisible blades attacked the Child of Prophecy in layers upon layers.
Artoria infused the Staff of Selection with magic, deflecting all attacks.
If she hadn't yet rung the Bell of Pilgrimage, she would be completely helpless against such an attack.
Now that her magic power has increased a hundredfold, Artoria can even see invisible magical attacks.
At the same time, those Fae Eyes saw not only the attack, but also Tristan's hesitation—
"Is this all there is to being Faerie Knight serving the Queen?"
Perhaps because Shirou was not present, Tristan, despite initiating a second duel, was even less confident than the first time.
To prevent the duel from becoming meaningless, Artoria issued a subtle provocation.
"Tsk... Don't underestimate me!!"
Tristan's eyes widened, and his fighting spirit was rekindled.
She plucked the bowstring and shot out nail-shaped magic.
Artoria Projection over a dozen swords, deflecting the volley of attacks launched by the Faerie Knight, while simultaneously closing in on her at high speed.
"Damn it! I am Mother's daughter! The only fairy in the Fae Kingdom to inherit Mother's Magecraft!"
Tristan continued to unleash his spells, and the momentum grew increasingly fierce.
At the same time, she was afraid of Artoria's amazing magical power and always kept her distance.
Meanwhile, Artoria continued to close in, effortlessly parrying all attacks.
"I don't believe you're some kind of Child of Prophecy! Even if the whole world agrees, I won't acknowledge it!"
I will kill you and prove to Shirou that you are a complete imposter!
So, die here—I won't let you take away my place of refuge again!!!
"..."
The red-haired girl's cry, emanating from the depths of her soul, pierced Artoria's heart.
I knew it!
Tristan always considered Shirou her home.
And he himself was the sinner who destroyed her home.
They could have had a happy ending; I took it all away.
Faced with this cruel reality, Artoria's eyes grew even more melancholy.
"..."
Artoria shook off her distracting thoughts and charged at Tristan once more.
"You are not worthy to fight the Queen! It's not Mother's place to intervene. Just disappear right here!"
Tristan desperately stopped his foot from retreating, making up his mind.
She decomposed the magic harp in her hands into magic power, focusing all her efforts on increasing her own magic power.
"..."
Artoria realized that Tristan intended to use his Noble Phantasm and reacted accordingly.
"Die!!!" (Fetch Phantom Pain Lamentation)
Thanks to the nails Tristan had just fired, Artoria was able to analyze her magical power before her Noble Phantasm was activated.
Tristan's Noble Phantasm, simply put, is a typical curse.
No matter how far apart they are, they can unleash a curse-like attack.
Originally, this was a technique that used a part of the other person's body (hair, nails, etc.) to create a "clone of the other person," and then killed the clone to curse and kill the original person.
However, Tristan, as Faerie Knight, received the Queen's blessing, so he could activate the skill without any prerequisites.
To be honest, this kind of move would probably have no significant effect on Artori.
Even if Artoria does nothing, Tristan's curse will have little effect on the innocent fairy from Paradise.
However, this will not work.
Artoria recalled the night of the auction in Gloucester.
At that time, Shirou must have hoped that I could become Tristan's rival, and that the two of us could grow together in battle.
"Ah, I understand. I'll respond accordingly—if that's what Shirou wants."
Artoria focused her consciousness.
Everything in sight slowed down, as if time had stopped.
Well, since that's what that person wants... I will definitely do it.
Artoria took a step as time slowed down and drew her sword from the void.
She increased the Fae Eyes's output, captured the expanding curse, and severed what could be considered the core.
"Hmm!?"
The curse was severed in two by the Projection holy sword.
Although there was no reaction force, Tristan poured all his magical power into this Noble Phantasm.
"Gurgle...!"
The Faerie Knight let out a weak wail, lost his strength, and knelt unsteadily on the ground.
Artoria approached Tristan was now powerless to resist.
She spoke up to confirm.
"I won, didn't I?"
The red-haired girl raised her lowered head and met the gaze of the Child of Prophecy with a look of resentment.
"Kill me or torture me, it's up to you."
Facing an opponent who didn't even suffer a scratch, and who didn't even injure me, I'm not shameless enough to claim I didn't lose.
After all, I am the Faerie Knight appointed by my mother.
Unlike last time, Tristan readily admitted defeat, and his fighting spirit and hostility completely vanished.
"Tristan is such a good girl, I wasn't lying to you, was I?"
Shirou's words seemed to echo in Artoria's ears.
"I don't intend to kill you. Please continue escorting me to Morgan."
As Artoria spoke, she reached out her hand towards the Faerie Knight on the ground.
"..."
When Tristan saw her outstretched hand, he immediately showed a look of disgust, but in the end he accepted the handshake and made peace.