"We must use force to unite everyone and establish a unified, powerful empire!"
As he said this, his eyes shone brightly. "Without a doubt, Your Highness, you are that kind of person—not the Knight King, nor the Roman Emperor, nor Clovis, nor the commander of any barbarian.
Among all those I know, only Your Highness possesses such bearing and such ability in this age.
You can bring about peace through war and establish a unified entity encompassing every people of Europe. A well-functioning, highly efficient government."
That is why I follow you and am willing to sacrifice my life for you. You are the greatest."
"Galahad..."
Arthur looked at Galahad in surprise.
What he said was different from what Arthur had expected.
He had not simply echoed others, nor had he followed Father King Artoria's ideals and made "saving Britannia" his own duty and mission.
"You will unite all of Europe! Unite Rome, the Celts, the Germans, and the Slavs! Establish an empire that encompasses every people of Europe! An empire that surpasses Rome! Use it to guarantee peace, order, and governance—yes, you can do it—you are justice.
And that is why I wish to raise the Holy Grail."
Having said this, Galahad dropped to one knee before Arthur.
"I wish to offer the Holy Grail to you.
I hope to use the Holy Grail's power to help you fulfill your great ambition.
What we must save is not Britannia, but this age of suffering, and everyone who has encountered hardship."
"Lord Galahad..." Arthur was deeply shaken. Galahad's expression remained resolute.
"No one forced me to do this, and no one incited me. This is the result of careful thought."
Galahad said:
"Actually, Your Highness, I can sense it too—the hidden danger within the Holy Grail.
But at the same time, I can also sense the power contained within it.
This truly is a power capable of fulfilling Your Highness's great ambition. So..."
After saying that, he turned decisively and headed toward the Holy Grail.
"Lord Galahad?!"
"For you, I am willing to take this risk! It is worth the risk!"
"Lord Galahad!"
As Arthur called out, Galahad unhesitatingly shoved aside the person standing in his way, who was about to touch the Holy Grail. Before the other person could protest and make a move, Galahad knocked him to the ground with a single punch.
"This risk is worth taking!"
"Wait—"
"—We will make our wish come true!"
Saying this, beneath everyone's gaze, Galahad grasped the Holy Grail with both hands.
"I will open the gates to a new age for Your Highness!"
"Galahad----------"
Author's Note:
Galahad: Loyalty that is not absolute is absolute disloyalty.
Only one place away from both the new book rankings and the recommendation rankings! Please give me another push and get me onto the lists!
The extra chapter bounty is still ongoing, ahhh!
How Much Is Worth Sacrificing For? (Sixth Extra Chapter)
Galahad (Marshal Vision).jpg
Light spread outward, and True Aether overflowed. The disturbance was greater, more violent, and more dazzling than before.
"It's Lord Galahad."
"Lord Galahad?!"
Such light, so brilliant, so magnificent, marked Galahad's incomparable determination and an Iron Will harder than steel.
"Yes, yes, this is indeed a trap."
"But the flaw in the trap-setter's plan is that, in order to make the trap seem more real, it used the genuine article!"
"This Holy Grail is real—"
"In other words—"
"I can achieve victory!"
As he personally lifted the Holy Grail, Galahad experienced the power firsthand—two distinct forces in total. One came from a savior beyond the world. The other came from this world.
The Earth-Moon system—this was the name his lord, Artorius, had told him.
The Counter Force. This was the collective name for the power that maintained this "world."
Gaia. This was the consciousness born from the surface of the planet, one that feared humanity.
"How could I?"
"How could I lose to someone like this—"
Galahad roared:
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!"
—In Rome, Britannia, and the Black Forest of the Germans—and in even more distant places: the shores of the Red Sea, Ctesiphon, Transoxiana, the Mongolian Steppe, the Arc-shaped Archipelago, Hebei, Jiangnan, and the Central Plains.
Every hero and ambitious figure of this world, every magus with sufficient power and perception, even the Phantasmal Beasts still remaining in this world, and the Dead Apostles and True Ancestors hidden among mankind.
All of them sensed this power. This power that broke through the limits of the world—in Europe, in Gaul, in Burgundy, within an unnamed wilderness by the River Seine, in the hands of a young knight named Galahad.
"He raised it!"
"Lord Galahad raised the Holy Grail!"
The young knight roared and held the Holy Grail high overhead. Seeing this, the Knights of the Round Table could no longer restrain their excitement. They pointed at Galahad and shouted ecstatically.
"Galahad!"
"Galahad!"
"Galahad!"
Holy light descended from the heavens and shone upon Galahad.
The sounds of harps and horns rang through the sky, like an angelic welcome. The gates of Heaven had opened!
"My wish, my ideal with Your Highness, is about to—it can—it can be fulfilled!"
Overwhelming joy made Galahad ignore the intense pain radiating from every part of his body. At the same time, Percival of the Round Table shouted in terror, "What is that?! What is happening?!"
Galahad's body was falling apart.
It was as though the fundamental particles composing his body were continuously scattering away.
Like golden sand.
"—!"
"Galahad?!"
"Galahad!"
The knights rushed forward in panic, wanting to help Galahad. At the same time, King Arthur and the other Knights of the Round Table who had received the news arrived as well.
But they could not.
A powerful, invisible force separated the knights from Galahad—such power surpassed ordinary comprehension.
Was this a trial meant for Galahad alone?!
And it looked as though Galahad was about to fail! Starting from his feet, his body was gradually disappearing. Even the hands gripping the Holy Grail tightly were trembling slightly.
Still not enough?
His will and spirit were already strong enough.
But his body was not strong enough. So although he had raised the Holy Grail, he did not possess sufficient strength to resist the Counter Force's contingency plan?!
"No, no, I will never give up! The chance is right before my eyes, how could I—Your Highness?!"
Then something else happened, something that terrified Galahad and the knights once more.
It was Artorius Pendragon, who had drawn Clarent and was swinging it at the Holy Grail with all his strength—
"Did he fail?! Just like in the original history, is Lord Galahad going to the Throne of Heroes?!
In this situation, am I supposed to stand by and do nothing?!
Our ideals, our ideals, our ideals—Galahad, you idiot! Before, I was just saying pretty words to trick people into working themselves to death for me! I do not have any ideals at all. All I have is ambition! I only want to satisfy my own desires!"
Artorius's heart tightened.
He seemed to understand what Teacher Scathach had meant.
"You are not ready yet."
"Teacher Scathach, do you mean I lack the resolve to risk my life for my plan?!"
"Yes, I do not. I truly do not. I have other plans. I once thought that if the plan failed, I would simply give up. I would submit to the Counter Force and repent later. I never considered risking my life to liberate humanity, to free humanity from the Counter Force's restraints—
I am nothing but an opportunist and an ambitious figure. I am no hero or savior!
So, Lord Galahad—why do you believe in me so much? Why are you risking your life for me?!"
"..."
Shock, rage, and sorrow filled Arthur's heart. Then, at the fastest possible speed, they drove him through a chain of thoughts.
He was unwilling to sacrifice himself for Britannia.
Ah. Perhaps.
Then what if Europe's other people were included?
They had nothing to do with him either. Why should he risk his life for them?
What if people from every other region of the world were included too? More broadly, the whole world—would he be willing to risk his life for all humanity?
That...
What if other worlds were included as well? He knew about Parallel Worlds, didn't he? If he bore responsibility not for one world, but for many, would he risk his life for the happiness of all humanity throughout every Parallel World, from ancient times to the present?
At that thought, Artorius Pendragon tightened his grip around Clarent's hilt and reached a conclusion.
Yes.
His answer was yes.
He could.
Even someone like him, whose moral standards were merely ordinary, could sacrifice himself, risk his life, and strive for humanity's benefit.
In other words, he was not as he had always thought himself to be?!
Lord Galahad had seen that, which was why he had acted without hesitation and been willing to sacrifice himself for him?!
"So it turns out... I am a hero too."
With that thought, Artorius swung his sword down upon the Holy Grail—
His mindset underwent a subtle change.
The justice buried deep within his heart had been stirred awake, causing his soul to shine brilliantly.
Lust, greed, ambition—everything remained. Yet the awakened justice now stood above them all!
First, Lord Galahad—he would save Lord Galahad from the hands of this so-called Holy Grail—
Light gathered, and power converged. Noble frost-colored radiance coiled around the raised Clarent, then crashed into the barrier separating him from Galahad.
Before you continue