" Camelot...?"
Mash's voice came from behind the shield, tinged with obvious shock.
That's the name from the legend of the Knights of the Round Table. The capital city of King Arthur.
Why did it occur in Jerusalem in 1273?
Hassan of the Hundred Faces noticed Mash's reaction.
The one of her multiple personalities responsible for observation was rapidly analyzing the other person's expressions and tone of voice.
It doesn't seem like he's faking it.
This purple-haired girl genuinely doesn't know Camelot.
"Where exactly are you from? You don't even know the name of the Holy City."
Hassan of the Hundred Faces's tone shifted from confusion to probing.
Ritsuka Fujimaru glanced at Mash, then looked back at Mayuri, who was idly kicking sand in the distance, before making her decision.
With our current combat strength, we don't need to worry about the other side causing any trouble.
That 500-meter-tall monster lying there is the best insurance.
Therefore, she chose to be honest.
"The three of us are from the Human Order Continuation Guarantee Organization, Phineas Chaldea."
Ritsuka Fujimaru's voice was crisp and clear.
"We came here from another era through Spiritron Transfer."
The goal this time is to repair this Singularity, which is the anomaly occurring in your current era.
Hassan of the Hundred Faces fell silent.
Human Order Continuation Guarantee Organization. Phineas Chaldea. Spiritron Transfer. Singularity.
She had never heard of any of these words before.
But she understood the phrase "came here from another era".
Because that's how she herself came to be.
Hassan of the Hundred Faces is Servant, a being summoned to this era of 1273 by some kind of power.
She knew that such a thing was possible.
Furthermore, if these people truly came from another era, it would explain why the purple-haired girl wore armor similar to that of the Knights of the Round Table, yet was completely unaware of the existence of the Holy City Camelot.
But she still hadn't completely let her guard down.
"I'd like to ask you a question."
Hassan of the Hundred Faces looked at Mash.
What's the name of that purple-haired girl?
Mash peeked out from behind the shield, her short pink hair and the side of her bangs that covered her left eye swaying gently in the wind.
"Me? My name is Mash Kyrielight."
Hassan of the Hundred Faces quickly searched through his mind.
Mash Kyrielight.
Never heard of it.
She knew the list of Knights of the Round Table by heart: Lancelot, Gawain, Tristan, Bedivere, Mordred, Gareth, Agravain, Gaheris, Kay—not a single one of them had that name.
She then looked at the Spirit Origin emanating from Mash.
Unlike ordinary knights, the fluctuation pattern of his Spirit Origin is very special, slightly different from that of normal Servant.
With her ability to " Hundred Faces," she can simultaneously use multiple personalities to observe a person's micro-expressions, breathing rate, pupil changes, and body language from different angles.
There was no evidence of lying.
The purple-haired girl was telling the truth.
Hassan of the Hundred Faces remained silent for a few seconds.
Then she made a judgment.
Now, there is no other way but to trust the other party.
Because the 500-meter-tall monster lying on the desert was still in her peripheral vision, its fluorescent green vertical pupils lazily watching her.
"All right..."
"I am Hassan of the People of the Mountain."
You can call me Hassan of the Hundred Faces.
She took a deep breath.
"Since you are not from the Holy City, I can tell you some things about this era."
The conversation that followed lasted for nearly half an hour.
Hassan of the Hundred Faces was sitting on a rock, while the three Chaldea sat on the sand opposite him.
Leviathan continued to sleep lying in the distance, Fou had also fallen asleep on Leviathan's head.
From Hassan of the Hundred Faces, Ritsuka Fujimaru and Mash learned the basic situation of this Singularity.
There are now three forces on this land.
The first stock is Holy City Camelot.
The ruler is a being known as the " Lion King ".
" The Lion King is no ordinary Servant." Hassan of the Hundred Faces's voice deepened.
He... or rather she, was King Arthur, summoned as a Lancer.
But she is completely different from the legendary King of Knights. She wields Holy Lance and possesses power approaching that of a god.
"She destroyed Jerusalem overnight and built the Holy City of Camelot on the ruins."
"She is currently conducting a ritual in the Holy City with an unclear purpose, luring people who are unaware of the truth to the Holy City, then selecting a small number of them to enter the Holy City, and then slaughtering the rest."
"Slaughter the rest?" Mash's voice trembled.
"She calls this ' Holy Selection.'" Hassan of the Hundred Faces said the word with deep disgust.
The Knights of the Round Table were to carry it out.
In addition, they would regularly travel to various human settlements to conduct 'selection'.
Those chosen will be taken back to the Holy City; those not chosen...
She didn't finish speaking.
But everyone understood.
" Knights of the Round Table?" Mash pressed.
Several Knights of the Round Table remained by the Lion King's side.
Lancelot, Gawain, Tristan, Mordred —each one is a top-tier Servant.
Hassan of the Hundred Faces's expression turned bitter.
The second force: the Pharaoh.
"Pharaoh Ozymandias." Hassan of the Hundred Faces's tone became subtle when he mentioned this name.
Ramesses II. He was summoned to this era along with his domain.
That territory lies near the oasis to the west, centered around a massive pyramid.
"So what is his attitude towards the Holy City?" Ritsuka Fujimaru asked.
"Hostile. But he did not initiate a war with the Lion King."
He only protects the people within his own territory and remains indifferent to what happens outside.
The third force is the People of the Mountain, to whom Hassan of the Hundred Faces belongs.
"We are people who have been driven from our homes."
Hassan of the Hundred Faces lowered his voice.
"The ordinary humans who originally lived on this land, those who were not chosen in the Holy Selection."
They were pursued by the knights of the Holy City and fled into the valleys and caves deep in the desert.
"We Hassan Servant are responsible for protecting them."
Ritsuka Fujimaru quickly processed this information in her mind.
Three forces: the Holy City Camelot, Pharaoh Ozymandias, and the People of the Mountain.
The three parties are hostile to each other.
The core of the Singularity they are trying to repair is most likely related to the Lion King of the Holy City Camelot.
"So what are you doing now?" Ritsuka Fujimaru glanced at the cage covered by a black cloth. "What's inside that cage?"
Hassan of the Hundred Faces's expression turned somewhat awkward.
"... We infiltrated the Pharaoh's territory and stole one person out."
"Stealing someone?"
"She was drugged and rendered unconscious."
"..."
Ritsuka Fujimaru's lips twitched.
She was a woman, an important figure on the Pharaoh's side.
"We plan to bring her back to the camp as a hostage to negotiate with the Pharaoh. We don't intend to harm her; we just want to force the Pharaoh to sit down and talk with us."
Hassan of the Hundred Faces hurriedly explained.
"It's impossible to fight the Holy City on our own; we need the Pharaoh's assistance. But he refused all the messengers, so..."
"So you went and kidnapped his people?"
"In war, some means are unavoidable."
Hassan of the Hundred Faces lowered his head.
The black cloth inside the cage bulged again.
Something is moving inside.
Ritsuka Fujimaru stared at the cage for two seconds, then decided not to ask any further questions for the time being.
"In short," she turned to Mash, "We now at least know the general situation of this Singularity. What should we do next?"
Olga Marie's Projection reappeared on the communication channel.
"I heard you."
The silver-haired girl's Projection distorted slightly in the desert heat, but her expression remained as serious as ever.
"The complexity of the EX-level Singularity is indeed well-deserved, with three opposing forces."
"We can follow the People of the Mountain back to their camp first to gather more information before devising a detailed strategy."
"Clear."
Ritsuka Fujimaru nodded.
Then she glanced back at the distance.
Mayuri was sitting on one of Leviathan's front paws, her feet dangling in the air, gazing at the sky with a bored expression.
Fou has slid off Leviathan's head and is now nestled on Mayuri's lap, dozing off.
Leviathan remained lying on the desert floor, its fluorescent green vertical pupils half-closed, looking as if it were about to fall asleep.
" Mayuri!" Ritsuka Fujimaru called out to her, "We're leaving! Let's go check out their camp with the people here!"
"Oh."
Mayuri responded lazily.
She jumped off Leviathan's front paws, brushed the sand off her skirt, picked up Fou, and walked over.
Leviathan was reclaimed from the spatial rift.
The colossal 500-meter-tall body vanished into the void, and the desert returned to calm.
After Leviathan disappeared, Hassan of the Hundred Faces and the People of the Mountain warriors all breathed a long sigh of relief.
But the look in their eyes as they gazed at Mayuri still carried a deep, indelible fear.