Chapter 3

The third party was a boy about sixteen or seventeen, Japanese, and wearing the uniform of a nearby school. With the exception of the swords he held in his hands, he looked relatively ordinary. But the tenor of his threat suggested he’d really kill her if he wanted to… There was something inexplicably dreadful about him—enough to make a person’s skin crawl. It was obvious he wasn’t any ordinary person. At this astonishingly unexpected turn of events, the four—Luna, Felicia, the young knight, and Sir Kay, poking her head out from a gap in the broken wall—were completely stupefied and stunned. This was a group of beings with supernatural strength, capable of dashing across the sky in a single leap and splitting open the earth with their swords. But even they were overwhelmed by the figure before them. “What—? Who are you?” croaked Felicia, voice quivering as the stranger continued to press a sword against her neck from behind. “You couldn’t be…another participant in the King Arthur Succession Battle…could you?” “Well, I guess I am. Not like I got an official invitation from the Dame du Lac.” “Th-then…you’re a King? Or are you a Jack?” Bam! Instead of an answer, he kicked Felicia in the back, launching her into the air. “Ahhh?!” “M-my liege!” Felicia’s knight moved fast as lightning to catch her in his arms. “Pfft!” The boy laughed. In that moment, his figure blurred sideways, disappearing in a mist. “—Huh?!” He appeared suddenly in front of Luna, shielding her. It was almost as though he’d teleported. “Well, I couldn’t care less if I cut her head off here and now, but…well, where’s the fun in that? I’ll let you slide for today—Get lost!” shouted the boy, smiling boldly at Felicia and the young knight. “What? The King Arthur Succession Battle has just begun. We’ve got tons of time to play around. Let’s call today a friendly introduction and leave it at that. How does that sound?” His laughter was absolutely radiant, like a kid who’d gotten his hands on a new toy… At the same time, something about him seemed insane. “Grr…!!” The defeated pair glared at the calm, composed boy. “What in the world…?” Unable to understand the current state of affairs, Luna and Sir Kay could only blink in response. For a while, this tension and anxiety hung in the air and the silence. “…Very well. As you request, I shall withdraw for today…,” Felicia eventually declared, returning her Excalibur to its sheath. “My King, are you sure?” “I don’t mind. I hardly intend to lose to this boy in a fair fight, but…if he’d felt like it, I could have been slain a few moments earlier. If I don’t repay this debt, I’d be violating the code of chivalry. We’ll leave it at this for tonight.” “As you wish…,” her knight solemnly replied to her decision. “You there…may I have your name?” “It’s Rintarou—Rintarou Magami.” The boy snickered with a savage grin. “Rintarou…Magami…?” Until that moment, Luna had been completely silent but now responded, befuddled. “…I’ll remember this, Mr. Magami.” No sooner had she heard his name than Felicia glared at the boy—at Rintarou—with rage. “I won’t forget this insolence! Prepare yourself for when we meet again! I swear on my pride and sword that I, Felicia Ferald, will strike you down!” “Sure, I’d like to see you try. Not that I think you’ve got the skills for it anyway.” Ignoring his taunts as he shrugged shoulders, Felicia turned to Luna. “Lastly, this is a warning. You’d do well to withdraw from the King Arthur Succession Battle.” “Huh?! Why?! There’s no way I’d do that! I wanna become King, too!” She stamped her feet like a spoiled little brat. “I’m telling you, you can’t do it,” Felicia muttered in a low voice. “Before the battle started, the management arm of the Dame du Lac evaluated you. Do you even know what they said?” She looked coolly and pitifully at her. “You’ve got the weakest Jack, you drew the weakest Excalibur, and you’re the worst candidate for King Arthur… Everyone thinks you’re a laughingstock.” “…!” Luna was silent. “The rumors were true: Your Jack’s unbelievably weak. In that case, your Excalibur must not amount to much, either… I suppose it doesn’t matter, even if you did sell it.” After denouncing her mercilessly, Felicia turned away. “By crossing swords with you today, I’m now confident you deserve your title as the weakest candidate. Even if you take part in the battle, you’ll only end up dying in vain. Luna, I advise you to withdraw. I’m warning you as your former friend. If you won’t listen…then you leave me no course but to force you out.” At the end, there was something left unsaid, a sort of steadfast resolve, but Felicia didn’t explain and left her opponent with those words as she and her knight launched themselves off the ground and flew high into the sky—weaving and disappearing between the skyscrapers. “They’re finally gone…” After confirming they’d completely left the scene, Rintarou sheathed his swords. Then he turned to Luna, standing behind him still confused. “Now then…you didn’t get hurt, right? …Your Highness.” “Huh? No, well…I didn’t. But what’s up with you?” “Heh, you’ll know soon enough,” he nihilistically spat, leaving the question unanswered and turning his back to Luna. “Well, that’s that… Today’s the opening act. Peace out, Your Highness!” Then he started running at a terrific speed and, in the next moment, vanished into the twilight streets like the wind. “Ah…seriously, what’s with that guy…?” Luna, now standing alone, could only sigh. “I can’t fathom who he might be.” Finally getting back up, Sir Kay had come to stand by her side. “…But I doubt he’s up to any good. Please make sure you stay on guard, Luna.” With that comment, the knight stared with the sharp, alert eyes of a warrior, piercing through the darkness after Rintarou…in her bunny girl costume. “Well, the King Arthur Succession Battle has finally started… It’s going to be a long road from here on out.” But despite her words, Luna had a slight smile forming on her lips. “Hmm…Rintarou Magami…huh? …Ha-ha-ha…” At that moment, another scene was playing out in a back alley between some buildings. “What a blunder… He completely spoiled my start.” There, concealing herself, was Felicia bitterly cursing Rintarou. “I was supposed to force Luna Artur out tonight… If only that guy…if only that Rintarou Magami hadn’t intervened! Who in the world is he?!” “Felicia…” Standing beside her as she seethed was her young knight, reserved and quiet. …At that moment, another voice spoke out to them. “Oh my, what a disappointment, Felicia…or should I call you Lord Ferald?” Though she was boiling in this alley with anger and resentment, it was instantly brought down to a simmer by this frosty voice—as if doused in ice water. From the deep shadows of the alley, these words suddenly intermingled and tied themselves tautly to the pair. It didn’t seem to carry any human warmth—ceaselessly ruthless and cold. “‘I’ll handle the King Arthur succession candidate Luna Artur myself and force her to drop out…’ You were so enthusiastic, so eager, but the state you’re in now… Why, as an ally, I find you deplorable.” Two figures, one big and one small, approached them. It was the larger shadow who’d ridiculed Felicia. “You’re from one of the many old noble houses carrying King Arthur’s bloodline in modern times. As the head of the house of Duke Ferald, aren’t you embarrassed? Lord Ferald…” “L-Lord Gloria?!” Felicia yelped, not even attempting to hide her surprise and suspicion. “Why are you here?! What business could you possibly have?!” “Oh… No need to be so on guard. We’ve joined forces in the King Arthur Succession Battle—in order to be the last ones standing… Aren’t we basically comrades?” The shadow—Lord Gloria—sneered in considerable glee. It was difficult to make out the figure under the dark veil of night in the alleyway. “When a comrade’s in distress, you’d like to help them out… Isn’t that natural?” Lord Gloria dragged forward, inching closer…and suddenly drew a sword out from the murky abyss. It was as long as a person was tall—a two-hander. The blade was pitch-black and thick, the hilt cast in a sinister shape. The very sight of it was soul wrenching, as though grating on one’s sanity… That was the kind of ominous aura the sword unleashed in the space between them. This was bad. That sword was bad news. There was something about the sword that evoked an instinctual fight-or-flight response. “Yes… With my Excalibur’s powers, we could handle those small fry…” “Please wait!” Felicia called out sharply, while internally reprimanding herself for cowering in response to his frigid suggestion. “There’s no room for you to step in here, Lord Gloria! This isn’t your time!” With that, she yanked out her own Excalibur and turned it on Lord Gloria. The tip of it trembled slightly. “By the name of my household, I, Felicia Ferald, swear to force Luna Artur to drop out by my hand! She’s my prey. If you interfere, you’ll be violating the code of chivalry! And if you choose to oppose me, then our alliance is over!” “—?!” Next to her, the knight’s eyes flung open in surprise. You’re doing this, my liege? Are you really starting this here? With this man? As he picked up on Felicia’s desperate, steadfast resolve, he wordlessly readied himself to protect Felicia. Suddenly, the two were assailed by an intense premonition of death, coiling around them as if it were a poisonous snake. Gazing upon them, Lord Gloria seemed amused as the two shrank back from him… “Ah-ha-ha, I’m only kidding, Lord Ferald. I won’t do anything to harm your precious friend,” he teased, thrusting his sinister sword back into the darkness from whence it came. “I’m counting on the elven blood that runs thick in your veins. When Dame du Lac announces the quest for the four treasures, your powers are bound to come in handy. We’ve formed an alliance, after all… Besides, we’re Kings, one and the same. Let’s be a little more friendly with each other, shall we?” “…!” Felicia watched Lord Gloria with extreme caution and slowly put her rapier back in its scabbard without breaking focus. Her fingers were still faintly quivering. “Well, if that’s settled…what about that Rintarou Magami? Was that his name? He’s sort of a nuisance,” Lord Gloria cursed, without any concern for her wretched state. “What in the world is he? It doesn’t seem like he’s a King from King Arthur’s bloodline, and he’s not a Knight of the Round Table…so not a Jack, much less a Queen who grants us our quests…” In that case… “Ha-ha-ha… Then maybe we can take him at face value to be a Joker?” stipulated the smaller shadow, nestling closely to Lord Gloria. In no way did the shadow look like a Jack, as the figure was cloaked from head to toe in a hooded pitch-black robe. But based on voice and build alone, the silhouette seemed somehow feminine, womanly. “Oh? Do you know anything about him?” “…No.” After a moment of silence, the woman in the hood quietly shook her head. “But I know he’s an aberration. The organization running this King Arthur Succession Battle, Dame du Lac, does not approve of these uninvited players… Yes, I believe he’s like me.” Then, as if something was funny, she chuckled to herself. “I see, a Joker. How fitting. Ha-ha-ha… Regardless, this is a one-sided game, a guaranteed win. Well…I’ll chalk it up as entertainment.” In genuine delight, Lord Gloria also let out a guffaw. “Now then, let’s get back to our conversation, Lord Ferald. Just as promised, Luna Artur is your prey. I won’t interfere… Is that fine with you?” “…As long as you promise, I have no complaints.” “But…if I see you can’t handle someone the likes of Luna…well, you understand what will happen, don’t you?” Lord Gloria gave her a composed grin. Was there any other person in the world who could cause such terror and fear with a simple smile? “Ngh?!” Beyond this masked smile was ill will and intimidating malice—bottomless in depth. Felicia felt as though she were nothing more than a child. “I expect…results from this coming battle.” With these parting words, the man turned on his heel and disappeared into the back of the alleyway. The hooded woman followed after him like a shadow. “…Luna…I…” Felicia could only watch the pair leave as a distraught expression marred her face.