Rintarou looked straight at Sir Mordred. “That was why I’m to blame in some ways. He became a fallen hero…because I couldn’t be by his side until the very end… It’s my fault… I’m genuinely sorry…” “—Gh?!” She hadn’t expected this. “…So that’s why I’m going to be there…by her side. I’ll watch Luna go down her road to becoming King. I’ll show her the way. “Ha-ha-ha… I realized I have fun with her. I realized I want to be by her side… I realized I want to make her king. “I know it’s stupid that it took a near-death experience for me to reach this revelation. I’ll keep wielding my sword for her sake… I was going to use her at first…but I don’t feel like doing that anymore. I don’t know why.” “…Nonsense! How will you change anything? Are you saying she won’t take a wrong turn like Arthur just because you’re there?!” “Shut up! No one is safe from making mistakes! That’s why you’ve got friends!” “—Ngh?!” Sir Mordred was subdued by his rebuttal. “Just so you know, kings and heroes aren’t gods! They’re human, like us, even if they’re really strong! They make mistakes when they’re tired like us! That’s why they need people to support them! If Arthur went crazy, it was the responsibility of those around him, including me! Am I wrong?!” “—GH?!” His question gouged her heart. Everyone worshipped Arthur as a king during their generation. Anyone would have served the great king as a knight, sworn their allegiance, and offered their sword to him. They had all been willing to be ruled by the great king as one of his people. They praised his name. But had they seen him as “King” or as “Arthur”? Had they hoisted more burdens onto Arthur, pretending they were extensions of his responsibility as king? Had they coddled themselves by viewing him as merely a king? If someone had seen Father as himself…and not the king…maybe his fall never would have happened. Could we have avoided that ruin? Sir Mordred suddenly realized. Even she had never treated Arthur as a father. Had she even looked at the king with unbiased eyes? Had she ever considered…what he might have felt as they stood in a field of murder? If Arthur had been the rightful king from the start… If someone had understood and supported him… If we could have avoided all ruin in that way…then I…I… I could not accept it. I refused. Because I wouldn’t be able to stand anymore if I did. Sir Mordred gnashed her teeth in irritation, which had no outlet. Rintarou gently called out to her. “Hey, Mordred… You want to save the world, right? You want to save it from the Catastrophe. You’re worrying about the fate of this world in your own way.” “…Wh-what about it?!” “In that case, why don’t you draw back your sword? I think we can face the same direction together.” Revelation dawned on her. “How do you expect me to believe you?!” But Sir Mordred rejected him like a child. “Merlin! You haven’t changed one bit! I know you’re just using Luna! Just like Arthur! People don’t change! You’re the same bastard who toyed and tricked people…like in the ancient era!” “Mordred…” “How can I withdraw now?! How can I trust you now?!” “…All right. Come at me. Let’s talk it out with our swords. This is our common language.” Rintarou solemnly raised his swords again. “MEEEERLIIIIIN!” Sir Mordred howled, vaulting off the ground. She rushed at him with Clarent in hand, bursting with rage. “I will become king and cleanse our paaast!” “Come at me! I’ll…face the future with her!” Rintarou readied himself for Sir Mordred. — “AAAAAAAAAAH!” She charged toward him, vocal cords shredding as she howled, brandishing her sword. Ten yards apart. The seconds stretched forever. It was like she was drawing closer to him in slow motion. Sir Mordred started to think… — “Gah!” My nose stung from the metallic scent of blood in the middle of this atrocity. Reika Tsukuyomi gurgled out blood, turning to me. I’d never seen so much despair or confusion in someone’s eyes. I could understand why she was distressed…because I had been the one who stabbed her. Clarent had impaled Reika Tsukuyomi’s heart. There was no saving her anymore. I had delivered a fatal wound. “This…has…to…be…a…joke…! I’m…a King! And a Jack has no business defying a King. That’s the rule…! Gah…!” “Did you forget who I was?” I gave my sword a sharp twist, sounding like I was pronouncing her death sentence. “I’m Mordred. In the second seat. I rebelled against the king and killed him. I am the traitor… And I am the exception.” “…Gh?!” “I cannot leave this in your hands. I will become a King in your place. To save this world. I will…take your body as mine.” As her life flickered out, Reika turned a ghastly smile on me. “Fine… Try your best, sinner… Traitor… Ngh! We’re…the…same… Koff!” “!” “You talk a big game, but…you’re just like me… Another murderer…” “No! Don’t lump me in with you! I’m—” Reika interrupted my excuses, chuckling. “See you in hell…Mordred…!” — “AAAAAAAAAAH!” She charged toward him, vocal cords shredding as she howled, brandishing her sword. Eight yards apart. The seconds stretched forever. Sir Mordred started to think… That’s right! I can’t withdraw! If I retreat now, then what would I have been…? — “You’re asking me to serve King Hitoshi Kataoka?” “Yes.” The witch in black had offered me a proposal and an enchanting smile. “You might have stolen Reika Tsukuyomi’s body to become King… But her Round Fragment summoned Sir Dinadan… I think the odds are stacked against you.” “……” I glanced next to me. There was my Jack…Sir Dinadan. There must have been some mix-up when he was summoned here. He looked at me, aloof. Why had Sir Dinadan responded to my call at all? I was the loathed enemy who’d murdered him. “Like we discussed, it won’t be easy to steal Hitoshi’s blood. By joining his forces, I will secure an opportunity for you to go through with it.” “……” “We have common interests. I would like for you to kill all the Kings. That’s my only motivation.” “……” “You’ve already committed a grave sin. You’ve murdered a king in cold blood in the previous age—and now… Isn’t it too late for you to think twice about deceiving and betraying others?” “AAAAAAAAAAH!” She charged toward him. Six yards apart. Sir Mordred started to think… If I retreat now, then what was I…? — “Are you saying you’re bringing an insurrection against King Arthur, Sir Mordred?!” “That’s right.” Back in the ancient era. On our quest for the Holy Grail, I confided in Sir Dinadan about my change of heart for the first time. Even Sir Dinadan was perturbed by my confession. “I—I never would have thought you were plotting something so awful…!” “Oh, please, Sir Dinadan. I know you’re smart enough to figure out that our kingdom will be ruined. We’re already down the wrong path if we’re betting on this Holy Grail to save us! A chalice promising prosperity? Yeah, right!” “B-but…” “Look at our situation! Fellow members of the Round Table died for this stupid quest! We just lost Sir Ywain three days ago! Last week, Sir Melias! Who’s going to be next?! We’ve already lost enough of our knights!” “B-but the king is…” “We can’t leave this country in the hands of King Arthur, Sir Dinadan! I’m begging you as my guardian from childhood! Please help me out!” “Sir Mordred…” “If I have your support as the balancer, it will solidify my faction… And increase our chances of defeating him! So—” “Wait. Wait. Please calm down, Sir Mordred. Cool your head. You haven’t talked about this to any others, right?” Sir Dinadan chided my ardor. “You’re still young. I understand why you’re impatient. The king has certainly changed… He doesn’t have much power and charisma anymore… But we still need him…” Sir Dinadan offered a smile to placate me, placing his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone. Let’s just take a few breaths. Okay?” “……” “Hey, why don’t you come over sometime? It’s been a while. My little brother is dying to see you. Ha-ha-ha. After all, Brunor owes you big-time!” “……” “Come on. Let’s go. We can drink the night away. Just like old times. I think you’ll feel better if we have a heart-to-heart. Ha-ha-ha!” Sir Dinadan turned his back to me… “You’re right… I’m getting ahead of myself. I need to cool my head. I’ll stop mulling over these stupid thoughts… I’m down to grab a drink. For old times’ sake, Sir Dinadan.” “I’m glad you’re coming around. Ha-ha-ha. Don’t cringe, but…I think of you as a daughter…when we’re together…” BSHH. Something ripped through flesh. …I had impaled his defenseless back with my sword. “…Cough… Sir…Mor…dred…?” Blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth. Sir Dinadan turned back to look at me with a dumb expression on his face. “That’s too bad… Now that you know my secret, I can’t let you live,” I said curtly, like I was pushing him away. “…It’s time to part ways, Sir Dinadan… Good-bye…” “AAAAAAAAAAH!” Four yards apart. Sir Mordred started to think… What was I…? — “We can’t leave this country in the hands of King Arthur anymore!” “Yeah! Sir Mordred will restore our land!” “We swear our allegiance to Sir Mordred!” “Glory to the kingdom!” ““““RAAAAAAH!”””” The night before the fated battle, ardent knights had gathered at our meeting point. “I promise I will become king…!” I shouted. “I will bring us peace, glory, and prosperity! I swear this on the king’s sword…on Clarent!” “Long live Sir Mordred!” “Long live our true king!” ““““RAAAAAAH!”””” “AAAAAAAAAAH!” Three yards apart. I… — “Why…did this happen?! Where did I go wrong…?!” Camlann Hill. Corpses on top of corpses on top of corpses. Bloody bodies of knights crowded the charred wasteland. Hell. A gravesite. Doomsday. “Curse you…Sir Mordred… I regret…swearing my allegiance…to you…” “…If only…you didn’t have…such perverse ambitions…! Ngh…!” “Ngh… You…never…had…the potential to be king…” “I-I’m sorry! I’m so sorry…! I’m sorry! I never wanted this to happen… I never meant for it to turn out like this!” My fallen comrades pelted me with their grudges as they inched toward death’s door. I just wanted to atone. I continued to wander my own personal hell—by myself. “I’m sorry…! I’m sorry! Dammit… Damn you…! King Arthur! Where are you, King Arthur?!” I dragged along my battered body, searching for Arthur. Two yards apart. I—! I—! “…You came, Sir Mordred…” “AAAAAARTHUUUUURRR!” I roared, holding my sword in my fist as I sprinted up Camlann Hill. I had finally found him. I was heading straight for the detestable man. “—Gh?!” I realized something. I wished I hadn’t witnessed it. On the top of the hill, King Arthur was…weeping, standing there quietly. He was grieving over the lives lost, whether friend or foe. He was crying. “…F-Father…” When I witnessed his tears, I realized this might have been a mistake. You see, I was already dealing with second thoughts. Was there another way? Does it have to go this way? Is this our only solution? But there was no turning back now. I was already dashing up the hill. “Arthur…! AAAAARTHUUUUUUUURRR!” Ah. Damn! Dammit! For some reason, tears started to flood my eyes. I couldn’t stop them. But why? My vision began distorting under my tears. I thought I had been prepared for this. I thought I’d been firm. I thought I had sworn to my heart. Did I seriously think I had the right to cry? Why was I weeping like a maiden at the eleventh hour? Was it regret? Or remorse? Or…? “Okay, Sir Mordred… Let’s settle this… Let’s end this… The curtain closes on the legend of the Round Table now… This marks the end of my dream…” King Arthur picked up a lance and looked at me… “WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” I covered my head under my sword, sprinting up the hill, almost out of my mind. I was closing the distance between us. And then… Zero yards apart. My consciousness snapped out of the past, returning to the present. As I continued to sprint forward, the lonely silhouette of King Arthur…turned into Rintarou Magami. “If I retreat now…” For some reason, I had been reduced to tears, howling at him. “…Then…what…was…I…fighting foooor?!” I had weaponized every ounce of strength in my body and soul, pushing myself to my limits… And I brought down my sword for the last time on Rintarou Magami. “…Luna, I’ll make you king.” Rintarou was ready. “That’s why…I’ll never lose again. Just watch.” The Celtic pendant hanging from his neck started to glow. He brought up his pair of swords in the shape of a cross. A white-hot collision. Sword met sword. Sparks burst, streaming out of their blades. Blinding white light flooded the area. “—Ngh?!” “……” The ray was getting stronger. Their vision turned white until it was completely washed out. — — — …What? What am I looking at? I realized I had been transported to a completely different place. Is this…St. Paul’s Cathedral in London…? There was a large crowd of knights, lords, priests, and the general public outside. Nothing seemed to link them together, except they were all there. I was part of that mass. …Huh? What’s about to start? They were watching with bated breath for something within the church precincts. Their gazes were set on the sword stuck in the stone anvil. WHOSO PULLETH THIS SWORD SHALL NOT BE BUT THE RIGHTWISE KING OF THIS REALM…proclaimed the engraving on the stone in gilt letters. Is this Excalibur…?! I gazed at it, not believing my eyes. “Please wait a moment! Arthur! Are you serious?! As your sister, I must advise against this!” A group had come to the base of the sword. “It’s not too late! Tell the crowd that I pulled it out! That way, you can escape the burden of being king! I don’t think you’re fit for it! I don’t want you to get crushed! Please—” It was Sir Kay. “Keep it down. There’s no way you could be king! You’re welcome to advise Arthur, but think before you speak!” Sir Kay’s father, Sir Ector, admonished. “What a surprise… To think someone would succeed in pulling out the sword…,” mused the Canterbury archbishop. “Pull it out one more time for the audience! Then no one will question Arthur as king. Heh-heh-heh,” chuckled Merlin. And then… “……” Arthur stood in front of the sword, looking meek. Wait! That’s not him! That’s— It wasn’t Merlin and Arthur. It was Rintarou Magami and Luna Artur. Which must have meant…this was their netherworld? Was I looking into Rintarou Magami’s heart over our crossed blades? What was the reason behind this? Was it related to the hawthorn pendant? “Now, boy. Our young king. On this most holy day of our Lord and Savior, you must pull this sword from the stone… Blah, blah, blah. Oh, if you pull it out now, there’s no going back,” Rintarou warned. Luna quietly stood in front of the sword and grabbed its hilt, closing her eyes. “Hey…Rintarou, will you always be with me? Will you always be by my side?” He beamed at her. “Uh-huh. Don’t worry. I’ll be there until the very end. I’ll clear the path to your future.” “Good. With you…I can go anywhere.” Luna smiled. With no hesitation, she pulled the sword out and raised it above her head. It emitted a brilliant light…and the entire world seemed to burn white again…
Chapter 45
14 min read