Chapter 57

Luna was convinced… Someone was watching them. She thought she felt the eyes of something that moved deep in the darkness, observing them. “…” Luna started to think again. Well? What was she supposed to do? What should she do? Would she keep trying to persuade Rintarou, believing she could get through to him? Would she look for another method and withdraw for now? Luna thought about her options—long and hard. After all that thinking, she came to one conclusion… “…Rintarou.” Luna unsheathed her Excalibur in one fluid motion. “Let me say one thing. You’re full of shit.” “…What did you say?” “I said you’re full of BS!” With quiet rage in her eyes, Luna looked straight at Rintarou. “Who are you supposed to be serving? Me, right? Do you think you can change loyalties like that? You’re my vassal! I’m supposed to be your lord! Not the Holy Grail! Get ahold of yourself and open your eyes!” “Huh? What’re you saying…?” “Well? Your place is by my side! To protect that space for yourself, you started to look toward the Holy Grail for strength instead of me! You tried to protect your place using the Holy Grail’s power! Which means you worshipped its power over mine! Tell me something more traitorous than that!” “……Gh!” “Hey, Rintarou! Do you really think I’m unreliable? Do you distrust me so much that you’re worried I might fall apart without that Holy Grail?! Am I—” Luna raged up to that point… “…No… Right… That’s it.” She might have remembered something. Luna calmed down again. “There’s a reason you can’t immediately believe in my powers… There’s a reason you serve the Holy Grail over me… It’s totally expected, now that I thought of it. Even though you never indicated it, it’s proven by your anxieties and despair… It was none other than I who made you this way…” “…Huh?” “And you’ve been carrying me on your back through this entire King Arthur Succession Battle… Our final score for our sword fights was zero to 113. Not once did I win against you. I suppose that would make you take the Holy Grail’s side over me…” “Sword fights? Y-you’re a demon… I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” Luna thrust the end of her sword at Rintarou, who was perturbed by his inability to process this information. “I’ll prove it to you—right here and right now! I’ll make you remember! I’ll make you remember who you should be serving! And—” “Pfft! Shut up! Who would follow someone as weak as you?!” “If you wanna make me your underling, you’ve got to do it after winning against me!” “I’ll prove…that I’m the best king in the world, suitable of having you as my vassal.” That was probably the only way. The anxieties in his heart were clouding his eyes. To clear his mind from worry, all she could do was show her power. To put it bluntly, she needed to beat the crap out of him until he returned to his senses. “This is a match, Rintarou! I’m going to wake you up!” “Y-you’re…?” Rintarou didn’t seem too sure about what he wanted to do… “No, Rintarou! You can’t listen to that demon!” As though to protect him, Dark Nayuki went in front. “Remember! Aren’t you going to save me with the Holy Grail?! You’re going to protect everyone precious to you, right?! You can’t let it delude you!” Dark Nayuki raised her hands. The black mana throughout her body became an Aura that flooded her and swirled upward. The arctic chill around her whirled into a blizzard, storming the area. In an instant, the temperature dropped below freezing, and the dense trees were frosted white, crumbling with sharp cracks. “Gah?!” The violent storm approached Luna as though it was about to swallow her… “Hyaaaah!” That was when it happened. Like a flash of lightning from the side, Sir Kay headed at Dark Nayuki and slashed at her. “—Gh?!” Dark Nayuki immediately spawned an ice sword to block Sir Kay’s blow. As that happened, she lost her focus, dispersing the frost that tried to engulf Luna. “Luna, I’ll handle her!” Sir Kay stared back at Dark Nayuki over their crossed swords. “Sir Kay…?!” “I’ve been thinking about why I serve as your Jack! About why I’m at your side!” Sir Kay expressed her mind as though she was in agony. “I’ve been troubled this whole time! That all I could do was be by Arthur’s side… That was it—the entire meaning of my existence…! I thought I didn’t contribute to anything, whether I was there or not…!” Sir Kay counterattacked with her sword. Maybe she caught Dark Nayuki off guard, because she ducked, withdrawing from Sir Kay’s sword, which should have been inferior in ability. As she quickly went into pursuit, Sir Kay let out a cry while relentlessly swinging her sword at the apparition. “Back during the legendary era, I was jealous of Merlin… I was jealous of Sir Lancelot, Sir Lamorak, and Sir Tristan… I was jealous of Sir Gawain, who after so many issues, Arthur still had faith in! I was jealous of everyone at the Round Table! I knew I’d never become like them! But I haven’t given up! That was the lot I’d been dealt! “Even in the current era! I’m sure Rintarou should be by your side—not me! He’s the one to pave the way for your royal road! So I won’t ask you for anything! It’s fine even if I can’t walk by your side… I don’t need prestige, fame, or glory! I’m fine with being a stone on the road that you and Rintarou walk on! I’m fine just observing you from slightly afar… I want this for the sake of the two of you—!” To a knight who sought prestige and fame, who valued glory, who believed that serving a king was the supreme honor, that must have been a difficult decision. Regardless, it was Sir Kay’s choice. She had decided her own fate. “Please let me do this! As someone who seeks nothing, I can fight just this once! I think the reason I became a Jack might have been for today, for this moment in time! So you focus on Rintarou!” Sir Kay swung her sword at Dark Nayuki, slicing through the air like a gale. As long as one wasn’t seeking it for themselves, the Holy Grail would lend its strength to the person. It would ensnare people with those miracles. As though responding to Sir Kay’s wishes, golden light engulfed the knight, boosting her with more power than usual. “Hyaaaaah!” “Guh?!” Sir Kay’s sword and Dark Nayuki’s ice sword crossed. The one who should have been at a big disadvantage was now rivaling Dark Nayuki. “N-Nayuki?!” Rintarou ran to try to help her. “Don’t make me tell you again. I’m your opponent.” Luna stood in his way, gaining confidence from Sir Kay’s resolve. “Dammit… You’ve got to be kidding me…! So that’s how you demons steal things…steal my friends…steal my place in the world…! Cut it out!” ZWOOSH! Rintarou released his Fomorian power. An Aura darker than darkness flowed through him, transforming him into a giant. That’s right… Kill…kill her. Right here, right now. Fulfill thine bestowed destiny. A voice that could induce shudders came out of nowhere. I created thou for this time. Get her. Kill her. The voice came down between them. I am the “one to select the king.” And I am also the “one to kill the king.” From the beginning, I was created from that wish. I am one to fulfill my fate. Never to heed however many moons pass, how many times I am reborn. My destiny will always be realized. All circumstances, all reasons, all emotions… Like the deluge of a muddy stream, all will be absorbed, allowing fate to converge. Thou “selected the king” in accordance with thy fate. Then thou “must kill the king” in accordance with thy fate. Fulfill fate. Thou must go through with thy destiny. On my name, thou art commanded… By I, who am thy father, my name is The Evil Eyed— “SHUT UP!” Luna roared at the voice that pelted them, warding it off. “This is an issue between me and Rintarou! I don’t know who you are, but don’t stick your nose in someone else’s business!” Then, without fear, without flinching, she readied her sword and charged at Rintarou. “Let’s go, Rintarou! Hyaaaah!” Her sword, released with all her strength and spirit… “Aaaaaah!” …and Rintarou’s blades, piercing forward as he roared like a beast… …The weapons hit each other straight-on and leveled the area around them.