There always seems to be a special bond between the Knights of the Round Table.
Especially Mordred.
As a magical product of the Fairy Consort, it probably wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a humanoid mobile Round Table detection radar.
For instance, earlier, she was the one who detected his [Slaanesh Avalon].
"The Knight of the Lake, Lancelot?"
Ian pondered Mordred's words and quickly formed such a conjecture.
If Mordred had come, it indeed wouldn't be strange for Lancelot to appear as well.
However, choosing the side of the Archangel instead of Jeanne [Alter]... such a direction was somewhat subtle.
"No, it's very similar to that bastard Lancelot, but..."
"Not completely the same."
"There is a sense of... incongruity."
Mordred gripped her silver sword and spoke with uneasy eyes.
"It's like when I saw that idiot Witch; although I felt she was a little similar to the person who could be called mother, I clearly knew they were two different people."
The Caster-class Jeanne [Alter] indeed had a bit of a magus flavor.
It wasn't strange for Mordred to have this feeling.
But—
For an identity like Lancelot, what exactly did this mean?
Before Ian could think in detail, Kiyohime's voice came from behind.
"Master."
"Thinking is inferior to acting; please allow me to disperse this mist for you—"
"Mn, reasonable."
"Then I'll trouble you, Kiyohime."
"It is my honor."
Hearing this, Mordred quickly stepped aside to open a path.
Kiyohime walked over.
"Transformation · Fire Samadhi!"
In an instant, the young girl revealed her true form: a serpentine form that would not yield even against a giant dragon.
Surging flames swept out continuously.
"This guy... actually looks like this?"
Mordred seemed somewhat emotional.
But soon, she seemed to think of something, and her face turned red.
"Father, aren't you afraid?"
"Why should I be afraid?"
"That... isn't she... this!" Mordred pointed at her own mouth. "Used this to service you?!"
"Just think about it!"
Mordred pointed at the giant serpent Kiyohime, waving her arms up and down.
"So it was this kind of thing servicing you! Don't you think it's terrifying?!"
"That's what you care about?"
Ian glanced at Kiyohime, who was still dispersing the mist with flames.
"Isn't that even better?"
"If such a powerful giant serpent is willing to bow her head for me, that is an endless honor—"
"Mordred, cherishing this love that has abandoned much for you yet remains unchanged is the correct approach."
"Eh?"
Mordred felt like she understood something.
But—
"Here it comes!"
Almost instantly, Mordred perceived the movement within the mist.
"Lancelot is coming!"
"What?"
Ian was somewhat surprised.
Because compared to Mordred's rapid reaction, the man found he knew nothing about it.
As if...
He was completely shielded from the outside.
But this was impossible—he could detect the existence of [Desire], and human hearts more or less had various thoughts.
"Kiyohime, be careful!"
However, it was too late.
The mist suddenly dispersed, and then something rushed out from it.
Sword light flashed—
The giant serpent crashed to the ground, slowly turning back into the appearance of a young girl.
"Master..."
In a pool of blood, Kiyohime extended her hand, but could no longer grasp anything.
"Eh, Kiyohime!"
Mordred was preparing to draw her sword and charge, but was grabbed by Ian.
"Don't go over."
"But—"
"I said don't go over!" Ian became serious. "You, can you see where Lancelot is?"
"This..."
Mordred calmed down.
Only looking at the gradually dissipating Kiyohime, this rebellious knight inevitably became anxious.
"Rest assured."
"Kiyohime will absolutely meet us again—"
"That is my promise to her."
"Now, stay calm—I know it's hard, but this is an order!"
Mordred's nature was indeed impatient, but facing this man who had conquered both herself and her Father, her instinct still triumphed over that impatience.
"Very good."
"Go perceive the opponent's existence."
"Artoria could do it, so you definitely can too—"
"..."
Mordred gripped the silver sword in her hand tightly.
That body, reproduced according to Artoria, was now emitting strong magical energy.
"Over here—"
Clang!
Sparks from the collision of blades splattered in the air.
Mordred accurately judged the arrival of the attack.
Only—
At the moment of contact, she indeed saw "Lancelot", but...
That was a petite young girl.
"Father, it's a soul..."
"What?"
Mordred's words made Ian react.
He could indeed detect the desires in human hearts.
But what if—
The opponent wasn't a so-called human at all?
A "Lancelot" manifesting with the identity of Lancelot, possessing only the identity but no actual form, naturally could not be detected.
Was this...
Guarding Orleans City for the Archangel?
"Expel, kill—"
"Battle, terminate—"
Countless voices came from the mist, echoing in the surrounding air.
"Judgment in the name of the Archangel!"
A beautiful figure rushed out from the mist.
That was indeed an existence that could easily make one feel it was "Lancelot".
But—
Everything was not so.
The moment their eyes met, Ian only felt a bound soul.
It seemed...
The Lancelot who should have responded had, like Jeanne [Alter], been alienated into this current appearance by the misplaced space-time.
Multiple thrusts.
"Lancelot" initiated attacks continuously.
Using two blades simultaneously, she held the upper hand in the battle against Mordred.
And what was more fatal was—
Ian discovered that this daughter of his actually couldn't fight back.
How could a human kill a soul?
Could it be that the dead knot of this world line had already manifested in a distorted way before even seeing that Archangel?
"Father—"
"Can a soul be killed by a soul from another place?"
"What do you want to do, Mordred?"
This abrupt question made Ian involuntarily concerned.
"That is, of course, to defeat Lancelot—"
"Although I no longer feel how wonderful the Father of the past was, but..."
"Only Lancelot, I can never forgive no matter what!"
"Wait, you aren't planning to..."
"Mn."
Mordred nodded, the armor on her body falling off piece by piece.
"This is a skill the body learned involuntarily during the process of being thrust and plunged by Father."
The last part of the armor fell off.
The young girl stood in the mist without a thread on her body.
Her magical energy was burning, yet her body gradually began to become thin.
Black patterns also appeared between her legs, until they spread to her whole body.
"Although, only thirty seconds."
"But—"
"I will absolutely win!"
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