For Saria, as long as she could be with Luzelde, it didn't really matter where they were.
So, staying in the Sun King's territory and living a life where she wouldn't have to worry about food or drink as long as she worked was something she really wanted to accept.
However, the words Daniel spoke when they met the Sun King finally gave her a sense of crisis.
If they didn't work hard to do something, this era would be destroyed.
The end of the world was not far from them.
She could tolerate accepting death for herself, but she could not accept that Luzelde would die along with the end of the world.
He hadn't even had the chance to get to know this world yet.
Plus, she hadn't yet repaid Daniel's group for saving her life.
If she simply gave the gem pendant to Daniel and the others and let them search for the Old Man of the Mountain's village on their own, Saria worried that when they found the village, the person who recognized the pendant might misunderstand and think they had killed for it.
After all, the Old Man of the Mountain was no benevolent figure.
That would be detrimental to their plan to save the world.
Therefore, Saria decided to go with them.
And she explained her reasons to Da Vinci, who opposed her coming along.
Da Vinci was almost convinced by her.
"Have you really decided to do this? Finding a hidden Mountain Village in the desert is no easy task. And there will certainly be many dangers along the way; you might lose your life to a terrifying enemy at any moment." Convinced as she was, the necessary warnings still had to be given.
"Yes, I've decided." Saria nodded, holding her son, and replied firmly, "Lord Daniel saved the lives of my son and me. On the path to repaying that debt, there is only a possibility of losing my life. In the end, we've still come out ahead, having lived this much longer."
"Besides, Lord Da Vinci, you and Master Sanzang possess mysterious and powerful strength just like Lord Daniel and Miss Mash. With you all protecting us, I don't believe Luzelde and I will lose our lives in the desert." Saria had a gentle smile on her face. "Of course, before that, we must prepare sufficient food and water."
Though Saria's expression was soft as she spoke, her tone was exceptionally firm.
"That's what she says." Da Vinci looked at Daniel helplessly.
Saria's reason was to repay a debt, and since Daniel was the one who saved her and Luzelde, the final decision on whether to let the mother and son come along rested with him.
Daniel considered it for half a minute before nodding in agreement.
"The prerequisite for repaying a debt is staying alive, so no matter what happens, please do not give up on your lives easily." But the necessary words still had to be said.
After all, people's thoughts are not always transparent to each other, and no one knew if Saria might one day sacrifice her life to repay the debt.
"Yes, I understand," Saria nodded in response.
Meanwhile, in the Holy City.
Agravain, with a gloomy expression, walked briskly from the Holy City's main gate toward the inner palace.
The Purification Knights he passed along the way tried to report to him, but they were ignored.
For Agravain, who usually wished he could split himself into three to listen to reports from the Purification Knights, this was a first. Seeing this, the Purification Knights were so frightened they stood straight and dared not say a word.
"Agravain? What has caused such alarm?" As soon as he entered the palace gates, Agravain heard Tristan's voice from the side.
"It has nothing to do with you." Agravain glanced at Tristan, his pace not slowing for a moment.
"Did it fail? Lancelot's attempt to intercept the mage's group." Tristan's next words forced Agravain to stop.
Agravain didn't respond; he just stared coldly at Tristan for a few seconds before moving again.
Tristan, meanwhile, frowned deeply.
It was that unpleasant feeling of being excluded again.
"My King, Lancelot's mission to pursue Daniel and the others has failed." Agravain knelt on one knee before the Lion King to report the current situation.
"He met your expectations with failure, and for that, he should be punished. However, Lancelot brought back another piece of news." Agravain hesitated for a second before continuing, "Among the outsiders who joined Master Xuanzang and Daniel, there is Galahad's spirit core, and the situation is similar to that of Daniel and Gareth."
"Sir Galahad, the only one among the Knights of the Round Table who did not respond to my summons," the Lion King said calmly and without expression.
Agravain's brow furrowed even deeper.
"My King, shall we execute Lancelot?"
"Why?" the Lion King asked, raising an eyebrow at Agravain.
"The opposing camp has Daniel with Gareth's spirit core and an outsider with Galahad's spirit core. Combined with Lancelot's own instability and that person deep within the palace... I fear he will once again rise in rebellion against the King."
"Sir Agravain, have a little more faith in Sir Lancelot." There was still no anger in the Lion King's voice. "Simply administer the appropriate punishment to Sir Lancelot according to the laws you have enacted."
"Yes, I obey your command." Agravain bowed his head low.
By the time Agravain left the throne room, the Purification Knights were already prepared to receive his new orders at any moment.
"Increase the guard in the depths of the palace." Agravain issued new orders to the Purification Knights following him as he walked briskly. "No one is to enter that room unless the King or I are present."
"Yes!" A Purification Knight accepted the order and left.
"Send a few more men to Lancelot's camp to punish him for his failure."
This order's execution was somewhat controversial.
Although they reported directly to Agravain, asking them to punish Lancelot, a Knight of the Round Table, was too much for them.
"Never mind, I will carry this out personally later." Agravain sighed inwardly as he glanced at the Purification Knights behind him.
When he arrived alone in the depths of the palace, the number of Purification Knights on guard had doubled.
"Can you tell me what's happening outside? It seems the number of Purification Knights monitoring me has increased." After the door opened, the noble silver-haired woman sitting on a luxurious chair inside looked up at Agravain at the door and asked.
"My Queen, please mind your words. The Purification Knights are here to ensure your safety, certainly not to monitor you." Agravain replied expressionlessly, but he did not answer her question.
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