325 - - 323. On the other hand, at that time

A marble tea table floating white in the scent of roses. A fragile beauty, a gentle boy, and a faceless maid standing behind them.

It is early in the morning when the garden's rose fragrance comes into the air, but now it is a heady scent from the flowers that have been scattered by the knights and adventurers who have stepped into the garden, some of whom are not paying attention.

Is it the armed crowd that does not fit this place?　Or are they the ones who gracefully enjoy tea?

"We haven't seen each other in a long time, Lancelot. I've missed you. ......"

A woman in a white flowing dress with a long, flowing veil behind her, sets down her teacup silently and calls out to you, looking downcast.

"Queen Guinevere. What is wrong with the king?

A knight in a white cloak with blue lining, called Lancelot, asks.

"You're lying low, sir."

"There's still some skirmishing, but the castle is under control and even the cellars are manned. Is the dried-up corpse in the east tower the king?"

Galahad, the red-haired knight, asks back.

"What are all the knights of Asha's garden doing here?　The king is lying in wait."

Guinevere replies with troubled eyes.

The Rose Garden is surrounded by the knights of Asha's garden, who are further surrounded by adventurers.

"Who is the child, my queen?"

A large knight with black hair and a black beard asks.

"To Gawain ....... Of course it is Arthur, the son of the king and me. I know there have been rumors about you and Lancelot, but they are just that, rumors...... that you look so much like the king when he was young, what makes you doubt it?"

He says somewhat pleadingly with a sad face.

"Guinevere,...... sir,......?"

"Agravain, are you even you?"

Guinevere asks with moist eyes.

Agravain was pleased to fulfill her wish, which was a pride of being a knight. Agravain bites his lip and looks away.

"Queen Guinevere, Arthur is the name of the king. You and the king have no children.

Lancelot tells him with his usual smile.

"What?　This child is Arthur ......, son of the king, the king is ambushed ......, the king's name, his name is ......."

Guinevere's words slowed as if stretched, and as each word spun out of her mouth, her once-glowing skin turned dull, gray, brown, and dried up.

Guinevere's skin dries up and crumbles away. The veil is blown away by the wind and flutters in the air as knights and adventurers look on.

"Oh, poor Guinevere! But you're too early, thank you."

Suddenly, the figure of the maid of honor who opened her mouth fades and her outline shakes, and then she is replaced by a beautiful woman in an unfamiliar exotic costume.

"Ah, will you tactless people please be quiet?　This is the scene of the fulfillment of my wishes. It's finally done. The last key is that the woman realizes that this is not the son of the emperor, but that he is the same thing (・・・・・・・) as the emperor.

She is a beautiful woman, but she is not suited to sunlight.

The light that had just poured down on the rose garden fades, and it becomes dark around her. On the contrary, her red lips and white skin seem to dazzle the eye.

"Beautiful ......"

"I'm losing my energy ......!　The voice, no, the smell!

"What?"

A scent sweeter than a rose wafts from the woman, and the adventurers all wander off together. The word "tactless" seems to refer to the adventurers.

"My doll ...... with knights in tow, give the order!"

The corners of the woman's bright red lips twisted into a grin.

"Kneel before me, knight."

A word, a gentle boy opens his mouth.

As soon as those words escape, the knights all fall to their knees. And some adventurers.

"Geez!　Just like the old man's skills!"

A red-haired knight swears.

Other knights hang their heads, some grit their teeth, some have sweat pouring down their faces. A powerful skill to invoke against those who call themselves knights. Galahad would be better off just looking up and swearing.

"That's why I told him to give it up quickly!"

Lancelot, standing alone in the group of knights, throws a cold look at Galahad, who is glaring at the boy with a look of anger.

"Old man!　If you knew, explain it to me!"

Galahad calls him "old man," but Lancelot looks too young to be even of prime age.

"It's not that I knew. I just expected it."

He says it casually, returns his gaze to the front and smiles.

"It is against the spirit of knighthood to offer up your sword to fight against skill.

Lancelot makes a straight face.

"Why, why ....... The most powerful knight I've ever wanted is leaking out?　After all these years of assembling such a large number of knights, ....... I was looking forward to embracing the last of the men whose blood was spilled and who were unwilling to kill each other."

"Do you like knights?"

"Yes. --Why do you ask?　You have no intention ......."

It was the boy who spoke, and the woman noticed something unusual in the middle of his words, but it was too late.

"What a coincidence. I too wanted to be a knight, not a wizard or a sage.

He spoke in a manner unbecoming of a boy, his words and expression unwavering, but the sword in his hand was piercing the woman.

"No!　Why, why ......!"

The woman, who has been stabbed through the back, still draws her sword, holds her bleeding belly, and moves away.

"The blood will not stop, Tamamo. Quickly, return to the body of Fuso you have left behind. But when you get there, I don't know if your consciousness will be superior to your body and soul.

The boy smiles a foolish smile not befitting a child.

"You, you, you ......!　When did you take over Nue ......!"

The woman glaring at the boy with hatred changes her appearance, her claws grow longer, her mouth parted to her ears, and she shows her fangs.

"You thought you were using me, but I took you up on it because it suited me. I made a few additions to your plan and it came true. Come on, or there'll be blood."

"Ku......!"

The woman called Tamamo turns her back and flies away in frustration at the boy who teasingly and happily tells her. Her figure gradually changes into a large fox with several long tails.

"......Yokusu!"

A sealed beast!

Which way, which way?

"Fuso," he said.

The rustling adventurers follow the figure of the fox as it vanishes into the sky, its body motionless.

Merlin the Wise?

"My left hand. Long time no see, Lancelot.

Lancelot smiles and asks, and the boy responds.

"What are you trying to do, using Tamamo, hijacking Spider White?"

"Young - a little too young, I'm afraid, due to the accelerated schedule. That body has been prolonging its life one after the other, and it's wearing out. On the other hand, this body will never grow old or get sick.

Merlin spreads his arms out as if to say, "Look at this.

"A rather prosaic answer for a wise man like Merlin."

You will grow old in my time. I would like to ask you if you can give me the same answer then.

Merlin with a chuckle.

"Are you not going to be my knight?"

I already have a master."

Lancelot says with a smile like a spring sunbeam.

"...... You have given not only your sword, but also your body. You have done what he asked, but you have disobeyed even Arthur. But you'll be better off without your master. I am more than capable of wielding the power of an emperor better than Arthur, and with my strength and my young body I will subdue even you!

Several orbs appear around the smiling Merlin.

I have sealed many demons in these pearls, and I will give your master two or three of the most powerful ones!　The knights present here are also to disappear. No more weaklings!　Now, go!"

The light from the treasured pearls flies everywhere, but most of it falls close enough to reveal the demons.

"I can move ......!"

Looks like the knight is still out there!

Protect!"

The influence of the jade plant seems to have worn off, and the adventurers begin to fight.

The demons target those who are in a party with the knights. A battle with the demons occurs among the group of adventurers. Hearing the noise, the knights groan as they try to stand up, their red faces shaking.

"Homura (Lengard)......!　d*mn!"

Galahad shouts and stands up.

"Well, I guess I'll get out of this skill that rules the knights. You know, you were always bad for a knight..."

Merlin looks at Galahad with one eyebrow raised.

"Shut up!　You old man, Homura!"

Don't panic. We'll be right there.

Before Lancelot can finish, a jewel floating around Merlin cracks open.

"What?　I sent Vyvr, the sub-dragon of poison, the evil forest spirit Ai, the white Zlatlok who protected the treasures of Paradise and caused them to collapse!　The poisonous sub-dragon Vweevre was defeated in an instant?　How did you--"

While Merlin was shouting in panic, the other two pearls also flew off.

"What happened!

A panicked Merlin waved his hand toward the sky as if to wipe something off, and a huge image appeared in the sky.

In the image, a man with long hair and a white robe stands alone, something bloody in his arms. The man in the image turns around and looks up at the viewer, as if he has noticed the viewer's eyes on him from far away.

Many of them felt that their gaze met the gaze hidden by the mask.

The Lord has seen us. Now, the title of Arbiter will open the way. It is a rare opportunity to fight alongside the Lord, and Merlin must do his best.

Lancelot tells him happily.