Miracle Summoner

Rozen and Mash soon arrived in front of the main gate of the Holy City, where a camp of refugees was set up.

Naturally, to avoid drawing attention and as a precaution, Rozen instructed Mash to cancel her armament, change back into her Chaldea uniform, and use illusions to disguise their appearances to blend in with the refugees. Otherwise, their distinct ethnic traits alone could expose them and create unnecessary trouble.

Under these precautions, the knights of the Holy City ignored Rozen and Mash, allowing them to enter the camp freely.

However, Rozen had already tested the situation: getting in was easy, but getting out was a challenge.

"The Holy Selection is about to begin, so please refrain from wandering around. If you miss this Holy Selection, you'll have to wait until next month."

When Rozen attempted to leave the camp, a knight approached him and issued this warning, forcing Rozen to return.

Rozen was certain that if he tried to force his way out, the knights would likely attack him under the guise of righteousness.

This confirmed a certain suspicion Rozen had, so he decided to stay and return to gathering information within the camp.

Meanwhile, Mash spoke with the refugees, gathering intelligence from them.

The two of them regrouped in a corner of the camp after nightfall.

"I'm back, Senpai."

Mash came running toward him.

"Fou!"

Fou, who had been hidden by Rozen using Invisibility, leapt off Mash's shoulder, making a sound.

The two humans and one beast began their covert meeting in the corner of the camp.

"How did it go?" Rozen asked. "Did you find any useful information?"

Hearing this, Mash nodded seriously with a grave expression.

"I've learned about the state of this era from the refugees."

Mash began to explain.

Half a year ago, the Crusaders had not yet been defeated, and their campaign was still ongoing, repelling invaders.

At that time, the land inexplicably began to burn, desertification spread in border regions, and the Holy City was taken over by the Crusaders, who had suddenly gained astonishing power. Jerusalem was conquered, its inhabitants massacred, and fewer than one in ten survived.

At that critical moment, a black knight appeared.

"A black knight?" Rozen raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Mash nodded. "According to the survivors, this black knight wielded incredible power, using a pitch-black demonic sword to annihilate the now-brutalized Crusaders, seizing the Holy Grail—or rather, the Golden Urn—from them."

The Golden Urn—that could only be the Holy Grail.

"It seems the Holy Grail of the Sixth Singularity ended up in the hands of the Crusaders, only to be taken by this black knight."

Rozen concluded.

But the story didn't end there.

"At the moment the black knight defeated the Crusaders and seized the Golden Urn, a pure white knight appeared."

Mash continued.

The survivors who witnessed this scene described it as something straight out of myth.

The white knight and the black knight faced each other without exchanging a single word, as if they were mortal enemies destined never to coexist, and began an intense battle.

In that fight, the golden radiance clashed with the black torrent repeatedly.

That fight completely destroyed Jerusalem, leaving nothing but ruins.

No one could observe the battle up close.

The distant survivors only claimed that in the end, the black knight suffered a crushing defeat, emerging from the ruins battered and bloodied.

Even though the black knight had the Holy Grail, they couldn't land a decisive blow on the white knight. In their dying moments, they tossed the Holy Grail to distract the white knight and took the chance to flee.

Soon after, the white knight rebuilt the Holy City upon the ruins and began recruiting soldiers, proclaiming themselves king, adopting the title of Lion King.

"Afterward, the Lion King reopened the gates of the Holy Land to accept refugees."

Mash exhaled deeply.

"However, some devout followers couldn't accept this unknown outsider occupying the Holy Land, rebuilding the Holy City on its ruins, and proclaiming themselves king. They found it blasphemous, despised the knights of the Holy City, and refused to live there. Instead, they fled to the mountain regions where the Mountain People would take them in. But the mountainous areas are barren and lack resources, so many prefer to seek refuge in the Holy City and beg for the Lion King's protection."

This was the current state of this Singularity.

"No detail missed," Rozen summarized. "What about the desert regions?"

"About that..." Mash frowned, as if recalling the information she had gathered, before continuing, "The desert regions are a true hell for the refugees. They're perpetually engulfed in violent sandstorms and teeming with demonic beasts. Anyone entering the desert is preyed upon by the beasts. With no food or water, survival is impossible. Refugees don't even consider the desert as an option."

"Demonic beasts?" Rozen furrowed his brow.

"Yes," Mash replied seriously. "Apparently, these beasts are kept by another king who suddenly appeared. That king resides in a temple at the heart of the desert."

The people referred to this ruler as the Sun King.

Moreover...

"The Lion King and the Sun King seem to coexist without interfering with each other. They ignore each other's domains."

"However, the Holy City knights and the Mountain People are hostile to each other, constantly clashing. There are even special knight units dedicated to hunting the Mountain People. They're like fire and water."

"For now, the Holy City knights and the Mountain People are evenly matched."

"Initially, the Mountain People didn't have the strength to resist the Holy City knights. But apparently, the black knight who was defeated by the white knight retreated to the mountains, unified the Mountain People, and declared themselves king."

Mash explained everything.

Since the black knight declared themselves king, this ruler was referred to as the Black King.

The three regions of this Singularity were thus each ruled by a king:

The Holy Land — Lion King.

The Desert — Sun King.

The Mountains — Black King.

These three kings were the main powers influencing this Sixth Singularity.

"So, putting aside the uninhabitable desert, refugees either head to the Holy City for shelter or to the mountains to survive?" Rozen summarized.

"Yes," Mash nodded again before adding, "However, to be accepted by the Holy City, refugees must participate in a ritual."

What kind of ritual?

"The Holy Selection."

Mash answered.

"A refugee acceptance ritual held once a month—it's the only way to enter the city."