Miracle Summoner

Rozen had long suspected that the Knights of the Round Table, who served the Lion King, were not kept in the dark, which was why they had fallen in line with him.

The reason was simple: the Knights of the Round Table were not just five knights, but a full thirteen.

Even without King Arthur, there were still twelve remaining knights of the Round Table.

With that being the case, why were only five knights present in this particular Singularity?

"Since the Lion King holds three Holy Grails in hand, summoning all the knights of the Round Table should be a piece of cake. Yet, that's not the case," Rozen continued to speak.

"Even though Galahad didn't respond to the summoning due to his fusion with Mash, and Bedivere isn't included, the Lion King should still be able to summon the remaining ten knights."

So why, then, were only five present?

The reason was equally simple.

"The remaining five knights must have been slaughtered by the Lion King and your ruthless forces because they could not agree with her methods and ideology."

Rozen laid out the harsh truth.

"You must have learned the whole truth from the Lion King, which is why you split into two factions and fought until only one remained."

Clearly, Lancelot's side had emerged victorious.

"This confirms it. All of you, including you, know full well the outcome of the Lion King's actions."

Rozen spoke each word clearly.

"Like how humans trapped in the Holy Spear would become specimens."

"Like how, once the Tower of the End appears, the world will turn into the end of the world, consumed by storms."

"Like how, after the Lion King leaves with the Holy Spear and human samples, this world will collapse, the lands outside the Holy City will disappear into nothingness, and human history will be erased before the Mage King's rule is burned away."

"You all knew this, yet you still chose to follow the Lion King."

They did it just to make up for their regrets in life.

"For the unfulfilled wishes, they were willing to become enemies of humanity, abandoning almost all of humanity, to show their loyalty."

Rozen laughed, a bitter, mocking laugh.

"Truly, the Knights of the Round Table have great resolve."

Lancelot endured all of Rozen's words.

And he tacitly accepted them.

"You...!" Mash glared at Lancelot.

"That's... so cruel..."

Even Hassan of Serenity, the head of the Assassin Guild, murmured lowly.

"I see now. This is what the Knights of the Round Table are like, these noble and righteous knights, their true faces are like this. Compared to them, I am nothing. I thought I, who wanted to burn every inch of France, was cruel enough."

Jeanne [Alter] mocked them relentlessly, her tone so vicious it became the highlight of the scene.

"You've gone too far!"

"Even a genius like me wouldn't dare to do such a thing against human morals."

"You... How can you still call yourselves Heroic Spirits?!"

Roman, Da Vinci, and Olga Marie all chimed in with their disbelief.

Only Artoria [Alter] stood with her back to the group, silent, seemingly already aware of all this, just as Rozen had said.

Lancelot said nothing in defense, just silently acknowledged all the criticisms.

Because...

"The moment we decided to accept the blessing, we had already made peace with bearing the sin."

Lancelot spoke solemnly.

"I just don't understand why King Arthur became the god-like Lion King, wielding the Holy Spear."

This was an event that should not have occurred in human history.

King Arthur had always fought with the Sword of Stars, given by the Lady of the Lake, and all other weapons were merely auxiliary, including the Holy Spear. This was the official historical record of humanity.

So, when and where did King Arthur forsake the star-forged holy sword to wield the Holy Spear and undergo divine assimilation to become a god?

Even the other Knights of the Round Table didn't know.

Rozen glanced thoughtfully at Artoria [Alter], opening his mouth but ultimately saying nothing.

He couldn't bring himself to reveal the truth.

(If I expose this now, that would be the real cruelty.)

Rozen chose to remain silent.

However...

"Since you have all chosen to serve the Lion King's, you should understand we are sworn enemies, right?"

Rozen spoke directly to Lancelot.

"...Of course."

Lancelot nodded heavily, speaking in a low voice.

"If it is the king, the King Arthur to whom we once pledged allegiance, then offering my head is not dishonorable."

The implication was clear to everyone.

Lancelot had accepted it.

Accepted Artoria [Alter]'s judgment.

"From the moment I confirmed that you too had manifested, I had already decided—if I am to die, then it must be at your hands, my King."

Lancelot knelt on one knee before Artoria [Alter] and lowered his head.

"Please deliver your judgment, my king."

With those words, silence enveloped the scene.

Everyone became a spectator, turning their gaze toward Artoria [Alter].

"Ah…"

Mash couldn't help but step forward, intending to say something, but Rozen stopped her.

"This is his way of showing loyalty. We'd better not interfere."

Rozen placed a hand on Mash's shoulder and shook his head.

"This…"

Mash was speechless.

But it was the truth.

The Round Table knights who swore loyalty to the Lion King—most of them chose this path to atone for their failure to serve faithfully in life.

The Knights of the Round Table who pledged allegiance to the Lion King had all done so because of their unfulfilled wishes in life.

So, when they learned that the true King Arthur, Artoria [Alter], had also manifested in this Singularity, their feelings must have been incredibly complex.

There were two Artorias—one deified, the other corrupted. The knights must have been conflicted over who to pledge allegiance to, and could only drag things out until now.

No matter who they swore loyalty to, the Knights of the Round Table were traitors.

To serve one Artoria meant they had to be enemies of the other. As a result, no matter which side they chose, they could never fulfill their loyalty.

For these knights, the greatest relief came with this ending.

As loyal knights, serving one Artoria with their lives, and as betrayers, being beheaded by the other Artoria. Only then could they be truly free.

This was their way of showing loyalty.

Artoria [Alter] finally turned around to look at Lancelot.

Her face remained as impassive as a still lake.

"Do you need me to help you, foolish king?"

Jeanne [Alter] taunted Artoria [Alter], but this time, Artoria [Alter] ignored her.

"You are not guilty enough to die."

Artoria [Alter] spoke in a flat tone.

"Take him back to the Mountain City and imprison him."

With that, she turned and left.

The soldiers of the Mountain People rushed forward to bind Lancelot.

Lancelot was stunned but did not resist, silently being taken away by the Mountain People.

Everyone watched this scene, exchanging glances.

Rozen smiled faintly.

"Looks like she's not completely heartless after all."