Artoria Pendragon.
King Arthur from Pan-Human History.
Ritsuka and Mash actually had a pretty good relationship with her. After all, among the many "big sisters" in Chaldea, Artoria was one of the easiest to get along with. Unlike Merry, Ritsuka and Mash truly respected her.
They just never expected to meet someone in the Lostbelt who looked exactly like her—and even had an almost identical name.
Hearing Ritsuka and Mash's denial, Artoria Caster frowned slightly after a brief silence: "Not… not guardians? You two?"
"Yes, in fact, we just arrived on this island too." Ritsuka said, "I'm Fujimaru Ritsuka, and this is my friend, Mash. We both came from Pan-Human History… Um, about Pan-Human History—"
"The world on the proper path, right?"
Artoria smiled: "I know about Pan-Human History. After all, the bastard who taught me Magecraft—"
Suddenly, mid-sentence, Artoria looked up at the sky as if confirming something, then continued: "The bastard who taught me Magecraft once told me about Pan-Human History knowledge, saying it's the true world still full of infinite possibilities."
"But… that knowledge was just information. This is the first time I've actually interacted with people from Pan-Human History. I never thought it would happen here."
"Miss Artoria, do you… believe we're from Pan-Human History?"
Mash was a bit surprised. Artoria's statement didn't seem to doubt them at all.
"I can tell if someone's lying~~~ It's a little skill of mine—Oh, I should reintroduce myself. That was unclear earlier."
"I'm Artoria, Artoria Caster… Um, right now I'm a wandering Magus. I came to this island to find the Holy Sword."
Holy Sword.
Artoria had mentioned this word before too.
Ritsuka couldn't help asking: "The Holy Sword you mean?"
"The Star Holy Sword that saves the world. You have it in Pan-Human History too, right?" Artoria explained. "On this island rests the Holy Sword used by the great hero who saved Britain when it faced a massive crisis in the past. I'm wandering just to find it. I have a strong reason to obtain that Holy Sword."
The Holy Sword used by the Great Hero who saved Britain?
Could it be…
"Miss Artoria, may we know the name of that great hero?"
"Eh? Name?"
Artoria shook her head: "No, I don't know. The legends passed down don't include the great hero's name—You want to know the great hero's name?"
Ritsuka nodded: "Because he might be the person we've been looking for all along."
"Looking for someone?"
"Yes, in fact, an acquaintance of ours from Pan-Human History went missing over half a year ago after saying he was heading to a Lostbelt. Since he's a very important person in many ways, we came from Pan-Human History to the Lostbelt to find him. His name is Natsukawa Naoki."
Ritsuka explained: "Miss Artoria, are you familiar with this name?"
"Ah… That… No, I don't know. There's no one named Natsukawa Naoki among the people I know, and I've never heard the name at all." Artoria shook her head like a toy. "But I think he definitely isn't on this island. After all, on this island, besides us, there should only be one guardian of the Holy Sword."
"Guardian of the Holy Sword…"
Ritsuka and Mash fell silent upon hearing that term.
Natsukawa Naoki was the Bearer of the Star Holy Sword. On this island there was a Holy Sword and a guardian of the Holy Sword… Honestly, neither thought there was no connection at all. Moreover, Artoria had also said, "You have it in Pan-Human History too, right?"
"Miss Artoria, can we come with you to meet this guardian of the Holy Sword?"
Mash asked: "Even if he might not be the person we're looking for, we still want to ask a few things…"
"I think that's fine… but this is my first time here too. I actually don't know exactly where he is."
Artoria said with slight embarrassment.
Though she came to this island to find the Holy Sword, all Artoria knew was the fact that the Holy Sword might be here. She had no idea about anything else.
After all, the legend of the Holy Sword Bearer who saved the world happened two thousand four hundred years ago. Most of the passed-down legends had been lost. Even that tiny bit of information she heard from a blacksmith after much effort.
"Could it be over there?"
Ritsuka suddenly said, pointing into the distance.
Following where she pointed, what Mash and Artoria saw was a church-like building standing at the highest point on the island.
But even from this distance, it was clear the church was in ruins. The entire roof was gone—as if sliced off by something. What remained was perhaps only about a third of the original.
"If we're talking about where the Holy Sword rests, it's usually a church, shrine, or something like that, right? I think it must be there."
"That makes sense… Let's check it out." Artoria said, "Even if it's not there, it's fine. After all, this island isn't that big. It'll just take a little time to search the whole place."
As she said that, Artoria already started walking toward the church. Ritsuka and Mash quickly followed. The three swiftly left the beach and headed into the swirling snow ahead.
And not long after they left—
*PLUK!*
In the middle of the churning sea, a shadowy figure suddenly emerged—or rather, swam out of the seawater. Dragging a soaked body onto the beach, the shadow glanced at the still-burning campfire, then stared far toward the church.
"There… Moving pretty fast, though part of it is because it took me so long to swim here… Calculating, there's not much time left."
"Better quickly find His Majesty and bring him back."