The path from the beach to the church wasn't far.
As Artoria had said, the island wasn't large at all; it could indeed be fully explored in just a short time.
Along the way, just like in previous Singularities and Lostbelts, Ritsuka and Mash asked Artoria a few questions.
For example, about the situation in this Lostbelt, the state of the island, and so on.
Unfortunately, Artoria didn't provide much information.
According to her, though she called herself a wandering Magus, she had only officially started wandering a few days ago. Before that, she had been confined somewhere by a bastard to study Magecraft and knew nothing about the outside world.
Still, Artoria did know about this island.
The island's name was the Isle of the End, also called Orkney. It was the homeland of two saviors whose stories spread across all of Britain, and the place where both saviors would eventually return after saving Britain.
The Holy Sword Bearer Artoria mentioned earlier was actually one of those two saviors.
—When the British Isles face calamity, twin saviors will return from the Isle of the End, and then return to the Isle of the End once more.
This was a legend that had circulated in Britain for a very long time.
"Even so, the saviors haven't appeared in a long while. The last recorded appearance was two thousand four hundred years ago." Artoria said. "That was the final recorded emergence of the saviors. After that, both completely vanished. There are rumors that the saviors left this world, and others that they died… all sorts of legends."
"Then… Miss Artoria came here to find the Holy Sword because of the legend?" Mash asked.
Artoria nodded: "I heard it from a blacksmith—he said that two thousand four hundred years ago, one of the two saviors ultimately relinquished the Holy Sword used to save the world, sealed it in Orkney, and then fell into eternal sleep."
"So you came here."
"Anyway, I have a strong reason to find that Holy Sword."
(Only by finding the Holy Sword can I… can I finally not have to…)
Artoria lightly clenched both fists.
While the three were talking, the path stretching ahead also came to an end. The ruined church fully appeared before them.
Just as it looked from the beach, most of the church was destroyed, leaving only the right side. The left side, including the entrance, was completely gone, giving the impression of battlefield ruins.
Additionally, atop the small remaining section of the church, for some reason, there was a massive bell—looking as if it had fallen from a great height but hadn't fully pierced the wall, only getting stuck halfway.
"This is the place."
Artoria gazed at the ruined church before her, took a deep breath, then shouted loudly into the emptiness ahead: "Excuse me! Is the guardian of the Holy Sword here? I am Artoria Caster, come to seek and unseal the Holy Sword!"
"…"
No answer.
Amid the swirling snow, only Artoria's voice and the howling wind echoed.
Pursing her lips, Artoria called again: "Excuse—"
"Nooooooise~~"
This time, there was a reply.
A somewhat lazy voice came from inside the church.
"It's winter—let people sleep in peace… This rundown place already had nothing to begin with, and now you won't even let me sleep soundly?"
The voice sounded like the grumbling of someone whose sleep was disturbed, full of morning grumpiness.
Hearing this voice, the faces of Artoria, Ritsuka, and Mash froze.
"This voice…"
"Big Brother?"
No mistake—though it felt slightly unfamiliar after not hearing it for so long, Ritsuka and Mash were certain this was Naoki's voice.
However, unlike the two whose faces lit up with joy, when Artoria heard this voice—
"N-no way…"
She showed an expression of disbelief.
Then, under the gaze of all three, a figure emerged from behind the remaining church structure.
It was a man.
He had long, disheveled blond hair that looked uncombed and uncut for years, reaching down to his waist. He wore extremely old-looking clothes. Perhaps from constantly being in the snow, snow had piled up everywhere.
And the most important point was his appearance.
"Department Head?!"
Ritsuka exclaimed in delight.
No doubt—the man before her was their jerk Department Head who had been gone for over half a year, leaving behind a group of prospective wives!
Hearing Ritsuka call him, the man—Naoki—rubbed his sleepy eyes: "You… Oh, I remember, I remember. Fujimaru Ritsuka—this is Ritsuka, right? And this one's Mash. It's been over two thousand years—I almost forgot what you two looked like."
"Eh?"
Naoki's casual remark shocked Ritsuka and Mash. Even Roman and the others in Chaldea who heard it were stunned.
Over two thousand years?
Ritsuka opened her mouth: "Two… Department Head, you've been here… over two thousand years?"
"Yeah—By the way, since you're here, that means you received the message I sent, right? I think it was around fifteen hundred… No, maybe eighteen hundred… Shh, it should've been earlier than that."
As if his memory was jumbled, Naoki held his head, trying to recall something from an extremely long time ago: "Yeah, almost nineteen hundred years ago? You came because you received the communication I sent back then, right? You guys are really slow. When did Chaldea get so sluggish?"
"Well, even if you're late, it's good you came. This way, this place and that place can connect. All my effort sleeping here hasn't been in vain… Ugh~~~~~Mmm!"
Stretching his body and limbs vigorously, Naoki looked at Artoria standing beside Ritsuka and Mash: "By the way, the one yelling earlier was this girl, right? You're the one looking for the Holy Sword?"
"Ah… Yes, that's right."
Artoria shrank her neck slightly as she answered.
After staring at her for a while, Naoki said: "Well, giving it to you isn't impossible—but first, deal with the problem you brought."
"Problem?"
Ritsuka and Mash frowned.
Meanwhile, Artoria grew tense: "N-no way… I should've dropped him into the sea—"
*BANG!*
A loud crash from behind cut off Artoria's muttering. Like a startled rabbit, Artoria trembled several times, then turned with Ritsuka and Mash to look toward the source of the sound.
There, a tall figure holding a flaming greatsword was slowly walking toward the three.
"Found you."
Seeing Artoria standing not far away, the figure planted the massive sword beside him and slowly knelt before Artoria.
"Fairy Knight Gawain, reporting to Her Highness the Second Princess. By order of Her Majesty the Queen, I have come to bring you back to the King's Castle. Please come with me, Lady Artoria."