Her Highness the Second Princess?
Hearing the words of the tall woman calling herself Fairy Knight Gawain, Ritsuka and Mash simultaneously stared at Artoria in shock.
"Miss Artoria is…"
"Her Highness the Princess?"
"Ugh… Don't look at me like that." Artoria averted her gaze with slight embarrassment. "Her Highness the Princess or whatever—it's just a title, it has no real substance…"
"Forget that! Why are you still chasing me, Gawain?! I used my full power to blast you into the sea!"
Artoria clearly remembered using a full-power magical shot to knock Gawain into the ocean to escape her pursuit. How was she here now?
Could she have swum from the sea?
Fairy Knight Gawain placed her hand respectfully on her chest: "Indeed, your attack did knock me into the sea, but all us Fairy Knights have received blessings and protection from Her Majesty the Queen. Simply drowning in the sea is not enough to make me give up pursuing you."
(That bastard!)
Artoria's heart sank halfway.
Fairy Knight Gawain continued: "Your Highness, it has been ten days since you left the King's Castle. Her Majesty the Queen is deeply worried about you. Please do not be stubborn and return to the King's Castle with me. Sir Tristan and I will plead for leniency on your behalf."
"No way!"
Artoria shouted firmly: "I… don't want to go back there! I finally escaped. If I go back… I'll just be locked up again by that bastard! Caged like a canary!"
She couldn't go back.
If she returned now, she would definitely—
*KLANG!*
The sound of a sword striking the ground interrupted Artoria's thoughts. Fairy Knight Gawain, seemingly reluctant, sighed softly and raised the flaming greatsword in her hand: "I understand. Then, forgive my rudeness, Your Highness. Her Majesty the Queen gave orders beforehand—even if I must break your arms and legs, I am to bring you back."
"That bastard really doesn't treat me like a person!—Though I'm a fairy, not a human!"
Seeing Fairy Knight Gawain raise her sword and grow serious, Artoria's face paled slightly. She knew full well the overwhelming power of this knight who towered over her in every way. Even if she gave her all, she had no chance of winning in a direct confrontation.
But even so… she didn't want to be taken back so easily—back to the King's Castle (her cage), which had taken her years to understand, and from which she had only just found a chance to escape days ago.
"Forgive me—Your Highness!"
With an angry shout, Fairy Knight Gawain charged at Artoria, swinging her sword. A powerful wave of heat instantly hit their faces, nearly making Artoria feel like she'd evaporate. The flaming greatsword in her view swung straight for her head!
Gawain wouldn't kill her—Artoria was sure of that. After all, they weren't truly enemies. Aside from official duties, their personal relationship was actually quite good. Her hostility now was just work. She was a knight utterly loyal to that bastard.
Perhaps the attack would switch to the sword's hilt to knock her out at the last moment.
(That's my chance! Though it's annoying to use the Magecraft that bastard taught me to save myself—)
*KLANG!*
But just as Artoria prepared to escape Gawain's grasp with Magecraft, a shield suddenly blocked in front of her, firmly stopping Gawain's strike!
It was Mash.
"Eh?"
Artoria was slightly shocked: "Mash? You…"
"Though I don't fully understand the situation yet, Miss Artoria, you need help right now, don't you?" Ritsuka came to her side and smiled. "You don't want to be taken by this Fairy Knight named Gawain—If so, Mash and I will help you."
"H-help me? Why?"
"Why… no special reason. Someone's in trouble and danger right in front of us—of course we want to help, right?"
(She's not lying… Just for such a simple reason?)
Artoria could see Ritsuka's inner thoughts. She was certain Ritsuka wasn't underestimating her or hiding motives. She purely wanted to help.
Up front, Gawain, locked in a sword clash with Mash, blinked slightly after hearing Ritsuka's words. Then, she suddenly exerted force, hurling Mash back!
(Such immense strength!)
After spinning in the air from shock and landing, Mash stood in front of Artoria and Ritsuka, shield raised: "The opponent's strength… is overwhelming, Master."
"Yes, after all, Gawain is the strongest in pure physical power among the three Fairy Knights. Facing her head-on gives no chance of winning." Artoria explained. "Sorry, Mash. Can you buy a little time? I'll use spatial transfer Magecraft."
Spatial transfer Magecraft!?
"Miss Artoria, you can use magic that powerful?"
"Forced to learn it from that bastard, but it needs preparation time—about one minute… Though it's infuriating, the Holy Sword matter will have to wait for another chance."
Glancing at Naoki standing nearby as a silent observer, Artoria took a deep breath and planted her staff into the ground.
But—
*BOOM!*
Not far away, around Fairy Knight Gawain, a massive pillar of fire suddenly shot into the sky! A scene like a volcanic eruption, with lava spewing upward, instantly appeared before the three!
An incredibly strong Mana reaction immediately enveloped them—and even Chaldea, far away in Pan-Human History, detected this powerful Mana surge! The instruments that previously couldn't observe anything were forcibly pushed to display certain fluctuating values!
"I am truly delighted, Your Highness." Gawain, bathed in flames, said, "Since you were welcomed back to the King's Castle as a princess by Her Majesty the Queen, you've had no friends at all. Now, on your first time out, you've made two people willing to help you. Both Her Majesty and Sir Tristan will be overjoyed to hear it."
"But forgive me—I will still bring you back. This is Her Majesty the Queen's order, and I was told to do so immediately. Thus, please excuse the slightly rough methods—After returning to the King's Castle, I will apologize to you."
[Fujimaru! Mash! Activate your Noble Phantasm!]
Roman's voice suddenly rang in Ritsuka and Mash's ears.
[Based on our observations, the Mana at your location is equivalent to Artoria's Holy Sword activation!]
"!!"
An attack equivalent to Holy Sword activation!?
No time to think further—Ritsuka hurriedly pressed her hand on Mash's shoulder. Mash shouted: "Noble Phantasm, activate—"
"No! It won't make it in time!"
Amid Artoria's panicked cry, even before Mash could fully activate her Noble Phantasm, Gawain swung her greatsword. The massive fire pillar shooting skyward instantly condensed into a single beam—and struck with devastating force alongside the sword's slash!
The overflowing wave of flames poured out like a breached dam!
Ritsuka's world instantly filled with endless fire! High heat, shockwaves, and explosive gusts accompanied the firestorm all at once!
*RUMBLE!*
A single fiery blast incinerated everything before it!
And when the flames filling their vision vanished, Ritsuka, Mash, and Artoria—who had been standing before Gawain—now all lay collapsed on the ground.
One attack. Total annihilation.
"Ugh…"
Artoria let out a pained groan.
Approaching and gently lifting her, Gawain sighed: "I am truly sorry, Your Highness—I hope I caused no issues for you, Guardian."
The second half of the sentence was directed at Naoki, who had been silently watching.
Shrugging resignedly, Naoki said: "Wreaking havoc like this on my island, and you dare say that… Well, it's just a rundown island I abandoned anyway, so even if I object, it's pointless."
"Thank you for your understanding. Then, we'll take our leave."
With that, Gawain carried Artoria in a princess hold and walked back down the path she came.
Looking at the scene before him—now resembling a volcanic zone created by Gawain's serious attack—Naoki sighed slightly: "Seriously… they've all been powered up several levels beyond the originals. So it might take three or four people to handle one…"
"Whatever, that's for later. First, let's deal with these two idiots who got beaten without knowing anything."
Naoki gazed at the unconscious Ritsuka and Mash with a hint of resignation.