What the—what's happening?
Meeting someone for the first time and immediately knocking them unconscious to drag them off—what kind of bandit behavior is this?
I have such a cute wife—how did I end up as a husband-snatching thug?
Guinevere stared at Oberon in bewilderment, and Oberon returned the stare in equal confusion. Then, Oberon suddenly laughed.
"All right! So that's the Chosen of Prophecy's first order? Consider it done!"
Guinevere's eyes instantly burned hot with anger. That scoundrel had corrupted his Artoria! In just one day, she'd already turned into a highway robber—what would she be like if this went on? He couldn't stand it; he'd unleash hell right now!
Guinevere clenched his longsword, flames flickering along the blade. He would make that rascal who corrupted his wife truly experience the might of Heavenly Fire Judgment!
Fueled by righteous fury, Guinevere charged forward—
Guinevere began his attack—
Guinevere collapsed.
He hadn't even gotten in a single proper strike. The moment Guinevere raised his sword, C-styled Oberon flung a "Writing Magic Device," commonly called a Stun Bomb, straight at his face. Then he fired a Mana Arrow at the bomb. One explosion later, Guinevere blacked out.
"Not bad, my dear wife," Guinevere thought, even as he slipped into unconsciousness. "Even when bashing her husband, she's that formidable."
[You have been knocked unconscious by the Chosen of Prophecy, Artoria.]
[You have been captured.]
[Upon awakening, Artoria offers a solemn apology.]
"I'm truly sorry. Everything happened so suddenly that my mind blanked out, and I did… this. Please forgive me!"
Watching Artoria bow over and over like a chicken pecking rice, Guinevere paused for two seconds, then nodded.
"It's all right. Since it was just a misunderstanding—and I'm not hurt—let's pretend nothing happened… So, could you untie these ropes now?"
"Sure… but before that, I'd like to ask whether you'd be willing to join my party and help me save the world."
With that, she quickly pointed at herself. "I am the famously prophesied Chosen, after all. You can trust me."
"…."
Guinevere's expression flickered oddly. If anyone else had spoken to him in that tone, he'd have assumed it was a threat: "Join up or die." But since it was Artoria—knowing her timid, mouse-like nature—he realized she wouldn't break a promise if she made one.
Truth be told, until now, he had always been the one to approach her and request to join her team. It was the first time he'd been invited into her party instead.
This rare experience amused him; he couldn't resist teasing her a bit. He asked with a wry grin, "What if I said I'm not interested?"
From what he knew of Artoria, if he declined, she'd likely sigh, wonder where she'd gone wrong, loosen his bonds, and tell him—regretfully—that he was free to go. Then he could watch her crestfallen face before revealing that, actually, he did want to join. That expression would be priceless.
But to his surprise, Artoria simply shrugged both shoulders and said matter-of-factly, "Then there's no discussion." Her voice was firm. "You'll just stay tied up and we'll hang you up… uh, starve you until you change your mind."
Now it was Guinevere's turn to wear a stunned expression. "But just a moment ago, you said you'd untie me…"
"So I lied," Artoria replied, eyes calm and unwavering, without a trace of doubt. "After all, those who accomplish great things don't sweat the small stuff. We're going to save the world—if we're too timid, nothing will get done."
Hearing that, Guinevere fell silent for two seconds. Then he glared at Oberon, who had been silent until now.
You—little punk—started all this trouble with my Artoria, didn't you? Fine! I'll remember this grudge. Tonight, you better keep watch with both eyes open!
Oberon, noticing Guinevere's venomous glare as he raised his hand to greet his new companion, froze mid-wave. He had no idea why Guinevere was suddenly so hostile.
[Under semi-coercion and sincere invitation, you have joined the Chosen of Prophecy, Artoria's, world-saving party.]
......…
[Guinevere has joined your party.]
"All right! That's an incredibly smooth start… no, I'd say the most wonderful beginning ever!"
Artoria nearly jumped with joy as she stared at the simulator's display. To be honest, when she first saw that SR-rank Oberon had automatically joined her party, she panicked—worried that adding him might scare Guinevere off. So when she saw Guinevere, and realized they were meeting as adversaries, she planked hard and simply tied him up on the spot.
Granted, tying up Guinevere went against her nature—she blushed inwardly at the boldness of her words earlier in the simulation—but if it secured Guinevere's party membership, she deemed it worth it. After all, it was all for Guinevere! A tiny breach of decorum was no big deal, right?
[Your journey has begun.]
"Oh, right—speaking of which, Guinevere mentioned he's actually one of the Drifters from beyond the Shimmering Gate, and he arrived in Britannia only recently."
"Which means, on this journey, the future is completely unknown to him, too."
With that thought, Artoria animatedly controlled her simulated avatar to stand before Guinevere, as though presenting a precious treasure. She stretched her hand toward the vast meadow before them.
"Come, let us depart together," she said.
"Toward the ideal land loved by wind and rain, earth and life and song—"
"The Twilight Isle where countless faeries dwell: Faerie Britannia."
In Guinevere's eyes, the beautiful girl, under a sky the color of morning gold, unfolded her arms and spun lightly like a sprite. Then she held her arms wide, beaming as she introduced the wondrous world ahead.
At that moment, the young woman's face was bathed in that bright yellow light, revealing a smile as radiant as spring's first breeze. Her cheerful grin mirrored the fantastical land on the horizon, as if both had been painted onto a single, exquisite canvas.
Yet at the same time, Guinevere felt as though a grand adventure's curtain was lifting, guiding them forward into dreams and distant lands.
"This will be an extraordinary journey, I'm sure," Artoria said.
"Yes… probably," Guinevere replied with a small nod.
"Indeed," Oberon smiled. "I'm very much looking forward to it."
[After setting out, you ask Artoria about your first destination.]
[Artoria tells you that your first stop is Salisbury.]
"Huh?"
Seeing Artoria's slightly awkward expression, Guinevere typed a question mark.
"You want to start our journey by going home?"