["Aurora is dead."]
[You could not tolerate any more of your outpouring of rage; after several thousand cuts, Aurora soon perished.]
Gazing at that lifeless, mutilated flesh, Guinevere spat contemptuously.
Her vitality reserves had been ample—indeed, under the faeries' desperate healing efforts, she had been replenished until nearly suffering overabundance of blood—yet the mental torment reached its limit, and she died quickly. Even though her wails lasted the entire night, given her crimes, such punishment still felt too light. Unfortunately, though Guinevere's extremity of vengeance tempted him toward even crueller acts, his morality score remained too high to permit further atrocities.
Yet the soldiers' fury did not subside. They impaled Aurora's body on massive wooden stakes, lifted her aloft, and set her ablaze as though executing a medieval witch.
At that moment, Guinevere sensed an overwhelmingly terrifying presence approaching Salisbury.
[Your scouts stationed outside the city report the approach of the Beast Calamity "Bagster," and inform you immediately.]
[Upon detecting its coming, you quickly lead the troops out of Salisbury. Soon Bagster's colossal form appears beyond the city walls, its crimson canine eyes reflecting the despairing faces of Salisbury's inhabitants.]
[Bagster's flames swiftly consume Salisbury; most residents are devoured.]
[After devouring so many faeries, Bagster grows even stronger; its already enormous form expands into a gargantuan silhouette.]
[Without engaging such a Bagster—and upon confirming its next destination is Norwich far to the north—you immediately withdraw your forces.]
[However, as you have withdrawn halfway, you encounter other companions hurrying to join upon hearing the news.]
"Salisbury... already destroyed?"
Percival, staring at the distant city now a sea of flames, asks in stunned tones:
"How many of us have died?"
"Roughly ten percent casualties," Guinevere replies quietly, eyes lowered. "Aurora's troops were not formidable, but everyone was exhausted."
"I feel sorrow for those fallen warriors; I failed to protect them all."
"But whether those still alive or those who died, none would regret this path."
Percival falls silent for a long moment, then gazes toward his former home, finally sighing:
"It is lamentable. I did not expect Aurora to meet such an end... but perhaps it is deserved, huff."
Rydra snorts thoughtfully:
"To be honest, I do not dislike what you did: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Any warrior with blood in their veins might choose likewise... but your timing was terrible."
Grim shakes his head, brow furrowed:
"Your siege order paralyzed all of Salisbury, leaving them defenseless before the Beast Calamity; Bagster's power grew further. How is that different from aiding the enemy?"
Guinevere shrugs lightly:
"Isn't that fine? Let calamity devour them so no successor can rise. That fate suits them."
"Tch, so you think you bear no fault?" Grim retorts briskly.
"Enough bickering. Even if Bagster grows stronger, it matters not... after the pilgrimage ends, all calamities shall be erased."
At that, Artoria, who had remained silent until now, finally speaks. She has no words about the bloodletting driven by malice and hatred, nor any special sentiment about the destruction of two cities. War often begins through someone's malice and does not end by someone's will; all are drawn into its whirlpool, bound by chains of hatred that lead to meaningless slaughter. Artoria feels only fatigue.
"Let us go, Guinevere." She reaches out her hand. "The final Bell has already rung. Now I must return to the Realm and fulfill my mission."
"You will go with me, right?"
"...Yes," Guinevere answers after two seconds, pressing down his anger and bitterness as he gently takes Artoria's hand.
"...Very well. My mission is merely to bring the Chosen One of Prophecy, whose pilgrimage is complete, back to the Realm. If you choose willingly to fulfill your duty, so much the better."
Grim immediately falls silent too, picking up his staff again:
"Then let us depart."
[You cancel your return plans. Changing course, you board Rydra's carriage again with Artoria and Grim. Percival remains to return to Lentinien with the Round Table Army to continue the aftermath work.]
[According to Grim, the entrance to the Realm lies in the Dark Swamp north of Britain— the lake region you skirted when heading to Orkney. In its depths rests the corpse of the Boundary Dragon Albion; you must enter the spiritual passage through its remains to reach the Starry Inner Sea.]
[When you withdrew to Oxford, you met Noknarei and Murien, who were overseeing the reconstruction of Oxford with northern faeries and the Tooth Clan.]
[Even facing the Tooth Clan, Murien showed no intense emotional fluctuations as before; she calmly arranged matters, taking no further action.]
"Now, what sense is there in quarreling further with those fools?" Murien says:
"After all, the Tooth Clan remains the frontline soldiers of the Faerie Realm against Mords. We still need their existence."
"Anyway, those original perpetrators are long dead, and Woodworth truly fought to defend Gloucester. For the descendants of these sinners, my sole present demand is that they acknowledge their ancestors' crimes and be willing to atone."
[You depart Oxford and continue northward toward the lake region.]
[Noknarei stays behind with Murien to continue rebuilding Gloucester and Oxford, personally escorting you toward the lakes.]
[Along the way, you face many Mords attacks; but such enemies now are insignificant to you.]
[Perhaps it's your impression, but Noknarei seems to seek chances to chat or travel alongside you. More notable, Artoria, who previously reacted strongly, shows no objection.]
[You ask Artoria if something is on her mind.]
"Not at all. It's just my first return home; I feel a bit unsettled!" Artoria replies.
[At night, you camp around the lake region.]
.............
[While the others sleep, Noknarei finds you.]
"What's going on with Artoria? Her reactions along the way seem off... Was she always such a scatterbrained, carefree person?" Noknarei asks bluntly.
"Hm... wasn't I?" Artoria replies with a slight smile after two seconds' silence.
"...Has anyone told you your fake smile is transparent? It's seen through at a glance." Noknarei says coldly.
"Ah..." Artoria is taken aback.
"Artoria, I ask you one question." After a short pause, Noknarei solemnly asks:
"This journey won't be our last meeting, right?"
Artoria remains silent long before answering slowly:
"In the Faerie Realm, once the mission is complete, one falls into perpetual slumber there... Afterwards, Guinevere, I entrust you to take care of him."
Though Noknarei had suspected, upon hearing this she is stunned for a long while.
"—Say that to him yourself!" Noknarei snaps, then turns and leaves hastily. Before departing, she pauses and looks back to Artoria:
"At least for this final leg of the journey, you should spend it earnestly with him, making good memories, shouldn't you?"
Artoria is momentarily dazed; by the time she reacts, Noknarei has strode away.
.............
[Early next morning, you set out again.]
[Compared to yesterday, Artoria is noticeably more cheerful, returning to her usual carefree, happy self.]
Watching Artoria's perpetually surprised expression wherever you go, you wonder if your earlier worries were overblown.
"Indeed, the lake region scenery is lovely. Were it not such a critical time, it would make a fine tourist spot."
[You enjoy a fairly pleasant journey.]
[By evening, you reach the location Grim mentioned where the dragon's remains lie.]
"What a huge skeleton... Even the surviving bones are enormous. If this creature still moved, it would rival or surpass today's Bagster in size!" Artoria marvels at the ancient remains.
[Though called a dragon's remains, when you arrive you see only the giant skeleton covered in thick moss.]
[Although Mords have been plentiful all along, near Albion's remains you see no signs of them. Instead, you find many traces of human and faerie activity.]
[Moreover, as you draw near the remains, you sense others' gazes tracking you, though as they take no action, you cautiously avoid unnecessary conflicts.]
[At this moment, what should be mere remains of Albion have become a passage into the depths.]
"Then let us part ways here." At the passage entrance, Grim stops.
"The boundary's far side is the greatest sanctum of the Magical World; not everyone may enter. Only... yes, only you, the Chosen One of Prophecy, and Guinevere as your attendant, can go."
"If so, let us say farewell here. I will wait for your return." Grim says gently.
"Temporary farewell, yes." Rydra interjects: "Could it be Guinevere and Artoria will be inside for ages? Would we wait here until time's end?"
"...No, probably not too long." Grim, knowing Rydra is unaware of details, does not correct further, merely nodding to Artoria: "Then, thank you for your efforts."
"No, I should thank all of you for your care all along. I truly had a delightful journey." Artoria bows sincerely to Rydra, Grim, and Noknarei:
"Now I depart. Farewell, everyone."
"Artoria." Just as she turns to step into the dark passage, Noknarei suddenly calls after her:
"If you entered the Gloucester Princess Contest now, you might well win."
"You now seem very much like a savior—truly remarkable."
—Artoria pauses, then smiles:
"Really? You finally see it? Even a rustic faerie can be remarkable, right!"
Saying so, she turns and links her arm with Guinevere's, stepping lightly into the passage.
"Still... it feels a shame." Entering the pitch-black tunnel, Artoria adds:
"It's a pity Oberon didn't come along; unable to thank him face to face is regrettable."
"That's a strange thing to say," Guinevere's heart skips a beat as he instinctively replies:
"If you wish to thank him, couldn't you do so next time we meet?"
"—You're right." Hearing Guinevere's probing, Artoria hesitates half a second, then nods firmly:
"Then I'll thank him when next we meet; after all, there is still much time ahead!"
To reassure Guinevere, for the first time Artoria chooses to lie to him. At that moment, she thinks:
"Ah, how fortunate Guinevere cannot use Faerie Eyes to see through deceits."