Later…
"We finally made it!"
Seeing the city walls ahead, Artoria's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"This is Camelot! The royal capital of Britain!"
"…"
She turned to Ian.
"Why do you look so unimpressed? Aren't you even a little excited?"
"It smells bad. I don't like it here."
It was a simple statement, but it made Artoria realize his feelings.
Thinking about it, she could understand. The desire to draw the sword and become king was her dream, not his.
As she pondered this, she felt her hand tightly grasped.
It was Ian.
"Let's go."
"Eh?"
Artoria hesitated. "Didn't you say you don't like it here?"
"But you do. That's enough for me."
Her gaze drifted.
Clutching the chest Ian had ravaged more than once, she couldn't help thinking—maybe this was worth it.
"Yeah. I get it."
In a slightly ambiguous atmosphere, the two of them reached Camelot's gates.
"Halt!"
A guard holding a silver spear stopped them. "What's your business?"
"We're here to try drawing the sword!" Artoria quickly explained.
"…"
"…"
The two guards looked at each other—then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"You think you can pull the sword?"
"Better give up!"
"Yeah, tons of strong guys have come recently. Someone as scrawny as you shouldn't waste time."
"Go home and farm or something. It's more realistic!"
…
Artoria's face turned bright red.
She knew the guards were dismissing her because of her petite figure.
How humiliating…
They were clearly underestimating her.
While she was fuming, Ian stepped in before she could say anything.
He didn't speak a word—just stared straight at the two guards.
Even though he was unarmed and wearing ill-fitting clothes,
the soldiers could feel a terrifying bloodlust from him.
It felt like he could tear them apart at any moment.
Reacting on instinct, the slightly sturdier of the two raised his spear and pointed it at Ian.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
"Don't think we'll back off just because you're glaring at us!"
"We're trained soldiers, we—"
They froze.
They saw something they couldn't comprehend.
Ian opened his mouth and bit down on the spear.
The sound of his teeth grinding against metal was deeply unsettling.
Crunch. Crunch.
It sounded like he was chewing through food.
Under their stunned gaze, Ian chewed up the tip of the spear and spat out the metal bits.
Then he kept glaring at them with those same menacing eyes.
Earlier, they were acting on survival instinct.
Now, it felt like the word "death" was carved right above their heads.
Artoria noticed their fear.
She quickly pulled Ian back and explained:
"Uh—Ian's always had really strong teeth!"
"You don't have to be scared!"
…
She regretted saying that immediately.
It sounded way too ridiculous.
But strangely enough…
The guards didn't seem to want to argue.
Well, that made sense.
Artoria peeked at Ian—
He was still breathing heavily.
Who would dare talk back in that situation?
"Is that so? Since childhood, huh…" one guard forced out a strained smile.
He clearly didn't believe a word of it.
But he didn't dare argue.
"Understood."
…
"…"
"Then we'll be going!"
Realizing they might be stuck here all day if this continued, Artoria quickly grabbed Ian's hand.
"See you around!"
But just a few steps later, she suddenly turned back toward the guards.
"Also—
Please don't underestimate people like that again."
"Some folks get very angry when you do."
"Uh, okay… got it."
Under their dazed stares, Artoria and Ian made it into the city and parked their wagon.
Sure, it was a bit of an unconventional entrance.
But at least she got to vent a little.
Her mood improved instantly.
"Hey—
Thanks, Ian."
"You stood up for me back there, right?"
"… Yeah." Ian nodded.
"I was angry."
Artoria's expression softened.
It felt nice knowing someone cared about her.
But then Ian added,
"You smell so good, Artoria."
"Hey!"
"Are you judging me like I'm food?!"
Hands on her hips, she glared at him.
"But your chest really does taste great—"
Before he could finish, she clamped a hand over his mouth.
Artoria's face was burning.
"Don't say stuff like that in public!"
"People will think you're some kind of creep!"
"And stop losing your temper so easily! It causes problems!"
Boom!
Right on cue, thunder rumbled in the sky.
"See?" Artoria seized the moment. "Even the heavens are angry now!"
"Really?" Ian looked up.
The lightning, which would terrify most people, didn't faze him at all.
Instead, his eyes reflected the bolts in the sky as he murmured,
"That's about how it looked when Mother got mad."
"Huh?"
Altoria suddenly realized—
She still didn't know much about Ian.
---
Meanwhile—
The Sea of Life.
Well… to be precise, there's no "meanwhile" in a place like this.
This boundless ocean, created by Tiamat, exists outside time and space.
Because of that, the Sea of Life has the potential to connect to any era.
Right now, its master—Tiamat—was in a rage.
"Aaaaargh!"
"Ian! I know there's another girl with you right now!"
"Don't touch them…"
"You'll fall into an endless abyss!"
"Mom will find you!"
"Mom remembers your scent!"
She twisted and turned through the Sea of Life, lonely, panicked, and pained.
A storm raged across the Sea of Life.
And above Britain…
The thunder grew louder.