"..."
The sudden appearance of the short girl made Barghest quickly retract her hand.
Her mind also recovered from that feeling of transgression.
And then—
She seemed to react to a certain word in the girl's previous statement.
"Knight of the Round Table?"
"What Knight of the Round Table?"
"How come I don't know?"
Barghest looked at Ian, trying to get an answer from him.
But his slightly furrowed brow undoubtedly said one thing—he also had no idea where this short girl, who called herself a Knight of the Round Table, had come from.
However, the half of Arondight in her hand looked very familiar.
"Shall we go have a look?"
"Alright."
Barghest and Ian stood up one after the other and walked towards the catgirl who called herself Habetrot.
"You say you're a Knight of the Round Table?"
Barghest crossed her arms, a look of doubt on her face.
"That's right-nyan!"
Although Habetrot was small, she showed no fear of Barghest.
"Fourth Seat of the Round Table!"
"That's me-nyan!"
"What, are you doubting me?"
"Yes, I'm doubting you."
Barghest laid her cards on the table.
"You're so short. How could you be worthy of being a Knight of the Round Table?"
"You!"
Habetrot was now even more indignant.
"Being short doesn't mean I'm not strong!"
The little catgirl brandished the half of Arondight.
"You big doggy, do you want to have a go with me?"
"Oh-ho, you dare say that!"
Barghest, having had her happy moment interrupted, was already annoyed with nowhere to vent, and was now naturally even more displeased.
"Come on!"
"If I don't teach you a lesson today, then my name isn't Barghest, and it isn't Gawain!"
And so—
At high noon, under the blazing sun, Barghest and Habetrot stood facing each other on the training grounds.
A hot wind blew.
Barghest's hair rose like waves.
She drew Excalibur Gallatin from her waist.
As a holy sword of the lake that had received the sun's blessing, it was naturally at its maximum strength at this moment.
Even without Barghest exerting any strength, one could faintly see flames burning upon it like a blazing fire.
"It's been a while since I've used this thing."
Barghest brandished the greatsword in her hand.
This was something only she, with her considerable strength, could do.
"Come on, you arrogant little shorty."
"Let me see what you're really made of."
At this point, as if suddenly remembering something, Barghest turned her head and shouted to Ian again.
"Watch me closely, okay!"
"I... I'm working hard, too!"
"Yes."
"I will."
Ian nodded.
"I... will remember every moment of your battle."
"..."
With Ian's words, Barghest felt her body grow even hotter.
Dragons really were wonderful creatures.
There was absolutely...
No need to worry about the issue of familial affection.
"I'll make you regret saying that!"
Habetrot gripped the half of Arondight and struck an incredibly serious pose.
It was a stance that even Barghest would marvel at.
Could it be...
This girl, just like Mélusine, is small but possesses great strength?
Thinking of this, Barghest couldn't help but become a little more serious.
This was in front of Ian.
She did not want to lose face!
However—
The turn of events once again exceeded Barghest's expectations.
"Hyaaaaaaaah—!"
Habetrot shouted, then charged towards Barghest with the greatsword in hand.
"Big doggy, take this!"
Plop—
She fell flat on her face right in front of Barghest.
"..."
"..."
The atmosphere on the field suddenly fell into a dead silence.
It was an extremely awkward situation.
Even Excalibur Gallatin, which had been burning with fire, was suddenly extinguished.
Barghest's eyes became like dots.
Just a moment ago, she had been planning to swing Excalibur Gallatin with all her might to teach this little cat who dared to challenge her a lesson.
But now it seemed she couldn't do that.
She was...
So weak.
Not just ordinarily weak.
A few drops of cold sweat appeared on Barghest's forehead.
She was starting to regret agreeing to a duel with this girl.
If she actually hit her, she would definitely die, right?
"Owwie..."
Habetrot picked herself up, having already placed the broken half of the sword on the ground beside her.
Clutching her head, she looked aggrieved.
"Why did I fall—"
"But this is what she taught me."
"..."
Barghest wanted to say something.
But she soon found she couldn't get a single word out.
She couldn't exactly say something as wicked as "Did your fall hurt? If not, then let me hit you until it does," could she?
Barghest didn't know what to do, but Ian did.
He walked over to Habetrot.
He bent down, picked up the broken half of the sword, placed it back in her hand, and then...
Took her hand and gently tapped his own head with it.
"Ah, I've lost."
"I am the First Knight of the Round Table, and you have defeated me."
"Now—"
"I declare you qualified to join the Knights of the Round Table."
"Eh!"
Habetrot's mouth fell open.
"Hey!"
"You, big doggy!"
"He said I'm qualified to join the Knights of the Round Table!"
"You... you wouldn't refuse to acknowledge it, would you!"
"..."
Sensing that Habetrot did not possess the strength of a Knight of the Round Table, Barghest hesitated for a moment, but still nodded along with Ian's intention.
If he thought it was okay, then it was okay.
"Hehe!"
"Now I can be on the same level as Mélusine!"
Habetrot put her hands on her hips, looking quite pleased with herself.
"On the same level as your head!"
A gust of wind blew past.
Mélusine came flying over from the direction of the castle.
After a sharp two-footed stop that kicked up countless clouds of dust, she came to a halt in front of Ian and Barghest.
"You don't have to take what this one says seriously."
"Wh-why?"
"Because this is the fairy tailor Artoria had me go and invite."
Mélusine said as she took back her broken half of Arondight.
"She is here to make Artoria's wedding dress."
"Not some Knight of the Round Table!"