FATE: Target of Grand Master

"Your Majesty, there are indeed a large amount of magical energy residue here, but the quality of these magical energy residues is not high; rather, the quantity is extremely large. In addition, we have not found any traces of anyone leaving." A righteous knight ran up to Artoria and Agravure and reported the findings to the two of them.

A day after Richard left, Artoria sensed a strange magical reaction in the north and brought Agravure to investigate.

The scene was littered with dried blood and residual magical energy, but no bodies were found; it was as if everyone here had vanished into thin air.

"There was no doubt that a ritual of evil god sacrifice was being held here, and those commoners were likely sacrificed as well. King Lionheart fought against the evil god's servants summoned by the ritual but was no match for them."

Agravivan's deduction is reasonable. After all, if the evil god himself had descended, even just an avatar could easily destroy the world. But this still cannot explain why no one left.

Logically speaking, after obtaining the magical power of thousands of people plus one follower, even a servant of an evil god should be able to fight against Artoria of Camelot, and might even be able to defeat her if caught off guard. However, this guy disappeared after obtaining such magical power, which is really not in line with the style of a servant of an evil god.

Artoria pondered for a long time but still couldn't come to a reasonable conclusion.

"Agraven, bring the Knights of the Righteousness back. I wonder what effect their contact with those filthy things will have on them. They need to be checked regularly after they return."

"Yes."

After giving the order to retreat, Artoria gripped her Holy Lance and fired a golden magic bullet at every military tent within sight.

After the troops had withdrawn some distance, Artoria raised her Holy Lance and unleashed a massive "Holy Lance" at the camp, completely leveling the contaminated camp.

"I hereby declare this place a forbidden zone. No knights or civilians belonging to Camelot are allowed to approach it. I will also spread this message to the refugees outside the city."

"Yes."

Since then, while waiting for someone to arrive, Artoria has stationed troops at the foot of the mountain where the camp is located to patrol and gather information related to the evil god.

Fortunately, Artoria did not hear any more news about the evil god, and more than a month passed.

One day, a silver-haired man who called himself "Lucius" came to the city of Camelot.

Seeing the city gates open and many commoners entering and leaving the magnificent capital, Lucius was slightly surprised, but still stepped inside.

After more than a month of repairs, Camelot has been restored to its original state and has even taken in many homeless and starving refugees.

After asking a few commoners and easily learning the location of the hall where the king was, Lucius walked in the direction the kind people pointed.

Lucius arrived at the hall entrance without any obstacles or even basic questioning.

Just as Lucius stood there for a long time, finally mustering the courage to push open the door, the hall door was opened from the inside first.

A black-haired knight in black armor, with a solemn expression, stood before Lucius.

"Knight Bedivere, our king is growing impatient on his throne! Go and see him now!"

Bedivere, using the alias "Lucius," was taken aback at first, then nodded to Agravain.

"Thank you, Agravivan."

Agrave stepped aside to let Bedivere pass, and then, quite unusually, he gave a slight upturn of the corners of his mouth.

The time should now be left to the King and Bedivere, so Agrave walked out of the hall and closed the door again.

One step, two steps...

Bedivere looked at Artoria, who sat on the throne, and his vision gradually blurred.

Reaching the foot of the steps before the throne, Bedivere knelt on one knee and uttered those familiar yet awkward words.

"Your subject, Bedivere, pays homage to Your Majesty."

Artoria, seated on her throne, watched the knights descend the steps from the hall entrance, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Bedewell, you've kept me waiting for ages."

Upon hearing Artoria's familiar and humane words, Bedivere could no longer hold back her tears.

The phrase "Your subject knows his guilt" instantly released Bedivere's guilt, which had been buried in his heart for thousands of years.

So, what crime did Bedivere commit?

This all started when Artoria made Bedivere return the Holy Sword after the Battle of Camlann.

The correct historical account should be that Bedivere returned the sword to the Lake Fairy after returning three times, thus causing the death of the severely wounded King Arthur, Artoria.

Bedivere, however, failed to return the holy sword even on the third attempt.

Unable to die, King Arthur picked up the Holy Lance beside him, left the spot, and began a lonely journey of fifteen hundred years.

During this process, the will of the goddess Rungomminiad within the Holy Lance gradually eroded Artoria's will, thus creating the being known as the "Lion King".

Of course, without the Holy Sword, Artoria's physical growth was no longer suppressed, resulting in her current voluptuous figure.

Bedivere deserves credit in this respect.

Of course, he himself would never think that way.

Thus, to atone for his sins, Bedivere, with Merlin's help, fused the Holy Sword with his prosthetic limbs and embarked on a 1,500-year journey to find Artoria.

Seeing Bedivere weeping at the bottom of the steps, Artoria did not interrupt him, but silently and patiently waited for her knight to completely release the emotions suppressed deep in his heart.

Once Bedivere's crying had gradually subsided, Artoria stood up and extended a hand to the knights below.

"Bedewell, come to me."

Wiping away her tears with a cloth, Bedivere stood up and climbed the stairs one step at a time.

Upon arriving before Artoria, King Arthur embraced Bedivere.

"You must have had a long journey."

With just a few simple words, Bedivere felt all the pressure he had been carrying vanish.

Artoria released Bedivere and reached out her hand again.

"Return the Holy Sword."

Upon hearing the command, Bedivere knelt down on one knee again, and his prosthetic right hand began to emit a golden light. Then, the star-forged weapon "Excalibur" appeared in Bedivere's hand.

The moment Bedivere handed the holy sword to Artoria, his body vanished like smoke.

As she watched the knight before her vanish, Artoria said softly, "Bedeville, my most loyal knight, I grant you a long vacation."

Having regained the Holy Sword, Artoria is no longer affected by the will of the goddess Rungomminiad. She sits back on the throne, and unconsciously recalls her Master Xia Yan, who defeated her.

As a human Master, it is quite remarkable that he can get along harmoniously with Morgan, who has many identities such as witch, demon queen, and fairy, and that he is not Morgan's puppet, but a true Master and Servant, directing Morgan's actions.

If, when I became King Arthur, there had been someone like him to mediate my relationship with Morgan, the fate of Britain might have been different.

No, even so, the decline of the Age of Gods is irreversible, and my fate as King Arthur will not change. But at least, I can have a more harmonious relationship with my sister.

Thinking of this, Artoria's lips unconsciously curled up, but then she became serious again.

When she was corrupted by the will of the goddess Rungomminia, she not only gained information that transcended this world, but also glimpsed a trace of Xia Yan's destiny.

Although she is not a goddess with the power of destiny, Xia Yan's vast and complex fate is something that no god can ignore.

"A life full of twists and turns" doesn't seem enough to describe Xia Yan's fate. However, with Morgan and other followers by his side, Xia Yan will surely be able to overcome all kinds of difficulties and forge his own path.

"If it comes to the necessary time."

Artoria gripped the Holy Sword and Holy Lance tightly with both hands.

"I can also go and lend a hand."