Ellie’s Galaxy Impact, no, her earnest punch powered up with Argetlam, had struck twice.
What more can be said? The effect was substantial.
BAM!
“Wow!”
This is meteor magic.
The castle gate flew away without fail. By this point, it seemed that the Historia side had learned their lesson and opted to dodge instead of trying to block.
Thanks to that, we were able to break through the second gate with no casualties.
The scenery inside the inner fortress was far more splendid than outside.
It was easy to spot buildings that seemed to have cost a pretty penny or grand statues scattered around.
However, the atmosphere was just as menacing.
The entire world seemed to glare with sharp, angular designs. Even under the white snow, there were fierce dragon statues and an unknown knight with a sword stuck in its eye.
Is this what a village of barbarian warriors who have merely developed civilization feels like?
“Wow. This country really is consistent. Don’t you think, Benny?”
“Yeah. I thought only the Mage Tower could be so committed to its concept.”
“Oh. So the Mage Tower isn’t ordinary, huh?”
“Here, if you replace the blood-soaked scenery with some fancy magic and change weapons to staffs and mana chunks, it would be just like that.”
“I saw them calling you a wizard earlier and hating on you a lot… I guess extremes tend to attract, huh?”
Nodding for a moment, Ellie casually glanced around and shook her head with an unimpressed voice.
“We’re still far off.”
“What do you mean?”
“The distance. They built the castle so unnecessarily large.”
“Ah…?”
The thought of the journey still being long, despite the impending interruptions, was just so typical of Ellie.
“Did you know, Jonah? We just smashed the outer and inner fortresses. But look, there’s another castle over there. What do you think its name is?”
“Hmm. That’s true…”
Camelot is a city protected by three layers of castle gates.
Having just smashed two gates, now there’s only one left.
The last bastion, where the king resides. It must be the place where the core power of Historia converges.
…Thinking it over, I realized I didn’t know what it was called.
Having already passed through the gates that were classified as outer and inner, there was another?
Nodding while watching the knights unable to charge forward, I asked.
“Inner fortress?”
“You’re half right.”
“Really? They actually call it the Inner Fortress?”
“That was the prevailing opinion up to the last moment. There are still some who call it that. Can’t have ignorant sword-swingers running around, right?”
Ellie chuckled. One knight nearby attempted to charge her but was sent flying with a slap, fainting far away.
“…Isn’t getting slapped like that going to kill someone?”
“They’re fine because knights protect themselves with aura, so they’re tough. And I control my strength appropriately.”
“Strength control…?”
“It’s true. Well, rather than weakening my strength, I just knock them away instead of hitting. ”
“Oh. That does sound necessary.”
If she just hit someone, their head could potentially shatter, but if she’s pushing them away, it makes sense why they’d react like this.
“Of course, Ellie. I knew you were a force to be reckoned with since you tore the castle wall with your bare hands.”
“Isn’t it better to mention something from further back to emphasize that? The castle wall wasn’t broken just a moment ago, you know?”
Ellie looked exasperated. However, the knights around seemed to be making the more blank expressions.
Well, they had every reason to feel that way considering the circumstances.
Watching the hesitant knights, Ellie chuckled and asked.
“Anyway, back to the main point. The official name of the place you just called the Inner Fortress is actually something different.”
“Yeah? What is it?”
“Avalon.”
“?”
Isn’t that the name of the heaven promised by the knight’s god?
To reiterate, I had lots of concepts about the knight’s god, but when it came to Historia, I only vaguely mentioned its existence.
Of course, I didn’t know anything about their detailed customs.
To name the place where the king resides in the capital after the heaven named by the knight’s god is absurd.
It’s like saying their home is close to heaven—talk about self-delusion.
“But why are you suddenly bringing this up? It’s fun and all, but still.”
“Well, it’s just a thought that crossed my mind after coming this far.”
Now, with no one daring to attack and just glaring, Ellie pulled out a Mana Herb cigarette from her pocket.
“We came as fast as we could. Even if we left you behind, it would be the same. Today is also the day Railey would return from the labyrinth, and I needed to regain my senses.”
“Is that so? Watching you fight, maybe I didn’t need to regain my senses after all?”
“Well, that’s for here. The problem is that the knights of Avalon aren’t exactly pushovers. Specifically, the Master Knights among them.”
“Are they stronger than Ellie?”
“No, but there are three of them.”
“Yikes.”
Three against one isn’t a scenario we can simply brush off.
“Anyway, we really did our best to run here quickly, you know?”
“Yes. I get that.”
Though the knights hadn’t charged at us since earlier, it was still strange that Ellie, who had been charging ahead, just suddenly stopped.
Exhaling a thick cloud of Mana Herb smoke, Ellie sighed and continued.
“So, if anything happens to Lydia, it’s not your fault, Jonah.”
“…Huh?”
What does that ominous phrasing mean?
Ever since earlier, Ellie hadn’t been looking my way, just glaring at the outer wall of Avalon.
Just as I was about to ask her what she meant, Benny came over and said next to me.
“The red flag raised at the castle gate. I’ve heard of it from Lydia. It’s the flag that goes up when the country punishes a major criminal… like a traitor.”
“….”
That’s when I realized why Ellie had paused earlier. The rush of anxiety and murderous intent she must have been holding back.
After all, Lydia’s crime was treason.
*
After confirming the red flag hanging over Avalon, we completely dropped unnecessary tension, and the light banter we’d been exchanging evaporated.
Ellie, Benny, and I just had solemn expressions as we repeatedly focused on clearing the obstacles before us.
Historia, being a land of knights, boasted numerous knights, yet most were sprawled out on the ground.
Just as Ellie was preparing to forcibly open the last door of Avalon, it creaked open.
Creeeeak.
Drawn-back curtains and heavy decorations revealed a middle-aged woman clad in pure white armor stepping forth.
“Long time no see, Ellie. Where have you lost another arm this time?”
“Did you come alone, Noar?”
“Oh my, after all this time, are you planning to fight me right away? However, I know well that I cannot hope to go against you. From the moment I first set foot here, I recognized we were of equal strength—though I was unable to use my aura.”
“Then please step aside.”
“That won’t do.”
“….”
Ellie, who had been showing respect up until now, clenched her fist. As if she would not hesitate to demonstrate her strength at any moment.
“Oh. Don’t misunderstand me. I simply meant I see no need to step aside… The king has requested that I bring you and your friends. He wants to ask why you are causing such a ruckus after so long.”
The knight referred to as Noar took a step back.
Even though Ellie had threated her with a clenched fist, she maintained her formality, which left me sensing a certain despair from her—it was likely she was one of the three Master Knights.
They represent the pinnacle power of the Historia Empire, allowing a nation that should have long crumbled to stand… they even earned the title of a great nation.
One of them is weaker than Ellie, but the other three are either equal or stronger.
Presumably, a high-ranking adventurer who has roughly reached the Seventh Floor—maybe even a bit stronger.
While Benny and I struggled to relax, Ellie casually strode forth with a relaxed attitude.
I hurried to catch up with her, asking, “Ellie. Is it really okay to just walk in like this? What if there are traps or something…?”
“Noar isn’t that type of person. She’s terrible at lying… Moreover, the current king, Modred, sure has a bad temper, but she’s not the kind of woman who’d stab you in the back.”
“…Modred? But you say she wouldn’t stab someone in the back?”
“Huh? Do you know her?”
“Ah, no. Not at all….”
Historia is a nation that worships the knight’s god, inspired by the Arthurian mythology.
That’s probably why such traces of it can be seen everywhere.
Hence, it makes sense if the king’s name is Percival, Gawain, or Lancelot. In fact, that’s quite persuasive. It’s common to name children of noble lineage after heroes or gods.
…But Modred is rather unexpected. A Modred who supposedly would never betray anyone, at that?
While the people of the Pan Continent might accept that without question, to me, it’s nothing short of absurd. What’s the difference from that tyrant with only one father?
Yet, I couldn’t let that absurdity show on my face.
After all, the middle-aged knight named Noar had been staring at me intently.
Not simply looking, but intense, piercing gazes.
And the emotions behind those eyes weren’t desire or affection, but a mix of pity and remorse, blended with awe.
Unable to hold back, I finally asked, “Sir? Why do you stare at me?”
“…It’s nothing, noble one.”
“?”
Noar bowed deeply as if I were some noble spirit, creating an illusion that I was indeed something significant in Historia.
Was I really that high-class here?
Puzzled, I continued walking down the hallway and the stairs. Soon, we would arrive at the meeting room.
Creeeeak.
The door opened to reveal a scene inside.
Countless knights encircled a broken round table.
Before them knelt a red-haired woman bound and in a submissive position.
“Lydia…!”
Fortunately, Lydia was alive. But she looked worse for wear, her condition indicating severe distress.
To the extent that it seemed like she had lost a cup size from her chest.
…My resentment towards Historia was igniting fiercely.
