Trust

(A/N: Mordred is a "normal" human. She bleeds like a normal human. But she isn't a normal human since she has the bloodline of Pendragon. She is almost superhuman, but she doesn't have super regeneration. The reason why Naofumi and Raphtalia win against Mordred is that Mordred is careless. Even if Mordred wins, she will still accept Naofumi as her master.

Mordred's strongest point is her attack. She has countless experiences and could easily kill Naofumi and Raphtalia with a dull sword or even a sharp wooden stick. But that's not it; it's her magic. Her magic is ancient and different from others. She doesn't need to chant her spells; she just needs the willpower to activate her magic. Mordred has manipulation magic, even though she hasn't mastered it yet. She has the potential to become more stronger.)

* * *

In a scene of a family eating together at the dinner table, Naofumi didn't know where he was, but he was aware of one fact: he was back on Earth. However, he truly isn't on Earth. Naofumi is sure he was dreaming, but the dream isn't vivid at all, it feels real.

He can't say anything or move. He's locked in one place, forced to see this scene. He felt a sense of nostalgia while watching the family eating together. Naofumi missed his family.

A young girl at the age of 15 suddenly starts talking, her face full of smiles.

"Kousuke, do you have time for tomorrow? Can you come to my school festival?" She ask the person in front of him, a handsome-looking boy.

"I'm busy practicing with my friends, I'll come when I have the time to do so." Kousuke said as he continues eating his food.

Naofumi felt a sense of familiarity when he heard the name Kousuke... He finally remembered that the name was written in the dusty old book. He didn't know why he was dreaming of this, but there may be a connection between Kousuke and the book.

A pout can be seen on the girl's face, "Moo~, you always spend time practicing with your so-called friends when you are just going to torment them!"

Kousuke flinched as the girl's words stabbed through Kousuke's heart, "W-What? I didn't torment them! I did it for their own good, so we could dominate the tournament!" Kousuke refutes

"Haruki, Kousuke. Calm down." A middle-aged man suddenly said, stopping their argument.

""Sorry, dad..."" Both of them apologized.

The mother shook her head as she continued eating.

Kousuke then let out a long, low sigh, "Alright, I'll come, but only this time!"

A grin appeared on her face as she embraced her brother, "Thank you, bro!"

Kousuke blush madly as he isn't expecting this, "H-Hey! What are you doing? The food is gonna fall."

On the side, both of the parents only smiled.

"Oops! Sorry." Haruki then returns to her seat as she continues to finish her food.

"Gezz..." Even though Kousuke's face looks a bit angry, a hidden smile can be seen on his face if anyone looks closely.

Naofumi unconsciously smiled while he watched the scene going on, but the scene finally came to an end as the scene went black and Naofumi blacked out.

* * *

Naofumi woke up from his sleep, Mordred greet from the side with a grin.

"Yo Master, did you have a good baby sleep?" Naofumi's sleepy face stare at Mordred until he finally snapped out of it.

"Did you get any sleep?" Naofumi asks.

"I did have an enjoyable sleep but as you know, I don't sleep like a baby." Mordred reply to which Naofumi only nodded.

Raphtalia on the side is still sleeping soundly. Mordred didn't bother to wake her up. Naofumi wanted to ask Mordred about Kousuke Itoshi but decide to not ask her as Raphtalia woke up.

"Good morning, Naofumi-sama, Mordred-san." She said as she rub her eyes.

"Ah, just call me saber. Don't call my true name if it isn't truly important, got it?" Mordred told them.

They both nodded.

"Yosh, since you two have woken up. Let's get some food since I'm hungry!" Mordred feels excited to taste today's era food. The last time she eats food is the time before she departs to fight Black Dragon.

Naofumi sighed, "Alright, let's go, I knew a place."

Raphtalia nodded, saying she was feeling hungry too. As they walked to the city, the insults were thrown at the shield hero.

"Did the Shield Hero acquire a new slave? A beauty on top of that." They whisper, feeling curious about Mordred.

"Shield Hero is really a pervert. He bought another slave. Is he unsatisfied with the demi-human slave?"

Naofumi takes a glance at Mordred; she's feeling unbothered at all the insults to her master. Mordred senses something familiar. She remembers she used to be insulted too before she finally became Champion of the Tournament. Many people used to call her a "cheater" and a "whore" since they thought Mordred won because she sold her body.

However, she proves to them that she isn't some lowly female who can't properly wield a sword by being the champion and trample everyone on her way to be the strongest knight.

"Did you feel bothered? Being servant to pervert person?" Naofumi asks, the pervert person is him, he knew the people would insult him but didn't try to hide it.

Mordred chuckles, "If my master is a pervert, then you will take the chance to force me to be a sex slave, but you didn't. That already proves that the baseless rumor is fake."

Naofumi kept his mouth shut since he didn't think Mordred would trust him that immediately. But, of course, Naofumi knew he could use the Command Seal to order Mordred do whatever he desired.

But he also knew that the Command Seal only had three chances and wouldn't use it for anything trivial or indulgent.

Inside Naofumi's heart, maybe he could trust Mordred.

The reason why Mordred trust Naofumi is that he already know Naofumi's personality when the time she is still Kousuke. She knows that Naofumi isn't a pervert to have her be a sex slave. After all, her knowledge about anime is pretty useful in determining a character's personality.

Mordred POV:

We arrived at the pub, it always looks the same, huh. There's nothing changed from the infrastructure and the building.

As we entered the pub, I can see everyone's glance looking at me. I feel disgusted with their looks, they lusted over me because of my face. This always happened in this past and still happening.

We sit on the chair as Naofumi orders the food. Raphtalia's face looks very excited to eat since in the road, her stomach growling for food.

As plates of food are served on the food, I widen my eyes.

Tempura? (Fried Shrimp), Spaghetti? Pudding?!

I drool at the food even though there is some aspect that hasn't changed but the cuisine is what matters! Food is the best!

After eating like a beast, I wipe my mouth clean. I glance at Naofumi and Raphtalia, they are surprised to see me eating like a beast. Heh.

Naofumi sighed as he continue finishing his food. After Raphtalia and Naofumi finish their food, I ask.

"Yosh, so what's our next plan, master?" Feeling excited to see the current world. Even though I was stuck in the void for a few hours but the time has passed so quickly.

"We're going hunt some monsters." Naofumi smirk, with me, he could level up pretty easily.

Back to 3rd POV:

(The hunting isn't even worth mentioning since the monsters are weaklings... for Mordred. Oh right, I don't really know how the party system really works, but I think if Mordred kills a monster, then it will distribute exp evenly. The anime never really confirms it, so don't blame me if I get it wrong later in the chapters)

The hunting goes great at the first few minutes but as Mordred goes around cutting and slashing all the monsters in half. She feels a little bored that her opponents are just weaklings. Raphtalia and Naofumi could only watch on the side as they doesn't want to be a distraction to Mordred.

Naofumi could only grin seeing his level go up quickly whilst Raphtalia felt a little down that she isn't being helpful at all. Soon, Mordred change her tactics and call Raphtalia, she wanted Raphtalia to be stronger since she wanted a worthy opponent.

"Ah, Raphtalia. Come here." Mordred gesture her hands to Raphtalia. Naofumi could only see what's Mordred doing.

With puzzled look, Raphtalia approach Mordred.

"Do you need anything, Saber-san?" Raphtalia ask.

A mischievous grin spreading on her face. Mordred pats Raphtalia's shoulder and ask, "Do you want to be stronger?"

With a determined face, Raphtalia nodded.

"Umu! That's good determination, alright, follow me, you shall be stronger!"

Naofumi with a curious look, follow them behind silently.

A few minutes later...

"Aahhh!!! Are you sure this is the way to be stronger, Saber-san? " Raphtalia cried out while dodging the incoming monsters.

The monsters were only targeting Raptalia since she looked weak, while Mordred seemed to have no monsters wanting to go near her. It's because of her intimidating aura and the beating she gets from her that the monsters are unwilling to attack her and only target Raphtalia.

"Where is your strong determination?! Is that all fake? Come on, this isn't hard! Just slash and dodge! " Mordred shouted like a knight commander. Her fierce tone made Raphtalia swallow her saliva.

Naofumi could only watch from a safe distance with a deadpanned look. He couldn't intervene since Mordred said so.

As time passed, Raphtalia's reaction speed increased as she dodged the incoming monster's attacks. But Raphtalia's strength and stamina aren't enough to kill all of the monsters. And her stamina was depleted and her strength grew weaker.

Mordred decides that enough is enough and kills the remaining monsters easily. Mordred's stamina is truly monstrous.

"Well, you are good for a newbie to survive this. But next time it'll be harsher. " Mordred gave a wicked grin.

Raphtalia's feet gave out, and she was already on her knees. The training was truly hellish. She had never been tired like this before.

Naofumi sighed, "Do you really need to do this?"

Raphtalia's eyes sparkle as she looks at Naofumi's face like a savior. Maybe Raphtalia doesn't need hellish training at all... that is what Naofumi thinks.

"Haah? What are you talking about? This is for your two benefits! If Raphtalia is stronger, then she won't be a burden and she can protect you when I can't, master." Mordred points out.

Raphtalia suddenly realizes that she is weak. And she can't do anything to protect Naofumi if she is weak. Her realization hit her hard like a truck-kun would to an isekai protagonist.

"T-Then, please train me, Saber-san. I will promise that I will be stronger to protect Naofumi-sama." Raphtalia, with her newfound determination, stares at Mordred.

Mordred smiled, "Now, that's more like it! Determination and motivation to drive you stronger already exist within you. All you need is me to help you to be stronger!"

Naofumi was surprised by the situation. Nevertheless, it was positive and he was a bit relieved that Mordred wasn't what he was thinking, "Alright, it was already late, and we leveled up quite a lot today."

Naofumi then carries Raphtalia on his back, making Raphtalia a bit flustered. Mordred could only chuckle at seeing Raphtalia's flustered face and Naofumi's ignorant face.

"Oooh, let's go. I'm hungry after all hunting today." Mordred stretches her arms as she follows Naofumi from behind.

- To Be Continued

(A/N: Happy new year 2022, sorry for the late chapter everyone. I was very busy when the new year started since I'm on vacation but at least, I finally update.

Sorry for the grammar issues or spellings mistakes, I'm typing this on tablet so please pardon my mistakes, I'll check this again tomorrow morning)

See y'all next chapter.