Chapter 426: Mama? Papa?

Jack was a clever child. She knew that her mother had no magical power and was not a Master, so she wouldn't be detected by the enemy. This meant the enemy was definitely after her. As long as she left, the enemy would follow her, and her mother would be safe.

While fleeing, Jack fully utilized her criminal talents as Jack the Ripper. She used spirit form to phase through walls, created confusion by running in circles and released mist that disrupted perception and concealed her presence.

Unfortunately, Jack's attributes were too low, especially her agility, which was critical for escaping. She was two whole levels below Mordred. Under the crushing weight of these absolute attributes, no matter how hard Jack tried, she could only delay the inevitable and couldn't shake off Mordred's pursuit.

In the end, Jack was cornered by Mordred at the city wall.

"Found you, you sneaky little rat!"

Mordred had already shed her modern, edgy attire and donned the heavy armor and horned helmet, a Noble Phantasm inherited from her mother, Morgan.

Through the gaps in her visor, Mordred caught sight of Jack's small figure.

"Tch, it's just a kid. Doesn't look like a front-line fighter, so not the Black Lancer. An Assassin or Caster, perhaps?"

If Mordred had been more careful and used her brain a bit more, she would have noticed Jack's oddity. But, having suppressed herself for an entire day, she was eager for a fight and couldn't be bothered to think too much.

"Tch, bad luck. But your luck's even worse. This ends here, Black Servant."

"No way, Mama is waiting for us." Jack drew two daggers from her waist. She could sense Mordred's power, but she had no intention of giving up without a fight.

Sadly, the difference in their strength was just too vast.

In just three exchanges, Jack's daggers were knocked away, and Mordred's sword was raised high, ready to cleave her small body.

"It's over, nameless one!"

At that moment, Mordred suddenly felt a tightness in her chest.

The next second, a piercing explosion echoed above Mordred's head, the intense and violent wind pressure solidifying like a hammer, striking her head, face, and shoulders heavily. If she hadn't been prepared, this blow would have knocked her to the ground, rather than just forcing her to retreat and relieve the pressure.

Even though Mordred took the brunt of it, Jack, who was nearby, didn't fare much better. Despite Mordred absorbing most of the wind pressure due to their height difference, even a small portion of it was enough to blow Jack away—don't forget, Mordred was in heavy armor, weighing at least 150kg, while Jack only had a few light pieces of cloth and no preparation. How could she be more stable than Mordred?

However, Jack wasn't harmed, as she was caught in a warm embrace just as she was thrown by the wind. The incredible softness and fullness against her back were all too familiar.

"Toria Mama!!!" The mother-craving girl remembered every bosom she had nestled into.

Mama was the most comfortable, Papa the broadest, and Toria Mama the warmest.

"Jack, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" Artoria, who had followed Jack's presence all the way, asked with concern.

"No, just my wrist hurts a bit." Jack adjusted herself, finding a comfortable position to lie in Artoria's arms.

By this time, Mordred had recovered from the shock of the wind pressure and had re-established her stance. Just as she lifted her head to ask a question, she heard a voice she could never forget.

"How dare you attack a child uninvolved in the war! Have you forgotten the most basic principles of knighthood, Mordred!"

Along with the voice, Mordred also sensed an overwhelmingly righteous aura and saw a face that bore an eight or nine-tenths resemblance to her own.

Mordred was stunned, her body rigid. She muttered, "King Arthur...!"

"It's me," Artoria replied, shedding her casual clothes to armor—she had been in such a hurry that she forgot to change her outfit.

"Ha ha, ah ha ha, am I dreaming? I never expected to meet you in a place like this, my father(Chichiue)!"

The first sentence was naive and silly, like that of an innocent child. The second, however, was twisted and malevolent, like a vengeful demon.

Though Artoria didn't understand why Mordred had such a drastic change, it didn't hinder her ability to sense killing intent. She patted the girl clinging to her neck like a koala.

"Jack, go back to Reika."

"Okay." Jack obediently jumped to the ground and softly reminded, "Toria Mama, be careful, that person is very strong."

"I know, I've always known."

Artoria slowly drew her sword. It was she who ended my kingdom and my life.

"I didn't expect to meet you in this Holy Grail War, Mordred."

This heartfelt sentiment from Artoria didn't register with Mordred at all. All her attention was captured by the girl's cry of "Toria Mama."

"Hey, you, what did you just call her?"

Having run a distance, Jack stopped in confusion and turned her head. "Toria Mama."

This reply was like an arrow piercing Mordred's heart.

"Toria... Mama?"

Mordred's gaze shifted dumbfoundedly from Jack to Artoria.

"You... you... have other children? Is that why you don't acknowledge me?"

Had Mordred been calmer, she might have noticed the differences between Jack and Artoria. But she was already overwhelmed by the term "Mama," losing the rebellious spirit she had when organizing the uprising, and the hidden wisdom beneath her wild fighting style. She had completely lost her sanity, becoming more frenzied and hysterical than a Berserker.

All this was because of her father, the Knight King Artoria.

She was born as a rebellious child by Morgan to usurp King Arthur and become a ruler greater than Arthur. But ignoring her mother's intentions, she purely admired her noble and perfect father, longing for parental recognition. If she could obtain even the slightest acknowledgment from her father, she would transform into his most steadfast sword and shield. Even if he intended to destroy the world, she would follow without hesitation.

Unfortunately, in the end, Artoria, who sacrificed herself to become an embodiment of righteousness, never showed Mordred any affection, treating her merely as a regular Knight of the Round Table.

So, Mordred went mad. She rebelled, fracturing the Arthurian kingdom and ultimately leading to Britain's destruction—still to gain Artoria's attention and make her recognize her abilities.

She twisted her love and admiration for her father into hatred and destruction.

Now, a term she was never allowed to use reignited this twisted feeling, transforming all emotions into hatred.

"Arthur!!!"

The frenzied shout echoed under her horned helmet. The king's beautiful silver sword was tainted by her crimson, hate-filled magic, transforming completely into a sword of disaster.

Red magic thundered, turning into blood-colored lightning, responding to the final ray of the setting sun. The rebellious knight charged toward the king she revered.

Just like their final battle in life.

PS Notes: Jack: Even though you're a shorty, I'm even shorter.

PS2: For Mordred's feelings towards Artoria, refer to Fate/Grand Order Chapter 6. The Lion King, Goddess Rhongomyniad, only saw Mordred as useful, which made Mordred ridiculously happy. In the end, she self-destructed for her father.

PS3: The Knights of the Round Table are essentially a group of king devotees. Gawain is a die-hard loyalist. Lancelot admitted he liked the king more than Guinevere, though his daughter Mash is number one. Tristan, the fool, regretted saying, "The king does not understand people's hearts," to the point he took on the "Reversal" buff and defiled knighthood to follow the king. Mordred would have been ecstatic with just a bit of recognition. Finally, Agravain, who did all the dirty work to fulfill Artoria's ideal city, modified himself using his devotion to the king, ultimately killing Lancelot (who killed him originally) and dying at the king's side—this is all from Fate/Grand Order Chapter 6, one of the most iconic chapters.

PS4: Fate/strange Fake Volume 6 recently revealed that the person sealing Rhongomyniad Artoria is Kay, who according to Arthurian legend, should be Artoria's foster brother. Their relationship was quite good, and it seems his sarcasm towards her was filled with brotherly love.