Chapter 13: The Difference Between the King Arthurs
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[You have five minutes to answer. Start now.]
Among the six images, option D seemed the most plausible, but given that this was a multiple-choice question, it was likely that more than one answer would be correct. The challenge lay in figuring out which other options could qualify.
The remaining images presented figures that appeared distinct from the Artoria who had been shown in the previous questions. The last two options, in particular, depicted characters who seemed entirely different.
Still, doubt lingered among participants like Waver and Kenneth. Could the answer be that simple?
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[Time's up. The quiz is over.]
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With various analyses and theories exchanged, five minutes flew by.
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[Now, let's reveal the answers.]
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The images reappeared, this time accompanied by descriptions below each one.
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[A: King Arthur's son, the final knight of the Round Table, the rebellious knight, Mordred.]
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Waver: "So that's King Arthur's son. No wonder the resemblance is so strong."
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He was glad he hadn't chosen option A. Although Mordred and Artoria had similar facial features, the difference in demeanor was apparent.
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[B: The fifth emperor of ancient Rome, the Flower of Olympia, Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus.]
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Kenneth: "Wait, this is Nero?! The infamous tyrant?"
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Tohsaka Tokiomi: "I didn't expect that yet another historical figure would have a different gender than recorded."
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Waver: "At this point, I'm starting to doubt all the history books I've read."
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Kenneth: "But why would the Emperor of Rome look like King Arthur?"
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The historical conflict between Rome and Britain was well-known, with Nero's suppression of Queen Boudica's rebellion marking a significant point of contention. The notion that Artoria could resemble the emperor who had once clashed with Britain was baffling. (Note: Nero's reign preceded Artoria's time by several decades.)
Even Artoria herself found this perplexing.
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[C: The legendary figure of France, the Holy Maiden, Jeanne d'Arc.]
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Bluebeard: "Ah! My saint! I knew I wasn't mistaken!"
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Waver: "So the 'saint' you've been raving about is Jeanne d'Arc?"
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Kenneth: "I see. I believe I've figured out who you are, Bluebeard."
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He had looked up the name "Bluebeard" and found references to a deranged nobleman from the original Grimm's Fairy Tales. It was peculiar to see a fictional character as a Heroic Spirit.
Now that it was clear Bluebeard had an obsession with Jeanne d'Arc, everything fell into place.
This madman was the infamous Gilles de Rais, the historical figure who descended into depravity following Jeanne's death. He had reportedly killed hundreds of children in his quest for alchemy before being executed.
Other Masters in the group came to the same conclusion.
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[D: A figure from a mysterious alternate timeline, the parallel world counterpart of Artoria, known as the Mysterious Heroine X.]
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Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Another parallel world?"
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Kenneth: "What exactly is 'mysterious heroine-X'?"
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Waver: "So, this is Artoria after all."
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Chihiro: "Of course it counts. The system did specify it's a parallel world version of Artoria."
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[E: In an alternate world, Artoria did not draw the Sword of Selection as a young girl but instead chose the Holy Lance 'Rhongomyniad' as her weapon. Her growth continued unimpeded, allowing her to mature physically to match her role as a monarch. Having wielded the lance for many years, she became a being akin to a divine entity.]
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Artoria: "????"
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Waver: "So this is King Arthur from a different timeline!"
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Tohsaka Rin: "The difference is enormous."
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King of Conquerors: "Haha! That's nothing unusual. I looked quite different when I was young."
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Waver: "How different?"
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King of Conquerors: "I was what you'd call a beautiful young man."
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Waver: "A beautiful young man? You?"
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It wasn't that Waver didn't believe him, but it was hard to picture the colossal, bearded Iskandar as a youthful, handsome man.
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[F: The male counterpart of Artoria in a parallel world, known as the Star Sword Master, Arthur Pendragon.]
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"!!!"
The group was collectively stunned.
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Waver: "A male King Arthur?! So, he really exists?"
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Tohsaka Tokiomi: "It seems we've all been misled…"
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Tohsaka Rin: "Haha, I'm never trusting this system's information again."
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Waver: "This question brought back memories of exam nightmares."
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[The correct answers are D, E, and F.]
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[Congratulations to Chihiro for earning 5 Saint Quartz.]
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[Bluebeard chose not to answer this question.]
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[All other participants answered incorrectly and will lose 1 Saint Quartz.]
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Waver: "Chihiro, you actually got it right!"
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Chihiro: "I just used reverse psychology and picked the least likely options."
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Chihiro: "That's my secret to passing exams."
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Waver: "What kind of strategy is that…?"
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Kenneth: "Hmph. If you had enough time for reverse thinking, why didn't you just study harder?"
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Chihiro: "Do you really think you can answer questions in this group just by studying?"
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Kenneth: "..."
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[In this round, Chihiro has the highest score, followed by Emiya Kiritsugu, with Waver in third. They will receive gold, silver, and bronze treasure chests, respectively.]
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[Today's quiz has concluded. It will resume tomorrow.]
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Waver: "These questions really threw me for a loop."
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Kenneth: "Indeed, there was far too much new information."
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Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Waver, what did you get in your treasure chest?"
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Waver: "Uh…"
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Waver: "Wait, why should I tell you?"
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Matou Kariya: "Hmph. Tohsaka Tokiomi, you're still the same hypocrite, trying to extract information from others for your own benefit."
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Tohsaka Tokiomi: "And what gives you the right to speak here, Kariya? You're not even a proper magus."
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Matou Kariya: "Oh, but I am now. I'm a magus, after all."
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Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Don't be ridiculous. You don't even have a magic circuit."