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She's always known.

She's always understood.

They didn't need the persona or someone called Gray.

All they needed was Gray's physical body.

For a thousand years, her clan has carried the sorrowful desire to complete the ritual and bring back the King of Knights, Artoria Pendragon.

This ritual demanded the merging of King Arthur's body, spirit, and soul. So her ancestors, using the King of Knights as a model, strived to create descendants to act as substitutes for the King's physical vessel.

However, in the end, she was the chosen one.

From the moment Gray was born, she possessed the potential to become the physical vessel of the King of Knights. But that didn't automatically guarantee her selection as the vessel. During her early years, she lived a normal and loving life with her parents.

Until nine years ago.

It happened on a particular day, around nine years ago, when Gray's muscles and bones started to undergo a sudden transformation. Not just her face, but her entire body gradually changed into an exact replica of the legendary King of Knights, Artoria Pendragon.

Ever since that day, the villagers, including her parents, have revered Gray as the divine child. However, Gray is aware that what they actually worship is the King of Knights who happens to look like her.

Because of her exceptional talent for communicating with spiritual entities, Gray was chosen by the gravekeeper, Bersac Blackmore, to become the next guardian of Blackmore Cemetery. She was entrusted with the Mystic Code known as Add.

Not only that, but even the fairies residing within the cemetery bestowed their blessings upon her.

To the villagers and her parents, all of these events were seen as the return of the King of Knights.

Everyone revered and feared her, keeping their distance. Former close friends became devoted followers, filled with awe and reverence, and even her parents were no exception.

"Gray" was rejected by everyone. What they truly desired and prayed for was the arrival of the King of Knights, Artoria Pendragon.

And then, that woman arrived.

After over 1,500 years, that woman finally came to the village.

It's quite unbelievable, given that she's just a human, but that woman managed to traverse the long centuries and finally appeared before Gray.

"From now on, you... are my sister."

Extending her hand, the woman delicately lifted Gray's chin. Her crimson eyes, reminiscent of a scarlet moon, met Gray's gaze as she uttered those words.

Following that encounter, the woman made herself at home in the Blackmore Cemetery.

Everyone worshipped and dreaded her, which led to everyone keeping their distance, despite her being just six years old back then.

But there was one woman who approached her, offering solace and showering her with affection like an older sister.

Maybe it was due to this that she subconsciously started seeing that woman as her true sister.

However, deep down, she knew that the woman's gaze and affection were actually meant for someone else.

She was merely a stand-in, a replacement for another person.

And eventually, she knew her body would be claimed by that person.

She couldn't harbor any resentment because fulfilling the clan's ancient thousand-year-old wish meant bringing that person back to life, and the teachings she received glorified the resurrection of that person.

However...

There was a twinge of reluctance and loneliness within her.

And it was during this period that the woman approached her.

In those days, the woman had ventured outside multiple times, only to return each time with injuries.

Nevertheless, she would still offer a gentle smile and present her with small gifts.

Gray even entertained the unsettling thought that perhaps being replaced in this kindness that didn't truly belong to her wouldn't be so terrible after all.

About two weeks ago, her sister whisked her away from the Blackmore Cemetery.

Surprisingly, nobody tried to stop them. Her parents even shed tears of emotion.

Her sister brought her to the city of London.

The city was alive with noise, bustling night scenes, and a sea of unfamiliar faces. Everything seemed so beautiful, yet puzzling and unknown. Feeling a mix of fear and unease, she instinctively clung to her sister for comfort.

Her sister led her to a clothing store, where they purchased gorgeous outfits and a pair of small leather shoes. Eventually, her sister entrusted her to a teacher for education, but then mysteriously vanished without a trace.

Meeting the teacher for the first time filled her with apprehension.

It wasn't entirely unfounded, as the teacher seemed to harbor a dislike for her appearance.

It was an unavoidable situation. The teacher had taken part in the Fourth Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City and had been at odds with Artoria Pendragon, the legendary King of Knights who was meant to be resurrected within her.

Life in London proved to be a stark contrast to her days in the Blackmore Cemetery.

While the cemetery was shrouded in silence and darkness during the late hours, London remained vibrant with its dazzling lights and lively festivities.

The city dwellers, adorned in what appeared to be sophisticated attire, exuded elegance with every step they took. Their conversations flowed with politeness and a sense of order, leaving the girl from the countryside feeling immensely inadequate.

Ironically, despite being held in high esteem by the villagers back home, she had always harbored a deep sense of insecurity.

Because what they truly revered was not "Gray," but the legendary figure of "Artoria Pendragon."

Being exceedingly shy, she often found solace in observing others from a distance rather than engaging directly.

Interacting with people filled her with a sense of apprehension as she feared both causing harm and being harmed herself. Therefore, she approached social interactions with great caution, often shrinking back timidly to avoid any potential emotional hurt.

Nevertheless, Miss Reines extended her friendship, despite Add's taunting remarks. It was a desperate attempt on her part to find solace, even if Miss Reines merely viewed her as a plaything and nothing more.

But even in that role, Gray couldn't deny that she still felt needed. Wasn't that worth something?

Adapting to life in London proved to be a struggle for her, but at least here, she wasn't seen as "Artoria." Instead, she was recognized as "Gray." And that made a difference.

For that reason, Gray pushed herself to adjust to life in London and embraced the opportunity to learn new things, even if it meant occasionally making mistakes along the way.

Sometimes, she couldn't help but think of herself as a fool. But deep down, she knew she wasn't.

In this particular incident, she was the first to sense the truth.

From the very first day, starting with the moment she greeted Fujimaru-sama and had a headache, a faint sense of truth began to settle within her.

She realized that the person they intended to bring back using the Butterfly Magecraft wasn't the master of this castle, but the legendary King of Knights from over 1,500 years ago.

And the one who carried the hidden cocoon within them was none other than herself.

It was as if her role in all of this had been predetermined from the moment she was born.

The moment she laid eyes upon this castle and sensed its eerie resemblance to a graveyard, she knew deep down that this was the destined outcome.

Yes.

This graveyard didn't belong to anyone else.

It belonged to her, to Gray.

...

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