[47] Not to Save the World, Just to... Save You

Incomprehensible.

Gawain couldn't comprehend why the person in front of him was so indifferent.

Even though you are the notorious son of the vile King Vortigern, such a infamous character, deserving of being torn apart by a thousand knives.

Then, why...

...Why can't my holy sword strike you down?

Staring at the Sword of Revolving Victory that fell to the ground, its light nearly dim, no longer dazzling, no longer radiant.

Even the bright sunlight, he could no longer feel the blessing from the sun.

"...O Sun, have you forsaken me?"

Gawain knelt down.

But there was no one to answer the Knight of the Sun's question.

Alvin just walked past.

Walked past the disoriented Gawain.

Walked past the stunned Artoria.

Walked past the breathless Knights of the Round Table.

Alvin saw Kay's bitter smile, saw him raise his hand as if wanting to hold onto him.

"Alvin..."

"Kay, thank you for accompanying Artoria all the way. In the future, maybe I'll have to trouble you to take care of her."

"You've changed so much, Alvin..."

"Yeah, sorry, can't treat you to grilled fish anymore."

'I've learned it myself, Alvin! It's delicious, do you want to eat...?'

Such words, in the end, couldn't be said.

That hand, in the end, couldn't be raised.

...He was too far away.

Far away like the wind.

The dark knight walked towards the wilderness outside the town amidst the knights' crowding and silence.

No one dared to ask, no one dared to stop.

Standing under the dim sunlight.

At the end of the street, he turned around.

His elusive figure seemed to dissipate with the wind.

"Artoria, I've troubled you by coming uninvited..."

Alvin smiled.

Although not loud, his words clearly reached her and the Knight of the Round Table.

The golden-haired girl gazed at him.

In her deep green eyes, reflected his dark shadow.

"I know you have many questions, right?"

"I'll answer them."

"I know you're confused right now, so before that, go take care of your own matters."

"By the way, didn't you get a chance to see Ector? I often visit him, his old man's body is still robust."

Instead of his fingertips.

The wind gently caressed her cheek.

"Remember, that wheat field where we practiced swordsmanship..."

"Since it's a place of acquaintance."

"Perhaps, it's not a bad place to bid farewell."

Alvin smiled.

"I'll be waiting for you there."

"Today, I'll be waiting for you there, Artoria."

"I'm waiting for your questions and also waiting for your answers."

"I know what burdens you, Artoria."

"But, indiscriminately loving everyone and loving no one are the same, Artoria. Wanting to save everyone without exception, in the end, you might not be able to save yourself."

"If you're scared."

"Then come and hold my hand..."

"If you're lost."

"Then don't draw that sword."

As the words faded away.

His shadow seemed to melt in the sunlight.

Facing the knights' myriad of complex gazes.

The attention-grabbing golden-haired girl, she fell from the magnificent horse in a daze.

With a bewildered expression.

Slowly, step by step, she approached the Sword of Selection.

She used to be extremely fearful of this thing before her.

Because she was always told that to become a king, one must be ruthless.

The so-called king is someone who, to protect the people, becomes the one who kills the most people.

When she was a child, every night she would think about such things, her body trembling from extreme fear, unable to stop until dawn.

Not a day went by that she wasn't afraid of becoming a king.

But at this moment, standing in front of the sword.

It was as if she was in a daze, feeling nothing.

No numbness, no fear, and no the hesitation she imagined.

During the journey, Merlin had already explained in detail the responsibilities she bore and the outcome she would face in the future.

She had known long ago.

She was born to save the world.

The girl named Artoria was naturally born for such a purpose, born as the vessel of the ideal king.

She must draw the sword.

Because it was an important point inscribed in history.

If there was a deviation, it would trigger trimming measures, leading to the destruction of the world a hundred years later.

So, her fate was already predetermined.

If she picked up that sword, no matter how she struggled, she would eventually meet a lonely and extremely tragic death.

Why did Merlin have to tell her?

Why bother to tell her such a cruel thing?

He shouldn't be worried, he would only scare her away, right?

Perhaps, Artoria thought, she was the kind of person who would foolishly walk toward death.

Everyone was looking forward to her becoming a king.

Alvin was the only one who told her to become a person.

So, from that point on, she had her own selfishness, became a person, and began to think selfishly.

From then on, she had something to protect.

What Alvin wanted to do, she had long understood, she had already seen it.

All his words today, in fact, were for her ears alone.

Sir Alvin wanted to shoot down her fate.

But... that was impossible.

Impossible.

Because... you will die.

You will die along with the destroyed world, Sir Alvin...

Artoria was afraid of such a thing.

Don't do this for me.

I'm not worth doing such a thing.

So... let me protect you.

By becoming a king, the world will not be destroyed, and I can protect him.

It doesn't matter if she dies alone.

Because, in that case, he can live on.

The girl named Artoria gently grasped the Sword of Selection.

The hilt fit astonishingly well.

It seemed to still retain his warmth.

Up until now, something indescribable, like something wanting to burst from the inside of her body, seemed to be drawn into the sword, and her body felt lighter and lighter.

Pulling out the sword, becoming someone else.

Turning everything she had been afraid of into the past.

This was the ritual of killing herself.

If she still had a fearful heart, she couldn't protect that person as a king.

"Lily, to protect the smiles of the people, pull out the sword."

Merlin's gentle voice seemed to resonate in her ears, as if saying this could inspire her passion and dispel her fear.

However, at this point, Merlin was wrong.

Completely wrong.

Even that person was wrong.

The girl actually had her own selfishness.

Whether it was an inevitable outcome waiting for her or a lonely destruction...

"Not to protect smiles, not to create happiness, and not to save the world..."

"Just for you, Sir Alvin, I want to save you..."

For this, even if she had to kill herself, it didn't matter.

Because this was what she sought as peace of mind.

Under the clear sunlight.

Facing the long-suppressed and now erupting cheers of the knights, like a tide...

The sword was pulled out just like that.

Even if, in the future, she would be avoided, feared, and betrayed countless times, her selfishness would never change.

Not to save the world.

Just to save you.

I want to save you, Alvin Pendragon.

"From now on."

With a indifferent, emotionless, almost icy voice.

The golden-haired girl raised high the proof that meant killing herself.

"I am King Arthur."