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Just when they thought they should disband and hurry to Drake and Bartholomew's ship to prepare, the appearance of someone completely surprised them.
"Father... Storm Border will be setting sail in an hour. Please return to the bridge as soon as you finish what you need to do here to prepare."
Artoria Caster was doing her errand-running job as usual.
Although she couldn't go to the battlefield, she was very content to provide support from the rear.
After the seventeen-year-old fairy girl ran out of the cabin, she delivered a message to Shiomi and bowed to the Knight King.
"Did you see that?" Gao Wenqing asked, his face full of shock.
“Although she has the same face as my king, she is not my king, and she also has an aura that is not that of a Servant.” Tristan opened his eyes.
"What an innocent and carefree smile! That must be from a girl of only sixteen or seventeen, innocent and sheltered, raised in a greenhouse, a pampered young lady from childhood." Lancelot exclaimed in surprise, his eyes wide.
“So that girl is—” Gareth tilted his head, looking at Caster with great curiosity.
Noticing they were watching him, Castor, who was about to return to the ship, was also taken aback. He knew they were the famous Knights of the Round Table, whom he had not yet spoken to, and he treated them with great respect.
After bowing respectfully, he returned to the ship.
Watching Artoria Caster's figure disappear, Bedivere tried to smooth things over: "She's probably just a girl who happens to look a lot like our king, like Miss Grey..."
“They don’t just look alike, they look exactly alike!” Gao Wenqing exclaimed. “It’s like seeing our king in his childhood.”
"So that girl is actually our king's unknown daughter?" Tristan said, revealing an extremely explosive viewpoint.
Gareth was stunned: "Really?"
"What Lord Tristan said makes perfect sense. I never imagined that my king would possess the happiness of an ordinary person. As a Knight of the Round Table, I truly don't know whether to feel sad or proud—"
Lancelot crossed his arms and echoed Tristan's dangerous statement, then a massive shield descended from the sky.
"Wake up, Lord Lancelot!"
Although everyone was making wild guesses, only Lancelot took a solid hit from Mash, flying to the side and crashing into the rocks on the coast.
Chapter 56 Knights of the Round Table Assemble (3)
After the commotion, Shiomi, Artoria, and the Knights of the Round Table, including Mash, sat in a circle on the beach, using the stones as stools, to understand the current situation.
Unlike the Servants on Drake's and Bartholomew's ships, the Knights of the Round Table, while quickly realizing that this was both a Lostbelt and the Age of Gods, were unaware of how far Chaldea had progressed.
It is Chaldea's duty to provide them with the necessary information in as much detail as possible.
During the reign of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table had experience in naval warfare, having launched several amphibious landings in Europe. Therefore, naval battles were not unfamiliar to them.
"So now this Eris Island is located in the southwest of this sea area called Atlantis, and to enter the Void Cavern, one needs to cross the southern sea area shrouded in dark clouds and land on Nemesis Island there?"
Percival carefully examined the simple nautical chart drawn on the beach and compared it with the chart handed to him, his expression quite serious.
"But why go through all this trouble? Wouldn't it have been easier to just go straight in and break into the Olympus entrance called the Void Cavern?" Gareth asked.
Because after Chaldea entered the Lostbelt, the first place they landed was Hestia Island, directly west of the Hollow Cavern.
Artoria shook her head: "Upon entering the Lostbelt, we were surrounded by the Olympian fleet. Although we managed to turn the tables and annihilate the surrounding forces, we were targeted by the goddess Artemis."
“That’s right. At that time, Olympus’s defenses in Atlantis had not yet been weakened. If we sailed directly southwest into the most treacherous seas, we might have faced attacks from both sides. Even if we managed to break through, we would have been exhausted,” Shiomi said. “Because we didn’t know what kind of enemies we would encounter after entering Olympus, we chose to proceed cautiously.”
Gawain nodded admiringly: "Then, our king and Chaldea, even with enemies all around them, once again annihilated the forces of Olympus and shot down the moon goddess in her satellite orbit."
“That’s all thanks to Tianxi.” Artoria shook her head, not considering it all her credit.
"That's not entirely true. With Aphrodite and Demeter joining the fray, along with a fleet that's even better prepared than when we surrounded them, we still can't confidently disperse our forces to engage them. I also didn't have enough time to implement the tactic of shooting down Artemis," Shiomi calmly stated, attributing the victory to everyone's efforts.
He spoke calmly about something extraordinary, and the Knights of the Round Table, though unsuspecting, were still amazed by Shiomi's composure.
"Shooting down a god in satellite orbit? That's an incredible feat!" Gareth exclaimed in praise. "No wonder he's a comrade-in-arms who fights alongside our king."
Shio smiled, then, holding the branch, drew a circle around the location of Nemesis Island.
"The entrance to the Void Cavern should be nearby. After successfully breaking through the Storm Sea, StormBorder will sail from the left, while Drake and Bartholomew's ships will sail from the right, circling the island from both sides and heading towards the Imaginary Tree to find the entrance to the Void Cavern."
“Deliberately disperse your forces. If you don’t annihilate the enemy by then, use this method to distract them.” Lancelot rested his chin on his hands. “I just don’t know which side will become the bait.”
"Are you perhaps hesitant, Lord Lancelot?" Tristan chuckled. "If we, a few Knights of the Round Table, can distract the Olympian army, it's a truly worthwhile tactic."
“Of course it’s not a concern, but a worry that it won’t attract enough attention.” Lancelot glanced at StormBorder. “The Chaldea warship is even larger than the two captains’ warships, so it will undoubtedly be the most eye-catching and cannot be left out of our sights.”
Percival thought for a moment, then smiled confidently: "In that case, let's make it a grand spectacle and keep the Olympian army glued to our screens."
"How about we make a bet..." Shiojian put down the branch, "Whichever ship you are on, or Storm Border, reaches the Hollow of the Void first and encounters Poseidon, the sea god guarding the gate, will be the victor?"
Artoria couldn't help but chuckle, but she understood that Shiomi was trying to lighten the mood: "It's an incredible bet, and the winner has to fight the sea god who is ready to fight first."
“I couldn’t ask for more.” Gawain clenched his fist. “I have fought countless enemies, but I have never faced a god directly. Even so, I should still do my best.”
Other Knights of the Round Table shared similar ideas.
"Um, may I also go aboard Captain Drake's or Captain Bartholomew's ship like the other Knights of the Round Table?" Mash asked.
"No, no, you must stay in Storm Border and follow... no, protect our king."
Lancelot, whose face was still swollen and red, urged Mash to stay.
Of course, the main reason is that the Knights of the Round Table and the other Servants have all reached a tacit understanding that even if they unfortunately die in battle, they must ensure that the entire Chaldea ship breaks through the Void Hole without anyone falling behind.
But coming from Lancelot, it sounded strangely like he was worried about his daughter.
"Now, let me talk about the enemy forces we currently have information on, especially the Servants and Athena—"
Just as Shiomi was about to continue speaking, a series of footsteps came from the side.
He turned around and saw Bavan Shi, along with two other fairy knights and several sailors, carrying trays with freshly made shaved ice topped with different colored juices, which they were about to offer to the Knights of the Round Table and the other Servants.
“This is…” tide Jian was stunned.
"With less than an hour until departure, the kitchen has prepared some food, and since the temperature is a bit high today, we've also made some cold drinks, hoping to help all the heroes relax before setting sail," said Bavan Shi.
The Knights of the Round Table gladly accepted the cold drinks offered by the young women, a gesture of goodwill.
The brief meeting was also temporarily suspended.
After the supplies were distributed, the sailors Nemo and the others returned to the ship first, but Bawan and the others did not board the ship immediately. She leaned close to Shiomi's ear and whispered a few words.
“I see. Speaking of which, you all used to be active in Britain as fairy knights. Now that the real people behind those names have come here, it’s only proper to pay a visit.”
After listening, Shiomi expressed her understanding, which surprised the Knights of the Round Table.
He then introduced the three of them in a rather relaxed atmosphere, mentioning their previous titles when they were active as Fairy Knights.
The coastline became lively once again.
Chapter 57 Knights of the Round Table Assemble (4)
Soon, the greetings progressed from conversation to a friendly sparring match where everyone could show off their skills.
At this moment, Melosin was already sparring with Lancelot, who was praising Melosin's martial arts skills with great poise, while Mash stood in the middle.
Bagst and Gawain on the other side were similar, but Bagst was more inclined to focus on the knowledge of power.
“It really is true. What should have been an elegant exchange has turned into a martial arts tournament without us even realizing it. But as a warm-up activity before the expedition, it’s not bad.” Tristan put down the tall bowl of shaved ice and started playing his harp. “But Miss Bavan Shi is quite different from the other two.”
Bawan Shi, biting her spoon, said, "Father named me Fairy Knight only to express the idea of opposition. In reality, I was not even given information about the Round Table Knights' abilities that rewrote the history of humankind. Unlike them, my fighting style is actually closer to that of a magician."
“I see, Magician. I never imagined that such an elegant lady would use my name, hehe.” Tristan chuckled with a hint of smugness.
This clearly indicates that he has defeated Lancelot and Gawain.
“Speaking of fairy knights, there are actually similar existences in the history of humankind.” Artoria recalled the past, “When I was still a training knight, there was a fairy knight who traveled with me.”
Shiomi chimed in, "It's Brittomart, right?"
“That’s right. We became friends through a duel and went through many battles. In the end, after her adventure, she was welcomed into the fairy kingdom by the Fairy Queen.” Artoria showed a nostalgic expression. “I heard that she had two children after that, one of whom became the King of Britain in my time.”
“And the other one?” Gareth asked.
She did not join in her brother Gawain's physical sparring, but instead stayed by King Arthur's side, enjoying a moment of peace.
“I don’t know about that. I suppose it’s probably in the paradise in the Star Sea.” Artoria smiled. “Perhaps when the crisis of Pan-Human History is over and we return to Avalon, we might be able to give it a proper visit.”
“That sounds good,” Shiomi said sincerely. “Morgan would probably be interested in going back to Paradise to take a look.”
Upon hearing Morgan's name, Gareth froze: "Morgan? Is that His Majesty's sister, Morgan?"
“No, it shouldn’t be.” Gawain walked over, turning his arms. “At the singularity, we had some contact with Morgan of Chaldea. Although we were enemies, she is not the Morgan we know.”
“Indeed.” Tristan recalled the defeated battle. “Morgan of Chaldea was powerful, but he seemed to have too much power and not enough ruthlessness. Although he tried his best to be decisive in battle, he lacked the corresponding cruelty in his killing intent.”
“Of course, Mother is a savior, not some demon queen from the pan-human history,” Bavan Shi explained earnestly. “Please, Knights of the Round Table, do not mistake her for someone else.”
At this point, she suddenly remembered: "I remember my father saying that several of the Knights of the Round Table were children of that person in the pan-human history?"
“Me, Gareth, and Mordred, Agravan, and Garrijos, who couldn’t gather here.” Gawain nodded in confirmation.
“You could say almost half of them are,” Shiomi said, looking at Artoria. “But all the knights your sister sent ended up loyal to you.”
Even Mordred, who ultimately instigated the rebellion, was someone Shiomi found difficult to explain—what complex feelings that person held for King Arthur.
"That's all in the past. Now, after a thousand years, to be able to fight alongside my former knights again is enough for me." Artoria shook her head, her expression calm and profound.
Gareth felt the same way and almost cried again. She sniffed hard to stop the tears.
Tristan smiled silently, put away his bow, and picked up his cold drink to enjoy.
“We will also serve some snacks later, so please be sure to try them if you are interested,” Bavan Shi added at this point.
"More importantly, shouldn't we be worried about Lancelot?" Shio turned her head and pointed over there. "Why is Mashu fighting him alongside Meloshen?"
Percival gave a hearty laugh: "No need to worry about it, rather, Lord Lancelot is quite enjoying himself."
"Just don't overexert yourselves, otherwise I'll have to help you recover," tide Jian jokingly reminded them to be moderate.
“Since it’s break time, any way of handling it is understandable,” Artoria said, glancing at the shaved ice in Shio’s hand. “Tianxi and I aren’t holding the same flavor of fruit syrup?”
"Mm." tide Jian nodded.
"Let me have a taste." Artoria naturally reached out her spoon and scooped a spoonful of shaved ice full of fruit pulp from Shiomi's hand to taste.
Shio couldn't help but laugh out loud: "The colors on your tongue have all mixed up."
"Yeah."
Artoria suddenly remembered that this fruit syrup easily left color on the tongue. She subconsciously stuck out her tongue, but found that she couldn't see it very clearly, so she swallowed it back, completely forgetting that the Knights of the Round Table were also present.
Fortunately, the Knights of the Round Table were quite perceptive of the atmosphere and didn't say a word. Instead, they quietly gathered together and resumed their discussion that had just been interrupted.
“Did you see that? That subtle sense of distance?” Tristan opened his eyes again.
“When the king is by this master’s side, there is no sign of burden on his face. He can switch naturally between the identities of king and woman.” Gawain said quite seriously.
“As expected of our King, your vision is truly profound,” Percival said. “If this Master is chosen by the Spear of the Chosen, we can go to the front lines with peace of mind, without worrying about our King’s safety.”
"Seeing His Majesty like this is truly surprising. As Lord Lancelot said, I don't know whether to be happy or sad," Gareth said. "What do you think, Brother Gawain?"
Gawain pondered for a moment: "The king has wandered the world alone for fifteen hundred years, carrying the Holy Lance. The spirits of the dead who have never truly died have transformed the goddess of the Holy Lance. If only someone could understand and soothe the king's loneliness..."
"Fortunately, Lord Agguiwen isn't here. If he were, he would surely think the king has been bewitched," Tristan muttered wistfully.
“In a sense, it’s fortunate that we were a step too late to the battlefield,” Percival agreed wholeheartedly.
The Knights of the Round Table gathered together, enjoying their simple yet refreshing shaved ice in unison, watching Shiomi and Artoria chat happily.
Noticing the gaze, Shiomi could only pretend not to notice and continue talking to Artoria, trying her best to keep her from being noticed.
The thunderclouds on the horizon quietly expanded at this moment.
Chapter Fifty-Eight Assault
After preparations were complete, Storm Border and its two accompanying warships began their voyage toward Nemesis Island, preparing to break through Atlantis's last line of defense and enter the divine city of Olympus.
Because there was still some distance to go, Morgan did not return to the cabin immediately, but remained on the deck.
Then, Shiomi asked her a question.
"Is it just my imagination? It seems like the thunderclouds over the waters of Nemesis Island... have expanded this way?"
“It’s not an illusion.” Morgan’s bewitching eyes shone with a beautiful azure light as he entered observation mode. “The thunderclouds have indeed expanded considerably since before we set off. In fact, the area covered by the thunderclouds was already expanding before we even departed.”
This is precisely why Morgan did not immediately return to the bridge.
Not only to accompany Shio, but also to confirm the change that he had noticed by chance before setting off.
The weather at sea is unpredictable, especially since the sea area we were passing through was often shrouded in dark clouds.
But this is the Lostbelt, a world ruled by the Olympian gods, where the Age of Gods has never declined, and manipulating the weather is as easy as snapping one's fingers.
"Then I knew I wasn't mistaken."