This…
It feels like another deja vu… or rather, it already happened once. I am intent on saving Gekai by killing two of its terrifying monsters. Since the moment I established a connection with my world, its safety is already guaranteed.
From this vague connection with them, I knew that nearly two years had passed since my departure. They didn't have much trouble either.
'I'll see to it later.'
"Saving the world? Shouldn't this topic be carefully thought of? Surely, Mister Schweinorg doesn't expect an answer right at this moment."
"Indeed. I am only informing you in advance." He replied. "It is up to you to decide."
I nodded at his words. My mind remained active throughout this entire time. I would be able to act immediately if it occurs. From the looks of it, that wouldn't happen.
"Oh, yes, I nearly forgot. The item inside the glass box belongs to another ruined world. It held one of the possible outcomes if humanity lost. You may be able to utilize that broken rifle, perhaps."
'Ruined world… If dozens of higher-order beings died, it's possible to recreate this concentration.'
I arrived at the conclusion that Mister Schweinorg isn't lying. He really is aware of this rifle's origins.
Come to think of it…
'A rifle… Isn't this a superweapon..?'
Black Barrel.
The gun that could deal an effective blow against higher-order beings. It scales with its target's lifespan, and higher-order beings could live for thousands of years. Hence, this rifle is extremely effective against them.
Just as I realized these things, he gave a knowing nod at me.
"Ah, yes. I nearly forgot. There might be something special for the girl during our next meeting." He said before continuing, "Then, until we meet again."
With those words, he vanished along with sparkles of bright light. They came from the jewels used to activate this magecraft.
Upon verifying his disappearance, I deactivated the infinite conversion state.
"A magician… Have you seen him before?" I asked the girl behind me.
"No, I haven't. How did he…"
When she met my gaze, she paused before realizing something.
"You already know about it..?"
"...Yes. I already visited the Clock Tower once and found your signature to be familiar."
"..."
Lancelot's face turned red due to embarrassment. I could discern the real reason behind her emotion simply by utilizing the link that we have. I could tell other Masters also couldn't do it, though.
Maybe.
After that incident, she reverted to her expressionless look. I busied myself by reversing Tri-Hermes' state and searching for the relevant information regarding Black Barrel.
There, I found out its peculiarity.
The Black Barrel in my storage is the original. It is the same Black Barrel that could be used to take down higher-order beings.
However…
'It's broken.'
Turns out, it wasn't the Black Barrel from this world, but rather, another parallel world. Atlas was able to deduce many things just by the environment it was exposed into. One such discovery is the density of these so-called Grains on places where higher-order beings fell.
It was broken for a long time before it somehow made its way into the Atlas Institute of this world. They didn't place it on the same place as the original seven superweapons mainly because of its broken state. That, and the fact that it is more convenient to research it from their storage instead of the special place where they placed the legitimate superweapons.
To be honest, I already harvested way too many things in this place. I am not regretful about those superweapons. We also have those back in my world.
If it's not fated for me, then so be it.
It's not like I wouldn't return here sometime.
With this much knowledge…
'Another round of upgrades…'
*****
"So, you're friends with the person who helped everyone here… and you wanted my aid?"
Arash rhetorically asked the two knights in front of him.
"It's not that difficult of a problem. If everyone said something good about him, I see no reason to refuse."
"Phew…"
Upon hearing his answer, Gareth immediately breathed a sigh of relief. They evaded the possibility of a clash as simple as that.
"You are Sirius' friends? If you'd said so, we wouldn't have left you waiting."
A thin robed man came to them.
He raised his arm, revealing a black circular bracelet with octagonal edges. It dispelled the magicka barrier separating their village from the outside world.
Percival and Gareth stepped inside the village.
"...He really did this."
"It looks reminiscent of Camelot." Percival commented as he saw the cemented pathways and several tall buildings. "He truly landed in an interesting world. Would Camelot also look like this in the future..?"
Arash heard their comments and wore a wry smile on his face.
"That's what I thought too! I came here thinking they needed my help. Who knew they could deal with dozens of beasts at once?"
Ozymandias' doing of summoning forth his entire kingdom affected the entire Middle East. He disrupted the lives of millions as well as their livelihood. Everything is still working fine due to their stored up resources, but it won't be long before hunger and starvation becomes prominent.
Fortunately, Nobu constructed hundreds of resource nodes throughout the world. He gave the people in dire need a chance for a better life. Having won their trust, they reciprocated by serving as one of the resource collection points.
The village guarded by the Cursed Arm Hassan is one such place.
"What does he need? There are plenty of resources currently stored. If Sirius wants to fight someone, he can count us in!"
All three of them are surprised by Cursed Arm's words.
"He's that great of a person, huh? I'd like to meet him someday."
"About that—"
Zoom-!
A loud zooming sound flew over their head. Then, it proceeded to fall into their direction. The person floated gently as he carried a small girl along with him. He didn't wear his usual combat suit, but rather his signature black overcoat.
Strangely enough, there were bits of sand that floated a few centimeters above them. These pieces of sand fell as they stepped into the ground.
"Pardon for the intrusion. I discovered everyone is already here."
His golden pupils gave a calm light. He felt dignified and intelligent at the same time. It surrounds him at all times, as if they are already a part of him.
"You are Sirius?"
"Yes, Arash-san." Nobu replied as he placed Melusine on the ground. The latter didn't think much of this. "You've also eaten well, Cursed Arm-san. But you didn't seem to grow fatter?"
"Things are always like this." Cursed Arm paused before he realized something. "Ah, isn't this one of your jokes?!"
"Perhaps."
This semblance was the biggest similarity between Nobu and Galahad. If they made a joke, they would make it difficult for others to know whether he truly meant it or not.
Having gone through a lot, Nobu learned to interact like this. What's more, he seems to like it.
"How did it go?"
"It went well. Aside from several surprises, I managed to accomplish everything. That included the threat our King is wary of."
"...Being a caster is truly different." Percival commented. "If you chose this path in the past, would you have been like this?"
"...Yes. However, I'm not suitable to become one in the past. It's best I chose the path of a knight back then."
With Galahad's inhuman characteristic, it is hard to say whether he would derail from a human's morals or not. It is exactly due to him being a knight did it complement that side very well—turning into a knight that protects others.
"Arash-san might've heard everything already, no?"
Nobu's gaze turned to Cursed Arm. The latter then proudly crossed his arms.
"I already told everything there could be told."
"Yeah, I've heard everything. I'll gladly offer my assistance."
Nobu and Arash saw each other eye-to-eye, the latter's judgement unimpeded as he saw Nobu's true nature. From the moment they met, he knew about Nobu's nature due to his special eye that holds [Clairvoyance].
Things might be distorted on Arash's side, but it still allowed him to know what kind of person Nobu is.
In the end, he judged him as someone worth trusting.
The two shook hands as a kind gesture.
"So, what are we fighting?"
"That depends." Nobu replied. "If we really are left with no choice, we will fight someone. She's very formidable."
"How formidable?"
"Very." Nobu paused for a while. "It looks like you'd be able to see it soon."
"Did I jinx it..?"
Leaving Arash's joking comment, Nobu looked into the sky. He felt a huge amount of mysteries and magical power being concentrated several thousand kilometers above the ground. Its target is none other than this village.
'A King without mercy and compassion… I could understand why he would feel that way.'
Their King lost all traces of her humanity. She no longer cared as long as she managed to preserve humanity in her way, even if this singularity causes the collapse of the entire pan-human history—and humanity as a whole.
'Bedivere… I really need to find him soon.'
For now, he looked farther and saw familiar faces.
"This is our personal fight now. I will handle it alone."
Hearing the graveness in his tone, Gareth and Percival knew they wouldn't be able to interfere with the upcoming fight. Although, only the latter knew who his opponent could be.
"He's still your father."
"...It'll only be a minor beat up."
"Sir Lancelot?!"
Gareth immediately flared up upon hearing Lancelot's name. Meanwhile, Melusine subconsciously looked at her direction before acting as if nothing happened.
"Yes, I promise—"
Nobu recalled the memories he saw that day. Out of them all, he was most disappointed with one thing: Lancelot's betrayal of Gareth's trust. Despite knowing the latter wouldn't fight against him, he went ahead and killed her.
That, in the most logical sense, is infuriating.
"I won't kill him."
"Galahad..!"
Before she could tell something, Nobu disappeared from her sight.
"You won't be able to prevent it." Percival spoke. "It's best to trust his words. He never backed down on any of them except for one."
"I understand…"
*****
"Prateritium, ostendo tu ipse." (Bygone events, show yourselves.)
A cloak of distortion wrapped around my body. I experienced changes as I found myself wearing a set of black armor. A longsword remained sheathed on my waist. The circular shield could be called forth out of nowhere.
Clank-!
Clank-!
"Mana Archiatius, Overload." (Mana Archiatius, Overload.)
My entire body was washed upon by mysteries. The skills turned on the active state of turning into a being of mysteries—a higher-order lifeform.
"This is enough."
Even if…
Even if I'm angry, I wouldn't let out power that could destroy an entire country at will. He is still my father despite the irresponsibility he committed.
Nevertheless, it couldn't quell my raging anger at all.
Shiing-!
Unsheathing my longsword, I discovered its deep blue sheen instead of its former black color. [Historia Emendatus] required an anchor to attach the past. The nanite suit was converted into Galahad's armor while the Sword of Strange Hangings is attached to Sora.
Simply put, I have my goddess' blessings at this moment.
A surge of power came from within. One wished for a bountiful hunt while the other granted an inviolable blade.
Lastly, the skill I acquired throughout this time flared up.
[Three Covenants]
-Special-type skill
-It is required to specify three permanently-binding covenants
-Each covenant brings forth a beneficial effect
-When violated, a corresponding backlash would occur.
-Currently, three (3) covenants are active.
It is one of the skills that appeared on my choices when my status became level ten. It enforces a binding geas whereas it gives out enhancements and punishments if it is followed or disobeyed.
Although I could use my chances to reverse the selection—something I tried once—I had been careful in choosing the permanent covenants that I obey.
[Covenant One: Standing up against the injustice I see.]
[Covenant Two: Eliminating the unredeemable evils I encounter.]
The first and second one went along with my way of living, thus I didn't have worries about them.
Lastly…
[Covenant Three: Fighting for what I absolutely deem right.]
There are only a few things that I absolutely deem right, with one of them beating my father's face.
Unfortunately for him, two of the three covenants flared up just as I faced him.
"You…"
"Don't worry, father."
I placed the sword's side facing my forehead as I distorted the mysteries around me.
"Veritas lux." (The truth enlightens me.)
I whispered before declaring:
"I won't kill you."
With that, I swung down my blade.
*****
A/N: Apologies for these late updates. I have been completing my stacked-up projects in uni right after I got sick that I didn't have much time to write these chapters. While I might not be able to promise a more stable update next week, I will try my best to upload at least 3-4 chapters by the following weeks. Once we are done with our finals week, this schedule will definitely return to normal.
That's all, happy reading~!