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The air seemed to carry a weight, so heavy it became hard to breathe.
The knight of the sun, named Gawain, and the knight of iron stared at each other—a silent confrontation from one, a cold, menacing gaze from the other.
Meanwhile, others observed this scene with evident amusement.
"What's this? Are we about to see a fight?"
Mordred wasn't concerned in the slightest; rather, she seemed excited.
"Strum…"
The red-haired knight lightly brushed the strings of their harp with fingers as slender as a woman's, producing a melodic and pleasing sound.
"Ah, such sorrow, truly sorrowful," said the red-haired knight, Tristan, in a tone dripping with melancholy. "If the two of you were to truly clash, I'd lose two friends in one go. How tragic."
Hearing this, the eyes of the two knights locked in a standoff slightly trembled.
They knew all too well that this wasn't idle chatter.
"...Internal conflicts among knights are forbidden. If the King finds out, we will all face execution," Gawain broke the silence after a long pause, closing his eyes. "And you, Agravain, wouldn't want to die before your full value has been realized, would you?"
Gawain's words caused the knight of iron, Agravain, to fall silent as well.
Mordred, however, continued to laugh brazenly.
"Does it matter?" Mordred said, sneering. "In the end, we're all probably going to die anyway. If we're just tools fated to die without reason, wouldn't it be better to go out with a bang first? Isn't that right, Tristan?"
Mordred turned toward the red-haired knight, seeking his opinion.
Tristan strummed the harp again.
"I wouldn't know about going out with a bang," Tristan said, sounding as sorrowful as ever. "But I do know this: you'll definitely be the first among us to die. Such a tragedy."
"Ha!" Mordred laughed, wildly and unapologetically. "That's exactly what makes it interesting, you fool!"
As she spoke, streaks of red lightning crackled and surged around Mordred's body.
For a brief moment, an incredibly oppressive aura burst forth from her, akin to the arrival of a ferocious beast.
Under this atmosphere, ordinary people would have already collapsed in fear, their minds shattered.
But the three knights present remained unfazed, their expressions calm and steady.
"In any case, this matter must be reported to the King," Gawain insisted, keeping his focus on his duty. "A new enemy seems to have appeared and has sent familiars toward the Holy City. I've already instructed the Paladins to eliminate them, but how to deal with this new enemy must be decided by the King."
This was the reason for the group's assembly—to deliberate on reporting the matter to their King.
However, as the King's confidant, Agravain was opposed to this.
"I've already said, trivial matters like this don't need to disturb the King's rest," Agravain said icily. "Not every stray dog or cat warrants alarming the King. It's just a group of familiars. We don't even know who their master is. Reporting this to the King will only make us appear incompetent."
This was the root of Agravain's objection.
To him, the appearance of a group of familiars wasn't worth such a fuss—hence his displeasure.
But Gawain was resolute in his position.
"While it's true that these familiars are insignificant, the King has stated that our great undertaking is nearing its end. Without any unexpected changes, Chaldea's Master should be arriving soon. At such a critical juncture, even the smallest signs must be reported to the King to avoid unnecessary errors."
This was Gawain's reasoning.
"Chaldea..."
Agravain's expression darkened.
"The Master, huh?" Mordred's brow arched with interest, and she grinned. "If they've managed to survive through five Singularities to get here, they must be interesting. Let me go meet them."
"To be honest, I'm a bit curious too," Tristan chimed in with his usual languid tone. "What kind of human can resist the incineration of human history and fight to such an extent? Are they already battered and scarred from the battles? I find such things intriguing. It's tragic, but if they fail to meet our expectations, we might as well deal with them early."
Both knights spoke with dangerous intent.
Gawain and Agravain frowned but remained silent, lost in thought.
At that moment...
"What's all this commotion?"
As this voice resonated through the hall, the entire throne room seemed to radiate with light, becoming dazzlingly bright and profoundly holy.
"...!"
Gawain, Agravain, Tristan, and Mordred all stiffened in shock, raising their gazes toward the throne.
There, unbeknownst to them, stood a figure.
This figure was clad in majestic and holy armor, draped in a pure white mantle. Their golden hair shimmered brilliantly, and their yellow-green eyes glowed like radiant gems.
Although they were a knight, their presence exuded the authority of a sovereign and the aura of a deity. The divine majesty and sanctity emanating from them were absolute.
It was no exaggeration to say that no one could appear more kingly.
There was no doubt that no one could seem more divine.
Before them stood someone who was both a King and a God.
""""Your Majesty!""""
Gawain, Agravain, and Tristan immediately knelt on one knee, offering the obeisance of loyal subjects. Even Mordred, after gritting their teeth, begrudgingly followed suit and knelt before her "Father."
The King of Knights had appeared before her loyal retainers.
"The Holy Selection is about to commence, and yet you gather here in such noise. What is the meaning of this?"
The King's voice was devoid of humanity, filled instead with divinity, as she asked this with an expressionless face.
"Your Majesty."
As the confidant, Agravain spoke up to report.
"Gawain has discovered a group of familiars attempting to invade the Holy City and believes it to be a sign of Chaldea's Master's impending arrival. We were discussing how to address this matter and whether it required informing Your Majesty."
Faced with their King, Agravain chose honesty in the end.
This act demonstrated that he was indeed a loyal confidant.
"The Master of Chaldea..."
The King's eyes lifted slightly.
Then she said this:
"That Master will arrive at the Holy City soon."
The King's words were concise and to the point.
"What?"
The knights' faces changed drastically.
"Do not panic," the King said coldly. "I can feel the tremor of the Holy Lance. Someone seems to be observing the history of this world. They must have 'seen' the judgment I've delivered and are likely on their way here."
The knights exchanged glances.
"Then how should we treat Chaldea's Master when they arrive?" Gawain asked respectfully.
"Isn't it obvious? Kill them!" Mordred eagerly suggested.
"If that's the case, let me handle it. Although it's tragic," Tristan added.
However, the King issued a different command.
"Welcome them," she declared. "They are a unique existence. I wish to meet them."
Her words left the knights deeply shaken.
But the King's orders were absolute.
Thus...
""""Understood!""""
The knights responded in unison.
The storm was coming.