For the next two days, Rozen and Mash stayed in the Holy City, never leaving the royal capital.
It wasn't that they didn't want to leave.
Originally, Rozen had planned to explore the Holy City a bit, while also gathering some intelligence, and the people in Chaldea were also in favor of this.
Because the Holy City was very strange. When staying in the royal capital, Rozen's Heaven's Eye magic fluctuations would bounce back as soon as they touched the walls, unable to expand and peer around. Chaldea's scans were also the same. When Rozen stayed in his room, large-scale scanning couldn't be carried out, so leaving the royal capital and going to the streets would allow him to collect intelligence smoothly.
However, if he left the room and simply wandered within the royal capital, there was no problem. But when Rozen planned to leave the royal capital and head to the streets, the Patrolling Knights immediately appeared and stopped him.
"The Holy Selection preparations are ongoing, and the streets might be a bit chaotic, so it's better if you stay inside the royal capital and avoid going out."
They said this, which forced Rozen to turn back.
It couldn't be helped. If it were anyone else, Rozen could have thought of ways to outsmart them, but after observing them for a while, Rozen had realized that the Knights were not only transformed into beings almost as strong as Servants, but also had absolute obedience to the king's orders. They were brainwashed to some extent, and no matter how much Rozen talked, he couldn't deceive them into letting him leave. Since this was the case, there was no need to say anything.
Of course, if Rozen really wanted to leave, he had ways to do so.
However, Rozen had noticed that since the moment he entered the royal capital, he had been under constant surveillance. Except for the room, no matter where he went, the Knights would follow him, and their gazes would never leave him once they saw him, making it impossible for Rozen to do anything.
In such a situation, Rozen knew what was going on.
"Am I being watched?"
It must be the order of Agravain, right?
Besides him, Rozen couldn't think of anyone else who would be so vigilant against him.
Among the Round Table Knights, Agravain was the one most wary of Rozen, viewing him as a potential enemy. When he met Artoria in the meeting hall, it was the same person who kept an eye on him from start to finish, never relaxing.
"Sure enough, among the Round Table Knights, this Iron Knight is the most troublesome in some sense."
As the only one who hadn't received the "Blessing," Agravain's strength was the weakest compared to the others. However, as the legend goes, he was the most indispensable talent in Great Britain, the most capable aide to the Lion King. Without him, the Round Table would fall apart.
Agravain probably knew this too, which is why he didn't accept the "Blessing."
He understood that even with the "Blessing," he couldn't surpass the other knights.
So, rather than accepting the power of the "Blessing," he wholeheartedly assisted the Lion King in governance as a civilian official. This was the most beneficial approach.
"In the legends, this Iron Knight was just a minor character with little description, but I didn't expect him to have such importance."
Rozen wasn't frustrated. Instead, he understood the attitude the Round Table had toward him.
As for leaving the royal capital, Rozen could trick the Knights' eyes, but doing so would alert them and give them an excuse to act. For now, he didn't need to rush.
However, Rozen still had a question he really wanted to know.
"What exactly is the Holy Selection?"
This term had been repeatedly mentioned by the Round Table and the Knights, so it must be something very important.
Rozen felt that there was something hidden here that he wasn't allowed to know.
Thus, Rozen made a decision.
That day, Rozen got up early.
"How do you feel, Mash?"
Rozen entered Mash's room and asked with a smile while Mash was drinking water.
These days, whenever Rozen met Mash, his catchphrase was always this one.
And Mash always answered this way.
"No problem. My bodily functions are operating normally, and my nutrition intake is well-balanced. There's no abnormality."
Mash answered seriously, as if reporting.
Even Roman's voice came from the communicator.
"The data we've received here shows that Mash's readings are very stable. Considering the current situation, there shouldn't be any incidents like when she suddenly collapsed during the Fifth Singularity."
Roman assured them.
It seemed Chaldea was functioning normally as well.
"That's good."
Rozen smiled slightly.
"What are we doing today, Senpai?"
Mash then asked Rozen.
Over the past few days, Rozen and Mash had been taking separate routes, wandering around the royal capital, trying to discover something, but they hadn't found anything unusual.
They hadn't come back empty-handed, though.
From the Knights' words, Rozen and Mash had gathered some intelligence.
For example, all of the Round Table Knights were summoned by the Lion King using the power of the Holy Grail.
As the former King Arthur, she was the greatest catalyst, summoning the Round Table Knights who had once served her. That much was normal.
However, it was said that one of the Round Table Knights did not respond to the Lion King's summons, and several others had perished in past conflicts. Currently, only five Round Table Knights remained, each responsible for different areas of work.
Agravain managed the operation and administration of the Holy City.
Gawain handled everything related to the Holy Selection.
Tristan was tasked with chasing and eliminating the Mountain People and often went out on missions.
Then there was Mordred, who actually didn't have residency rights in the Holy City and was only allowed to stay in the Holy City during the day. She usually hunted in the wilderness.
The remaining member of the Round Table is often away from the capital even more than Mordred, as they are tasked with carrying out missions personally assigned by the Lion King and her officials. They spend less time in the capital.
As for the Lion King, since the construction of the capital, she has never left it. She only leaves the royal city on the day of the Holy Selection, and remains within the royal city at all other times.
Today...
"If I remember correctly, it should be the day of the Holy Selection that the Round Table and the Knights have been repeatedly mentioning," Rozen said.
"Then, Senpai, you mean...?" Mash began to understand Rozen's intentions.
"That's right," Rozen suddenly smiled.
"Let's go and inform the Lion King," Rozen said, "Tell her that we want to observe the Holy Selection ceremony."