Seeing Sanzang's confusion, Alaric briefly explained the origin of the Crusaders and their main conflict with the Knights of the Round Table.
"Oh—"
Sanzang nodded, though not entirely understanding. Alaric wasn't sure if she truly grasped it, but judging by her expression, she seemed to get the basics.
After explaining to Sanzang, Alaric turned back to the magus.
"Setting aside your cryptic talk, are you unwilling to share information about the remaining Crusaders, or do you genuinely not know?"
The magus remained silent for a while before speaking in vague terms, which made Alaric suspect she was trying to change the subject. But why would the magus, who had been cooperative up until now, suddenly want to shift the conversation?
LAlaric was very curious.
"Before I left, there were already 137 knights standing by, and the number was still growing. Meanwhile, the workshop, under the operation of three living Alaikas, was continuously producing Chimeras. I'm not sure what the current situation is."
The magus's response was surprisingly honest, and the content left Alaric quite satisfied.
"Using the workshop to produce a large number of Chimeras… It seems you've used quite a few people. Are you using refugees or Crusader knights?"
Alaric stroked his chin, asking with interest.
Based on Alaika's previous actions, Chimera creation required life as material. While Alaric wasn't sure how the quality of the individuals impacted the final product, the number of people used would certainly affect it.
The Crusader magus' method for creating Chimeras required living human beings, an incredibly costly resource.
"We use both. The standard for creating a Chimera is three knights and four ordinary people…"
Alaika's standards were quite high… Alaric recalled how Alaika had once used over a dozen Crusader knights to create a Chimera, with even the leftover corpses fused by Maggie Friedman.
It seemed the more people you used, the higher the quality of the Chimera. That dragon-headed Chimera must have used at least twenty people…
Alaric thought back to the dragon-headed Chimera he had encountered earlier. Though he hadn't fought it personally, judging by its aura and magical energy fluctuations, it was a formidable opponent.
One dragon-headed Chimera might not be much of a threat on its own, but if the Crusaders could mass-produce such creatures, they would be able to field a strong Chimera army, despite being limited by population.
"Is there anyone else besides the Chimeras? Someone as powerful as a Servant, perhaps?"
By this point, Alaric had a clear understanding of the Crusaders' remaining forces. From what he could tell, this might be troublesome for him.
After all, even with the Holy Grail's infinite magical energy, Alaric's combat limits were becoming apparent. Aside from his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, his most powerful attack was the Tree of Lightning.
But the Tree of Lightning required extensive preparation and placed an unprecedented burden on both his heart and body. Even now, his body hadn't fully recovered from the attack's aftereffects.
Moreover, the attack's range was indiscriminate, engulfing both friend and foe—a self-destructive move. And since the Tree of Lightning was pure magical energy, it lacked the technical or mystical enhancements of a Servant's Noble Phantasm, which could benefit from various bonuses.
Noble Phantasms, often either weapons or feats from a Servant's life, were typically enhanced upon becoming a Servant. The only exception would be beings like the Lion King, whose strength in life was so overwhelming that being summoned as a Servant weakened her.
Alaric didn't have the benefits of being a Servant. As someone still alive, his only option was to push himself to the limit within the realm of the living.
"You know where the workshop you were born in is located, right?"
Alaric glanced at the magus lying in the pit.
Finally, the most crucial question: the location of the Crusader remnants.
Alaric had long been puzzled about the Crusaders' base. Whether it was the concealment, magical energy supply, or terrain secrecy, where in this singularity could there be a place that met all these conditions?
"I know. It's beneath the mountains."
The magus's answer brought the interrogation to a close.
"Wait, are you talking about those mountains? The wasteland?"
Alaric was startled by the magus's words and couldn't help but gesture, to which the magus nodded in confirmation.
On this land, there was only one place that could be referred to as a mountain range—the mountains where the Hassans, the People of the Mountain, resided.
Although Alaric had suspected that the Crusaders might be hiding there, he didn't have conclusive evidence. Now, hearing this confirmation from the magus, his doubts were finally resolved.
Looking at the magus, who was in a pitiful state, Alaric realized there was nothing more to ask.
Judging by the information the magus had provided, the Crusader remnants consisted of the self-proclaimed King Richard, some possible Servants, and a mass of Chimeras.
At this point, Alaric had already formulated a plan—a foolproof strategy for victory.
The enemy might have the advantage in numbers, but Alaric had another option: calling for reinforcements.
Even if he couldn't win on his own, he could always return to the Holy City and ask for help from Gawain and Lancelot—or better yet, rally the entire Round Table.
The Knights of the Round Table, blessed by the Lion King, were the most powerful force in this singularity. If they all mobilized, they could easily crush the Crusaders. With Gawain, the Sun Knight, who received triple the power boost from the sun, and Lancelot, the strongest of the Round Table, just the two of them would be an unstoppable force.
Thinking of this, Alaric couldn't help but smile.
"You don't need to stay down there any longer. Come up and join us."
After the magus crawled out of the pit of shame, Alaric, who had been thinking for a while, slowly spoke.
"I'm sorry, Miss Sanzang. It seems our next destination needs to change."
Alaric had originally planned to take Sanzang to the Holy City in the desert to find food and water while letting her begin her observation of the singularity. But after this encounter with the magus, he had changed his mind.
He needed to return to the White City—Camelot. To meet the Lion King!
The sooner the Crusader remnants were dealt with, the better. Letting them continue to gather strength would only increase their military power, and the people of this land would suffer. Each Chimera created represented the sacrifice of human lives.
Alaric knew that the deaths on this land were unnecessary. While the Lion King's Holy Selection was unavoidable, the Crusaders' slaughter was something he could stop.
"Huh? So where are we going now?"
Sanzang didn't seem to mind the change in plans, but she was curious about their new destination.
Alarc chuckled at her question.
"Miss Sanzang, it seems I haven't properly introduced myself."
He smiled and continued.
"My identity is—The Knight of the Round Table in the Lion King's service, the Wandering Knight, Alaric."
"As for our next destination, it is none other than the pure white utopia—the White City, Camelot!"