"Finally, they've arrived. I thought it would take them much longer."
King Leodegrance gazed at the reinforcements with uncontainable excitement.
The look in his eyes was akin to Artoria spotting a feast, Cao Cao laying eyes on another man's wife, or Sanji seeing woman.
At this moment, he nearly rushed down to embrace Lot and Morgan, planting a firm kiss on their cheeks in gratitude.
But he restrained himself.
If he actually did such a thing, Lot would undoubtedly turn his spear around and stab him right then and there.
Flirting was one thing outright harassment was unacceptable.
"Are these King Lot's reinforcements?" Beside Leodegrance, Guinevere also turned her gaze toward the approaching army.
"Yes. So, my daughter, you're safe now."
Leodegrance nodded enthusiastically.
"Mmm…" Guinevere gave a light nod, though she wasn't particularly overjoyed.
After all, what Lot and Morgan demanded in return was far too much.
Not just land and gold, but also political concessions all forced upon her father.
And he had no choice but to agree.
Thus, Guinevere initially observed the scene with detached calm.
Until
"That knight charging at the front… he's so handsome!"
Guinevere's cheeks flushed slightly as she watched the golden-haired, petite knight clad in armor cut through waves of enemies, his sword flashing as he rode.
His resolute expression, striking features, agile movements, and dashing swordplay
Even as enemies swarmed him, he remained unshaken, deflecting their attacks with ease before cleaving through their ranks in a fluid motion.
Mounted on his steed, he was coming straight for her.
At that moment, Guinevere felt her heart stir.
...
The one currently hacking through the battlefield on horseback was none other than Artoria.
As the vanguard of Morgan's forces, she had led a contingent of elite troops ahead of the main army after their landing in Scotland, ensuring no ambushes threatened their advance.
Just moments ago, she had arrived near Leodegrance's castle and witnessed King Rience's forces besieging it.
Faced with this situation, Artoria wasted no time.
She immediately dispatched messengers to report to Lot.
The response was swift: Attack.
Launch a full assault.
With those orders, Artoria charged without hesitation, clashing head-on with Rience's army.
As a knight, she led from the front, Excalibur in hand, felling enemy after enemy.
Though Excalibur was Merlin's handiwork, compared to the weapons of common soldiers or even ordinary knights, it was in a league of its own. Neither their blades nor their armor could withstand its might.
As for Artoria's martial prowess? True, she was slightly inferior to Lancelot and Galahad but only to them. Who else could stand against her?
Under her relentless charge, Rience's forces began to falter.
No one dared face her in direct combat.
It's not that we lack courage it's just that the enemy's blatantly cheating!
Yet amid the slaughter, Artoria couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.
Is an enemy preparing to snipe me from the shadows? I should stay on guard.
She thought warily.
Strangely, however, the source of this gaze seemed to originate from… Leodegrance's side?
Could there be a traitor among Leodegrance's ranks?
Artoria wondered, even as she cut down three more soldiers in a single swing.
At the same time, she grew puzzled.
Why haven't King Lot and Queen Morgan arrived yet?
...
In truth, Morgan and Lot had long since reached the battlefield.
The moment Artoria's report arrived, they had ordered their troops to march swiftly toward the conflict.
However, they hadn't immediately joined the fray.
[If we charge in now to reinforce Artoria, we'll just be feeding troops piecemeal into the fight. That'd force us into a head-on clash.]
[No we'll circle around and strike Rience from behind. A good, solid thrust right into his rear should do the trick.]
Lot analyzed the battlefield silently.
Morgan, overhearing his thoughts, shot him a sidelong glance.
This damn husband of mine.
Why is he so obsessed with attacking from behind?
At this rate, I'm starting to worry
Not just the enemy's rear will be in danger, but mine too.
Shifting uncomfortably in her saddle, Morgan couldn't help but feel a phantom sensation, as if she'd already been… well.
While she didn't share Lot's particular preferences, she wholeheartedly approved of his tactics.
Victory was all that mattered in war.
If Lot's methods minimized their casualties, so much the better.
When it came to strategy, Morgan trusted him unconditionally.
No matter how he fights, I believe he'll win.
Still, she had her own role to play.
Channeling her magic, she began scouting the battlefield.
Lot hadn't yet given the order to attack when Morgan spoke up first:
"Lot, there are three to five enemy magi. They've already cast detection spells, but I've blocked them they can't sense our forces. Later, I'll handle those magi. You focus on the assault."
"Understood."
Lot nodded faintly.
No need for explanations.
Morgan already trusted him completely.
What more was there to say?
The best gratitude would be a decisive victory.
"Move out. Prepare for battle."
He led the army in a stealthy flanking maneuver, positioning themselves behind Rience's forces.
By now, the battle had reached its peak.
Artoria had nearly broken through Rience's lines, closing in on Leodegrance's castle. Seeing this, Leodegrance rallied his troops and sallied forth to meet her.
Determined to prevent their reunion, Rience committed nearly his entire army to block the gap between the two forces.
The clash turned the battlefield into a blood-soaked hellscape.
Even Artoria's advance began to slow.
"I'm so hungry… I can barely lift my arms. No I have to push through. Queen Morgan promised me anything I want after we win."
She fought on, channeling her hunger into sheer willpower, her strikes growing fiercer with thoughts of the post-victory feast.
No one stops me from eating.
No one.
Yet she remained unsettled.
Why does that gaze from Leodegrance's side feel even more intense now?
Are they about to strike?
Her guard remained high even as she fought.
...
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the battlefield
King Rience had initially been wary of additional reinforcements.
But as the battle grew desperate, he could no longer afford caution.
He committed his entire army.
His magi had scouted the surroundings and found no other enemies.
This eased Rience's nerves slightly.
"That knight is impressive. If I capture him, I'll offer him a place in my service. With his strength, my forces would be unstoppable."
He mused aloud before bursting into laughter.
His court jester, ever the sycophant, promptly asked:
"Your Majesty, why do you laugh?"
"I laugh at the enemy's lack of reinforcements! Had they another army to ambush us from behind now, we'd be utterly doomed!"
Rience declared grandly.
The jesters erupted in obsequious laughter.
Then their voices died as a new force appeared on the horizon.
Right behind them.
"..."
Rience's laughter choked off.
He whirled toward his magus.
"You said there were no enemies nearby!"
"W-Well… perhaps their magus surpasses my abilities…"
The magus stammered.
"And you didn't think to mention this earlier!?"
"I didn't know earlier!"
The magus looked downright aggrieved.
"What do we do now!?"
Rience bellowed as Lot's army charged toward them.
"Maybe… order the royal guard to counterattack? If we hold them off "
The magus suggested weakly.
"Fine. We have no choice."
Rience gritted his teeth and commanded his elite guards to intercept Lot's forces.
Watching the leading knight, he thought:
If my guards can eliminate him, we might buy enough time for reinforcements.
Surely another knight like the one on the front lines can't possibly exist, right?
He clung to this hope.
But
Oh, he exists.
The knight at the forefront wasn't Lot.
It was Galahad.
Rience's finest warrior rushed forward valiantly only to be struck down in a single exchange.
The difference in skill was ludicrous.
Oh, come on.
This one's even stronger!
Rience's confidence shattered.
He spun around, desperate for his magus's counsel
Only to find empty space.
"Where did he!?"
The magus had already fled.
We scholars are civilized folk. This bloodshed is beneath us. Time to retreat!
"Damn cowards!"
Rience cursed.
Then, after a brief pause
He too turned and ran.
His guards wouldn't last much longer.
No point dying here.
His lands still held reserves.
If he escaped, he could rebuild.
If the magus can flee, why not the king?
With that rationalization, Rience vanished into the distance.
Seeing their king desert them, Rience's troops lost all will to fight.
Caught between Lot, Artoria, and Leodegrance's forces, they broke completely.
Of the thousands who had marched to battle, fewer than a thousand escaped.
The two allied armies converged at last.
Leodegrance smiled at Lot and Morgan.
"King Lot, Queen Morgan thank you for your timely aid. Without you, my castle would have fallen to Rience."
Though their demands had been steep, their assistance was undeniable.
Lot replied solemnly:
"We are allies, bound by mutual defense. Your enemies are mine I would never abandon you to such a threat."
This little fox… the audacity.
Leodegrance marveled at Lot's shamelessness.
Just then, Artoria frowned.
She turned to the group and announced:
"King Leodegrance, there's still an enemy among your troops."
"What!?"
Leodegrance paled.
Artoria pointed toward a spot behind him.
"Someone has been watching me this entire time."
All eyes followed her gesture
To a radiant, fair-skinned maiden staring intently at Artoria.
"...Daughter?"
Leodegrance blinked in disbelief.
[Is that… Guinevere?]
Lot wondered silently.
Meanwhile, Guinevere's gaze burned with undisguised admiration.
She stepped forward, addressing Artoria directly:
"Sir Knight, may I ask your name? And are you married? How old are you?"
"My name is Artoria. Unmarried. Sixteen."
Artoria answered honestly, now realizing her mistake.
On the sidelines
"Huh!?"
Lot and Morgan exchanged stunned glances.
This girl
Is she seriously into Artoria!?
The same thought flashed through both their minds.