Crazy Britain:They’re All Raising Me

"By your attire… you must be the fabled Dragon‐Fairy of the Fairy Kingdom, Lancelot the Fairy Knight, yes?"

Though Melusine's face bore no cruelty, the barely contained murder in her calm gaze pricked Guinevere's skin like a thousand needles.

"Tell me, Lady Lancelot," he said cautiously, swallowing hard, "why do you brandish your blade against Lady Bavantzy—the heir to the throne? Such defiance… borders on treason. Surely you do not intend revolt?"

His mind raced, still buzzing from the sudden turn of events. If negotiation failed and Lancelot insisted on killing Bavantzy, what could he do…?

And then he realized: what did Bavantzy mean to him? A fellow survivor in another timeline? A kidnapper who'd dragged him here? Or something else entirely? If she were merely an irrelevant captor, why did he stand to protect her?

Across from him, Melusine regarded him coolly. In truth, she'd never disliked Guinevere—he was a brilliant leader and warrior, and in their brief past encounters, she'd always admired his character.

She'd even handed him the treasured blade once, and when he rose to the throne of Britannia in a simulation, she accepted his rule without protest. She'd spared him when she could have destroyed him, thinking him truly worthy. In her eyes, he might have been the reincarnation of her missing love.

But Guinevere was no Yseult. Dragonkind saw those bonds in the mind's eye, and she'd found no trace of herself in him.

Thus, to Melusine, there were only two kinds of people: her beloved Yseult, and everyone else. She'd ignore the rest—unless they threatened her Yseult. Bavantzy's reckless slaughter had already nearly undone Britannia in simulation; if left unchecked, she would bring ruin in reality too.

And so, when Lancelot's blade gleamed before Guinevere's throat and Bavantzy's life hung in the balance, Melusine stepped forward with cold resolve.

"Queen Morgan's foster daughter? If even Morgan herself returned… what then? My stance remains. Any who threatens Britannia, I will slay."

With that, Lancelot lunged. She seized Guinevere's collar and hurled him aside, then spun to strike at Bavantzy.

"Stop underestimating me—"

Bavantzy, enraged, wove magic in her hands and fired a bolt, only for Lancelot to slice it in two with her scabbard. Before Bavantzy could react, Lancelot's gauntleted fist slammed into her abdomen with bone‐shattering force.

Bavantzy flew backward, slamming into the corridor wall and crumpling to the floor, retching as her organs convulsed.

Patting away tears of pain, she realized her attempt had been hopeless.

"Pathetic," Lancelot murmured. She advanced, scabbard raised to finish her strike.

—No fear flickered in Bavantzy's heart as the blade descended. Instead, a single thought bloomed: regret. So many words left unsaid…

"Shink!"

The blade pierced flesh with a dreadful clarity; blood sprayed in a crimson arc.

Bavantzy lay stunned, staring as Lancelot's scabbard hovered inches from her chest.

Then Guinevere stepped between them, eyes blazing with fierce protectiveness.

"Why…?" Melusine's voice was soft—almost curious—rather than accusing.

"A hero rescues the damsel in distress," Guinevere rasped, pain twisting his features as he gripped Lancelot's scabbard. "Isn't that… only fair?"

He staggered forward, clutching the blade with bloody fingers.

"And… maybe I'll win her heart," he added, voice thick with grim humor.

―Ding! Your self‐sacrificial stand for the maiden graced your Chainsaw Devil contract by +10%. Contract charge: 60%.

―Ding! Your defense of someone precious fits the Gun Devil's ethos: +30%. Contract charge: 90%.

―Ding! Your shameless final line matches the Chainsaw Devil: +10%. Contract charge: 100%.

―Ding! Contract charge complete: you may transform into Chainsaw Man.

With a yank of the ring at his chest, his form convulsed. Wounds healed; a jagged barrel sprouted from one arm, a chainsaw blade whirred from the other. His face twisted into a demon's grimace.

"Chainsaw Man, activate!"