Fate: How About a New Savior?

"Then, Pharaoh Ozymandias, please have your army advance from the western side of the Holy City."

After their meeting with Ozymandias concluded smoothly, Shiomi and the others had no time to linger. With the Pharaoh personally stepping down from his throne to see them off, they arrived outside the great temple, where Shiomi made his request.

"According to news from our allies among the mountain people, relayed through Chaldea, they'll set up camp in the wilderness near Camelot in about three days. Once our forces meet, we'll march together."

He laid out their current situation.

Although the Lion King's forces had withdrawn after the fall of the Round Table Fortress and consolidated within Camelot, that alone didn't solve the problem. Forcing them to retreat only ensured the Lion King couldn't continue with the Holy Selection—it didn't stop her from unleashing the Holy Lance and revealing the Tower at the End at any moment.

Up to now, Camelot had shown no signs of initiating anything, which clearly meant they were simply treating the threat seriously, not withdrawing or giving up.

Which is why they had to strike first—before Camelot completed its preparations and launched a counterattack—if they were to stop the Lion King's plans.

"Rest assured. The Divine Beast Legion will arrive on schedule. We'll handle the diversionary attack on the west side of the city walls," Ozymandias agreed with composed confidence—calm and self-assured, yet not careless. "I'll have Nitocris lead the Divine Beast Envoys with you. You can go over the details later."

Shiomi nodded and looked to Olga Marie, who would be departing with him. Beside her, Nitocris also nodded.

"Do not worry, ally. I've helped my friend Miss Animusphere complete the preparations for the Astromancy spell. When it's time to assault the city, as long as I'm there to assist her, the ritual can be activated even away from Pharaoh Ozymandias's lands."

As mentioned earlier, during her time in the Sun King's domain, Olga Marie had formed a friendship with Nitocris, establishing a temporary contract with the Magus Queen.

Though the details remained unclear, Shiomi could see similarities between the two—both capable, yet held back by a lack of confidence and composure due to their personalities.

"That's reassuring," Shiomi said with a nod.

Ozymandias's gaze softened slightly. "Nitocris."

"Yes, Pharaoh Ozymandias. Do you have any further orders?" Nitocris immediately straightened, her tone serious and respectful.

"You needn't concern yourself with matters here. Focus entirely on helping your first friend fulfill her mission," Ozymandias said, his voice resonating with authority.

"...I will not fail," Nitocris replied, bowing deeply.

"Then go. Even with desert-crossing vehicles, only a few of you can go ahead," Ozymandias said decisively, extending a hand to signal their departure.

With that, he turned and walked back into the temple without looking back.

Shiomi turned to Olga Marie. "You and Nitocris will lead the Divine Beast Envoys through the desert. I'll head back to the mountains with Morgan and Master, regroup with the army, set up camp, and wait for your arrival."

"Understood, Sensei," Olga Marie nodded.

With the plan set, Shiomi rejoined Morgan and Scáthach, who were waiting at the base of the temple steps, and the three of them departed first from the territory of the Sun King.

…

Camelot, inside the royal palace.

"What's the situation now?"

Gawain spoke first upon seeing Lancelot return to the hall.

"The scouts report that the army made up of the mountain people has set out from the fortress that suddenly appeared. They've crossed the mountains and are advancing toward the Holy City," Lancelot replied. "Also, there's still no sign of movement from the Sun King."

"As expected. They're not content with just destroying the fortress in the mountains. In the end, their goal is to march on this place," Gawain said grimly.

"After all, the one leading that army is Morgan," Tristan sighed. "When she retreated after disrupting 'Rhongomyniad,' she said she would personally destroy the thousand-year kingdom our king built."

"But why does Morgan have the Holy Lance? Isn't that something only our king possesses?" Lancelot asked.

Agravain's expression was grave. "Most likely, it's that woman's Magecraft. Morgan has already developed magic capable of replicating an attack on the scale of the Holy Lance."

None of the remaining Knights of the Round Table questioned this explanation.

After all, no one understood Morgan's Magecraft better than Agravain.

"Up until now, Morgan hasn't launched another Holy Lance attack on the Holy City. That probably means this Magecraft isn't easy to execute," Agravain continued, analyzing the situation. "That's why she's gathering her troops—she plans to use the chaos of battle to unleash a fake Holy Lance and wipe us all out."

"What a merciless plan," Tristan said with a sigh. "Now it's not only Mordred who's joined Morgan, even Sir Bedivere is assisting her... What a heartbreaking reality..."

Lancelot, already aware of Mordred's betrayal, didn't question it further.

But when Tristan mentioned Bedivere, he was visibly shocked. "Sir Bedivere? Why would he...?"

"At this point, he hasn't responded to the king's summons and has taken the opposing side. There's no point in speculating here. If we have questions, let's settle them on the battlefield," Agravain said.

"I believe Sir Bedivere may have been colluding with Morgan's faction for some time. He once helped her disrupt the 'Rhongomyniad' and interfered with my execution of the king's 'Holy Punishment'," Gawain said quietly, eyes closed, revealing something he had kept hidden.

He felt the accusation was a grave one against a friend, and he couldn't bring himself to look his fellow knights in the eye as he spoke.

"Why have you kept silent about this until now, Sir Gawain?" Agravain demanded.

"Wait, Agravain!" Lancelot stepped forward in Gawain's defense. "Sir Gawain and Sir Bedivere are close friends. If it were me, and I saw a friend standing on Morgan's side, I'd struggle to speak too."

"Sir Lancelot is right," Tristan sighed again. "The only reason I can speak of this so easily is because of my 'Inversion'."

...

As the discussion shifted from Morgan's military strategy to Bedivere's failure to answer the king's call, the Lion King on the throne spoke, her tone calm and indifferent:

"What have you all been discussing? This Bedivere—who is that?"