Fairy Round Table Realm, Poem of Eternal Mist

After careful deliberation, the group's plan of action gradually became clear. Their primary task was to attend the ball in Gloucester two days later and try to get the last fairy knight, Tristan, to complete the true name determination. However, this reclusive princess proved difficult for everyone: she was unlike the other fairy knights, never having left the palace, and under Belial's tight protection, approaching her was virtually impossible. Unless they could defeat her in battle, the true name determination was simply out of the question.

But the most pressing problem right now was how to get into the ball. These kinds of social events hosted by Gloucester were always exclusively for the upper class of the Fairy Kingdom; without an invitation, it was impossible to even step inside. Just as everyone was at their wits' end, a tall figure suddenly appeared in the doorway—it was Bagst. Surprisingly, she seemed even more 'robust' than they remembered. Since her true name was revealed, she had been living in seclusion in Manchester and had never left.

'It seems you need this—'

Bagst placed a stack of exquisite invitations on the table, just enough for everyone present. She showed no hostility, set down the invitations, and prepared to leave. Da Vinci suddenly called out to her:

'Wait, Bagst. Why are you helping us? Have you forgotten the humiliation you suffered in Autumn Forest? Or what is your true purpose in offering your assistance?'

'Why?' Bagst stopped in his tracks. 'It wasn't my choice. Though losing my true name is a great disgrace for a knight, this is His Majesty's final command.' Her voice was unsettlingly calm. 'It's almost time for us to clash head-on. From now on, I will remain neutral. As for the others… you're on your own.'

After saying this, Bagst left the room without looking back. Da Vinci keenly sensed something unusual about her—it wasn't just the smell of blood. She quietly pulled Ritsuka aside and whispered:

"Ritsuka, I have some bad news. Do you know what secret Bagst is hiding? She's not like Maquia's simple killing; she should be even more terrifying than Maquia."

The sudden reminder sent a shiver down Ritsuka's spine. After confirming that no one was watching, she whispered in response:

'Could he be like Donald Rowe? Besides murder, the thing that has horrified me the most so far is cannibalism...'

"That's right." Leonardo da Vinci said gravely, "The same goes for Bagst. But unlike Donald's petty squabbles, she'll devour numerous men after having relations with them."

To devour someone after a flirtatious encounter? Just imagining it sent a chill down Ritsuka's spine. Da Vinci's observation was indeed sharp: Bagst arrived disheveled and exhausted; traces of blood and fine hairs lingered at the corners of his mouth—signs far from those left by ordinary food. Despite her careful grooming, these subtle flaws hadn't escaped Da Vinci's notice. Ritsuka suppressed her fear, striving to maintain a calm facade, choosing to bury her horror deep within.

"Alright," Pepe broke the silence cheerfully, "it seems we're all set. Now all we have to do is wait for the ball day, and how we act will all depend on your improvisation!"

-

Meanwhile, within the territory of the Oxford Winged Clan.

'Ouch... Koyanskaya...'

"Shut up! If you're afraid of pain, why cause trouble in the first place?" Koyanskaya impatiently tended to Morlian's wounds. "I'm very busy! Besides, isn't all this trouble your own doing?"

Covered in wounds, Morrian collapsed on her bed in her palace, receiving Koyanskaya's less-than-gentle treatment. The torture she had endured at the hands of Morgan and Machia had been merciless—two teeth had been forcibly pulled out, her left leg broken, and prolonged immersion in the Thames had given her severe rheumatism. Now, she was utterly weak, requiring assistance even for basic daily activities. Worse still, having revealed all the information, she dared not contact Aurora and the others again, living in constant fear of potential assassins and eliminaters. At this point, Morrian was no different from a rat in the street.

"Alright! Your injuries won't heal in a short time," Koyanskaya said, finishing bandaging the last wound. "Just stay here and rest."

Koyanskaya, who had been forcibly brought there, was unconcerned about Morian's situation. With the Third Force's plan exposed and the Fairy Kingdom's end imminent, she had to find a way to leave Britain before then. Belial was clearly not in her plans—he wasn't worth the trouble of taking him with her. At this moment, she was more concerned about Senji Muramasa's condition: after being deceived by the alien god, the old swordsman insisted on accompanying everyone on their final journey through Britain. As for Rasputin, he was probably still in South America. That was fine; Koyanskaya didn't need to worry about his opinion (after all, Senji Muramasa didn't want to talk to Rasputin anyway, so her going would be a waste of time).

"I'm leaving!" Koyanskaya picked up the medical kit. "Didn't you want to find out the truth? Then go find out for yourself. Now, to Aurora and the others, you're just a discarded pawn that's no longer of any use—"

Having said that, she left the Winged Clan's territory without looking back. The once bustling chieftain's mansion was now almost deserted. Ever since news spread that Morian was a traitor, her former servants who trusted her had all deserted. This fulfilled the prophecy left behind by the fairy knight Mordred when he departed: those who manipulate schemes will ultimately be despised by everyone. Morian was now personally witnessing this prophecy.

Gloucester—this city bathed in pink glow—is the undisputed fashion capital of the Fairy Kingdom. Celebrities, trendsetters, and aristocrats flock here, making it the most prosperous metropolis in the country. Although its overall style is quite similar to the Champs-Élysées in human history, it exudes a sweet, fairytale-like atmosphere.

Today was Gloucester's annual grand ball, and almost all the elites of the Fairy Kingdom had been invited, including Nocnarria and Aurora. Artoria forced herself to remain calm; based on her previous deductions, she already knew these two were no good. Revealing her true thoughts now would only worsen the situation. To appear more natural, she had no choice but to take the initiative and strike up a conversation:

'Oh, Nocnarria, Aurora, you're here too?'

Nocnarria gracefully fanned herself with her folding fan: 'It seems everything is progressing smoothly. Next, it's time to march on the royal capital. Our Royal Clan and the Wind Clan will provide you with our full support.'

"Yes," Aurora softly agreed, "if it weren't for you, the fairies would probably still be suffering under that tyrannical queen's oppression."

Ritsuka thought to herself, (Who's really oppressing whom here? How can you say such things without batting an eye!)

Although she was dissatisfied, she didn't show it. Ritsuka, dressed in her gorgeous gown, felt extremely uncomfortable, especially with the tight corset making it difficult for her to breathe. This detail was noticed by Caster, who happened to glance at her—she so wished she could have Ritsuka's figure. The contrast was truly heartbreaking.

What frustrated her even more was that several fairy knights were also present. Normally, their armor concealed their true forms, but in their formal attire, all of them, except for Melusin, displayed graceful figures. Caster looked down at her own unremarkable curves, and a strong sense of disappointment welled up inside her.

'Castor?' Sylph approached with concern. 'What's wrong? Is something bothering you?'

"N-no!" Caster waved his hands hastily, "I just felt a bit stuffy because there were so many people... Ahahaha..."

Seeing Sylph initiate the conversation, Caster quickly seized the opportunity to slip away from the two. Sylph saw right through her, but now was not the time to discuss it. She pulled Caster toward the unused dining table, where Kalia and Machia were already waiting.

"That's the gist of it," Kalia said in a low voice, "That monster was indeed a creation of the Third Force, and they even had a core capable of activating Kornunos's true form. Didn't you notice anything unusual after you defeated it?"

Upon hearing that a core still existed, Caster was immediately terrified. The avatar of Kornunos had already nearly killed her; if the true form were to descend, the consequences would be unimaginable.

'There's more?! But...'

'That's certainly puzzling,' Sylph replied. 'It was probably blasted into some corner during the explosion. Hopefully, it's gone forever; if anyone finds it, it will cause an irreparable disaster—'

Maquia was about to continue when she was suddenly interrupted by the crisp sound of high heels. The fairy knight Tristan, dressed in a completely new outfit, gracefully arrived: his once dignified dress had been replaced by a daring black off-the-shoulder gown, and his heels were sharp as knives, leaving cracks in the floor with every step. He wore an obsidian crown and luxurious armor on his wrists, exuding an air of supreme nobility.

'While playing the dignified young lady is fun, isn't this outfit more suitable?' She glanced flippantly at the crowd. 'Hey? You bunch of worthless losers who have lost all dignity?'

Kalia and Sylph chose to ignore the provocation, but Machia instantly flew into a rage. A blade formed of water was pointed directly at Tristan's nose, her voice as cold as ice:

'Don't think you can act so arrogantly just because I'm not [Fairy Knight Bedivere] anymore. You'd better remember your ranking among the fairy knights; taking your life is a piece of cake for me!'

"Huh? You traitor!" Tristan laughed angrily. "I haven't settled accounts with you for betraying Mother! What? You want me to tear you to pieces right here?"

"Enough!" Kalia interrupted sharply, "If you are truly as powerful as you claim, then prove you're not trash with your strength! What do you say, Lord Tristan? Caster is right before our eyes—"

The head maid's words temporarily halted the tense standoff between the two. Maquia sheathed her water blade, gestured for them to leave, and then left with Sylph. Now, only Caster remained to face the enraged fairy knight Tristan.

'Very well,' Tristan's fingertips flashed with a dangerous red light. 'Cast, this time I won't be as polite as I was with the head maid!'

"Oh? Is that so?" Caster suddenly turned into the shadows. "Hey, Belial, stop hiding. You think I won't recognize you?"

Applause erupted from the shadows as Belial slowly emerged, a fake smile plastered on his face: "Oh my, oh my, I didn't realize I was so famous that even the third Child of Prophecy remembers my name~"

Before he could finish speaking, a glass of red wine was splashed in his face. Caught off guard, Belial nearly had his glasses slip off his face. Ritsuka approached with composed steps, her voice laced with sarcasm:

'Who's praising you? If you want to fight, just come at me. Do you think Artoria and I are afraid of you? Don't be ridiculous.'

Beryl leisurely wiped the wine stains from his face, his smile undiminished: 'Getting more and more arrogant, Fujimaru Ritsuka. That little girl who used to hide behind Mashu, now dares to challenge her alone? Commendable! Fantastic!' His gaze swept over the device on Ritsuka's wrist, 'You're quite adept at using the technology to steal mine, truly gratifying!'

"That never belonged to you!" Ritsuka retorted sharply. "What you did to Diana on the Nautilus, I will make you pay with your blood!"

Seeing Ritsuka's firm stance, Belial dropped his pretense. To avoid disrupting the ball, he led the two to the underground fighting arena directly beneath the ballroom. This was originally a black boxing ring for nobles, decorated in a style reminiscent of the ancient Roman Colosseum, the air still thick with the mingled smells of blood and sweat. But the two, seasoned by countless battles, paid no heed.

*Rip—* Ritsuka deftly tore open the hem of her skirt that was restricting her movements, and Excalibur instantly materialized in her hand: 'This time, let's settle this fair and square!'

Belial casually waved his hand, and several red threads suddenly attacked Ritsuka. Although she managed to parry with her sword in time, fine cuts appeared on her face, neck, and legs. The skirt that had just been torn was sliced ​​into pieces and fell to the ground by the threads.

Just as more threads were about to entangle Ritsuka, a silver slash came crashing down from mid-air. Caster, staff in hand, stepped forward to shield her from the attack.

'Oh?' Tristan raised an eyebrow.

'So you can't fight without a sneak attack?' Caster said coldly, 'You're always this despicable!'

'Despicable?' Tristan laughed maniacally as he strummed his bowstring. 'That word was made for me!'

Countless red threads rained down like a storm. With each pluck of the bowstring, the number of threads increased exponentially. But Caster, with his superb defensive skills and agile movements, effortlessly dodged the impenetrable attack.

'Too much trouble~' Belial lazily raised his hand, the red light of the Command Seal flowing between his fingertips. 'In the name of the Command Seal, I command you—use your Noble Phantasm!'

A blinding crimson light flashed, and the fairy knight Tristan unleashed an ominous red aura. Blood coalesced in her hands into a specially crafted hammer and chisel, instantly imprisoning Caster in a massive spherical cage of thorns.

Fate is truly cruel. Whether good or bad, once someone incurs hatred, their life ends there. Come on, become trash!

The moment the hammer and chisel clashed, the thorn cage suddenly exploded. Countless spikes pierced through from the inside out, and blood and flesh splattered everywhere, staining the entire arena crimson. However, Ritsuka remained calm and composed, as if she had already foreseen this outcome.

The fairy knight Tristan, basking in a twisted sense of victory, thought: 'I had prepared something much more interesting, but it ended so quickly? Hahaha, what a weakling, Caster! Easily defeated by my [Weeping Illusion], what utter trash!'

FetchFailnaught—a bewitching kiss that can inflict a curse no matter how far apart they are. Using the strands of Castor hair she obtained during their previous clash of threads, she created a perfect cursed clone to kill her original self. This was supposed to be a foolproof fairy version of the Ushi-otoko shrine visit.

But the mysterious smile on Ritsuka's lips suggests that it's too early to celebrate this victory.

"Ba Vanshi," Castor's cold voice came from the shadows, "Do you think this level of trickery can fool me? If I could be killed so easily, would I still deserve to be called the Child of Prophecy?"

'What?!' Tristan's maniacal laughter abruptly stopped. 'Ah...'

Before she could react, she was sent flying with a powerful blow. Ritsuka, who had been poised to strike, switched to her Black Jeanne d'Arc armor, and scorching flames instantly engulfed Tristan's body. Tormented by severe burns, she collapsed helplessly to the ground.

It turns out that Caster had already seen through Tristan's arrogant nature and deliberately prepared a substitute to lure her into using [Weeping Illusion], intending to deliver a fatal blow when she was at her most triumphant. After their life-or-death struggle with the most ferocious beast, Caster and Ritsuka were no longer the same. Dealing with an opponent of Tristan's caliber was a piece of cake for them.

The charred elf knight Tristan barely managed to lift his battered face, letting out a defiant roar: 'How could this be... I...'

"A bet's a bet, Ba Vanshi!" Castor looked down at her. "Your weaknesses were obvious from the start. Machia was right; you didn't even understand your own strength before launching the challenge. Did you still think I was that weak prophetic child? His Majesty's years of painstaking cultivation haven't been in vain."

'Ba Vanshi…you…' Fairy Knight Tristan struggled to sit up, his charred skin cracking and bleeding from the movement. 'Cast…you actually—!'

"Yes," Custer's voice was clear and calm, "it's time to reveal your true name—you are the famous female fairy from Scottish legend, literally 'Baob the Fairy' (Baob the Fairy)."

Ba Wanshi's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Legend says you appear in the night, draining human life until they die." Castor approached, "You crave blood and fear sunlight. And Ba Vanshi, since allying with Belial, you've learned quite a few twisted fetishes from him. How could a normal fairy modify high heels into hidden weapons?"

'! ! ! ! !' Ba Wanshi's face contorted with rage at being exposed. Unlike the other fairy knights, whose true names were revealed by Kaster, the others had all revealed them willingly. But the humiliation of having her true name exposed to her face now caused this Scottish vampire fairy to completely lose control.

"Shut up!" she screamed, ignoring the excruciating pain from her burning body, she swiftly raised her blade-embedded high heel and kicked it viciously at Caster's face. Since defeat was inevitable, she might as well fight to the death!

'clang!'

Ritsuka managed to block the blow with the flagpole, the metal clashing together with a piercing sound. She and Caster spoke in unison:

'The outcome is decided! Ba Wanshi, there's no need to continue this charade!'

'I'm not reconciled! Master! Master!' Ba Wanshi cried out in despair, but when she looked at the spot where Belial had stood, she found that it was empty—the man had quietly left the moment she was defeated.

'Ugh—!'

The fiery roar of "Roar! My Wrath!" and Caster's spiraling halo struck simultaneously, slamming Ba Wanshi into the cold ground of the fighting arena. She listened to the receding footsteps of the two figures, each sound piercing her pride like a needle.

As a pampered young lady in the palace, she had never experienced such a utter defeat, except for being defeated by Senji Muramasa. Humiliation, regret, and resentment surged through her veins like poison. Sweet saliva mixed with crimson blood stained the corners of her mouth, perfectly reflecting the fall of a proud soul. She lay paralyzed in a pool of blood, her nails digging deep into the ground, letting out a beast-like growl.

The Garden of Disillusionment - The Fairy Round Table Realm, The Poem of Eternal Mist

[You simply don't understand—what kind of existence my life truly is… Those days of being scorned, insulted, and cursed are past experiences I can never forget, nor can I ever forget… And that was the first and only time I was accepted by someone outside my own people… The first time I felt warmth, the first time I was no longer looked at with strange eyes—that was my most precious happiness to this day… But now… everything I've finally gained is going to… everything will be taken away by Caster… Unforgivable, Caster, I will never forgive you! You've destroyed everything I had, destroyed my life! Destroyed the dignity I had painstakingly built up!!!]

For Bavanshi, before entering the palace, she experienced a time of chaos and turmoil in the Fairy Kingdom. King Uther and Queen Mab had been assassinated, and the conflict between conservatives and reformers had intensified. Before the establishment of the Queen's Calendar, bloody battles and endless massacres were constantly taking place on this land. The delicate little princess was born into this turbulent era—but Bavanshi was far from a noble princess. In the shadow of the turmoil, she was merely a girl subjected to the humiliation and abuse of her people, utterly devoid of dignity.

Bawanshi's tribe is composed of vampire fairies, a special breed from the Fairy Kingdom. Due to their vampire nature, they are unwelcome by any other clan. These creatures, who feed on the blood of others, are undoubtedly heretics in the eyes of most fairies. Bawanshi is even more of an anomaly than her kind, for a simple reason: as a vampire, she doesn't drink blood. How ironic! Not only does she not drink blood, but she also has no interest in the activities that vampires consider enjoyable. Worse still, she is mediocre, possessing all the shortcomings of others, without any outstanding talents—it is these congenital defects that make her a target of bullying. Day after day, people come to pick on her and humiliate her. Bawanshi endures her days in this painful torment.

Meanwhile, the devastating news of Uther and Maib's deaths added insult to injury for Vivian, who was already exhausted. To avoid implicating Totolut and the Black Knight, she deliberately distanced herself from them. However, less than a week after she left—the Black Knight succumbed to his injuries and passed away. The kind, steady, mature, and reliable man in the group had departed silently. If it weren't for saving her, the Black Knight wouldn't have died. At that moment, Vivian blamed herself for everything, even having the desperate thought, 'If only I were dead, then no one would be hurt because of me. It's all my fault—I'm just a machine that creates tragedy.'

Although she no longer wished to stain her hands with blood, countless rebels still came to her door every day. Without exception, Vivian left no survivors; all attackers were killed on the spot. Soon, her once fair hands became filthy, as if haunted by the wails of countless wronged souls. Even more chilling was that when she rescued other fairies, she never heard a word of thanks. The residents only gave her scornful looks and indifference, showing no gratitude for her help, as if she owed everyone something. But to fulfill the mission of the previous queen, Vivian persevered no matter how difficult it was: hunger, beatings, insults, rejection, and neglect became her daily lessons. Just when her will was about to collapse, a sudden change allowed her to rediscover her former beliefs.

That day, Vivian passed through the territory of the vampires. As soon as she stepped into the area, a ragged, emaciated girl immediately gripped her heart. Although she didn't know what kind of torture the girl had suffered, just looking at her made her feel uneasy. To make the girl feel better, Vivian quietly carried her on her back to a makeshift hiding place to heal her wounds. Despite not knowing the specifics of her ordeal, it was clear from her appearance that the girl had endured severe abuse. However, the details would only be known after the girl woke up.

'Who...are you? Why...did you save me...?'

"Huh?" Vivian was a little surprised. "Although I'm constantly being hunted myself, I still want to hold onto my original intentions. I can't just stand by and watch someone die, and you've clearly been abused, haven't you? I hate that kind of thing the most—"

As she spoke, Vivian rolled up her sleeves, revealing crisscrossing bruises on her arms. These were from when she was mistaken for an intruder and beaten by the villagers during her pilgrimage through an unnamed village. Adhering to the principle of not harming the innocent, she neither fought back nor argued, silently enduring it all. The young girl might not yet understand Vivian's past, but seeing the similar scars on Vivian's body, she hesitated for a long time before finally whispering a sentence Vivian hadn't heard in years:

'Thank you……'

In an instant, Vivian's nose stung, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. It was too bitter, truly too bitter… From the Age of Nothingness until now, everyone she had saved—never! Never—had ever said "thank you" to her. Only this nameless girl expressed gratitude, uttering those long-forgotten words. It seemed she wasn't completely hopeless; there was still hope for salvation in the Fairy Kingdom. For the girl, the long-term abuse had left her mentally unstable; she had never felt warmth before, and this was the first time she had experienced care. Although she was a complete stranger, this was enough for her to feel the warmth of humanity—