Pochi-chan, I used to be a princess.

Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mashu just stared blankly at Da Vinci. After witnessing Da Vinci's self-destruction, no one held out hope for his survival. Da Vinci's resurrection truly exceeded everyone's expectations.

Hikigaya Hachiman said in astonishment: "No way? He blew himself up and he's still fine?"

According to Hikigaya Hachiman's common sense, he's basically finished after the self-destruction.

Yuigahama Yui breathed a sigh of relief: "So Lancelot rescued everyone quietly, that's great."

Yukinoshita Yukino turned around and looked at Hikigaya Hachiman: "What is this?"

Hikigaya Hachiman concluded: "Lancelot habitually betrayed King Arthur, and Fujimaru Ritsuka put aside his hatred for the sake of the greater good. That's it."

Hiratsuka Shizuka laughed heartily: "I'm sorry, King Arthur, but this is a really good habit."

Da Vinci smiled and said, "Huh, no goodbye hug? No? Hmm, what a shame. I was really looking forward to it, but never mind. Just assume you're embarrassed to hug in front of everyone! Your joy is obvious. But if you keep your mouth open like that, your jaw will drop, okay?"

Fujimaru Ritsuka quipped, "It's just that my mouth is open and I can't close it anymore!"

Roman's voice rang out: "Ah. Great, we're finally connected. You're back from the desert. I'm glad you're all right. I even saw Da Vinci kissing. Well, all is well."

Roman, slow to realize what he had seen, suddenly raised his voice. “Wait what?! Was it actually Da Vinci who kissed me?!? It exploded so perfectly, yet he’s still alive?!?”

Da Vinci laughed and said, "Hey, Romani, thank you for your unsightly reaction! When I get back, please try my new trick, the Astronaut Home Run!"

Roman said stubbornly, "...I was just kidding. It's nothing, it's still within acceptable limits. I'm not terribly surprised. I was just worried that Ritsuka and Mashu would be upset, so I did this to fit the mood. Even if Leonardo wasn't here, I'd just feel awkward. That's all."

Da Vinci touched the goose bumps on his arm and said with disdain, "Hate it, this guy is disgusting. There's nothing cute about a man showing off, huh? Especially a single man over thirty."

Roman said dissatisfiedly, "I'm not trying to be brave! I'm just happy that my helper is back! The important thing is, how did you survive? Didn't your staff explode? You should have been dead by any means."

Chapter 236 Right or Wrong

Da Vinci shrugged. "Well, it was a surprise to me too. I actually threw my staff overhead, hoping to at least avoid instant death... but to my surprise, the leading knight actually rushed over to protect me. Do you believe me?"

Mash asked, "Was it Sir Lancelot who saved Mr. Da Vinci?!"

Lancelot scratched his head and said, "No, that... I could tell she was a beauty even from a distance, so instinctively..."

Mashu's expression darkened, and she asked coldly, "What did you just say? I'll ask again, what did you just say?"

【Fufu shivers: "Fu..."】

Bedivere couldn't help but laugh: "Hahaha, you really have Lancelot's style. You really don't care about anything when you see a beautiful woman."

[Fujimaru Ritsuka sneered: "This is... a joke of the Round Table...!"]

Miyako Hoshino lay down on the sofa and relaxed her body.

Hoshino Hinata lay on top of Hoshino Miyako and asked curiously, "Nyanei, are you tired?"

Hoshino Miyako sighed and hugged her sister. "Yeah, I'm really tired. I didn't expect it to have such a happy ending like a comedy. It's great..."

Shirasaki Hana said something very mature: "No matter what the outcome is, bad things have already happened."

Hoshino Miyako nodded: "Yes, many people died. Although there were smiles, there were more deaths and sorrows."

Hoshino Miyako is very sad now. The only happy things she has experienced are the occasional things that are not so bad. "It is not a good thing that the bad things that were originally meant to happen did not actually happen."

Da Vinci learned the truth of their investigation from Fujimaru Ritsuka and summarized: "Ah. So that's what it's all about, right? The Holy Trinity is about selecting humans. Selecting the good spirit that will remain unshaken no matter what happens, no matter how much evil they encounter... Judging by its nature, it's about gathering the lawful and good humans to Camelot, then absorbing all of Camelot into Longomyniad, turning it into something like a space colony that can exist indefinitely no matter how isolated it is. I'm afraid it can even withstand the Magic King's Human Burning. This is the Lion King's goal, right?"

Lancelot nodded: "...That's right. We believe that this concept itself is correct."

【Bedivere lowered his eyes and said nothing.】

Sanzang patted Bedivere on the back. "Mr. Bedivere, please speak freely. It is wrong to say that Mr. Lancelot is wrong."

Bedivere shook his head: "Eh? No, not really... I'm not capable of finishing off a target like that..."

Sanzang said, "I see. You're very gentle. I like people like you the most. Let me speak for you then. The Lion King's philosophy is wrong. Taking away people's freedom of choice is a bad thing. Yet everyone at the Round Table accepted it. No, in accepting it, they stifled themselves. That's because everyone believed in the King Arthur of the past. But the King Arthur of today is different. He's a different person."

Hikigaya Hachiman muttered to himself: "Someone has to do the wrong things until the right person comes to defeat me and correct the mistakes."

Veins popped out of Hiratsuka Shizuka's forehead as she pounded her fist on Hikigaya Hachiman's head. "What kind of self-deprecating statement is that? Has your Chuunibyou gotten worse again?"

Hikigaya Hachiman screamed, "This is the wrong way to teach!"

Hiratsuka Shizuka laughed and said, "You're wrong. This is the traditional repair method. Just knock on the broken head and it will be fixed."

Hikigaya Hachiman grumbled, "Don't treat my head like a TV!"

Yukinoshita Yukino ignored the crosstalk between the teacher and the student and watched the development of the plot calmly.

Mistakes are always mistakes and will definitely be corrected!

Yukinoshita Yukino is already convinced of this.

Right is right, wrong is wrong. Using the wrong method to do the right thing is wrong in itself.

Sanzang asked, "Why did King Arthur become like the Lion King?"

Lancelot shook his head. "...I don't know. The King was already like that when we were summoned. There was no sign of him being controlled by that Magic King you mentioned. Although some knights rebelled, believing the King to have gone mad, there was absolutely no reason for him to be mad."

Leonardo da Vinci calmly asked, "He's not crazy. He's more than just insane. King Arthur has lost all his sanity."

Lancelot's eyes grew fierce. "Not even rationality... Are you trying to say the king is a puppet? A puppet who only obeys Agravin's orders!"

Da Vinci said, "Agaguiwen? Oh, you mean King Arthur's aide-de-camp? Serhan mentioned it, too. 'He said he used his aide-de-camp status as a shield to seize the Merchants' Guild and keep it all for himself.' Hmm. Regardless of what Agaguiwen was thinking, this fact does explain why King Arthur became the Lion King. She's no longer a Heroic Spirit. Her attributes have changed due to her prolonged wielding of the Holy Lance."

Lancelot asked doubtfully, "The attributes... have changed?"

Da Vinci nodded. "Yes. She was originally a legend born on earth, but thanks to the Holy Lance, she became a legend enthroned in heaven. As long as human reason remains, no matter how ideal a city, the goal will include the concept of improving the quality of life. But she didn't make that choice. She didn't even consider it. To maintain a 'world where humanity would last forever,' she denied all human happiness. This goes far beyond coldness; it's the perspective of a transcendent being. She truly believed this. 'Humanity has value, but human life has no value.' The result was the Holy City of Camelot. It's truly a divine perspective. This is what I mean by irrationality."

Roman pondered, "...Attribute changes. Very likely. In other words, the King Arthur who appeared in this singularity wasn't a Heroic Spirit... but a god... a god of some kind...!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka asks in surprise, "The Lion King is... a god..."

Tripitaka explained, "...but they are not our gods. Buddhas are all about compassion."

Lancelot cried out in disbelief, "But why! Why did it turn out like this! King Arthur's goal was peace in Britain, to ensure the people's stable lives! Why did the Knight King become like this...!"

Listening to Lancelot's cry, Bedivere's eyes trembled, and a look of sorrow and regret flashed across his face.

Chapter 237 The Speculated Truth

Hikigaya Hachiman speculated, "Is it related to Bedivere?"

Yukinoshita Yukino calmly analyzed, "King Arthur, holding the Holy Lance, has become the Goddess Lion King, judging the value of humanity from a divine perspective. So, King Arthur, holding the Holy Sword, is probably the king of knights, uniting the valiant knights around the Round Table."

Hikigaya Hachiman said: "In the Morte d'Arthur, when King Arthur thought he was mortally wounded, he asked Bedivere to throw his sword into the lake.

But Bedivere understood the value of the sword and King Arthur to Britain, so he did not throw the Excalibur into the lake every time. He went back to deceive King Arthur that he had thrown the Excalibur into the lake every time. King Arthur also pointed out that Bedivere was lying every time and asked Bedivere to throw the Excalibur into the lake.

It was not until the third time that Bedivere threw the sword into the water that a hand appeared in the water, grabbed the sword in mid-air, and then sank into the water. He assured King Arthur that the sword had been returned, then he helped King Arthur to the lakeside and allowed King Arthur to board a boat to Avalon.

As he recounted this legend, Hikigaya Hachiman looked thoughtful.

Judging from this legend, the role of the Sword of Kings...

Yuigahama Yui asked curiously, "Does Avalon mean the afterlife? In other words, as long as King Arthur doesn't throw the sword of Excalibur into the lake, he will never die?"

Yukinoshita Yukino nodded. "That's a possibility. Excalibur is a sword that makes its holder immortal. The scabbard protects its holder from injury, and the Holy Lance elevates its holder to the level of a god. King Arthur became the Lion King because Bedivere didn't throw Excalibur into the lake. King Arthur wandered the land holding the Holy Lance and eventually became a goddess."

Hikigaya Hachiman said: "Indeed, if Bedivere is the reason for King Arthur's transformation, it can only be this factor."

Although the information revealed by the Akashic Records so far is only a few words, it is entirely possible to analyze what is going on. Hikigaya Hachiman and Yukinoshita Yukino are both smart people. Using the current information as a clue, they directly dug out the cause.

Yuigahama Yui looked confused: "Is that so?"

Roman interrupted, "We'll talk about King Arthur's corruption later! The situation is dire now! Not only has this era already collapsed, but they're creating a human world that's not within the realm of human reason!? If that were to happen, even if Solomon were defeated and human reason were burned to ashes, human history would be in shambles! The Lion King's Holy Spear, the Holy City of Camelot, is a cancerous remnant of human reason. We must stop the Lion King at all costs...!"

Lancelot said solemnly, "...If I meet the king and become a traitor, will the Holy Lance be stopped?"

Shinomiya Kaguya couldn't help but sneer: "He really is used to being a traitor. He surrendered in the morning and started planning to rebel against his former master in the afternoon."

Ishigami Yuu grumbled, "It doesn't feel out of place at all. Isn't Lancelot just that kind of person? King Arthur was able to keep him by his side with peace of mind because, after ascending to godhood, he'd forgotten a lot about his mortal days, right?"

Leonardo da Vinci said, "That won't do. Sir Lancelot, you have received the Lion King's blessing, right? The moment you raise your sword against the Lion King, you will be burned to ashes. ...I hate to say this, but from the moment you receive the blessing, the Knights of the Round Table will no longer be able to disobey the Lion King."

【Lancelot was speechless.】

Mashu hesitated: "...It seems the only solution is to join forces with Hassan and the others and attack the Holy City head-on. But..."

Sanzang said worriedly, "Even though the Skeleton leader said he would come, he can't defeat the Lion King's army with just this. The disparity in strength is too great. Furthermore, the Lion King has the Light of Sanction... If we continue fighting like this, we will only end up destroying ourselves. We can't destroy ourselves, absolutely not. Ignoring myself, if you do something like this in front of me, I will definitely cry in front of you."

Bedivere said distressedly, "We don't have enough troops to attack the Holy City... but now we can't find such spare forces..."

【Fujimaru Ritsuka asked back: “…Is that so?”】

Bedivere looked at Fujimaru Ritsuka in confusion: "Fujimaru?"

Fujimaru Ritsuka gave a mysterious smile: "There's another guy who has too many troops but nowhere to use them."

Mashu suddenly realized: "King Osmanthus...! Senior, are you trying to ask the Sun King for help?!"

Bedivere shook his head: "That's impossible! How could that arrogant king be willing to help us?"

Da Vinci pondered, "Hmm~, I'm against that either. Instead, we should consider how to fight the Lion King after defeating him, right?"

Lancelot disagreed: "...No. While it's a blind spot, it's not impossible. If we ignore the Lion King, Egypt's territory will also be lost. That man must be aware of this. As long as we propose the appropriate conditions, Osmanthus will assist us. The Egyptian king will not refuse a beneficial negotiation."

Da Vinci quickly asked, "...Hmm. What are the conditions? Handing Ritsuka over isn't an option, is it?"

Lancelot smiled and said, "Don't worry. He's a very simple person. He'll help the side that has a chance of winning. All we have to do is show that we have a chance of winning worthy of his help."

Gojo Arata complained, "There's actually absolutely no chance of winning, right?"

Kitagawa Umi said seriously, "At times like this, you have to rely on perseverance and faith. As long as you have perseverance and faith, there will be absolutely no problem. This is the case in anime."

The scene shifts to the magnificent Grand Temple. Osmandis senses the outermost guardian beasts have been breached, and a sneer appears on his face. "Hmph! I did tell you I could come back then. I told you they'd fight me sooner or later. But I didn't expect them to be so arrogant. I'm beyond angry, I'm starting to find it funny. Isn't that right, Nitocris? Don't you think my help was in vain?"

Nitocris hurriedly said, "That was not my intention... I am deeply sorry, Pharaoh Osmandes. My actions have tarnished your prestige twice in a row."

Osmanthus said calmly, "It's all right. It's truly delightful. It's not a mistake... But, on the eve of the showdown with the Lion King, my star has dimmed. Because I rashly obtained the Holy Grail, it seems I've been blinded by it. Until now, everyone has been pursuing the Holy Grail. Even after knowing that the world and the future will be burned, they still do. Or perhaps, it's precisely because of this knowledge that they are so. Those called Heroic Spirits, heroes, are all sinners."

Osmandis's attitude was filled with regret: "To prevent something like this from happening again, I sealed it within me... but now it's become the source of trouble. I wanted to seal it, but it sealed me instead. I thought that as long as I had the Holy Grail, the Lion King wouldn't dare to act rashly. What a joke."

Nitocris quickly said, "No. Your judgment is correct, Pharaoh. While Heroic Spirits are greedy, you, at least you alone, are different. Pharaoh enjoys unparalleled wealth and prosperity on this earth. It is precisely because of you that he will not use the Holy Grail."

Osmandis snorted coldly, "...Humph. Even if you enjoy all the splendor, desires won't disappear. And aren't you also a Pharaoh? Daughter of ancient Horus? I wouldn't mind handing over the Holy Grail to you. What do you think? It's not too late now, is it? You've become a Heroic Spirit. And obtaining the Holy Grail and becoming a true Horus would be a pleasure, wouldn't it?"

Osmandis looked at the respectful Nitocris with a serious expression.

Nitocris said firmly, "...I am too immature for a Pharaoh. Therefore, I will not address myself as such in your presence. The Holy Grail is yours. I only need to protect the Mirror of the Underworld."

Osmandis shook his head. "What a woman who follows the rules. It seems the queen doesn't need power, but friends. But never mind. At least talking to you can ease my boredom a little. So go, Pharaoh Nitocris. Go and sever your weakness."

Nitocris said solemnly, "As you command."

[After saying this, Nitocris left the temple with a look of determination.]

Watching Nitocris leave, Osmandis muttered to himself, "...The Pharaoh is a god. Therefore, my choice is absolute. But even if I'm a god, what good would I be if this land vanished? No matter what the Lion King does, the outcome won't change. Magic King Solomon's plan is perfect. It was a choice of waiting for destruction or escaping it. The Lion King chose the latter. Very wise. What about me? As the Sun King, should I choose between these two?"

Mash leads the charge, bursting through the temple entrance. "We've successfully breached the Grand Temple! I still remember the path to the throne. Let me lead the way!"

Sanzang's face was gloomy.

Tawaratouta noticed her expression and asked curiously, "Huh? What's wrong, Sanzo? You look so gloomy. I thought you would excitedly shout "It's a piece of cake!"

Sanzang said dejectedly, "...I really wanted to do that...but the moment I entered the temple, I started to feel a little uncomfortable...Fujimaru. I'm sorry, but this might dampen your hard-earned morale. I'm the only one who knows about the Holy City, so I'll be frank. This Grand Temple has the same atmosphere as the Lion King's Holy City. So, this place will also become a refuge...King Osmandis possesses the same methods as the Lion King. He might do the same thing in this Grand Temple as he did in the Holy City."