Fate: I Will Eventually Become the Hero of Justice

Inside the King's Game...

The petite knight rode her warhorse, looking down at the heavily encircled Saber and her dwindling troops.

"You've lost, Mother," she smiled at her.

Saber looked distressed as she glanced at the soldiers and knights around Mordred. Those faces—once loyal to her—now stared back with indifference.

The unsettling feeling was unbearable.

It had only been three months into the King's Game, and she was losing—badly.

From the first week of her reign, a plague began ravaging her kingdom, and rumors began to spread, attributing the catastrophe to her incompetence and lack of virtue. Despite her efforts to dispel these claims, nobody listened.

Focused on containing the plague, Saber had been vulnerable when the petite knight invaded with a massive army, forcing her to rally her troops to defend her territory.

But instead of a full-on attack, the petite knight had engaged her in a war of attrition. The ongoing plague resulted in a workforce crisis and public panic, while the invasion led to rapidly depleting food supplies.

As a result, Saber's forces began to fragment. Factions broke away, some even switching sides to join the petite knight.

Eventually, Saber's kingdom crumbled. Backed into a corner with only a small group of loyal knights, she was defeated.

The petite knight's smile softened. "It's time to surrender, Mother."

Saber clenched her teeth. "It's far from over! As long as I have loyal people by my side, I haven't lost!"

For the first time, the petite knight's smile vanished, replaced by a look of frustration and helplessness. "Why are you so naive? You're just a puppet on a throne. Let me wake you up."

With a sigh, she raised her banner high and bellowed, "Spare those who surrender! Whoever beheads the old king shall be granted nobility, and their children shall inherit their titles!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the soldiers around the petite knight became excited. They howled and looked at Saber's head as if it were a shiny piece of gold.

Seeing this, Saber was on high alert. To her surprise, she sensed a sword stabbing towards her from behind at that very moment. With a quick turn and a resounding 'clang,' she deflected the incoming blade. Although she had survived the physical attack, emotionally, it felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart.

The knights who had pledged sworn loyalty to her were now eyeing her with murderous intent and a glint of greed.

Disbelief clouded Saber's face.

One knight stepped forward. "I'm sorry, my King! I'll have to take your head!"

As he swung his sword toward her, Saber lost her will to fight. Just before the blade could connect, the game ended.

Everything vanished.

"I've won," the petite knight said.

Saber looked at her with a blank expression.

Seeing her look, the petite knight felt a pang of discomfort.

Did I... go too far?

But... 

I've already held back so much...

She was torn inside.

"Why... why did they betray me now, after staying by my side through so many hardships?" Saber muttered.

"The human heart is fickle, and betrayal is just a part of life."

Saber looked at her with the same blank expression, "Is that so..."

Mordred said, "There's no such thing as unconditional loyalty. It's just that the stakes aren't high enough for betrayal." 

Stunned, Saber let out a bitter laugh. "I really am a king who doesn't understand the human heart."

"It's not that you don't understand human heart," Mordred said, suddenly serious. "You're just too naive."

Saber met her gaze.

"I've read about you," Mordred continued. "The downfall of your kingdom wasn't the fault of my counterpart. It was yours."

Saber clenched her fists tightly.

"The blame's on you, not because you failed to recognize the worth of my counterpart, but because you didn't grasp your own situation or understand the first thing about leadership."

Saber furrowed her brow. "What are you trying to say?"

"Have you ever wondered why my counterpart was able to raise a rebellion against you so quickly during your campaign to Rome?"

Saber remained silent.

"Let me spell it out for you," she began. "You've been a puppet on a throne from the beginning, set up by the nobles. You were made 'king' solely to unite the scattered forces against Vortigern. Once Vortigern was defeated and that need was gone, why would they allow you to keep ruling? You became a loose end that needed tying up, so they found Mordred to replace you."

"Why are you saying this to me? What's in it for you? Are you mocking me?"

"Why do you need a reason? I used to be an open book, but these days, I'd rather keep my cards close to my heart. But... fine. If you must know, I just want you to stop blaming yourself. The fall of Camelot was not your fault!" she asserted. "Got it? That's what I'm trying to tell you!"

Saber was stunned.

She never saw this coming. Considering how Mordred had been cunning, ruthless, and never missed an opportunity to gloat about besting her, why would she say something like this?

"Why are you telling me this?" Saber asked, genuinely puzzled.

"I wouldn't bother if you weren't Artoria." she grumbled.

"So, if I weren't Artoria, you'd have cut me down without a second thought, right?" Saber said, her frown deepening.

Truth be told, she didn't like receiving special treatment simply because of who she was.

"Don't forget, we had a bet," Mordred reminded her.

After a brief pause, her eyes narrowed into a mischievous smile. "The great King Arthur wouldn't renege on a deal, would she?"

Saber responded firmly, "A bet is a bet, and I may have lost, but the Holy Grail is off-limits to you."

"Hmph. Of course, I have things I must accomplish as well, no matter what. But for now—" Her expression softening. She then enveloped Saber in a tight embrace, squeezing so hard it became difficult for Saber to breathe.

Burying her head in Saber's bosom, she murmured, "I'm sorry... mom..."

Saber clenched her fists, fighting back the urge to push her away.

She had lost, fair and square.

But seriously...

This embrace is suffocating!

...

At the bustling party, Mash discreetly left the camp, carefully covering her wristband. She found her way to a secluded mountain area, a stark contrast to the lively party behind her. Leaning against a large boulder, she was enveloped in darkness and silence, the distant sounds of party and Mr. Fujimaru's singing replaced by the subtle buzzing of insects in the nearby bushes.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz."

It wasn't just the insects that were creating a symphony of sounds. Her wristband was also vibrating relentlessly, its screen flickering with the icon of Earth, signaling an incoming message from Chaldea.

A wave of elation washed over Mash as she realized she could finally reconnect with Chaldea. With eager fingers, she pressed the "O" at the center of the wristband's screen. A wave-like pattern danced across the screen before a virtual projection sprang to life, revealing a young man in a white lab coat. His peach-colored hair was pulled back into a ponytail, framing a face with bright blue eyes and gentle features, exuding a warm and inviting aura.

However, the young man looked visibly exhausted. His eyes were closed as he massaged his forehead, relying on sips of coffee to keep him awake.

"Doc—Doctor!" Mash exclaimed, her voice filled with joy.

Startled, the young man's hand jerked, causing the coffee to splash out and leave a noticeable stain on his white trousers.