Miracle Summoner

After that, Rozen didn't wander around anymore and returned to the palace.

This place had already become the bedchamber of Artoria [Alter], the king of the Mountain People. However, she wasn't the only one living here. Rozen, Mash, Serenity, Bedivere, and other Servants were also arranged to reside here. Even Jeanne [Alter] was assigned to live here, though it was still unknown whether she would actually move in.

Originally, this place could accommodate more people, but due to management and status concerns, from now on, only Servants, aside from Rozen, would be allowed to live here.

Naturally, Artoria [Alter] was the master of this place.

It should be said that Rozen built this place originally at Artoria [Alter]'s request, so her occupying it was only to be expected.

Now, upon returning here, Rozen hadn't even reached his room when he encountered the master of the palace.

"You're back quite early. I thought it would take more time for you to deal with those girls," said the figure walking slowly down the corridor. It was none other than Artoria [Alter].

Artoria [Alter]'s pale golden eyes gazed directly at Rozen, as if she could see through all his previous actions.

Rozen stopped in his tracks, looking at Artoria [Alter] and rubbing his nose.

"You already know?" Rozen asked with a shrug.

"Naturally, I am a king. It's my duty to perfectly and reasonably grasp the state of all effective forces and the movements of my people," Artoria [Alter] replied as though it were only natural.

"And what about you?" Rozen asked with meaningful intent. "Have you adjusted your own condition?"

Hearing this, Artoria [Alter] raised an eyebrow.

"Oh..." Artoria [Alter] narrowed her eyes, as if calculating which part of Rozen she should cut down first, and said, "It seems Bedivere has been sharing some trivial gossip with you."

This king of knights was indeed sharp and had guessed everything.

Even more so, Artoria [Alter] added:

"Whatever Bedivere told you, I suggest you don't take it to heart."

Artoria [Alter] spoke as though it was someone else's matter entirely.

"Why?" Rozen asked directly.

"It's simple," Artoria [Alter] replied indifferently. "Because the King Arthur he spoke of is not me. Even if that was my past self, it is not the me of today."

This was only natural.

"Perhaps Sir Bedivere knows the King of Knights very well—knows Artoria Pendragon very well—but what he understands is the usual state of the king, not the me who has already fallen into darkness and placed herself on the side of evil."

Artoria [Alter] declared these words in an unquestionable tone.

"Then when you judged the Round Table knights, did you really feel no pain at all?" Rozen asked bluntly, without hiding his thoughts.

"None," Artoria [Alter] replied without hesitation. "Since the Round Table had already fallen, punishing them was my duty. They deserved such an end and are not worth grieving over, not even by me."

Artoria [Alter]'s words were undeniably cold.

"And what about you?" Rozen countered, almost provocatively. "Haven't you also fallen?"

Hearing this, Artoria [Alter] denied Rozen's statement.

"Though I have fallen into darkness, it is for the sake of order. My alignment may be evil, but I am not truly evil."

Artoria [Alter] was not justifying herself; it was indeed the truth.

This could even be seen in her attributes.

The attributes of Servants represent their alignment and spirit.

"Lawful" represents acknowledging society, public rules, and the idea that sacrificing a small portion of the innocent is acceptable for the sake of greater order. Servants with this attribute tend to be highly obedient to their Master, even if their Master's actions go against their own beliefs.

"Chaotic" represents rejecting society, public rules, or being rejected by them. However, it does not necessarily mean the individual is evil.

"Neutral" represents a lack of active stance towards society or public rules.

Within these alignments, Servants are further divided into "Good," "Evil," and "Balanced."

"Good" signifies having personal principles and adhering to them, often with tendencies to protect specific people or ideals.

"Evil" signifies acting on desires, often without specific behavioral or ideological rules, sometimes even resorting to bloody actions.

"Balanced" represents indifference to both sides, neither actively protecting nor deliberately abandoning anything.

Additionally, there is the special case of "Insane," referring to beings who have lost their personality due to madness.

Servants have these attributes to demonstrate their stance and beliefs.

Artoria [Alter]'s alignment is Lawful · Evil.

This means she acknowledges society, civilization, and the world, and her actions are ultimately for the preservation of these entities.

However, her Evil alignment signifies that she doesn't adhere to specific behavioral or ideological rules. As long as it stabilizes order, even bloodshed is permissible.

The usual state of Artoria, on the other hand, should be Lawful · Good.

Therefore, as Artoria [Alter] stated, the just, honest king who silently shouldered everything, as described by Bedivere, perhaps didn't quite fit her current self.

Of course...

"You are the same existence in the end," Rozen said, staring straight at Artoria [Alter].

"Even if you've become cold and ruthless, completely different from your past self, you are still King Arthur. The most fundamental aspects of you remain unchanged, and your goals and ideals have not wavered."

Thus, those acknowledged by Artoria would also be acknowledged by Artoria [Alter]. Those important to Artoria would remain important to Artoria [Alter].

In that case...

"Even if you know full well that punishing the fallen Round Table was the right thing to do, and even if it was not a mistake, who says doing the right thing cannot hurt or cause sorrow?" Rozen retorted.

This time, Artoria [Alter] did not deny his words.

Then...

"Good argument. It seems you're fit to be a logician or an interrogator." Artoria [Alter] snorted coldly and said, "When you stand before the Lion King, I hope you can teach her a harsh lesson as well."

Leaving those words behind, Artoria [Alter] turned and walked away.

Leaving Rozen alone, smiling faintly.