[FMMISM] Chapter 37: Artoria and Gawain

Shinto Port, Warehouse Street.

At night, there were hardly any people around, and the dim streetlights only accentuated the emptiness of the scene—secluded, spacious, and quiet, perfect conditions for a battle between Servants.

At this moment, a majestic silver knight stood under the moonlight.

Gawain, unbeatable in the daytime, stood boldly under the night sky, deliberately exposing his presence as a challenge.

As a Knight of the Round Table and the strongest Servant class, Saber, Gawain stood proudly, inviting the other Servants of the Holy Grail War with a dignified demeanor.

Just how strong was Gawain at night? It was a question that intrigued everyone.

Still, the answer was clear.

Even at night, Gawain was still one of the powerful Heroic Spirits in the Throne of Heroes.

During the training sessions within the Round Table, he faced off against Mordred in a series of battles and emerged victorious every night. Even in mock battles at night against top-tier opponents like Tristan and Percival, victories were evenly exchanged.

Daytime Gawain was an unparalleled hero, while nighttime Gawain remained at the pinnacle of excellence.

As a result, his Master, Kayneth, decided there was no need to confine him to daytime battles.

However, when Gawain saw who was the woman standing before him, he couldn't help but feel a bit dumbfounded and uneasy.

A noble and beautiful figure.

Golden hair shimmering in the moonlight.

A strength that rivaled any man (from Gawain's perspective).

As well as a mysterious white lance overflowing with divine aura.

Such a noble figure, emitting a radiant glow in Gawain's eyes, was none other than his former king whom he served, Arthur Pendragon.

Unknowingly, the holy sword in Gawain's hand trembled.

It was clear—his resolve wavered.

Not out of fear to raise his blade against his former liege.

Not because he thought himself unworthy of facing the once and future king.

He was a confident and resolute knight, but only within the confines of the Round Table.

In his heart, his king represented a perfection beyond reach, a foe he could not defeat—his own inner demon.

"You must be Saber."

Gazing at Gawain, the woman holding a holy lance, who was none other than Artoria, spoke with a stern voice.

"Um." Gawain lifted his head, nodding instinctively. "Yes. I am indeed Saber..."

In a daze, he looked at his king's indifferent eyes.

'O King... Aren't you going to say something to me here?'

'Aren't you going to reproach me for not defeating the traitors in that rebellion?'

'Aren't you going to accuse me of my foolishness that caused your death?'

Gawain looked at Artoria with deep confusion, but as he saw those emerald eyes, they didn't have any hesitation at all, only firm conviction and resolve.

"..."

Seeing this, Gawain couldn't help but feel sorrowful for his own immaturity. At the same time, he understood from his king's eyes what she wanted to say.

'So that's how it is... Standing here, I am no longer a Knight of the Round Table...'

'As a knight, the one I should serve is not my former liege, but my current one—Master Kayneth.'

'O King, you made me realize... If it weren't for meeting you first, a half-baked knight like me would surely have left the Holy Grail War early, tarnishing the name of the Round Table.'

'Ahh... your compassion remains unchanged.'

'Even facing me, your enemy, you still point out my immaturity.'

'Even though we are not on the same side, you shine upon me like the Milky Way in the night sky.'

'Thank you... My King!'

With such thoughts, Gawain's expression brightened like the midday sun as he gripped his holy sword in his hand, meeting Artoria's gaze with clarity.

"Umm, Lancer... Isn't this Saber's gaze... a bit strange?"

Irisviel whispered softly as she stood behind Artoria.

"Since a moment ago, his expression has been constantly changing as he stared at you, moreover... he's muttering something over there... Could he be a pervert?"

'Just get used to it... I'm already used to it...' Artoria remained quiet, pursing her lips.

When it came to the so-called Knights of the Round Table, their strength lay not in combat ability, but in their ability to always read their king's thoughts from her stern poker face (mental imagery).

"The words between us are unnecessary."

Saying that calmly, at Artoria's feet, a gust of wind released, revealing her silver armor as she took several steps towards Gawain.

"Saber, let's converse through our weapons."

"I agree... but please, don't hold back just because it's night. Otherwise, your glory will only end in shame."

Hearing Gawain's tone shift from hesitation to confidence, Artoria's face showed a faint joyous expression.

"No, I have never underestimated your strength."

With that, Artoria unleashed a vast amount of magical energy hidden within her body, the bursting magical energy coiled spirally around the tip of her holy lance in her hand, stirring up a whirlwind-like airflow.

"Come, Saber. Let me extinguish your sun radiance."

"My Ki—No, Lancer... Let's settle this honorably!"

BOOM!

As Artoria and Gawain took a step forward, they crushed the concrete beneath their feet, sending gravel flying as they charged towards each other.

Accompanied by the sound of weapons cutting through the air, two pale silhouettes clashed fiercely in the darkness of the night.

Clang! Cling! Clang! Cling!

Two resolute knights wielded their weapons at speeds beyond human comprehension, each collision echoing like thunder, shaking the atmosphere.

Irisviel, along with other Masters lurking in the shadows, was deeply awed by this battle that surpassed human understanding.

===

Meanwhile, on the rooftop of the Hyatt Hotel, Fuyuki's highest point, Ragna stood amidst howling winds. His enhanced vision scanned the duel between the King of Knights and the Knight of the Sun, ten kilometers away.

Coincidentally, downstairs was a room belonging to Gawain's Master, Kayneth.

However, since the owner of the room was currently on the battlefield in the port, even if Ragna went downstairs now to pick up some things and tease his fiancee, no one could stop him.

'Well, in a close combat scenario, Gawain definitely has the upper hand, even at night.'

Ragna observed and analyzed the battle.

'Normally, a melee combat between Artoria and Gawain would be evenly matched. However, Kayneth, as Gawain's Master, surpasses Kiritsugu in abilities as a mage, so Gawain's parameters should be higher. Moreover, with his parameters adjusted as Saber-class Servant...'

In Ragna's view, Gawain and Artoria fought fiercely, almost evenly matched.

'I see now... So, Rhongomyniad can also use the Invisible Air? Now that I think about it, Rhongomyniad is originally a wind-attributed Noble Phantasm, it might have better compatibility with the Invisible Air. With such a long weapon, once it conceals its existence, it's far more dangerous than a two-handed sword like Excalibur.'

Watching the high-level combat between the two knights, Ragna showed a serious expression for the first time since arriving in Fuyuki.

"How are you feeling, Zealot?"

Ragna turned his head behind him and asked casually.

A few days ago, the twin-braided girl who had blown up his head now knelt respectfully behind him—wearing a deep blue one-piece swimsuit.