My youth story, a crossover anime, turns out, is FGO!

Charlemagne? A paladin?

Kasumigaoka Utaha began frantically searching through her knowledge base for these two terms and connecting them.

Charlemagne, where "Man" actually means "the Great," meaning his formal title was Charlemagne.

There was only one Charlemagne, the Frankish king who founded the Carolingian Empire. Through his conquests, he established an empire encompassing all of Western Europe, laying the foundation for modern Europe. He was also the only ruler recognized by the Pope and is hailed as the "Father of Europe."

In terms of historical status, actual achievements, and influence, Charlemagne surpasses even the historically uncertain King Arthur. He is also the prototype for the King of Hearts in playing cards and has a illustrious reputation in world history.

however……

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at her other self with a complicated expression. Charlemagne was indeed great, that was a fact, no doubt about it. But the problem was! In matters of love, this emperor was an absolute scumbag!

It has to be said that sometimes scandals and dark histories are more likely to attract public attention. Kasumigaoka Utaha is, after all, a Japanese person. You can't ask her to list all of Charlemagne's achievements, but when it comes to the scumbag Charlemagne, she can talk about it in great detail.

Charlemagne had five wives in his lifetime. Apart from his third wife, Hildegard, all of them were political tools. His first wife was Herodrud of the Duchy of Duwaz, who helped consolidate his power.

Then, in order to gain the support of the Lombard Kingdom, he ruthlessly abandoned his first wife and married Princess Jepata. Of course, before the Lombard Kingdom could be of any use, he unified the entire Frankish territory.

Later, he met Hildegard and believed he had found true love, so he drove Jepata away. The Lombard king was furious and took in Charlemagne's brother Carloman's wife and children. Not long after, Charlemagne conquered the Lombard kingdom, killed his sister-in-law and nephew, and imprisoned Jepata's family.

Later, he was unable to grow old with Hildegard, and instead married two other wives in succession in order to appease the minority forces behind them.

While Charlemagne's ruthlessness towards his wife could be understood as a man who is determined to achieve great things not being bound by trivialities, he was also utterly ruthless towards his daughters. Fearing that the princesses would take away Frankish territory if they married, he forbade his daughters from falling in love or getting married. As a result, the five princesses spent their lives in misery in their father's palace.

In modern terms, this series of actions would be considered utterly despicable, deserving of being publicly shamed and condemned on forums with thousands of comments.

Knowing this history, Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't know how to react. Why did her other self fall in love with such a person? No matter how great he was, no matter how dazzling his crown was, he didn't share any of that glory with his wife. This was incredibly cruel to a woman.

Compared to King Arthur, Charlemagne's historical achievements far surpass those of King Arthur. However, King Arthur, who is said to have only one queen, Guinevere, and who was even cuckolded, is far superior to Charlemagne in matters of love and relationships.

As for the rumors about King Arthur and Morgan, they are somewhat true and false, and King Arthur was the one who was forced into it.

Thinking about it this way, King Arthur really did have a tough time...

Kasumigaoka Utaha's thoughts wandered for a moment, then she quickly came back to her senses. She hesitated to speak, her expression very complicated.

Aki Tomoya, however, failed to grasp Kasumigaoka Utaha's complex emotions. He was rambling on about what little he knew about Charlemagne, emphasizing Charlemagne's achievements as the father of Europe. Eriri and Kato Megumi, who were unfamiliar with European history, listened with great interest.

The atmosphere reached its climax when Eriri finally found a photo of Oda Nobunaga. The three of them huddled together to watch the legendary Sixth Demon King, and even the unsettled Kasumigaoka Utaha came over to take a look.

The young man in the photo had black hair and red eyes, wore a papaya-patterned military cap, a black military uniform, and a blood-red cloak. He was handsome and otherworldly, and his arrogance was beyond compare.

It perfectly matches everything Japanese people imagine about Lord Nobunaga.

After all, in their imagination, the Sixth Demon King was a figure with overwhelming demonic flames, handsome and arrogant, who trampled everything under his feet.

"So cool! Lord Nobunaga!" Eriri clenched her fists, her eyes shining, feeling endless inspiration churning within her. She immediately pulled out her sketchbook and started sketching.

She even put aside her previous entanglement with her other self and King Arthur. There was no way around it; that was another self's business. The so-called King Arthur was still too unfamiliar to her, a pseudo-Yingguo person.

Surprised as I was, and excited as I was, it just didn't feel real.

Even Kato Megumi's eyes lit up with excitement, just like she had successfully met her idol in person.

As for Aki Tomoya, no one pays any attention to his self-absorption anymore.

“Sawamura-kun even has a photo with Lord Nobunaga,” Kato Megumi leaned in with her little head. “Hey, who’s this pink-haired girl?”

The pale white fingertips touched one corner of the photo.

“That’s Miku, Nobunaga’s Master, and she’s also my good friend.” Eriri smiled when she talked about Miku. She was a close friend who depended on each other during the Holy Grail War, and Nakano Miku’s personality was really good. “She’s the third child in her family. By the way, they have quintuplets, and they all look exactly alike.”

"Five babies?" Kato Megumi, who has younger siblings, remarked with some emotion, "It must be very hard for the family."

After all, she had taken care of children before, and one or two is enough to give anyone a headache, let alone five.

It's worth noting that the Nakano sisters' biological father, Jinnosuke Mudou, was so frightened by the quintuplets that he abandoned their mother and disappeared without a trace.

"I wonder if it's hard being Lord Nobunaga's master?" Kato Megumi sighed. "It must be. After all, he is Lord Nobunaga."

“Indeed…” Eriri showed a complicated expression. “I’ve also heard some things from Miku. Lord Nobunaga is usually quite easy to talk to, but he’s always watching the Nakano sisters study, the kind who commits seppuku if they don’t pass.”

Eriri subconsciously touched her abdomen, feeling a chill, and said thankfully, "Luckily, my Servant is Arthur. Arthur is very gentle, he would never do such a thing."

It's important to know that Eriri wasn't exactly a top student; at best, she wasn't a complete failure. She was also a bit of a homebody. If she fell into the hands of the ambitious Oda Nobunaga, even a slacker would have to turn her life around, let alone a complete homebody.

At this point, Eriri had selectively forgotten the coercion Arthur used when teaching her English... much better than Oda Nobunaga, wasn't she?

"Oh, right, not only Nobunaga, I also have photos of other famous people here, such as Sakata Kintoki, the model for Kintaro, and Taikomochi, the strategist who was enshrined in the gods... and even some yokai! Like Shuten-dōji and Ibaraki-dōji..."

Once Eriri starts sharing, she goes on and on, enthusiastically showing everyone her photo collection on her phone. Everyone is very supportive, constantly exclaiming in amazement.

Even Kasumigaoka Utaha quietly sat down. After all, she didn't have the wide social circle of Eriri, the Great Princess. Apart from Charlemagne, the only Servants she was relatively familiar with were a few of Charlemagne's subordinates and some of the Servants of the Japanese Masters.

They whiled away the time like this until evening. The four from this world had to go to school the next day, and their game development wasn't finished, so they had to leave reluctantly, promising to meet again the next day in a private room at a coffee shop near the school. As long as they disguised themselves well, it would be difficult for them to be discovered.

After all, you can't borrow FFF group's outfits every day, not to mention that this cloak looks too sneaky.

Kasumigaoka Utaha was the last to leave, her steps were slow and hesitant, clearly she had something to say.

Since they were both alone, Kasumigaoka Utaha naturally understood what the other person meant, so they went out together and closed the door slightly behind them.

"Go ahead."

Two identical girls standing together would look like mirror images if it weren't for their different expressions and postures.

Kasumigaoka Utaha leaned against the wall, her gaze calm.

Kasumigaoka Utaha considered it for a moment and decided to speak directly, since there was no need to test the waters.

"Do you really like Charlemagne?"

“Yes.” Kasumigaoka Utaha readily admitted, “I like him.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha subconsciously bit her lip.

"Do you know that Charlemagne had five wives in history, most of whom met tragic ends, and even his daughters all met tragic ends?"

"I know."

Kasumigaoka Utaha is calm and composed.

"You know that..." Kasumigaoka Utaha was incredulous. It was the first time she realized that she was actually a pure love-struck fool. You know, even when she liked Aki Tomoya, she was very clear-headed. Since she failed, she decisively withdrew, unlike Eriri who was indecisive and entangled.

Kasumigaoka Utaha laughed and shook her head: "What does it matter to me what history says or records?"

"What I love is not the name or the symbol in the history book, but Charlemagne who is by my side."

"..." Kasumigaoka Utaha sighed, speechless for the first time.

It was precisely because she was herself that she understood the determination behind the other person's words. Not to mention her persuasion, even eight hundred horses wouldn't be able to pull "Kasumigaoka Utaha" back at this moment.

"It seems I can't persuade you." Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't press the matter further. After all, this was another matter concerning herself, and she shouldn't interfere too much.

My earlier over-the-top remarks were almost like an attempt to dissuade a girl I know from doing something foolish, but I stopped there; going too far would have been counterproductive.

"But, can you tell me why you like him?" Kasumigaoka Utaha turned her head to the side, revealing her pure and beautiful face. "Nothing else, I'm just a little curious."

The two stood together, looking like sisters and friends at the same time. Kasumigaoka Utaha was momentarily dazed and began to talk to her as if they were having a heart-to-heart.

"Why... I've asked myself that question too."

On this quiet night, in front of another version of herself, "Kasumigaoka Utaha"'s hard shell seemed to have cracked open a little.

"Did you know that the origins of Heroic Spirits are not limited to history or pure legends? With the power of human faith, corresponding Heroic Spirits can also be born. Even fictional characters like Sherlock Holmes have appeared as Heroic Spirits."

“Sherlock Holmes?” Kasumigaoka Utaha murmured, “That’s really famous.”

"Kasumigaoka Utaha" ignored the other party's reaction and continued to speak: "Due to the emphasis of the legend, the time period in which the heroic spirits are located may be different, and they may also appear in different aspects. You can understand it as Toyotomi Hideyoshi may appear in the aspect of Hashiba Hideyoshi, who is Oda Nobunaga's subordinate, or he may appear in the aspect of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who is the ruler of the land. Both are him, but in reality they are completely different."

“You mean…” Kasumigaoka Utaha keenly sensed something.

"The father of Europe who unified Europe, and the king who led twelve warriors, one is a real historical figure, while the latter comes from the legend of Charlemagne passed down through generations."

However, this life as an adventurer is nothing but fantasy.

“…I see.” Kasumigaoka Utaha’s voice was soft. She had completely understood what her other self had said. Compared to her servant, that Charlemagne was not the historical Charlemagne, but the protagonist of the Charlemagne legend, that handsome adventurer.

As Kasumigaoka Utaha herself introduced herself, she referred to him as the Holy Knight Charlemagne, rather than the more widely known Charlemagne.

"He is really, really good." Despite being a writer, Kasumigaoka Utaha found it difficult to use more words to describe that person at this moment, because only simple words could express the purest joy.

"He will protect me, he will not care about my dark thoughts, he will use his treasure to set off fireworks for me, and he will even forgive me when I make a fool of myself... How could I not like him?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha's voice sounded very soft and gentle in the night. She didn't say much, but she expressed everything she had to say.

At least, as her counterpart, Kasumigaoka Utaha had fully sensed the other's feelings.

"Honestly," Kasumigaoka Utaha sighed softly as she looked down at the silver moon in the night sky after the other person left, "I'm a little envious of you."

To be able to favor a woman with such a dark, clingy, and annoying personality... Kasumigaoka Utaha closed her eyes, feeling as if it were a beautiful dream.

When Kasumigaoka Utaha returned, Eriri was already lying in bed, wrapped in a blanket, seemingly resting.

She quietly finished washing up, lifted the covers, and lay down on the other half of the space reserved for "Eriri".

Unfortunately, this hotel only has one bed and one blanket, so we'll have to make do for now.

"Hey, Kasumigaoka."

Eriri's voice came from behind, it was a little deep.

"When do you think Arthur will find us?"

“Let me correct you, Sawamura-kun, it’s ‘I,’ not ‘we.’” Kasumigaoka Utaha’s tone remained indifferent. “Also, I don’t know either.”

Then, the frost in her voice instantly melted into spring water: "I only know that they are definitely trying to find us and will not give up."

"Even if we have to overcome countless difficulties, he will definitely come to my side."

Because he is my hero.