Xingyue, is Xiaokai also considered Kai?

Having obtained the power of dragon blood, Siegfried and Avia, who together pierced through the evil dragon, had their dragon blood gushing out even more vividly and dazzlingly, like lava.

According to legend, the blood of the evil dragon Fafnir would grant Siegfried an invulnerable body, but because a linden leaf was attached to his back, a spot on his back was not bathed in the dragon's blood, which became his only weakness.

Now, Siegfried no longer had Bodhi leaves on him, only the leaves Avia had given him. However, due to his rapid movement during the battle, the leaves had drifted out and attached to his back. But unlike the leaves, the dragon blood had flown past them, bathing his entire body and eliminating any flaws.

Avia, standing to the side, felt something was amiss, because it seemed... the dragon blood used to strengthen his body after killing Fafnir had no effect on him...

However, after killing Fafnir, the only thing left to deal with is the Rhinegold, which is 'cursed'.

Siegfried had learned about this 'curse' from the person who commissioned him to come to the dwarf Regin, and had just heard Fafnir's last words.

And now, having just lost its host Fafner, Rheinmetall is continuing to shine in an effort to attract its next host...

Both emotionally and rationally, Siegfried felt it was better to abandon them, but he knew he had a responsibility to protect others.

Therefore, in that instant, he decided to take on the curse himself to ensure that others, including his friend Avia, would not be harmed.

"Avia, give this to me—"

"Siegfried, the Rhine Gold, leave it to me."

However, Avia also holds this view.

095: Head to Britain and take up the strongest sword.

The so-called Rhine gold,

Theoretically, it is a treasure that even if divided equally among all the people in the world, it would be inexhaustible, and it is a huge gold nugget that is used to attract hosts to acquire it and thus continuously increase its own glory.

In reality, although it has a physical form that needs to be carried, it is also a conceptual thing. This concept will entangle the host like a curse, making them get rich by using methods similar to the Golden Rule.

In short, it is something like a super-energy crystal, and it also has some characteristics of inorganic intelligent life forms.

But the most troublesome thing is the conceptual curse. In the legend, Siegfried's unfortunate ending was partly due to his personality, but these were not fatal problems.

Even with overwhelming power, he would not act arbitrarily; he would only act in accordance with people's wishes. Siegfried was such a person.

He is undoubtedly a hero worthy of the name.

That's why Avia doesn't want such a person to live like a wish-granting machine, and she hopes that Siegfried can use his own will to determine the justice he perceives.

Like Attila, I hope that I don't live for the single purpose of fighting.

"No, Avia, please give this to me."

Siegfried stared at Avia with an unprecedented intensity in his gaze.

Under that gaze, Avia recalled how he had met Lucius's gaze in the first century AD, just before arriving in Rome. Now, he felt the same way as Lucius had then, wishing that this man could enjoy life to the fullest and not suffer meaningless misfortune.

"Siegfried, I ask you, who contributed the most to defeating Fafner?"

Here, light should be swallowed by endless darkness, with only faint bioluminescence remaining. The surrounding water flows gently, bringing cool, salty sea breezes, like the breath of the ocean.

However, under the glowing Rhine gold, the boy's hair shone like a golden torch.

“It’s you, Avia.”

Without Avia's assistance, he wouldn't have been able to easily attack the evil dragon's back and win.

Siegfried was fully aware of this.

"Then the problem becomes simple, doesn't it?"

Avia's tone was extremely calm, yet undeniably authoritative.

“The person who contributed the most has the right to choose. I took the most valuable gold. Is there anything wrong with that?”

Faced with these irrefutable words, Siegfried nodded somewhat awkwardly.

"But, the curse—"

"Is this something we should care about?"

Avia patted Siegfried on the shoulder, her voice full of laughter.

"It's just a legend. Who knows if it's true? Maybe it's just a lie someone made up out of envy of this treasure. That's right, it's insignificant. This thing is insignificant. Anyway, once I get the treasure, I'll squander it as I please and enjoy it. Even if I'm unlucky, it won't be a loss."

As Avia spoke, she struck the Rhine gold with her gun, causing red sparks to fly, indirectly tracing a parabola before extinguishing at the bottom of the river.

"Moreover, I am a Hun born with an evil will, and even if I slay a dragon, my nature will not change in the eyes of the world."

In this deep sea, the immense water pressure made everything exceptionally still, with only the occasional low calls of marine life breaking the silence. And now, it was Avia's voice that was slowly echoing.

The topic was supposed to be the cursed treasure, but the silver-haired boy spoke of it as if it were something trivial, completely unconcerned.

In the end, Siegfried could only nod silently. He realized that although his expression and words were no different from usual, he always had a feeling that he was enduring something.

"In that case, farewell, Siegfried."

"...Well, see you next time, Avia."

Siegfried silently watched Avia's retreating figure as he took the Rheinmetall until he completely disappeared from his sight.

The two shared an adventure worthy of being recorded in history, but also something extremely regrettable.

So, besides going back, what else is there to do next?

Siegfried struggled to think amidst his growing confusion.

If one has any so-called hope, it is nothing more than keeping the curse of Rhinegold's misfortune to oneself and not bringing it to others.

Although I can't figure it out right now, but—

The great hero who slayed the dragon looked quite gentle as he watched his 'friend,' with whom he had only spent fifteen days, leave.

...........

For Avia, killing Fafnir didn't bring much benefit other than obtaining a cursed Rhinegold.

But no matter what, his next step is to go to Britain.

After all, over the years, Avia has gained some understanding of the current situation.

Although the Church of St. John is now decaying, its power is truly terrifying, having been established ahead of schedule and serving as the state church of Rome for hundreds of years. It not only nearly wiped out the Dead Apostles, but in the original history, the Bell Tower at least had its own magical cities scattered throughout the world to fight against it. However, the current situation is that it has made a deal and is now sheltered on the island of Britain.

Perhaps it's because he returned the body of the Albion dragon in the first century AD, but in any case, the Clock Tower is now in a very miserable state.

But in order to bring the church back on track, Avia had no choice but to do so.

After all, he already knew that even Kobek, who had worked diligently within the church since its founding, was being relentlessly hunted down by the church because of his status as a dead apostle...

Avia pondered that she had never done anything like discarding a useful tool after it had served its purpose, but how come the church had become increasingly corrupt ever since they joined forces to kill Zhu Yue in 300 AD?

But since he himself caused the change, he also has to take responsibility for it, and he is aware of this.

So, what else is there in the mysterious, remaining Britain besides the remains of the planet's most powerful dragon?

That, naturally, is the strongest fantasy that emerged thirteen thousand years ago, when the planet forged the sorrowful wishes of its people after facing the world-destroying giant, Sephalus.

It was during the time of King Arthur that the Star Sword was given to the Knight King by the Lady of the Lake.

In the Type-Moon universe, Vivian, the Lady of the Lake, is both Morgan and Morgoth, a trinity, which means she wasn't born in 418 AD.

In response, Avia had a bold idea, which was—

Is the Star Sword currently located beneath Fairy Lake, which is also the lake of Avalon, the isotope of the Star's Inner Sea?

In any case, that alone makes it worthwhile for him to go to Britain.

096: This is my father!

On the island of Britain, where mysterious remnants lie, in the southwest, lies a misty forest isolated by a river.

In later times, this place was depicted as Glastonbury, the final resting place of King Arthur, also known as the island of Avalon on the surface of the world.

At this moment, as the morning mist slowly dissipates, sunlight filters through the sparse shadows of the treetops and falls on Avia's shoulders, who lies on the ground as if asleep, creating natural patterns that seem to dance there.

The branches and leaves swayed gently in the breeze, making a soft rustling sound, as gentle as a whisper. The forest air was fresh and moist, and Avia could smell the scent of earth and grass. He listened silently to the birdsong rising and falling in the forest, and felt a sense of ease. He couldn't help but slowly immerse himself in the embrace of the sunlight.

Avia wasn't really asleep, of course. He was just waiting for a fairy to take notice of him and become interested in leading him to the door to the other side of the world.

Although most fairies left the earth after the Age of Gods ended and chose to go to the fairy land, only giants and monsters who hated and loathed humans remained here.

Unable to break free from physical constraints and unable to become spirits like fairies, they cannot move to the other side of the world and can only remain on the ground in fear.

However, we can learn from the Court of Avalon that there is still a door that allows one to freely travel between the inner and outer layers of the world. Although it cannot theoretically last for long, it at least lasted until the time of King Arthur a hundred years later.

After all, the city of Camelot, the city of chalk, was built by earth fairies who were half disguised as humans, and by human craftsmen who knew they were earth fairies but pretended not to know and continued to work.

Moreover, the fairies in Britain were creatures that Richard the Lionheart, the Wandering King, had seen even in the twelfth century.

Even in modern times, a small number of them still exist. For example, Genki Satsuki from Kara no Kyoukai was kidnapped and modified by fairies, which is why she learned the common language of humanity before the division, 'Unified Language'. In the case file, Faker's Master Heartless was also taken away by fairies and something was done to him.

In general, the fairies in Pan-Human History are not as despicable as those in a certain Lostbelt; they just like to do some reckless pranks.

Although being taken away by a fairy is obviously a very risky thing, the rewards are also extremely rich.

However, Avia has been lying here for four days and three nights using magic, during which time white horses with horns have passed by and small birds with fluttering white feathers have flown by.

But not a single fairy came. If they still didn't come, he would have to think of other ways.

Even I, with my Rhine Gold, am not interested. That's really something—

Just as he was thinking this, a gentle breeze suddenly blew by, and the rustling of the leaves masked the movement in the grass. When the wind stopped and the leaves fell silent, everything returned to tranquility. The sun rose higher, and rays of sunlight, like fine threads, gathered together, casting warmth onto the earth that was still wet with dew.

Meanwhile, in this forest teeming with ancient life, many small creatures emitting a faint magical light flew toward Avia, who was lying down.

It's finally here! It wasn't for nothing that I waited so long.

A myriad of thoughts flooded her mind, but Avia suppressed her emotions and continued to maintain her composure.

"Humanity."

"Why are there humans here?"

"There were no humans before."

"Ah."

The fairies with transparent, insect-like wings were discussing something, and from their conversation, it was clear that Avia seemed to be the first human to arrive here.

"Have we gotten separated?"

"Humans are so pitiful."

“Please come on.”

Although the voices and words of these fairies were all so gentle and kind.

However, Avia was extremely vigilant.

Because at that moment, he suddenly couldn't make a sound and couldn't move his entire body.

"It smells good, so let's not play with it. Let's eat it."

"Take it back and eat it."

"Ah."

"Everyone, let's eat together."

"Scrape the meat and eat it."

"Grill it."

"Raise them to eat."

Before Avia could even marvel at how the fairies' topic had shifted so abruptly—from curiosity to encouragement, and then suddenly to eating—it was a completely illogical process. In the next instant, he felt his body being dragged along by many things, gradually floating in the air.

If someone who didn't know better saw this, they might think of a parable about little angels leading righteous people into heaven, but in reality, the fairies were just dragging 'food' home.

Soon, Avia, who was being dragged through the air, disappeared into the mist formed by the magical light emanating from the fairies' wings.

In that instant, his consciousness seemed to enter darkness, briefly interrupted, and then what nourished his body was a kind of magic different from that of the mortal world.

Even so, Avia was unable to react and could only continue to be dragged along by the fairies with her eyes closed.

"I'm here because I wanted to rest. It just so happens that I'm here. Relax, relax, don't worry about me."

Suddenly, Avia heard a voice that sounded like a child's, but since she couldn't open her eyes, she couldn't tell what the person looked like. She could only guess from the tone of the voice that the person was probably a bit cold.