Pochi-chan, I used to be a princess.

Busujima Saeko calmly asked, "Is Nuada, the Celtic god of war, a knight?"

Komuro Takashi immediately said, "Of course not. Knights are basically all human, and didn't that man give his name? Lucius, could he be a Knight of the Round Table? I haven't seen this person before in Chaldea."

Jing Haoyong took out his cell phone and searched.

Miyamoto Rei, sitting nearby, peeked over and read the text on her phone: "Lucius Junius Brutus, the first consul of the Roman Republic. As the main founder of the Roman Republic, he holds a crucial position in ancient Roman history, a giant on par with Romulus and Octavian. He was a truly remarkable man! Are the Romans and Celts closely related cultural circles?"

Jing Haoyong said: "It was basically a hostile relationship. The Roman emperor had the arm of the Celtic god of war. It felt like Rome defeated the Celts and even the arm of the god of war was snatched away."

Komuro Takashi glanced at Miyamoto Rei, who was standing next to Igo Naga, lowered his head, and said indifferently, "It's nothing impossible, right? The Celtics are not as good as Roma."

Hirano Toda said cautiously: "But, Lucius is the Roman emperor, he is not a knight."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone looked at each other in confusion, and the clue was stuck again.

The name of a Roman emperor, the arm of a god in Celtic mythology, and the identity of chivalric culture, all three together make it really hard to understand who he is.

Oreki Houtarou was also questioned by Chitanda Eru out of curiosity.

Oreki Houtarou pondered and said, "Perhaps we can find clues from his body."

Mayaka Ihara asked, "Body? Is it a sign of one-armedness? Besides Tyr, Nuada is the only other famous one-armed character in mythology."

Oreki Houtarou shook his head. "Don't just look to mythology. In the Celtic and Roman cultural circles, there was a one-armed man with knighthood. He was one of King Arthur's Twelve Knights of the Round Table, Bedivere."

"Bedivere? Never heard of it."

Yuigahama Yui looked confused after getting the answer from Yukinoshita Yukino.

She had only heard of Gawain, Lancelot, Mordred, King Arthur, and Merlin. Apart from these five, she knew nothing about the other Knights of the Round Table.

Hikigaya Hachiman spoke with familiarity, "Bedivere is a crucial figure in Arthurian legend. Legend has it that he's portrayed as a valiant, one-armed general, a handsome youth, and a master on horseback with a lance. He was the most agile knight besides Arthur, capable of fighting three with one arm and wielding a lance, and a single lance strike was nine times as powerful as a strike from any other knight. Furthermore, he was one of the few survivors of the Battle of Camlann, the rebellion launched by Mordred. He witnessed King Arthur enter Avalon, the sacred land coveted by all kings, and he also returned Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake on Arthur's behalf."

Yuigahama Yui asked, "Then why does he call himself Lucius? Why are his arms Nuada's arms?"

Hikigaya Hachiman was stunned by Yuigahama Yui's question.

Yeah, why?

Nitocris cried out in panic, "Ah, ah, ah... The Pharaoh's beast... The precious beast that Lord Osmantheus entrusted to me was actually... It was completely destroyed... How... How could this happen!?"

Lucius spoke calmly, "That's why I apologized. I felt that otherwise, the situation would be unresolved. And please listen to me, Pharaoh, newly awakened. Lord Nitocris, the incarnation of the god Horus. They did save you, after all, I saw it with my own eyes. They saw you being taken away by the old man in the mountains, and they rescued you out of a sense of duty. If you still refuse to believe me, then I have no choice but to wave this silver arm once more... Do you still want to lose the trust of the Sun King? Your position will become very dangerous, won't it?"

Lucius appealed to Nitocris's feelings and reason, apologizing to her sincerely while threatening her with his immense strength, demonstrating what a reliable adult looks like.

Nitocris asked, "Hmm... but as someone who is not of Egyptian descent, why would you want to help me..."

Lucius calmly said, "Let me ask you the opposite question. Putting the Mountain People aside, do the Knights of the Holy City have any reason to arrest you?"

Nitocris hesitantly nodded. "That's true... If you look at it from the bottom of it... the only people capable of infiltrating our temple are the mountain dwellers..."

[As she spoke, Nitocris lowered her head further and further, looking extremely depressed.]

Mashu whispered in Fujimaru Ritsuka's ear, "Miss Nitocris seems depressed all of a sudden... Are you regretting it...?"

Da Vinci said, "Well, but now is a good opportunity to press on. Fujimaru Ritsuka, speak up!"

Fufu also cried out: "Fuwu!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka walked over and asked loudly, "It seems you believe us!"

Nitocris jumped in surprise and said guiltily, "Ah!? Wha...what's going on? Why are you suddenly so loud!?"

Fujimaru Ritsuka said confidently, "We just saved you, what's the problem?"

Nitocris lowered her head again and stammered, "Uh, huh... This... No. If I calm down and think about it, there really is no other possibility... Thank you very much... Travelers. ... Sorry. Because of my impatience, again..."

Nitocris knew she was in the wrong and humbly apologized to Fujimaru Ritsuka.

Fujimaru Ritsuka puffed out his chest and interrupted Nitocris: "By the way, I want some water!"

Nitocris paused, "Drink...drink water...! Then let's go to the nearby oasis..."

Fujimaru Ritsuka was unyielding: "I want to eat some fruit or something!"

【Fufu: "Fu, Fuwu!"】

Da Vinci smiled and said, "Yes! I also want to take a bath and have a good rest!"

Nitocris was stunned, and couldn't help but think, "How come these guys have suddenly become so shameless...! Ah, but since I'm being helped, I can't be rude...!"

Nitocris coughed dryly, raised her head, and acted like a host welcoming guests: "...Ahem. Okay, I understand! Then, as an exception among exceptions, I will treat you as my guests! Want to be treated well? Then escort me to the temple. The complex temple of the Sun King, accessible only to those who have passed the Sphinx's trivia! It is the most prosperous ideal kingdom in this desert. I grant you the honor of entering the Great Complex Temple of Glory!"

Chapter 204: Fujimaru Ritsuka's Difficulties

Hoshino Miyako covered her face and said, "You're still so disdainful. Is this your true nature?"

It's so ridiculous. He is really naive to think that everything will be normal after reaching the singularity.

It’s better to say that my sister is too amazing. She has been good at handling interpersonal relationships since she was a child, and when she grew up, she could even play with heroic spirits at her fingertips.

Miyako Hoshino originally thought that there was a big difference between Fujimaru Ritsuka and Hinata, but when she saw how familiar Fujimaru Ritsuka was and how he successfully controlled Nitocris, she realized that Fujimaru Ritsuka and Hinata were really alike, maybe even more alike than she and Mashu.

Lucius did not go to the pyramid with the Chaldeans. Shortly after they parted ways, the Chaldeans successfully entered the pyramid and met the Master of the Desert.

The brown-skinned man rubbed his eyes on the throne and said tiredly, "Mmm. I'm so sleepy. I'm very sleepy."

Looking at the man on the throne, Mashu whispered to Fujimaru Ritsuka, "Senior, although we were brought to the throne as VIPs upon arriving at the temple,... could that be King Osmanthus!?"

Nitocris, standing to one side of the throne, shouted, "You've finally arrived, suspicious travelers! Though a little late, I don't mind! You've overcome the Sphinx's test, and the king has granted you an audience! Kneel and bow! Then the king will rise from his weariness and offer you a few words of wisdom!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka asked bluntly, "Are you King Osmandis? Is that true?"

Nitocris shouted in shock and anger, "How...how rude...! How dare you be so disrespectful to the Pharaoh, the god of the earth! This is none other than the greatest Pharaoh. The bravest and most prestigious god. Pharaoh Osmantheus! The ideal king who pacified and saved this apocalyptic land!"

Osmandis said with interest, "...How strange, Nitocris. Even though you're a large bird, you're not one for shouting. It seems you're quite fond of these people. Haha, how delightful. Truly delightful."

Nitocris hurriedly said, "I'm... I'm so sorry, Pharaoh. In my excitement, I accidentally revealed your real name... This was something you should have done... Nitocris, I will reflect on this."

Osmandis said matter-of-factly, "Indeed. Depriving me of my pleasure is a serious crime. I'll cut off one of your arms and stuff it into a bottle later."

Nitocris breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes, thank you for your tolerance..."

Osmantheus looked at the Chaldeans, spread his palms, and summoned a golden cup. "...Alright. Are you the travelers from a foreign land? My name is Osmantheus. I am both a god and the sun, the pharaoh who rules the earth. This remains unchanged, past and present. I am growing tired of being called Rider. This little throne is merely a distraction to alleviate boredom. And... and... well. I am quite sleepy now. As sleepy as an old man awakening from the abyss of death. So, I will make this short. You must listen carefully to my words and remember them by heart. I know that you are messengers from Chaldea, that you are the ones who restored the five singularities, and that you have finally appeared in this sixth wedge, the Holy Land of Sand. For the Holy Grail you seek, as you can see, is already in my hands."

The audience was surprised, both by the Holy Grail and by the way Osmandis and Nitocris got along.

"The Holy Grail that grants all wishes is the same Holy Grail that Sakamoto once held up!"

"Letting a tyrant like this get the Holy Grail is truly a terrible thing, isn't it?"

"Cut off an arm and you think that's mercy? Where is such a mercy law?"

"Osmandes was the third pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, and Nitocris was the queen of the 6th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. Were they so harsh on their predecessors?"

"Even from a mythological perspective, Osmantheus is the incarnation of the sun god, and Nitocris is the incarnation of the sky god. There's no reason for him to be treated this way, right?"

Unlike the story inside Chaldea, the story that takes place in the singularity makes the audience realize that Ritsuka Fujimaru, as the master of the Heroic Spirits, is far from being as leisurely as he seems on the surface.

These heroic spirits are all ancient people, without the modern concept of good and evil, and they kill and chop people at will. Fujimaru Ritsuka is able to build good relationships with the heroic spirits, and his negotiation skills are simply max-level!

Fujimaru Ritsuka said in surprise: "Could it be the Demon Pillar...!?"

Osmandis said angrily, "Who would collude with a guy like the Magic King? This is what I saved from the Crusaders when I came here..."

Osmandis's head suddenly tilted and slid off his neck. He quickly reached out to support it and straighten his neck.

Although Osmandis's movements were quick, they did not escape the eyes of others.

Osmandis pretended nothing had happened and continued, "I confiscated it from the Crusaders. It's something worthy of a true king like me."

Mash said, "Speaking of which...Speaking of which...King Osmanthus, this is indeed surprising, but that...!"

[Da Vinci nodded silently in agreement.]

Fujimaru Ritsuka asked directly, "Just now, your head...slipped a little bit, didn't it?!"

Osmandis said with a stiff expression, "How could that be? You must have been tired from the journey and misunderstood. Although this is disrespectful, I will forgive you this time. There is nothing wrong with my brain. And since I obtained the Holy Grail, I... ouch!"

[Before he could finish his words, Osmandis's head slid again.]

【“…”】

Osmandis fell silent, looking at the Chaldeans in the audience, "Did you see that?"

【Fujimaru Ritsuka looked away in silence.】

Osmandis shouted in anger, "Nitocris!"

Nitocris hurriedly agreed, "Yes! What do you want, Pharaoh?"

Osmandis said, "I'm feeling a bit listless! I need to stretch my body first! Call out all the fire spirits that can dispel sleepiness!"

Nitocris quickly summoned the Fire Spirit Ifrit, a flame warrior from the desert people, to raise the temperature of the temple.

Osmanthus shouted, "Then let us begin, so-called Master of Chaldea! I was particularly moved by your silence just now!"

Chapter 205: Strength is the foundation

The sudden start of the fight left the audience stunned.

Fight again? Fight again!

Fukube Rishi couldn't help but shake his head: "Rude, really rude, these famous historical figures can't do anything else except fighting?"

Chitanda Eru asked in surprise, "Could it be that every time Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others encounter a Heroic Spirit, they will fight it first?"

Irisu Fuyumi said calmly, "That seems to be the case. The knight who called himself Lucius was just an exception. They held high status in life, and after death, they gained the power of Heroic Spirits. How could these Servants so easily submit to a human from a later era?"

Oreki Houtarou said calmly, "There's nothing strange about this. Saving human history requires strength. A journey centered around strength naturally tests strength as well. While the Heroic Spirits are testing Fujimaru Ritsuka's strength, Fujimaru Ritsuka is also testing the strength of the Heroic Spirits."

【The battle started quickly and ended quickly.】

Osmandis sat back on his throne and snorted coldly, "Hmph, I was just planning on playing around, but I got really into it. Thanks to this, my brain is back to normal."

Nitocris asked, bewildered, "Pharaoh, what exactly is going on... No, are you planning to punish these people...?"

Osmandis said, "Of course. This group of people is after the Holy Grail. And the Holy Grail is now mine. Given this, it's only a matter of time before we come to blows. I don't intend to let these people go back alive."

Nitocris shouted, "What... Did I bring the Pharaoh's enemies before him with my own hands...?"

Osmanthus said calmly, "Yes, you did bring them here. However, Nitocris, I did not inform you of the knowledge of the Holy Grail and this singularity beforehand. This was my negligence, not your fault. As for the reason... humph. To be honest, I thought you would be exhausted after about the fourth one. It seems my assumptions were really not funny. It's too late! Too late, too late. There must be a limit to being late! Master of Chaldea! Before you arrived here, the human principles of this era had already collapsed!"

Osmanthus's attitude gradually became harsher, leaving Mash at a loss.

Mash hurriedly asked, "King Osmanthus...!? What the hell is going on..."

Osmandis sneered and said, "That's exactly what it says. This era was supposed to be a battle for the Holy Land. One side defended, the other attacked. It was a bitter struggle between two nations. In the end, the Holy Grail would have been given to one of the two factions, and the Holy Land would have become the breeding ground for the Demon Pillar. But only if you could have arrived earlier."

Da Vinci calmly speculated, "But that wasn't the case. The war to retake the Holy Land never took place... Is that so? Because the Holy Grail is in your hands, King Osmantheus. You were probably summoned by someone on the side of the Crusaders. Naturally, you turned against them and seized the Holy Land for yourself. You summoned this Egyptian territory, right? Is that why the human order of this era has collapsed?"

Osmandis asked in surprise: "...Who are you? You seem to be a distinguished and wise man..."

[Ritsuka Fujimaru proudly said: "It's Leonardo da Vinci."]

Cang Shuhong subconsciously hugged her stomach. Whenever she heard the woman who looked exactly like Mona Lisa be called Da Vinci, she would feel stomachache.

She felt she could no longer look directly at the portrait of Mona Lisa.

Osmandis praised, "Oh. I recognize this name. He's one of the most brilliant minds in human history. I see, I see. This is what they call the fine line between genius and eccentricity!"

Leonardo da Vinci smiled slightly and said modestly, "No, no, compared to the great Sun King, my intellect is only slightly superior. So what? Am I correct? Can I say that you are the singularity of this era?"

Ochsmendis laughed heartily and said arrogantly, "Hahaha, hahahahahahahahaha! Unfortunately, you guessed wrong, sage of the foreign land! I! As the Sun King, I am all-powerful! How could I possibly use a poisoned cup like the Holy Grail? I am the Master and Guardian of the Holy Grail! I have no interest in a mere holy land! So listen carefully. The one who turned this era into a singularity, who destroyed human nature to its core, is in the ruins of Jerusalem you wish to visit, sitting in that hopeless holy city! Nicknamed the Lion King. Known as the Pure White Lion King!"

The Holy City, incredibly luxurious and magnificent, its solemn buildings gave the impression of being out of place in this era. Thousands of refugees gathered outside the Holy City, gazing at its main gate with an attitude of worship.

After bidding farewell to Osmandis, the Chaldeans arrived outside the holy city.

Roman observed this structure from Chaldea and exclaimed, "Impressive... What a magnificent fortress! This is the center of this era, the realm of the Holy Land."

Mashu exclaimed, "It's like a huge chalk wall completely isolating the outside world... Is that... the Holy City...?"

Da Vinci said, "It seems so. Well, even though it's already night... look over there. That must be the center of the city wall... the main gate of the Holy City. There are quite a few refugees gathered there. Nearly a thousand, right?"

Roman said, "They're all waiting for the ritual called Saint Ba. It's a good opportunity for us to quietly go over and disturb them. As long as we can enter the Holy City, we'll have the chance to meet the man called the Lion King."