I don't want to be a heroic spirit

Artoria is currently chatting with Lion Jie Jieli about something, and it is about Mordred.

"What's the matter with her?"

"I don't know... She's been like that ever since she saw you shoot that thing out of the sky."

As they spoke, the two of them secretly glanced at Mordred's extremely complicated and tangled expression.

"So... it's related to me?" Altria asked uncertainly, pointing at herself with an index finger.

"What else? Can you please have a little understanding of your position in her heart? Who else besides you can make Saber show that expression?"

After saying this, Lion Jie Jie Li added in his heart, "You are a king who doesn't understand human nature."

The reason why he didn't say it directly... was because he didn't want a father-son mixed doubles match.

Chapter 228 Mordred: So this is the thing that stabbed me to death?

Mordred folded his arms across his chest, thinking about something.

Because she was thinking too hard, she didn't notice Altria standing in front of her.

As a result, Mordred felt his head suddenly hit something very soft... and then bounced back.

"…Father?"

"..."

A few red clouds appeared on her cheeks, and Altria's voice, as clear as a summer lake, reached Mordred's ears.

"What's wrong? You're thinking about something so hard that you can't even look at the road."

"Well……"

Mordred touched his face, looking a little strange.

"Let me guess...are you still not familiar with my appearance?"

"No, it's just... well, a little bit."

The person before him was not his father... or rather, not the father in his memory.

This is what Altria said from the beginning, and Mordred knew it.

But... as they got along, Altria showed more and more familiar aspects to Mordred.

So, gradually, Altria's figure overlapped with the figure that Mordred admired most in her memory.

As they got along, Mordred gradually ignored the differences in Artoria and truly regarded her as his father, and then... gradually became addicted to her tenderness.

Go shopping with the respected father, occasionally make some harmless jokes with the father I admire, compete in eating with the beloved father, and even... receive gifts from the father.

These beautiful memories couldn't be dreams, Mordred was absolutely certain of this... because even in a dream, she couldn't be so happy.

Moreover, the dreamland is the territory of that white-haired nightmare...that guy wouldn't have the leisure to do such a thing.

And then, until just now...Altria drew out the Holy Spear.

Altria, who possessed such power, was indeed not the father she knew.

If King Arthur had possessed such great power to shake the heavens and the earth, how could she dare to start a rebellion?

Rebels? How many divisions can they have? Can they withstand a single shot from the Holy Lance?

She hit him on the head?

Moreover, Mordred gathered the rebel army when Artoria was away at war. If Artoria had such power at the time, I'm afraid that Artoria would have returned victorious before the rebel army was formed.

Of course, she was not dissatisfied with her father.

Not only is he powerful, but he is also very gentle to me... isn't he simply perfect!

Mordred even felt a little regretful in his heart, thinking how great it would be if his father had become like this earlier.

"But, but...this is not what I care about most."

Mordred scratched his hair, his eyes looked around, and then he glanced at Artoria with a sidelong glance.

"I was just thinking... 'Ah, was that the thing that stabbed me to death? There should be a limit to how much I can joke about. Suddenly, I feel like my death wasn't deserved.'"

As Mordred said this, he scratched his slightly messy blonde hair and blushed as he kept looking at the expression on Altria's face.

Altria blinked and was stunned for a while, then the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, her eyes curved like crescent moons with a smile, she put the back of her hand in front of her mouth, and her shoulders trembled slightly as she let out a laugh as sweet as a silver bell.

"Hahaha!"

"What...what are you doing! What's so funny?!"

Mordred felt his cheeks getting hot, and said with a hint of indignation, "My thoughts are quite normal, right? Isn't your most powerful weapon, Father, the Holy Sword? How come I've never heard of that gun? I thought it was at most on the same level as my Clarent..."

At this time, Joan of Arc came over and seemed to have something to talk to Altria about, so the two people's pleasant conversation stopped temporarily.

"Um...did I disturb you?" A look of apology appeared on Joan of Arc's face.

"No, it's nothing, just some small talk..." Artoria waved her hand and asked, "Is there anything wrong?"

"It's... not a big deal."

Jeanne seemed to be hesitating about something, then said, "I was just thinking... maybe you, Altria, are more suitable to be the Ruler than me."

"Huh? That's all?" Mordred frowned slightly. "Isn't this obvious? You haven't just realized it yet, have you?"

"No... that's not the case." Jeanne waved her hands nervously. "I just... well... because you, Altria, are more suitable to be the Ruler than I am, I suddenly felt... that you might be more qualified than I to decide the use of these Command Seals. I think you should be the one to use them."

"So this is ah……"

Altria showed an expression of sudden realization.

As the Ruler of the Holy Grail War, Jeanne possesses a total of twenty-eight Command Seals. This is the main reason why all participants in the Holy Grail War fear Ruler.

A one-time absolute restraint on the Servant, and can also be used as a high-concentration magic crystal. Although the restraint effect will be weakened by the Servant's own [Anti-Magic] and will be offset by the same number of Command Spells, its effect is still powerful.

However, Artoria looked down on it.

"No, you should bring it yourself. I don't need it."

"Eh?"

Altria's answer was somewhat beyond Jeanne's expectations.

"As I said just now, although I do not have Command Seals, I possess means of punishment and deterrence that are more powerful and effective than Command Seals."

Artoria raised her hand and pointed at the Black side's castle, then at the place where Semiramis's Hanging Garden fell.

"So, I don't need the Command Seals. These things are just icing on the cake for me."

"Well……"

What Altria said made perfect sense, and Jeanne had no way of refutation.

"and……"

Altria gazed at the scenery in the distance. The early morning sunlight shone on her long hair that was as bright as golden sand, casting a hazy light and shadow on her body, which was breathtakingly beautiful.

"The decisive battle is approaching... Our mission as Ruler ends here. These Command Seals will probably never be used again."

Altria had a feeling that the winner would be decided tonight.

She suddenly became curious.

With her involvement, will the outcome of this Holy Grail War be different?

When the Holy Grail War is over, no matter who the winner is, she will leave this world and start her next adventure.

And before leaving...it would be nice to take a closer look at this place.

Chapter 229 Don't Hold Me Back

After Jeanne left, only Altria and Mordred were left here.

Mordred stood beside Altria, looking into the distance, and then seemed to have made some decision.

"Father...I want to fight for the Holy Grail."

Altria turned her head and stared at the determined expression on Mordred's face, which was 90% similar to hers.

"…Have you made a decision?"

After hearing Altria's question, Mordred nodded.

When Mordred was summoned as a Servant, his wish for the Holy Grail was to return to the time before Artoria drew the Sword of the King, draw the sword on her behalf, and then be crowned king.

But in fact, Modred was not interested in the throne at all. What she wanted and desired most was just her father's recognition.

Therefore, Mordred later abandoned that dream without hesitation and lost the reason to fight for the Holy Grail.

And now...it seems that she has found her wish again.

After a moment of silence, Altria said softly, "I once heard that only heroic spirits who still have regrets in their lives will respond to the call of the Holy Grail."

When the wish changes, is she still the same "her"?

This is like asking me how to prove that I am myself. Delving into this kind of philosophical question is just exhausting myself.

"Father... aren't you going to ask me what my new wish is?"

Looking at Altria's profile, Mordred's heartbeat quickened... and he felt a little nervous.

If Altria really asked... would she tell it?

Her wish...

"No, no need."

Artoria's voice rang out, like wind chimes playing in the breeze.

"I've already told you that I have no interest in your wishes for the Holy Grail."

"So... as long as you believe your wish is right, correct, and comes from the heart... then go for it."

Altria turned around, and beneath her golden hair that was blown by the breeze, her emerald-like eyes clearly reflected Mordred's face.

"This time, I will trust the decision you make."

"My trusted knight, go and fight. It's no longer for me, but for yourself and your current Master. Go and win."

…………

Smoke billows.

The lion Jie Jie Li, who was smoking, said... the reason he chose to survive might be just for this puff of cigarette.

Turning his head as if sensing something, he saw Modred walking towards him alone.

"Hey, are you done talking?"

Modred ignored Lion Jie Li's greeting, but he didn't care much about it and continued smoking.

"Hey!"

Mordred suddenly spoke.

"I plan to seize the Holy Grail and use it to fulfill my wish... Will you accompany me?"

"...This is so unlike you, Saber."

Taking a deep breath and blowing out a puff of smoke, Lion Jie Li said in a deep voice: "When did you start asking such nonsense?"

"Stop making such noise!" Mordred said in a rage. "Let me make it clear, I'm determined to obtain the Holy Grail. I have a wish that I absolutely must fulfill, even if it means death! So, let me make it clear, don't hold me back!"

"Oh! This is really inspiring. What should I do? Even I'm getting excited..."

Hearing Mordred's words, the corners of Lion Jie Jie's mouth rose slightly.

A few rays of sunlight shone through the shade of the trees and fell straight to the ground.

Two people were leaning against the same big tree, one with his hands in his pockets and the other smoking silently.

"Hey, Master."

"What is it, Saber?"

Mordred took his right hand out of his trouser pocket and grabbed his hair hard.

"That is, um...what is your wish?"