There was no time to erase their tracks.
Against a strategy of overwhelming human waves, the slightest slip would inevitably force us into endless attrition and bleeding. Therefore, the tactic Tristan and I chose was—naturally—to beat a hasty retreat.
"...Those guys, their pursuit is more tenacious than I expected."
It was the second day. We had no horses or means of transport, and we had to move while suppressing our prana to avoid detection.
Normally, we would have shaken them off within a few hours, but they continued to shadow us with dogged persistence.
"It appears to be because traces of the battle with the Hassans remain. Camelot and the Mountains have maintained a friendly relationship until now, but the fact that this bond has been shaken has been exposed by this battle..."
"So they see it as a golden opportunity. Clever bastards."
"...Master, should we respond in kind? If we annihilate the search party and erase the traces once more..."
"No, such stopgap measures won't work if we want to break through the entire enemy army. And if we do that..."
"The other Hassans will join in, I suppose."
We had captured the Hassan of Serenity, but I didn't think that solved everything.
The Hassan of the Intoxicating Smoke had fled, and there would still be many other Hassans remaining in the mountains. From my memory alone, there were four—Cursed Arm, Hundred Faces, Quaking Gong, and Shadow-Peeling. Moreover, considering the setting of this Singularity involves the Crusades and the demonic beasts of Merem Solomon are wandering about, it could include the Hassan-i-Sabbah who quelled the rampaging Dead Apostles alongside Richard, or even those mentioned as Elders of the Mountains of that era who hunted the undead.
'In the Pan-Human History, at least three Hassans were supposed to have been taken out by the Lion King's forces, and the rest were mostly wiped out. But because the Lion King didn't treat the mountain as an enemy, the Hassans have preserved their full strength... and that's making things more difficult. Talk about a Monkey's Paw.'
Furthermore, while I knew the abilities of Cursed Arm, Intoxicating Smoke, Hundred Faces, and Serenity... I didn't know much about the other two. Considering the potential for even older Elders of the Mountain or unique technical skills they might possess, it became even more dangerous. Assassin, along with Caster, is a class that is a mass of variables itself.
"Master, how about we just force our way through?"
"I'll pass."
"...This isn't the time to be picky about the situation."
"True. But you're planning to use yourself as a decoy to send me to Camelot, aren't you? We're short on Servants as it is... and with Karna joining the enemy side, losing even one Knight of the Round Table is an extreme loss."
"It would be far more dangerous if the Master were to die."
"Let's keep moving forward with a little more hope for now. If we go through this route... how much longer?"
"We have to bypass the enemies besieging Camelot, so it will take at least two more days. Since we can't use transport or flare our magical energy, we must accept the slow pace."
For someone used to flight, high-speed movement, or even a vehicle like the Motored Cuirassier, this was incredibly inconvenient, but there was no helping it.
Even Tristan was silently pushing through the underbrush, walking while covered in mud.
"Shall we rest for a moment?"
"It's not like I'm tired. Let's keep going."
"Understood."
"By the way, Tristan, if the Lion King saw us through her vision, wouldn't she come to save us?"
"There is no such possibility. Agravain likely holds command of the entire army right now, and he will be busy preparing for the siege."
"I thought Ritsuka would definitely come to the rescue if she knew."
"Master, you still do not truly know the man named Agravain."
"Hmm? I know a bit. Iron-blooded, made of steel... and what else was there? Ah, 'he who does not know human hearts'—"
"Cough!"
Tristan suddenly coughed.
...Right, I forgot. That phrase was a trauma for them.
"Well, anyway, let's move past that... He was a knight who was extremely strict, to the point of excess, and eventually died. Lancelot killed him, right?"
"...I was not at the Round Table at that point, so it is something I only learned after the fact, but Agravain is certainly a man worthy of respect. Both as a knight and a comrade, I can say I respect him."
"That sounds a bit contradictory..."
"However, I cannot trust or rely on him. If it serves the preservation of the country, he is a man who would throw anyone into the meat grinder and use them as a pawn."
"I know that much."
"No, this isn't simply a matter of that degree. To Agravain, the current situation is the grand problem of the Restoration of the Human Order. To solve it... that is, to resolve this Singularity, he is a man who would gladly treat the Master as a disposable piece."
"...But Agravain just has command. The top leader is the Lion King, isn't it? Would she let that happen?"
"The fact that the King entrusted everything to Agravain means she trusts his judgment. And do you think the King would have failed to predict this situation? I do not think so."
"Ah, these King Arthur fanboys..."
Realizing the words had slipped out, I quickly covered my mouth, but Tristan nodded as if he understood.
"It is quite alright; it is a fact we all know. After all, if even Sir Mordred, who committed treason; or I, who showed such disloyalty; or... Sir Lancelot, who committed that deed which is hard to even name, were forgiven, how could we not love and admire such a lord?"
"...That's true."
"But that is separate from this. I can guarantee it: Agravain will never attempt to rescue the Master. I am actually more worried about Miss Ritsuka. If she knows the Master's situation, she will surely try to save you... If she clashes with Agravain, she could find herself in a very troublesome position."
"Hmm? Come on, surely he wouldn't lift a hand against an ally."
"I wonder. As I said before, I cannot particularly trust Agravain... He was a man who was great in many ways, but simultaneously dangerous."
"I know he was the Round Table's greatest torture specialist. I heard that if they fell into Agravain's hands, even a hippopotamus would beg for mercy in human speech."
"You certainly know a wide variety of things. Did Sir Gareth tell you that?"
"...Did Gareth hate Agravain too?"
Tristan let out a sigh.
"If there was a man most hated at the Round Table, it would undoubtedly be Sir Agravain."
"...What about Lancelot or Mordred? Is it really worse than them?"
"It is. Lancelot regretted his sins and begged the King for punishment, and Sir Mordred... hmm..."
He made a very complicated expression, then let out a deep sigh before continuing.
"She is... a bit childish, isn't she? Even more so than Sir Gareth... Furthermore, she is entangled with that Witch in a way that is even more complex than Agravain's ties to her. And as for me..."
"You were forgiven by the King, and since your departure happened early on, it probably wasn't as severe."
"Yes, I was lucky in many ways. But Agravain never regrets his work, nor does he repent. The biggest problem is that, in reality, his judgments were correct far too often. With one single exception."
"...Lancelot."
"Exactly. Sir Agravain died due to that incident, and while that is certainly Sir Lancelot's sin, it is hard not to see that Agravain brought that tragedy upon himself. From his perspective, he thought someone at the Round Table had to handle the dirty work... but given that King Arthur was already suffering to the point of hearing... such words from me, from the perspective of a subject, he simply went too far."
"So you respect him, but don't trust or rely on him?"
"Yes. His achievements as the kingdom's Secretary and King Arthur's attendant are more than worthy of respect. No matter who else stepped up... Sir Bedivere tried to handle the duties after Agravain's death, but the decline was clearly visible. Gawain and the other knights go without saying. However, looking at the matters he handled independently without the King's orders... I find it difficult to trust him."
With a grunt, Tristan pulled himself up and offered a hand to me.
"But if you are entering the same castle, he is a more reliable comrade than anyone else. At least in a siege with such an overwhelming disparity in forces, Sir Agravain's strategic insight is superior to all others. Even that man Merlin acknowledged Agravain's ability. Please endure until then."
"I'll do that without being told. Anyway, I suppose we shouldn't expect any salvation."
*
Meanwhile.
"You've made sure to take the map, Mordred?"
"Hey, are you my babysitter or something? That's the third time you've asked!"
"It is an important item, so asking ten times would not be enough. Do not forget... clearing the misunderstanding with the Mountains is of paramount importance. Even if your spiritual core must be shattered..."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. I'll take Ritsuka to the mountain safely. Still, if possible, I'd like to rescue that Karma Kirigaya guy too."
"Do not forget the priorities, Sir Mordred. Strictly speaking, the role of your and Tristan's mobile units... is to 'die.' If you can return without dying, it would be a superlative result, but it is not something to be expected. Considering the enemy's military strength..."
"I said I got it!"
"...Very well. In that case, Ritsuka Fujimaru, Master of Chaldea."
Agravain pulled a rolled-up parchment from his breast pocket.
"Eh? What's this?"
"Though infinitely inferior compared to Merlin's work, it is a parchment inscribed with protective magecraft I crafted in my spare time. It is excellent at blocking various curses, and if you tear it, it has the effect of reflecting all the accumulated magecraft within directly back at those who harbor hostility toward you."
"...Wow, is it okay to give me something like this?"
"I have spares, so there is no issue. Do you know how to ride a horse?"
"No! But Mash knows how, so it's fine."
"I see."
They looked toward the twenty Enforcement Knights lined up at the side gate of the Constantinople walls, Mordred standing at the head in full armor... and Ritsuka, who was sitting on a horse while hugging Mash's waist.
"The destination is the Mountains! Move to that location, persuade the 'Old Men of the Mountain,' and safely return the Masters of Chaldea—Karma Kirigaya and Ritsuka Fujimaru—to Camelot. Are you prepared!"
[WAAAAAAAAAH!!!]
The knights' roar echoed, and the side gate of the Triple Walls of Constantinople, which was meant to be hidden, swung open.
The gate, which had opened just enough to let about twenty people out, instantly transformed like the rest of the wall and completely vanished.
Mordred, pulling Clarent from her hip and raising it into the air, shouted as she looked at Ritsuka.
"Ready, Master of Chaldea?"
"Of course!"
"Then let's go!!!"
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