In Hinata, Artoria saw a reflection of her past self.
This stirred a sense of appreciation for talent in Artoria.
Damien had no intention of killing these people.
In that case, wasn't it reasonable for Artoria to scout talent early and bring them under her wing?
"Surrender," Artoria said. "I know your character won't allow you to yield without a fight, but what about them?"
"Do you want them to die for you?"
Artoria referred to the Crusader Order. "If I wished, I could kill everyone here in an instant!"
"You…"
Hinata snapped angrily, "Despicable!"
"Despicable?"
Artoria didn't see it that way.
Though she was threatening them, it was also an act of kindness toward Hinata.
"Captain!"
Leonard and the other five Saints rushed toward Hinata, hoping to assist.
"Stay back!"
Hinata halted their advance, shouting, "Take everyone and retreat to Falmuth now!"
Clang!
Boom!
A golden sword light, like a towering wall, surged past Hinata, carving a bottomless trench into the already scorched earth, blocking the Crusader Order's retreat!
"You can't interfere with that person's plans."
Artoria could overlook Hinata and the others' disrespect, but aiding Falmuth's army crossed her line.
For one, Falmuth was an enemy of the Jura Monster Kingdom.
And the war was one they had started.
On the battlefield, Artoria showed no mercy to soldiers.
Enemies were enemies... there was no room for pity or innocence.
In truth, even the Crusader Order before her was no different from invaders.
The only reason she showed mercy was because Damien wished to recruit Luminous.
It was a chance for both sides to de-escalate, to avoid going too far.
"As expected!"
"Your target is Falmuth!"
Hinata frowned, demanding, "Why would someone like you help monsters?"
"Monsters?"
Artoria looked at Hinata, puzzled by the disdain and rejection of monsters in her words.
"You're not a monster, are you?"
"A elemental?"
"Or a hero?"
The only thing Hinata was certain of was that Artoria was no monster. There wasn't a trace of the chaotic aura typical of monsters.
Instead, she radiated a holy, radiant presence, balanced and serene.
If Hinata had never seen a deity, she might have thought Artoria was a divine being .
More accurately, with Artoria's appearance and aura, she was practically the embodiment of the term "Holy Knight."
It was unimaginable that such a figure would aid the monsters of the forest to kill humans!
"Are you misunderstanding something?"
Artoria wasn't foolish; she understood Hinata's meaning. "In your eyes, what's the relationship between monsters and humans?"
"Enemies!"
"And when humans subjugate monsters?"
What could Hinata say?
That it was an act of justice?
Even she couldn't shamelessly claim such a thing.
Monsters and humans were simply opposed by race.
Their conflicts held no moral high ground.
Hinata's confusion about Artoria stemmed mainly from her aura.
She even wondered.
Could the monsters in the forest be some kind of unparalleled succubi?
First Shizu, and now Artoria.
Come to think of it, the only beings capable of setting up such a vast barrier in the Great Jura Forest were likely the Dryads.
Shizu, Artoria, the Dryads...
They were all working for "that person."
"I am human," Hinata said. "Is that answer enough?"
"Hm."
Artoria didn't dislike those who set aside morality and stood purely for their side. "If that's the case, why question me?"
"What?"
"It's the same for me," Artoria said calmly. "I stand here only because I serve my lord."
It wasn't about right or wrong; it was simply Damien's command.
Artoria owed Damien too much.
He had freed her from the Counter Force, granted her immense power, and given her a hopeful future.
If she wished to save Britain, she could do so at any time.
If Artoria pleaded with Damien, he would use the God of the Void to twist the spacetime of the Nasuverse, creating a true utopia.
But that wasn't what Artoria wanted.
Among her countless incarnations, there were those who never drew the holy sword, instead building the Kingdom of Britain as an ordinary person.
She still had much to learn.
Her power wasn't enough.
Only when Artoria found a path for Britain would she return to her homeland to fulfill her dream.
"That person's command is to annihilate the invading Falmuth army."
"A-Annihilate…"
Hinata was shocked. "That's fifty thousand people!"
To casually speak of slaughtering fifty thousand humans was unthinkable to Hinata.
"So what?" Artoria said gravely. "What can you, or any of you, do about it?"
Buzz buzz buzz~~~
As Artoria's words fell, a golden barrier rose from all directions, enveloping the 3,000 Crusaders.
"You're too weak."
"Even if I do nothing," Artoria said, "you can't leave."
"Damn it!"
Leonard, refusing to accept this, ordered his knights to find a way to break the barrier.
But as Artoria had said, they couldn't do anything about it, nor could they escape!
"Now, you have two choices."
"One: surrender."
Artoria continued, "According to that person's will, he won't do anything to you because you're not worth it."
"Impossible!"
Hinata rejected the proposal without hesitation.
Surrender without a fight?
Not just her... none of the knights under her command could accept that.
Moreover, Hinata was pondering the meaning behind Artoria's words.
What did she mean by "you're not worth it"?
"Could it be?!"
Suddenly, Hinata realized something. She looked at Artoria and, using Thought Communication, asked, "Your target is Luminous?!"
***
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