Was the situation of the Wind Clan's chieftain truly so dire?
In truth, not necessarily.
Her strength remained intact. Though the Wind Clan's fairies had suffered a blow from Artoria's beam attack and were further battered by the rain of arrows, their remaining forces were still considerable.
Facing the knights head-on would not be easy.
But using magecraft to hold them off should not have left them completely defenseless.
Moreover, the Wind Clan's chieftain was an exceptionally skilled magus.
She should not have been reduced to such a pitiful state.
However
Her strength was not the issue; her ntality was.
The mont she sensed even the slightest hint of danger, she imdiately began calling for lusine.
Hearing her chieftain's orders, lusine couldn't help but complain inwardly.
Still, she obediently turned back.
Seeing lusine return,
Artoria quickly signaled the knights to retreat.
Otherwise, if the knights were to engage lusine directly, the casualties would be severe.
That could not be allowed.
Artoria understood all too well that carelessness against lusine's attacks would lead to heavy losses.
...
"Don't act so recklessly next ti."
Watching lusine return, the Wind Clan's chieftain let out a sigh of relief.
Then, she began grumbling incessantly at lusine.
"Mm."
Hearing the complaints, lusine offered no rebuttal. She simply nodded silently.
Then, she asked the Wind Clan's chieftain, "What should we do next?"
"We'll rest for today. Starting tomorrow, we'll slaughter every last human who dares stand in our way."
After a mont of thought, the Wind Clan's chieftain gave her orders.
"Mm."
lusine nodded lightly in response.
At that mont, the Wind Clan's chieftain added, "When the ti cos tomorrow, you'll need to put in more effort."
Hearing this, lusine cast a sidelong glance at the chieftain.
If not for you today, I could have already defeated their commanders.
"I hope you'll pay a bit more attention to your own safety tomorrow, Chieftain."
After so deliberation, lusine couldn't hold back her words.
It wasn't that she didn't want to follow the chieftain it was just that the Wind Clan's leader was far too much of a liability.
So, lusine couldn't help but offer a reminder.
"Are you doubting ?!"
The Wind Clan's chieftain glared at lusine.
"No, not at all."
lusine lowered her head in response.
But in her heart, it wasn't doubt she was practically certain that the Wind Clan's chieftain would falter in tomorrow's battle.
I'll just have to work twice as hard tomorrow.
She continued thinking to herself.
Difficult…
Having to carry so many liabilities alone is no easy task.
"But this is also the perfect chance to prove my strength, isn't it?"
lusine found a silver lining to console herself, and her mood improved slightly.
...
"Artoria, are you still worried about today's battle?"
That night, seeing her beloved eat less than ten pounds of bread, Guinevere grew concerned and went to check on Artoria.
Upon finding her deep in thought, Guinevere quickly asked,
"Yes, I am indeed troubled by today's battle."
Artoria did not deny it in the slightest.
"I had assud that after Vortigern's defeat, we wouldn't encounter such formidable enemies again. Yet today, that fairy gave us a harsh lesson."
"Don't worry. This is only a minor setback." Seeing her beloved so distressed, Guinevere hurried to console her. "I'm certain that by tomorrow's battle, you'll achieve victory."
"Victory? I've already pushed myself to my limits. Even with Caliburn and Excalibur in hand, I couldn't secure victory. What more can I possibly do to grow stronger?"
Reflecting on her own abilities, Artoria couldn't fathom how to overco lusine.
Just then, a figure appeared before her and Guinevere.
"No, your strength can still grow. Trust with your bloodline, you're far from reaching your limits."
A man clad in white, handso in appearance yet sohow inviting the urge to punch him in the face, stood before Artoria and Guinevere.
It was rlin.
"Teacher?"
Seeing rlin appear, Artoria regarded him with suspicion.
Why had her teacher shown up again?
"Do I not get a welco?"
rlin took a bite of an apple and asked.
"No, it's not that I don't welco you, Teacher." Artoria shook her head lightly. Then, before rlin could even begin to smile, she added, "It's just that the entire army of Calot doesn't welco you."
rlin's smile froze.
Artoria continued, "King Lot once told that for Calot's army to welco you, you'd have to change from rlin to 'rlin' no, wait, to 'Magi Mari.'"
"That's simple enough. Where's the won's clothing? Should I change here, or in front of all the soldiers?"
Hearing his student's words, rlin declared without hesitation.
His response made Artoria and Guinevere both cover their faces in secondhand embarrassnt.
Does this man have no sha?!
Guinevere shot Artoria a aningful glance.
Artoria swiftly changed the subject.
"Teacher, please state your purpose for coming. Are you here to help deal with our enemies?"
"Of course not. I'm a frail and powerless magus I've no talent for combat. Besides, that fairy called lusine is quite formidable."
Then, rlin revealed his true objective.
"I've co to help you grow stronger."
"Grow stronger?"
Artoria pointed at herself skeptically.
"Indeed. Beyond those two swords, there is still a lance that belongs to you. I've co to ensure you claim it."
rlin nodded.
"What lance?"
"The Holy Lance Rhongomyniad."
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