"I won't compromise. I said I would make her an excellent knight, and I am the first hurdle she must overco. If she can't even cross this hurdle, then becoming a knight is just a pipe dream."
Ector's tone was filled with sternness.
He knew he had to be this way.
If he didn't leave a strong first impression on Artoria now, it would be even more troubleso in the future.
"Oh, so the trial has already begun... Artoria, you'll be living here from now on. Don't let Ector's appearance fool you—he's actually a very excellent knight."
rlin crouched down with a sweet smile.
Her deanor was like that of a suspicious older sister on the street, clearly a master at coaxing.
Along the way, rlin hadn't been idle.
First, she had been shaping Artoria's impressions, raising her from a young age to be the King of Knights.
"An excellent knight..."
"That's right. Moran is also an excellent knight. If you beco a knight, you'll be able to get closer to him. He'll be happy too—isn't that great~!"
"Really...?"
Artoria's timidity gradually faded.
rlin had imdiately struck a chord with her.
The courage in her innocent eyes overwheld her fear, and she stepped out from behind Moran.
Facing the stern and intimidating Ector.
"You... really know how to handle people."
"Hehe, that's just what Little Artoria was thinking. Don't you want to see her beco an excellent knight?"
"An excellent knight..."
Moran's mind flashed with a few images.
A resplendent young girl wielding a golden sword.
It was like a vision from a dragon's foresight. He knew this was Artoria's future form.
[Artoria greeted Ector]
[Though she was initially a bit shy, she quickly grew accustod to Ector]
[Still, she kept her eyes on you]
[Arriving in a new environnt always brings unease, and a child will always look to the person they can rely on]
[You were the one Artoria trusted]
"Moran... do you want to beco a knight?"
Artoria asked in her childish voice.
She really wanted Moran to give her an answer.
"Artoria, you shouldn't ask that. You should ask your own heart. Do you want to beco a knight?"
"I... I do...!"
Artoria lowered her head in thought.
Soon, she looked up again.
"If I beco an excellent knight, I can protect you, Moran! So, I want to beco a knight!"
"Protect ..."
Moran couldn't help but chuckle.
Though rlin's guidance played a part, Moran hadn't expected to hear such words from Artoria.
A child's wish is always pure.
"Then, I'll look forward to it. I'll be waiting for little Artoria to beco an excellent knight."
"Moran, is Ector better than you?"
"Well~"
Moran paused for a mont.
In truth, Artoria would rather stay with Moran than learn under Ector.
It wasn't strange to compare the two.
"Yes, Ector is better than . I believe you'll grow even more under his guidance."
Moran said with a faint smile.
This nearly made Ector choke.
To compare him with Albion.
When Moran had traveled across Britain in the past, many had heard of the grace he displayed.
The radiant brilliance of the Pure Knight.
Though Ector didn't seek fa, he never thought he could be compared to Moran.
Who would have thought Moran could be so carefree?
He didn't have the arrogance one would expect from a dragon.
"Ector... is actually stronger than Moran..."
Artoria's face was filled with shock.
She hadn't expected this strange old man to be so powerful.
A sense of awe began to grow in her heart.
The innocent Artoria had no doubts about Moran; her heart was as pure as a blank sheet of paper.
"Ahem... Lord Moran... You praise so... You are Albion... My heart can hardly bear it..."
"Hahaha, don't mind it. The strongest proof of Albion would never rest on re reputation. If it helps you teach Artoria better, I don't care about these things."
"You are too casual..."
Ector had also witnessed Moran's casualness.
He had long heard from Uther—
[The ancient dragon of the boundary, Albion, still lives in this world, and he will protect Artoria as she ascends to the throne.]
[Now, having t Moran in person]
[Ector felt genuine respect in his heart.]
[Your actions allowed Ector to better stand in the role of a teacher, enabling Artoria to focus on her studies.]
[He believed that you must have considered this.]
[Everything that needed to be done had been done.]
[Now, it was ti to part.]
"Artoria, you must study hard with Ector. From now on, he will be your foster father and take care of you."
"Moran, are you... leaving?"
Artoria was reluctant to let him go.
She hadn't expected Moran to really leave her.
Although they had only spent a few short days together, she had already co to see Moran as a very important family mber.
"Yes, don't be sad. Britain is in chaos now, and I have my own duties. It's not like I won't co back. If I have ti, I will visit you."
[You patted Artoria's little head.]
[She knew she couldn't be selfish.]
[But the reluctance was still hard to ignore.]
"I promise you, I will beco a knight as excellent as you, and I won't let you down!"
"Yes, I believe in you."
[Artoria didn't shed a single tear in the end.]
[Such behavior was unbecoming of a knight, and her small body was already filled with determination.]
[She was undoubtedly a strong girl.]
[And so, you entrusted Artoria to Ector.]
[All that was left was to wait for the seeds you had sown to grow.]
[Although you wanted to take care of her without missing any detail, your body clearly couldn't handle it.]
[As the last dragon of fantasy]
[You struggled to move in this world, unable to stay awake for long periods, and thus couldn't be a good teacher.]
[Having Ector teach Artoria]
[Was the best choice at the mont.]
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