Miracle Summoner

"Alright, if we've made it this far, we should be safe for now."

With those words, Artoria (Alter) finally came to a halt.

"Huff... huff…"

"Ha... ha…"

"Did... did we make it?"

The Mountain People and the refugees all stopped in their tracks as well, breathing heavily. Their faces were still etched with disbelief and dazed expressions, unable to recover from the intensity of the battlefield they had just escaped.

However, it wasn't long before the sounds of sobbing began to rise around them.

A sorrowful atmosphere spread like a ripple.

"This..."

Mash, who was also catching her breath, was momentarily stunned by the scene.

"..."

Rozen observed the surroundings, silently taking in the sadness. He said nothing, merely letting out a faint sigh.

Artoria (Alter), on the other hand, swept her cold gaze over the crowd.

"The joy of surviving a near-death ordeal and the despair of betrayal have surfaced all at once. It's only natural for them to end up like this."

Indeed, the refugees were torn between the joy of surviving and the crushing despair from the cruelty of the Lion King's actions. Overwhelmed by these conflicting emotions, the only way they could express themselves was through tears.

The Mountain People, showing great compassion, began to console the refugees around them. They also started tending to the wounded and caring for the elderly, women, and children.

In their desperate flight, everyone had given their all. Even the trained Mountain People had struggled to keep up with Artoria (Alter)'s relentless pace. For a group of ordinary refugees to follow without losing a single person was a feat in itself, but now, they were completely drained.

Of course, the Mountain People's concerns were unnecessary.

Because…

"To ensure the refugees could keep up, you used large-scale magic to heal the injured and ease the burden on the elderly, women, and children. Compared to before, you've certainly become far more reliable."

Artoria (Alter) turned to Rozen, locking eyes with him as she said this.

It was thanks to Rozen's silent support that every single refugee had made it out alive.

But that wasn't the main point.

The main point was what Artoria (Alter) had said.

"More reliable than before?" Rozen met Artoria (Alter)'s gaze, staring for a moment before speaking. "As I thought, you're the same King Arthur we fought against in the Fuyuki Singularity, aren't you?"

What Rozen was implying was clear.

"You retained the memories from back then, didn't you?"

Rozen stated it plainly.

And that was indeed the case.

A Servant's memories are not typically retained. Unless under special circumstances, their experiences in the mortal realm are confined to a single summoning. Once they are destroyed or return to the Throne of Heroes, those memories remain recorded there but are not carried forward to subsequent summonings.

However, Artoria (Alter)'s demeanor made it evident that she wasn't treating them as strangers.

Therefore, Rozen was certain that Artoria (Alter) retained her memories from the Fuyuki Singularity, just like Heracles in the Fifth Singularity.

"Is... is that true?"

Mash looked at Artoria (Alter) in astonishment.

But Artoria (Alter) merely replied indifferently.

"It doesn't matter either way. Those memories serve no purpose now—they can neither change the present nor defeat the enemy. The only thing they've contributed is my decision to march to the Holy City upon hearing of your arrival. Otherwise, you might still be wandering aimlessly as the Lion King's honored guests."

Artoria (Alter)'s tone, though seemingly mocking, was simply a cold statement of fact.

This coldness was distinctly different from that of the Lion King.

The Lion King was detached and indifferent, caring for nothing beyond her own purpose. She carried the lofty demeanor of a divine being, standing above all and disregarding everything else. Only those with divine blessings comparable to Rozen's could even catch her attention; otherwise, all else was irrelevant to her.

Artoria (Alter), however, exhibited true coldness—a personality shift brought about by her transformation. There was a faint inclination toward tyranny, though her essence as the King of Knights and her sense of nobility still remained. Expecting warmth from her, however, was entirely out of the question.

Even so, Artoria (Alter) had taken a significant risk by coming to the Holy City to rescue Rozen and Mash.

Given her antagonistic relationship with the Lion King, her presence in the Holy City was undoubtedly fraught with danger. Yet she had come anyway.

And so...

"Thank you for saving us, King Arthur."

A holographic screen appeared between them, revealing Roman and the others.

Roman's voice was the one that had just spoken.

"I didn't expect to see another King Arthur, let alone the very Servant we fought against in the Fuyuki Singularity."

Roman spoke with a mix of amazement and reflection.

"This is what it means to be a Servant—encountering fate across eras and circumstances."

Da Vinci took a more philosophical view of the situation.

"..."

Olga Marie, however, remained silent.

After all, she had also been part of the Fuyuki Singularity.

But now, things were different. Olga Marie had changed—from a proud and charming noble girl to... a certain owl.

It was, undoubtedly, a tragic story.

Of course, none of this had anything to do with Artoria (Alter).

Artoria (Alter) simply spoke in a low voice.

"So you've arrived. That means the time to strike back against the Lion King has finally come. Half a year of waiting has finally borne fruit."

Artoria (Alter) fixed her gaze on Rozen.

Within her eyes, there was an emotion Rozen couldn't quite decipher.

Then...

"If you want to defeat the Lion King, you'll need to act with us for now. You'll also need a base of operations, won't you?"

Artoria (Alter) declared.

"Follow me. I'll take you to my domain."

With that, Artoria (Alter) decisively turned and began walking.

The Mountain People, seeing this, called out to the refugees.

"Come with us."

"Even if the Holy City has abandoned you, we, the Mountain People, will accept you."

"Let's go."

The Mountain People's words brought a glimmer of hope to the refugees. Their sobbing ceased as they began to follow the group.

Rozen and Mash exchanged glances.

Then...

"Let's go, Mash."

"Yes, Senpai."

The two of them followed Artoria (Alter)'s group, leaving the territory of the Holy City.