Typemoon: Starting Out as the Lion King's Personal Knight

Credits: pheonix rampant

["Wait, what?! The Lion King's knight? Seriously? Mash, why didn't you mention this earlier?!" ]

Roman's face was almost pressed against the screen, as though he could lean through it to confront Alaric directly.

["If the Lion King's knight is on our side, does this mean we can get information about the Lion King from him?"]

"Well, since it concerns Sir Alaric personally, I felt it wasn't right to overstep—"

Mash blushed, clearly embarrassed by her restraint.

Roman, however, didn't blame Mash for withholding the information. Instead, he offered reassurance, ["It's not Mash's fault. It's not a big deal. Let's just focus on solving the situation for now."]

After calming Mash down, Roman quickly returned to the topic at hand.

["Sir Alaric, would you be willing to share any information you have about the Lion King?"]

Having experienced a full day of communication blackout, Roman was desperate for details about this singularity. Gathering intelligence was second only to ensuring the safety of Ritsuka and the others. The earlier they obtained information, the easier it would be to plan their next steps and avoid unnecessary risks in this extraordinarily dangerous singularity.

"Hmm? About the King? I can't reveal that to you yet—not until you've seen the city for yourselves," Alaric said after a moment of thought, decisively rejecting Roman's request.

["No way—" ]

Roman sighed, his disappointment palpable, as though he'd just been denied an audience with a goddess.

["Wait! There's a powerful Servant signal heading toward you from 500 meters away!"]

Roman suddenly interrupted himself, his tone sharp and urgent. The intensity of the reading alarmed him.

Almost simultaneously, Da Vinci brought the Pterygoid Sphinx to a halt. Alaric turned his sharp, slitted eyes to the horizon, seemingly observing something.

Mash, already on guard, asked Ritsuka, "Senpai, what should we do?"

Given Roman's emphasis on the Servant's strength, it was clear this wasn't an easy opponent. For Chaldea's team, this foe could be a life-threatening adversary.

After a moment of contemplation, Ritsuka suggested cautiously, "Let's observe the situation first—"

"Understood!"

Mash responded firmly.

Both Da Vinci and Alaric remained silent, refraining from offering opinions. However, Alaric couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable under Da Vinci's scrutinizing gaze, which seemed eager to dissect him.

Following Ritsuka's decision, the group lowered their profiles and took cover at a higher vantage point to observe the distant battle.

What unfolded before them was a scene of predation, like a lion relentlessly hunting its prey.

"Two Servants. That Archer is pursuing the Assassin, but the Assassin is also protecting civilians—"

Mash quickly analyzed the situation but faltered as she added, trembling, "But Senpai, just looking at that Archer makes me feel—my chest hurts, and I can't stop trembling…"

Mash appeared visibly pained.

"Should we retreat, then?"

Ritsuka asked softly, concerned for Mash.

"No! We can't move at all. If that Servant detects us, we'll be killed on the spot!"

Da Vinci's expression turned grave, reminiscent of her demeanor when they first encountered Alaric.

"That's a Blessing at work."

"So we just stay hidden?"

Alaric, blending seamlessly into Ritsuka's group, whispered.

Ritsuka suddenly remembered Alaric's presence and turned to him with a hopeful expression.

"Sir Alaric, do you think you could defeat that Servant in battle?"

While Da Vinci's dread of this Servant was evident, Ritsuka had witnessed Alaric's considerable strength and couldn't help but wonder how the two compared.

"If it's him? Sure, I could win," Alaric said confidently with a grin and a thumbs-up.

Overjoyed by his answer, Ritsuka leaned closer and pleaded, "Then, could I trouble you to handle this, Sir Alaric?"

Even Mash, despite her pain, turned to Alaric with pleading eyes.

"Sure. Just stay here and don't move. I'll take care of it," Alaric replied casually, brushing the dust off his clothes.

"Oh, Miss Mash, let's trade for a moment. I can't use this right now," Alaric added, handing his sword to bewildered Mash and taking her shield instead.

"Sir Alaric, what are you doing?"

Mash asked in confusion.

Noticing her puzzled expression, Da Vinci intervened, "He doesn't want to be recognized. Is that Archer also one of the Lion King's knights?"

"Exactly. If I were recognized, I'd likely face punishment. The King's reprimand… well, it's not something I can easily endure," Alaric replied with a faint shiver, as though recalling an unpleasant memory.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Sir Alaric!"

Ritsuka said earnestly.

With that, Alaric disappeared into the shadows without a sound.

"Concealment of Presence… Is Sir Alaric also an Assassin?"

Ritsuka murmured in surprise, noting his seamless use of this hallmark skill of the Assassin class.

Mash and the others held their breath, focusing intently on the distant battlefield.

...

"This is the end… I can't lead my people any further. All is lost…" muttered Hassan, the Assassin clad in a mask of white bone. His eyes locked onto the lone knight before him, whose bow wrought death with every nock and release.

"Sorrowful… I am so sorrowful, Old Man of the Mountain," lamented the red-haired knight, Tristan, his voice filled with anguish.

"If you were alone, escaping this peril would be effortless. Yet you've chosen to accept your fate."

Before he could finish his sentence, a sharp, resounding footstep echoed behind him.

Without turning, Tristan instinctively plucked his bowstring, preparing an attack—but a massive shield surged forward, striking him with incredible force before he could act!

"That shield—"

Tristan had no time to react as the blow sent him flying.

Boom!

The sheer impact roared through the air.

"Run!"

A deep voice echoed in Hassan's ears. The sudden intruder had sent Tristan sprawling, giving Hassan and the remaining civilians a chance to flee.

Yet even as they turned to escape, Tristan retaliated. The invisible, deadly slash from his bowstring swept across the air toward the fleeing group.

Tap!

Tap!

Before the attack could connect, a newcomer appeared. They intercepted the slash with silver, iron-like arms gleaming faintly in the dim light.