Not far from the town — at least out of sight — stood a knight over two meters tall, clad in gleaming silver armor, holding a delicate longbow nearly as tall as himself. Whether there was a person inside the armor was uncertain. He saluted solemnly.
Behind him were many knights similarly equipped with silver armor and towering statures. They shared one common name: the Knights of Justice.
The leading knight wore a white cloak, his silver armor gleaming bright. Yet unlike the others, an incongruity surrounded him. Long red hair flowed over his shoulders, and he held a harp-like longbow. Closing his eyes, a faint smile played at his lips.
"Thank you for your efforts. I already know where our poor companion fled. Such a pity. Why betray the king, Sir Gareth? In that case, I must say goodbye."
Though his brows lowered in sorrow, the smile in his voice sounded oddly pleased. "Well then, let us set off. Sir Gareth once fought alongside us, but betrayal is betrayal. Today's king is not the forgiving man he used to be."
He gently plucked his longbow's strings, the notes lingering like mournful music in the air. "Such sadness. But since we once fought side by side, I'll give you a proper beating, Lord Gareth."
The Knights of Justice spread out and advanced toward the town, preparing to encircle it.
The warning alarms sounded throughout the town.
Gareth, still nursing wounds, grabbed his spear and headed toward the town's outer defenses. Clenching his fists upon seeing the approaching Knights of Justice and their leader, he muttered, "Sir Tristan..."
He did not know whether to feel anger or sorrow. He was the last knight standing against the king. Kay and Percival had already returned to the Throne of Heroes in the previous battles.
"Why... why do this?"
Tristan's lips curled slightly as he opened his eyes. "Why do this? We believe in the king and his justice. But Sir Gareth, why do you stand neutral while Sir Gawain and Sir Lancelot continue to follow the king — and now, why do you stand against us?"
"If you had stood with the king, our fight against the demon Charles I would not have wounded him. Had he not been injured, his judgment would have fallen on your heads by now, and this needless bloodshed would be avoided. It is a tragedy."
"After I kill you, I hope Gawain will have no ill feelings toward me."
Gareth's eyes widened in despair at the companion before him. "Tristan! Where is your conscience? Look at these people — they want to live too! They are human! Living humans!!"
This singularity was unlike Aslan's impression. At least Gareth in this world did not lose his conscience. After his brother Gawain and Lancelot chose to follow the Lion King, Gareth abandoned indecision and joined the Knights of the Round Table.
But with the fall of Gaheris, Kay, and Percival, Gareth looked upon these people's faces — people who wanted to live — and chose to follow his conscience, even if it meant temporarily betraying the king.
If the king recovered, perhaps she would return. But now, she could not betray her conscience.
In the original timeline, during the decisive battle before dusk, Gareth and Gawain fought former companions Kay and Percival. Gareth's brother Gaheris fell in the conflict.
The Lion King's plan advanced steadily. Gareth was cursed with an impure blessing, torn between conscience and duty. In the battle with the demon Charles I, the knights expected some to fall. Gareth bound the demon at the cost of his own life, hoping his comrades would rescue him swiftly.
"I'm sorry. I chose this path, but I can't bear it anymore. I cannot fight. Please, punish me for my folly."
Lancelot hesitated, Mordred raged at the sacrifice, and Agravain restrained his sword. The knights stood still. Gawain, understanding his sister's resolve, ended her suffering along with the demon. He relinquished his last shred of conscience and bore the sins of those who passed.
Without Gareth's sacrifice, the battle against Charles I became far harder. The Lion King triumphed but was injured. He now prepared for the Holy Selection, a process that would protect perfect specimens in the Spear of the Far End and preserve the human species.
Those not selected had only death in store.
Resistance forces were crushed by the holy spear's falling wrath, and all large cities on the continent but New Camelot were destroyed. Survivors fled to the eastern mountains.
But now it was different.
The Lion King needed time to recover before using the Holy Spear again. It was earlier than when the Chaldean group arrived in the original timeline. Many resistance groups still held out. None had yet witnessed the spear's destruction, so hope remained alive.
"Sir Tristan, I will chop off your head right here! I'll make you see reason. You were the clearest sighted among the Knights of the Round Table!"
Tristan opened his sightless eyes and raised his bow. "That was the past. The Tristan of old is dead. We are servants now, and my path is clear. I will follow the king at all costs!
"Knights of Rectification! Encircle and annihilate the town! Leave no resistance! For the glory of the Lion King!"
-End Chapter-
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