Chapter 329: Mash, the King of Fighters
After executing the Galactic Justice Law on the Old Bug, Kenji also joined the crowd of "melon-eaters" (spectators).
Kenji took action, providing plenty of food. Watching a show without snacks just doesn't feel right.
Blood flowing like a river... Intense!
"Sir Lancelot! Don't dodge! Come at my shield!" Mash was abnormally agitated, swinging her shield with gusto.
No one would ever guess that Mash, in this state, was usually such a gentle person.
Ber-Lancelot gripped his sword hilt, but he never once initiated an attack against Mash. He spent the whole time dodging pathetically.
She looks like such a sweet, sheltered girl. Why is she so ferocious?
A shield is a defensive weapon, not an offensive one!
"Arrr..."
In that brief moment of distraction, Mash slammed him with her shield, sending him flying. He spun in the air, letting out a deafening howl that echoed through the sky.
"Yes! That's it! That's what I wanted to see!" Gudako pumped her fists.
Everyone turned to look at the excited Gudako. They couldn't help but suspect... did she have a hand in this?
"I just love these father-daughter matchups," Gudako said with a grin.
She guessed what everyone was thinking. Mash fighting Ber-Lancelot... that was Mash's idea. The only thing she, as a Master, could do was... use a Command Spell to give Mash a little boost.
"Sigh... Sir Lancelot..."
Artoria sighed. The brave and skilled Knight of the Lake... was being beaten senseless by a young girl.
Is this the decay of morality, or the twisting of human nature?
If Gawain and the others saw this, they'd laugh for two and a half years.
"The one having the worst time is probably Kariya Matou," Kenji said thoughtfully.
With Kariya's "worn-out" body, the situation must be even worse now. Ber-Lancelot could only maintain his form using mana from his Master, otherwise Mash would have knocked him back to the Throne of Heroes already.
"Why is he hanging on? Does he have... some kind of masochistic fetish?" Hoshi said, munching on melon seeds. He could suffer less just by returning to the Throne.
"No way... Could it be... that being beaten by Mash is a reward for Lancelot?"
Gudako's train of thought went off the rails as she said something shocking.
"That... shouldn't be it... right?" Even Artoria was starting to doubt.
"Otou-san~"
"Answer me, look in my eyes!"
"Are you in your right mind now?"
Mash smiled sweetly. Ber-Lancelot, who had just climbed to his feet, froze. He almost lost the grip on his sword.
That single "Otou-san" (Father) completely drained Ber-Lancelot of all his will to fight.
It's... my daughter... my cute daughter...
"..."
"Why aren't you answering!? What does your silence mean!?"
POW!
CRACK!
Mash put away her shield. In Ber-Lancelot's vision, a delicate fist grew larger and larger. A single punch shattered his faceplate, revealing a completely baffled face underneath.
"Whoa! Isn't that the boxing style the Doctor (Romani) taught her?"
Gudako recognized it instantly. After dealing with Goetia, Mash had asked Romani for some combat tips.
Although Romani now claimed to be a normal human, he still had his memories of martial arts and had given Mash a few pointers.
And now, after such a short time, she was "applying what she learned"... on her "real dad."
If Romani could see this, he would be so proud.
"This punch is for your lost knightly spirit!"
POW!
Another uppercut. Ber-Lancelot went flying again.
"This punch is for my King! What is this ugly form?!"
POW!
"This punch is for Sir Galahad! And... it's because I want to hit you!"
ORA! ORA! ORA!
POWPOWPOWPOW—
"Mash, the King of Fighters" became more and more fluid with her punches. She perfectly predicted his landing spot, unleashing a flurry of "fists of fury" all over Ber-Lancelot.
So brutal.
Kenji and the others couldn't bear to watch Ber-Lancelot's tragic state. Ever since the "Chaldean King of Fighters" started her ORA-rush, he hadn't even touched the ground.
"Mash is so... 'filial'♪," Elysia laughed.
She loved this kind of family drama. Mash was clearly out to teach Lancelot a lesson.
Is Ber-Lancelot not fighting back because he's stunned... or because he's... enjoying it?
"You started the fun without this King?"
The Golden King (Gilgamesh) appeared, his arrogant eyes looking down on all creation.
"Yo, Gilgamesh! What took you so long?" Kenji greeted him.
"My 'subjects' are too troublesome. This King knew I would see you all again one day."
Gilgamesh opened his Gate of Babylon. A familiar... refrigerator... emerged.
"Ah... this..."
Kenji was stunned. Isn't that the refrigerator they left behind? The food inside hasn't even changed.
Holy crap... is this the 'Most Ancient Refrigerator'?
"Kenji, we wanted to take the appliances with us back then, but King Gilgamesh collected them," Gudako said.
"Everything in Uruk is this King's property." Gilgamesh took a melon from the fridge and began to eat it.
That guy Tokiomi had looked baffled when he saw the fridge. Such a simple-minded mongrel.
(Tokiomi: It's not my fault! A king from 2000 BC pulling out a modern appliance... anyone would be baffled!)
"This little girl... tsk tsk tsk."
Gilgamesh glanced at Sakura, who was being held by Elysia, and smiled meaningfully.
Tohsaka Tokiomi... what an incompetent father...
"King of Heroes, are you here for the Grail?" Artoria asked.
"That broken cup?"
"This King would feel 'dirty' just having it in my treasury."
Gilgamesh showed no interest. Besides, with these people here, he couldn't get it anyway.
But admitting defeat... was not the King of Heroes' style. So, he just had to act like he didn't care.
...
Mash's ORA-rush ended. Ber-Lancelot was kneeling, his spirit broken.
"Otou-san, are you okay?"
Mash felt great.
I don't care if you're a Berserker! Taste my 'Personality Correction Fist' first!
The Galahad Spirit Origin inside her was also incredibly excited. So satisfying! It approved of Mash even more now.
She beat up Merlin... she beat up her own dad... What a satisfying battle!
Mash had achieved things he never had.
"Ah...?"
Ber-Lancelot's eyes widened. He looked at Mash's smile... and felt his heart stop.
Oh my god... Mash (my daughter)... is too cute... My heart...
HNNNG...
All the frustration from being beaten... vanished. Even if he returned to the Throne right now, it was worth the price of admission.
Master... thank you... for summoning me.
Goodbye.
Ber-Lancelot ascended to heaven... no, he left this world and returned to the Throne of Heroes.
As he faded, a goofy, stupid smile was on his face, blooming like a flower.
Ehehehe... my daughter... called me 'Otou-san' so gently... It was... the best...
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