Chapter 46 Rejecting Fanatic Fans Starts with Me
High-mindedness and integrity. These are the symbols of King Arthur's legend.
Saber had always been a noble, upright hero—the King of Knights who left a profound impact on future generations. But while Richard was earnestly singing her praises, Shirou didn't feel that same sense of awe.
As expected, he was a bit too used to her.
When he thought of Saber, he thought of her smiles and frowns, her getting annoyed enough to start lecturing, her adherence to principle, her love for fine food, her lack of talent for cleaning, her fondness for lions, and the way she would awkwardly try to hide her personal hobbies...
Nobility, integrity, and the cool clarity of a sovereign were merely another facet of the girl named Artoria.
There was no distinction of right or wrong or "high or low" among these traits, because they all belonged to Artoria Pendragon. Shirou lived with her day and night and knew the girl inside and out.
The so-called "Chivalry" was a distant view of the King of Knights seen from the foot of a far-off mountain—a silhouette of the King clipped from one side, heavily decorated and polished, then displayed to the subjects to awaken hope.
Shirou was happy that Saber was remembered, but if the object of adoration was merely that solitary, aloof silhouette atop the mountain peak, he couldn't feel purely happy about it.
Shirou could only manage to go along with it: "You really like Arthur Pendragon, don't you?"
"Yes, exactly! I grew up hearing the stories of the King of Knights since I was a child; I know many of the King's tales! That is why I admire his life from the bottom of my heart! My only regret is that I have never been able to reach the back of King Arthur!"
Richard was radiant, overjoyed. Seeing him so impassioned, Shirou didn't chime in, but he didn't arbitrarily disagree either.
Though it was difficult for Shirou to comment, it was ultimately an affirmation of Saber's noble history. Perhaps Saber herself found it somewhat gratifying.
Since that was the case, he might as well ask the opinion of the "Ancestor of Chivalry" herself. Shirou glanced toward the "refuge area."
The King of Knights wore a subtle expression, leaning against the wall far away from the praises as if standing on a deserted island. She looked up and met Shirou's gaze from a distance, like someone seeing a confidant they had been desperately searching for. Ensuring her voice wouldn't be heard by Ayaka, who was peeking over beside her, she mouthed the words:
[Please, by all means, make Saber stop... the title 'Ancestor of Chivalry' is far too thoughtless for me. While I did follow chivalry most of the time, in the end, even Caliburn broke during an inglorious battle.]
Even Saber didn't obsess over chivalry to an excessive degree; there were occasions where she didn't pick and choose her methods. Although it was always for a noble purpose, the process, in Saber's eyes, was not worth praising.
Theoretically, there was no "Mysterious Saber" who could survive on chivalry alone.
Saber's character made her dislike being overpraised. She pursed her lips uncomfortably, her gaze stiff, showing a strong desire to return to objectivity. She had already embarked on an idol career—how wonderful for her—but it seemed this idol herself wanted absolutely no fans.
Shirou accepted this major mission with a nod and said to Richard, "Saber, you said just now that King Arthur is the ancestor of chivalry, right?"
"Yes?"
"But if King Arthur also had times when she violated chivalry, would she feel that she isn't fit to be called that by future generations?"
'Saber has reached the age where she has descendants (honorary ones), too...' Just as he thought this, a stinging glare came from behind Richard.
"But I think the title is very appropriate?" Richard tilted his head.
'You might have to debate that with the person behind me.'
"But I think he herself might feel that being called that, after having violated chivalry, is a form of false praise."
The golden swordsman thought in silence for a moment before responding: "I will consider that." He then added: "If he thinks that way himself, then he is a truly noble person."
He wasn't wrong.
Saber was no longer in a state of restlessness due to false praise or over-promotion. But in its place, her gaze froze as she began to realize how agonizing it was to be discussed right in front of her face.
Just then, Richard leaned in closer.
"You seem to have researched King Arthur quite a bit as well! Are you a fan of King Arthur?"
'Research... does researching how to cook to make Saber happiest count?'
The bright eyes of the King Arthur fan sparkled. "Please tell me your thoughts on some of King Arthur's deeds!"
"No, wait, Saber, personally I'm still..."
Shirou hurriedly tried to decline, but Richard spoke up impatiently: "I deeply admire his tragic path of chivalry. That was a miracle forged from noble ideals into a blade! The songs of victory that echo in my homeland are praises for his brilliance and honor!"
Seeing no way to avoid it, cold sweat trickled down the back of Shirou's head. Finally, he just threw caution to the wind and replied in a serious tone:
"I think what people should admire shouldn't be the glory of the process itself, but the conviction of chasing that ideal. More than the process or the result, what should be valued most is the resolve at the beginning, started for the sake of people other than oneself, right?"
Richard was stunned for a moment. Then he replied excitedly: "Excellent insight!
To have no obligation to bear anything, yet to link the fate of Britain to oneself at such a young age—in other words, that is the answer to what a hero is!"
"Yeah... a Sa—King Arthur with that kind of resolve, I think, is quite incredible. Definitely true to his heart."
Shirou felt a headache coming on, but he scratched his cheek with genuine emotion.
"And that uprightness of ideal—just by standing on the mountain peak, he could guide the nation. That figure is truly the image any king would want to become!"
"True, he really makes one want to rely on him."
After all, Saber had been guiding Shirou just by existing beside him; she had always been the object of his respect.
"That straightforwardness of going forward without looking back—even I, as the Lionheart, would admire it!"
"Yeah... I guess? Being straightforward is good in itself, certainly."
However, Saber often threw herself into battle recklessly, putting herself in danger. That wasn't necessarily a good thing. The world Saber had to fight in was very cruel.
"Even though he did everything personally, he would occasionally trust his subordinates with great responsibilities, neither rebuking them nor treating them with anything but wise courtesy. What do you think of that?"
"If you're asking about the part where he occasionally relies on others, it is indeed good."
For example, in daily life, her pestering Shirou to teach her the meaning and use of various modern gadgets was indeed very cute. But asking him to help with her undergarments—no, absolutely not, ten thousand times no.
Richard paused again, puzzled. But soon, Richard nodded with an expression that looked like he understood:
"I have learned much!"
As for Saber, who had hidden her identity from start to finish...
"Miss Altos, what's wrong?" Ayaka asked worriedly, looking at the girl standing beside her who looked as if she had been pierced by numerous dialogue boxes.
Saber's face was slightly flushed. She said weakly: "It's nothing... I've just dug my own grave."
She took a deep breath, then closed her eyes with a mix of shame and helplessness.
"...Really, now."
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