The wound on the soldier's chest was terrible, but not a single blood gushed out, and there was not a trace of pain on his face.

"You didn't get the fatal blow to him, so he didn't die." Holding his arms, Skaha said indifferently, "You must make up for another sword to make sure he dies." ”

“……”

As Skaha said, he was unconscious, and he had no sense of what was going on with him.

However, that doesn't mean I can ignore all of this.

…………

"That's not right! This is absolutely incorrect! I stood up and spoke loudly in the face of Skaha's momentum.

"......," Skaha looked at me with a cold gaze.

"The fundamental purpose of holding a sword is always to protect, not kill! What's the point of being strong if you can't protect what you hold dear?! ”

The words were out, and I had to bite the bullet and finish it in one go.

…………

"Where did you come to this conclusion?"

Unexpectedly, Skaha's voice and expression were very calm, and the momentum that seemed to freeze people before was completely hidden.

It's as if the conflict didn't happen at all, just a normal conversation.

“…… I studied kendo. On the first day, I was told that kendo does not exist to compete with others and distinguish between winners and losers, but to cultivate the body and mind and understand all things...... "I said.

…………

"That's because human civilization has developed to your time, the legal system has been perfect, there are very few wars, and pure warriors have almost disappeared." "But you know, the world is more than a thousand years ago, and there is hardly a place where aggression and resistance are not repeated. In Ireland alone, countless men die in the war every year. ”

"Of course, the sword can only be held for peaceful purposes, such as cultivation and enlightenment. But in times of turmoil, holding a sword is only for one thing—"

"Live."

"If you don't want to be killed by others, you have to kill them first."

Skaha said, staring into my eyes.

…………

“…… But what do Artoria and her Knights of the Round Table explain? Didn't they hold their swords tightly and step into the battlefield to protect thousands of people? I couldn't help but retort.

"Little ghost, no matter how beautified and embellished, the sword can only be a murder weapon, and no one can change that. Even for the sake of saving the suffering people, which sounds so noble, the Knight King and the Knight can only do it by killing the many invaders first. Don't you know that they can't count the number of souls under their swords?! ”

“…… I know...... But that was the price that had to be paid, and under Artoria's command, the casualties had been kept to a minimum...... "I could feel the powerlessness of my words myself.

"Little ghost, it seems that you don't understand how the round table was formed. It's understandable, though. After all, at your age, it's too hard to figure it out. Skaha patted me on the shoulder, "To put it simply, from the first day of following the Knight King, the knights understood that they were on a criminal path, constantly sacrificing many innocent lives in the name of protecting the country and the people. And as we move forward, this sin will only get deeper. Those who can't stand it keep leaving, and those who are determined to stay and bear the karma of sin are constantly being tested. In the end, they did not choose to escape, and a group of knights who committed the worst sins remained with the king and were named Knights of the Round Table. ”

"So, the Knight of the Round Table, to which you speak, is the one who knows best how great the sin he has committed. This is also the reason why they can sacrifice themselves and even sacrifice themselves for the sake of their country without limits. Skaha's voice was tinged with sadness, "All their lives, they've been trying to atone for their sins." ”

…………

“……”

I remembered that Artoria had repeatedly told me how heavy her sins were.

At that time, I understood that she had sacrificed many lives in the name of the king, so I blamed myself. It's sympathetic, but if it were me, there would have been a better way.

But now, according to Skaha, it was clearly fatalistic.

Selfishness protects oneself and all that is dear, and for this it can ruthlessly wipe out all threats.

In order to save, one can only keep killing.

…………

"Don't you think it's cruel, isn't there a way to get the best of both worlds or something?" As if completely seeing through my thoughts, Skaha continued, "Unfortunately, if there were, the world wouldn't be what it is. Human nature is like this, don't talk about you and me, even the gods can't change it. ”

"Even if you can't change it, at least you can choose who you will bear the karma of." Taking a deep breath, I looked up at Skaha.

"So, you've finally made up your mind." Skaha smiled.

…………

I didn't speak, but bent down and plunged the tip of my sword straight into the chest of the soldier lying on the ground.

With a blank look, the soldier's body let out a soft sound, and it quickly dissipated into magic in this space.

If Artoria can be freed from sin, then I am willing to bear it a hundred times for her.

Expressionless, I swung my sword at the second soldier.

…………

"The stabbing in the throat just now is a little more decisive!"

"Don't hesitate to puncture the heart and stir it again!"

Skaha stood aside indifferently, occasionally making a few succinct remarks to me.

…………

Soon—

Not a single soldier was standing in the square anymore.

They all disappeared under my deadly attack.

…………

"Really, a few more people, let me master the last move." I complained.

With the change of mood, I also figured it out.

Anyway, it's not a real life at all, so it's good to use it as a magic consumable.

Besides, the war with the Saxons was not completely over, and Britain was now only on the defensive under the offensive of the other side. The final showdown is yet to come.

It's not hard to imagine that I'll be going to battle with Artoria soon.

…………

It must not be until then, because a soft-hearted man like today's would cause trouble for Artoria.

At the very least, it is necessary to take the life of the opponent without mercy.

I had insisted on it before, and I wanted everyone to be safe, so let it go.

Now that you have chosen to advance and retreat with Artoria, this is the only option at this stage.

…………

"That's all for today, the impact of this action on your soul is unprecedented, and it will be too much to continue." Skaha shook his head slowly, "You have forcibly closed your heart now to appear so casual. There's still plenty of time, so go back and try to get some sleep, and if you can do it, we'll continue tomorrow. ”