"I am..."

CRASH!

When he was about to say who he is, our ship crashes at something and both of us were shaken, making us lose our balance. The alarm of the Ether Ship starts blaring, a sound that warns us of enemy attack.

It pisses me off when an event like this happens and I am left naive once more, thinking what heck is he going to say!

"You are...?!"

I asked swiftly in hopes to salvage this conversation from the upcoming plot.

"This is not the time for that! Brandish your sword towards the battle!"

"Ughh..."

Why?! Why are you refusing to answer that now just because we had a sudden emergency!? I hate to leave this matter at hand hanging but the emergency comes first!

Fine!

This must be an important plot point but I am going to ignore it for now! If anything happens later, I am not accounted for it, alright! I don't care to know what happens to you, just don't drag Daisy into an extremely perilous situation.

As long as this imposter inside Daisy doesn't show any hostility or dangerous motives, we will proceed as planned.

This is too bitter for me but I just have to swallow it for now.

The door from the dock opened and Merissa, who wheezes from running, bursts into the room we are currently resting in to.

"Well, they were already expecting us!"

"That's a little obvious at this point after hijacking two ether ships. So, what's the situation out there?!"

"We are getting bombarded and the battlefield from afar looks like a real mess! Western District of the Elven Capital is only minutes away from getting breach!"

"Wait just a damn minute! What's happening out there?! How are the twins and Topaz!?"

"It's better if you see the situation for yourself Follow me!"

Merrisa beckoned us to the control room. From the long overhead corridor towards the room where most of Merissa's crew are operating, we arrived with a huff as Merissa starts issuing commands and asking for the status.

"Captain, as you suggested, we have already allocated the ship's reserves for the Ether Shield but at this point, we are going to overload the Ether Point Core of this ship before we could engage in a direct battle."

"We do not know what is this ship capable of doing, together with its cannons and whatnot. Also, the sky doesn't belong to us at this moment, however, maneuver like we are in the sea! Higher our altitude while keeping the Ether Barrier."

As Merissa said that, another crewmate appealed from her orders.

"Captain, are we not fighting?!"

"Foolish, for you to question me is to question my sanity! For me not one to scuffle enemies of this degree! Who do you think I am!"

"Then, captain...! We are going on a riot!?"

"Of course! This ship, on this day on forward, will be called Laffey! We are going to dominate both the sea and the air!"

"As expected of the captain!"

"So, what's the situation!?"

"Oh, yeah!"

The crews scramble around, trying to figure out what's this and what's that since they are nowhere close familiar to this ship. It could be said that they are just starting to familiarize themselves with piloting it.

After a few seconds of running around and figuring out the system, a crew member pushes a panel bringing up a huge holographic monitor in the middle of the control room.

At the monitor, we can already see the state of the war with the magnified view.

"They are now blasting through the battlefield with their massive army of Ether Golems, however, the Ether Ships of the enemy couldn't approach as Casablanca and Hibiscus are blasting the four flying ships from a distance."

Because the twins are aware that Dylan himself can disengage their Divine Ascension, they fight from an annoyingly far distance.

The sun rays from Hibiscus and Emby blazes the Ether Shield. If it doesn't pierce it, it raises the temperature, I am guessing this also a factor to hinder the enemy.

After that, Casablanca floats above them at a higher altitude, using her power to manipulate gravity to slow the four ships consecutively.

I cannot even begin to imagine how much stress it puts their mind into.

From the bottom landscape, I can see the rebel dwarves doing their best to stall the Ether Golems but the most effective stopgap is the bizarrely crooked landscape with earthen spikes, holes on the ground, and huge slabs of rocks filling out the whole place.

It feels like what Topaz would do...

No, of course, it was Topaz! But I don't see her anywhere...

From the top of the Western District Wall, the array of elves are casting support magic to the rebel dwarves so they can hold on, however, the numbers of the Ether Golem and the enemy Dwarves are astounding.

There are probably five hundred elves gathered in the whole place while we only have one hundred rebel dwarves.

The enemy? Probably around two thousand, plus the hundred of Ether Golem that deflects any magic attack!

As I was astounded by the sight of the war, where dead bodies gradually pile up from both sides, the fake Arthur spoke.

"Our forces are commendable for holding out for such a dragging fight, however, it's a conclusive battle already. If twins of high spirits aren't there, the whole place would have collapsed already."

"Yeah...Even If we join the fray now, these two Ether Ships that we have will only be intercepted by the enemy ships."

"That's why...this is...the perfect time to do it."

"...Perfect time?"

"Merlin, I think it is time for me to do my final duty."

As he spoke, the whole place is immediately filled with glitters and bright light envelops the place. A surge of high-quality magical energy brushes my skin and I felt shivers.

After three seconds of blindness, what appeared in front of us is none other than the one trusted by King Arthur as his councilor, Merlin.

As he showed, he immediately got to his knees in front of the fake Arthur.

"I believe it is, my liege."

"Enough of that, Merlin. You know well that this farce will not go well and is already exposed."

"But you still have my liege's will, as such, you are still him."

"I only have his will, I am not him. But yes, I believe it I enough to even gather the entirety of the Knight of the Round Table."

"Wait a damn minute!"

I intervene as somehow, I felt offended as they talk on their own. They talk about the identity that I unveiled myself but I still don't know who this person is and it pissed me off!

I am not going to let this drag any further!

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"I need answers, you and Merlin! Tell me what in the world is happening here?!"

I am truly infuriated by this situation that I felt that I speak too loudly and angrily but I cannot help myself from not doing it.

I am no longer playing this game of charade. We have already piled too much problem, I do not want this one hanging around too!

Merlin stood up and faces me with a smile as if I am a child throwing a tantrum.

"My deepest apologies, Asagao. I know well that you are only concerned for the host's wellbeing and you are under so much stress right now."

"Do not play with words with me anymore! Don't go in circles anymore!"

"Yes, in the face of a maiden who is in an outburst, even my tongue twisted in trickery shall become honest."

Merlin bow at me and the fake Arthur did the same as if they are apologizing.

"I am not the renowned King Arthur Pendragon, however, I am the most familiar and the closest to his liege."

The fake Arthur spoke with a voice dignified and pure.

"I am none other than Excalibur itself, the holy sword that brought great victory to King Arthur Pendragon and was created by the Fairy of the Lake."

"......"

"I am carrying his will since he has long submitted himself to the land he never reached before when he was alive, Avalon. However, the Knights of the Round Table seeks vengeance, repercussion, or at the very least, a chance for redemption."

"......"

"Merlin and I found a chance and maybe, at some point in this battle, we may find that. As such I am willing to lend a hand and give every ounce of my power to the host I inhabited."

"......"

"I am certain that this is not what my, the host Miss Daisy, wanted but I cannot go on without paying a price. That's why I am going to keep borrowing this body until my consciousness fades."

Well...what should I say...?

What a drag!

Was there any point in hiding your true identity, in any case, at any at all?!

No...

I am not someone who should be making this kind of talk. I had my fair share of lying and hiding my own identity, I shouldn't be too hasty with my judgment and think thoroughly of their circumstances.

I shouldn't even have to force them to tell me anything as long as I know they don't have any ill intentions. I should have already learned my lessons from the past and shouldn't let impatience get the best of me.

I think I have to admit it to myself...

I am not fine and I am noticing the fatigue dulling my judgment and decisions. I am not the only one, everyone is stressed.

However, I should learn to acknowledge mine and cope.

"I am sorry for forcing you to say it. I am not at the best of my temperament. I admit, it was giving me all sorts of stops to think about your situation and it does make me feel uncomfortable being naive."

"You are going in a battle with your back left to a person you do not know of, of course, that's a cause for concern. You do not need to apologize, but I see you have a fair share of experience to conclude it with an apology."

"I am still, and extremely, immature and weak-willed in some situations, however, I shouldn't forget a clear and concise judgment of the situation as my master taught me. I should show compassion and kindness to anyone, as I learned from my mother. Finally, to break out from being narrow-minded taught to me by my friends."

"It's a virtue befitting of you, indeed."

I can feel my mind clearing after wording the experiences and things that I should keep in my heart.

I admit, it's a bit cringy but alas, it is a virtue I want to uphold.

Suddenly, from my right, Merissa raised her hand and starts pummeling my head with pats, truly making a mess out of my hair!

"Eh--What?!"

"Oh, Gao! You ball of fluff and kindness! I got embarrassed when you started talking like that!"

"S-Shut up, you!"

Merlin and King Arthur... I mean Excalibur, starts copying Merissa and joined in messing with me.

"As expected of you, you are truly an interesting being!"

"That's Asagao for you, truly a rival fitting for me, I guess!"

That was not Excalibur controlling right now, it's Daisy!

"Daisy?!"

"Hnn? What?"

"Where's Excalibur?"

"He freely switched with me."

"Ah, I see...no! Since when can you freely switch with him?"

"Well, you and everyone seems more enthusiastic and reliant on his power...so I just have to give in, don't I?"

"Yes, that's the truth."

I answered bluntly.

There was nothing to hide from her at this point.

Even she knew what is Excalibur is capable of doing and we need that kind of strength right now.

"I'd be angry if you didn't answer honestly! Really, I am still weak after all the boasting I've done. Hearing you talk earlier made me realize my immaturity, but, I am still frightened by an existence inside of me."

"Daisy...that's something I cannot blame you if anything. I'd be damned scared if a spirit of a holy sword resides inside of you."

"...Wait, so...like...he is not a person...but a sword...talking...?"

"Yeah..."

"Weird..."

"I know..."

"This isn't the time for that! I'm going to give the control back to that guy...or thing...!"

After that, Daisy switches with Excalibur again. At the same time, Merissa taps my shoulder and beckons me to look at the holographic screen.

"The Ether Ship the Ferd pilots have gained the enemy's attention. It's time we drop you two off to the battlefield. Seemingly that this wizard here cooked up a plan, I am more confident now."

"Oh my, I am flattered. Indeed, with what I have right now, I can bring a whole new terror towards the foes."

"Imma plug a wrench on your ass if you screw up and get everyone in trouble."

"I'll take an extremely serious note of that."

As Merissa said, the four Ether Ships that Casablanca and Hibiscus painstakingly slow down start barraging Ferd's ship with volleys of cannons, letting us freely maneuver above the Western District.

Directly beneath us is the heart of the war where the rebelling dwarves and elves defending the wall from the invading dwarves.

It's time to start this battle...

"Asagao, before you go, wear this!"

"Eh...this is...a headpiece?"

Merissa gave me, as I mentioned, a headpiece. The one with a loop that arches on your ear and plugs directly on your earhole. Basically, it's a communicating device, well of course, for communicating long distance.

I am quite impressed that Merissa found the time to prepare this for me.

"I only found one. I'll contact you with that. I will leave the tides of the battle in your hands. We will give you updates from our view and fire support. Heck, we are still figuring out how to use those said fire support!"

"I feel like you'd be doing us danger than support..."

"Don't say it like that! If that happens, it's an honest mistake!"

"Well, fine..."

I put on the headpiece and Merissa smiles.

"Go on now, you brat! I want to hear more sassy quotes from you in the future."

"Don't call it quotes! But you bet we'll be seeing each other a lot after this!"

I turn around and quickly walk towards Excalibur and Merlin who are waiting on the hatch. I am guessing this is another free-fall landing.

This is not good for my heart.

"So, uh...any plans, Merlin?"

"Hmm?"

"Well, we are going to a battle where we are greatly outnumbered."

"Yes, it's quite a trouble, right? Right? But, as I said earlier, I have a plan and this plan has been cooked overnight."

"...Does it has anything to do about draining divine energy from me?"

"You catch on quickly. It has since it was basically what I need for replacing mana of the fairies from our world, however, yours is the best quality."

"Then, what are you going to do with it?"

"We will fight quantity with quality. We are going to bring out people who are better warriors than our enemy to overpower them."

"I don't quite get it but sounds like a plan to me. What army are you trying to pull here?"

"You should know by now..."

"...?"

"Of course, I am going to call forth all of the members of the Knight of the Round Table."

This war will be absurd...

No...everything I am involved with is absurd at this point...