Gawain: "King Lot, You're Acting Strange"
"After sparing you last time, we are now enemies. Next, I will defeat you and take you captive."
As she spoke, Gawain drew her Sword of the Sun, Excalibur Galatine, readying herself for battle.
Across from her, Male Gawain turned his head toward Fujimaru Ritsuka.
"Master, prepare to supply me with mana. I won't lose to this world's version of myself."
With those words, he, too, drew Excalibur Galatine.
Seeing her male counterpart wield the same holy sword, Gawain was stunned.
"Wait… what is this?" she demanded.
"Didn't I say? I, too, am Gawain," Male Gawain replied.
Then, gripping his sword, he lunged forward, launching an attack against her.
Gawain studied him for a moment before nodding.
"I see. You're the me from another worldline. It seems I can't afford to lose today. If I were defeated by a male version of myself, that would be utterly humiliating."
"I feel the same way," Male Gawain agreed.
Their blades clashed.
It was daytime.
Now was the moment when Gawain's Solar Blessing was active—her strength and abilities tripled.
This overwhelming advantage often turned the tide against her foes.
But…
This was Gawain vs. Gawain.
By the laws of relativity, if both sides were equally enhanced, then neither truly held an advantage.
Thus, when their holy swords collided, the recoil sent tremors through both their arms.
"Seems your strength is no less than mine!" they declared simultaneously.
"Then, it comes down to skill," Male Gawain said confidently.
He had absolute faith in his swordsmanship.
Before arriving here, he had heard that this world's Gawain was barely three years old—even if she had undergone rapid growth, her combat experience would be lacking.
In contrast, Male Gawain had decades of battle-hardened expertise.
He had fought alongside Artoria Pendragon since the beginning—from their battles against Vortigern to their campaigns across the sea into Francia. The countless battles he had weathered over the years were beyond measure.
He was certain his technique far surpassed hers.
And then…
He realized he was wrong.
This female version of himself was no less skilled than he was.
In fact, in some respects, she was even more refined.
What he didn't know was that while this Gawain had less real combat experience, she had been trained by an exceptional mentor—Scáthach. Under her guidance, this Gawain's prowess was anything but lacking.
As the two clashed outside the gates of Camelot, their duel quickly drew attention.
A crowd gathered, watching intently.
"Sir Gawain, we need to retreat!" Mash called out to Male Gawain.
"Understood," he replied.
After exchanging several more blows with his counterpart, he disengaged.
Just then, the soldiers of Camelot arrived.
"Let's go. We'll settle this another time!"
Male Gawain forced his female counterpart back with a sweeping slash, then swiftly retreated.
"Tch. You think you can escape that easily?"
Gawain tried to pursue, but Mash intercepted her, blocking the strike with her shield. Seizing the opportunity, the Chaldea group made their escape.
Gawain clenched her fist in frustration, punching the air.
"Damn it… They got away."
But her anger lasted only a few seconds before her expression shifted into a smirk.
"Though… escaping won't be so simple for you."
Meanwhile, Lot, holding a stool in one hand and a fishing rod over his shoulder, stood frozen as he watched the fleeing Chaldea members.
Mash and Fujimaru Ritsuka were equally stunned.
The two groups stared at each other for several seconds before Ritsuka finally broke the silence.
"Uh… fancy meeting you here!"
"Yeah. Real coincidence," Lot replied flatly.
Ritsuka whispered, "So… can we just leave?"
"Do you really think that's an option?" Lot deadpanned.
"I think it's possible," Mash chimed in.
"You're out of your damn minds," Lot sighed, rolling his eyes.
Then, he drew Joyeuse from behind his back, pointing it at Mash.
At that moment, Male Gawain stepped forward, scrutinizing Lot.
"You… don't seem much like King Lot."
"I'm not King Lot. I'm your father," Lot shot back.
He recognized Gawain instantly—this was his child from another timeline.
He had been waiting to see what Chaldea would pull next, but he hadn't expected them to drag in a Gawain from another worldline.
Meanwhile, Mash, Ritsuka, and Mordred exchanged awkward glances.
They couldn't argue with his statement—technically, he was correct.
But Male Gawain frowned.
"No… that's not right. Your personality is nothing like King Lot's. And yet… your bloodline, your appearance—they're unmistakable."
Mordred might not have noticed, but Gawain had spent years with King Lot. He knew this man's demeanor was completely different from the father he remembered.
Faced with such a contradiction—a face that matched, but a soul that didn't—Gawain fell into deep thought.
[Damn, this Gawain is sharp.]
"Different stories, different lives. Did you really expect me to be the same as the King Lot from your world?" Lot retorted.
But Male Gawain shook his head firmly.
"No. I know my father. He was never this… competent. Beyond his looks, he was utterly useless."
"..."
Lot paused, then smirked.
"Is that so? Then it seems I'm far superior to that other Lot."
He didn't care if people realized he wasn't the same as the original King Lot.
Those who truly knew him understood—he was a transmigrator from the modern world.
His identity was his own.
"Then what are you?" Male Gawain pressed.
"I don't owe you an explanation. In this world, I am King Lot," Lot declared.
Then, his gaze sharpened.
"By the way… I just acquired a new weapon. Care to test it out?"
He grinned at the Chaldea group.