Artoria POV: Her one dream come to an end

It's been days since she was summoned to this world while remembering her eternal rest underneath the tree as Bedivere, her most loyal knight return the Excalibur to the Lady of the lake.

(When I think about it, only regret was left behind when I reign on Britain)

Artoria thought with regret as she and Jin started exploring the lower floor dungeon together next to the 18th floor, while magic stone littered the ground.

"What's the problem Artoria? you look so sad?"

Her master said to her looking concerned, making her ashamed as her master started looking worried at her.

"Nothing master, it might be good to take a break"

Artoria said evasively while Jin was looking at her suspiciously.

"Well that's true, we must not push ourselves too hard, also Esdeath and Tsukiumi were exploring together apart from us"

Jin and Esdeath decided to split their group so that they can maximize the difficulty of their training, much to the protest of Tsukiumi as she was partnered with Esdeath.

"Master no longer needs to be worried about them, even though Tsukiumi and Esdeath always disagree with each other but I think they have a good compatibility, they just had a conflict of interest because of you master"

Artoria said to her master seriously, while her master looked worried about her other companions.

"Well that was true, more importantly, I'm going to bring our food, let's us eat"

Said Jin as he started to produce their food behind his small backpack that they brought to the surface.

"Master's food was always amazing"

Said Artoria sparklingly as she started wolfing down the food that Jin makes on their adventure, making Jin smile wryly.

(It looks like she's no different from Artoria I know from fate/stay night)

Jin thought as he also started to eat his portion while looking bewildered as his food was reduced mysterious when he distributed it equally, then looked up at Artoria with a twitch in his eye.

...

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"Then what's on your mind earlier?"

Jin asked Artoria as he look at her with a gentle expression after they finish their meal.

"..."

"It would feel good if you talk about it with someone"

Jin continued to ask Artoria, making her sigh in resignation, and tells him what was on her mind.

"My regrets on Britain and my knights, but thanks to you master that kind of thing no longer happens"

Artoria answers her master seriously, making Jin smile at her.

"Your choices on those days were not mistaken"

Jin answers her making Artoria stiffen as he knows what's on her mind.

"First of all, I do not think anyone could do better than you and could handle that dark age when I think about it"

"Stil--"

"Then let me ask you, do you think saving everyone while sacrificing someone is a mistake? it might be wrong or not the right answer but I think there's no mistake in doing what your think is right"

"..."

"That was the same as your question, there might be regrets about some of your decision, but as long you achieve something, that was good enough"

"..."

Jin looked at Artoria's eyes as he could see some hesitations in her eyes.

"Your dream of becoming the ideal king was not a mistake"

"!"

Artoria suddenly remembers her young self drawing the sword of selection.

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A young man who looks like a caster and a young woman surround a majestic sword while grasses dance with the sunset.

"You should think about things carefully before you take that"

The caster said to the young woman.

"The moment you pull out that sword, you'll stop being human"

"Nope, I'll do it, as a lot of people we're smiling"

"..."

"There's no way this path is a mistake"

Said the young woman with conviction as she pulled the sword on the stone.

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(No matter what, my younger self would always draw that sword is that what you mean?)

"Just think of your dream coming to an end, well it might not be matter as those things no longer happen"

Jin said to her one last time as he answer her question that she's been asking herself since then, based on his memory, as he started to prepare for the continuation of their exploration.

(Master just who you?)

Artoria thought as her long doubt and question that plagued her mind a long time ago were answered by her master mysteriously.

(Maybe, answering his summon was the right choice)

Artoria thought as she was more determined to serve her master, while they continued to explore the dungeon with a much more ambiance atmosphere.