Typemoon: Starting Out as the Lion King's Personal Knight

"Alright... Nitocris, have Chaldea bring water and food. We desert folk never turn our backs on guests from afar. We understand the hardships of long journeys and are always willing to provide aid.

 Sir Alaric, if this is your choice, then let Chaldea witness the cruelty of this world. When you are ready, and if you wish to claim my head, return to the temple.

 As the Pharaoh who rules over all, the tyrant of the land, I will grant you one more chance—"

Ozymandias spoke solemnly, his kingly authority unmistakable,

"But! If you lack the strength to face this reality, then the time will come when I shall fully seize control of all that lies beneath the sun and bring this world to ruin!"

"Rest assured, King Ozymandias—"

Alaric, unflinching, met Ozymandias' piercing gaze with resolve.

"I will deliver the answer you seek."

...

Moments Later, Outside the Grand Temple.

"Thank you so much!"

Mash beamed with joy as she received ample supplies of food and water from Nitocris. Having endured the grueling sand sea, she better understood the value of these resources in such an unforgiving singularity.

Considering Fujimaru's condition, which could not tolerate prolonged hunger, their importance was magnified. King Ozymandias' generosity in providing these supplies brought even more joy to Mash's expression.

Beside her, Fujimaru Ritsuka also smiled warmly and joined in the gratitude,

"Miss Nitocris, you've gone out of your way—not just food and water, but also building materials for us to use!"

"It's nothing," Nitocris replied with a gentler expression than before. "Although the king is stern, he is magnanimous toward the brave. Perhaps the Pharaoh even admires you all. Especially you, Fujimaru Ritsuka. Maybe it's your aura or the sense of gentleness you exude—it's almost like that of a friend of the Pharaoh."

Nitocris' once stern demeanor softened as she regarded Fujimaru Ritsuka with approval.

"Acknowledged by the Pharaoh means being acknowledged by me as well," Nitocris said warmly.

"Miss Nitocris, is something the matter?"

Noticing her gaze, Alaric turned his head and smiled when their eyes met.

"Or is there something you'd like to tell me?"

"Hmph—"

Nitocris, who had seemed ready to engage further with Fujimaru and the others, suddenly turned away and left.

"She left on a Sphinx!"

Mash muttered, watching Nitocris' distant figure astride the mythical beast.

"King Ozymandias sure has a lot of Sphinxes," Fujimaru remarked with amazement.

"I'm so jealous. I want to ride a Sphinx too," chimed in Leonardo da Vinci, seamlessly joining the conversation.

Fujimaru turned, intrigued,

"Da Vinci, what were you doing earlier? It sounded like you were making quite a commotion."

Throughout the exchange, Da Vinci had been preoccupied outside the team, busy with something that involved continuous loud hammering sounds.

"Good question!"

Seizing the opportunity, Da Vinci enthusiastically pulled Fujimaru and the others around to reveal a peculiar vehicle standing behind her.

"Ta-da! Behold the Da Vinci Special: the Desert Mobile—Pterygoid Sphinx!

Built with the timber we got from King Ozymandias, it's a cutting-edge, magic-powered, all-terrain vehicle!"

Da Vinci proudly introduced her invention.

"Considering the upcoming long trek across the Pharaoh's domain, I figured we'd need something to conserve energy. Egypt is vast, after all."

"Wow, so this is Miss Da Vinci's ingenuity," Alaric said, clearly impressed as he inspected the vehicle. He had watched Da Vinci construct it from scratch and marveled at her unparalleled craftsmanship.

"No wonder she's called a universal genius. This is practically an all-terrain vehicle! In the 13th century, it'd be considered an out-of-place artifact!"

Mash exclaimed in amazement. Fujimaru nodded in agreement,

"Da Vinci, you're truly incredible!"

"Even though it's made of wood, it functions just fine! Powered by magic, its top speed is only about 60 kilometers per hour, so please bear with me," Da Vinci explained.

For Fujimaru and Mash, this was their first time witnessing Da Vinci's genius up close, and her talents left a deep impression.

"And that's not all! Presenting the Da Vinci Special Desert Gear!"

From the vehicle, Da Vinci pulled out wooden goggles and handed them out.

"Fujimaru may have Mystic Codes, but I thought staying stylish is important too!"

Having introduced her tools, Da Vinci confidently hopped into the driver's seat.

"Da Vinci, do you even need a license to drive this?"

Mash asked nervously, recalling that operating vehicles required proper certification.

"Relax. It may look like a car, but it's a bicycle!"

Da Vinci laughed.

"Come on, everyone! Say goodbye to tiring treks. Our destination is 100 kilometers east—Jerusalem, the Holy Land!"

Once everyone was aboard, Da Vinci hit the gas.

Vroom!

The vehicle surged forward, and Alaric momentarily feared it might fall apart.

...

Beep beep—!

An alert blared.

"Senpai, enemy units approaching! No, wait—we're approaching them!"

Mash called out urgently.

"Up ahead? I'll speed up, Mash!"

Da Vinci gripped the steering wheel confidently, pressing the pedal decisively. As the Pterygoid Sphinx roared, Alaric and Fujimaru felt the powerful acceleration pinning them to their seats.

"What… is that?"

After hours in the Sixth Singularity, Fujimaru and Mash were confronted with the world's true cruelty.

Amid the endless yellow sands, figures huddled together, consuming a single person.

When Mash recognized what they were eating, her eyes widened in shock. Without waiting for Fujimaru's command, she instinctively raised her massive shield and charged forward.

"You—what are you doing?!"

Her furious shout cut through the sandstorm, drawing the creatures' attention. Blood-covered faces turned toward her, quickly obscured by swirling sands.

Fujimaru, pale but silent, turned to Alaric for an explanation.

"Sir Alaric, what are they?"

"Refugees," Alaric answered calmly, brushing sand off his goggles. "People who lost their homes, land, and everything they relied on. Forced into Ozymandias' domain but unable to enter the sacred city under the Sphinxes' watch. Their only option was to survive like this, even if it meant becoming akin to ghouls."

In the aftermath of Mash's righteous charge, the grotesque creatures lay scattered. She stood protectively before Fujimaru and Alaric, her shield raised against the harsh reality before them.