Chapter 73 - Party vs Pellinore


As the golden light faded from the room, and the once-sick child slowly got up in amazement, Jaune took a moment to carefully look him over.

Good, there didn't seem to be long-term effects from having been confined to bed for a few days, though the child was definitely too skinny for his liking.

That was concerning.

His Aura couldn't cure diseases fully, after all; it could only relieve the symptoms and heal the body (ideally, back to a state where it could naturally fight the sickness off by itself).

"The boy needs a few days of rest, as well as some light meals and water." Jaune instructed, turning back to the villagers, who were fortunately too shocked by the miraculous recovery to have fallen to their feet (as had happened in the last town, much to his confusion and embarrassment). "And make sure the water is clean! His illness could return if you're not careful!"

As Jaune pulled out his well-used copy of the Wasteland Survival Guide, and began flipping to the pages on sanitation and hygiene, the Knights of the Round Table observed from the sides wordlessly.

Finally, Sir Kay commented: "So... Arthur... you've never mentioned that your familiar is a dragon slayer, a demon slayer, a cook, and a worker of miracles..."

"It's Jaune, after all." Artoria shrugged in resignation, having grown inured to her familiar's quirks in the two months they'd begun adventuring together.

She still didn't understand what "germs" or "nutrients" were, but his advice was undeniably effective, and the livelihoods of her subjects had only flourished as he'd spread his teachings from village to village, and they'd begun doing things setting up proper latrines instead of tossing shit out of the window and running their water through odd devices of sand and gravel before heating the result.

And while it was too soon to tell, she felt confident that Jaune's suggestion of dividing the fields into three and planting legumes in one, grains in another, and leaving the third fallow, and rotating the fields each year. would pay dividends in the future, if only because of her growing faith and admiration in her familiar, who was an ideal Knight-Errant without even being a Knight.

(Unbeknownst to her, he had initially wanted to suggest a four-field rotation, but his lack of knowledge about the plants and livestock in this new world had forced him to compromise and use a bastardized cross between what he'd known from Ansel and what he'd learned from the Boomers.)

"Admittedly, though, him being able to heal with a touch is something I didn't know about." Artoria added, reluctantly conceding the point to her foster brother.

"I find it unlikely that your familiar is fated to become a "divine chef in Heaven", Arthur." Merlin cut in, knowing what she was thinking even as he continued to mentally dissect his observations of Jaune's newly-revealed ability, trying to see how it functioned. Jaune had explained that he had "Aura" and not "Od", but Merlin could still see little difference, except perhaps that Aura seemed far more specialized than Od.

Artoria's cheeks burned, but she defended herself: "It is a reasonable deduction, Merlin! Perhaps he will be required to procure any requested ingredients personally in the future!"

Merlin and Kay shared an amused look, the Magus privately doubting that Alaya even partook in meals, let alone being so frivolous in expending her power that she'd have turned the unlucky boy into a Counter Garden just so she could sample dragon steak and roasted demon, but he simply hummed, wisely keeping his silence.

Kay held no such reservations, though, and prepared to tease his younger sister over her fanciful ideas.

Before he could, however, their last remaining member finally returned to them, looking at the happy villagers with a small smile of satisfaction on his face.

No matter how many battles he may have fought, no matter how many beasts he may have faced, in the end, Jaune found more satisfaction in seeing the looks of hope and relief of the people he'd helped.

"Hey guys." Jaune called out cheerfully. "I'm done!"

"Welcome back, Jaune." Artoria nodded with a smile. "Shall we continue our journey north, through the Kingdom of Listenoise?"

"Or have the good villagers forced another mountain of goods upon us as an offering of tribute?" Kay remarked wryly, only half-joking.

"... they tried, but I convinced them to keep most of it for themselves." Jaune admitted sheepishly. Seriously, it wasn't his fault the villagers were just so grateful that someone was willing to help, in the current era of chaos. "They did force me to at least accept a fattened calf, though, so it looks like meat's on the menu tonight."

Kay chuckled at Jaune's words, which only developed into a roar of laughter as he spotted Artoria's eyes sparkling, and drool pouring out of her mouth.

Behold, the Heir of the High King, the Red Dragon of Britain.

Slapping Artoria on the back (and snapping her back to reality), he cheered: "Truly, Arthur has been blessed with a familiar that understands his heart well!"

"Kay..." Artoria groaned, fighting down the rising heat on her cheeks, trying to maintain her dignity as a King and Master by being more mature than her elder brother.

Unfortunately, her attempts to do so were ruined when Jaune laughed as well, and added with a wink: "Well, it's my job, after all. Don't worry, Arthur, I can at least guarantee the taste."

"Jaune!" Artoria wailed, pouting at her familiar over his sudden betrayal. Honestly, what did he think she was? Folding her arms over her chest, she huffed: "I can go a day without your food, you know."

"Oh?" A mischievous glint entered Sir Kay's eyes, sending shivers down her spine. "Shall we put that to the test, then?"

"It's fine, it's fine." Artoria hastily backtracked. "The Lord's Prayer says to put us not to the test, after all."

"I'm sure he could, Kay, but we've all worked hard today." Jaune interceded soothingly, deciding to spare Arthur from any further teasing.

"Exactly." Artoria nodded frantically, seizing the lifeline desperately. "Hunger is the enemy, right, Merlin?"

"... oh, sorry, did you say something?" Merlin asked, turning away from a comely young villager to look back at them. "Whatever it was, I completely agree."

Artoria simply sighed while Jaune laughed awkwardly and Kay rolled his eyes. While the two siblings had had years to get used to Merlin's womanizing ways, Jaune had no idea how to react to it.

A part of him was envious of the attractive half-incubus, though, considering his lack of personal experience with unrelated women and relationships, and Merlin naturally picked up on it.

Grinning at Jaune, he offered: "Oh? Would the familiar (with more partners than I can count on one hand) like a few lessons?"

"Um... I'll have to pass for tonight." Jaune replied nervously, feeling a gaze boring into him. "Arthur will probably have my head if he's not fed."

Merlin chuckled over Artoria's protests, and reminded him: "Well, then, don't let me stop you from setting up camp. I'll meet you at the clearing by the lake tomorrow morning."

The three chose not to respond as Merlin sauntered up to the village girl, flowers booming in his wake, before pulling a red rose out of his hood and offering it to the giggling villager.

As she gave him a wink and led him away, Kay finally remarked: "His womanizing will be his downfall some day, mark my words."

"Arthur, whatever you do, make sure you don't learn that from Merlin." Jaune added in a serious tone, kneeling down in front of Arthur and looking him in the eyes.

"Somehow, I don't think that will be a problem..." Kay murmured, as an embarrassed Artoria choked and failed to meet Jaune's eyes.

Later that night, as Artoria finished off her fourth helping of cow, and Kay demonstrated to Jaune how most knights in Britain held their stances and fought, the crackling of the campfire and the smell of sizzling meat being roasted brought a newcomer to their camp.

A maimed King, weary from his bloodline's endless quest, had been passing through his lands when his nose detected a smell most sublime.

Even as his mouth watered, though, his lip curled, for he knew what else the aroma could attract.

He had to warn the fools who'd dared spend the night in these forests of the danger of the Questing Beast, he reasoned as he made haste, following his senses.

And, for his troubles, would he perhaps not be entitled to partake in the feast of his vassals and subjects as well?

Descended from Joseph of Arimathea as he was, even King Pellinore would not deny that he was a mere human, enduring doubts and temptations as well.

After all, that was what got him his wound.

As he cautiously entered the clearing, making sure to make as much noise as possible in order to not spook its occupants, he spotted two men in armor practicing swordsmanship, and a young boy with long hair tied into a bun noisily enjoy a cut of cow.

Two Knights and their Squire, perhaps?

Well, it didn't matter.

"Hail, travelers, and heed my warning!" Pellinore began, bringing his mount to a stop. "This land is plagued by a monster most foul! The Questing Beast stalks these woods, preying on unwitting travelers!"

"... your words will be heeded, fellow Knight." Kay finally said, as the three digested this information. "Who have we to thank, for this timely warning? And what manner of beast do you speak of?"

"I am King Pellinore, of the Kingdom of Listenoise." Pellinore introduced himself, pleased to see he wasn't being met with the usual skepticism and disbelief. "And the Questing Beast is... well, tis not a creature of this world, to put it lightly. It has the head and neck of a serpent, the body of a leopard, the haunches of a lion, and the feet of a hart.

"But the most terrifying thing about it, that which gives it its name, is the great noise it makes from its belly, like thirty hounds questing. To hear such a sound behind you, as it chases you into the woods... many a man, strong in heart, had their confidence broken as the barks of the hounds closed in around them like a cornered hare."

The members of the Round Table exchanged looks at that. To Kay and Artoria, it all sounded like the fantasies of a man who'd had too much ale... but they'd seen the One-Armed Giant, and knew just how much mysteries the world still had.

Jaune, on the other hand, having fought Grimm, demons, and the mutated wildlife of the Wasteland, saw nothing too odd about the description. At least it didn't have two heads and foot-long claws...

Eventually, Kay spoke up: "Thank you for the description, King Pellinore. Is there anything that this humble party can do to repay you?"

"I would not be averse to partaking in your meal." Pellinore laughed, as subtle as a sledgehammer.

Artoria instinctively guarded her portion of food as the king's eyes wandered over it.

Kay fought down a snicker at her reaction, but before he could suggest the two joust over the last piece of meat (a friendly duel, of course, to give Artoria more experience and allow them to get a measure of Pellinore's skill at the same time), Jaune ruined his plans by sighing and carving off a few more pieces of meat, before skewering and seasoning them.

"That sounds fair." Jaune consented to his suggestion easily, ignoring the way Artoria's face fell. "It's not like we could eat a whole calf anyway."

"I'm sure Arthur could..." Kay murmured, as Artoria glared at him.

"A whole calf?" Pellinore's eyes widened in surprise. "Was there an occasion?"

"Ah, well... a village we visited gave us a calf after we helped them out." Jaune explained sheepishly.

"Truly? It must have been assistance of great import, if they gave you a whole animal!" Pellinore exclaimed. "On behalf of my subjects, I thank you for your aid, noble knights. Would you grace me with your names?"

"I am Sir Kay of Sutton, son of Sir Ector." Kay began the introductions. "The man tending to the fire is Sir Jaune, and the boy enjoying the meal is Arthur, the Rightful High King of the Britons. Together with the Wizard Merlin, we form the Knights of the Round Table."

Pellinore's jaw hit the ground.

Even as far north as Listenoise was, news had spread of the drawing of Caliburn and the Felling of the One-Armed Giant during the Joust of Selection by the Boy-King. And while the name of their order wasn't as wide-spread, the Knights of the Round Table were, according to the villages that had been blessed by their presence, miracle workers whose teachings rejuvenated the land and healed the sick (though little else would be expected of the Magus of Flowers and the Rightful Heir of Uther Pendragon).

"May... may I...?" Pellinore began hesitantly, apprehensively. "May I see the Sword of Selection?"

Artoria obliged his request with a gentle smile, unsheathing Caliburn.

Pellinore fell to his knees as he beheld the Golden Light of the Holy Sword. When he'd been younger, he'd seen the Grail in person, and could feel the same presence from it as he could from the Sword of Selection.

"My king..." Pellinore murmured dumbly, eyes watering, as a decade of doubts and disbelief were cleared in that single moment.

Like many nobles and knights in the north and west, his beliefs had been eroded after the death of Uther Pendragon, as disaster after disaster had plagued the country, and the Picts and the Saxons had pushed the Britons back with each passing season.

In fact, it had been that desperation and cynicism that had caused him and his brother to doubt the Grail and forsake their duty, a transgression for which they had been punished for (even now, his brother could do little else but fish from a small boat by the river of Corbenic), and their subjects subsequently so, as the lands had grown barren and sterile after their maiming by the holy lance.

But now, all of a sudden, things had changed.

The Heir of Uther Pendragon had revealed himself.

The Sword in the Stone had been pulled.

The Rightful High King was on the move, helping his subjects along with his loyal knights, and gathering followers.

"My Liege!" Pellinore's voice boomed, strong and steady this time, as hope burned bright within him. The Lord had not forsaken their country! "I, Sir Pellinore of Listenoise, do swear my fealty to you!"

"..." Artoria stared blankly at him, taking a moment to process what on earth had just happened, before quickly choking in shock.

A vassal?

This early?

And he was a king too?

Then, to the side, she noticed Jaune and Kay nodding, and so she tried to respond to his words: "Uh... ahem... I humbly accept your pledge. Rise, King Pellinore."

"This would call for a feast, my liege." Pellinore answered enthusiastically as he complied, before his face fell. "Unfortunately, my bloodline has sworn an oath, to end the threat of the Questing Beast, and I cannot simply abandon it at the moment."

""..."" Kay and Artoria wordlessly turned to Jaune, who simply sighed as he registered their looks, and a sense of foreboding overtook him.

-EIGHT HOURS LATER-

"..." Artoria fought to keep her breathing shallow, as she lay by the side of the riverbank, hidden in the reeds with Kay and Pellinore.

"Oh, don't be such a baby, Arthur." Kay teased quietly beside her, though even he was breathing through his mouth, trying to ignore the stench. "You should be used to this, considering how much time you spent wrestling with the pigs."

"Even the filthiest swine has nothing on the fewmets of the Questing Beast, young Knight." Pellinore cut in sympathetically, as Artoria tried to kill Kay by glaring at him. "Now keep your peace, lest our efforts be for naught."

""..."" The tension in the air grew, as the silence stretched on.

Artoria grew nervous, as she cautiously spied on her familiar, who whistled loudly in the clearing as he continued to cook, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings.

Doubts began to grow in her head.

What if it didn't work?

What if the Questing Beast still smelt them, despite them spending three hours washing in the nearby stream, before smearing the droppings that Pellnore had collected from tracking it all over their armor?

What if it turned out to be stronger than the One-Armed Giant?

A warm hand gripped her shoulder comfortingly, and she turned as Kay soothingly whispered: "Don't worry about your familiar, Arthur. The Questing Beast is just a beast, while Jaune is a Huntsman of demons and dragons. I'm sure he'll be fine."

Artoria forced herself to take a deep breath, before almost gagging at the stench surrounding her.

Her brother was right, after all. Her familiar was strong, and had insisted that he serve as bait to lure out the Beast.

She doubted that he'd do anything insane, with all the experience he had.

The sounds of a great hound barking filled the air.

Then another, and another.

One turned to two turned to three turned to thirty.

A twig snapped.

Jaune didn't look up from the fire, though Artoria could see his back stiffening.

Howls and yelps filled the air and surrounded the clearing, making it seem like Huntsman had been cornered by a pack of vicious beasts.

Then, a low hiss.

Light footfalls tapped against the ground, and the branches slowly shifted as a head slithered in the clearing.

Then came the neck, trailing behind the snake as its forked tongue scented the air, lured by the aroma of meat.

Finally, the rest of the body was pulled into the clearing, a large and slender feline body skittering on massive but delicate hooves, as it approved of what it tasted.

There was also a human in the area, but it felt little fear. In fact, it sensed that the human had a fair amount of meat on its bones, and decided it would make a fine appetizer.

Jaune found himself reminded of a Goliath, with the neck of the snake reminding him of its prehensile trunk, as it reared itself up to its full height and towered over him.

Idly, he wondered whether a Goliath could beat a mammoth or a Deathclaw, more to distract himself than anything else.

Four steps.

Oh, right.

He couldn't be too calm; that would definitely tip the creature off that something was wrong.

"Ah." Jaune tried, though he found it hard to inject an appropriate level of fear in his voice. Macabre as the beast was, it wasn't a dragon or a demon, and he found himself struggling to even pretend to be scared. "Oh no."

Dust damn it.

Three steps.

He tried to imagine something scary in place of it.

A Grimm? They were cute and cuddly compared to demons.

Flying through the air? Eh, he'd fallen from basically space racing against a nuke.

Glynda Goodwitch in Combat Class? He had died; school life had nothing on the afterlife.

Two steps.

Giving Nora caffeine?

Eating the last cookie in front of Ruby?

Touching Yang's hair?

Jaune yelped in faux-terror and threw himself back, scrambling away from the Beast. Admittedly, it still wasn't a very good performance, and would have probably only fooled a child, but it was enough for the Beast, which eagerly moved in for the kill.

One step.

Perfect.

Jaune immediately gripped the hilt of his sword, which lay buried in the log next to him, and channeled his Aura into it.

While he definitely did not have "magicka", "Od", "Magical Circuits", or any ability to use magic as Merlin and Arthur understood it, two months of practice with the pair had still managed to help him to figure out a few more neat tricks with his sword.

Flames burst forth from his sword, blazing through the log, before igniting the animal fat that Jaune had meticulously placed in a circle around the spot the beast was now on.

Before the beast could even process that it had been trapped and surrounded, the fire then spread to the frozen twigs they'd covered with leaves, guided by Jaune's Aura and intent, melting the ice holding it in place and leaving behind only thin sticks to support the creature's weight.

As the ground suddenly broke under the Questing Beast's hooves, Artoria dashed forward, rearing her sword back at the signal and chanting: "Sword of Selection, grant me power!"

A dazzling warm light began gathering around the gilded blade, being most intense at its tip where it blazed like a star.

"Cleave the wicked! CALIBURN!"

The golden light flared up, illuminating the entire forest, before erupting forth from sword in a beam of heat and light that struck the lower half of the Questing Beast as it tumbled into the pit.

As the sounds of hounds slowly faded away, and Jaune withdrew his sword, Artoria, Kay, and Pellinore approached, staring in amazement at the smooth execution of the Huntsman's plan.

Pellinore, especially, found himself full of disbelief.

His lineage had sworn to slay the Questing Beast for almost as long as they'd guarded the location of the Grail, after all.

After all the centuries, he'd certainly never thought that it would be he, the Maimed King, who would be the one to finally see an end to their ancient feud, let alone that the deed would be done by a wandering Hunter, in service to the Heir of the Pendragon.

Honestly, even despite having seen it first-hand, he found himself unable to believe it!

Especially that it had been struck by the Holy Blade between its thighs, just like where his brother had been wounded!

His eyes narrowed, as another legend of the Questing Beast suddenly came to mind, after he recalled the location of its wounds.

Something shifted in the darkness of the pit, enchanted by the Witch Queen to be undetected by Artoria's still-maturing Instinct.

Pellinore shoved his liege out of the way as the head of the Questing Beast suddenly shot out of the pit, lashing out at the one who had caused it such hurt.

Where the blow should have struck her in the chest, it instead smacked into Pellinore's shoulder, before continuing on to knock Caliburn away from Artoria, where it flew into the river and was swept away by the currents.

Jaune and Kay wasted no time, with Jaune immediately freezing over the entire pit, and Kay decapitating the head of the Questing Beast, before driving his blade through the creature's skull for good measure.

Pellinore took a moment to gaze into the pit, as Jaune rushed to check on him, and Kay moved to attend to Artoria, who could only stare blankly at her empty hands, dread filling her heart.

So that was the cause for the sounds of hounds from its belly.

After Jaune healed King Pellinore of his injuries (including the one that had earned him the title of the Maimed King), he used his sword to turn the frozen pit into a lake, before sending lightning through it, putting the hellhounds that had spilled out of the Questing Beast's belly to rest, the ones whose bodies it had climbed upon in order to exact its revenge.


Author's Note: Just a short and simple chapter, as the Knights of the Round Table continue their adventures, a beast is slain, and a sword is lot.

I regret ever looking up Arthurian lore... so, Arthur loses Caliburn in a bout with King Pellinore, the seeker of the Questing Beast and Guardian of the Grail, but Artoria loses Caliburn to Morgan's trickery (thanks to Merlin's womanizing)?

... lets toss it all together, and see if it will blend!

And yes, Morgan was also behind Merlin being lured away from the party at the village.

And yes, I'm aware that the Questing Beast's description is basically a giraffe. But eh, I'm playing things straight here.