"Regarding this mission, no matter how much you two hate me, you must follow my instructions~!"
Merlin grinned with a disturbing amount of joy, as if he had just recalled something particularly delicious.
After all, forcing knights who normally despise him to swallow their pride and obey his every command—for the sake of the king and Britain—while making grimacing faces but following orders dutifully… wasn't this exactly the joy Merlin pursued?
Just imagining the scene made his body tremble with excitement.
Ah… truly, the kind of delight that only a nightmare demon could appreciate.
"Shut up, you damn pervert!"
"What a tragic mission…"
The two knights grumbled in their own ways but didn't disobey.
Merlin was, after all, the one most familiar with this kind of terrain. And the two of them—knights by oath—knew well that acting recklessly here would only backfire. So, despite their distaste, they made completing the mission their highest priority.
…Still—
Wasn't Kay's expression just a bit too scary?
Merlin's heart skipped a beat. He briefly entertained the illusion that Kay might actually devour him whole in a fit of rage.
Surely not. No matter how angry, humans can't eat nightmares… right?
Yes, yes. It must be an illusion.
…But even as an illusion, it was terrifying!
"Ahem~ Lord Kay, do you know why our king sent you with me, rather than Lady Skadi, who's more specialized in dealing with giant beasts?"
"I don't need your useless commentary," Kay said gruffly. "I already know. Even though the red dragon's soul has long since departed, its corpse alone—being the pinnacle of fantasy species—is enough to become a deadly threat. The lingering resentment alone could crush a knight. Skadi may be strong, but she's not suited for fighting spirits. That's why I was chosen."
"Correct! Sir Kay will be the spearhead of this operation, drawing as much firepower as possible. Sir Tristan will provide long-range support with his famed archery." Merlin's voice relaxed, clearly pleased.
As expected. Those who adore our king can't possibly be bad people. That's such a relief~.
"I'll do all I can to atone for my sins… but please don't put too much faith in me." Tristan's voice was low, tinged with self-loathing. "A man like me…"
He still carried that betrayal in his heart.
A sin carved deeply into his soul—not only shaming himself as a knight, but staining the epic perfection that was supposed to be King Arthur's legend.
He didn't believe he was qualified to bear the title of knight anymore.
No—he didn't even believe he deserved to live. But even so, Arthur had given him a chance to atone.
My king… For someone as filthy as me, no matter what I do or how many years pass, this sin can never be washed away…
"If danger strikes, please don't hesitate to abandon me. Lord Merlin is a flower magician, and Lord Kay is a knight of the Round Table. Compared to someone like me, your survival is far more important. Only you can protect our king."
"Oh my~ What a depressing outlook. It seems our king was right to ask me to pay special attention to Sir Tristan~." Merlin giggled.
Kay clicked his tongue impatiently.
The two knights said nothing more. They simply followed Merlin in silence.
After some brief warnings about the area, Merlin suddenly raised his wand and cast a strange spell on the two knights. They didn't resist—though Kay looked like he wanted to punch something.
Soon, a faint light appeared in the tunnel ahead.
"All right, my two gallant knights~ It's time to show off your skills!"
With a smile, Merlin's body bloomed into petals and vanished.
"ROAR—!"
There was no time to curse his disappearing act.
The moment he vanished, a terrible roar echoed through the tunnel. The two knights sprang out from the exit in opposite directions just as the rock behind them was obliterated.
After retreating a safe distance, they finally took in their surroundings.
They were surrounded by towering stone pillars, with rivers of dark red lava flowing beneath.
And directly in front of them was a pitch-black beast—its body made of writhing shadow and rising black gas. Its form vaguely resembled a dragon:
Four claws. Two wings. Jagged fangs.
"A joke… this disgusting thing is Britain's guardian red dragon?" Kay drew his sword, eyes narrowing with fury.
"Sir Kay, be careful—!"
There was no need for the warning.
Kay's instincts were sharper than most beasts. He leapt off the stone pillar, pivoted midair, and struck behind him with a reverse stab.
A blast of magic erupted as the vengeful spirit attacking from behind was annihilated on the spot.
But that was only the beginning.
Kay landed on another pillar, steadying himself as dozens of black shapes surged through the air around him.
A wild grin tugged at his lips.
"Now this is more like it. If it was just one ghost, I'd be insulted on the red dragon's behalf."
Then—
BOOM—!
He launched himself forward, moving faster than human eyes could follow.
Magma and stone alike shattered beneath his charge.
Claws, fangs, flames steeped in wrath—he met them all head-on, cutting and crushing with sword and fist.
The vengeful spirits began to fall.
One by one, they were cut down by a man whose body and mind had been honed into a weapon—an embodiment of Britain's primal strength.
The Super Briton's fury was fully unleashed.
"HAHAHA! Isn't this great?! Back then, when I was at my king's side, I never met an opponent worthy of my fists. But now—! Now this is fun! Go ahead! Be more brutal than beasts! More savage than giants! Only then will you make me feel alive!"
His wild laughter echoed underground.
He wasn't fighting like a man.
No—he was more like a beast, or a spirit of vengeance himself.
"Is this… the true face of the fourth seat at the Round Table?"
Watching Kay's brutal dance, Tristan's hands trembled as he pulled his bowstring.
He wasn't sure whether it was awe… or despair.
With strength like that, he's only the fourth seat?
No. The king's words were true.
If Kay were to go all out, not even Lancelot might win in a direct confrontation.
"So this is a true Knight of the Round Table… I was a fool to think I could ever match him."
With that thought, he loosed an arrow.
A burst of magic exploded on impact, obliterating a vengeful spirit that had nearly struck Kay from behind.
Tristan would never slack in his duty.
He would protect Kay—with every shot he fired.
Each of them, in their own way, expressed the beauty of battle.
Their strength was unquestionable.
But against this enemy… even strength might not be enough.
"ROAR—!"
"ROAR—!"
"ROAR—!"
One after another, the cries of the dead echoed from the depths.
The tide of vengeful spirits… was endless.
-End Chapter-
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