A sword was thrust into a block of ordinary stone.
The Sword in the Stone.
Wayland immediately began to push through the crowd.
"Sorry! Excuse me! Coming through!"
"Hot water! Watch out!"
After his pants and shoes had been trodden on several times, Wayland finally reached the front--a place with an unobstructed view. He began to search for his true objective.
Where was Artoria?
But there were too many people. It was impossible to find a single person in this ocean of humanity.
Wayland let out a sigh of disappointment and turned his attention back to the sword. As long as he waited, Artoria would eventually pull it. When that happened, he'd see her.
Suddenly, a voice of unknown origin echoed through the silent crowd.
"The one who pulls this sword shall be the True King of Britain!"
Countless knights surged forward.
Leading the charge was a man in thick white armor. He pulled a massive broadsword from his hip without hesitation.
A brilliant arc of light cut through the air.
Those behind him cursed and reflexively backed away.
The man let out a cold snort. His bulky armor didn't seem to hinder his movement as he reached the stone in an instant. He grabbed the hilt of the sword and pulled.
It didn't budge.
"This is impossible!"
The knight shouted at the top of his lungs, but no matter how much strength he poured into his arms, the sword remained firmly in place.
Dejected, he released his grip.
A second man rushed forward, ignore the first. His expression was one of desperate urgency as he placed his hand upon the hilt.
It was no use.
One after another, the knights tried and failed.
The longsword remained silent and solitary amidst the crowd, waiting for its true owner.
Wayland shook his head. Everything was already choreographed by Merlin. How could anyone else possibly pull that sword?
'Ridiculous.'
Merlin's setup for the Sword in the Stone was simply a way to boost Artoria's fame and provide a legitimate justification for her inheriting the throne.
It was something that had been decided before Artoria was even born.
"Ignorant... helpless... pathetic."
Wayland suddenly heard someone speaking. He followed the voice and saw a tall young man standing not far to his left.
His armor shimmered in the sunlight, and his eyes--visible beneath his golden hair--were cold and piercing.
"It's nothing more than a prank from a certain old gentleman with the most questionable tastes. And yet, this group of fools is throwing themselves into it like moths to a flame."
The words made Wayland squint.
'An old gentleman with questionable tastes?'
'Isn't that just Merlin?'
He was known online as a "Magical Girl" who tricked Dr. Roman, threw Fou around, and had an endless list of debts.
'Does this man know Merlin?'
'But shouldn't everyone in this era worship him as the greatest mage in British history?'
'Who is this guy?'
'Is it Kay?'
Wayland couldn't be sure.
If his guess was correct, this was the small town where Artoria had been raised.
And when it came to understanding Merlin, aside from Artoria herself, only her foster brother Kay--who had grown up alongside her--would truly know the man's character.
Add to that the sharp, cutting nature of his words...
Wayland moved closer, and the man immediately noticed him.
'Sharp perception.'
Wayland offered what he hoped was a sincere smile and asked, "Sir Knight, why don't you give it a try? You seem far more capable than those other men."
"There's no need. I'm in no mood to play along with Merlin's dreams."
'That's definitely Kay!'
Wayland was certain now. In this era, only Kay would talk about Merlin's "dreams" with such cynicism.
"No one is going to pull it. It's just an obstacle," Kay said, looking at the knights who were making fools of themselves in the distance. He spoke coldly. "In an age of knights, we should let our swords do the talking. 'Proof of Kingship'... a pretty title, and nothing more."
Wayland nodded in agreement.
Aside from Merlin's theatrical setup with the Sword in the Stone, Artoria's journey from a small town to the throne of Camelot had been built on her own immense strength, her nearly invincible Knights of the Round Table, and Merlin's aid.
But a series of unforeseen events would eventually destroy that hard-won peace.
From Guinevere's affair with Lancelot--discovered by Agravain--to Lancelot slaying Agravain in the ensuing conflict, the Round Table began to fracture. Artoria's "Ideal King" persona faced its greatest blow.
As several things accumulated, Mordred eventually gained the support of many nobles, and the story reached its inevitable, tragic conclusion.
"Come on. Let's not waste any more time. The selection tournament is about to begin."
'Selection Tournament?'
Only then did Wayland remember his goal. He was here for Scathach's trial. Could the "Selection Tournament" be it?
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]