In the video, Artoria—disguised as a handsome young man—and her foster brother Kay entered the tournament.
But just before it began, Kay realized he'd forgotten his sword.
"Arthur, go back and get it for me. Without it my strength drops a lot."
Kay patted his empty waist and awkwardly asked her.
"Don't worry, brother. I'll go."
Artoria nodded without hesitation and hurried to the inn.
Back at the inn, she found the door locked.
In a rush, she noticed a sword stuck among a pile of stones and pulled it out casually, then ran to the arena.
[High energy ahead!]
[A king is born so casually!]
[But that means Arthur was cursed, right…]
[Won't this video get banned?]
[These scenes are way too real—are they really allowed to show this? Still, it's insanely satisfying.]
"This feels different. Didn't Merlin appear when Arthur drew the sword and explain the price?"
Illya felt the video clashed hard with the history she knew.
The visuals were so real—blood splattering—someone with weak nerves might faint.
"Maybe it's another version of the legend? The King Arthur we know never personally confirmed that version, right?"
Irisviel's crimson eyes glittered with interest.
As a company director, she understood filmmaking.
Setting plot aside, the visuals were world-class.
Yet it was free—hard to believe.
"Maybe. Who knows."
Beimu knew these scenes too well.
The girl who pulled the sword was him.
Why was this video out there? Was this what the system meant by "automatic conditions for unlocking the compendium"?
He opened the system panel.
The first entry in the compendium was glowing brightly.
The portrait there was Artoria becoming king.
He could summon this character into an independent body anytime, or fuse with her.
These cards were like his past lives. He could freely call upon their abilities.
That meant his family's safety was secured.
After quietly understanding the abilities, Beimu looked back to the video.
…
"Arthur… where did you pull this sword from?"
Kay took the sword to warm up, but he couldn't control it at all.
After a closer look, his breathing snapped tight.
How could he not recognize it?
The sword sealed in the stone pile—the Sword in the Stone (Caliburn)!
Whoever drew it would be Britannia's next king!
The tournament existed because no knight could draw that sword.
Yet now it had been drawn… by his cousin—
Knights surged around them, faces full of disbelief.
"No—this sword is fake! Let's go see the stone pile!"
Some believed; others didn't.
Kay, standing at the center, took it calmly and returned Caliburn to Artoria.
"Arthur, this is your sword. Keep it safe. It's the symbol of authority. From now on, you are Britannia's king."
"I refuse! Defeat me first, or you don't count as king!"
At last, a dissatisfied knight stepped forward.
"Ha-ha! What are you all talking about? Let me see?"
Pink petals drifted down. A white figure materialized.
"Merlin the Magus! Perfect timing—we won't accept a snot-nosed kid as our king!"
The knight pointed at Artoria without a trace of respect.
"Oh? Then if the Sword in the Stone chose her, she must be a peerless knight. How about this: you two fight. If you defeat Arthur, you're the new king."
Merlin wore his usual frivolous smile.
"I accept! Arthur, do you dare?"
The knight laughed, standing in the center.
He could already see his victory.
"Then begin."
Artoria shrugged indifferently, motioning him over.
By this point—meaning Beimu—she had already lived over four hundred lives.
This was nothing new.
But her attitude enraged the knight.
It was the greatest insult.
If you're going to look down on me, just say it—why pose like that?
"Hmph! I'll make you pay for underestimating me! I'll gladly take your throne."
He charged.
Clang—
His sword snapped. The force tossed him flying.
When he struggled up, a golden-glowing blade rested at his throat.
"Your strength is too weak."
Artoria withdrew the sword and shook her head.
"Arthur? You're Arthur, right? Since when were you this strong?"
Kay felt his cousin was a stranger.
The performance… the power… like she'd seen it all before.
"Um… maybe you just never paid attention, brother. I told you before—I'm super strong."
Artoria eyed him helplessly.
"It was my failure. But no matter what, you're the new king now. You must shoulder the kingdom's burden."
Kay grew serious.
"Becoming king… I don't mind. I will lead Britannia to prosperity."
Artoria's expression hardly changed.
"Ha-ha! Then I won't need to persuade you. Arthur, I'm happy you have this resolve. You will be a great king!"
Merlin clapped.
Though his pre-selected king felt odd, he couldn't tell why.
"Then in King Arthur's name, I will host a knightly contest! Any who possess a knight's heart may join. I will choose the twelve strongest knights to guard Britannia with me!"
Artoria declared before the crowd.
Kingly majesty radiated from her, subduing the knights around her.