Chương 8: Chapter 8: The Seeds of Doubt
Chapter 8: The Seeds of Doubt
Atop a white steed clad in silver armor, King Arthur bathed in sunlight, entered the public's view.
Beneath the golden hair tousled by the breeze, a fair forehead was revealed, and that naturally gifted, seemingly divinely carved perfect visage perfectly matched the people's imagination.
The generous sunlight shone on her silver armor, making her seem like a true deity.
Flawless.
No matter from which angle one looked, her appearance proved her to be a perfect monarch.
The previously chaotic square became still as if the god of time had pressed the pause button with the appearance of Arthur Pendragon.
All eyes were focused on her.
They watched silently as she rode her horse to the center of the square, atop the high platform.
Even so, no one noticed Merlin, half a meter behind her, riding a beautiful chestnut wooden horse, his expression lost in the heavens.
Nor did Fujimaru pay attention.
Even he, who was mentally prepared, was dazzled by such a holy king.
Inexplicably, he turned his head to look at Guinevere beside him.
Guinevere was also staring blankly, her expression saying it all.
...
Even with all eyes on her, the young king showed no sign of nervousness. She simply dismounted as usual and stood before the people.
Then, she bowed, a knight's salute.
"My fellow citizens of Camelot, and esteemed guests from other city-states and vassal states, thank you for coming to witness this event. I am Prince Arthur Pendragon."
Everyone held their breath, momentarily forgetting to applaud.
"Recently, there have been doubts about the authenticity of my royal identity. Here and now, I will pull this sword from the stone before your eyes, and according to law and consensus, ascend as the king of Britain."
Having said that, Arthur walked straight towards the sword embedded in the stone, seemingly intending to pull it out directly.
The crowd below had not yet reacted, merely blinking.
"Please wait, Your Highness," a knight maintaining order in the square hastily called out.
The knights on duty today were loyal to the former King Uther, there to witness and ensure the legitimacy of Prince Arthur Pendragon.
Arthur Pendragon stopped and looked at the middle-aged knight: "Sir Cameron, do you have a question?"
"Forgive my impertinence, Your Highness. Although this sword in the stone has been in Camelot for several months, and countless people have tried and failed to pull it out, they were just ordinary citizens. But today, we have not only citizens but also knights renowned throughout Britain, and even other royal family members!"
Arthur pondered for a moment, then looked at the people again: "I understand your concerns. Therefore, anyone who doubts the authenticity of this sword in the stone, regardless of status or rank, may come forward to try, but please, one at a time."
Almost simultaneously.
All the knights guarding the square turned their gaze to one place.
This was where the nobility watched.
There stood a knight who had faced the vile king Vortigern, the famous Holy Knight of light from years ago, and Austin, who bore the title of Britain's first Holy Knight.
Rumors had it that he was the true son of King Uther.
The knights' gaze fell on Fujimaru.
The crowd subconsciously looked over.
Fujimaru, however, turned his gaze to the still distracted Merlin.
What a clever ploy!
He had borne the title of King Uther's son for two years, buying King Arthur over two years of development time.
Today, he was to be used to prove that King Arthur was the true one!
[You once again appreciate the terror of the EX Clairvoyance.]
[You are watched by all, you take a step forward, then slowly walk towards the platform.]
[You did not notice, Guinevere's gaze upon you, brighter than when Arthur Pendragon made her entrance, and more filled with emotion.]
[You arrive before King Arthur, who looks at you with approval, admiration, and even a hint of worship.]
[For the first time, you feel true sanctity, a king without a trace of 'sin'.]
[You pass by her side, heading towards the sword in the stone.]
[It is in the moment you pass by that King Arthur softly speaks to you: "Sorry for only speaking to you today, old... the national advisor made me swear an oath, only after today can I converse with you."]
[Her tone is gentle, with a hint of apology.]
[You understand in your heart, with the intelligence of this king who does not understand the human heart, she probably doesn't know what Merlin has used you for.]
[You respond with a sincere smile, feeling inexplicably tumultuous inside as you approach the sword in the stone.]
[You prepare to pull the sword, at that moment the middle-aged knight who spoke earlier calls out again: "Forgive my impertinence once more, Your Highness, and Sir Holy Knight of Light, may I try to pull out the sword first?"]
[King Arthur readily agrees, and you step aside.]
[The middle-aged knight approaches the sword in the stone, grasps the hilt with his right hand, first casually tries to pull it, then uses both hands.]
[But the sword in the stone does not budge from beginning to end, you watch him as he gracefully admits his failure, then turns to the people: "Its blade seems to have fused with the stone, and beyond that, I can feel a mysterious force preventing me from pulling it out."]
["This must be the sword in the stone!" the middle-aged knight declares with certainty.]
[You can feel that after these words, the crowd's gaze upon you is filled with even more expectation.]
[You no longer wish to see what expression Merlin has, you inexplicably want to laugh, and then you really do laugh, facing the people of Britain with a smile and softly saying: "Then let me give it a try."]
[Shouts erupt from the crowd, your admirers calling out for the Holy Knight of Light.]
[Suddenly, a gust of wind blows, and as your robe billows, you grasp the hilt of the sword in the stone and begin to exert force.]
[The sword in the stone remains immobile.]
[You tell yourself that this is enough, after all, it's just for show, and then you let go of the handle.]
[Suddenly!]
[A sneering voice arises in your heart: Is this how it ends?]
[You recognize the voice, it is Morgan le Fay Pendragon.]
[Inexplicably, you think of the way Guinevere looked at Arthur earlier.]
[You grasp the hilt of the sword in the stone again, this time with both hands.]
[You are favored by the natural spirits! Although you cannot store magic within yourself, you can share mana with the natural world, absorbing it endlessly from the outside!]
[You release your magic!]
[Suddenly, a vortex of magic appears above the entire national square, the surging magic causing anomalies to occur frequently!]
[The people watch you in shock.]
[You continue to release magic, feeling your body start to heat up.]
[The magic you absorb even surpasses that which you absorbed when releasing your Noble Phantasm against the vile king Vortigern.]
[You shout loudly: Rise!!]
["Boom!" The entire platform of the square shakes.]
[The sword in the stone moves, but that is all, it does not come out completely.]
[You understand, although you can absorb magic indefinitely, as a human, your output has limits!]
[You have failed.]
[But your reputation has reached the peak of your life.]
[You are worthy of the title of Britain's first Holy Knight.]
[It's just bad luck.]
[You do not know that, watching all this, Artoria Pendragon buries a seed of doubt in her heart, she wonders if she truly is - the king chosen by destiny!]
.......
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