----- Kamelott, Office of the Grand Master of the Guilds -----
----- 1:00 PM -----
The room was heavy with silence, the weight of Siegfried’s earlier announcement pressing down like a storm cloud. William sat frozen, his salad untouched, his mind racing with grim possibilities.
Across from him, Siegfried happily munched on his meal, utterly unaffected by the tension.
William: Grim, glaring at Siegfried
“You announce such a crazy thing…”
Suddenly, he shot up from his seat, grabbed Siegfried by the collar, and began shaking him like a rag doll.
William:
“WHAT SHOULD WE DO, SIEGFRIED? DO YOU HAVE A PLAN? TELL ME! HUH?!”
His voice cracked with panic, his expression wild.
Siegfried: Getting shaken, looking mildly embarrassed
“Me? Ahah… well…” He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“Not at all!”
William: Eyes bulging
“WHAT?! BUT HOW CAN YOU STAY CALM WHEN KAMELOTT IS IN DANGER RIGHT NOW?!”
He shook Siegfried even harder, rattling the cutlery on the desk.
Siegfried: Hands raised in surrender, trying to steady himself
“B-because… ahem…”
With a surprising amount of strength, Siegfried disengaged himself from William’s grip, straightening his collar with a calm flourish.
Siegfried:
“My sources—those who brought me this precious information—happen to be the Round Table.”
William: Stopping mid-rant, his face shifting from rage to disbelief
“Huh?!… But… does that mean?” He lowered his head, his breath steadying as relief began to wash over him.
Siegfried: Nodding, his tone warm and reassuring
“Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are already aware of the situation. I imagine Arthur himself will address the issue this very afternoon. So, you don’t have to worry.”
William: Still processing, muttering
“Arthur… and the Knights…”
Siegfried:
“Ah, and one more thing. The Knights also confirmed that more than three-quarters of Reihim’s civilians are still alive. They’ve been evacuated, though we don’t yet know where they’ve been taken.”
William: Shoulders slumping in relief, but…
“…WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME ALL THIS BEFORE?!”
Siegfried: Leaning back in his chair, grinning mischievously
“Because it always makes me laugh so much to see you panic, my little William. Hehe!”
William: Growling, fists clenched, before turning his frustration on his poor, innocent salad. He stabbed his fork into the greens and devoured them aggressively.
Siegfried burst into laughter, the sound filling the room, while William’s growls of frustration added a bassline to the absurd symphony.
He’s always been like this—too calm for his own good, too damn cheeky when I’m about to lose my mind. But if Arthur and the Knights are on it, then…
Siegfried sipped his drink casually, his expression softening for a brief moment as he watched William.
Siegfried: “Trust Arthur. He hasn’t failed us yet.”
William: Still chewing angrily
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s just hope he doesn’t run into anything unexpected.”
Siegfried smiled knowingly, as if he already knew something William didn’t.
But for now, he said nothing, letting the conversation drift into silence as the two men finished their meal.
----- Kamelott Castle, King's Audience Hall -----
----- 2:00 PM -----
Arthur: Adjusting his cloak “Are you sure about this, Miss Marin?”
Marin: “As sure as I can be, Arthur. The information is solid.”
Arthur: Sighing lightly, but with a playful glint in his eye
“Well then... I suppose I’ll head to the North Gate market. I’ve heard they’re selling some rather lovely crows.”
Marin: Crossing her arms, smirking “Don’t forget your going-out clothes, your majesty.”
Arthur: Draping a cloak of magical concealment over his shoulders “Of course. Subtlety is key.”
Arthur Pendragon
Arthur stepped toward the tall windows of the audience hall, which overlooked the bustling North Gate marketplace. With a single, effortless leap, he vaulted out, landing silently in a narrow alley below. The king melted into the crowd, his presence concealed by his cloak.
Market of Kamelott
----- North Gate Marketplace -----
Arthur strolled among the merchants and shoppers, blending seamlessly into the lively chaos. Stalls displayed everything from shimmering fabrics to exotic spices, the air thick with the smell of baked bread and roasting meat. Despite the noise, Arthur’s fiery yellow gaze scanned the crowd, sharp and unyielding.
He stopped at an old woman’s knick-knack stall, where three men hovered suspiciously nearby.
Arthur: Feigning casual curiosity “Hello, ma’am. I hear you’re selling some lovely crows. Is that true?”
Old Woman: Blinking in confusion “Crows? Oh, dear sir, I don’t think I understand…”
Arthur’s gaze shifted to the three men, who exchanged wary glances.
Arthur: His voice lowering, the false smile disappearing “Oh really? I was told you had some very dark crows.”
One of the men, realizing the implication, stepped forward with forced politeness.
Man #1: Coughing awkwardly “Ah… I think you’re looking for the crows at another stall. Just down the alley. We’d be happy to show you.”
Arthur: A smile tugging at the corner of his lips, icy and calculating “How kind of you. Lead the way.”
Arthur followed the men into a shadowy alley, the bustling market fading behind them. As they rounded a corner, three more figures emerged, blocking the exit behind him. The alley closed in, and the air grew heavy with tension.
Arthur: Turning to face the six figures, his tone sharp
“Now then… I’ll ask once: what are half-demons doing in the peaceful kingdom of Kamelott?”
Man #1: Placing a hand on Arthur’s shoulder, sneering
“Come on now, is that any way to talk to the nice strangers showing you the way?”
Arthur glanced at the hand on his shoulder, exhaling softly. A faint, fiery glow escaped his lips.
Arthur: Calmly “Don’t touch me.”
The man screamed in agony as his hand blistered and burned, smoke rising from his seared flesh. He stumbled back, clutching his injured hand.
Arthur: Looks at ???#1 with wide open eyes “Silence!"
???#1: Suffers horribly from his burning hand, but now can't shout
Arthur: Turning his piercing gaze on the others “Shall I ask the question a second time?”
Man #3: Laughing nervously “Oh, no need for that. We just caught ourselves a big fish, boys!”
Man #4: Grinning wickedly “This has to be the king himself!”
Man #5: Drawing a blade “We’ll take his head as a trophy!”
Man #6: Roaring “Kill him!”
Arthur: Sighing, his expression one of quiet exasperation
“I suppose there’s no reasoning with you. Very well.”
He raised his hand slightly, the faint glow in his eyes intensifying.
Arthur: Softly, but with deadly authority “Rays”
In an instant, searing beams of golden light erupted from Arthur’s outstretched hand. They lanced through the alley like molten arrows, striking the four attackers who had dared to charge him.
The men froze mid-step, their bodies trembling as the light engulfed them. Their skin bubbled and melted like wax, their forms collapsing into unconscious heaps. The air was filled with the acrid stench of burning flesh and silence.
Arthur stood tall, his fiery yellow gaze fixed on the two surviving half-demons. One trembled uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face as he fell to his knees, unable to scream or speak, while the other remained calm, almost amused, despite the tension in the air.
Arthur: His voice sharp, his authority undeniable
“Spit it out if you don’t want to end up like the others.”
??? #2: Sighing dramatically, placing a hand on his forehead as if this were all a minor inconvenience
“I know this sounds crazy… but I just came to visit the Kingdom of Kamelott. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it in Dirium.”
Arthur: His jaw tightened, tapping the ground with his heel hard enough to crack the stone beneath him.
“You think you have the right to visit the kingdom of your enemies?”
??? #2: Chuckling softly, raising his hands in mock surrender
“Enemy? I’m nobody’s enemy… not anymore. Not since I broke free from the Dark Lord’s command.”
Arthur: Eyes blazing with fury, his voice rising like a storm
“And you think I’m going to swallow that nonsense?!”
??? #2: Shrugging, unbothered by Arthur’s anger
“You don’t have to believe me. It’s all still very new to me as well… but if he let us go, there’s a reason. We’re here to tell you the truth.”
Arthur: Scoffing, folding his arms
“The truth? I’m sorry, but I don’t believe demons—or whatever you call yourselves—are capable of speaking anything resembling the truth.”
??? #2: Tilting his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips
“Hmm… Only the ignorant call us demons, you know.”
He glanced upward at the sky, as if seeing something Arthur could not.
Arthur: Exhaling through his nose, clearly done with the conversation
“Well, I don’t feel like arguing with you here. You and your trembling friend are going to take a little walk to a room we’ve prepared just for you… unless, of course, you’d rather take your chances against me.”
??? #2: Laughing openly now, stretching his hands forward to be cuffed
“No thanks. I’ll pass. But I’ll say this: I think I might’ve had a chance against you… a very diluted version of the Sun God.”
Arthur: A false smile, ice in his tone
“Yes, of course. Keep dreaming.”
He cuffed the calm demon tightly, his movements deliberate and unyielding, then glanced down at the trembling one, now unconscious on the ground.
Arthur: To himself “What a mess.”
Arthur raised his head slightly, his voice firm but calm as he called out to someone far away.
Arthur: “Marin. You can teleport us now.”
----- Kamelott Castle, Summoning Circle -----
Far away, in the depths of the castle, Marin stood over an intricately engraved summoning circle. Her hands hovered above the glowing runes as she spoke with quiet authority.
Marin: “Arch Level: Teleportation”
A brilliant light engulfed the summoning circle as Arthur and his prisoners materialized in the room. The light faded, revealing Arthur standing tall, flanked by the two half-demons—one calm, the other slumped unconscious.
Arthur: “Good. It’s time to interrogate these visitors, ladies and gentlemen.”
Behind Arthur, five knights in resplendent armor stepped forward, their presence commanding. Each suit of armor was engraved with golden symbols and intricate designs, representing their individual crests and roles within the legendary Knights of the Round Table.
Gawain: Crossing his arms, his golden sword resting at his side
“So, these are the pests sneaking into our kingdom?”
Lancelot: Running a hand over his polished vambrace, his voice dripping with quiet menace
“They don’t look like much. Perhaps I should loosen their tongues.”
Galahad: The youngest knight, his tone measured
“Easy, Lancelot. We need answers first. Arthur, shall we begin?”
Arthur: Stepping aside, gesturing to the captives with a flick of his hand
“They’re all yours. Let’s see if they’re as eager to talk as they claim.”
Marin
----- Near the North Gate Market -----
----- 4:00 PM -----
William strode through the bustling streets of the North Gate market, his mind weighed down by Siegfried’s earlier announcement.
William: Muttering to himself, his fists clenched
“If this got out, there’d be mass panic… absolute chaos.”
Kin: Appearing silently behind him, smirking
“What would cause mass panic, old man?”
William: Jumps nearly a foot in the air, clutching his chest
“AAAAH! Kin, dammit! Don’t sneak up on me like that!”
Kin: Grinning mischievously
“Sorry, old man. I’ve been following you for a while—didn’t you notice me?”
William: Sighing heavily, rubbing his temples
“No, because I’m too busy worrying about real problems. By the way, where’s your brother?”
Gin: Shouting from a distance, running toward them at full speed
“WAIT FOR ME, KIN!!!”
William: Turning to Gin with a growl, his frustration reaching a boiling point
“YOU!!!”
Gin: Panicking, skids to a halt before abruptly turning to run in the opposite direction
“YAAAAAAAH!!!”
Kin: Sneering silently, watching Gin flee
“Yo, old man. Why are you so worked up about him?”
William: Groaning
“That kid... You know very well he’s not cut out to be a warrior.”
Kin: Shrugging, his tone casual
“Hey, haven’t you seen him in action? He’s got some pretty impressive earth techniques, you know.”
William: Scoffing
“As if that’s going to be enough! A few fancy tricks won’t save his neck out there… Aaaah.”
Pausing, his voice softens slightly.
“You don’t have to go to this tournament, kids.”
Kin: Expression growing serious, placing a hand on William’s back
“We’ll bring home the winner’s prize, Dad… no matter what.”
William turned slowly to Kin, his face a mixture of concern and sadness, but before he could respond, Kin suddenly disappeared in a blur of motion.
In the distance, William heard Gin’s familiar scream echo through the market.
Gin: Screaming
“AAAAAH! KIN, LEAVE ME ALONE!!!”
William glanced back to see Gin being dragged through the dirt by his legs, Kin pulling him with an almost sadistic grin.
Kin: Cheerfully, while dragging Gin
“You’re going to train with me and Yumi now!!!”
Gin: Flailing, his voice shrill with panic
“WHAT?! WHY?!”
Kin: Stopping and crouching down to look Gin directly in the eye, his grin turning dark
“If you want to take part in the tournament with us… then you’ll have to prove you’re worth that shiny new rank.”
Gin gulped loudly, his face pale, while William stood nearby, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
As Kin and Gin continued to bicker, William’s nose twitched. A faint, acrid smell lingered in the air, growing stronger with every passing second.
William’s Thought:
Hmm… Do I smell something burning?
He turned his head toward a nearby dark alley, where faint smoke curled up into the air. His eyes narrowed as a wave of unease washed over him.
For a moment, William’s usual fatherly grumbling fell away, replaced by the instincts of an experienced warrior. He stared into the shadows of the alley, his face hardening.
William: Muttering under his breath
“This day just keeps getting worse…”
Shaking off the uneasy feeling, he turned back to his sons.
William: Clearing his throat, forcing a smile
“Well, kids! Let’s take a break and have a nice cup of coffee.”
Kin: Smirking
“I’ll have a beer.”
William: Flatly
“In your dreams, kiddo.”
----- Kamelott Castle, Interrogation Room -----
----- 6:00 PM -----
Arthur sat calmly on a simple wooden chair, his golden gaze fixed on the kneeling half-demon before him. Marin stood to his side, her arms crossed, her face carefully controlled but tense. Behind them, the knights of the Round Table stood silently, their presence as immovable as statues.
Arthur: Voice steady, but sharp
“So, this famous truth? What is it, half-demon?”
??? #2: Raising his head slowly, meeting Arthur’s gaze
“My name is Nobuo… I was a human, like all of you, before the dark energy touched me. It stole my thoughts… my consciousness… everything.”
Arthur: Resting his head on his folded hands, his tone unchanging
“... Continue.”
Nobuo: Eyes clouded with sadness
“I thought it was the end for me, even though I’d fought my whole life to protect my homeland.”
Arthur: Leaning forward slightly, intrigued
“Your homeland?”
Nobuo: Nods, his voice growing firmer
“I was a samurai of the Nobuyuki Empire. My life was spent battling creatures we thought were demons. My sword protected my people. My soul was theirs.”
Arthur: Brow furrowing
“Nobuyuki’s Empire?”
Marin: Interrupting, her voice incredulous
“That’s impossible! Nobuyuki’s Empire was wiped off the map by demons over 200 years ago!”
Nobuo: Looking down, his expression heavy with sorrow
“I see… Time has passed so quickly since that final battle.”
Arthur’s lips tightened into a hard line, while Marin’s eyes widened in disbelief. A samurai from a kingdom destroyed over two centuries ago? This must be a lie
Nobuo: Suddenly flinches, clutching his chest as if struck by an unseen force.
“Oh no… He’s found me.”
Arthur: Tensing, his voice sharp
“Who? Who has found you?”
Nobuo: Gasping, his voice rising in urgency
“Listen to me carefully! You don’t exist!!! Your lives… your kingdom… does not belong to you! You are prisoners of the Pendragon Alliance!”
Arthur, Marin (simultaneously): Staggered
“Wh… Excuse me?!”
Nobuo: His eyes darting wildly, as if seeing something they couldn’t
“The balance… It’s been completely upset. There aren’t supposed to be this many of us touched by dark energy. Something is stopping us from…” He suddenly clutches his head, screaming.
“AGH. AAAAAAAAAAGHHHH!!!”
Without warning, Nobuo’s body erupted into flames so hot that the room itself seemed to tremble. The windows shattered, shards of glass flying outward, and the heavy iron door blew off its hinges.
Arthur: Snapping his hand forward
“Shield!”
A golden dome of light flared around him, Marin, and the knights, shielding them from the heat and debris. Outside, the castle halls echoed with shouts of alarm.
Marin: Her voice frantic, looking to Arthur
“ARTHUR! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! STOP BURNING HIM!!!”
Arthur: Teeth gritted, sweat dripping down his temple
“IT’S NOT ME, MARIN!!”
Marin: Horrified, looking out through the shattered window
“What... ?!”
...
...
...
----- ??? -----
----- Thousands of Miles Away -----
Far from Kamelott, in a sprawling library filled with ancient books and the faint smell of parchment and dust, a man sat in a high-backed chair. His long, silver-white hair fell in waves to his shoulders, and his sharp beard was streaked with gray. He flipped through the pages of a book titled Le Morte d’Arthur, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
???: Speaking softly to himself
“Hmm… Strange… All these coincidences. Yet I’m certain these children don’t even know what an Arthurian legend is.”
Behind him, a shadowy figure with a distorted, androgynous voice emerged from the darkness.
Shadowy Figure: Voice distorted between masculine and feminine
“Probably a joke from your old friends.. what about the leak?”
??? : Closing the book with a soft thud, his smirk widening
“It’s fixed.”
Shadowy Figure: Voice distorted between male and female
“Good.. my dear Leonard”
Leonard leaned back in his chair, his eyes gleaming with something ancient and unfathomable.
And so, the leak was corrected by our great hero—the most powerful and dangerous man in the world.
Leonard Pendragon, the original Sun God, the creator of star techniques.
