216 King Arthur

'Arkhan?'

Countless question marks flashed in Kayneth's mind for an instant.

Though the name did have a European vibe, it seemed there wasn't anyone like that in the Fenian Cycle. Moreover, as far as he remembered, no hero bore that name.

'Could it be a pseudonym?' Kayneth's brow furrowed deeply.

He was someone who liked to be in control, detesting subordinates who acted on their own. Furthermore, refusing to disclose even one's true name—did this Servant think he wasn't worthy?

This Servant was just a ghost who had been dead for who knows how many years, yet daring to look down on a genius like him?

'I'll see who you really are!' Kayneth soon focused on the summoning circle.

As the Master, he naturally possessed the authority to see through the true name of his Servant. After all, if he didn't even know who he had summoned, how could they coordinate in battle?

However, what appeared before him wasn't detailed data but a pitch-black flame.

'What is this?'

Kayneth was momentarily puzzled until an indescribable pain suddenly emanated from his eyes as if flames were burning within them.

"*&%*^$@*&%#%*@#%%%$"

Countless chaotic sharp screams and wails echoed in his mind. Involuntarily, he knelt on the ground, emitting painful cries.

"AAARGHHH—!!!"

"Kayneth!"

Sola anxiously crouched down and was at a loss as she watched black tears flow from the corners of Kayneth's eyes.

Although she had an advanced level of magic circuits far beyond ordinary people, having been raised as a canary from a young age, she had never properly studied magecraft. She was completely ignorant even of the simplest healing magecraft.

"Let me handle this."

Arkhan, who had walked out of the summoning circle, looked at the kneeling Kayneth with a hint of helplessness on his face. He didn't know where this guy got the courage to directly confront the accumulated negative emotions of thousands of years from the Key of Corruption.

He raised his hand, and a crimson feather fell from the void, merging into Kayneth's consciousness, helping him suppress the negative emotions in his mind. After that, he switched to Abyss Flower.

"Wh-What are you doing?" Sola stared at the massive lance in Arkhan's hand, her body instantly tensed, and her beautiful face turned as pale as paper.

"Of course, I'm helping him heal. Do you want him to be blind for the rest of his life?"

Arkhan casually swept Sola aside with the shaft of the lance, then stuck the tip of the lance into Kayneth's shoulder. The life energy flowed continuously into Kayneth's body, helping him dispel the power of corruption lingering in his eyes.

As Kayneth's diminishing cries reached her ears, Sola breathed a sigh of relief. Although she didn't have strong feelings for him, after all, she was still his fiancee. If something really happened to him, neither the Archibald family nor the Sophia-Ri family would take it lightly.

"Thanks for your help, Lancer..."

Sola said gratefully as she turned to look at Arkhan. Only now did she notice the mysterious appearance of this Servant.

With sharp and handsome contours, deep black eyes, straight and soaring eyebrows, dazzling silver armor, and an aura of noble dignity that was untouchable, Arkhan resembled a young king with high authority and dominance, mysterious and aloof.

As Sola looked at him, a hint of fascination appeared in her eyes, and two blushes soon covered her flawless white face.

Arkhan, who had Fenghuang Down, was very sensitive to the psychological changes of those around him. He glanced at Sola and couldn't help but feel a bit speechless.

Clearly, he wasn't Diarmuid, and he had no 'Love Spot' that made the opposite sex irresistibly love him. Yet, this woman still had her eyes on him. Could it be that she was cursed with something like 'she will fall in love with any Servant summoned by Kayneth'?

Arkhan came to save the world, not to engage in romance. Moreover, he had no interest in such a self-centered and inconsiderate woman. He was truly not interested at all.

The void trembled slightly, and another crimson feather quietly fell. Silently, it slipped into Sola's consciousness, suppressing her excessive dopamine secretion.

Although Arkhan wasn't too concerned about the contract with Kayneth, he didn't want to turn against his Master because of such a foolish woman.

After all, his primary goal now was to figure out the origin of this world's crisis, and Kayneth, as the renowned genius mage of the Clock Tower and Lord El-Melloi, could provide him with significant support.

===

"Wait, you're saying you're King Arthur?"

In the room, Kayneth lay on the couch with red eyes, and Sola, suppressing any remaining affection after being forcefully restrained by Fenghuang Down, now only felt fear and awe towards Arkhan. Under the bridge effect, she involuntarily sought comfort from Kayneth.

Moreover, Sola's condition was the main reason why Kayneth could be so calm right now. Otherwise, given the magnitude of his suffering, he would have already scolded Arkhan severely.

"Well, I am indeed Arthur, but not the Arthur of your world."

Arkhan changed out of his silver armor into a casual outfit that suited the current era. He sat at the dining table, enjoying his meal.

All of these were the modern tastes he hadn't experienced in over twenty years.

"Parallel worlds, huh..."

As a knowledgeable genius mage, Kayneth immediately understood Arkhan's meaning.

The Throne of Heroes exists outside the world, independent from time and space. Summoning Servants from different worlds was not a rare occurrence; even summoning a Servant from the future to the present was not impossible.

Although he hadn't summoned the Servant he wanted, Kayneth wasn't bothered. He wasn't one to dwell on the past. Doing so was not only a waste of his precious time but also meaningless.

Besides, even if this version of King Arthur were not from this world, he should still be powerful, giving him no reason to be dissatisfied.

"But I used the epic of Fenian Cycle as my catalyst. Why did it summon you, who is supposed to be from the Arthurian Legend?" Kayneth asked with a puzzled tone.

Arkhan put a piece of steak into his mouth and pondered for a moment.

"Probably because I killed Nuada."

"???"

Kayneth, with a confused face, still didn't get it.