43 [43] Unworthy
As the last words faded away, silence descended, carried by the sunlight. The bustling atmosphere that had briefly arisen in the square now plunged into a profound stillness, where one could hear a pin drop.
All eyes were fixed on the silver-haired youth in the center of the scene. The man who had pulled out the Sword of Selection. Astonishingly, he demanded Gawain, the Knight of the Sun, to swear allegiance to him!
What audacious arrogance...
Was he attempting to demonstrate the power of the Knight of the Sun's sacred sword?
Yet, he merely pulled out the Sword of Selection and looked exceptionally charming... There was no overwhelming aura that could command the respect of thousands, unless you were Gawain's father. Otherwise, would the Knight of the Sun break his own sacred sword and pledge loyalty to an unknown figure?
Certainly not, it's absolutely impossible!
An unrecognized king was nothing but a joke.
"What kind of joke are you making..."
As expected, the voice of the golden-haired youth trembled, brewing a revelation of anger. Gawain was furious!
If his indignation had previously risen due to Lady Artoria's tears, now a fierce blaze of anger burned within him. Yes, anyone could hear, anyone could understand! This guy was blatantly provoking!
Swearing allegiance?
This was an outright insult!
"Allegiance..."
The Knight of the Sun raised his sword, pointing it at Alvin, uttering a disdainful and indignant roar. Beneath the sunlight, the radiant brilliance of the holy sword complemented his figure, making him seem like a descended deity.
"Do you think someone like you is worthy of my allegiance?!"
"Do you believe that pulling out a sword can gain the recognition of the knights?"
"Even if you pull out the Sword of Selection, so what?!"
"A king is by no means someone as audacious and insignificant as you!"
"You are not qualified! You are not even worthy of drawing it out!"
Correct.
Gawain spoke the thoughts of everyone. Although they might not openly admit it, this was, in fact, the genuine opinion of most people.
To be honest, what could a sword decide about the qualifications of a king?
Especially when it wasn't pulled out by oneself.
Unless that person could truly win the favor of the crowd, the doubts would become even stronger.
People hoped that Artoria could pull out the sword.
Not that the sword chose the king.
But that the king chose the sword.
The roar dissipated.
Whispers emerged.
The scene, at first glance, appeared as if Alvin, who had pulled out the sword, had been depreciated to worthlessness.
However, this was exactly the answer he wanted to hear. There was nothing more ironic than hearing such words from the Knight of the Round Table.
"Ah... I see, Sir Gawain."
At these words, the silver-haired youth suddenly revealed a look of enlightenment.
"So that's it, thank you for pointing it out to me..."
Alvin seemed somewhat lost, muttering to himself in a low voice.
"..I am unworthy..."
He raised the Sword of Selection in his hand with a bewildered expression.
Under the noonday sun.
The knights' eyesight naturally allowed them to clearly distinguish the Celtic inscription engraved on the blade:
"He who pulls out this sword shall be the King of Britain."
At this moment...
It had turned into a mockery.
The silver-haired youth's body trembled slightly.
"Heh... Haha... Hahaha..."
From his throat, a low, mocking laughter slowly emanated.
"What are you laughing at again?"
Gawain frowned slightly.
All eyes turned to the dark knight.
He seemed to laugh uncontrollably, the laughter then transforming into a kind of exuberant and mad hysteria.
"Ha! Hahaha! Hahahaha!"
"You're right, I am unworthy..."
"So, this is the truth! Sir Gawain!"
"A performance! A farce! If it doesn't meet your expectations, deny its legitimacy!"
"Exactly! That's so right! I am not qualified! I, a presumptuous and nameless madman, do not deserve to draw out the Sword of Selection!"
Facing everyone's gaze.
Alvin declared loudly.
"So, who determined the qualifications?"
Lifting the exquisite and flawless Sword of Selection.
He issued a torrent of inquiries.
"If one is covered in filth, are they not allowed to yearn for purification?"
"If born in darkness, can they not pursue the dazzling light?"
"What if I have this Sword of Selection!"
"If it is not recognized, am I not worthy of aspiring to be the King of Knights?!"
Alvin suddenly dropped the sword's tip, pointing it from a distance at the golden-haired girl who was staring at him in astonishment.
Artoria finally realized.
For what reason did he appear here?
"...She, Artoria, are you all anticipating her?"
The dark knight sneered.
He laughed arrogantly and mockingly.
Without restraint, he mocked everyone present.
"Are you all anticipating her, pulling out this sword, becoming the savior that descended from the heavens?!"
"Artoria is here, and Britain will be at peace!"
"Artoria is here, and there will be a clear sky!"
"So..."
His voice suddenly lowered.
"...Have any of you asked her?"
"Have any of you cared about her true thoughts?"
He queried expressionlessly.
Questioning a question that no one dared to answer.
Alvin surveyed the crowd.
Every knight he stared at unconsciously averted their gaze.
"No... you don't care... you only care about yourselves..."
"You bunch of worthless, cowardly, rubbish..."
"...Piling everyone's hopes onto one person's shoulders. Are you even worthy to call yourselves knights?!"
His voice, like a resounding bell, echoed through the square, lingering for a long time. The heart-wrenching words struck each knight's heart like a heavy hammer.
They were scolded.
But no one could refute.
Gawain's face turned slightly pale.
The hand that had firmly gripped the sword hilt began to tremble slightly.
Indeed.
Because, it was impossible to refute...
What the other person said was indisputable, a cruel reality that everyone subconsciously concealed.
Originally, the ritual of choosing a king by pulling out the sword already violated the righteousness of a knight's sacrifice.
The method didn't matter.
People just needed a... savior.
They didn't dare to face the dragon directly.
And who could defeat that guy, Vortigern?
Even Gawain, the invincible Knight of the Sun under the sunlight, who was born with the companion of the sacred sword, had almost lost confidence after witnessing the tyrannical figure of the vile king turning into a dragon and devouring the light on the battlefield.
It was definitely not a monster that... he could vanquish.
But...
...If it's the king, there might be a chance?
Everyone thought so.
Through the ritual of choosing a king, the person would be elevated to the status of a god.
Then, they wouldn't have to work so hard!
Perhaps, they wouldn't have to bear such great pressure and responsibility!
Because, with the king in front, they could handle it!
A dream called the Ideal King, built by everyone's selfishness and conflicts.
It was mercilessly torn apart by the black knight before their eyes.
Revealing the inside, the bloody truth.
The knights remained silent.
That bitter taste.
The shame of having their wounds exposed.
It left them speechless.
No wind, no music.
In this deathly silence.
Towards the tearful golden-haired girl on the majestic horse.
Slowly, Alvin slowly raised his palm.
I will dismantle your idol.
I will break your sacred sword.
I will let you witness the lies piled up on this island just to let you die.
Finally, I reached out my hand to you.
Take my hand, Artoria.
I will take you, breaking free from this fate.
What we lost is just the chains, and what we will gain is the entire world.
"Artoria..."
He said gently, his words like a light breeze.
"Follow me back..."
"...Shut up, Alvin!"
Crimson petals fluttered down.
The half-incubus's figure quietly emerged amidst the falling flowers.
A bounded field suddenly unfolded, cutting off everyone outside of the Round Table and Alvin. The noisy crowd could only witness the silence within.
Merlin's expression had never been so solemn.
Even when he was enveloped in Alvin's sword technique, his face still bore a light and joyful smile. However, at this moment, Merlin's expression finally turned serious because he truly felt the immense danger.
Having an unpredictable variable was amusing, but now it seemed to be getting too much.
He could clearly see Artoria's trance-like state at this moment.
If, in front of everyone's eyes, the Red Dragon betrayed and joined the White Dragon's side, it would be an extremely heavy blow to the morale of all of Britain!
And that was just a minor matter...
...The more important thing was that if the crucial moment of Artoria becoming king was disturbed.
Then, in the next century, the predetermined events would almost inevitably be triggered!
It would lead to the destruction of the entire world!
Alvin, you're causing endless trouble...
"Lily, don't believe this scammer!" The half-incubus spoke coldly. "Have you forgotten how he abandoned you in the first place?"
"Merlin, only you, the trash among the trash, disgust me the most."
It was just a little bit more, and she would have been pulled down from that throne.
Although it was expected to be interrupted.
However, those words made Alvin almost burst into laughter due to anger.
"When you tried to imprison me in your illusion for a whole year, I broke it with insight in just one month."
"I watched... as you traveled with Kay and Artoria, and you dare to call me a scammer?"
"You really have a thick skin, Merlin! I really want to peel off your face and see how many faces are inside."
...What?
Sir Alvin is saying... what...
The moment the dull nerves finally realized the content.
The brain seemed to surge with dizziness.
Breathing became obstructed, and vision began to blur.
Merlin... he used illusions to trap Sir Alvin...
So, that's why Sir Alvin has been missing for so long...
She raised her eyes in disbelief, looking at the magus's magnificent figure, and almost tremblingly pronounced that name.
"Merlin..."
"Don't believe his nonsense, Lily."
The magus said so, with an indifferent expression that showed no emotion.
"Ridiculous, Alvin. Do you think your words have any credibility?"
