I Became a Mythical Knight King

Chapter 128: Night of the Royal Capital (3)

When Yoo Seong first heard about the sacred artifacts of Camelot, the first thing that came to mind was the weapons and armor of Camelot.

Usually, in games, novels, manga, and so on, when sacred artifacts were mentioned, things like sacred swords or sacred armor would appear but after thinking about it a bit more, he realized that weapons and armor would be unlikely.

The reason was simple: Merlin left the sacred artifacts after King Arthur had departed on his final expedition.

Although it was still unclear what exactly King Arthur’s expedition was or what events transpired, at least one fact could be certain.

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table had set out on their final expedition to fight a decisive battle.

Would it really be possible to leave behind not just one but six powerful weapons and armor pieces when faced with such a decisive battle?

In Yoo Seong’s opinion, it wasn’t.

Among the six sacred artifacts, there might be some weapons, but not all six would be weapons—that was the conclusion Yoo Seong reached.

Of course, it was a hypothesis with many variables.

According to the records, Merlin had set out on the expedition a little later than King Arthur, so the possibility that Merlin created new weapons and left them for his descendants couldn’t be ignored.

‘Well, I’ll know once I open it.’

That’s why whenever Yoo Seong had free time he would enjoy light intellectual games by deducing what the sacred artifacts might be.

But then—

‘This wasn’t even on the list of possibilities.’

The scene inside the room where the sacred artifact was sealed somewhat matched his expectations.

This was because he had already encountered Camelot’s architectural style several times through the buildings of Yoo Seong Castle.

The ceiling, walls, and floor were all white, with a sky-blue circle drawn on the floor in the center, as if symbolizing a lake and a small altar placed in the center of the sky-blue circle.

Up to this point, everything was as expected, but the object placed on top of the altar was far beyond his expectations.

“Um…is that the sacred artifact?”

At Rene’s question, everyone was momentarily taken aback before turning to look at Jillian, as if by agreement.

They thought that she, being a saint, would be the expert in this matter.

“Uh, that’s… uh… maybe, maybe… it is?”

With an uncertain face that looked like she might burst into tears at any moment, whatever trust they had was about to vanish, but instead of criticizing poor Jillian, everyone turned their attention to the object presumed to be the sacred artifact placed on the altar.

In fact, because it was so unexpected, Yoo Seong could somewhat guess the purpose of the object.

‘I’ll know once I touch it.’

The sacred artifact definitely seemed to be in a sealed state.

Approaching the central altar, Yoo Seong reached out toward the emblem of Camelot floating above the sacred artifact, just as he had done at the entrance to the sacred artifact’s room.

Two days after the victory ceremony of the Holy King’s Army, the grand banquet to be held at the royal palace was proceeding as planned.

Since invitation cards had been issued several days before the victory ceremony, there were more nobles in the royal capital than usual.

And as always, they were dedicated to social activities.

Not just laughing, chatting, and having fun, but movements to form factions or join them by getting to know each other and strengthening bonds.

And among these movements of the nobles, what attracted the most attention was the behavior of the Baltois Count family—that is, Juliet Baltois.

The Baltois Count family had always been one of the most powerful families in the kingdom.

Being a Border Count guarding the border with the Kingdom of Bertoria meant having powerful military strength, which also implied possessing the wealth to maintain such a large force.

That’s why, despite being located in the western part, far from the royal capital, many central nobles had wanted to interact with the Baltois Count family.

And now that same Baltois family had finally come to the royal capital, moreover, bearing a particularly splendid title.

The King’s Magician, Rene Baltois.

Until just a few months ago, she was a name known only to those who knew, but not anymore.

It would be no exaggeration to say that the entire kingdom, including the royal capital, knew her name.

The beautiful Rene Baltois, the successor of Merlin who received the oracle of the Goddess of the Lake and greeted the Holy King before anyone else.

The returned Human King cherished his magician dearly, just as King Arthur had done.

Stories and songs about the love between the Human King and the King’s Magician echoed throughout the royal capital every day, and rumors spread that the relationship between the Baltois Count family and the returned Human King was so tight that they were virtually one entity.

So how could anyone treat the Baltois Count family with indifference?

Of course, most nobles still thought about the union of the Crown Princess and the Human King.

Even if the Human King and the King’s Magician loved each other as a man and woman, many believed that the actual marriage would be with the Crown Princess.

Marriage was marriage, and love was love.

This was a natural perspective for nobles who viewed marriage as a means of transaction.

And because of this, nobles spared no effort to get closer to the Baltois Count family.

Even if the Human King and the King’s Magician didn’t end up together, Baltois was still Baltois, and the King’s Magician was still the King’s Magician.

What harm could there be in being on good terms with the family that included humanity’s strongest archmage?

Anyway, for all these reasons, Juliet had to manage a busy schedule every day.

After the victory ceremony, there were even those who gathered purely to hear her stories, leaving her with hardly any time to rest.

Two days passed like this and when Juliet came to her senses, she found herself facing the situation of it being the day before the grand banquet at the royal palace. She frowned at the dress standing in the middle of her room.

‘But where is she running off to every day?’

She couldn’t see her sister, who should be getting ready for tomorrow, since morning.

No, it wasn’t just today.

For the past two days, it had been hard to even catch a glimpse of her sister.

What could she be doing?

His Majesty the Holy King seemed to be busy training every day.

Perhaps she had received some kind of secret mission?

In fact, despite the festive atmosphere in the royal capital due to the victory ceremony and grand banquet, the invasion of monsters continued.

Although there was no imminent event like the Lion King’s advance, it was certain that the northern Kingdom of Bertoria was under attack by monsters, and it was a fact, not a rumor, that more than half of the small countries located in the eastern and southern parts of the Empire had perished.

The miracle of Galatein Fortress and the return of the Human King were certainly encouraging events, but the human world was under attack by monsters, and the monsters’ attacks were growing fiercer day by day.

After this grand banquet, they would have to wake up from the sweet dream and face the cruel reality.

‘Yes, a sweet dream. So shouldn’t we enjoy this grand banquet all the more?’

Looking at the dress she had prepared for her sister, Juliet unconsciously smiled bitterly.

She felt as if she was saying it to herself, not to Rene.

Quietly looking at her own dress placed next to Rene’s, Juliet opened the window to get some fresh air.

The incredibly clear sky of the royal capital filled Juliet’s view.

‘Winter is coming.’

Although the biting cold hadn’t arrived yet, the air was gradually getting colder.

Was that why?

Or was it due to anxiety about the upcoming war?

Why did the spotlessly clear sky seem rather ominous?

Juliet, who had unconsciously pursed her lips, deliberately turned her gaze and looked back at the dresses in the room and the next evening the grand banquet began.

Yoo Seong and Rene faced each other in a small room connected to the banquet hall where the grand banquet was being held in the royal capital.

While Yoo Seong had been the host at the victory banquet in Legion, this time at the royal capital’s grand banquet, he was a guest—and the most important guest at that—which was why he was waiting in the reception room to time his entrance instead of entering right away.

Of course, being the most important guest, the timing of his entrance would be when Yoo Seong’s preparations were complete, so there was no need to wait long.

The doors would soon open, and Yoo Seong’s entrance would be announced to the entire banquet hall but it wasn’t immediate, just soon.

That’s why Yoo Seong looked at Rene standing beside him during this brief waiting period and couldn’t help but smile.

“Why are you smiling?”

When Yoo Seong smiled, Rene asked with a flustered face.

Her face, blushing and looking up at him, was so cute that Yoo Seong smiled once more before he could answer.

“No, just…You look beautiful today too.”

At the victory banquet in Legion, Rene had worn a dark blue dress, but this time she was wearing a white dress with a slightly yellowish tint.

At Yoo Seong’s straightforward yet simple compliment, Rene smiled slightly and then fidgeted with her fingers as she spoke.

“Do, do I?”

“Hmm?”

“Do I look like the Goddess of the Night?”

At Rene’s words, blushing not only her face but down to her neck—no, her collarbone, Yoo Seong gritted his teeth.

If he didn’t, he wouldn’t know what expression he would make because Rene was so cute.

Expectation was hidden within anxiety and impatience.

Meeting Rene’s slightly trembling golden eyes, Yoo Seong cleared his throat once and then whispered in a small voice.

“No, rather than the Goddess of the Night…the Goddess of the Moon?”

“Just, just kill me instead.”

The one suffering with a muffled voice was Morgan.

Standing quite far from Yoo Seong and Rene, she shuddered with a bright red face.

“No, what kind of line is that? I’m so embarrassed I could die just listening. Why is the embarrassment ours to bear?”

Good heavens.

How can a person say such a line?

At least Rene asking if she looked like the Goddess of the Night was cute.

“Rene seems satisfied. That’s what matters, I suppose.”

“Kate, you know your face is red too, right? You’re embarrassed by our lord too, aren’t you?”

At Morgan’s sharp remark, Kate exercised her right to remain silent instead of answering, and Hector smiled bitterly and said.

“That was definitely a bit…Even if the parties involved are happy, some education might be needed.”

“Right? That’s what I’m saying!”

“Be quiet. Please be silent.”

While Kate was forcing Morgan to stop with words that essentially meant shut up, Yoo Seong and Rene continued their conversation.

“My sister dressed me up.”

When Rene, whose tension had risen at the words that she was like the Goddess of the Moon, looked at herself and spoke, Yoo Seong nodded.

“You two are still close.”

Sir Juliet is kind too.

Should I say she’s the epitome of a wonderful adult who clearly distinguishes between public and private matters?

At Yoo Seong’s words, who seemed unaware of Juliet’s true nature, Rene momentarily felt the urge to reveal the truth, but it was only for a moment.

Suppressing the urge, Rene spoke somewhat petulantly.

“I got scolded a lot yesterday. Asked where I was wandering around without saying a word.”

As Juliet had guessed, Rene’s busy schedule over the past few days was due to a special mission from Yoo Seong.

Because of the identity of the sacred artifact inherited by the Silatein Kingdom, there was a need to investigate the royal palace.

“Oh, wait. Did you keep it a secret from Sir Juliet too?”

“Yes? Shouldn’t I have?”

Since it wasn’t something Yoo Seong had announced yet.

“No, well…That’s true. But, hmm…Since it’s Sir Juliet I was thinking it might have been okay to tell her that you were busy investigating the royal palace. From now on, you don’t have to keep everything a secret unconditionally.”

Because it was none other than Rene’s sister Juliet, the representative of the Baltois family.

At Yoo Seong’s words, Rene momentarily made an aggrieved expression as if she had been scolded needlessly, but soon smiled brightly again.

“I’ll do that from now on.”

“Sorry, I should have made this clear from the beginning.”

“No, confidentiality is basic. My sister said so too.”

“As expected of Sir Juliet.”

Rene felt like Yoo Seong’s misunderstanding had deepened, but she couldn’t say anything about it because before she could start speaking, the voice of a palace official was heard.

“The preparations in the banquet hall are complete. Would you like to enter?”

“Yes, please.”

When Yoo Seong answered with a smile, a childlike innocent smile spread across the palace official’s face.

A moment later, as the voice announcing the entrance of the Human King and the King’s Magician echoed throughout the grand banquet hall, the door to the waiting room opened wide.

The scene beyond, the spectacle of a banquet hall boasting overwhelming splendor incomparable to Lushen and Legion, and the numerous people watching intently with bated breath.

Smiling gently as if to ease the tension of Rene, who had frozen at the heart-pounding sight, Yoo Seong slowly stepped towards the banquet hall and looked into the distance.

He could see the Crown Princess seated at the highest seat on the opposite side.

Wearing a silver dress and a crown, she looked as beautiful as a goddess from a story.

After confirming Jillian smiling brightly next to the Cardinal who was sweating cold, followed by Juliet smiling contentedly with Robin, Yoo Seong had already crossed the threshold of the waiting room and set foot inside the banquet hall.

Thunderous applause erupted.

Rene smiled brightly with an exhilarated face, and Yoo Seong raised his hand high to respond to everyone’s cheers.

And Yoo Seong’s eyes turned golden.

At the sight of the banquet hall viewed through the King’s Insight, Yoo Seong hesitated for a moment and smiled bitterly.

“Sorry, Rene. It seems we’ll have to dance next time.”

At Yoo Seong’s words, Rene blinked but soon realized what he meant.

The banquet hall’s scene, which had looked beautiful until just now, seemed to look different.

“Royal Guard, Heavy Infantry, Elite Swordsmen.”

Yoo Seong looked at a certain point as he stepped forward.

Their eyes met too naturally.

[Vampire King’s Familiar]

[Betrayer of the Kingdom]

[ ]

Those who were human but abandoned the path of humanity.

Those who show nothing because they are not human.

The ones who made eye contact with Yoo Seong tried to flee hastily as if they realized something, but it was impossible.

“Assemble.”

Yoo Seong’s chivalry was optimized for surprise attacks and ambushes.

Golden flashes of light emitted brilliant radiance throughout the banquet hall.