After the Holy Selection

"So it was Lord Li Ye. You came back with Mordred? Why aren't you wearing any clothes—"

Gawain wore a springlike smile as he passed Li Ye and arrived outside the city gates.

At the sight of Gawain, the Refugees who recognized him grew excited.

"Everyone!

I sincerely thank you all for coming. This night has been exceedingly long;

the Human Era has already perished, and this tiny world will likewise meet its end. The Lord has passed judgment. There will no longer be any place for humanity to live upon this land."

"That's right. Other than the Holy City of Camelot, there is no land left where one can survive!

Our Holy City is a complete, perfect, pure-white kingdom of a thousand years. Beyond these gates, an ideal world awaits you."

Gawain's voice resounded through the heavens, spreading across the land like sunlight.

It caused the Refugees to burst into cheers.

Gawain continued, "My deepest thanks to the people willing to follow me to the Holy City, as well as all of you who came of your own accord. It must have been a long and arduous journey.

But it will all end now! My King will accept all people, whether heathens or foreign races. There will be no exceptions!"

Gawain abruptly changed his tone. "But—before that, you must receive My King's permission!"

Before Gawain had even finished speaking, Li Ye suddenly raised his head. At some point, a figure had appeared atop the endless city walls.

Her pure-white armor displayed all the majesty of a king.

The Lion King's cold voice instantly overwhelmed the entire scene—

"Those who can be guided to the end are exceedingly few. Human nature is corrupt and ugly;

therefore, I shall conduct a selection. I shall choose souls that will never be defiled, souls that will never be swayed by evil.

Humans who are innately and eternally unchanging—humans forever untainted."

As the Lion King's proclamation drew to a close, faint magical energy spread out like a tide, instantly covering every Refugee present.

A soft radiance rose.

"Mom, you're glowing!"

"What is this light—"

Cries of alarm immediately rang out as everyone stared in shock at the emerging glow.

The Lion King said, "The Holy Selection has concluded. Only these nine may enter the Holy City;

retrieve them, Lord Li Ye—"

"!"

The person chosen by the Lion King left all the knights present dumbfounded.

Gawain, in particular, looked at Li Ye in astonishment.

Li Ye, however, stepped forward without hesitation, his tone calm.

"As you command—"

He then walked past Gawain, his gaze sweeping over the stunned Refugees.

"Everyone, I deeply regret this, but this is also for the sake of preserving future generations;

the King wishes for you to accept purification. Therefore, Holy Punishment will now be carried out!"

As his words fell, the motionless Purification Knights slowly drew their swords and walked toward the people who had not been selected.

Unlike the Crusaders yesterday, this was a one-sided massacre initiated by Li Ye.

Li Ye did not choose to look away. His pale golden vertical pupils took in the face of every person who died beneath the Purification Knights' blades.

This is necessary for survival—

That was what Li Ye thought.

Only after the nine selected people entered the Holy City did the first Holy Selection come to an end.

"You actually looked pretty convincing!"

With nothing better to do, Mordred came over and grinned as she nudged Li Ye with her elbow.

"You did very well, Lord Li Ye."

Like an older brother, Gawain patted Li Ye's shoulder, as though he had only now truly acknowledged Li Ye's status as a knight.

"Lord Li Ye did very well."

At that moment, the Lion King's indifferent voice came from above. The Lion King silently descended not far from Li Ye and removed her helmet.

Gawain and the others all dropped to one knee and said in unison, "My King—"

"Lord Li Ye has adapted to the Dragon Blood quickly."

The Lion King walked before Li Ye, seemingly surprised by his compatibility with the Dragon Blood.

Li Ye did not raise his head, striving to keep himself calm. "Yes. This campaign to eliminate the Crusaders made me better understand the might of My King's blessing—"

"Very good. I shall grant you the title of the last seat of the Knights of the Round Table—"

The Lion King's words were shocking. Even Li Ye could no longer remain composed. He looked up in astonishment and met the Lion King's cold eyes.

The Holy Selection had ended, but rumors of the Holy City of Camelot as an ideal paradise had already spread throughout the land.

An endless stream of people would make their way toward this ideal land.

Yet Li Ye, who had obtained the title of Knight of the Round Table less than a day after taking office, did not enter the Holy City with Gawain and the other Knights of the Round Table.

It was not that he did not want to. Rather, he could not.

"Lord Li Ye, go and see what the Sun King's current situation is."

While granting Li Ye the title of Knight of the Round Table, the Lion King had also personally assigned him a truly deadly mission.

I'm supposed to investigate the Sun King?

Filled with self-doubt, Li Ye could only watch Gawain and the others follow the Lion King into Camelot while Camelot's gates shut him outside.

He could only stand in the desolate outskirts with a group of silent Purification Knights, responsible for cleaning up the aftermath of the Holy Selection.

After exchanging a glance with the Purification Knights cleaning up the remnants of the Holy Selection, Li Ye became even more annoyed. "A bunch of blockheads!"

The Purification Knights, who had been subjected to Madness Enhancement, naturally did not understand him and silently continued their work.

After spending some time, Li Ye and the Purification Knights cremated all the Refugees' bodies.

As the blazing fire swallowed the pile of corpses that had once been living people, Li Ye remained expressionless.

At that moment, he recalled what King Hassan had said about understanding death.

Not enough. This is not death.

"Lord Lancelot, so you were here."

After searching for a while, Li Ye finally found Lancelot in the outskirts of Camelot.

"It seems Lord Li Ye is ready." Lancelot smiled.

Lancelot was referring to the lesson he and Li Ye had agreed upon yesterday, to begin after the Holy Selection ended.

Li Ye hesitated slightly. "Lord Lancelot, could we simplify the content? Preferably, I'd like magical energy usage and swordsmanship that can be mastered in a short time."

"Hmm? Lord Li Ye, it is not that I refuse you, but such skills are built through accumulated effort. They are difficult to master quickly. Is something urgent happening?"

Hearing that, Li Ye said somewhat helplessly, "The King gave me a mission, but my abilities are insufficient. That is why I want to take a risky path and reach the greatest possible achievement in the shortest amount of time."

"Oh? What mission did My King assign that has troubled you so much, Li Ye?" Lancelot immediately became curious. Ever since meeting Li Ye, Li Ye had always given him an inexplicable sense of confidence.

Whether facing the King or the Knights of the Round Table, Li Ye possessed a certain confidence.

What sort of mission could trouble Li Ye?

"Go west and investigate the territory of another king."

Li Ye took a deep breath, already considering how to beg the other side not to kill him.

"Lord Li Ye, there is another king?"

Lancelot asked in surprise.

"That king was summoned from another realm by the Magus of Jerusalem when My King destroyed Jerusalem. His name is the Sun King—Ozymandias. His strength is such that he can even contend with the King on equal footing."