The young King Arthur was still dreaming, with the Child of Nightmare instilling in her the knowledge of how to become a king.
Countless clips edited by [Alaya] flashed past.
Sword practice, studying in her dreams... She never had a moment's rest, making countless high school seniors feel ashamed of themselves.
In the blink of an eye, the girl turned fifteen.
An extremely crucial moment had arrived. That was—
Drawing the Sword in the Stone!
The Nameless Heroic Spirit reached out and gently stroked the girl's cowlick, sighing softly. "Ria, you can give all this up and enjoy the life that belongs to you."
"Father King and Merlin both said that some people are born to be kings, while others are born to become bandits. I am the king destined to rule!"
Artoria raised her head slightly, her expression utterly resolute as she looked at the man before her, who was both teacher and friend.
"But what they didn't tell you is that if the road beneath your feet isn't your own choice, then no one knows where the journey will end."
The Nameless Heroic Spirit's voice grew gentler. "Lily, you're not a puppet on strings. You don't need to listen to that bastard!"
Countless petals suddenly surged around them, transforming the barren land into a sea of flowers.
It was beautiful, as if they had stepped into a dream.
A handsome man in a robe as ornate as the flowers, holding a staff, walked out of the void atop countless blossoms.
"Nameless, everyone has their own fate. It's ordained by heaven. Everything you're doing will ultimately be futile."
The incomparably handsome Magician of Flowers spoke in an operatic tone. "Draw the Sword in the Stone, Artoria. This is your destiny. You are destined to become king!"
"Then what is the price? Merlin!"
The Nameless Heroic Spirit drew his sword and pointed it at him.
He looked every inch the iron-blooded warrior, as if he would draw his sword and cut Merlin down at the slightest disagreement.
The Magician of Flowers did not conceal a thing. "Once you take up that sword, you will no longer be human. All humans will hate you, and in the end, you will meet a tragic death!"
He also felt sorry for the child, so he told her every consequence and left the choice to her.
"Merlin, there are two kinds of birds in this world. One throws itself into flying with all its might."
The Nameless Heroic Spirit suddenly looked at him with deep disdain. "The other can't fly on its own, so it lays eggs with ease and frantically urges its children to fly!"
Under his words,
Even the powerful Child of Nightmare, strong beyond belief, was momentarily stunned. "Two kinds of birds?"
"Exactly, those two kinds. Think about it—aren't you the latter?"
The Nameless Heroic Spirit's expression grew increasingly contemptuous, as if he were looking at a white-haired scammer on the internet.
"The latter... can't fly on his own..."
Under his questioning, Merlin suddenly fell silent.
He thought seriously and analyzed carefully, then suddenly realized—
It wasn't merely similar. It was exactly the same!
At the same time, the barrage of comments suddenly multiplied:
[The earlier narration said that King Uther and Merlin couldn't defeat Vortigern, so they joined forces to create King Arthur and frantically forced her to work hard every day!]
[I feel so sorry for King Arthur. She had it even worse than I did in my senior year of high school!]
[Someone sighed that parents nowadays are really willing to spend money on their children, signing them up for one cram school after another. Then someone beside them said: Of course. Forcing your child is easier than forcing yourself!]
[MD, I don't even have the chance to force my own child. (tears)]
[Dammit, this single person suddenly got emotionally wrecked by the comment above!]
"One works hard to fly on their own, while the other lays eggs and desperately urges their children to fly..."
Luo Ya's eyes lit up.
Without hesitation, she turned and ran over, puffing out her steel-plated chest. "Wei Gong, are you the second kind?"
"..."
Wei Gong was speechless for a moment.
How had the words he used to mock Merlin ended up being used against him by this brat?
He reached out and ruffled her hair. "If I were that kind, I would've signed you up for a bunch of cram schools long ago. Would I still let you play games every day?"
"Hmph, then thank you very much!"
Luo Ya pouted slightly and scampered back to the sofa.
He really couldn't be faulted on that point.
She and Ilya curled up on the sofa and continued watching the video.
It showed that
After mocking Merlin, the Nameless Heroic Spirit looked at the girl again. "You already know the price of drawing the sword and becoming king. Do you still want it?"
"I want to end the wars. I want everyone to smile!"
Artoria stared at him with her emerald-green eyes, the cowlick atop her head swaying slightly.
"You will face hunger, hatred, ridicule, humiliation, and even betrayal!" the Nameless Heroic Spirit sighed softly.
"I know!"
"Everyone will distance themselves from you. Can you accept this fatal loneliness?"
"I... can accept it!"
Artoria paused for a moment.
She had wanted to ask whether he could stay by her side forever.
But she couldn't do it.
This person had already done too much for her. He shouldn't be bound by her.
The Nameless Heroic Spirit's steady voice continued. "It won't just be your enemies. Your friends, and even your family, will inflict painful blows upon you!"
"I know!"
Artoria lowered her head slightly.
This was precisely the price Merlin had taught her, again and again, that a king was destined to bear.
"You will be betrayed. Your country may be destroyed. Countless people may come to hate you!"
"I don't need people's gratitude, much less their sympathy. I don't need fame. I only want to save this country!" The girl's expression grew more and more resolute.
He asked once more, "Are you willing to kill?"
"I... am willing!"
Artoria closed her eyes, an inescapable pain appearing on her delicate, adorable face.
"One day, you will deny everything you stand for now and sink into endless regret."
The Nameless Heroic Spirit's expression grew increasingly complicated.
He felt pity and heartache, wanting to stop her but having no idea how.
"I know all of this. Please allow me to draw the Sword in the Stone!"
Artoria seized his hand and pleaded with utmost seriousness.
A long silence followed.
The Nameless Heroic Spirit let out a heavy sigh. "You really are an idiot!"
"No, she's a saint!"
Merlin's face beside them was filled with admiration.
As expected of the girl destined to become king—a girl still incredibly immature, yet possessing such lofty convictions.
[I love it, I love it! As expected of The Perfect King!]
[Sigh, this reminds me of the countless reformers throughout history who willingly sacrificed themselves. May this prosperous age be as you wished!]
[The Nameless Heroic Spirit wants to save King Arthur, yet he doesn't want to destroy her convictions. It's really too difficult!]
[These two are so shippable. They're way too sweet!]
Britain, the prime minister's residence.
Mordred secretly glanced at Father King.
It had only been a two-minute conversation, yet it had given her a deeper understanding of Father King.
At that moment,
Mordred suddenly understood why Father King had said—
[I have never hated you. There is only one reason I did not pass the throne to you—you lacked the capacity to become king.]
She had originally thought Father King was denying her.
But now, after watching Father King's conversation with the Nameless Heroic Spirit, she realized that the words were true.
No, no!
This video was fake! How had she suddenly become so immersed in it and subconsciously started treating it as real?
Mordred suddenly came to her senses.
She had not forgotten that she was still betting against Gawain.
If she lost, she would have to eat mashed potatoes for an entire year.
It would be better to kill her!
She cautiously asked, "Father King, what do you think of this Nameless Heroic Spirit?"
"A fraud!"
King Arthur stared fixedly at the video, her expression extremely strange.
That answer instantly put Mordred at ease. She cast a smug glance at Gawain beside her.
She had won!
Even Father King said he was a fraud. She was going to enjoy an entire year of vacation.
She could have as much fun as she wanted!
She was so thrilled that she began treating the video like a movie, and was only missing a bucket of popcorn.
In the video,
The Nameless Heroic Spirit reached out and gently patted the young girl's shoulder. "Then draw the Sword in the Stone. I will become your most loyal knight!"
This time, he did not try to stop her at all.
"All right!"
Artoria walked toward the place where the crowd had gathered.
A sword was thrust conspicuously into a massive stone.
Countless powerful knights had already tried, straining with every ounce of strength they possessed, yet they still could not move it in the slightest.
The knights had even begun to question whether Merlin's prophecy was genuine.
At that moment, no one cared about the unfamiliar, petite figure.
Before you continue