Lamorak, Gawain

Time spent in training always passes quickly.

Amidst nearly endless combat and study, the three of them transitioned from their initial liveliness to their current silence.

Over the past year, all three underwent a transformation, shedding their frivolity and impatience.

The one who changed the most was Artoria; previously, her greatest flaw was her recklessness, but after facing a Phantasmal Beast capable of rivaling a dragon, she forced herself to stop charging headlong into danger.

During that battle, due to her rashness, Kay and Lancelot were severely injured while trying to save her; Kay was left with a vertical scar on his forehead, and Lancelot nearly lost a leg.

The Phantasmal Beast, which the three of them could have defeated by working together, was ultimately slaughtered in a frenzy by an enraged Anno.

Afterward, Artoria was uncharacteristically scolded harshly by Merlin, yet Lancelot and Kay did not blame her, choosing instead to comfort her.

Gratitude and remorse were buried deep within Artoria's heart.

"As a ruler, leading from the front is a noble virtue, but allowing your subjects to fall into peril due to recklessness is the folly of a king," Merlin said earnestly.

Anno, who was tending to the severely wounded Lancelot nearby, couldn't help but pout upon hearing Merlin's words.

King Uther had actually done exactly that back in the day, but sometimes, folly is necessary.

Sacrifices, after all, could never be avoided.

However, he did not say it out loud.

In short, a year had passed; Lancelot and Kay had acquired formidable martial arts, and Artoria had barely met the criteria to become a king.

It was time for them to set off and return to Camelot.

Inside the royal city of Camelot.

The interior of the Camelot Royal Court remained in chaos, a state of disorder that had persisted ever since Anno disbanded the Chalk Knights. Currently, the city was controlled by several major noble families, while the Royal Court stood empty.

Under the maintenance of the former Chalk Knights, no one dared to lay a finger on the Royal Court.

A sturdy knight walked along the path of the Camelot Royal Court.

His name was Lamorak, formerly a prince of a small nation surrounding Britain. After his father attempted to encroach upon Britain and was subsequently swept aside by the Glory Knights of Britain led by Anno, Lamorak, who held little influence within his own royal family, sought out Anno and expressed his desire to join his knight order.

The reason was simple: Anno's powerful martial arts and presence had deeply captivated him.

Lamorak was obsessed with martial arts; his spearmanship was exceptional, and even at a young age, he could take on five opponents at once. Anno, recognizing his potential, agreed to let him join the Glory Knights of Britain.

By the time the Glory Knights of Britain were renamed and eventually disbanded as the Chalk Knights, he had risen to the position of vice-captain of the Chalk Knights based solely on his spear skills.

As for now, he was responsible for guarding the main gate of the Camelot Royal Court.

His captain—the Chalk Knight Anno—had told him before leaving that he was going to search for the successor to the throne, and that he must guard the throne until his return.

He had done as he was told, though in his heart, he believed that the wise, battle-hardened, and knowledgeable Anno was the one who should be sitting in that chair.

"Brother Lamorak." A voice came from the side.

Lamorak looked up to see a boy with light golden hair.

The boy's name was Gawain, a youth of over eight years old.

This boy came every day to keep Lamorak company and bring him food.