NOVEL NEXT WORLD C115
Chapter 115: The Successor of the Holy King (1)
If you asked about the power hierarchy of Galatein Fortress, even the children running errands there could answer without hesitation.
The first rank was, of course, Princess Elisabeth, and the second was Count Bisten, the Master Knight.
But then, who was ranked third?
“Am I the third?”
“You’re the Fortress Commander, aren’t you?”
“Oh, right. I am the Fortress Commander.”
It was Sir Martin, the commander of Galatein Fortress, who had forgotten even his own position.
Since the Princess began residing in Galatein Fortress, he had no reason to step into the spotlight. But now, with a sudden vacuum of authority, he was forced to resume the responsibilities of his rank.
That night, after their historically decisive victory, Princess Elisabeth collapsed.
It was an expected outcome.
After all, she had suffered a wound where one of her arms had been torn off while she was still alive. Despite the priests’ healing magic, she had endured the injury, commanded the battle, and even welcomed the Holy King. Her superhuman perseverance deserved praise rather than surprise.
Count Bisten, the Master Knight, also collapsed once he confirmed the Princess had fainted.
Exhausted in body and mind from his battle with the Lion King, he too had sustained severe injuries, so this was only natural.
And so, a vacuum of authority arose.
But the issue was that the one who rose to the top of the power hierarchy to fill the void had also collapsed.
“That…the Black Knight of Lothian—no, Count of Lothian? Or should I say, His Majesty the Holy King? Or perhaps the King of Camelot?”
“His Majesty the Holy King seems the most appropriate.”
“Alright. So His Majesty the Holy King collapsed too?”
“Yes.”
The report confirmed he had fainted shortly after entering the fortress.
“Why is everyone collapsing?”
“Considering the scale of that battle, isn’t it understandable?”
“Well, that’s true.”
The light of Camelot had filled not just the night sky but the entire world. Thinking about the figure of Yoo Seong holding the Sword of Light high still made Sir Martin’s heart race.
It was the very image he had imagined as a child, reading stories of King Arthur.
‘We greet the rightful King of humanity, who has finally returned…’
Those were the words the Princess had said when welcoming His Majesty the Holy King.
The King of Humanity.
The long-awaited return of humanity’s rightful King.
“My chest feels so full.”
In this Era of the Ominous Stars, the King of Humanity had returned.
Just as King Arthur had done in the past, to protect humanity from monsters.
Though Sir Martin was over thirty and far removed from childhood fantasies, he found himself blushing with excitement and struggling to suppress a grin as he thought of the King’s return.
“You look a bit silly,” commented his loyal aide.
“Ahem.”
Clearing his throat to mask his embarrassment, Sir Martin returned to the matter at hand.
“So, he fainted, huh.”
“Yes. For reference, the Guardian General also fainted.”
The Guardian General of the Kingdom of Cabal, a Master Knight.
While Sir Martin was puzzled about why the Guardian General had shown up in the first place, he had stood naturally beside Count Bisten to welcome the King of Humanity, only to faint just as naturally afterward.
“But why did he come, really?”
“Perhaps it had something to do with His Majesty the Holy King? Maybe His Majesty summoned him in advance.”
“That could be it.”
In any case, it wasn’t a matter of great importance.
The Guardian General was an outsider, after all, and didn’t figure into Galatein Fortress’s hierarchy.
“Commander, there’s still one person who hasn’t fainted, remember?”
“Ah, yes, that’s true.”
Among those who had faced the Lion King in battle, one alone had not collapsed.
She was the one who had carried the unconscious Yoo Seong to his room, handled a host of minor tasks, and finally came to find Sir Martin.
“That’s right! I am the King’s Mage, Rene Baltois!”
No longer just the second daughter of the Count of Baltois or a mage serving the Black Knight of Lothian, she was now the King’s Mage.
The mage appointed by the Lady of the Lake to serve the rightful King!
Now she could proudly proclaim it without hesitation—boldly announce that she was the King’s Mage and that Yoo Seong was the rightful King of Camelot!
Seeing Rene’s bright and liberated face as she declared this, Sir Martin found himself clapping instinctively.
It just felt like the right thing to do.
“Hehe, thank you! Please take care of me,” Rene said, suddenly bashful at the applause. She bowed deeply, her cheeks turning red, making Sir Martin smile in response.
“I am Sir Martin, the Commander of Galatein Fortress.”
“And I’m Giselle, his lieutenant,” said a sharp-eyed female knight standing beside Martin.
“I wonder, are you still affiliated with the Baltois family?”
“Yes, I am the second daughter,” Rene answered cheerfully, without a trace of hesitation.
She wanted to share everything, from the day she first received a revelation from the Lady of the Lake—although, technically, it was dismissed as a mere dream—to her steadfast journey to meet Yoo Seong. But she held back, knowing it might reveal the family’s vulnerabilities.
There were more pressing matters.
“Sir Martin, may I use the magical communicator?”
“Of course.”
While the world’s magic had advanced, transmitting large amounts of real-time information over long distances was still no easy task.
But sending a brief message—one announcing that Yoo Seong had defeated the Lion King, rescued the Princess, and been recognized as the King of Humanity—would suffice.
Sir Martin led Rene to the magical communicator in the Commander’s office.
It was a massive cylindrical device with a terminal attached. Though it demanded an absurd amount of magical energy, this was no issue.
After all, standing before it was none other than the King’s Mage.
“Alright, I’ll begin.”
With a ceremonious air, Rene infused her magic into the communicator and began inputting her carefully chosen message.
The world was gray.
It was impossible to distinguish day from night, and warmth was scarce on the barren land.
Yet even this desolation was a relief compared to what lay beyond.
Beyond the gray world, in a land cloaked in darkness rather than ash.
A world without even the remnants of fire.
If it required a name, it could only be called the Abyss.
And the Abyss was spreading.
A figure standing in the gray world turned their gaze toward the barrier.
Yoo Seong opened his eyes.
It felt as though he had been dreaming, but he couldn’t recall the details, and even the faint impressions faded quickly.
“Ah.”
How long had he been asleep?
Letting out a groggy sound, Yoo Seong blinked a few times.
He was in a room, and it was dark.
The bed and blanket beneath him were of the finest quality.
So soft and luxurious that simply lying there made him feel like falling asleep again.
He couldn’t recall seeing anything of this quality, even in Count Artois estate.
Forcing himself upright, Yoo Seong sat up in bed.
If he stayed lying down, he feared sleep might claim him again.
Though his body felt a bit stiff, his mind was clear, and he was brimming with energy.
“Galatein Fortress.”
In a single night, he had lived through what felt like an eternity.
He had seen Hector’s memories while opening Yoo Seong Castle, fought a werebeast assassin, endured an intense two-hour flight, rescued the Princess, and faced the Lion King.
All of it, in just one night.
“Status window.”
At his muttered words, his vision filled with glowing text.
[Level has increased.]
[Level has increased.]
[Level has increased.]
[The caliber of your soul has grown.]
[The caliber of your body has grown.]
[All general skills have leveled up.]
[All Holy King skills have leveled up.]
[All achievement effects have been enhanced.]
[Chivalry – Heir of Light has grown.]
[Summon: Sword of Selection has been added.]
[Achievement Completed: The Sword in the Stone.]
[Achievement Completed: Rank 2 Chivalry.]
[Achievement Completed: Miraculous Victory.]
[Achievement Completed: Heir of Light.]
[Achievement Completed: Slayer of Kings.]
[Achievement: Returned King of Humanity has been unlocked.]
[Achievement: Rescued the Princess.]
[The world of humanity acknowledges you.]
[Virtue has increased significantly.]
[Barrier Collapse Progress: 23%]
[Kate’s level has increased.]
[Vanadain’s level has increased.]
[Diana’s level has increased.]
[Hector’s level has increased.]
[Roland’s level has increased.]
[Morgan’s level has increased.]
[The caliber of the knights has grown.]
[Knight Command: Round Table Oath has been enhanced.]
[Knight Command: Round Table Assembly has been acquired.]
[1,000 Commander Points have been earned.]
[Virtue has increased significantly.]
[The King’s caliber has grown.]
[Acquired the Holy King’s Banner.]
[Rene’s level has increased.]
[Rene’s caliber has grown.]
[The caliber of Jillian has grown.]
[The construction of the Magic Tower has been completed.]
[New troops have been added.]
[New logistical facilities have been added.]
It was truly a great transformation.
Not only had he reached the promotion level in one leap, but his overall abilities had drastically increased.
‘At this level…it’s comparable to Black Knight 09.’
Black Knight 09 of Fantasy Monarch, realized through Sir Kay’s chivalry.
He had reached it.
Now, Yoo Seong’s abilities were on par with Black Knight 09.
And because of that, it became possible.
From Yoo Seong’s fingertips, a golden aura shrouded in jet black began to rise.
The Black Lightning Twelve Forms: Black Sun.
Clenching his fist tightly, Yoo Seong stretched his hand toward the air with a refreshing smile.
Although he was delighted by the Black Lightning Twelve Forms, there was actually something even more welcome.
“Excalibur.”
Otherwise known as the Sword in the Stone.
In Yoo Seong’s hand, the sword of light began to take shape.
A pure white greatsword formed of thought itself.
It wasn’t the true Excalibur.
But this sword, forged from the thoughts of King Arthur and Yoo Seong’s own chivalry, was worthy of being called Excalibur.
‘A sword to protect humanity…’
King Arthur’s wish was simple.
To protect people.
To safeguard their lives.
Yoo Seong recalled the faces of the people he had saved in the Artois County.
Those who had hugged one another and burst into tears or smiled with joy.
When he thought of the children’s smiles he had seen in Lushen, a smile naturally spread on his face.
The workers who built the walls of Lothian, the people rebuilding their homes in the ruins of Baron Volano’s territory—all their lives.
All their lives and livelihoods.
‘To protect people.’
That was King Arthur’s ideal.
The cause he held dear in his heart.
Yoo Seong himself wasn’t much different.
He wanted to protect people from monsters.
He wanted to protect Rene’s smile.
“Successor, have you awoken?”
A voice rang out, timed so precisely it seemed measured with a ruler. Yoo Seong chuckled softly and nodded.
“Yes, come in.”
The one who opened the door and entered was, of course, Rene.
Seeing her as she always appeared brought a smile to Yoo Seong’s face. Raising the Excalibur in his hand, he spoke.
“Rene, look at this—Calib—”
That was as far as he got.
Rene had dashed over and thrown her arms around Yoo Seong, holding him tightly.
Why was she acting like this so suddenly?
No, he could guess why.
Instead of saying anything, Yoo Seong wrapped his arms around her in return.
Small, soft, and warm.
It felt so comforting that he thought he could fall asleep like this, but unfortunately, he couldn’t.
“Seeing your safe face made me act without thinking,” Rene said as she slowly withdrew from Yoo Seong’s arms.
Her face was as red as a tomato, and Yoo Seong, stifling a laugh, asked,
“Were you worried?”
“Yes, you were sleeping so soundly.”
Sleeping soundly was fine, but he had been sleeping so deeply it was almost concerning—so much so that she feared he might not wake up.
No, to be honest, those were just excuses.
The moment she saw his face, the moment she confirmed he was safe, her body had moved on its own.
So Rene gave a clumsy smile.
As she fidgeted with her fingers in embarrassment, shyness, and a mix of other emotions, Yoo Seong couldn’t help but laugh again.
“W-Why are you laughing?”
“Just…I think your smile is as beautiful as ever.”
If Morgan had seen this, she would’ve had plenty to say. But fortunately or unfortunately, it was just Yoo Seong and Rene here.
Because of that, Rene turned red again, pursed her lips, and Yoo Seong, after another laugh, raised Excalibur.
“Anyway, Renée, look at this. It’s Excalibur, Excalibur!”
“Wow, really? The real Excalibur? The Sword in the Stone?”
As expected, Renée’s excitement soared instantly.
She wasn’t as intense as Robin, but Rene was also a big fan of King Arthur’s stories.
“Well, it’s not the real thing, but it’s as good as the real deal.”
“Huh?”
“Well, it’s a long story, but for now, shouldn’t we check out the status window and Yoo Seong Castle first?”
“Wow! Shall we? You’ve leveled up a lot, haven’t you?”
Excited by the mention of Yoo Seong Castle, Rene sat right next to Yoo Seong.
After putting away Excalibur, Yoo Seong turned to Rene and said,
“Of course. The knights have grown stronger, too, so we might be able to promote the unit. Oh, and the Magic Tower has been completed as well.”
“Wow, the Magic Tower!”
There were, in fact, many other things to check.
He was curious about the newly added Knight Command: Round Table Assembly, among other things.
“Ugh, but I feel a bit sorry for Jillian.”
Jillian, who always got more excited than Rene whenever a new building was added.
“Well, there’s nothing we can do about that. We can’t wait until we meet Jillian again, can we?”
“That’s true. Hehe.”
Clearly in high spirits, Rene lightly swung her arms, but she suddenly froze and looked at Yoo Seong.
“Oh, right, right. I’ve already given Count Carian a brief report on the situation. The fortress is currently under the management of Sir Martin.”
“What about the princess?”
“She’s not in any life-threatening condition, but she’s so exhausted that she’s still asleep.”
“That’s a relief. She seemed pretty badly hurt.”
“Exactly.”
After so many events in a single night and a battle against the Lion King that defied imagination, it all still felt a bit unreal to the two of them.
But it had all happened, and now, they needed to focus on the tasks at hand.
“All right, then. What should we check first—Yoo Seong Castle or the level-ups?”
When Yoo Seong asked, Renée tilted her head, narrowed her eyes slightly, and said,
“Successor, are you really asking me that?”
As if you don’t already know what I’m going to say.
Rather than answering, Yoo Seong moved his fingers, and a large window of light appeared before the two of them.