In the British Isles—
As the sacred sword traced a sharp, flawless arc through the air, it struck with such precision and overwhelming force that it seemed capable of cutting even light itself. In the very next instant, a colossal dragon was split in two, its life extinguished without the slightest chance to react.
The impact echoed across the surroundings, and the ground trembled faintly as the creature collapsed.
Seeing that the draconic monster—which had threatened the entire region for days—had finally been defeated, the surrounding knights let out sighs of relief, as if a massive weight had been lifted from their shoulders. Soon after, almost instinctively, they all turned their gazes toward the one responsible for this feat, their faces filled with respect, admiration, and absolute reverence.
She had skin as white as freshly fallen snow, golden hair resting gently at shoulder length, and emerald-green eyes that reflected unwavering determination. Her face was flawlessly beautiful even without any trace of makeup, and her expression carried a natural nobility that felt almost transcendental.
She wore pale silver armor that gleamed under the sunlight, along with a large blue cloak fluttering in the wind, while a single tuft of golden hair swayed softly with the breeze.
That figure, holding the sacred sword with both elegance and firmness, was a woman of breathtaking beauty—but beyond that, she was nobler, stronger, and more magnificent than any knight in this world.
She was the sovereign of this land.
The King of Knights, Artoria Pendragon.
"Alright, that takes care of the problem. Please arrange for the body to be transported back to Camelot."
Artoria lightly shook the sacred sword in her hand. Despite the fierce battle that had just taken place, not a single drop of blood could be seen on its blade. Her voice was calm, steady, and authoritative, conveying absolute reliability.
The draconic monster she had slain was a high-level creature that had escaped from the nearby Forest of Monsters. Before being brought down, it had already caused significant destruction—several villages had been razed, and nearly a hundred people had been devoured by the abomination.
Even ordinary Knights of the Round Table were incapable of facing such a creature.
That was why the King of Knights herself had to act personally to ensure everyone's safety.
Any other king would never step onto the battlefield alone in the face of such a threat. But Artoria Pendragon was not just any king.
She was one who protected her people.
And because of that, she always stood at the front lines.
"Yes, as you command! As expected of our king!"
"Even a dragon was defeated so easily… The King of Knights truly is invincible!"
"Exactly! They say the third prince of the Kingdom of Palettia is the strongest, but I don't believe that!"
The knights voiced their praise openly. There was no trace of flattery in their words—only pure conviction, a faith deeply rooted in their hearts.
In the past, many knights had left Camelot after discovering that Artoria was a woman.
Even so, many remained.
Even knowing the truth, they chose to stay by her side of their own will, dedicating their swords and their lives to her.
Their loyalty was absolute.
They firmly believed that the King of Knights was invincible.
They believed she was eternal.
They believed that before them stood the greatest king the world could ever have.
But what these knights did not know was—
[Ahem… that was a close one. Even so… I ended up getting injured, didn't I? It's been so long since the last time…]
A thin trickle of blood discreetly ran down Artoria's gauntlet.
After confirming that no one was watching, she quickly concealed the wound, maintaining her flawless composure.
She was not invincible.
She had lost what once made her untouchable.
The legendary sheath, Avalon—the artifact that protected her from all pain and harm—had been lost some time ago.
Artoria: [I'm in a difficult situation.]
The monster she had just defeated was merely a terrestrial dragon, incapable of flight, yet still a creature whose power far exceeded human limits.
The fact that Artoria, without Avalon, had managed to defeat it while sustaining only minor injuries was already an extraordinary feat.
If a creature of that level were to appear in a small or medium-sized kingdom, it would undoubtedly be considered a calamity capable of annihilating the entire nation.
Fortunately… no one noticed.
Artoria let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Normally, such a feat would be worthy of celebration.
But she could not afford that luxury.
She had to hide any sign of weakness.
Because the King of Knights could not bleed.
In the eyes of her subordinates, she was the absolute symbol of invincibility—someone who could never be defeated, injured, or even touched.
Ironically, this was a direct consequence of her own glorious past.
In the last eleven wars she had fought, Artoria had defeated entire armies without shedding a single drop of blood.
Even when enemy blades struck her body, they failed to inflict any damage.
Even against monsters superior to humans, she emerged victorious without injury.
That flawless record had become a powerful deterrent.
But now… it had become a burden.
If her enemies discovered that she could be wounded, their morale would rise dramatically.
At the same time, the confidence of her allies would be shaken.
That was why Artoria did not dare show even the slightest sign of weakness.
Even though her arm throbbed with pain to the point where she could barely hold her sword, she still maintained a calm expression, as if nothing had happened.
She had to appear invincible.
Always.
"Yes, yes… trying to act tough again?"
A carefree voice suddenly rang out.
A white-haired mage appeared as if out of nowhere.
Among everyone under the King of Knights' command, only one person dared to speak to her like this.
Artoria turned her gaze toward him and replied calmly:
"You've arrived at the right time. Merlin, please heal the wound on my arm. Make sure no one notices."
"Alright, alright… but honestly, you didn't need to go personally, you know? You could've let Gawain or Lancelot handle it, or even sent an entire unit."
"The result would have been the same. The cost would have been higher. If I do it myself, it's more efficient."
Artoria answered without hesitation, lightly clenching her hand as it gradually recovered under the effects of healing magic.
She always chose the most rational option.
Merlin sighed, showing a bitter smile.
Deep down, he felt conflicted.
After all, it was he who had shaped Artoria into what she was.
From birth, she had carried the destiny of becoming a king.
From childhood, her life had been devoted to learning what it meant to rule.
She slept only three hours a day—and even during that brief time, Merlin continued to instill in her the teachings of a king.
No rest.
No breaks.
Merlin knew better than anyone.
He was the creator of the "perfect king."
And at the same time… the one who bore that sin.
"But speaking of which… I really didn't expect you to get injured. I mean… being hurt by a terrestrial dragon?"
Merlin commented, surprised.
To others, dragons were terrifying monsters.
But Artoria herself was practically a dragon in human form—the Red Dragon of Britain.
For her to be injured by such a creature… was unusual.
Artoria hesitated for a moment.
Her previously calm expression grew slightly tense.
She placed a hand on her stomach and frowned.
"Artoria? What's wrong?"
Merlin's eyes widened in alarm.
It was rare to see her show pain so clearly.
That alone was enough to unsettle him.
That expression… he had only seen it when Avalon was lost.
For a moment, he thought something equally serious had happened.
Artoria then opened her mouth, wearing an extremely serious expression:
"I'm hungry."
"…"
Merlin's eyes turned into dots.
"Huh?"
"I can't fight properly when I'm hungry. If I were well-fed, I could defeat that kind of monster in a single strike. So… Merlin, how long until dinner?"
She asked, completely serious.
Merlin remained silent for a moment.
The corners of his lips twitched slightly.
And then he thought, resigned:
…Yes. That is definitely very much like Artoria.
---
(End of Chapter)