I Became a Mythical Knight King

Chapter 32: Yoo Seong Castle (4)

Ruan Falburg is a priest-knight of the Omphalos Order.

Though their time together was brief, Yoo Seong felt he was close to being an ideal holy knight: kind, righteous, and steadfast, but never foolish.

Such a person requested a private audience with Yoo Seong himself.

What could it be for?

Until now, they hadn’t particularly discussed it, but since he too leads a group, could it be to belatedly request compensation for their assistance?

If that was the case, it would be both proper and reasonable to grant it.

After all, without the Combat Priest Corps’ support, even if they had won, they would have suffered far greater losses.

However, what Ruan brought up when facing Yoo Seong had nothing to do with merit or compensation.

“I saw the flames of holy fire.”

Ruan’s face was serious, and his voice was as devout as if he were offering a prayer.

Facing such a Ruan, Yoo Seong was a little taken aback.

There were two reasons – one was due to Ruan’s solemn expression and serious voice, and the other was because of the words ‘holy fire.’

‘Holy fire.’

It clearly referred to the Flames of Raging Heat, the first sword of the Holy King’s Cross Sword that Yoo Seong himself used.

There must have been a reason why he, a priest-knight of all people, specifically called the golden flames holy fire.

Thus, after some brief consideration, Yoo Seong faced Ruan and asked.

“Can you tell the difference?”

Between aura and holy fire.

To Yoo Seong’s question, Ruan again answered with a solemn face.

“Yes, I could tell the moment I saw it. That the Lord’s flames were imbued with the divinity of the Lake Goddess.”

Ruan, a priest-knight of the Omphalos Order, had never experienced the divinity of the Lake Goddess.

However he could tell the moment he encountered it whose divinity it was before his eyes and where it originated from.

“My Lord. Do you know why there are hardly any orders that serve the Lake Goddess, despite her being the guardian deity of all humans – in other words, the goddess of humans?”

At Ruan’s question, Yoo Seong thought.

‘How would I know that?’

Actually, after hearing it, he did find it somewhat strange.

Even in Fantasy Monarch, there were hardly any orders or clergy who served the Lake Goddess.

‘That is strange.’

The fact that the Lake Goddess was the goddess of humans was widely known.

Yet why were there so few orders or clergy who served her?

Instead of saying he didn’t know, Yoo Seong just looked at Ruan, and perhaps misunderstanding something, Ruan’s face became gloomy as he said.

“Yes, that’s right. It’s because there are almost none who can use the goddess’s divinity.”

The clergy of the Omphalos Order, who believed in the Iron Wall Omphalos, used divine magic borrowing Omphalos’ power.

The clergy of the Elysia Order, goddess of love and beauty, and the clergy of the Virudake Order, god of commerce, also used divine magic granted by their respective deities.

However, among those who served the Lake Goddess, almost none could use divine magic, and among knights, there were none at all.

No one denied that the Lake Goddess was the guardian deity of humans.

But there were hardly any who served the Lake Goddess over other deities.

Between a deity who gives rewards for faith and one who doesn’t, it was inevitable that human faith would lean towards other deities rather than the Lake Goddess.

“But it wasn’t always like this in the past. Although few in number, there were those who could exercise the goddess’s miracles.”

He seemed to know who but Yoo Seong refrained from speaking hastily, and Ruan looked at him with burning eyes and said.

“King Arthur Pendragon and the Knights of the Round Table.”

The king of humans and his knights.

The divine knights who created the human world by carrying out the goddess’s will.

“I heard you claimed to be a successor of Camelot.”

It was already a widely spread story in Lothian.

The Black Knight of Lothian who came from a distant foreign land.

One who claims to be a successor of the now-vanished Camelot.

It was common for wandering knights to embellish themselves with plausible stories.

At first, everyone thought the same of Yoo Seong’s Camelot story.

But now it was different.

Especially for Ruan, it had to be.

Ruan took another step closer to Yoo Seong.

Recalling the holy flames he had seen, he asked.

“Has the Holy King – the King of Humans finally returned?”

The King of Humans.

That’s right.

The King of Camelot had to be the king of the entire human race.

After all, it was Holy King Arthur Pendragon who created the human world.

500 years ago, Arthur Pendragon led the Knights of the Round Table on an expedition and never returned.

Camelot, having lost its king, collapsed, and in place of the fallen kingdom, new kingdoms and empires emerged.

Numerous kings appeared but none among them could claim to be the King of Humans, because that was the Holy King’s position.

Because it was the position of Arthur Pendragon who would return someday.

Ruan looked at Yoo Seong with longing.

It wasn’t about clinging to a kingdom that had perished hundreds of years ago.

He was both a knight and a cleric.

In an age when the ominous star was approaching, the return of the King of Humans felt like a divine miracle to him.

How should he answer this?

After some consideration, Yoo Seong decided, straightened his posture, and said to Ruan.

“If you’re asking whether I am one who received the Lake Goddess’ revelation, yes, that’s correct.”

“At last!”

At Yoo Seong’s answer, which while not directly claiming to be the King of Humans was essentially an affirmation, Ruan unconsciously let out a loud voice.

And he immediately knelt down.

Drawing his sword and offering it to Yoo Seong, he said.

“I, Priest-Knight Ruan, swear loyalty to the returned King of Humans.”

His solemn and devout appearance was worthy of being called the protagonist of a knight’s tale.

That’s why Yoo Seong thought.

‘It would be trouble if I don’t accept.’

No, actually, from Yoo Seong’s perspective, this kind of behavior from Ruan was quite a big opportunity.

It was a chance to absorb Priest-Knight Ruan and the entire Combat Priest Corps.

‘It’s a bit burdensome but probably not bad.’

It wasn’t like Yoo Seong was committing fraud, as he was actually chosen by the Lake Goddess.

“I gladly accept your loyalty.”

When Yoo Seong said this and took the sword, Ruan looked at him with a moved expression, and instead of smiling, Yoo Seong returned the sword to Ruan with an equally solemn face.

“Thank you for accepting me, King of Humans.”

Ruan’s voice was slightly trembling as he spoke.

Come to think of it, his eyes were also red.

But instead of showing tears, Ruan closed his eyes tightly once as if collecting his emotions, then opened them and looked at Yoo Seong, saying.

“I think I understand why the King of Humans hasn’t widely proclaimed his return. It must be to avoid not only the jealousy and envy of the ignorant but also the attention of evil beings.”

That was correct.

There would be no small number of people who, like Ruan, would be moved and offer their swords upon learning of the Holy King’s successor’s appearance.

But it was clear there would be even more who would find Yoo Seong troublesome.

The King of Humans has returned.

It was essentially the return of the king of kings, so how would the existing kings react?

Would they rejoice that their king had returned?

Or would they deny and try to harm the king to protect their positions and power?

Realistically thinking, the latter was more likely.

And it wouldn’t just be the kings who would react this way.

High nobles and others who already held vested interests.

Clergy of various orders who would be reluctant to see the Lake Goddess’s order grow, and so on.

Here, Ruan’s second point was also true.

From the monsters’ perspective, it would be undoubtedly better to crush the Holy King’s successor before he could grow into his full power rather than wait for him to become a true Holy King.

To avoid both of these, for now, he deliberately doesn’t reveal the fact that he is the Holy King.

To Ruan’s words, Yoo Seong nodded again and briefly answered.

“Yes, I’m waiting for the right time.”

An age of turmoil would soon begin anyway.

As he continued to fight in the future, the fact that Yoo Seong was the Holy King’s successor would naturally spread, so there was no reason to risk trouble this early.

“How insightful.”

Ruan smiled pleasantly and again showed his respect as he said.

“My Combat Priest Corps and I will join His Majesty the Holy King’s forces.”

At these words that were exactly what he had expected, Yoo Seong clenched his fist but Ruan’s words weren’t finished yet.

“However, High Priestess Jillian is a problem.”

High Priestess Jillian, who oversees the western branch of the Omphalos Order in the Kingdom of Silatein.

She was the High Priestess who had been reluctant to help the Volano Barony from the start.

Such a High Priestess would hardly leave alone Ruan and the Combat Priest Corps who not only disobeyed her orders to help Lothian but were now even trying to join under Yoo Seong.

So what should be done about her?

“Would High Priestess Jillian be able to recognize the holy flames?”

At Yoo Seong’s question, Ruan furrowed his brow deeply in thought, then said with an uncertain face.

“That…she probably could. Yes, probably.”

‘Judging by his reaction, is she just a corrupt priest?’

Like the corrupt priests commonly seen in games or manga who only care about money and status.

“Well, how should I say this…She’s certainly a good person. She’s actually quite gentle too.”

As Ruan spoke somewhat apologetically, Yoo Seong smiled bitterly and said.

“Even aside from the Combat Priest Corps’ matter, she’s someone I’d have to face eventually, so it might be good to meet hernow. If she’s not someone with false faith, she might be persuaded somehow.”

Unlike Ruan who immediately came over after seeing the holy flames, Yoo Seong had many other means of persuasion.

“Then I’ll try to arrange a meeting.”

“I’m counting on you.”

“Yes. I will definitely succeed.”

When Ruan answered with a grave face, Yoo Seong, who almost smiled despite himself, straightened his posture and raised his right fist to his chest as he said.

“For the glory of Camelot.”

Though it was already a common courtesy in Lothian, it struck Ruan completely differently now.

“For the glory of Camelot.”

Ruan, whose eyes had become red once again, responded with a trembling voice, and Yoo Seong finally allowed himself a small smile.

* * *

After finishing his conversation with Ruan, Yoo Seong had dinner with Rene as planned.

Rene was overjoyed to hear the news of Ruan’s joining.

“Indeed, the real recognizes the real. I thought there was something special about them from the first time I saw them.”

When Robin gave her a look, Rene’s giggling turned into a blush as she tried to compose herself, and Yoo Seong stifled a laugh for his magician’s sake.

A moment later, after regaining some composure, Rene brought up the story of the royal capital.

“It seems it will take a bit longer for the messenger from the royal capital to arrive. According to Lord Simon’s inquiries, it appears that not just the western borderlands, but almost the entire kingdom’s borders are under attack.”

The age of ominous stars had already begun.

Perhaps not just the kingdom, but the entire world might be under attack.

However, acting hastily wasn’t the best course of action.

For now, building up power centered around Lothian was the best option.

“The conscripted soldiers will depart tomorrow as you ordered.”

Yoo Seong nodded at Rene’s report.

The sooner the supplies were recovered, the better.

Moreover, Yoo Seong was concerned about Count Carian in the north.

Based on his actions so far, he wasn’t the type to sit idly by once he learned that Baron Volano’s supplies remained almost intact.

Count Carian and High Priest Jillian.

It would be nice if humanity could unite against external threats, but that was merely idealistic thinking.

Because humans prioritized their own interests until the water reached right up to their chin.

‘Perhaps we’ve been lucky until now.’

Baron Latus, Lord Simon, Lady Iserina, Lord Ruan, and so on.

Yoo Seong recalled each person he had met so far, turned to look at Rene, and burst into laughter at her tilting her head and blinking in confusion.

* * *

The next day at noon, three hundred conscripted soldiers led by Lord Rant and Edgar departed for Baron Volano’s territory to recover supplies.

Some of the Philo village survivors and refugees followed the conscripted soldiers to settle in Philo village.

Again at noon the next day, two hundred refugees came down from the north.

Yoo Seong ordered Iserina and the administrators to appropriately distribute the refugees among the villages under reconstruction.

And that night.

Late at night, long after sunset, Rene knocked on Yoo Seong’s door with Robin.

“Successor, I’m here. Please open the door.”

Was the king’s magician trying to have a secret meeting with the king, even bringing her knight guard?

Not at all.

Rene’s face was flushed with expectation and excitement, and Robin also looked very excited, but this wasn’t due to the joy of meeting the king in a private room at such a late hour.

“Oh, you came right on time. 10 minutes left.”

At Yoo Seong’s words, Rene shook her tightly clenched fists near her waist as if even more excited.

There were about 9 minutes and 45 seconds left until the cooldown of the Yoo Seong Castle invitation right.

Actually, since the invitation right only stated that one could visit Yoo Seong Castle, it was questionable whether Rene could visit together, but even if she couldn’t visit, Rene thought there would still be some enjoyment left.

‘Because I’ll be able to see the Successor’s appearance.’

More precisely, the deformed three-head-heights version of Yoo Seong.

Unlike Rene, Robin couldn’t see Yoo Seong Castle, but whether due to the atmosphere or because Rene was so excited, she was swallowing dry saliva while tightly holding Rene’s hand.

And finally, the time came.

—

[Yoo Seong Castle invitation right charging has been completed.]

[Would you like to use the invitation right?]

[Yes / No]

—

At the appearing text, Yoo Seong turned to look at Rene, and Rene extended her hand to Yoo Seong.

Since they couldn’t think of any particular way to go together, they decided to hold hands for now.

But right then.

Rene, who was holding Yoo Seong’s hand, suddenly flinched and turned to look at Yoo Seong with a slightly scared- no, surprised face.

“What?”

“No, it’s just, your hand is bigger than I expected.”

Rene answered while blinking, suddenly blushing again, and Yoo Seong let out an awkward laugh.

Robin, who was watching everything from the side, had quite a subtle look in her eyes.

And 10 seconds later.

Yoo Seong held Rene’s hand, and Rene held Robin’s hand again.

“Then I’ll use it.”

“Yes, Successor.”

“Yes, Lord.”

After hearing the two’s responses, Yoo Seong selected yes with his right hand.