The Maiden and the Shadow of the King of Knights

[You and Artoria spent a twisted and sweet night.]

[The place she shouldn't have been defiled was filled with your shame for an entire night.]

[However, she didn't feel any sadness, but instead showed a happy smile.]

[You fell asleep in each other's arms.]

[At dawn, you woke up.]

"Should we go back?"

Ian said as he dressed Artoria.

"Yes." The girl nodded.

"Sir Ian, let's go back as soon as it's dawn."

"But—"

Artoria looked at Ian, her eyes filled with a cautious probe.

"Sir Ian, before that, can I ask you a question?"

"What question?"

"It's just..."

Artoria turned her face away, her voice mixed with shyness.

"Sir Ian, were you happy last night?"

"..."

Even though it was she who was defiled, Artoria's tone was as if she had obtained some rare treasure from Ian.

Even the most callous man would be moved by such words.

He pulled the girl into his arms, gently kissed her soft lips, and replied with a smile, "Of course."

"I was very happy."

The girl's face flushed.

It was the most sincere emotion, but one that she would never usually reveal.

"Then, Sir Ian, please use this method to continue our hope in the future."

(T/N: So birth control by Anal).

"Until—"

"Sir Ian, you feel you can accept everything."

"What if I never accept it?"

"Then let it be like this forever!" Artoria tilted her head slightly and answered without hesitation.

"..."

Ian didn't continue.

He knew it took a lot of courage to say such words with a smile.

Artoria was serious.

[You returned to the horse with her.]

[You rode Dun Stallion back the way you came.]

[She leaned in your arms, like a wife who had just spent her wedding night.]

[You didn't shatter her beautiful fantasy.]

[Because you know it will shatter on its own sooner or later.]

[Passing by a cliff, she suddenly reined in the horse.]

"Sir Ian."

Artoria looked at the village in the distance, her green eyes filled with an indescribable emotion.

"Do you like a peaceful life?"

"...It's okay."

It was impossible to say he didn't like it.

But the life of a despicable knight had nothing to do with peace so far.

"I see..."

Artoria nodded thoughtfully.

"At least you don't dislike it!"

"That's great."

[You realize that Artoria seems to have something to say.]

[But you don't intend to delve into it—after all, the result doesn't matter to you.]

[You returned to the military camp safely.]

[All the knights were overjoyed that you had obtained two holy swords.]

[Gareth was especially excited.]

["Father, show us how powerful Excalibur Galatine is!"]

[You realize this might be an opportunity to further enhance your reputation.]

[You won't miss it.]

The midday sun was fierce and strong.

Ian could feel that he was getting a steady stream of power from Excalibur Galatine in his hand.

[Talent Excalibur Galatine++ activated: The blessing of the sun bathes you and Excalibur Galatine. To encourage the knights, you will demonstrate a powerful solar slash.]

[Talent Red Dragon's Gift+ activated: The magic power drawn from Artoria is at your service. You can firmly control the range of this solar slash.]

Ian focused all his attention on Excalibur Galatine.

He raised the sword in his hand.

The blue-hilted, silver-bladed Excalibur Galatine pointed to the sky above.

The sunlight gathered in an instant, like threads attached to the holy sword.

With a bang—

Flames burst from the bottom of the blade, surging upwards until the entire sword was enveloped in the crimson flames of the sun.

If it was already daylight.

Then at the moment Excalibur Galatine took effect, it was as if a scorching sun had fallen from the sky, about to burn everything to ashes.

No one would doubt that they had fallen into the scorching earth.

No one would think they could escape the fiery mist that burst from the blade.

"Enough, Sir Ian."

Artoria spoke.

"If you continue, your blade will hurt our knights."

"Understood."

Although he was the one who corrupted Artoria in private, Ian still maintained respect for her in public.

The flames brought by the sun dissipated in an instant, as if they had never appeared on this land.

Silence.

Discussion.

Explosion.

Finally, a shocking uproar.

Every knight was excited.

After all, if Excalibur Galatine, obtained by Ian, could unleash such power.

Then—

The power of Excalibur, obtained by Artoria as king, would definitely not be less than this!

The dawn of victory seemed to shine on all the knights at this moment.

How could they suppress their excitement?

Artoria was very satisfied with this situation—she was never afraid that Ian would become arrogant because of the knights' praise.

"Father."

Gawain came to Ian's side.

His blue eyes, inherited from Morgan, were filled with admiration for his father.

"I didn't expect you to have a skill even more powerful than swordsmanship!"

Although Gawain had shown maturity and steadiness in front of others, a knight worthy of trust.

But when facing his father Ian, Gawain was still like the little boy who tried to learn all his swordsmanship.

"My child, this is not my skill."

Ian was very humble.

He raised Excalibur Galatine in his hand.

"It gave me the means to do this."

"No." Gawain shook his head.

"Father, your strength is obvious to everyone."

"This is definitely not a change that a holy sword can bring you."

"When... when can I grow into someone like you?"

"My child, you will."

Ian looked at Gawain lovingly.

"Because you are my proudest descendant."

"You don't need to be me—you should surpass me."

"You will get the same, or even more powerful, power."

"..."

Gawain, who was praised like this, was happy at first, but soon showed a worried expression.

Ian naturally couldn't fail to notice this obvious change.

"Gawain, do you have something else to say?"

"Then say it now, if you are distracted on the battlefield because of this, there will be no chance to regret it."

Hearing Ian's words, Gawain hesitated for a while and spoke directly.

"Father, I know this question may be offensive to you."

"But—"

"I still want to say it."

"Father..." Gawain looked at Artoria, who was encouraging the knights.

"What is the relationship between you and King Arthur?"

"..."

In the end, Gawain's question couldn't be avoided.

But Ian wasn't nervous—he had expected this to happen.

"My child, although there are many rumors outside."

"But I assure you that everything I do is for your mother."

"There may be many incomprehensible misunderstandings, but please believe this."

"..."

The suspicion in Gawain's eyes gradually turned into clearer trust.

"I see."

"I understand." He nodded.

"Father's feelings for mother are unbreakable!"

"I won't have any doubts anymore."

"Gawain, it's great that you can understand what I mean."

[You dispelled all of Gawain's concerns.]

[He began to believe that you and King Arthur were absolutely innocent.]

[He spread a positive image for you among the knights and let the lively Gareth further expand this influence.]

[Knowing what Gawain did, you felt very complicated.]

[But you also know that you don't have time to worry about these things.]

[What you have to do is to continue to corrupt Artoria.]

[You want her to fully accept this shame and become a puppet you can control at will.]

[During the day, you and her lead the knights forward, she is your absolute monarch.]

[At night, she lies in front of you, accepting every shame you leave on her with a trembling body.]

[Her garden is always full of traces of your presence.]

[Logically, this should be a natural corruption process.]

[But you soon realize that something seems wrong.]

[Artoria has her own plan.]

Huff huff.

Ian stopped his desecration of Artoria.

The girl's garden was full of shameful traces of defeat.

And her trembling body was the best proof of surrender.

But Ian always felt that there were subtle changes in these experiences.

Before he could figure it out.

Artoria turned to look at him at this moment of defeat.

She asked shyly and cautiously, "Sir Ian, did you... feel anything different?"

"..."

Ian didn't know how to answer this question.

Seeing the man like this, Artoria shyly explained.

"It doesn't matter if you didn't feel anything."

"Perhaps I haven't figured out the trick yet."

Ian felt a sense of unease.

"What... what do you mean?"

"It's just—"

Artoria turned her head to look at Excalibur.

"Sir Ian, that's not the place where the contract should truly continue."

"So I was thinking, maybe we could use some means—to give Sir Ian a more real feeling."

"But looking at it now—"

Artoria smiled shyly.

"It seems I failed."

Ian was stunned.

He finally understood why he felt the experience was slightly different each time.

This was the result of Artoria's efforts.

After all she can't get pregnant as a king.

So they resorted to that place.

But it seems.

Even if it wasn't the place to be entered, she still hoped to provide even a slightly better experience.

Come to think of it—

It seemed even the wine used for the process was prepared by her in advance.

The girl's burning sincerity was so directly displayed in front of her beloved.

It was impossible to ignore.

Ian gently stroked the girl's fair skin and entered her garden again.

"You didn't fail."

"I did have a very good experience, and now I can't stop."

"Sir Ian..."

"Shhh—"

Ian held the girl's hands.

"Everyone is resting."

"Let's be quiet."

"O-okay!"

In the night's military camp, the sound of splashing water echoed.

The girl, dedicating herself to the bastard, secretly savored the fruit of shame.

[You and Artoria spent more and more time fighting together.]

[Having merged bodies, you had an unimaginable tacit understanding.]

[Excalibur and Excalibur Galatine thus played a far greater role on the battlefield than imagined.]

[This made it so that, day and night, there was always a knight wielding a sword at the front of the Camelot army.]

[You won five consecutive battles, making the name of King Arthur echo throughout the land of Britain.]

[This level of achievement further enhanced your image in the hearts of the knights.]

[Talent Princess Magic has been replaced by Shadow of the King of Knights.]

[You were recognized as the most powerful knight under Artoria, and the battles you commanded often gave both allies and enemies the illusion that King Arthur was on the battlefield.]

[The knights no longer respected you for your identity as King Lot, but began to respect you for your great achievements.]

[Your intimacy with King Arthur was understood as a connection between the true body and its shadow.]

[This reputation not only spread among the marching knights, but also reached the royal capital.]

[The people cheered for this.]

[But not everyone was happy about it.]

On the city wall.

Morgan looked at the wheat fields that stretched to the horizon, her eyes filled with resentment.

This was not Merlin's masterpiece, but a miraculous sight born from the magic seeds she had researched in her loneliness after Ian left.

"Mother."

Agravain, expressionless, came to Morgan's side.

"May I ask why you called me here?"

Hearing the voice, Morgan turned around and handed him a dagger.

"You know, Agravain."

"The assassin skills I had you learn for so long were not just to have you stay in Camelot and live a silent life."

"You have something you must do."

"..."

Agravain took the dagger, still expressionless, as if he had known this day would come.

"I understand."

"Mother, I'll leave now."