I Became a Mythical Knight King

Chapter 106: Hector (3)

King Arthur’s first impression could be summed up in one word:

“Handsome.”

What should I say about this?

It wasn’t about being a beautiful boy like a girl or a manly handsome boy—no, it was just the kind of face that instantly made you think, “He’s handsome.”

To exaggerate a little, you could call it the ideal of handsomeness.

Underneath the golden hair, his eyes conveyed a strong sense of belief and will.

His flawless, pale skin reminded one of marble sculptures, and his well-proportioned body brought the word “perfect” to mind.

His attire wasn’t extravagant, but that didn’t matter.

With a face like that, it didn’t matter what he wore—his face would overshadow any clothes.

If he wore rags, he’d look like a wandering young man with a melancholy expression. If he wore armor, he’d look like a knight of the heavens. If he wore ceremonial clothes, you’d call him a prince.

His appearance was so unreal that these thoughts flowed naturally, and yet it all somehow made sense.

Arthur Pendragon.

The one who created the world of humans.

A mythical figure who defeated nearly every other race, including their gods, to usher in the era of humans.

It wasn’t only Yoo Seong who could feel King Arthur’s extraordinary presence.

The moment he stood on the hill, the atmosphere around him changed.

Hector’s subordinates couldn’t even speak, and a chaotic silence filled the hill.

[It’s all coming back to me. That was a truly intense memory.]

Yoo Seong could empathize with Hector’s words.

The one making eye contact with King Arthur wasn’t Hector—no, it was Yoo Seong himself.

Arthur wasn’t showing hostility or malice, merely looking in their direction, yet it was hard to face him.

He was like the sun.

It felt as though he were facing the sun itself, which had descended upon the earth.

“Indeed, the rumors weren’t false.”

Yoo Seong spoke.

No, to be precise, Hector’s body spoke.

‘Indeed, is this a reenactment?’

An experience of memory, yet also a reenactment.

King Arthur remained silent at Hector’s words, and Kate also didn’t say anything.

Behind them, Sir Kay let out a bitter laugh and spoke.

“Our king really is exceptional. It’s nothing new, but you should be prepared.”

It didn’t feel like mockery or arrogance.

It was more of a warning to be careful.

And so, the Hector in the memory gave a small smile before turning to King Arthur and asking.

“Is that the Sword of Selection?”

The Sword of Selection, Excalibur.

There were many different versions of the story about the sword King Arthur drew from the stone and the sword he received from the Lady of the Lake, but in this world, it was accepted as a single story without debate.

The sword Arthur drew from the stone was Excalibur.

And based on that Excalibur, the Lady of the Lake had infused it with the powers of the moon, stars, and fairies, creating the magical sword Excalibur.

A large sword was strapped to King Arthur’s back.

It was much bigger than a typical longsword, to the point that it seemed impossible for the young Arthur to wield it.

At Hector’s question, King Arthur slowly nodded and, still staring at Hector, spoke.

“This is a duel between humans. I will not use Excalibur in this duel.”

‘What is that voice?’

Was that a voice that lived up to his appearance?

The sweetness of the voice itself stirred the atmosphere on the hill again.

[Truly, the king of humans. Just meeting his gaze is enough to make one question how many people follow him.]

It was easy to understand that phrase.

If someone with such a face and voice claimed to be the king of humans, no one would deny it outright and would instead wonder if it was truly the case.

Hector in the memory smiled bitterly at Arthur’s words and raised an axe bigger than any normal person’s.

“I will use this one. Is that acceptable?”

“No problem.”

Instead of Excalibur, which was strapped to his back, King Arthur drew a sword from his waist.

It, too, was a longsword, but compared to Hector’s enormous axe, it looked like a toothpick.

However, no one on the hill dared to think such a thing.

The moment King Arthur drew his sword, everything around them fell silent.

It wasn’t due to any magic or knightly honor.

It was just that the moment Arthur drew his sword, everything became still.

‘You fought against such a King Arthur?’

[Well, I was the leader too. And I was quite the hero in my own right. That’s why I ended up being one of the Knights of the Round Table.]

‘That’s true.’

Hector had been one of the Knights of the Round Table in the past, though his memories and abilities were sealed.

His strength and capabilities were among the best in humanity, and while Hector might not compare to King Arthur, he too was one of the greatest heroes in human history.

Yoo Seong unconsciously swallowed a dry gulp.

He was eager to see what kind of swordsmanship Arthur would display and how Hector would fight against him.

And then, in that moment:

[Objective: Defeat King Arthur.]

‘What?’

What was that supposed to mean?

[Successor! He’s coming!]

At Hector’s urgent cry, Yoo Seong instinctively raised his axe and looked ahead.

A golden aura.

With a light like the sun, King Arthur rushed toward him.

Round Table, Seat #1.

King Arthur was the lord of the Knights of the Round Table, and he was also one of the knights himself.

In other words, he was one of the strongest knights among all of humanity.

Kwang!

An enormous sound erupted right in front of Yoo Seong.

It was the sound of Hector’s axe clashing with King Arthur’s sword, swung reflexively.

But what was terrifying was that the sound didn’t stop there.

An intangible shockwave from the clash of their weapons spread out, knocking over and causing those watching from behind to stumble or fall.

“Move back! If you don’t want to die!”

Hank, Hector’s deputy, shouted urgently, and Hector’s subordinates quickly stepped back.

Kate and Kay had already retreated to a safe distance, as they expected this.

[It’s just a greeting.]

The strike just now wasn’t meant to be a serious attack.

It was more like a warning to the spectators to move back, signaling the start of the duel.

Yoo Seong was so frustrated that curses almost slipped from his mouth, but he clenched his teeth and focused his mind.

During the third expedition, Sir Kay had said:

[The expedition is a test.

So, you can do this.

The difficulty is immense, but it’s not an impossible trial.]

Yoo Seong recalled the conditions.

He wasn’t himself in this situation.

He was in Hector’s body.

He was strong.

He hadn’t analyzed it thoroughly through the status window, but Yoo Seong could feel it instinctively.

If you only considered physical specs, Hector in his current form was stronger than the Black Knight in Kay’s recreated version.

And the body still held Hector’s battle techniques in its memory.

Yoo Seong swung the axe with all his might.

Hector’s axe, glowing with a red aura, swung down with the force to cleave King Arthur in two.

Kwang!

Another deafening noise and shockwave erupted.

It was a mystery how King Arthur could withstand Hector’s monstrous strength with his small frame, but once again, Hector had the upper hand in raw power.

Arthur’s body shifted slightly as it blocked the axe, indicating that Hector was superior in strength.

So, Yoo Seong held his breath and poured all his energy into the attack.

He relentlessly pressed forward.

In a brief moment, he aimed for victory.

Yoo Seong swung the axe again.

Hector’s abnormal strength allowed for strikes at impossible angles.

Kwang!

But once more, Arthur blocked it.

This time, it wasn’t just a simple clash.

Arthur had redirected Yoo Seong’s strike, making the axe slide smoothly along his sword before it hit the ground.

It felt as if he were possessed by a ghost, but Yoo Seong didn’t stop.

He yanked the axe out of the ground and swung it again.

His muscles screamed, but Hector’s body endured once more.

However, King Arthur took a half-step back and narrowly avoided the axe by a hair’s breadth.

He then adjusted his grip on his sword and infused more power into his golden aura.

“Ha!”

Yoo Seong could feel it.

What was in front of him was not just sword energy.

It was something beyond sword energy, something transcendent.

It was the power that Vanadain, awakened as a knight of the Round Table, could feel when using chivalry.

It was ideology.

The sword of King Arthur contained ideology.

And because of that, Yoo Seong instinctively understood.

He couldn’t block it.

The moment his axe collided with that sword again, Hector’s axe would shatter into pieces.

So, what should he do?

In that brief moment, Yoo Seong thought and came to a conclusion.

He would also use ideology.

Hector’s ideology.

The dream of Hector, which formed the foundation of his chivalry.

Taat!

Yoo Seong quickly stepped back, creating some distance.

Fortunately, Arthur did not immediately pursue him. Instead, holding the brilliant golden sword, he just stared at Yoo Seong.

Thus, Yoo Seong realized.

King Arthur had not come here simply for the duel.

He was testing Hector.

In that case, there was still a chance.

What was Hector’s ideology?

Hector answered with a wry smile to Yoo Seong’s unspoken question.

[I want to become a great person.]

A person who can embrace family, friends, subordinates, people, and a nation.

A person who can embrace everything.

That was Hector’s ideology.

It was his wish, the foundation of his chivalry.

The red aura that had surrounded Hector’s axe began to change.

Even though he hadn’t consciously willed it, his chivalry manifested, making Hector even larger.

At this, King Arthur smiled.

He recognized the ideology contained in Hector’s axe.

“You would have been a good king,” Arthur said, and Hector gave a sheepish smile.

Then, Arthur stepped forward.

Yoo Seong, too, pulled his axe and gathered all his strength to embody ideology.

He felt it.

The sensation that had been elusive now became clear.

Yoo Seong focused on the front.

King Arthur, holding the golden sword, was in front of him.

Just facing him made Yoo Seong feel like every part of his body was becoming sharply alert.

King Arthur took his stance.

The Holy King’s Cross Sword.

It was both familiar and different.

It was undoubtedly a step beyond what Yoo Seong himself used.

Hector remained silent but Yoo Seong knew.

In real history, Hector had lost.

The clash of attacks, filled with their ideologies, ended with King Arthur’s victory.

Yoo Seong took a breath.

He awakened the power of the Holy King.

Pahh-!

Yoo Seong’s eyes shone with golden light, just like King Arthur’s.

For the first time, Arthur, who had remained undisturbed until now, widened his eyes in surprise. At that moment, Yoo Seong struck the ground.

Arthur suppressed his surprise and fixed his gaze on Yoo Seong.

Yoo Seong, as if about to strike, pulled his axe.

The clash would happen.

It had to happen.

But that was why he didn’t do it.

Yoo Seong struck the ground again.

Instead of charging toward Arthur, he passed by him at lightning speed.

Black Thunder Eclipse.

Lightning Step.

With the rotation, the axe aimed at the air.

At the moment Arthur hastily turned, it already descended as a bolt of lightning.

It was Hector’s strike.

The attack was filled with Hector’s ideology, the dream of becoming a person capable of embracing everything in the world.

But that was not all.

With it was also the power of the Holy King.

Black Thunder Twelve Strikes.

Black Sun.

A dark aura wrapped in golden light was poured onto the blade of the axe.

Facing the pouring lightning, King Arthur swung his sword, and the two ideologies clashed head-on.

Kwahhhaang!

The shockwave swept away the fog around them.

No, the clash of immense power even made the sky tremble.

The sky, which had been filled with dark hues, regained its blue color in an instant.

But the conclusion was not reached.

Even though he had moved around to throw off the timing, Arthur was withstanding Yoo Seong’s attack.

The axe and blade pushed against each other.

Arthur withstood the mighty downward strike with both arms and looked into Yoo Seong’s eyes.

Yoo Seong, too, met Arthur’s gaze.

Although he could not clearly understand the ideology contained in Arthur’s sword, he could feel it.

He could sense what Arthur desired.

What he had dreamed of. He had a vague feeling he understood it.

Arthur looked at Yoo Seong.

In the midst of the intense clash, at some point, he realized it.

That’s why he smiled, mixed with a complex emotion.

“Indeed, is this what it is? Did it happen as Morgana said?”

What could this mean?

What had Morgana told King Arthur?

What was the reason for the melancholy in Arthur’s smile?

Yoo Seong couldn’t know.

All he could face were King Arthur’s unwavering eyes.

A firm belief.

His unbroken will.

But he couldn’t lose.

Yoo Seong gathered all the power of both his spirit and body and enhanced the power of the Black Sun.

With this power, Arthur smiled.

Instead of responding with the same force, Arthur released his own ideology through the touch of their blades and will.

And so, the ideology of King Arthur was conveyed.

His wishes and dreams.

“I believe in you, successor.”

Even if my generation does not fulfill the dream, I hope that in your time, you will.

Light erupted as the Black Sun and the golden sunlight merged, shining brilliantly.