At that moment—
Morgan finally knew the source of the unease she had been feeling all this time.
There is only one king, so naturally, there can only be one person to pull the sword.
That was why she had felt so uneasy when she saw the boy standing beside Artoria.
Because...
He was standing together with Artoria.
One person could not possibly break the curse on pulling the sword.
But what about two people?
Morgan had now completely realized what kind of loophole her magic, which was based on the black crystals, had.
But, it was too late.
The hands of the young woman and the boy were clasped together.
"Ian, you..."
Looking at him who had come up behind her, Artoria's eyes were filled with bewilderment.
"Are you going to..."
"You want to pull out that sword, don't you—"
Ian met Artoria's gaze.
"Then, I've also come to want to pull out that sword."
"Together."
"We, will pull out the sword together."
"..."
Artoria's gaze became firm.
"Mm, let's pull it out together!"
The hands of the young woman and the boy were clasped tightly.
The hilt of Caliburn, the Sword of Sure Victory, became, in this moment, the proof of their shared will.
The brilliant blade had long been waiting.
At every moment, it was responding to Artoria's call.
And that malicious curse was also heard by the boy in this instant.
Hypocrisy—
Artoria is no hypocrite.
Lies—
Artoria is a very sincere friend.
Incompetence—
There is no one with more talent for kingship than she, who dares to embrace the future of Britain.
"How fragile, to spew such words."
Bearing the malicious words that should have rushed towards Artoria, Ian's arms tensed.
The power of a dragon, at that moment, was displayed for the young woman.
CRACK—
CRACK—
Small fissures appeared on the ground.
Soon, they expanded rapidly, eventually evolving into spiderweb-like cracks that spread across the entire square.
"What is this?"
"What on earth is happening?"
The knights had never witnessed such a shocking scene.
Only Morgan knew what was going on.
The malicious curse, like a shackle, held Caliburn, the Sword of Sure Victory, fast.
Even now, with the two as one, it still had sufficient control.
And that boy.
The boy pulling the sword with Artoria was using the simplest, most brutal, yet effective method to break this restriction.
That's right.
He was directly snapping the "shackles."
With his purest physical form.
The cracks in the square were the traces left behind after the curse shattered.
What is that monster...
In Morgan's pupils, disbelief flowed.
In her entire life up to this point, she had never seen such a powerful existence.
Was she not the only one blessed by fate?
While the princess of Britain was doubting her life, Ian on the other side had already broken all restrictions for the young woman in his arms.
"Artoria."
"I know—"
"Come out, Caliburn, Sword of Sure Victory!"
Artoria's green eyes were dyed the same color by the brilliant golden light in that moment.
The ground of the square shattered completely at that instant.
And then, a violent tremor.
When all was calm, the Sword of King Selection was pointing to the sky.
That was—
The two of them, as one.
"..."
"..."
At that moment, the square fell into a complete, deathly silence.
No one had ever expected Caliburn, the Sword of Sure Victory, to be pulled out in such a way.
Only—
Such silence did not last long.
Because Ian's roar, in that moment, spread throughout the Britain that had just been washed by rain.
"Raise your heads!"
"And welcome your king!"
It was a voice that was hard to match with his appearance.
Even Morgan felt a slight sense of fear.
However, it was precisely this dead silence that made her realize a new problem.
And that was—
Who exactly was the king the knights should acknowledge?
No one had expected that this would be a situation where two people pulled out the sword together.
But as it happened, both Artoria and the nameless boy had played an indelible role in this sword-pulling.
To acknowledge only the former's courage to reach out, while negating the latter's actions, would be a blasphemy against aid;
But if one were to accept only the latter, and deny the former who stepped up first, it would be an abandonment of courage.
This seemed to be a completely unsolvable dilemma.
No matter what, one side was destined to be negated.
Morgan realized this, and the knights realized this as well.
They looked at each other, not knowing what to do.
But Ian did not understand these things.
He only knew that these knights, who had spoken ill of Artoria just now, currently showed no intention of apologizing for it.
Hiss—
Hiss—
Artoria could feel him stirring beside her.
She quickly grabbed him.
"Ian, don't be like this—"
"Everyone, they just don't know which of us to acknowledge."
Artoria looked at Caliburn, the Sword of Sure Victory, in her hand.
It carried his warmth, and hers.
It was the witness to the moment they had joined their strength.
"So, don't be angry."
"..."
"Understood."
The young woman's simple words calmed the boy, who had been on the verge of rampaging.
"As long as they know who to acknowledge, it will be fine, right?"
"Y-Yes..."
"Give me the sword."
"..."
Without hesitation, Artoria handed Caliburn, the Sword of Sure Victory, completely over to him.
She knew he would definitely not do anything to her disadvantage.
Only—
When the scene of the next moment entered the young woman's eyes, she still found she had underestimated him.
After taking Caliburn, the Sword of Sure Victory, Ian deliberately raised it high, drawing the gazes of all the knights.
And then.
Under the watch of those countless eyes, he turned and looked at Artoria.
No more words.
No exaggerated movements.
The boy performed a knight's salute that he had learned at some unknown time, and knelt on one knee.
Caliburn, the Sword of Sure Victory, was offered up by him like a treasure.
And then came a single, simple word.
"King—"
In that instant, all the knights understood the result of this king selection.
Silence.
Followed by an uproar.
Though unwilling, the knights still offered up their loyalty.
"O new king of Britain—"
"We shall follow in your glory."
And at that moment, Morgan finally realized what she was missing.
That's right.
It was a knight who dared, in such a situation, to be the first to offer his loyalty to her.
Jealousy.
Distortion.
Madness.
And it was also at this moment that she heard a distant voice.
"Ian—"
"Where on earth are you—"
"Don't abandon mama—"
The black crystals...
Were speaking?