Fate: The Forged Arthur Pendragon

Lucan's identity was fake, his name was fake, his face was fake.

Even his promises to the cavalry behind him,

Were fake.

He knew that if he were alone, even bearing 'Ector's' identity, he would never be able to break through the army's encirclement. The moment combat began, he would be instantly exposed and swallowed by the Conqueror King's forces.

In fact, he had already despaired, believing he had no escape route and was doomed to die this time.

But then, with a thief's keen eye, he spotted a fleeting opportunity, a strange movement in the allied cavalry's formation.

So, he told the cavalry gathered around him a lie:

"Rather than dying here, for the future of Britain—"

"Knights, now, I must fulfill a promise that must be kept. I must rescue a noble person who must be saved!"

"So, those willing to follow me,"

"Keep up!"

Lucan's expression was a little grim.

He had long known that the 'chivalry' embraced by these tin cans was disgusting, often amounting to living and fighting with one's hands tied.

This spirit granted the 'three Knight classes' a powerful dominance over all other classes but also brought ill consequences.

And when this 'chivalry' truly turned inwards, beginning to backfire, Lucan still felt a profound sense of distortion.

At this moment, under everyone's gaze, he had no choice but to look at Su Ya.

Arthur Pendragon was the future King of Britain. Lucan had learned this secret while impersonating a prophet and swindling, after being summoned to the palace to serve King Uther. This was also why he had spoken those words.

He originally planned to take his men and then confess to the cavalry that he had an adopted son who was the future King of Britain. The reason that he 'must find the King and protect him until he ascends the throne' would be sufficient justification for the cavalry to continue following and guarding him until they reached the capital.

As for Arthur Pendragon's life or death, Lucan truly didn't care. He was simply creating an excuse for everyone to escape in that situation.

But... who would have thought,

At the next turn, he would encounter him, accompanied by his sister.

Well, now the 'finding the King' step was directly accomplished.

Now,

Under the intense gazes of nearly a hundred cavalrymen, Lucan had to account for his actions!

So,

Lucan took hold of Su Ya's wrist at this moment, raising it high.

Following Su Ya's bewildered blinking eyes and the soldiers' sharp gazes, he declared loudly and solemnly:

"I understand your will, comprehend your chivalry, and deeply empathize with your current humiliation!"

"However, compared to leading you all to retrieve the King's remains, now, we have something far more important!"

"Gentlemen, I have a secret to tell you!"

The entire plain suddenly fell silent.

All the cavalrymen dismounted, holding their reins, their gazes fervently turning to the somewhat bewildered Su Ya, as if they had long anticipated this.

At this moment,

Su Ya heard 'Ector' holding his hand, declaring in an incredibly solemn tone:

"He is none other than King Uther's own son, entrusted to my care fifteen years ago!"

"The future King of Britain!"

"The King of the Entire Realm, prophesied in this land to unite England, Wales, Ireland, and all other territories!"

Su Ya paused for half a second, then, under the scorching gazes that made his small face flush, he turned his head, looking back at 'Ector' with an expression of 'so that's your plan,' filled with shock.

He instinctively wanted to refute, to resist such an imposed identity and responsibility.

However,

At this moment, Su Ya recalled what Merlin had said.

He thought of the setting in this world where powerful people were definitely those with money and power.

He thought that whether he wanted to become stronger, become a professional, or simply survive to reach a safe zone,

At this moment, he had no choice but to rely on this group of people.

Su Ya hesitated.

This didn't conflict with his original plan; in fact, it could be seen as a parallel path. However, with such a sudden development, could he truly handle it?

Or rather, could he truly feel at ease using this false identity to lord over these living people, to take what he pleased from them?

To put it another way, if faced with a situation where he had to order them to die to save his own life, what choice would he make?

Su Ya looked up, scanning the surroundings.

Looking at the knights who gazed at him with fervent eyes, waiting for him to say something,

He fell silent.

At this moment, Merlin secretly kicked Su Ya, quietly urging, "Say something!"

Meanwhile, Lucan watched this 'son of the King' as he perceived him, his face filled with a complex expression. He could feel the turmoil in the young man's heart and understood the helplessness of being bound by 'chivalry.'

But these were the rules of this kingdom, the rules of this world.

He couldn't say anything more, couldn't even promise anything, as he was merely a weak swindler.

He could only stare at Su Ya, just like the 'tin cans' he despised, forcing this 'Crown Prince' to make his choice—

Lucan took a deep breath, released Su Ya's wrist, and half-knelt.

Clink!

The chains and iron plates of the armor rubbed together, making a sound.

Then—

Clink! Clink! Clink! Clink...

All the knights present, surrounding Su Ya, all half-knelt on the ground.

The knights looked up, hands on their chests, one hand resting on a bent knee, gazing at Su Ya with an extremely complex expression.

Su Ya finally came to his senses.

He was stunned by this display of chivalry, something he had only seen in movies. But upon closer inspection, he strangely used his unique perception to discern—

In the eyes of these knights who knelt before him, looking up at him,

There was not the pure justice of an upright knight, but a composite of fear and trembling, and a helpless, desperate numbness.

Their gazes at him were like a group of drowning people seeing their last straw.

This gaze contained no emotion that could be called noble or righteous; it could even be called malicious. Yet, driven by such wicked emotions, they performed actions akin to those of upright knights in poems and tales.

Even if fulfilling such an obligation meant sacrificing their lives.

An indescribable absurdity filled Su Ya's heart.

He gradually understood why Ector, upon seeing him, immediately turned the conversation to validating the correctness of everyone's actions before even exchanging two sentences.

He understood why the cavalry captain stepped forward to question Ector.

And why Ector concealed Su Ya's desertion.

Because, in essence,

Ector and his knights were no different from Su Ya and Merlin.

They were deserters too!

And fleeing from the battlefield was an act inconsistent with chivalry.

Su Ya immediately realized with a shock—

If he couldn't acknowledge them here, if he couldn't perfectly justify their and his own shameful acts of desertion,

These people, pushed to the brink by their 'chivalry,' would genuinely take him to charge the Conqueror King's banner again!

And just then—

A clear, crisp voice, tinged with a hint of irritation, came from the only two people present who hadn't knelt down, echoing around them:

"Su Ya Pendragon!"

"What's wrong with you? Why won't you even acknowledge your knights, your soldiers?!"

Taking the cue Merlin provided,

Su Ya bit his lip slightly, his mind racing. Then, under everyone's gaze, he loudly argued:

"Because—"

"They are all deserters!"

At these words,

All the knights present simultaneously had their pupils contract, their expressions drastically changing!