I Pull Out Excalibur

25 – City of Opportunity, Cambria (1)

Sword energy, the symbol of a Sword Expert.

To the elite fighters who reached a certain level, sword energy was nothing special. It was those who wielded sword energy on the stage where she showcased her skills.

Sword energy itself was not something astonishing.

The realm of a Sword Expert was the same.

Merlin, who had witnessed many who surpassed the realm of Sword Expert, did not find any surprise in her talent. Then why was her voice silenced?

The answer was simple.

“How old are you?”

“Eighteen.”

“According to the Britannia Empire?”

“Yes, according to the Britannia Empire.”

The first was the boy’s age.

18 years old. He wasn’t young, but he was still too young to wield sword energy. Merlin, who had little interest in the ways of the world, couldn’t help but…

“Merlin!”

“Take a look at this. The youngest Sword Expert in history has appeared. They say they summoned sword energy at the age of twenty-three. Unbelievable.”

“Oh my, twenty-three!”

Roughly ten or so years ago from now, I remembered how Beedibeer had made a fuss about the birth of the youngest sword expert. I also clearly remember being amazed when I confirmed the news.

Drawing a sword at the age of twenty-three was definitely something surprising. Except for the unusual case of King Arthur, who was known as the youngest sword expert in history. I heard he now holds the position of the leader of the Sword sect?

‘The one known as the unparalleled genius, who drew the sword at the age of twenty-three.’

But the boy in front of me is eighteen years old.

When was it that Arthur drew the sword? He couldn’t be sure since Arthur was already proficient with the sword when they met, but the boy in front of him seemed to be around the same age.

-······.

Merlin looked at the boy’s sword in silence.

Even if it was surprising for him to draw the sword at a young age, the color of the shining sword in front of him was not something that could be easily overlooked.

He was at a loss for words.

The platinum-colored sword. It was Arthur’s exclusive possession that only he could wield. Of course, judging solely based on the color of the sword is premature. When the boy in front of him reaches the state where he can convey his true nature through the sword, he would need to confirm it again······.

If it were even possible.

If the boy’s sword had similar qualities to Arthur’s sword, it would not be an easy matter to overlook. The platinum-colored sword was like an impediment to those associated with Camelot.

And above all else.

The moment the dragons confirmed the boy’s sword, they would do whatever it takes to kill him.

‘…It has become quite complicated.’

Even if it is not revealed that Nageen is the owner of Excalibur, the moment Nageen’s sword is exposed, the boy would become a target of countless threats.

The light that the boy possessed.

It was something the boy couldn’t handle right now.

Merlin had hoped that the boy, who she thought could at least handle a little bit of mana, would be lucky. But she discovered something beyond her imagination. She let out a bitter laugh. What the boy was holding in his hand was filled with too many dangerous things.

If revealed, there would be things that could be targeted by the whole world.

To grow the boy enough that he could survive even when targeted by the world, while holding onto these things. That was the role Merlin had to perform as the guide.

It was not an easy task. If she made a mistake, everything would crumble.

But, as the boy’s words suggested··· that was why it was a path worth challenging. A smile formed on the corner of Merlin’s mouth.

2.

While traveling, Nageen talked with Merlin and exchanged various stories.

During their conversation, Nageen learned a few things, so Nageen organized the information.

“First of all, you said that yourself and the constellations that could become my allies are far from here, right?”

-Yes. We are tied to Camelot.

The Knights of the Round Table.

And the heroes who were with Arthur.

They are situated not in the inland, but at the boundary of the world’s end. Merlin spoke of spending time hunting the cursed beings from Camlann that seep through the cracks of Arthur’s seal in that place.

– Even without that, the Seats usually find it difficult to intervene in the inland. To intervene, they would have to establish a sect, and that’s no easy task.

The typical Seat cannot intervene in the inland.

The places where the Seats can intervene are the intermediate zones beyond the inland, the battlefield of the stars, and the vicinity of Camlann.

– Originally, just sharing a conversation with you would be a tremendous burden. Since I transferred my consciousness through Excalibur, we can have this conversation comfortably.

I don’t really understand, but Merlin seemed to boast that what he did was extraordinary, something an ordinary Seat couldn’t even dream of. From Najin’s perspective, listening to the story, it was just a passing remark.

– The point is this.

Merlin said.

– As long as you have your own star, and unless you reach a certain level and come to the battlefield of the stars, we will find it difficult to protect you. It means you have to survive alone in the inland.

“Like King Arthur did?”

– Yes. Arthur was chased by numerous demons and a nation that worshipped demons, but… You’ve just changed into somewhat different entities.

Of course, there might be Seats and factions that are friendly to Arthur and possibly to Najin, but…

– To rely solely on goodwill, the malice of those who deliberately want to kill you is quite genuine.

There were too many enemies to rely on goodwill.

Smirking, Merlin spoke.

– Do you understand what I’m trying to say?

“Roughly.”

Najin was quick to understand, and she roughly guessed what Merlin was talking about.

“Hide the special things I have. That’s what you mean, right? If they catch wind of it, we’ll be targeted by annoying beings.”

– Exactly.

Fortunately or unfortunately, only a tiny minority knew that Najin had drawn Excalibur. Although the sect was a bit irritating, they wouldn’t be eager to expose their flaws.

“For now, I just need to be cautious of the Holy Conclave.”

– …

Merlin fell silent at the mention of the Conclave.

Having briefly heard about Najin’s background and where she came from during their conversation, Merlin let out a long sigh and opened his mouth.

– … That part was my oversight.

A slightly apologetic tone.

– I never thought that the Conclave’s judicial organs would maintain themselves in that manner, in such a way.

Moreover, I really couldn’t imagine that they would try to kill a candidate who had drawn the sword. Was it an arbitrary decision of the lower ranks, or did the Lighthouse intervene to protect its reputation? That would need to be investigated, perhaps by asking Bedivere…

“Do not do it.”

It was around the time when Merlin was muttering about how the apprentice should handle the affairs of the guild. Najin interrupted Merlin, opening her mouth.

“··· What did you say?”

“I said, don’t. Don’t touch it. The guild.”

Najin said firmly.

“Whether it’s revenge on the guild or punishment, I’ll do it with my own hands, without anyone’s help.”

That’s how she promised.

Ivan said. Becoming an undeniable presence, asking her to restore his honor. With those words, Ivan made Najin his squire.

Even though that promise was broken.

Covered by a new oath.

Najin still considered herself Ivan’s squire. The honor trampled by the guild could only be reclaimed by Ivan’s squire, by her own hands. Ivan probably wouldn’t appreciate honor regained with someone else’s help.

‘Someday.’

Beyond the Sword Expert.

If Ivan were to ascend to the next level, the Sword Seeker. If that wasn’t enough, climbing to a higher level, perhaps as a Sword Master…

When she qualifies.

When she has enough strength.

At that time, when she returns to the city, Najin will shout. To reclaim the knight of Atanga, Ivan’s honor. That the starlight you tried to trample has returned like this. Najin said, envisioning a distant future.

“There are things that can only be destroyed and reclaimed by my own hands, things that can only be obtained that way. So please, don’t touch it.”

Merlin fell silent.

Feeling the weight in the boy’s voice.

– If that’s how you feel, understood.

He was determined to achieve his goals with his own strength. Some might scoff at that stubbornness, calling it foolish, but Merlin liked that foolishness. Those who had been with Arthur were nothing but fools who would do anything they said.

··· An interesting lad to lead.

Thinking that inwardly, Merlin returned to his original role. The guide who showed the way. She could only advise; it was the boy’s job to walk the path.

3.

The city of opportunity, Cambria.

The city that became the backdrop for King Arthur to truly reveal himself, and the starting point for the narrative to take off.

Was it because Arthur had built his reputation in Cambria and gathered his comrades there, or was it because Cambria was the actual starting point of his journey? From some point on, Cambria had been called the ‘City of Opportunity.’

The background of various anomalies and phenomena occurring, coupled with the legends surrounding King Arthur tied to that backdrop, naturally drew adventurers and mercenaries.

In this city formed by adventurers, there were noble families seeking hidden talents and external capital and merchants targeting adventurers and mercenaries who flocked there.

In the thriving city, young sprouts like students from the Academy, apprentice wizards from Matap, and apprentice knights would come to cultivate their sense of reality before entering society. That is why the city earned the nickname “City of Opportunity.”

If you had talent and the necessary qualifications, regardless of your background, you could climb to great heights. That is why Cambria was called the City of Opportunity.

In pursuit of opportunity.

Or in pursuit of wealth and power.

Every year, countless individuals with big dreams come to the City of Opportunity. However, it goes without saying that not everyone can succeed. While some achieve success, others come to realize the limitations of their talents and find themselves lost in the city’s alleyways.

So.

Although the circumstances are slightly different, it’s like the current me.

-······.

“······.”

Najin and Merlin remained silent. They couldn’t bear to accept the grim situation they were in.

…The context of the situation is as follows.

Najin arrived in the City of Opportunity, Cambria, after a long journey of ten days following Merlin’s guidance. Camping in the forest, hunting animals to fill their ship, and barely managing to get a carriage and arrive in this city were all good.

It was all good until they arrived in this city.

There was a bit of a problem. They ran out of money. And they were starving to the point of death. The emergency rations they had saved were long gone, and it had been days since they had a proper meal.

They wandered the city, their hungry stomachs gripping them.

When Najin regained consciousness, he found himself in a narrow alleyway. It had become a habit for him.

-···Why did I come here?

“With the thought of rummaging through trash, if anything.”

-…Really?

Najin nodded.

Merlin was horrified.

-That, that’s a bit too much, isn’t it?

“No, I don’t have to survive right away.”

-You should rather beg or something…! Rummaging through trash is too much, no matter what…!

Najin laughed, hearing Merlin’s scream.

To be honest, Najin had no intention of rummaging through trash. Maybe he would do it when things got really desperate, but for now, he had a bit of leeway.

There was a reason why he entered this alleyway.

“It was a joke.”

Najin let out a long sigh.

“I just want to rest a little and then move.”

-Really?

“Why would I lie? It’s about this.”

-…Why not rest inside?

“It’s too bright, hurts my eyes.”

The sunlight was still unfamiliar to Najin. When moving, it was manageable, but when resting, he always found himself seeking the shade where the light didn’t intrude.

“It feels cozy, though.”

It had only been ten days since he left the underground city.

Habits formed over 18 years don’t easily fade away. Leaning against the alley wall, Najin exhaled slowly.

The opportunity city, Cambria.

The city was much larger than Najin had thought, different from what he had seen in fairy tales. A widened stage. An expanded backdrop. By drawing Excalibur and escaping the underground city, the prologue of his story had concluded.

Now, it was time to enter Chapter 1.

Najin suddenly shifted his gaze, glancing at the people dozing off in the alley. Probably failures who fell behind in this city. There were many like them even in the underground city.

“If you settle for comfort…”

He might end up like them.

After a long exhale, Najin whipped his body. Hunger doesn’t vanish by staying still. He had to do something.

That was the moment Najin was about to rise from the alley. He turned his gaze at an approaching presence.

The entrance of the alley. A girl, backlit by the sunlight, stood before Najin. She looked down at Najin, who was trying to get up, with narrowed eyes. Najin met the gaze of the girl looking down at him.

“She’s been watching me from earlier…”

More precisely, it wasn’t him but the alley she had been observing. She had been sitting on a bench where the alley was clearly visible, observing it all the while.

“It seems like it.”

The girl smiled.

Chestnut-colored hair sparkling in the sunlight. The half-closed eyes of the girl reminded Najin of a snake. He was familiar with that kind of gaze.

The eyes of a big shot or a merchant.

It was the kind of greedy eyes often seen in the underground city. Moreover, the girl didn’t seem to be hiding that greed. Najin sensed that greed directed at him.

“It seems like you haven’t had a proper meal.”

She reached out towards Najin.

“I know a good place. Would you like to go together?”

The girl’s name was Dieta Arbenia.

The city’s nobles called her the abandoned child of Arbenia, but the adventurers and mercenaries in the city often referred to her as such.

The snake that devours gold.

Anything worthy of becoming money, regardless of the field, is eagerly swallowed by Dieta, earning her the nickname. Whether it’s an artifact, a commission, or even…

“I’ll buy you a meal.”

Even if it’s a human.