Simulator in Type-moon, Starting with becoming Morgan husband!

Chapter 64. The Last Emotion in the Maiden Heart

[Gawain is one of the most outstanding knights in the capital city of Camelot.]

[His defeat, in an intangible way, affirmed the overwhelming strength of Artorius.]

[If anyone were qualified to challenge him, it could only be you, the father of Gawain.]

[But when people witnessed the closeness between you and Artorius, they all understood that such a confrontation was utterly impossible.]

"Then, Sir Ian, until we meet again."

Artorius smiled faintly, carrying the broken sword as he walked alone toward the end of the road.

She steps were light and agile, completely different from the overwhelming aura her had displayed earlier while facing Gawain.

No one knew what truly transpired in the recent conversation—they only sensed that King Lot, Ian, seemed to have employed some very special method.

"Father."

Gawain stepped closer.

"So now..."

Ian composed himself and replied:

"Gawain, continue with the tasks you must complete."

"Yes... I understand."

Gawain had never doubted his father's orders.

But this time was an exception.

"Ah... Father, may I ask something before I leave?"

"Ask, my son."

"That is..."

Gawain glanced in the direction where Artorius had disappeared.

"What exactly did he say to you?"

"..."

Ian sometimes genuinely wanted to seal Gawain's mouth shut.

"Nothing."

"He just wanted to discuss a few matters with me."

[What you told Gawain was, of course, not entirely the truth.]

[Artorius did want to talk to you—but it was far from a simple conversation.]

["Sir Ian, I wish to tell you something important. Please come to the city walls tonight; I will wait for you there."]

[You didn't know what it meant.]

[But you could feel that it might help you understand her better.]

[So you agreed.]

[Gawain's defeat brought this "one vs all" battle to a close, with Artorius emerging victorious. The crowd gradually dispersed.]

[Gawain began carrying out your orders.]

[Everything seemed to return to its original state, except now, the balance tilted slightly in Artorius's favor.]

[As you prepared to leave, a hand rested on your shoulder.]

Feeling someone place a hand on his shoulder, Ian turned around and saw a figure he never expected.

It was Merlin.

He wore a white cloak, his face bearing a faint smile.

Ian immediately felt a sense of vigilance—every time Merlin smiled, trouble was sure to follow.

However, Merlin paid no attention to Ian's wary demeanor.

With a nonchalant expression, he spoke:

"Don't look at me like that. Haven't I brought Camelot an excellent king?"

Hearing that, veins popped visibly on Ian's forehead.

"Merlin, you'd better hope I never figure out how to kill you."

"Hahaha!" Merlin burst into laughter.

"If you could truly manage such a feat, it would indeed be a refreshing experience."

"But unfortunately—even I don't know how to kill myself."

"However..." Merlin's smile faded. "Before you kill me, wouldn't you like to learn a few things from me first?"

"..."

[The information you have is indeed quite limited.]

[In the end, you decide to have a brief conversation with Merlin.]

[The two of you head outside the city walls to a field of wheat.]

"I must say, there's really no need to go this far."

Merlin plucked a stalk of black wheat.

"This is tantamount to gambling all of Camelot. Do you really think this is reasonable?"

Realizing that Merlin had discovered what he and Morgan had done in the wheat field, Ian did not bother to deny it.

"Oh? Are you planning to expose this?"

"No."

Merlin tossed the stalk of black wheat in his hand. As it fell, it transformed into petals and drifted away with the wind.

"When you used Magecraft to enhance their productivity, I said nothing."

"So now that everything has returned to normal, naturally, I have no right to criticize."

"..."

Ian remained on high alert.

"Then if not for that, Merlin, what exactly do you want to say?"

"Just a few simple reminders."

Merlin turned around, still wearing the smile that Ian found unbearable.

"For instance, these seeds will soon recover under my Magecraft."

"And one more thing—"

Merlin looked directly at Ian.

"It seems you've forgotten something very important."

"Something very important?"

"Yes." Merlin nodded.

"You may surpass the chosen ones in many respects."

"But never forget, besides her, no one else can kill Vortigern."

"Are you referring to the legend of the Red Dragon?"

Ian stared at him.

"But isn't that clearly just a rumor you deliberately fabricated?"

"No." Merlin shook his head.

"I don't have time to create false rumors."

"She is destined to defeat Vortigern—so she must endure countless trials, abandon meaningless emotions, and ultimately become a perfect king."

[Merlin's words awakened something in you.]

[You finally understood why Artorius's demeanor had changed so dramatically before and after pulling the sword.]

[It was all part of Merlin's plan.]

[More specifically, it was the plan of Merlin and King Uther.]

"Does she know about this?"

"She does." Merlin replied calmly, "But whether she knows or not, she still has to accept it."

"After all, no matter her response—there is no other path to take."

"Then, did the previous king know you were doing this?"

"What do you think?" Merlin asked in return.

"..."

Despite being completely opposed to Artorius, Ian couldn't help but retort.

"You are robbing her of things she deserves to have at this age."

"Is that so? Do you think abandoning the fight against Vortigern would be the right thing to do?"

Merlin's face still bore that faint, infuriating smile.

"In any case, I don't care, but would you want to see that happen?"

"Ah... imagining the destruction of Britannia or something—"

"She is prepared to bear that responsibility. Sacrificing certain things is only natural, isn't it?"

The moment Merlin finished speaking, Ian punched him square in the face.

Blood spurted from the corner of Merlin's mouth, staining the ground beside him.

Merlin turned back to see Ian's uncontrollable fury etched across his face.

"You bastard! What the hell are you talking about?!"

"Is that something you should even say?!"

"But—"

Merlin maintained the same expression as before.

"It's a truth already set in stone. She has let go of those emotions. No matter how strong your punch, it won't change that."

"..."

Ian clenched his fist tightly.

But soon, another thought flashed through his mind.

"Are you certain she's abandoned all her emotions?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"No, Merlin, you're wrong." Ian turned his back and began walking away. "She hasn't completely abandoned those emotions."

"Is that so?"

"..."

"..."

The conversation ended in silence as Ian stormed off in anger.

Watching his retreating figure, Merlin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

He seemed entirely unbothered by the punch he had just received. On the contrary, everything appeared to be unfolding exactly as he plan.

"Ian, I'll wait and see what you'll do next."

[Although Merlin's words made you furious, you knew that much of what he said might be true.]

[As the price of drawing the sword and ascending the throne, Artorius had forsaken all her emotions.]

[The sole exception was her love for you, a sentiment she could express at any time, anywhere.]

[You realized you had grasped something crucial about her.]

[As agreed, you went to the city walls at sunset.]

[However, unlike usual, Artorius wasn't already there waiting for you.]

[Instead, she was conspicuously late.]

[You started to feel a bit worried.]

[Fortunately, she eventually appeared.]

[Only—her demeanor today seemed somehow different.]

"Sir Ian."

A shy voice rang out.

Ian turned around, and the scene before him left him stunned, frozen in place.

Under the moonlight, Artorius had changed into an entirely different outfit.

Her hair, usually tied into a bun, was now flowing in a high ponytail, with a large black ribbon tied in it.

The soft locks of hair, usually casually hanging by her cheek, were now carefully groomed, light and graceful, like willow branches.

Her neck was adorned with another black ribbon.

The large coat she usually wore had disappeared, replaced by a delicate white dress.

This revealed her figure under the moonlight, covered in a misty aura—gentle and refined, like a lotus flower just rising from the water.

Her legs were covered in long white stockings, which accentuated her slenderness.

This was a young girl as beautiful as a flower, truly standing before Ian now.

The emotions that had been buried within him before resurfaced once again.

"I'm sorry, Sir Ian."

Artorius appeared very embarrassed.

"I'm late."

"..."

Ian suppressed his feelings, trying to speak calmly.

"It's alright, you're not too late."

"It's just—"

"Artorius, why are you dressed like this?"

"Well..."

Artorius lowered her head, her face slightly flushed.

She lightly kicked at the ground on the city wall, looking quite shy.

"Sir Ian, didn't you say before that you liked me when I was a girl?"

"So... I decided to try a style from normal girl else."

"Although I feel a bit uncomfortable... I really can accept it."

Hearing these words, Ian was taken aback. He suddenly understood.

Artorius would never have been late.

Even before, when she had mentioned wanting to take him for a walk around Camelot, she had been waiting by the hotel entrance very early.

Moreover, now that she was the one who suggested meeting, it would have been impossible for her to be late.

So then—

"Artorius, did you choose to meet me at night to avoid the eyes of others?"

"Yes... that's right..."

Artorius shyly touched her hair.

"If others saw me like this, it would surely cause a lot of controversy."

"Do you think the night can hide you?"

"..."

Artorius hesitated for a moment, then looked up and continued her response.

"Sir Ian, you're right."

"Actually, I know that doing this is deceiving myself."

"But I feel that, compared to being discovered, allowing you to see me like this... is something worth considering!"

"..."

[Artorius' words resonated in your heart, leaving an endless echo.]

[You realized that your previous assessment was correct.]

[The only emotion Artorius has left is the love she feels for you.]

[The strength of action driven by this emotion sometimes even surpasses the responsibility she has to bear.]

[At this moment, she is the clearest proof of that.]

Seeing Ian remain silent, Artorius became a bit anxious.

"Umm, Sir Ian, does this outfit look too bad on me?"

"I'm sorry! I should have told you about it earlier!"

"..."

Ian hesitated for a moment before smiling and responding.

"Artorius, it's nothing."

"You look beautiful in this outfit."

"Really?!"

Upon hearing these words, Artorius's joy was evident.

She spun around in front of Ian, causing her white dress to flutter with each movement.

"Sir Ian, do you know? This is the first time I've ever worn something like this!"

"Yeah, I know."

Ian felt his heart swept into a complex whirlpool.

"So, Artorius—"

"You called me here so I could see you looking so beautiful, right?"

"No, that's not it."

Artorius walked closer to Ian.

"Sir Ian, there's something I've always kept hidden from you."

"Actually... my name isn't Artorius, it's Artoria!"

"Artoria?"

"Yes, that's right!"

Artoria said this, glanced at Ian, and quickly lowered her head.

Clearly,

For her, revealing her true name to Ian wasn't a simple matter.

It meant she was showing her unguarded self.

At the same time, it was the expression of the last emotion she had left—although, to Ian, it might not seem significant.

Ian remained silent.

After a long while,

He took a deep breath and then responded.

"Artoria."

"Can you promise me something?"

"What's that?"

"Well..."

Ian gently brushed her hair, his gaze slightly complex.

"In the future, in front of me, can you be a normal girl?"

"A normal girl?"

Artoria's eyes showed a bit of hesitation.

"That... I might not be able to do."

"Don't worry."

Ian smiled softly—a smile that held an ambiguous meaning.

"I'll make you realize what it means to be a girl."