I Became a Mythical Knight King

Chapter 51: Lords Meeting (7)

The tavern facing the stable wasn’t very large, likely because it was still only at Level 1, much like the forge and restaurant had been when first built.

It was a two-story wooden building with a beer mug-shaped sign hanging above.

“Oh, could this be a bar?!”

Hector was visibly delighted upon confirming the sign, prompting Kate to let out a small sigh before smiling faintly.

It seemed she thought the soldiers would love it.

“It would be nice if they sold wine too.”

Vanadain looked to Diana as if asking her opinion, but Diana’s eyes were gleaming as she gazed at the stable rather than the tavern.

‘Everyone has such distinct tastes.’

Yoo Seong chuckled softly and entered the tavern with René, who was as excited as Hector.

Inside, they were greeted by a scene reminiscent of a fantasy tavern often depicted in movies and games.

A small bar, round wooden tables, and chairs.

Behind the bar stood the tavern owner, polishing a glass.

The man was a middle-aged giant, almost as large as Hector. His rolled-up sleeves revealed thick arms, and though his apron-clad belly protruded somewhat, it didn’t look like mere fat.

Next to him, leaning against the bar, was a waitress who waved with a gentle smile. She had bright blonde hair pulled back to reveal her forehead and a cheerful smile that exuded a refreshing charm.

[Tavern Owner: Hopper]

[Tavern Waitress: Bianca]

After confirming their names, Yoo Seong instinctively activated his “King’s Insight.”

This was because Hopper’s imposing figure was remarkable.

‘As expected.’

It turned out Hopper had incredible combat-related abilities, perhaps hinting at a past as a retired warrior. Although not quite on Hector’s level, he seemed more than capable of defeating someone like Jimmy with ease.

‘Bianca isn’t ordinary either. A retired adventurer couple…perhaps that’s their concept, though the age gap makes it seem unlikely.’

Thinking they might be worth summoning in the future, Yoo Seong stopped observing them and offered a polite nod to Hopper, who bowed silently, and a light smile to Bianca, who returned it with a warm greeting. He then signaled the rest of the group to come inside.

“Hello, I’m René.”

“Hello, Mage. I’m Bianca.”

While René quickly struck up a rapport as usual, the knights who entered the tavern scanned their surroundings and noted the stairs leading to the second floor.

The faint light leaking from above suggested that the relic of the Knights of the Round Table was located there.

“René.”

“Yes, Successor. I’ll chat with you more later, Bianca.”

After warmly greeting Bianca, René returned, prompting Yoo Seong to look at her with a mixture of amazement and admiration.

“Uh, is there something on my clothes?”

“No, I’m just impressed.”

How did the daughter of the prestigious Count Baltois, renowned for wealth and power in the western kingdom of Silatein, grow up with such an amiable personality?

Yoo Seong deflected René’s puzzled expression with a smile and headed upstairs with the knights.

The second floor of the tavern seemed to function as an inn, with a row of small rooms.

Yoo Seong entered the innermost room, where the light was emanating.

Once again, a relic appeared in mid-air.

A black cloak with a white inner lining radiated a soft glow.

“Agravain’s Cloak.”

As with Gareth’s Shield previously, it was Kate who identified it this time.

A cloak used by Agravain, one of the Knights of the Round Table.

While Kate’s gaze was filled with pure nostalgia, the other knights displayed mixed emotions—slight distance, discomfort, unease—but all tinged with a basic sense of longing.

As with Gareth’s Shield, Yoo Seong reached out for the cloak.

The cloak, with a black outer side and a white inner lining, flew over and settled on Yoo Seong’s shoulders.

[Cloak of Black and White]

The cloak of Agravain, a Knight of the Round Table.

This cloak, which Agravain always wore, contains immense protective power.

[Unique Skill: Black-and-White Reversal]

Reverses the cloak’s outer and inner sides.

The black side provides strong physical defense, while the white side offers powerful magical defense.

The higher the user’s virtue score, the stronger the cloak’s defensive capabilities.

As Yoo Seong read the description on the status screen, an image of a young man surfaced in his mind.

A pale complexion, sharp eyes, and an irritable expression.

A reticent man who resembled his brother Gareth neither in appearance nor personality.

He looked at Yoo Seong and, as if it were his first time, awkwardly formed a faint smile.

Agravain.

The keeper of balance among the Knights of the Round Table.

His face faded from view.

Turning back, Yoo Seong saw the knights bathed in a soft glow.

This was one of the fruits of their journey—unlocking the sealed memories of the knights.

Tears streamed down Kate’s cheeks.

She didn’t understand why she was crying.

She could only feel an overwhelming sorrow that was impossible to suppress.

[A seal on Knight Kate’s memory has been unlocked.]

[Royal Swordsmanship level has increased.]

[Acquired Royal Spearmanship.]

[Acquired Unarmed Combat Skills.]

[Acquired Equestrian Skills.]

[All of Kate’s stats have increased.]

Kate, who had previously used only swords, now had mastery over various types of weaponry. While the sword remained her specialty, it felt as though she could wield any weapon without hesitation.

The most significant change, however, was in her stats.

Kate had always been well-rounded, with no major weaknesses compared to the other knights. With her stats further enhanced, she became a true all-rounder.

Her sheer caliber had elevated—before considering techniques, her base attributes were on a different level.

This didn’t mean Kate was stronger than Hector or more agile than Vanadain, but the key point was that she wasn’t far behind them either.

A knight second in every stat—an all-rounder.

That was the current Kate.

‘Though among the soldiers, her popularity and looks are likely first place.’

Momentarily envisioning Kate’s gentle smile, Yoo Seong turned his attention to the other knights.

They, too, had unlocked memories, though none showed changes as dramatic as Kate’s.

Diana had undergone minimal transformation, likely because her previous changes had been so significant.

‘As their memories unlock, everyone is growing stronger.’

Vanadain’s exceptional archery skills improved further, Diana’s spear techniques were refined, and Hector’s strength was enhanced.

“Are you okay, Sister?”

As the light surrounding the knights faded, René cautiously offered Kate a handkerchief.

Kate wiped her tears with the handkerchief and smiled.

“I’m fine. Thank you for worrying about me.”

Why was she crying?

Even Kate herself couldn’t tell.

She could only describe it as an uncontrollable surge of overwhelming sorrow.

“Kate was always like that. She cried the most among us.”

Hector spoke. It wasn’t in his usual teasing tone, but rather like he was reminiscing about the past with a calm demeanor.

“With just a little more memory returning… it feels like we might recall something complete.”

At Vanadain’s words, Diana furrowed her brows slightly but did not voice agreement. It seemed that the amount of sealed memories and the currently unlocked ones varied for each knight.

Yoo Seong waited a moment for Kate, who had stopped crying, to regain her composure before addressing everyone.

“You all did well. Let’s head back now.”

When they stepped out of the tavern, soldiers led by Jimmy had already gathered in a huddle.

“Oh! Ohhh! Ohhhhh!”

Looking at the tavern’s signboard in awe, Jimmy and the soldiers appeared restless, eager to go inside. Yoo Seong stepped aside with the knights to make room for the excited soldiers.

“Thank you!”

Yoo Seong casually raised a hand in acknowledgment of Jimmy’s distant thanks, then parted ways with the knights in front of the temple before leaving the Yoo Seong Castle and returning to reality.

“Whew…”

Exhaling deeply, Yoo Seong checked on Rene, who was staggering slightly, and Jillian, who was also catching her breath beside her. Then he turned his attention forward.

Robin was waiting, as always.

“You’ve returned?”

“Yeah. Was there any trouble while I was gone?”

“No, nothing significant happened.”

Since only a couple of hours had passed in the fortress, it would have been more unusual if something significant had occurred during that time.

“Rene, you did well. Saint Jillian, thank you for your efforts.”

“You also worked hard, Successor. Please rest.”

“Yes, you as well, Saint.”

After Jillian offered her respects and withdrew, Rene hesitated for a moment before leaving with Robin. It seemed she was eager to see the newly built tavern in Yoo Seong Castle.

Normally, Yoo Seong would have suggested she take a look right away, but this time, he had other pressing matters to attend to.

[Would you like to level up the blacksmith shop?]
[Yes / No]
[Would you like to level up the metal refinery?]
[Yes / No]

The upgrades required to recruit a heavy cavalry unit were within reach. By investing all the points earned from exploration battles and leveling up, both facilities could be upgraded—barely.

However, recruiting the heavy cavalry immediately was still impossible.

[Blacksmith shop upgrade completion: 170 hours, 12 minutes, 54 seconds.]
[Metal refinery upgrade completion: 170 hours, 12 minutes, 54 seconds.]

“No way there’s a time-reduction item in the cash shop.”

Yoo Seong laughed wryly and, just in case, searched his status window but found nothing of the sort.

“So, about a week.”

Coincidentally—or perhaps inevitably—it was the day of the upcoming lord’s council meeting.

“Let’s not rush things.”

Like the last expedition, this one had yielded significant results as well. Both Yoo Seong and Camelot’s forces were steadily growing stronger.

Feeling at ease, Yoo Seong opened his status window again. Smiling at the sight of Jimmy and the soldiers drinking and laughing with their arms slung over each other in front of the tavern, he shifted his attention to Rene and Jillian’s status windows.

Beneath the ashen sky, a lone figure gazed at the wall. It was the barrier built by King Arthur of the humans, along with Omphalos and other human gods.
Thanks to this wall, humans had been able to shield the flame of their civilization.

But not anymore.

The wall was imperfect, and both Arthur and Omphalos had known this.

The wall was, in essence, an act of desperation—a desperate attempt to extend humanity’s era for just a little longer, to allow humans to enjoy the blessings of fire for a few more moments.

Knowing it was flawed, Arthur and Omphalos had paid a heavy price to erect this wall.

Yet, even this history had been forgotten among humans.

Aside from a rare few, like the Lich King—one of the seven kings—even the beings outside the wall were mostly unaware of its significance.

Even The Last Bastion was a memory only faintly held by a few beyond the wall.

But, despite this, the beings outside the wall still remembered King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
The monsters among humans—beings so transcendent that there was no other way to describe them.

The figure sitting and staring blankly at the wall was named Valakai.
He was one of the many rat kings among the Ratmen, bearing a massive body and great, majestic horns that rose like a crown upon his head, proof of his uniqueness.

The Rat Kings are the blood descendants of the Ratmen God, who had been annihilated by King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

Valakai gazed at the fracture in the wall. It was widening, slowly but surely. As the crack grew, the light and heat spilling through it grew more intense.

But for now, it was still small—too small for anything more than insignificant beings to squeeze through. So, Valakai waited patiently.

Although the fracture was still minor, it was expanding. In the not-so-distant future, Valakai himself would be able to enter the world beyond the wall.

So, he waited, staring unblinkingly at the flame of civilization seeping from within the wall.