Tap.
Tap.
Night blanketed the seas of Britannia. In the white, chalk-built city, crisp footsteps rang out through the quiet.
Arthur stood at the highest point of the castle, gazing down at everything below. In his eyes, there seemed to be a dreamlike shimmer—like reality itself had turned surreal.
"Everything… has to start over in the end."
"This feeling…"
"Like waking from a dream… or was it real from the beginning?"
He murmured softly. Though the words sounded uncertain, a calm smile rested at the corner of his mouth.
Whatever it was, it didn't matter anymore.
There was no need to dwell on it. His path was already laid out before him—so he would simply walk it to the end.
Just then—
Footsteps approached behind him.
In the dim light, the silhouette of a slender woman could be seen. She held a massive staff—whether it was a monk's staff or a wand, no one could say.
"Hmph."
She came to a stop behind Arthur and snorted in an unmistakably tsundere manner.
"Hahaha…"
Arthur tilted his head slightly and smiled.
"You're here."
"Hmph!"
She snorted again, clearly displeased.
"I'm not here to help you, Arthur! No matter how many times it happens, I'm not helping you. I'm only here to prevent Britannia from being destroyed. I refuse to watch Britannia fall again—never again."
"Yes."
"Yes."
Arthur didn't deny it. He simply nodded with a gentle smile.
"That's enough. As long as it's for that."
"Hmph…"
"I really can't stand people like you. Always smiling like that—so bright, like you're some perfect man."
"It's disgusting."
She said it like an insult… yet the attitude was so prickly and flustered it only made her seem more tsundere.
Arthur's smile deepened.
"One month is almost up. It's time for me to depart. This is Britannia's most important step forward."
"Honestly… I don't even know if we can truly succeed."
"But with your help, success becomes far easier."
"Of course!"
The woman lifted her chin.
Her pale-golden hair flowed all the way to her ankles, and confidence shone in her eyes.
"That's obvious. With me helping, if you still can't win… then die out there. Don't bother coming back."
"Yes."
"Thank you."
Arthur chuckled.
"I'll leave him behind to assist you. You won't need to handle anything yourself."
He turned and prepared to leave.
Tap.
Tap.
As he walked away, moonlight revealed the woman's flawless face.
Beautiful—almost unreal.
Yet her eyes were complicated, carrying something far deeper than her words.
She whispered softly:
"Arthur… you really are an infuriating man."
"…Still, in this new world, you're not quite as unbearable."
"After all… everything is already in the past."
Arthur descended from the tower, but just before leaving, he paused and murmured:
"I truly didn't expect to summon her."
"With her help… protecting Britannia becomes far too easy."
"Heh...hehehe."
His smile was thick with meaning. His lips moved as if he spoke two very light words—so quiet that the wind stole them away before anyone could hear.
---
The Next Day
Arthur wore his own knightly armor. At his side stood two Round Table Knights—Gawain and Gareth.
Soon, the three arrived at the training grounds.
Arthur looked down at the formation below.
Though they came from many different races, every one of them wore complete, well-made knight armor. Five thousand trainee knights stood at attention—armor that Arthur had ordered from craftsmen across the world.
Even so, he still needed his own smiths.
Only with true master craftsmen could Britain forge even better gear.
In the future, Britannia's knights might not grow endlessly in number… but they would all be elites.
Arthur swept his gaze over the field and spoke firmly:
"Everyone."
Below—
With Galahad at the front, six candidate Round Table Knights stood present.
Alongside them were the five thousand trainees, all standing rigid and focused.
Their eyes were sharp.
Max's gaze, in particular, was filled with gratitude—and unwavering determination.
Arthur continued:
"No further explanation is needed. We have one goal."
"We set sail for Fish-Man Island."
"We defeat the Five Peaks Pirates."
"We defeat Ochoku."
"Understood?!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
Every trainee raised their knight sword high, proud and fearless.
"Good."
Arthur nodded, then asked:
"Max. The ships I told you to prepare—are they ready?"
Max stepped forward.
"Your Majesty! Each ship is a massive vessel capable of carrying over a thousand men. Every function is complete. They've all been coated and can depart immediately."
Arthur raised his voice:
"Everyone—set sail!"
"Yes!"
From there, everything moved with disciplined order. Gawain and Gareth directed the preparations.
Five enormous ships—each capable of carrying a thousand—were lined up across the British waters.
They were brand-new, yet outstanding in every aspect.
Because—
These ships had been built by Tom.
After learning about Fish-Man Island, Tom had worked day and night, leading his people to construct five super-class ships within a month.
And in many respects—
If not for material limitations, they could have rivaled Marine warships—aside from weapon systems.
It was an astonishing feat, proof of just how incredible Tom truly was.
"Your Majesty," Gawain reported after boarding.
"Everything is ready."
Arthur's voice was calm.
"Set sail."
"Yes!"
With Arthur's order, the five ships raised their sails and began moving, gradually disappearing toward the horizon.
"Hahaha!"
On Volcano Island, Tom stood laughing boldly, shouting with all his heart:
"Lord Arthur! Go in glory! I won't disappoint you!"
After witnessing Arthur's decision to rescue Fish-Man Island, Tom's attitude had clearly shifted.
He respected Arthur more—and he was truly beginning to want to join Britannia.
That kind of talent was something Arthur would never let slip away.
"Coating!"
"Dive!"
"Yes!"
Under Gawain's command, the trainees began moving immediately.
They had trained for only two months at most, but their discipline already looked elite.
Galahad's methods were the training regimen of Britannia's old knights—
The knightly legion that once followed the "King of Knights," sweeping across battlefields, was being rebuilt.
Arthur spoke calmly:
"Gawain, I'm leaving everything to you. Inform me when we reach Fish-Man Island."
"Yes!"
Gawain nodded respectfully.
Arthur returned to the cabin and continued training.
A brutal battle awaited. No matter what, he could not relax—he couldn't waste a single moment that could make him stronger.
Meanwhile, Gawain muttered under his breath, confused:
"The king took everyone… all candidate Round Table Knights, all trainee knights we've raised…"
"Britannia is practically empty now."
"…Are we really relying on only those two?"
"Ehehehe~!"
Gareth, grinning like a wild child, laughed cheerfully.
"Brother, don't be so tense! If the king took everyone, then he must've already prepared everything. Relax—nothing will go wrong."
"…Is that so?"
Gawain still couldn't understand.
Who had Arthur summoned—someone capable of guarding all of Britannia alone?
At that moment, Galahad spoke from the side:
"Lord Gawain, Gareth… you truly don't know?"
"That person is already in Britannia."
"Who?"
"Huh?!"
Both siblings were completely lost.
Galahad, unusually, gave them a mysterious smile and said nothing more—only making them even more confused.
After all, Britannia did have a guardian Round Table Knight… but that knight wasn't famous for sheer power. How could they protect the archipelago perfectly?
Yet Galahad refused to explain.
As he walked away, the siblings were left staring at each other in total bewilderment.
---
Elsewhere, On the Deck...
Max stood in full knight armor, eyes sharp. He murmured under his breath:
"Your Majesty… you prepared all this… for my sake…"
"I… I…"
"Hahaha!"
Hugh strode over, loud and shameless as always.
"Hey, Max—don't tell me you're about to cry? At your age?"
"Yeah! Yeah!"
Bohr laughed with arms crossed, looking like he'd mock Max endlessly if he teared up.
Max snorted.
"You idiots. How could I cry? Impossible."
"Tch."
Bohr clicked his tongue.
"Better not."
Just then, Mashi asked softly:
"Hugh… did you find your two older brothers?"
Hugh shrugged.
"I found some traces. But the third and fifth came back saying the first and second don't plan to return."
"I was going to go personally and drag them back… but Fish-Man Island's about to erupt into war."
"After we finish this, I'll go."
Blue Ogre Dorry.
Red Ogre Brogy.
If those two truly joined Britannia, the meaning would be completely different.
Their presence would be a massive beacon for former members of the Giant Warrior Pirates.
After all—if all three captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates served Britannia, more giants would follow naturally.
And giant combat power was no joke.
Mashi only smiled, saying nothing.
Then Bohr asked:
"Mashi, how's your side going? Are the Three-Eye Tribe willing to join Britannia?"
Among the six candidates:
Hugh, Bor, Wei, and Max represented major races—Giants, Longarm Tribe, Longleg Tribe, and Fish-Men.
Those races had large populations. They could bring followers, entire families, and communities into Britain.
But they couldn't force anyone.
Mashi and Nejīn were different.
The Three-Eye Tribe and the Snakeneck Tribe were rare—small in number.
They had to consider whether to persuade their entire people to move.
Because—
Britannia's equality, and Arthur's sincere respect, were things their races valued more than anything.
Mashi shook her head.
"They haven't agreed yet… which is normal."
"The king is strong, but he hasn't displayed enough overwhelming power to convince them."
"For a tribe struggling to survive, we can't pledge ourselves casually."
That wasn't exaggeration.
For rare races, joining the wrong power could mean extinction.
"Yeah, yeah."
Bohr waved a hand.
"I get it."
"But if we beat Ochoku… then your Three-Eye Tribe will finally see the king's true strength, right?"
Mashi nodded.
"Of course."
If Ochoku—former Rocks officer and current captain of the Five Peaks Pirates—was defeated, everything would change.
Britannia's status would soar. Arthur's prestige would be undeniable.
And with Mashi as the bridge, the chance of the Three-Eye Tribe joining Britannia would become extremely high.
In the end—
They were already truly willing, from the heart, to help Britannia rise.
-----------------------------///
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