Chapter 136. The Founding Epic Poem, Arthur Pendragon!
Everyone screamed out loud, breathing heavily, eyes glued to the Celestial Curtain, not daring to miss a single detail.
Especially those nations rooted in Euro civilizations—their eyes were red with emotion.
That was their spiritual origin, the cradle of their civilization!
But then…
"No way?!!"
"How could it be like that?!"
The whole crowd stood dumbfounded.
Like a fleeting image, the Celestial Curtain had no intention of providing detailed narration—perhaps this time, the "main character" from beginning to end was never that young man.
Indignation!
Explosive rage!
Screams!
Screams of frenzied despair!
Damn, we were finally about to see that king, maybe even witness an epic that would shake the very core of his life…
And now—you're telling us it's over?!
Everyone felt like exploding!
The average folks flipped tables, the rich couldn't take it anymore, some even reflexively smashed priceless antiques worth millions of dollars nearby!
"Click, they've totally gone mad."
Inside a coffee shop.
Kazuma looked at the frenzied mob outside the window and shrugged.
"Try putting yourself in their shoes… like if you were about to witness Magical Girl Lily…"
Ayanokouji said absentmindedly.
"Don't say it! Don't say it! I'm already starting to hurt!"
Kazuma immediately clutched his head, face full of agony.
Thankfully...
Even if it was like light skimming the surface of water, one could still glimpse a few fragments from that person's storm-tossed life.
...
["Sou, must you really go? That's the dragon that slaughtered four villages already—no one who went to subjugate it ever returned."]
[At the entrance of a village that had begun to prosper.]
[The elderly mother tightly gripped her son's sleeve, eyes filled only with pleading.]
[Sou, now a handsome youth, shook his head.]
["Yes, mother. It's already four villages. With the dragon's insatiable hunger, how many villages will be enough? When will it be our turn?"]
["There must always be someone to go."]
["But you're only fifteen, let your father go instead."]
[The withered old father stepped forward, picked up an axe, skillfully strung his longbow: "If you're going, then I'll go with you."]
["Though I can no longer see the full extent of your strength, you're still young. Let me lend you a hand, my son."]
[The youth stayed silent, finally lifting his head.]
["Yes, father. Thank you."]
...
[When the enormous, ferocious dragon head was dragged back on a wagon, the entire village—even neighboring villages—erupted.]
[Countless people cheered and leapt in joy, crying tears of relief as their long-held fear was finally released.]
[Many swarmed in, crowding, shouting toward the wounded and exhausted youth: "Gana, Gana, Gana…."]
[The old mage stepped forward: "Such a great achievement must be divinely protected."]
["Even the Lord Priest will personally meet you, perhaps even offer you to the Kingdom of the Gods, far from this cruel mortal world, little Gana…"]
[In the old mage's eyes was deep admiration: "What a blessing that would be."]
[Those nearby also displayed burning desire.]
[The youth… was stunned.]
....
["Heretic!"]
["Blasphemer!"]
["To feed the beast governed by the gods with your lowly mortal flesh — what glory that is."]
["Those who defy the gods, the wrath of the divine shall pour down like a violent storm from the heavens! I curse you, blasphemer — the fire of God King Balor shall burn your soul for ten thousand years…"]
[Nailed by spears to the grand wall of the temple, radiant divine light howled luxuriously, shrieking the curse.]
["Are you done yet? Arthur."]
[The handsome young man pulled the longsword from the body of the beast — head of a hawk, tail of a scorpion, body of a lion — and frowned slightly at the corroded blade.]
[The blond and handsome youth hesitated, then gritted his teeth and swung his sword, decapitating the Priest, immediately turning away, not daring to look again.]
["Hahaha, so immature…"]
[The handsome young man smiled brightly and patted him on the shoulder: "Then how could you possibly become my retainer, Al? Later, when I drive out the gods and found a kingdom, I want to grant you the archipelago on the other side of the continent."]
["What should we name it for it to sound good? Ah right, how about calling it Britain?"]
["Stop teasing me, big brother Sou, I'm already grown up, and besides, there's only the two of us here—talking about founding a nation and granting titles is a bit premature."]
[The youth looked a bit flustered.]
["It's not too early. Without a clear ideal, how could one risk their life to pursue it? Besides, if I die, I can entrust it to you; if you die, then pass it on to your son."]
[The youth panicked a little: "Sou! I was wrong! We will surely be victorious and undefeated, drive out all the gods… wait a minute, Sou, are you messing with me right now?"]
["You're only realizing now? Arthur, you really are slow, huh? Hahaha. Come to think of it, it feels like long ago we also once fought side by side like this."]
[Looking at the youth in front of him, Sou became slightly dazed.]
[The feeling of this youth… he should have had a golden sword even more radiant, even more magnificent.]
...…
["You defiled the divine temple, killed the emissary of the gods, and seized land favored by them — you humans are digging your own graves!"]
["Finished talking? If so, go die… gods!"]
[Beheading a god, the young man lightly swung his longsword, wearing a helpless expression.]
["Another sword replacement. One day I swear I'll storm into Avalon, loot all those Holy Swords from the Fairy lot, and give one to each of you."]
[Up ahead.]
[The followers, all injured, burst into laughter.]
["Sounds good. I've heard those Holy Swords forged by the fairies are so tempting even the gods covet them."]
["Then I want the 'The Unfading Light of the Lake'."]
["Hahaha, Arms, you sure have high hopes huh? That's the Holy Sword that counters dragon species, the radiant light of the lake under the moonlight — they say even a true dragon from the heavens could be struck down by it?"]
["Sou, is it really that powerful? Then I want that sword too!"]
["Hey hey hey, brat, that sword is mine."]
["Then I want the 'Ultimate Unbroken Hallow'."]
["Tch~ that's one of the Three Great Holy Swords, a Holy Sword eternal and unbroken, said to rival Excalibur."]
["Cough cough cough, then let's just leave Excalibur to Sou."]
["Exactly, only that Holy Sword suits big brother Sou."]
[The group of youths laughed and joked boisterously.]
["All jokes aside, we've killed magical beasts, saved commoners, and now even brought down a god — with such feats, there ought to be a title, right?"]
["Tch, thanks to you? Sou was always the one charging in first, alright?"]
["Don't say that, aren't we all disciples of big brother Sou?"]
[The other youths were also moved, their gazes turning toward the figure lying leisurely on the grass.]
["Hey, look over there… Sou?"]
["Sou?"]
[The young man snapped out of it, turned his head and smiled: "Some of you have Humility, others Honesty, some hold Compassion, some possess Valor, there are those who believe in Justice, and those willing to Sacrifice…"]
["There are even those who pursue Honor, or uphold Spirituality."]
[As the young man spoke, each youth puffed their chest, lifted their heads proudly.]
[Finally, the young man glanced at the warhorse leisurely grazing in the distance, then changed his tone: "Since all of you ride horses, then let's call it Knight!"]
["Huh? That's what we're going with~~"]
...…
At that very moment.
Across Europe.
Countless nobles, whose lineages had endured for thousands of years, almost reverently gave praise.
Praise for the moment that birthed the spiritual core of their civilization: Knight.
Knight!
The first and most fundamental noble.
Also the origin of their civilization, the beginning of everything.
Even people from other civilizations solemnly watched the scene of those young men.
No matter how many goddamn loan sharks, bandits, massacres, and darkness would come later on…
At least, in this moment, they were so radiant.
After all, regardless of the civilization, regardless of the country — the original founding organization is always sacred and pure, though in the end it always becomes corrupted.
Everyone was used to it.
But that doesn't mean they would deny the nobility of that original group.
...…
[A city full of vitality.]
[A newly established kingdom.]
[Tens of thousands of faces filled with hope.]
[The young man held high the severed head of a god and swore under the sunlight — the first kingdom on this land was born!]
[In that moment, tens of thousands cheered.]
[That moment was carved into history.]
[That moment, the whistle that marked the start of a new era resounded.]
[From that moment on, the people of this land would no longer have to fear the fickle wrath of the gods, would no longer have to dread natural disasters stirred up by divine powers.]
[Because… HE IS HERE!!!]
[Everyone chanted a name in unison — Sou Gana•Sean!]
[It means "the grace of Chaos (the world)".]
[In an era before Christianity even existed, this was the greatest honor a human could receive.]
[In essence, it held a meaning equivalent to — Saint•Gana.]
[Surrounded by countless burning, yearning, and reverent gazes, the young man gently smiled in response to their expectations, their trust.]
[It wasn't until returning to the humble palace for a meal that Arthur — now already a young man — stepped out to greet him.]
["Sou, the kingdom has been founded, but the gods of the surrounding regions — the gods of Britain, Greek, Slavic, Norse, even the indisputable overlords across the ocean — the Egyptian Gods — they're all enraged now."]
["Ara, ara."]
[The young man lazily waved his hand, leisurely enjoying the banquet — boiled potatoes.]
["But the Fomorian God-King Balor has declared that at sunset on the third day, he will descend upon this land and bring a cataclysm to destroy everything — and he is a God-King."]
[An enemy far too powerful caused Arthur to begin trembling in fear.]
["Don't talk about things like that while eating, Arthur."]
[The young man slowly and carefully savored each dish.]
[On a land where gods could unleash natural disasters at will, food was incredibly precious.]
["You should start thinking about what surname you want. How about Lorecia? Not satisfied? Then Pendragon it is — Arthur Pendragon."]
["Your territory is in Britain, so that surname suits Britain."]
[The young man declared decisively.]
[Arthur didn't care about the surname, but seriously repeated again.]
[The young man, who had never been moved by food before, simply waved his hand: "If the army comes — then the generals will lead the troops to fight. If a great flood arrives — then fill it with earth.Arthur.Once things happen, panicking is useless.You must calm down, and face it with reason and wisdom.I can't forever stand in front of you, shielding everything for you, Arthur."]
["Sou, what are you saying…"]
[The newly named Pendragon felt a moment of unease.]
["I will eventually leave. At that time, everything will be entrusted to you — along with the child I'm raising…"]
[The young man shook his head: "Scathach, that kid isn't easy to deal with, and may not be able to uphold the legacy we've built."]
[Arthur also felt that the child the young man had randomly picked up during an accident wasn't reliable.]
[Diving into rivers to catch turtles, climbing rooftops to flip tiles, causing so much mischief that even the most patient among them had constant headaches.]
[But…]
[The thing I cannot accept above all else… is that you would abandon us, my king.]
[At that moment, Arthur knelt on one knee, one hand placed over his left chest, lowering his head as if swearing an oath, as if offering praise.]
["Past, present, and future — we shall forge eternal glory… My King… You shall be eternal."]
[Only when watching Arthur's silhouette fade into the distance…]
["But Arthur… I always have this feeling…"]
[The young man stood up, gazing out beyond the palace where the people were still cheering and celebrating, and let out a soft sigh: "I don't belong here… I will eventually leave."]
...…
The entire world fell silent.
No one was too surprised anymore upon learning that Arthur was indeed Pendragon — the ancestor of the legendary King Arthur, who would one day rule the land of Britain.
But everyone felt a certain sorrow as they looked toward that young man.
A soul drifting between worlds… where is the place you truly belong?
...…
[Britain.]
[A majestic volcano rose from the earth — it was the God-King Fomorian Balor returning to the land.]
[Everyone was exhilarated, laughing heartily, even Anchises — the demigod famed for his peerless beauty — was spinning and dancing atop the volcano's mouth.]
[A god-king…]
[Even if only the king of a group of lesser gods.]
[Was still a ruler standing atop the earth.]
[In this vast ancient land, he too was one of the overlords.]
[Today.]
[He fell beneath their sword.]
["Hahaha, in the end, it still had to be me to guide the Celtic god-king, the sun god Lugh mac Ethlenn, into action huh."]
["My wisdom is as precious as the treasures of the world."]
[The dwarf smugly raised his brows.]
[The brawny young man beside him couldn't stand it.]
["Nonsense, it was clearly my steel body that blocked the god-king's blade."]
["Then what about my divine bow that can shoot down the sun, huh?"]
["Cut it out, careful the sun god Lugh hasn't gone far yet."]
["Get lost."]
[The group of young men bickered and joked, yet in the end, all looked passionately toward the figure wiping his longsword — their eyes ablaze with fire.]
["My King, who's the next target?"]
[By now, they fully believed.]
[As long as they followed this king who shone like a star, they could surely fulfill their great vow — to drive all gods from the mortal world.]
[Atop the hill.]
[The king, unclear where he was gazing in the distant skies, suddenly turned back to look at the knights — wounded yet still spirited — and smiled.]
["Next, huh."]
["Then let's go to Avalon."]
["It's been so many years already… time to fulfill that old promise."]
[The young men — most of whom now had families — were stunned, and then their faces flushed bright red.]
["Really, really, Your Majesty? This time we're really going to charge into Avalon?"]
["No way, King, didn't they say the leader of the lake fairy Avalon, Viviane, and you… hehehe…"]
["Hmph, she's practically a creator goddess level figure, you know."]
["Tsk, your foot's stepping on a bigshot, isn't it."]
[The young men once again burst into noisy teasing.]
[Though they had children, the one bearing the name Pendragon looked toward the king — who, at some point, had come to love stargazing — as both an elder brother and a father.]
[Because he knew that in the end, His Majesty would leave — and so never left behind any offspring?]
[My King…]
[Where is your true homeland…]
...…
Reality.
Watching the scene fade away along with the gentle music.
Only now did many people suddenly exhale, gasping as if surfacing from a long dream.
...
Note:
Yo guys, I'll be halting this fanfic this week.
Before translating this fanfic, I had only read up to Chapter 70. At that point, the story was still very good and full of potential. But starting from Chapter 100 with the "Destroy Japan" little Arc, the story has seriously declined, the quality keeps getting worse, so I'm planning to take time to read the later chapters to see whether it improves or continues spiraling downward.
If it continues to be this bad, then I'll drop it.