Typemoon: Starting Out as the Lion King's Personal Knight

Credits: Lumn

"Although I truly appreciate everyone's recognition, I'm still far from mature. Half a year is just too short. My body's refinement and my accumulated experience are both lacking," Alaric said, clenching and unclenching his fists, letting out a deep sigh.

"And let's not even mention my dragon blood. The King has expectations of me — expectations for the day I reach transcendence.

Should I abandon my human form and become the final dragon, soaring to the ends of the world? Or should I remain steadfast as a human and continue walking this path with a mortal body?"

"Such a future feels so incredibly distant."

Over the past six months, Alaric's strength had indeed grown steadily, and the power of his dragon blood was undeniable. But deep down, he knew it wasn't enough.

After the campaign against the Lionheart King, something crucial within the dragon aspect of himself felt incomplete — and as for the human side, it was even more so.

Even if he pushed his dragon blood to its absolute limit, surpassing mythical dragons and even the Lion King, he still wouldn't achieve transcendence.

The transcendence the Lion King anticipated seemed to lie at the very edge of the world, forever out of reach.

"What—"

"What?!"

"Huh?"

"That's incredible—"

The moment Alaric finished speaking, everyone present gasped in shock, their surprise erupting in unison.

Da Vinci's eyes narrowed with sharp focus, her mind racing as she discarded one unlikely theory after another.

After all, what Alaric had just revealed was far too astonishing. Even if he was confused, the information he inadvertently shared carried meanings that, in Da Vinci's eyes, were as profound as a thousand words.

["Are you serious? The Lion King wants to turn you into the Red Dragon of Britain? Why?!"]

Roman's face contorted with confusion, his expression a tangle of shock and disbelief. It was as if a flurry of question marks had sprung to life above his head. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't grasp the Lion King's intentions.

Mash and Ritsuka Fujimaru, meanwhile, were simply awestruck, their gazes filled with awe rather than comprehension.

Bedivere, however, frowned deeply. As soon as he heard Alaric mention the Lion King's expectations, his heart sank, and he bit his lip.

That is not something a true king should do, he thought. Such conduct is unworthy of King Arthur.

It's all… my fault.

"This is where my immaturity lies. I cannot fulfill the King's expectations, and that makes me truly ashamed—"

Alaric shifted his tone, forcing a smile as he reached for Ritsuka Fujimaru's hand.

"So, Miss Ritsuka Fujimaru, I need True Ether. I have no choice but to ask for your help."

"Please summon Paracelsus and help me create True Ether here in this Holy Land of the 13th century. Even if it's just a pseudo version, I'll accept it."

"Huh?"

Caught off guard by Alaric's sudden gesture, Ritsuka blinked in surprise. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she instinctively pulled her hand away, taking a small step back.

"Um, Sir Alaric, I do want to help you, but summoning a Servant just like that isn't so simple—"

From his words, even Ritsuka could piece together his goal: he was seeking True Ether to nourish the dragon blood within him, nurturing it until it reached its peak.

If the magical energy of the 13th century wasn't enough to maximize its potential, he would turn to the True Ether of the Age of Gods — a superior form of mysticism that could defy reality itself.

"So that's it, Sir Alaric. You want to use the True Ether to cultivate your dragon blood, the blood inherited from the divine King of Knights.

But even the King of Knights didn't fully transform into the Red Dragon — it was only a bloodline. Do you believe you can succeed?"

As Alaric's motives became clear, Da Vinci immediately understood why he had sought out the Temple of Ozymandias and Hermes in his search for True Ether.

["Huh? Sir Alaric wants True Ether?"]

Roman's eyes widened in disbelief. But after only a moment of thought, the realization hit him.

["You're asking Ritsuka to summon Paracelsus — the 16th-century alchemist who wrote treatises on the Philosopher's Stone—

Wait, wait, wait! Are you seriously planning to turn into a dragon?!"]

His rapid string of questions echoed like a volley of cannon fire.

["But doing so would change the structure of your mind! You'd no longer be human — you'd be a dragon in both body and soul—"]

At Roman's words, Bedivere could no longer remain silent.

"This is wrong, Sir Alaric. The King's path is a mistake, and you mustn't follow it. All that awaits you is suffering—"

Bedivere's eyes, filled with concern, fixed on Alaric. This man, recognized by the King and the Knights of the Round Table as a successor, could be called the Last Knight of the Round Table.

He could not bear to see Alaric walk this misguided path.

"Please, don't—"

Even Mash, after shaking off her shock, raised her voice. Her wide-eyed gaze was filled with anxiety.

"Sir Alaric, are you planning to use True Ether to become the Red Dragon?"

"I never said that. I'm pursuing True Ether for something else entirely."

Alaric's response was calm, his tone light as he waved his hands in denial.

"As for turning into the Red Dragon… well, that depends on fate.

But honestly, I'd much rather stay human. Becoming a dragon sounds like way too much trouble."

"Huh?"

"Ah—"

"Uh?"

The response left Da Vinci and the others momentarily speechless. Their faces, once tense with concern, grew awkward.

Even Bedivere's tensed shoulders visibly relaxed as he let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Before Da Vinci could probe Alaric further, Roman's alarm suddenly blared.

["Leonardo! Four magical signatures are approaching rapidly! It's the Enforcement Knights, and they're moving faster than before!"]

Da Vinci glanced toward the distant horizon. Her eyes narrowed as she muttered, "Ah, I knew it wouldn't be that easy—"

The mountains were close now. The refugees, led by Da Vinci and Ritsuka Fujimaru, were only moments away from reaching the mountain range where the Mountain People resided.

Safety was just within reach — but not quite.

"It must be a forward unit on horseback. Roman, check further back. Is there a stronger magical signature? If there is, it's bound to be a Knight of the Round Table."

Da Vinci's tone was steady, but both Mash and Fujimaru wore grim expressions. Even Bedivere's face darkened with a mix of dread and determination.

"That's a Knight of the Round Table. It's Sir Lancelot."

Alaric shaded his eyes with his hand, peering into the distance. He could sense the wild, unrestrained magical energy radiating from Lancelot, as vivid as a bonfire in the dark.

"It's an order from Sir Agravain. Lancelot has been dispatched to eliminate you before returning to the Holy City."

Just as he had casually revealed Chaldea's presence to the Lion King, Alaric now openly exposed Agravain's intentions to them.

["Damn it! We're so close! We have to fight them off!"]

Roman's voice was frantic but focused.

["Ritsuka Fujimaru, the rear of the refugee line is going to be caught by the Enforcement Knights in a matter of minutes!"]

His words sent a jolt of urgency through everyone.

But rather than rushing to act, Ritsuka turned toward Alaric, who stood there calmly, as if this had nothing to do with him.

"Sir Alaric, can we ask for your help?"

"Me? Fight the Enforcement Knights?"