I Became a Mythical Knight King

Chapter 62: Black Knight of Lothian (1)

In truth, Yoo Seong wanted to collapse immediately after the battle ended, but he couldn’t.

As always, there was cleanup work to do after the fight.

Mayor Hexen of Lushen, who was responsible for the city, had fled with the other lords and was probably at the monastery by now.

Thus, Yoo Seong had no choice but to find a prominent figure in Lushen who could help Ruan stabilize the city and take care of the aftermath in his stead.

Fortunately, it didn’t take long to find someone.

“Yes! I’m Mateo, the captain of the guard!”

Despite the chaos, the captain of the guard, who had managed to survive somehow, looked at Yoo Seong with sparkling eyes.

It was a little overwhelming to see a middle-aged man with a seasoned and battle-hardened look gazing at him with such enthusiasm, but it was good news nonetheless.

Rather than surviving by hiding, this was someone who had lived because of his competence and was now directing a very favorable gaze at Yoo Seong.

“I’ve heard of your fame for a long time. It’s an honor to meet you in person.”

Mateo had thought that, as usual, the stories he had heard were exaggerated rumors.

But now, he no longer thought so.

He had witnessed Yoo Seong’s performance with his own eyes, something straight out of Arthurian legends.

“Thank you for thinking highly of me. I’d like you to work with Sir Ruan to stabilize the city and search for any remaining ratmen.”

Since Mateo wasn’t one of Yoo Seong’s subordinates, Yoo Seong spoke to him with a slight level of formality, but the effect was significant.

Receiving unexpected respect from Yoo Seong, Mateo’s evaluation of him rose even higher.

That such a remarkable knight, and a nobleman who owned a fief, would speak respectfully and not command but request—it was almost inconceivable.

“Yes! I’ll stake my life to carry out your orders!”

“No, there’s no need to stake your life…Never mind. Yes, I’m counting on you.”

What could he do to stop him?

When Yoo Seong responded, Mateo once again answered energetically before turning around to gather his subordinates.

It seemed safe to leave the search for ratmen and the stabilization of the city to Mateo.

‘Next is…’

After briefly closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Yoo Seong looked toward the inner keep.

Just as he sensed footsteps approaching, Ruan appeared.

“I’ve found them.”

At Ruan’s opening words, Yoo Seong swallowed once before nodding.

The task he had entrusted to Ruan: recovering the bodies of the lords who had died in the council chamber.

The attack on the council chamber had happened more than 10 hours ago.

It was highly likely that the ratmen and dark elves, who had once seized control of the castle, had desecrated or disposed of the bodies. But as human decency dictated, they couldn’t simply abandon the effort to recover them.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the ratmen had kept the lords’ bodies separate.

Their aim had clearly been to cause chaos in the fiefs of the lords they killed, and to that end, they had kept the heads of the lords as tools for their plans.

Faced with the severed head of Baron Varian, carefully preserved and placed in a wooden box, Yoo Seong bit his lip before offering a moment of silent prayer.

The time they had spent together was brief, but Yoo Seong sincerely felt a sense of sorrow.

Varian had been a good person and someone precious to Rene.

“Ruan, please prepare funerals for Baron Varian… and the other lords.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ruan responded heavily, his expression darkening at Yoo Seong’s words.

“Alright, I’m counting on you.”

Reiterating his request as if to emphasize it, Yoo Seong left the storage room and stood in the hallway.

Sunlight streaming through a shattered window illuminated the corridor, which was now in complete disarray.

Recalling how the corridor had been lavishly decorated for last night’s banquet, Yoo Seong let out a long sigh before taking another step forward.

Rene and Jillian were asleep from exhaustion.

Having left the aftermath in the hands of the still energetic Ruan, Yoo Seong followed a servant from the inner keep, who had been prepared in advance, to his quarters.

He needed to rest, even if only for a short while.

When Yoo Seong opened his eyes again, it was nearly midnight.

Given the immense physical and mental exhaustion he had endured, it was only natural.

Confirming it was nighttime through the window, Yoo Seong deliberately made a sound to announce his wakefulness.

Outside the room, a servant, who appeared to have been standing by, spoke.

“Have you woken, sir?”

“Yes. Please prepare for me to wash.”

Though he didn’t know the exact time, it was clear from the view outside that it was quite late.

He had already sent word to the monastery, so most of the lords had likely returned to either Lushen or their fiefs.

After a few minutes, as Yoo Seong stretched lightly in bed to stay awake, the door opened. The servant entered alongside Rene.

“Did you sleep well?”

Rene greeted him with a bright smile, but Yoo Seong didn’t miss her red, bloodshot eyes.

Though she had likely wiped away her tears, her eyes and slightly different demeanor betrayed her feelings.

She had probably just returned from confirming Baron Varian’s severed head.

Whether she had seen it directly or merely confirmed that it had been recovered, it must have been an incredibly painful experience.

Thus, after a moment’s hesitation, Yoo Seong decided not to say anything consoling. Instead, he simply smiled back at her.

“Yes, Rene. Did you sleep well?”

“So-so.”

Rene smiled faintly, subtly signaling with her eyes. The servant, who had brought in a basin of warm water on a small cart, bowed and withdrew.

As Yoo Seong naturally began to wash his face, Rene spoke softly.

“Sister Jillian is still sleeping. She’s physically exhausted, but I think the mental strain was even greater.”

At Rene’s words, Yoo Seong smiled bitterly.

He couldn’t help but recall Jillian’s startled reaction when Rene had smashed through the ceiling with her magic.

“The lords have returned. Most of them came back together, including Count Carian and Mayor Hexen.”

“What about Count Artois’ domain?”

“Yes, with only Baron William’s attendants remaining, they seem to have come to assess Lushen’s situation and recover Baron William’s body.”

Though Rene’s voice grew somber again toward the end, neither Yoo Seong nor Rene brought up Baron Varian directly.

“Count Carian wants to see you. In fact, most of the lords want to meet you, but he’s particularly eager. He’s requested a private audience.”

It didn’t seem like Count Carian was merely expressing gratitude for Lushen’s recapture or for saving his life. There was likely more to it than that.

“What do you think, Rene?”

“Having witnessed your power firsthand, I don’t think he’ll say anything foolish.”

“Foolish, like?”

“Well, something like, ‘Become my vassal’—that sort of thing?”

Pretending to mimic someone’s voice, Rene joked, making Yoo Seong chuckle.

Combining the information he’d gathered and his assessment of Count Carian during their brief encounters, Yoo Seong concluded that the man was indeed intelligent.

He was more likely to propose something constructive than spout nonsense.

“I think he’ll offer a carrot. How big of a carrot is uncertain… but given that you saved his life and the city, he wouldn’t dare act stingy.”

“Because he’s smart?”

“Yes, though not as smart as you, of course.”

At Rene’s words, Yoo Seong chuckled again, taking a deep breath before asking another question.

“There’s no rush to meet him, right?”

“Of course not. You’re the one granting the audience, after all, not the other way around.”

Rene crossed her arms, even letting out a snort of amusement before continuing.

“More importantly, aren’t you hungry?”

“Oh, I’m starving.”

It had been nearly 24 hours since he had eaten anything.

Now that he’d noticed it, his hunger felt even more acute.

“Fufu, I thought so. I had it prepared in advance. The servant who left earlier will soon bring your meal.”

“As expected of the royal magician. You’re amazing.”

“Hehe, of course. I haven’t eaten yet either, so let’s eat together.”

“Alright, let’s eat and review the status window together.”

“Wow, the status window! You haven’t spent your points yet, have you? Right?”

Yoo Seong nodded at Rene’s question as if he had been waiting, then stepped closer with shining eyes that were anything but ordinary.

Because of this, Yoo Seong didn’t bother joking around. Instead, he nodded his head and immediately opened the status window.

Now that he had said it, there was something Yoo Seong himself was looking forward to.

Level 20.

It was time for the second class upgrade.

Name: Cheon Yoo Seong
Gender: Male
Occupation: High Paladin (New!)
Level: 20
Rank: Intermediate Commander
Special Traits: Successor of the Holy King, Master of the Legion, Successor of the Round Table, Heart of the Dragon

[Chivalry]
[Heir to the Light]

[Holy King Skills]
Royal Swordsmanship Lv5 / Imperial Swordsmanship Lv5 / Dragon Heart Lv5 / Dragon King’s Path Lv4 / King’s Insight Lv3 / Warhorse Summoning Lv4

[Holy King’s Cross Sword]
Blazing Sword / Gale Sword (New!)

[Paladin Skills]
Aura Blade / Aura Shield / Victory Shout / Aura Blast / Blessing of the Goddess (New!) / Healing of the Goddess (New!)

[Commander Orders]
Gale Order / Protection Order / Penetration Order / Giant’s Order / Charge Order (New!)

[Knights’ Commands]
King’s Time / ??? (New!) – Condition not met. Requires unlocking the third-tier memories of knights.

[Equipment]
Silver Sword / Gareth’s Golden Lion Shield / Agravain’s Cloak / Armor

“There’s so much to check.”

“Right?”

Not only had he become a High Paladin at level 20, but new knight features had also been added, making countless changes.

The first thing that stood out was King’s Insight.

“Rene, I’ll try it.”

“Yes, Successor. I’m ready.”

Although Rene didn’t have to prepare for Yoo Seong to use King’s Insight, she straightened her posture, giving a deliberate cough.

“Alright, here we go.”

King’s Insight.

Yoo Seong’s eyes turned golden as familiar yet unfamiliar details began to appear.

[Name: Rene Baltois]
[Talent Bloom Rate: 9%]
[Talent of the Celestial Witch: One destined to become a Celestial Witch, endowed with the gift of magic from the heavens.]
[Talent of the Fist King: A punch that shatters the skies. Endowed with the talent of the Fist King.]
[Talent of Horsemanship: Possesses first-rate talent in all matters related to riding.]

New details became visible.

Where King’s Insight previously showed vague fields of talent with a hexagonal graph, it now explicitly described innate abilities.

‘Talent of the Celestial Witch is understandable, but…Talent of the Fist King?’

The persistent martial arts-related abilities she gained after every level-up were now clear. It was the Talent of the Fist King.

‘If I think of this like Fantasy Monarch…this is insane!’

The Talent of the Celestial Witch was one of the top three talents in the magic category, and in terms of raw power, it was the strongest among all magic talents.

The Celestial Witch.

This awe-inspiring title referred to only one figure in the Fantasy Monarch world: Morgan le Fay or Morgana le Fay.

Even Merlin, the royal magician of the Holy King, struggled against her—the most powerful witch in history.

That Rene had the potential to become the Celestial Witch was surprising but logical.

After all, she was the magician chosen by the Goddess of the Lake. It made sense for her to have such extraordinary talent.

‘But the Talent of the Fist King?’

The Fist King.

Although there were higher-level talents in martial arts, such as the Talent of the Fist Deity or the Fist Emperor, the Talent of the Fist King alone was extraordinary.

When Yoo Seong found a soldier with this talent during a Fantasy Monarch playthrough, he would immediately train them with utmost care.

‘The Talent of Horsemanship is impressive too, but the first two are so exceptional that it feels ordinary in comparison.’

The Talent of the Celestial Witch and the Talent of the Fist King.

‘I can’t be tempted. The right choice is the Celestial Witch.’

The Talent of the Fist King was tempting, but attempting a dual-class would result in mediocrity in both.

Of course, a Celestial Witch-Fist King hybrid would still be fearsome. However, it wouldn’t surpass specializing purely in either talent.

Between the two, investing in the Celestial Witch—already well-developed and superior—was the obvious choice.

“Successor? Is something wrong?” Rene asked cautiously, her face filled with concern.

No wonder—Yoo Seong, using King’s Insight, hadn’t spoken a word, instead contorting his face in turmoil.

Celestial Witch or Fist King.

It had to be the Celestial Witch, but the Fist King was too tempting.

The thought of giving up the Fist King radiated through Yoo Seong’s entire body.

Snapping back to reality, Yoo Seong waved his hand dismissively. “No, it’s fine. It’s just… Rene is amazing.”

“Pardon?”

“I mean, well…”

After briefly explaining the upgraded powers of King’s Insight and Rene’s innate talents, she blinked her large eyes before looking down at her own fists.

“Fist King…?”

“Yeah, the Fist King. A punch that can shatter the skies.”

“Me?”

“Not now. But if you follow the path of a martial artist, then yes.”

Rene closed her eyes as if imagining herself as the Fist King. Suddenly, she flinched, violently shook her head, and opened her eyes.

“I’ll just stick with the Celestial Witch.”

“Uh, okay.”

Had she imagined herself as a muscular giant like Hector?

To distract her, Yoo Seong changed the topic. “Anyway, King’s Insight is upgraded. It’ll help with proper role allocation and talent discovery.”

“True.”

King’s Insight allowed Yoo Seong to uncover hidden talents instantly, making it ideal for scouting.

‘And, like during the last lord’s meeting, it can also identify non-humans at a glance.’

King’s Insight was for observing human talents. Hence, it couldn’t reveal the talents of non-humans but could distinguish them immediately.

“The Holy King’s Cross Sword has new abilities, and there are new Paladin skills.”

The Blessing and Healing of the Goddess.

The former temporarily imbued weapons with divine power, similar to what Jillian had done during the pioneer battle. The latter was a recovery spell.

Although less potent than a Saint’s magic, as a High Paladin and Successor of the Holy King, both abilities were exceptionally useful.

“Charge Order probably appeared because of Roland’s heavy cavalry unit.”

Protection Order shielded allied forces from negative effects, Gale Order increased their speed, Penetration Order enhanced piercing attacks, and Giant’s Order bolstered resilience.

Charge Order, the latest addition, amplified the force of an allied charge.

‘If used with Gale Order, it’d create an unstoppable charge.’

What if combined with Diana’s chivalry?

Imagining this, Yoo Seong smirked and reviewed the status window again.

‘Come to think of it, I don’t know Roland’s chivalry yet.’

Roland, a heavy cavalry knight, looked like a dashing spearman, exuding straightforwardness.

‘He seems upright, like a male version of Kate.’

Only further conversations would reveal more.

“Is the Knights’ Command still incomplete?”

Rene tilted her head curiously.

Rene, having learned Korean recently, could now roughly read the status window.

‘As expected of the Celestial Witch.’

While language ability had no direct connection to the Celestial Witch, Yoo Seong nodded, agreeing. “Yes, it’s still incomplete. We’ll probably need the third pioneer mission to fully unlock it.”

Progressing with the pioneers affected not just Yoo Seong’s Castle but also the knights, gradually restoring their sealed memories.

“Shall we start developing Yoo Seong Castle, Successor? It might enable the third pioneer mission.”

Amused by Rene’s playful suggestion, Yoo Seong nodded and activated Yoo Seong Castle.