Chapter 72: Pledge of Bedivere
Two days had swiftly passed since the onslaught of the beast tide.
After a full day of rest, Benedict began organizing the citizens of Lucanmont to deal with the aftermath of the war. The bodies of the demon boars were transported into the city, their hides to be turned into armor, their fat to be used for candles, and their meat to be smoked.
The most precious part of the demon boars was their fangs. Not only were they sturdy, but they also held great value as symbols, particularly among the nobles who cared about appearances.
Under Arkhan's suggestion, Benedict decided to package these fangs nicely. Upon returning to Camelot, he planned to hold a special auction, with the proceeds primarily going towards compensating the families of the fallen soldiers and making amends for the losses Lucanmont had suffered in the recent beast tide.
With this influx of funds, Lucanmont could swiftly recover from the devastation caused by the beast tide.
The citizens gathered rocks and dirt from other places to restore the uneven ground damaged by the giant crater, which Arkhan had created with a single move, resembling the mouth of an abyss. Unfortunately, they could do little to address this crater.
Benedict had no intention of restoring the giant crater either. He believed that, when the new king ascended to the throne, this crater might become a symbol of glory and be embedded in the annal of history. He would tell the younger generations something like:
"Look! This is where the great King Arthur first unleashed his divine power, and that giant crater—only one move created it, causing hundreds of mountain giants and chimeras to vanish under that incredible power!"
Benedict would never forget the pillar of light that separated the heavens and the earth. Therefore, he decided to name this giant crater—The Crater of Light Destruction. He even sought the new king's opinion on the matter.
However, Arkhan was less enthusiastic about the name.
"Isn't that a bit too chuuni? It's shamefully embarrassing!"
Benedict, with a puzzled expression, asked, "Chuuni? What's that? Is it a new forbidden magecraft you've discovered, Your Majesty?"
Arkhan sighed and waved his hand dismissively. "Never mind, call it whatever you want, Light Destruction, Chicxulub, Chernobyl... it's your territory, so do as you please."
Even though Benedict didn't understand the meaning behind the string of bizarre names Arkhan mentioned, he was still content with the outcome.
"Oh, and one more thing, Your Majesty..." Benedict carefully chose his words. "What do you think of my younger brother, Bedivere?"
Arkhan considered for a moment. "He's an outstanding commander, resolute in will, strong at heart, and most importantly, I see the loyalty of a knight in his eyes."
With each word, the duke's smile deepened.
Benedict turned to the door and said, "Did you hear that? Bedivere, His Majesty holds you in high regard."
The one-armed knight in silver armor walked in from outside, his emerald eyes filled with uncontrollable excitement.
Bedivere couldn't have imagined that, despite only a chance encounter, he would receive such a high evaluation from the new king.
Especially the last sentence—the loyalty of a knight. Wasn't that exactly what he had been yearning for all these years?
For so long, what he had sought, what he had hoped for, what he had wished for, was the opportunity to pledge his unwavering loyalty to a worthy lord!
Arkhan smiled as he looked at Bedivere.
With his perceptiveness, Arkhan naturally knew that Bedivere had been eavesdropping from the beginning.
Those words weren't mere flattery; they were an accurate depiction of Bedivere as Arkhan knew him.
After all, just as in the Sixth Singularity, it was evident that not everyone, having lived for fifteen hundred years, could calmly confront death for a fleeting and ethereal mission like Bedivere.
Bedivere took a deep breath, knelt before Arkhan, bowed his head, and placed his left hand on his chest.
"Bedivere Lucan, from now on, willing to give up all wealth, relinquish all glory, and dedicate myself to Your Majesty."
Arkhan watched quietly for a moment, then retrieved the sword from his waist and lightly tapped Bedivere's shoulder with the sword three times, just as he had done with Lamorak before.
Bedivere was now officially recognized as one of his knights.
Benedict, standing nearby, couldn't contain his excitement. Despite missing the earlier opportunity, the House of Lucan was now undeniably bound to this new king through Bedivere.
As long as Bedivere performed well in front of the new king, the favors and benefits for the House of Lucan would grow.
However, the king's circle of knights was not limited to Bedivere alone. There was a man with purple hair named Lancelot, unmatched in bravery throughout Britain. There was also a golden-haired girl named Artoria, who, despite her youthful appearance, was a capable military commander on par with Bedivere. Her brother, Kay, was also a rare talent in Britain.
With such difficult competition, it would be a significant challenge for Bedivere to stand out.
Moreover, the new king was planning to attack Ganna. This was an opportunity for Bedivere to shine in front of the king. Yet, without knowledge of the cause of the beast tides and whether it had ended, sending soldiers into battle to assist the new king posed great risks for Lucanmont.
Furthermore, it was uncertain if the new king would even need their assistance at this point.
As the duke wrestled with those thoughts, a servant suddenly rushed in from outside, nearly stumbling due to his speed.
"Careful, you're behaving recklessly." Benedict said sternly while frowning.
The servant swallowed hard, a hint of fear in his eyes. "Your Grace, something's happened outside!"
"Another beast tide!?" Benedict's eyes widened, and he stood up.
"No... it's not a beast tide; it's an army! An army appeared behind Lucanmont from an unknown direction."
"An army?" Benedict's face grew serious. "How many people?"
"About... more than three hundred, I think..."
"Three hundred?" Benedict nearly laughed out of exasperation. "You're telling me that something's wrong with just a handful of people?"
The servant forced a smile. "I can't explain it in just a few words, but, Your Grace, you'll understand when you see them for yourself."
"I refuse to believe that such a small group can cause any trouble." Benedict snorted.
"That's not necessarily the case, Duke. Underestimating the enemy based on numbers can lead to disastrous consequences." Arkhan suddenly interjected.
Benedict turned in surprise.
"Your Majesty..."
Arkhan only smiled and walked past the duke.
"Come, join me in welcoming—"
"My knights."
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