In Britain, the Noble Phantasm: Divine Key

He sat up, rubbed his throbbing head, and asked, "Lily, what time is it now?"

He remembered being drawn into Nidhogg's mind after he pulled the sword from the stone.

The flow of time there is completely different from that in the real world, and there is no pattern to it at all.

Sometimes it feels like only a moment has passed in the mental world, but when you wake up you find that a year has passed. Sometimes it also happens that a long time has passed in the mental world, but time in the outside world hardly moves.

Yanan hoped that he would encounter the latter.

Otherwise, if he were to sleep for a year or two and the mission failed, he would be devastated.

“Teacher, today is the third day since you pulled the sword out of the stone, and you’ve been sleeping until now,” Artoria said.

Yanan breathed a sigh of relief; it had only been three days, which was still within an acceptable range.

Has there been any unrest?

After all, he had fainted after pulling out the sword from the stone. If some idiot had suddenly shouted "The new king has died!", that would have been a huge mess.

Although the probability of this happening is very small, it is not entirely impossible.

—To be honest, when Anan found himself in a cabin instead of a coffin, and next to Artoria instead of mourners in sackcloths, he even felt a sense of relief.

"Everyone was really startled at the time. The Archbishop of Cantreber even fainted on the spot. Everyone almost thought that God was afraid that you, teacher, would not be able to find your way to heaven, so He sent His Excellency the Archbishop to take you on your way."

Artoria's first words made Anaen's heart leap into his throat.

"But then Merlin appeared and quickly calmed everyone down. He said, 'The new king is just receiving the legacy left by King Uther in the sword in the stone. When he awakens, it will mean the return of the true King Arthur,' so everyone calmed down. Then we brought you back."

After Artoria finished speaking, she looked at Anahn with her bright blue eyes and asked curiously, "Teacher, did you really obtain the legacy left by King Uther from the Sword in the Stone?"

King Uther… As Yanan recalled the middle-aged man with the crown in his memory, a complex expression appeared in his eyes.

Without a doubt, he has now completely figured out his identity.

Merlin and King Uther created the first black dragon with the power of Nidhogg, the "Dragon of Despair that devours the world," in order to fight against Vortigern, the white dragon who was about to become the "final god."

In terms of blood relations, he could even be considered King Uther's son.

That is, Artoria's older brother and Morgan's younger brother.

He had been dead, but for some reason he was resurrected in the Land of Shadows and was adopted by Queen Scáthach of the Land of Shadows.

The reason he was able to pull the sword out of the stone was because he possessed both the dragon's essence and the blood of King Uther, which perfectly fulfilled the sealing conditions left by Merlin.

Was all of this just a coincidence, or was it destined by fate?

"Teacher? Teacher?"

Artoria's voice brought Anahn back to reality. Looking into those clear, lake-like azure eyes, a complex smile appeared on his face:

"Yes, I did see King Uther."

"I see. Did he say anything to you?" Artoria kept asking questions like a curious child.

Having shed the burden of being the [Ideal King], she gradually began to reveal her true nature.

After all, she was just a fifteen-year-old girl.

“He said…” Yanan looked out the window, where the bright sunlight pattered on the leaves like dancing gold dust, “Let me see this world properly.”

Take a good look at this world? What does that mean?

Artoria's ahoge (cowlick) on her head tilted into a question mark.

Yanan smiled at her, offered no further explanation, and instead said:

"Lily, you can go out now. I want to rest a bit more. You can tell Kai and the others that I woke up, but don't spread the word yet."

Artoria nodded obediently: "Okay, teacher."

She went out and closed the door behind her.

The cabin, now empty except for Yanan, quickly returned to silence.

After an unknown amount of time, Yanan suddenly whispered:

"Aren't you going to come out yet, Merlin?"

……

Silence fell, and no one answered.

"If you don't come out within ten seconds, I will abdicate the throne and expose everything you've done."

"ten……"

It wasn't until Yanan counted to one that the familiar, flippant voice rang out in the air.

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry, the old lady is getting on in years and her legs aren't very strong."

Pink petals fell from the sky, and a familiar figure walked along the flower-lined path, a signature smile on his handsome face.

Merlin, holding his cherry wood staff, performed a perfectly executed courtly bow towards Anan:

"Court Wizard Merlin, I have come at your summons. My king, what brings you here?"

"It's just a small matter."

A cold voice came from in front of him, and Merlin suddenly felt a strong sense of crisis. He subconsciously prepared to run away, but suddenly a crimson feather appeared in front of him.

His consciousness froze for a moment, and his eyes became blank.

brush!

The black katana sliced ​​through Merlin's waist, and the pitch-black flames devoured Merlin's figure like a ravenous beast, instantly eroding the concept of [life].

A faint light flashed, the black flames gradually disappeared, and Merlin reappeared, his body brimming with new life.

Before he could react, Yanan used the power of Feathered Dust to strip him of his mind once more. The Jizo Soul in his hand instantly switched to Black Abyss White Flower, and black patterns representing death rose up, mercilessly piercing Merlin's heart.

The power of death extinguished the newly emerging life force, and then a faint light flickered again, and Merlin was resurrected once more.

The moment he was resurrected, Merlin's figure disappeared from the spot and then reappeared five or six meters away from Anahn, maintaining a safe distance.

Yanan wasn't surprised. If Merlin hadn't reacted after being killed twice in a row, he would have been fertilizer for some flower by now.

Chapter Thirty-Six Arrangements

"Wow, Your Majesty, you've gone too far! You killed me twice without saying a word. This is the immortality I've worked so hard to accumulate!" Merlin said, his face contorted with pain.

Yanan put away the Black Abyss White Flower in his hand and said calmly, "You killed me once before, and now I'm repaying you double. That's fair."

"Is that so?" Merlin actually showed a surprised expression. "That's great! I thought you were including King Uther's share in my account as well. That would be too unfair to me."

Is this guy's thought process really that peculiar?

Yanan sighed, sat on the edge of the bed, looked out the window, and said in a slightly somber tone:

"So, this was all your plan, Merlin?"

“No.” Merlin smiled warmly, “Although King Uther insisted on sending you to the Land of Shadows, I didn’t believe that you, who possessed Nidhogg’s power, could be resurrected. In addition, you haven’t appeared all these years, so I thought you had long ago fallen into eternal slumber in that land of the dead. Why would I plot against someone who doesn’t exist?”

Although Merlin was saying things that could make anyone furious, a look of relief appeared in Anan's eyes.

Having suddenly glimpsed the truth of the past, the only thing he can be thankful for now is that his will has never been changed.

Whether it was the first black dragon or the new king Arthur, he was always himself, Anan.

He was not guided by anyone; the ideas he implemented and the actions he took were all based on his own thoughts.

That's enough.

Having gotten rid of this sole psychological burden, Yanan's mood gradually became more open.

"How is the situation outside now?"

“Very good.” Merlin smiled, seemingly unconcerned despite having just been killed twice. “Hecto bought all the meat and wine in the town’s taverns and treated everyone to a feast for three days and three nights. With the birth of the new king, everyone is excited, as if we have already defeated Vortigern.”

“That day will come,” Yanan said calmly. “What about the Archbishop of Cantreber?”

“He’s getting old, and his physical strength isn’t what it used to be, but he’s still an archbishop, so his health is probably fine. Although he’s still unconscious, I think he should wake up tomorrow.” Merlin shrugged.

Anan nodded slightly: "Are those knights still around?"

“Many people came here specifically for the Sword in the Stone. Now that you have pulled it out, they have no reason to stay.” Merlin flicked his wrist, and the Sword in the Stone appeared in his hand. He respectfully handed it to Anan. “As for those who are still in Tyrell, there are about three hundred of them. Most of them were influenced by your charisma and voluntarily gave up all their honor to follow you.”

Anan stroked the intricate patterns on the sword in the stone. From this holy sword belonging to a king, he felt a sense of perfect harmony, as if this sword was born to be forged for him.

The sword in the stone trembled slightly, conveying a hint of joy.

"Most, that is to say, some people stayed in Taylor Bill with other motives, right?"

Merlin smiled slightly, offering no comment on Yanan's statement.

"It seems some guys have been living a comfortable life for too long and have forgotten their place." Yanan sneered, a hint of mockery in his eyes.

They look so alike...

Merlin sighed inwardly.

Looking at Anahn now, he couldn't help but recall King Uther when he was young.

The same high spirits, the same superior attitude, the same unwavering confidence.

He suddenly recalled something Uther had once told him—

"Some people are born to be kings!"

Unaware of Merlin's thoughts, Yanan continued, "Arrange for them to meet with me. Although there are indeed fewer people, I don't have many other options right now."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Merlin bowed slightly.

His eyes flickered slightly, and a meaningful smile suddenly appeared on his lips: "My king, Morgan is still in Taylor Bill. Would you like to see her?"

“This…” Yanan hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. “Never mind, let’s wait until we get back to the capital.”

He's still a bit unsure of Morgan's ideas.

Although Guinevere showed him some favor because he saved her, he was the one sitting on the throne now.

Morgan's obsession with the throne was well-known, and he did not think it was wise to confront the legendary witch directly without being prepared.

"I see." Merlin seemed a little disappointed, but then suddenly became interested again. "So when do you plan to tell Lily your true identity?"

Yanan narrowed his eyes slightly: "You keep making these kinds of suggestions, you're obviously just looking for a good show."