CK Simulation, Creating the Style of Tsukino Fumi

Chapter 45

"Daughter, if you kill her, it will be a diplomatic incident." Quinn tried his best to stop Artoria from moving forward, but found that she was indeed worthy of being called the Red Dragon of Britain, and could actually drag him, an adult male, along. He had no choice but to appeal to her emotions and reason, and use matters of national importance to suppress her murderous intent.

No sooner had Quinn finished speaking than Artoria immediately recited what she had read.

“You have fallen under the spell of that witch. She must have disguised herself as King Liao Dekuan’s daughter and used witchcraft to infiltrate this palace. As long as I cut off her head and place it in front of King Liao Dekuan, he will understand our good intentions. We are doing this to rid the people of a scourge. He is a reasonable king and will not make things difficult for us.”

Pendragon! How dare you use my magic against me?!

"How did you know I was under a charm spell?" Quinn stared in astonishment at Artoria, who had also quickly risen to her moral high ground. "If she really was a witch, wouldn't you have fallen for her too if you had chased after her?"

"No, I won't." Artoria replied without hesitation.

What makes you think you can't do it?

"Charm spells can only target the opposite sex. I'm not a man, so how could that witch charm me..." In her extreme anger, Artoria blurted out, but as she finished speaking, she suddenly realized what she had let slip. Her anger dissipated, and she hurriedly looked at Quinn.

"Artoria...you're a woman?"

Quinn stared at Artoria, who had suddenly revealed his secret, and deliberately feigned surprise and shock, causing Artoria to panic.

“Sir Quinn, I didn’t mean to hide it, I…”

Artoria dropped the spear she was holding to the ground. She frantically tried to explain, but in her anxiety, she couldn't come up with a reasonable excuse. What could she possibly say to make the situation sound plausible?

In this era, there was no precedent for a woman to serve as a knight, and her knighthood was granted by Quinn. She had gained this honor by concealing her identity and being valued. However, this was not a right she could openly claim, because she had never told Quinn that she was a woman before she was knighted.

Quinn released his grip on Artoria, stood up abruptly, and stared silently at the little ahoge (cowlick) in front of him, who was considerably shorter than him.

Artoria panicked. She would rather hear Quinn scold her than see him remain silent, because the former meant Quinn was still angry, while the latter meant that he was already disappointed in her. She desperately wanted to explain, but in the end she couldn't think of how to explain, because she could have revealed her gender before Quinn knighted her, but she didn't.

No matter how you explain it, you have deceived the other party.

“I’m sorry, Sir.” Artoria lowered her head. “I had intended to find a suitable opportunity to confess to you during this journey… yes, I am a woman.”

Artoria's arrival prevented your secret rendezvous with Guinevere and nearly killed her, completely ruining your tryst with the foreign princess. After doing all this, she took the opportunity to reveal her true identity, telling you that she was a woman.

[You feel no anger, because you already knew the other person's identity, while Artoria did not. She believes she has deceived you and hopes you will punish her.]

[You hear footsteps all around you. The commotion caused by Artoria has alerted the palace guards. You decide to put the matter aside for now and deal with the guards who have come after hearing the noise. You decide to follow Artoria's story and disguise the incident as a witch's attack, thus convincing the guards who come to investigate.]

Upon hearing of this, King Liao Dekuan rushed to your residence that very night to express his remorse. He believed that the attack was the price you paid for eliminating the Green Knight for him, and he decided to owe you a favor as compensation for the poor defense of his palace guards.

[You have gained a strong ability to influence and control over King Liao Dekuan.]

[With King Liao Dekuan promising to increase security to protect you within his palace, the riot was considered over. You didn't rush to investigate Artoria's problem; you chose to let Artoria fend for herself while you got a good night's sleep.]

[So, in the following days, you began to deliberately avoid meeting with Artoria, becoming increasingly reclusive. Your behavior made Artoria even more worried. During this time, she would always wait outside your door, diligently acting as a guard, and longing for an opportunity to talk to you.]

As the days passed, you weren't in a hurry to deal with the matter. Instead, you observed Artoria's mental state. You watched as the worry on Artoria's face grew heavier each day, and her periods of absentmindedness lengthened. You knew that she was suffering from inner turmoil.

Finally, when you realize that Artoria spends a third of her day in a daze, you know the time is right—it's time to reap the rewards of your catch.

On this day, you put on a weary look, walked out of the room, and patted the other person on the shoulder.

"Artoria, come for a walk with me."

“Sir Quinn?” Artoria, still reeling from her deception, was brought back to attention. She looked at Quinn, who was finally willing to talk to her, and her previously haggard face regained its color. “Alright, I’ll go prepare the horses right away.”

Quinn nodded, watching the now energetic Artoria leave, and then went alone to the gate of King Liaodekuan's palace. A moment later, Artoria appeared before him leading two horses.

Without exchanging many words, Quinn and Artoria rode side by side as usual, leaving the densely populated residential area and heading towards the sparsely populated woodland.

Once they were finally alone and had some private space, Quinn, who had been silent all along, spoke up, "What was your original name? Artorias is a name for men, isn't it? What's your name as a woman?"

"Artoria." When Artoria saw that Quinn had finally brought up the matter, she knew that he intended to clarify the mistakes she had made now, so she didn't dare to hide anything and answered whatever he asked.

"What about the last name?"

“I don’t know. I was adopted. I was supposed to have the same surname as my adoptive father, but he refused. My adoptive father said that I would get my original surname in the future. Before that, I was just an adopted knight’s squire.”

Have you ever thought about who your parents are?

Quinn, as if having a casual conversation, inquired about Artoria's background and past life one by one. He deliberately created a chat atmosphere that progressed from unfamiliarity to familiarity, checking Artoria's household registration like a blind date. Such behavior would be offensive in modern times, but in Artoria's eyes, it was a relief.

Ever since she could remember, she had been hiding her identity. Now that someone was willing to communicate with her, she finally had the opportunity to vent the emotions that had been suppressed in her heart. She revealed all her secrets and thoughts to Quinn without any hesitation, including her daily life in the past.

During the day, she had to work and receive sword training from her adoptive father. Since her adoptive father was not a wealthy nobleman, the family had to live like commoners. Artoria's work and training hours were extremely long, and she only had three hours of sleep a day. When she went to sleep, Merlin would enter her dreams and teach her the knowledge that a king should have.

It can be said that Artoria never rests for 24 hours a day.

Even Quinn, who already knew all this, felt a slight pang of conscience when he heard the other person talk about his past in person. After all, a story told by someone else is always more powerful than cold, hard words.

Chapter 46

So, after waiting for Artoria to reveal all her secrets, Quinn, unusually, asked a question from the bottom of his heart, rather than from a self-interested perspective.

"Since you've chosen to be honest with me about everything, I won't pursue the issue of you deceiving me anymore. But as your friend, I have to tell you that you can't hide your identity from the world forever. You need to think clearly about how you plan to arrange your future and what you really want to do after that."

"What...do you mean by this?"

Artoria looked at Quinn with confusion, already regarding him as a far more reliable spiritual mentor than Merlin.

"Man or woman, choose your future, Artoria."

The author says:

Author's note: PS: The third update will be a little late, but it will definitely be there.

Chapter Thirty-Nine: It's not that I don't like you, it's that I think you lack a heart (Third Update)

Man or woman?

[You've placed this life-or-death question in front of Artoria, demanding she make a choice in your presence. You want to see how much Artoria, after your tutelage, will change compared to the original King Arthur.]

[Upon your question, Artoria fell into deep thought, pondering the purpose of your inquiry.]

The line of reasoning behind your question is quite simple. The man represents her old path, implying that your education of her hasn't surpassed the ways of thinking she's been exposed to. The woman, on the other hand, represents a completely new path. You will reveal her gender and identity, supporting her in becoming a female knight, and from then on, she will exist solely as your knight.

A moment later, Artoria gave an answer that surprised you.

“I want them all.” Artoria gazed intently into Quinn’s eyes. “Although knights should learn restraint, I am not a pure knight. You gave me this identity, so I don’t think I need to act according to the code of chivalry. I am greedy, so I want them all. That way, I can be both a man and a woman.”

Why don't you just say you're an armed helicopter?

Quinn was stunned. He really hadn't expected Artoria to give such a postmodern answer. However, this wasn't the end; what followed was even more crucial.

"There's only one thing I care about, Sir Quinn: would you rather I work with you as Artoria, or as someone who accompanies you?" Artoria gazed intently into Quinn's eyes, throwing the crucial question back at him.

That's it, I've really graduated now.

Quinn was overjoyed. He was completely interested. His original idea was to raise Artoria into a knight who would obey his orders and be loyal to him alone. This would not only avoid her fighting for the throne with Morgan, but also gain a reliable and powerful vassal. But now, he thought it would be good to raise a wild and untamed lion himself.

This way, he could gain a greater sense of conquest when he finally made the other party submit to him. In the end, it was more challenging and gave Quinn a greater sense of accomplishment than to tame a rigid female knight.

“Very good, you have not disappointed me, Artoria. From today onwards, you are a qualified knight. I will no longer treat you as a child. You are now my colleague.”

[You agreed with Artoria's choice and offered your support. With your approval, Artoria no longer hesitated and decided to grow into someone like you.]

[You successfully won over Artoria, and you have become "close friends." It will be easier for you to succeed when using strategies against each other. You have gained the right to use Artoria's "treasure." When you possess a character's "treasure," you can use it normally regardless of the prerequisites.]

Your legendary story has been elevated.

According to official European history, Quinn Europa embarked on a legendary adventure with King Arthur Artoria in search of the legendary Holy Lance. Along the way, they encountered a Green Knight, and during the knight's trials, their relationship deepened. They became close confidants, sharing their secrets and acknowledging each other's true worth.

According to British folklore, during the search for the Holy Lance, the Green Knights' trial of mutual beheading led the then-uncrowned King Arthur to recognize each other's love. At King Leighton's court, they encountered the most beautiful woman in all of Britain, even Sir Quinn, whose charm captivated them. King Arthur, however, remained unmoved. When Guinevere sneaked into Quinn's residence at night to woo the noble knight, King Arthur saw through her scheme and interrupted their tryst. Afterwards, the master and servant fell into a cold war until one day, while traveling together, they finally realized that their bond was more valuable than Guinevere's. They met secretly in the woods and forged a love that transcended the ordinary.

[Your legendary status has transformed from "candidate for the throne" to "pillar of the Pendragons." You have earned the recognition and trust of the entire Pendragon family. All Pendragons regard you as a trustworthy person. When this family becomes king, you will inevitably become the co-ruler of the country. You have unlocked the Pendragon family's cultural unit - the Calibur Knight.]

Artoria believes the time is right and decides to make her move on you.

"Colleagues?"

Before Quinn could recover from the series of notification sounds, Artoria suddenly laughed. She savored the word and looked at Quinn again. "So, you've only ever seen me as a child from the beginning?"

“Then how do you want me to see you?” Quinn countered. “When we first met, you acted like a naive child, but now I can see you as a colleague who can share responsibilities with me.”

"Just colleagues?" Perhaps because she was no longer burdened, Artoria spoke more casually and willfully, and she expressed her dissatisfaction directly. "I don't want to be just colleagues. What happened recently made me see many things that I didn't understand before. Although I don't like Guinevere, I have to thank her now."

"Thanks for what?" Quinn frowned, feeling that things were starting to get completely out of his control.

“She’s right. You—no, didn’t you ask me before if I had someone I liked?” Artoria abandoned her usual respectful address, her wildness now undisguised. “I can answer now. I do, and I will actively pursue him, regardless of whether he is engaged or has any other constraints.”

As she spoke, Artoria steered her horse close to Quinn, then grabbed Quinn's collar and kissed his lips. The contact was fleeting, but a faint fragrance lingered in Quinn's nose, leaving him astonished.

Hey little rascal, are you really that direct? Even your sister isn't this proactive. I only kiss Morgan when we're in bed!

Looking at Artoria, who had suddenly transformed from a docile herbivore into a hunter, Quinn felt intensely uncomfortable. It wasn't because he had no interest in Artoria, but simply because the change in attitude was too drastic. He couldn't help but glance at the top of her head.

That tuft of hair is still there. You're not in your black, hairless form, so why is your aggression so strong?

After a brief moment of surprise, Quinn realized he could no longer let Artoria do as she pleased. She was only a knight and she dared to act like this. What if she became the King of Camelot after the selection ceremony? Wouldn't she summon him to spend every night in her dragon bed?

Then, Quinn unleashed his ultimate attack.

"Then she needs to grow up quickly, she can't just be a short, stout little thing."

Upon hearing this, Artoria bristled, "What?!"

Chapter 47

A short, dwarf winter melon?!

"It means exactly what it says. Some people might like it, but the person she's interested in clearly prefers more mature women. Height and a good figure are both essential, otherwise he'll feel like he's committing a crime."

[You ruthlessly thwarted Artoria's offensive, launching an unavoidable personal attack against her. No matter how sharp Artoria's mind became under your tutelage, she couldn't find a way to break this spell, because she couldn't deny her current physical inadequacy. She was still young and inexperienced, unlike Morgan, a charming adult woman. Her withered and frail body was an insurmountable pain for her, but you know that this was only temporary.]

In the future, Artoria will become an extremely charming woman. She will possess a physique far surpassing Morgan's and a magnanimous spirit befitting a queen, provided that, as you intend, she does not choose the old path of history. This can be considered another goal you have set for her.

[But what you can't change is that Artoria's scheme against you has succeeded, and your relationship with Artoria has become ambiguous.]

As your relationship deepened, you returned to King Lewd's court. In the days that followed, you became inseparable. You maintained your reclusive lifestyle, but you were no longer as resistant to social interaction. You were no longer afraid of the tests Morgan had set for you, because now the greatest threat was lurking beside you.

During this time, Guinevere often appears around you, trying to get closer to you. When you occasionally go out, you often see her holding some books, sitting quietly in the corridor you often pass by, giving you a sweet smile. But often, before she can get close to you, Artoria blocks her way and makes more intimate gestures such as linking arms with you.

Guinevere's scheme against you has stalled due to obstacles, and she has begun to suspect your relationship with Artoria, believing that your lack of interest in her might be due to your different sexual orientation.

Your interactions with Guinevere and Artoria have been witnessed, and rumors about your relationship with the three of you begin to circulate. You notice that many people's gazes towards you have become somewhat ambiguous, but you choose to ignore them and continue to live your life as you please.

Soon, the appointed time for you to meet the Green Knight will arrive.

[You and Artoria plan to set off for the Green Knight's castle to answer his challenge. Before you depart, Guinevere gives you a gift—a cloak she knitted herself. She puts it on you in front of everyone. You notice that King Rhodes looks at you with a mixture of expectation and melancholy. Clearly, although he's not a great man, he's still a normal father at least.]