Just as King Arthur was gulping down malt beer, the space beside him shimmered—and the Grand Magus Merlin suddenly appeared.
Hearing the disturbance, King Arthur lifted his head slightly to glance at him, then lowered it again and resumed drinking heavily.
"Magus Merlin, you're here. Care for a drink?"
At those words, Merlin slightly shook his head, his face expressionless as he gazed at Arthur.
"No, you know I never drink."
"Right… I actually forgot…" Arthur muttered. Then, after another deep swig of alcohol, he suddenly let out a long sigh.
"Tell me, Merlin… do you really think I'm the Chosen King?"
He took another heavy gulp.
"Because the more I think about it, the more it seems like that guy outside is the one truly chosen and blessed by the gods."
Merlin looked down with a complicated expression and gave no answer.
This silence was unusual. Normally, if Arthur dared say such disheartened words, Merlin would immediately and sternly rebuke him.
Realizing Merlin wasn't responding, Arthur gave a bitter smile. He raised his head, just about to speak again—when his body suddenly jolted.
Confused, he looked down slowly—and his eyes widened in shock.
There, in the center of his chest, was a dagger. A dagger plunged into him by Merlin!
Though he had become despondent from the setbacks, Arthur's combat skills were still intact—he wasn't truly weak.
Reacting instantly, he flung his arm to knock Merlin away, then stumbled backward clutching his wound, his face now ashen.
"Merlin! What's the meaning of this?!"
Merlin, who had succeeded in stabbing him, did not reply. He simply gripped his staff and looked up at Arthur.
"I just want to find a path of survival for everyone."
As soon as he spoke, the sound of marching footsteps echoed loudly.
A large group of knights, armed with weapons, charged into the hall. They stood behind Merlin—opposite Arthur.
Seeing the scene before him, and looking at the Round Table Knights glaring at him with cold resolve, Arthur froze. Then, understanding dawned—and he gave a bitter smile.
"So… this is betrayal, huh?"
"Your Majesty King Arthur, there is no longer any chance of victory. None at all. If we want to live… then someone must die for others to survive."
"I understand. If I were in your position, I'd do the same… But I have no choice."
Arthur reached for the sacred sword nearby and drew it, letting go of his wound. With both hands, he raised the blade and aimed it at the crowd before him. His gaze sharpened.
"But that doesn't mean I'll surrender and wait to die! You want to kill me to defect? Fine! Defeat me first!"
The knights looked at one another, then—after a moment of silence—nodded in unison. The next instant, they all charged toward King Arthur.
Meanwhile, within the city, it wasn't just Arthur battling his knights. On the other side, the Evil Grand Duke had also been ambushed.
And the ones who ambushed him were none other than the Phantom Knight and Barbas—along with numerous officers of the Evil Empire.
Not only that—across the military camp, infighting had erupted.
Masses of soldiers began to surround and attack the loyalists of King Arthur and the Evil Grand Duke, determined to wipe them out.
Faced with the siege by over a hundred thousand troops—trapped in a true dead end—
Soldiers who had once fought side-by-side on the battlefield, fearlessly entrusting their backs to one another, now fell into brutal civil war.
By dawn the next day, just as Qin Ming had assembled his troops and was preparing to lead the army in an all-out siege—
The gates of the royal city suddenly creaked open. A mass of soldiers marched out, weapons lowered, led by someone holding a white flag.
This was the very place where Arthur had risen to power—where he had drawn the sword from the stone. Now, it had formally surrendered.
King Arthur and the Evil Grand Duke—two sworn enemies—had even been bound by their own subordinates and offered up as tokens of submission.
With the grand army entering the capital and taking control of the city, the conquest was complete.
But in the end, the one who triumphed was neither King Arthur nor the Evil Grand Duke… but a rising new force.
Several days later, the fully-prepared army set out once more, spreading out to reclaim the enemy's remaining territory. Among those marching with them were the newly defected Magus Merlin, the Phantom Knight, and others.
Though they were technically turncoats who had even betrayed their own king, their influence in their former territories was still considerable. If they wanted the garrisons to surrender and stop resisting, their presence was vital.
Especially Grand Magus Merlin—an ancient figure who had lived for several centuries and was widely recognized as a great sage.
Arthur had been able to rise to power by pulling the Sword from the Stone largely thanks to Merlin's endorsement.
If Merlin now offered his full support to Qin Ming, this so-called "Holy King" identity would be truly solidified.
Standing atop the city walls, gripping the demonic Muramasa blade in his hand, Qin Ming watched silently as the group led their troops away. Only after a long while did he turn back and walk toward his chambers.
He felt it was necessary to meet one last time with King Arthur and the Evil Grand Duke—these two, the former protagonists and final "bosses"…
[Ding! Adventurer has returned... Compiling data... Data compilation complete...]
[Main Mission: Kill a boss-level character – Completed. Reward: 5,000 points, 5 free attribute points]
[Optional Mission: Kill a major story character – Completed. Reward: 10,000 points, 10 free attribute points]
[Title Mission 1: Honorable Knight – Completed. Reward: Blue Title: Knight of the Round Table]
[Title Mission 3: Take the Sword from the Stone – Completed. Reward: Silver Title: Chosen One]
[Summary: This mission earned a total of 15,000 points, 15 free attribute points, 1 blue title, and 1 silver title]
In the void, as the image ahead flickered, Qin Ming officially returned.
Gazing at the final still frame—countless citizens kneeling in the royal city as he held the so-called Holy Fork and was crowned king—his eyes flickered slightly.
He had seized the Sword from the Stone from Arthur, so completing Title Mission 3 had been inevitable.
But having wiped out the entire Round Table Knight Order, how had he still completed Title Mission 1—becoming a member of the Round Table Knights?
Actually, the logic was quite simple. The Round Table was, at its core, a knightly order founded by the Chosen King.
Chosen King? Qin Ming had that. Sword from the Stone? He had that too. Even Grand Magus Merlin? He now followed Qin Ming.
So if he just had Toretia re-establish a new Round Table Knight Order, and he appointed himself honorary commander—wouldn't that fulfill the requirements for the title mission with ease?
This is what you'd call gaming the system. Or, in more polite terms: completing a mission in an alternative way.
After conquering all the territories and being officially crowned king, Qin Ming had spent his remaining time rapidly enhancing all kinds of gear and provisions to restock the empire's supplies.
On the final day, he declared that Toretia, the so-called Chosen Queen, would act as imperial regent in his absence—and only then did he log out.
After all, if he had disappeared right after conquering everything, chaos would surely erupt again.
To ensure the empire's stability, Qin Ming even had Toretia sign off in the King of Fighters Manual, allowing her to report back to him at any time.
Even though his kingship had come about rather casually, the countless soldiers now following him had done so wholeheartedly. Qin Ming felt it was his duty to be responsible for them.
Besides, they were also part of his fighting strength, weren't they?
Standing in the void, looking at the item in his hand, Qin Ming suddenly let out a bitter chuckle.
In his hand—was a dining fork.
Something he had casually dubbed the "Holy Fork." But after unifying the continent and completing the special mission requirements, it really had become a sacred relic—now recognized as a unique item by the Nightmare Space.
[Name: Holy Fork]
[Category: Weapon (Normal Legendary)]
(End of Chapter)