Georg-August University of Göttingen.
…
"If you were to redo life again, how different would it be?" asked a man. He had unkempt, dark, ear-length hair, high cheekbones, and a clean face. His eyes were a shade of grey that swirled into his irises. He wore black suit pants and a similarly coloured vest with a charcoal dress shirt underneath it, though the golden patterns across it drowned out the dark colour.
"Not much different," replied the man sitting across from him. "I have already decided on how I will live my life, no matter where or how I am. I will live it just as I am right now."
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(Artorius POV)
I slowly opened my eyes to the world and found myself in a king-sized bed. I felt sluggish all over, and judging by the metal clanking, I was still wearing my armour.
But still, what a weird dream, now of all times.
I dismissed my armour, leaving me in my linen clothes. The blood from my wound soaked the bed, and the dried aftermath made it look like it was Amber Heard who had been in it instead of me.
I peeked outside the window, and it was morning, about 8 am if I had to guess by the sun, but I could still be wrong depending on my latitude.
Anyway, next order of business…
Class: Saber
True Name: Arthur Pendragon
Strength: B+
Endurance: B
Agility: A
Luck: D
Class Skills
Magic Resistance (A Rank): It is generally impossible for spells below three verses(Al in Re: Zero) to hurt the bearer of magic resistance this high.
Riding (B Rank): It is possible to operate all vehicles and beasts freely except for Magical Beasts, Phantasmal Beasts and Divine Beasts.
Personal Skills
Sign of the Red Dragon (A Rank): You're endowed with an extremely high-ranked Mana Burst Skill unique to you as the Red Dragon.
Journey of the Stars (EX Rank): At Rank EX, it is essentially instincts in the realm of predicting the future. Through this skill, it is possible to negate the penalties inflicted by visual and auditory interference and fight even when unconscious.
Holy Swordsman (Planet) (A+ Rank): A skill that denotes having abundant combat experience against giant enemy lifeforms. King Arthur fought against and managed to completely defeat all the magic beasts that attempted to trample Britain.
Charisma (B Rank): The natural talent to command an army corps. However, Arthur has specialised in battle against large enemies. Since the allies cannot keep up when fighting against large animals, he ends up all alone, and there is no place to display his Charisma.
Witch's Mark (EX Rank): The curse of Britons now mixed with the miasma of the Witch of Envy. The curse states the absolute death of all Britons, this causes the fatal wound dealt by Mordred at the battle of Camlann to be impossible to heal. This curse also grants its bearer a high affinity with Darkness and Shadows.
Noble Phantasm
『Excalibur: Sword of Promised Victory』
Rank: EX
Type: ???
The shining sacred sword that saves the planet, created to vanquish external threats with the power to destroy the planet, is a golden blade that repels every form of evil. Its power is suppressed by the Thirteen Seals, and its True Name cannot be invoked unless seven or more seals are released. Even in its sealed state, it has a power befitting that of an Anti-Fortress classification.
『Invisible Air: Barrier of the Wind King』
Rank: C
Type: Anti-Unit
A sheath of wind that covers Excalibur and conceals it so that it cannot be easily recognised as the famous holy sword of King Arthur. It is a Bounded Field closer to magecraft than a Noble Phantasm that is made up of multiple layers of wind compressed into super-high-pressure air with a massive amount of magical energy, which distorts the refraction of light and renders what is inside completely invisible. The compressed wind can also be released as a single-use projectile weapon called 『Strike Air: Hammer of the Wind King』
『Avalon: The Everdistant Utopia』
Rank: EX
Type: Anti-Purge/Barrier
The hallowed scabbard of Excalibur and the embodiment of the utopia King Arthur seeks. Its function as a Noble Phantasm is an "absolute defence" that completely shields its user in the domain of the fairies, Avalon, the unreachable utopia that King Arthur dreamt of and was said to have gone to after her death. It is the Bounded Field of the tranquil domain of fairies that keeps out all filth from the outside world, and allows nothing to harm the tranquil King that stands in the land of Avalon. The individual is shielded from all destructive interference in the physical realm, transliners from parallel worlds, and multidimensional communication as far as the sixth dimension. It is on the level of true magic, an actual true magic in itself, that transcends all magecraft, and not even the Five Magics can overcome the barrier.
『Rhongomyniad: The Lance That Shines to the End of the World』
Rank: EX
Type: ???
Originally, a "pillar of light" that fastens together the two sides of the World itself: the outer layer of the World (reality) and the Reverse Side of the World (illusion). Rhongomyniad is regarded as the "spear of the end", the light of destruction coming down from the heavens, whose power is said to rival the Holy Sword. Its original power is restricted according to the Thirteen Restraints, and yet, it is the pillar of the Farthest Ends, shining to extol the brilliance of the planet. Because of the existence of the Thirteen Restraints that are supposedly endowed with the same processes as the "holy sword of the planet that saves the world", but it can still deliver the same power as an Anti-Fortress classification.
『Caliburn: Golden Sword of the Victorious』
Rank: A
Type: Anti-Army
The holy sword, which is the symbol of the king, was pulled from the stone of appointment by King Arthur under the guidance of Merlin. With the words "Whosoe'er pulleth out this sword of this stone is rightwise king of all England" engraved in a golden inscription on its hilt, it became the symbol of England's King of Knights once it was pulled from the stone.
『Secace: Sword of Tenacious Victory』
Rank: B
Type: Anti-Unit
A short sword possessed by King Arthur. It can "only be carried into mortal combat."
…
One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six.
I have six different Noble Phantasms…
Whoever's next, better pick a god and start praying.
Knock Knock
I was broken out of my thoughts by the knocking on my door. "Enter,"
"Good morning, Lord Artorius."
"Great morning, Lord Artorius."
The pair of pale pink and blue greeted me.
"Morning." I greeted back. "And who might you two be?"
"Greetings, honoured guest. This is my Sister, Ram."
"Greetings, honoured guest. This is Rem."
"Twins, huh? Explains the talking in stereo part. In any case, my apologies for the mess." I feel like a five-year-old all over again.
"Surprisingly, you're alive even after that, I suppose." That sassy, childish tone with blonde hair made into drills and butterflies for pupils with the classic Kashira after every line. Is that who I think it is?
"Lady Beatrice, good morning."
"Lady Beatrice, great morning."
The maids greeted her, not surprised by her sudden appearance.
"So, what are you, I suppose?" Beatrice narrowed her eyes, arms folded tightly across her chest. She looked like a porcelain doll with too much attitude stuffed inside.
I tilted my head. "What do you mean, I suppose?"
Her eye twitched. "Don't mock my way of speaking, I suppose."
"Wasn't mocking. I was... synchronising. Like a respectful duet, I suppose."
"Duets are meant to be harmonious, I suppose."
"Ouch." I pressed a hand to my chest as if wounded. "You wound me deeper than Camlann ever did."
Her eyes flicked to the dried blood on the sheets. "Considering how that wound still hasn't healed, Betty'd say that's quite the claim."
I raised an eyebrow. "Ah, so you are knowledgeable about magic. Good. That saves me a few questions."
"Naturally. Betty is the greatest in this mansion, I suppose."
"That's a lot of qualifiers, I suppose", I smirked. "You almost sound like you're trying to convince yourself more than me."
"You're irritating," she huffed, turning on her heel, curls bouncing. "But you're also interesting... I suppose."
"Rem, Lady Beatrice is getting bullied."
"Sister, Lady Beatrice is getting harassed."
"It sure is lively in here." Looking over to the door, I saw Emilia in her sleepwear, standing by.
"Good morning, Lady Emilia."
"Great morning, Lady Emilia."
"Good morning, Ram, Rem."
She turned to me. "Are you alright?"
"No worries. The world will drown in my blood before I bleed out." However, it's still worrying. If this continues, it could be troublesome.
…
Oh, I know.
Merlin taught King Arthur a bit of magecraft, nothing complicated, but still it's magecraft from the Age of Gods, so…
I brushed my hand over the wound, and with a golden glow, suddenly it was gone.
"Eh!? What did you do?" Of course, she would be surprised. To answer her, I shall reply with.
"Magic." I waved my fingers for extra effects.
"..." Something tells me she isn't buying it.
"Alright, it's magecraft. I just grafted Avalon into my missing flesh, is all." By nature, it is a barrier, so it can keep the blood in, and a bit of illusion should make it look natural enough.
"Magecraft? Avalon? What are you talking about, Artorius?" Ah shat, I have started something I can't stop now.
"Well, you see, from where I come from, calling magic 'magic' is a bit offensive. We have this little division and definition of what is 'magic' and what is 'magecraft'. But here's the gist of it: If it is something that can be accomplished by people without using magical energy, then that mystery is magecraft, but if it can't be recreated by people even with untold amounts of time and resources, then that's magic. As for Avalon…"
I took a quick look at Beatrice. "It is my scabbard. It has essentially a barrier type. I just used a little illusion magecraft Merlin taught me to make it look like a part of me."
This isn't me being dumb chat. I am intentionally creating a mysterious background for myself. This would give me space to use half-truths against someone who can detect lies.
"That's interesting." That voice…
"Oh? Lord Puck. I see you're awake." I greeted him.
"Bubby!" Beatrice practically jumped out and grabbed him, snuggling into his soft, smooth, silky fur… I mean, it looks soft, smooth and silky enough.
"Anyways," I brought Emilia's attention back to me. "What are you up to after this, Lady Emilia?"
"Just call me Emilia. Well, I am going to talk to the spirits after this. Want to join me?"
"Sure." Something I learned in the short span of checking my stats and the twins' appearance is that resummoning my armour brings it back fully repaired and cleaned. So I changed from my bloody clothes to my now clean armour.
Beatrice had disappeared with Puck, Ram and Rem were cleaning up the sheets, and I was now following Emilia through the mansion, eventually making our way to the garden.
***
(Third POV)
"So, what do you think?" Puck asked, floating lazily beside Beatrice.
"About the boy, I suppose?" she replied, tone casual as she peered out the window, watching Emilia and Artorius in the garden. "He's strange. Definitely not hostile, but strange nonetheless."
"How so?"
Beatrice folded her arms. "Yesterday, when Betty was healing him, his body moved on its own and nearly grabbed Betty's head, I suppose."
She recalled it clearly: his eyes shut, barely conscious, yet his hand had shot up—lightning fast—halting just inches from her face.
"Like a wild animal?" Puck mused. "But he shows no demi-human traits. As far as I can tell, he's human. I even considered if he might be a spirit, but that theory doesn't hold up."
Beatrice's frown deepened. "There's more. When Betty was treating his wound, she sensed the Witch's miasma. It clung to the injury—but the rest of him… it felt stagnant."
Puck's tone grew more serious. "Exactly. If he were one of the Witches' incarnations or one of their vessels who escaped the seals, the miasma would be flowing freely from him. This feels more like a curse."
Beatrice narrowed her eyes. "Betty barely smelled it at all. It's being masked—covered by something else. And whatever that other scent is, Betty doesn't recognise it."
Her gaze returned to the window.
"And Bubby still thinks having him around his daughter is a good idea?" she asked flatly.
"I didn't say that," Puck said, ears drooping. "I'm just saying… the boy treats Lia kindly, even after learning she's a half-elf." He sighed. "That alone puts him in rare company."
Beatrice hesitated, then said quietly, "... He does seem dependable, I suppose. But even so, Betty thinks it's too risky."
"I thought the same," Puck admitted, starting to paw at his head in frustration. "But Lia—she likes him! She's smiling around him, and not out of politeness. She's genuinely enjoying herself."
"… Does she fancy him?" Beatrice blinked, caught off guard.
"No!" Puck blurted, fur puffing up. "No, no, no. Absolutely not. Lia doesn't even know what love is! She's just… intrigued. Maybe happy to talk to someone new."
He huffed, more to himself than her. "They've known each other for less than a day! And it wasn't even a real meeting. They just happened to fight side by side. That's it!"
Still, the image of his daughter laughing in conversation with that knightly stranger wouldn't leave his mind.
"Maybe… maybe she's just glad someone doesn't care that she's a half-elf."
Beatrice's expression softened.
"And Bubby doesn't want to separate her from what might be her only friend," she murmured. "Betty understands completely. But even so… Betty is still suspicious. He talks about things that shouldn't exist. Concepts, names, none of them make sense."
"But he wasn't lying," Puck said, almost to himself. "That's the strangest part. Everything he says is true. So…" His voice trailed off. "… Where did he even come from?"
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(A/N: Sorry for the delay, guys. Last week of the semester, so college is a little bit of a pain. Anyways, throw me some stones and I will throw you some chapters. Does that deal sound good? Reviews work as well. Just give your honest opinion. Any questions? I am free to answer.)