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“This is the entrance to Mount Badon.”

 

After riding for a full day, they arrived at a dense forest.

 

Kellive lightly dismounted and took the reins.

 

Morgana, still on the horse, looked up at the sky.

 

Sunlight filtered thinly through the leaves so thick they blocked the view of the sky. Mangeum jumped out of Morgana’s robe hood as if he knew exactly where to go.

 

Standing proudly at the front with his small body, Mangeum turned back and barked at Morgana.

 

“Woof!”

 

“He says to follow him.”

 

“Woof woof!”

 

Excalibur, who had turned back into Nimue the moment they dismounted, translated Mangeum’s words in a bored, indifferent tone.

 

Morgana reached out her arms to Kellive so he could help her down.

 

Seeing him hesitate for a moment, she widened her eyes.

 

“What’s wrong? Don’t I need to get down?”

 

“You’re very skilled at this.”

 

He smiled with his eyes curved and reached out to lift her down.

 

She thought he would set her down right away, but he shamelessly kept holding her without moving.

 

Morgana placed her hands on his shoulders and looked at his face, which was now right in front of her, in confusion.

 

“P-put me down. I can walk too.”

 

“While we’re getting used to it, let me get used to it too.”

 

“No, what do you even need to get used to, Kellive?”

 

At his absurd excuse, Morgana narrowed her eyes and glared at him. She lightly shook his shoulders in protest, but his solid upper body didn’t budge.

 

Instead, he met her eyes and made another excuse in a low, amused voice.

 

“There are many magical beasts in Mount Badon. We might need to stay close when camping at night because it could be dangerous.”

 

When their eyes met, she felt a faint heat rising.

 

Their bodies were pressed together just enough to touch but not quite, stirring unnecessary imagination.

 

Morgana cleared her throat and quickly changed the subject.

 

“You came to such a dangerous place voluntarily? Why?”

 

“Do you really not know?”

 

His lips drew a gentle curve, but his golden eyes, sharp like a predator’s, stared straight at her.

 

Feeling awkward facing that intense gaze up close, Morgana slightly turned her head, but he persistently met her eyes.

 

“You know, right?”

 

He whispered playfully. Because she had said she would go.

 

Kellive always wanted to accompany her no matter what.

 

That always made her heart flutter.

 

Morgana gripped his shoulders tightly. While quietly observing her, he suddenly asked out of nowhere.

 

“After everything is over, do you want to go watch a play with me?”

 

“We have to find the Holy Grail.”

 

“After we find it.”

 

“A-after that, I haven’t been ruling Britain for long, so I need to talk with Guinevere too…”

 

“After that, too.”

 

“And…”

 

When Morgana ran out of excuses and closed her mouth, he tilted his head and coaxed her with breath that nearly touched her.

 

“Hm?”

 

“F-fine. I’ll go, I’ll go!”

 

“You promised.”

 

He smiled beautifully with his eyes and finally set her down.

 

There was no reason she couldn’t watch one play with the person who had come all the way to Mount Badon to face magical beasts with her.

 

She lightly brushed her flushed cheek with one hand and deliberately called out to Nimue with vigor.

 

“L-let’s go, Nimue! Since there are supposedly so many magical beasts, we should hurry! We might get attacked!”

 

Nimue, who had been walking ahead with Mangeum, frowned with one eyebrow and answered grumpily.

 

“What are you talking about? How dare mere magical beasts touch the owner of the excellent Excalibur?”

 

At his extremely confident tone, Morgana let out a sigh.

 

The Excalibur that had been with her until now had never encountered a magical beast.

 

He had been stuck in a rock for 100 years, and even after being pulled out, he had only heard about them indirectly from Britain’s mercenaries.

 

Kellive, who also seemed concerned, answered while walking, holding the horse’s reins.

 

“No one who has entered Mount Badon has ever come out alive. That’s also why the Magic Tower manages it separately.”

 

There was no exaggeration in his kind tone.

 

Nimue proudly lifted his head and arrogantly questioned.

 

“Do you think mere magical beasts would dare rampage in front of this great being?”

 

“I’ve never heard of magical beasts simply letting outside intruders go before.”

 

Even Arthur, with his excellent skills, had earned money in Britain by joining subjugation squads, showing how difficult they were.

 

Morgana had never seen one directly, but she was equally worried.

 

However, Morgana, who had already learned how to handle Excalibur after living with him, gave a half-hearted response.

 

If she argued here, Excalibur would definitely start explaining how amazing and superior he was.

 

He didn’t have bad intentions. The kid was kind. So she would just soothe him appropriately.

 

“Nimue is right about everything. But I’m not Excal. Won’t the magical beasts look down on me?”

 

“Why? I’ve never been attacked by a magical beast before.”

 

He tilted his head as if he had heard something ridiculous and doubted both Kellive and Morgana’s words.

 

And the moment they entered Mount Badon following Mangeum’s guidance, everyone had no choice but to understand.

 

“See? I was right, wasn’t I?”

 

“Woof woof!”

 

As if agreeing with the proud Nimue’s voice, Mangeum bravely howled.

 

Morgana could only stare at him in bewilderment, at a loss for words.

 

The dark, deep forest made it hard to see the surroundings.

 

Occasionally, purple eyes gleamed within it. Whenever that happened, Kellive would sensitively scan the area as if protecting Morgana more carefully than usual and explained.

 

“It’s a magical beast.”

 

However, they only watched from afar and never approached Morgana.

 

Instead, whenever a branch blocked Mangeum’s path, a black hand would kindly sweep it away.

 

Due to the darkness, they mostly looked like black shadows, but they had the shape of large raptor feet like those of an eagle.

 

Their movements, however, resembled four-legged beasts, making it impossible to guess their full appearance. When a tree blocked the path, Nimue irritably commanded.

 

“Hey, what are you doing? Clear it.”

 

When his listless voice rang out, the magical beasts obediently cut down the trees as if submitting and made a path.

 

Morgana followed behind Mangeum and Nimue with a subtle expression and asked.

 

“Nimue. Have you met magical beasts before?”

 

“A very long time ago, briefly?”

 

As if recalling several hundred years ago, his brows furrowed slightly.

 

Morgana glanced sideways at the magical beasts that moved only in the darkness, waiting for orders so as not to offend them.

 

“What did you do that makes them listen to you so well?”

 

“I don’t know. Magical beasts have always listened to me well. It’s all because they recognize the great and mighty Excalibur.”

 

Magical beasts were known to have properties completely opposite to holy power.

 

That was why wounds from magical beasts were always treated with holy power.

 

The location of the Holy Grail was known to the Holy Sword, and the region was known to Excalibur.

 

Morgana tilted her head and murmured.

 

“Is it because it’s a Holy Sword…?”

 

They were able to cross the mountain fairly easily, but because it was so vast, the sun eventually set.

 

It felt like the sun set earlier in Mount Badon than outside.

 

Nimue arrogantly sat on a log made by the magical beasts and simply gestured.

 

“Hurry up and make a campsite so my master can sleep.”

 

Following his orders, the magical beasts cut trees in a circle and created a place to sit.

 

They even thoughtfully gathered branches in the center so a fire could be lit.

 

“If I say I slept in a campsite made by magical beasts, even Raon won’t believe me.”

 

Morgana murmured seriously while staring at the campfire.

 

Unlike her, Kellive quickly adapted. He took out a tent from his magic tool and set up a spot for her to sleep.

 

“You can sleep here.”

 

It was a space spacious enough for Morgana alone.

 

Morgana looked around for other tents and asked.

 

“What about you, Kellive?”

 

“I’ll stand guard. Who knows what might happen at night?”