She sent her power toward him while meeting his gaze.

 

Morgana’s figure was clearly reflected in the dilated pupils of his golden eyes. Morgana murmured as if to reassure Kellive.

 

“You said we’d watch a play together. Shall we see it in Avalon?”

 

There was no answer, only rough breathing, but Morgana continued asking questions.

 

“What is Avalon like during the day? The Wizard’s Street left such a strong impression at night that I’m curious about the daytime.”

 

She kept talking to hold onto his consciousness.

 

“When we go watch the play later, how about having a meal there during the day? I was impressed by the place where tongs grill steaks by themselves.”

 

It seemed to be working; Kellive’s breathing was slowly returning to normal.

 

“Don’t you have anything you want to do, Kellive?”

 

“…A date with Morgana.”

 

A slow, quiet voice whispered.

 

From the way his focus had returned clearly, she could tell he had come back.

 

Morgana let out a belated chuckle. He lightly kissed her and continued.

 

“Without Excalibur.”

 

Startled by the sudden kiss, Morgana quickly turned her head.

 

Fortunately, Nimue and Mangeum seemed completely absorbed in looking beyond the stone door.

 

“Excal isn’t a sword that falls off that easily.”

 

When she answered as if she hadn’t noticed, he smiled with his eyes curved like usual. At the same time, the ground rumbled lightly.

 

Their gazes turned toward the source of the sound.

 

It was coming from inside the stone door.

 

💫

 

The moment Mordred stepped past the stone door, he couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.

 

“So a place like this existed.”

 

A vast space, too large to be called a mere cave, unfolded before him.

 

It was about the size of Britain’s most famous three-story domed opera house.

 

The difference was that while an opera house had a closed ceiling, part of this massive cave’s ceiling was open, allowing light to pierce straight through the darkness.

 

Overwhelmed by the majestic sight, Merlin muttered as if in a trance.

 

“The Holy Grail…”

 

Following the sunlight pouring down like a curtain from above, at the very end stood a stone pedestal.

 

Floating boldly in the air above the pedestal, directly bathed in light, was a golden Holy Grail.

 

Mordred strode briskly toward the pedestal.

 

“Finally… finally, the Holy Grail…”

 

To reach the Holy Grail floating more than two heads above an adult’s height, he looked up.

 

The sunlight was so intense that he could barely open his eyes.

 

Black smoke began to seep out from Mordred as he shielded his eyes with his hand.

 

The smoke spread thickly across the open ceiling as if to cover it, but the moment the light disappeared, the Holy Grail vanished as well.

 

“What?”

 

Mordred frowned deeply, his eyes sharpening instantly. He waved his hand, and the smoke dissipated, allowing the light to pour down again.

 

Only then did the vanished Holy Grail reappear.

 

Mordred let out a hollow laugh.

 

“Coventina put some thought into this.”

 

He reached out one hand toward the Holy Grail with a twisted smile.

 

“Still, it’s a crude method.”

 

The moment his small hand snatched the Holy Grail, a heavy rumble echoed from deep underground.

 

Mordred grinned wickedly and gripped the Holy Grail tightly with both hands.

 

“Do you know how much I’ve suffered to get this damned Holy Grail! Merlin, hand over the souls you’ve collected right now.”

 

At his command, Merlin began to scramble.

 

Perhaps because her long-cherished wish was right in front of her, her movements while searching for the vessel containing the souls felt agonizingly slow.

 

Losing patience, Mordred shouted.

 

“Why are you so slow?!”

 

“S-sorry. It’s just that I… Where did I put it?”

 

While Merlin was stalling, a sharp whoosh cut through the air.

 

“Damn it.”

 

The sensitive Mordred quickly jerked his head back.

 

A long sword grazed his face and flew forward, striking the Holy Grail with a loud clang!

 

Startled by the unexpected attack, Mordred’s small hand lost its grip on the Holy Grail.

 

“No!”

 

Despite his scream, the Holy Grail fell to the floor with a thud and rolled away. He reached out in panic, but the Grail shot forward as if pulled by someone.

 

Black smoke burst out to envelop it, but it only trembled as if in a tug-of-war. When he looked up, Excalibur in sword form stood beside Morgana.

 

Only then did he realize the object that had flown toward the Holy Grail was Excalibur.

 

Mordred sneered with a twisted smile.

 

“I wondered who would try to steal the Holy Grail with magic.”

 

Kellive answered with a voice mixed with a chuckle.

 

“Steal? Mount Badon is clearly part of Avalon’s territory.”

 

The Holy Grail trembled finely in the air, unable to tilt toward either side.

 

Watching this, Excalibur asked bluntly.

 

‘Master. Should I go hit him one more time? This time I’ll aim for the head to make him come to his senses!’

 

Instead of answering, Morgana gave a small nod and checked on Merlin. It seemed Mordred had pulled her out of the underground prison.

 

For someone they had saved from danger, Merlin’s behavior felt slightly off.

 

While struggling with Kellive, Mordred shouted at Merlin.

 

“What are you doing? Help me!”

 

“Huh? But the souls…”

 

“Are you brainless? Without the Holy Grail, what use are the souls?! Do I have to explain even this?!”

 

Mordred’s shrill roar echoed painfully loud inside the cave.

 

Only then did Merlin hesitantly approach and grab his shoulder.

 

‘They must be quite close if she came all the way here…?’

 

Morgana swallowed her doubts and signaled Kellive with her eyes.

 

‘Move when I give the signal.’

 

As he gave a small nod, Excalibur’s excited voice rang in her head.

 

‘The great and mighty Excalibur is going in! All impure beings, bow your heads immediately!’

 

Ping! 

 

Excalibur’s blade began to shine dazzlingly in the dark space.

 

The tip of the sword, floating like an arrow in the air, aimed precisely at Mordred’s head.

 

The moment it was recognized, the light left an afterimage as the sword shot toward him with a whoosh.

 

“Damn Holy Sword.”

 

Unable to endure it, Mordred rolled quickly to the side with Merlin.

 

Pop! 

 

As the black smoke scattered, the Holy Grail shot upward with a thud.

 

The moment Morgana’s hand, leaping forward at high speed, brushed the Holy Grail, Merlin lunged at her.

 

Mordred rose from the floor while watching Merlin grab Morgana’s waist, but he couldn’t move recklessly.

 

Excalibur persistently swung at him wherever he tried to go.

 

When he quickly retreated, Excalibur stabbed into the ground before rising into the air again on its own.

 

‘Heh, Prince, you should play with me.’

 

Mordred breathed heavily as he scanned his surroundings.

 

A sword with its own ego, its movements were hard to predict.

 

Even Kellive was openly watching him.

 

Thud, thud… 

 

Clatter… 

 

Merlin crawled desperately over Morgana, trying to reach the Holy Grail that had fallen on the floor.

 

“No! The Holy Grail. My Holy Grail!”

 

Mangeum, who had been pacing anxiously nearby, rushed toward the fallen Holy Grail.

 

With his already small body and tiny mouth, Mangeum tried several times to bite the Grail, but it didn’t look easy.

 

Mordred struggled to contain his rage.

 

‘It’s right in front of me. Just one step and the Holy Grail will be in my hands!’

 

Terrified, Mangeum widened his eyes and dragged the Holy Grail backward while biting it.

 

It seemed too heavy for his small size to carry.

 

In front of him, Morgana and Merlin wrestled fiercely, repeatedly tugging the Holy Grail back and forth.

 

“Move! The Holy Grail is mine!”

 

“Mangeum, take it and go!”