Chapter 409:

Chapter 409:

Morgan's words were aimed squarely at Yu-hyun.

Yu-hyun frowned. He couldn’t accept that everyone else was allowed, but he alone was not.

To mediate the situation, Merlin took a step forward and spoke.

“Morgan. Now’s not the time for jokes.”

[Merlin. Do I look like I’m joking?]

“If that’s not it, then what was the point of what you said just now? Either let them all in, or don’t single out one person specifically.”

[I’m deadly serious. I can’t let in a dangerous person whose origin in Avalon is unknown.]

“A dangerous person....”

Merlin trailed off. Knowing Morgan as long as he had, he was aware that once she spoke this way, it would take considerable effort to break her stubbornness.

After all, they were guests. If Morgan firmly opposed Yu-hyun’s entry, there was little Merlin could do.

Did he have to leave him behind? Maybe he could just ask Yu-hyun to wait outside.

At that moment, Yu-hyun, who had been silently listening, spoke up.

“It seems you know something about me.”

[Me? What on earth do you mean by that?]

“You say you don’t know where I came from, yet you’re certain I’m a dangerous person.”

There was a contradiction in Morgan’s words.

She claimed she didn’t know Yu-hyun, yet she was more aware of his potential threat than anyone else.

The funniest part was that there was another person here with an unknown origin, yet Morgan deliberately singled out Yu-hyun.

Seo Sumin, seemingly realizing this, crossed her arms and openly displayed her displeasure.

[...So what?]

“Judging by how much you’re wary of me, it seems you know something others don’t.”

Merlin and Kay might not know what it was, but Yu-hyun could tell what Morgan knew.

A Fragment of the Codex.

Morgan was wary of the power Yu-hyun possessed in his fragment. This meant Morgan also knew about the fragments.

“Well, honestly, if you’d given me a good reason, I was willing to wait outside patiently. But if you know about this, the story changes.”

[...Step back. This is your only warning.]

“Try me.”

Realizing that words wouldn’t work, Morgan immediately resorted to action.

Crunch. The dried, blackened thorn vines uncoiled and moved. The sharp thorns on them stretched towards Yu-hyun like a living snake, surging like a tidal wave.

The massive thorn wave, over 100 meters tall, rushed toward him like a looming mountain.

Seo Sumin, seeing this, moved as if to intervene, but Yu-hyun stopped her.

“You....”

“You can stay put, Sumin. This is something I need to handle.”

“...Fine.”

Seo Sumin took a step back. Yu-hyun took a deep breath as he watched the thorn wave surging toward him.

One of the techniques from the Seven Demonic Black Sky Divine Art would have easily swept it away, but Yu-hyun chose not to use it.

‘Might as well take the opportunity to practice.’

Instead of wearing the Mask of Aporia, Yu-hyun activated the Golden Eye of Insight.

His eyes turned a golden hue, and he began seeing everything in the world as letters. He raised his right hand directly in front of him.

[I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but you can’t possibly...with that move...]

Morgan scoffed at Yu-hyun, but he ignored her words.

Seeing the letters with his eyes, he then moved to touch and control them with his hand, an act that would require immense focus.

‘Remember that feeling.’

The day he fought Hercules.

The moment he received the Golden Eye from Sun Wukong and unlocked the stage of rapid transformation.

Yu-hyun clenched his open right hand into a tight fist.

At the same time.

[...What?!]

A massive handprint appeared on the thorny vines hurtling towards Yu-hyun.

Morgan couldn’t help but express her shock at the sight.

What in the world was happening? Magic? Sorcery? No, it couldn’t be. If that were the case, she, a magician on par with Merlin, would surely recognize it.

Then, was it inner energy or something equivalent? But there was no trace of inner energy or aura.

It wasn’t a power typically used in the Hybrid Realm. It was something far more complex and advanced than any mystic she knew, and the fundamental reason she had denied Yu-hyun entry out of caution.

‘A fragment!’

Could it be...that he was using the power of his fragment?

Unaware of rapid transformation, Morgan assumed Yu-hyun was using the power of his fragment.

Morgan gritted her teeth and attempted to move the vines, but they had already escaped her control.

Crunch! Crackle!

With just a single fist clench from Yu-hyun, the tidal wave of thorn vines crumbled like a wet sandcastle.

No matter how much Morgan struggled, the vines couldn’t regenerate, nor could they retreat.

The fundamental text, the essence of the vines, had been completely destroyed by Yu-hyun’s gesture.

With the roots of the object severely damaged, no ordinary means could ever restore it. Morgan clenched her teeth and prepared for another attack.

“Isn’t it time to stop wasting energy?”

Yu-hyun said as he unleashed the power of rapid transformation, spreading it around to dominate the space. The magical energy Morgan had gathered for another attack dissipated like salt dissolving in water.

Having prepared numerous spells and enchantments, Morgan felt a chill as she witnessed her mana vanish without a trace.

All her attacks had been nullified by an incomprehensible power. Her magical energy, nearly immune to interference, had been disrupted at its very core.

And he’s hiding something, too.

In that case, one question arises.

What is King Arthur planning, and what is he trying to accomplish?

Why hasn’t he shown others that he’s unharmed?

‘Is there a reason he has to keep it hidden?’

That question didn’t linger for long. Ultimately, Arthur wasn’t in Avalon, so they had no reason to stay here.

“We’ll be going, then.”

“...It’s unfortunate you didn’t find what you were looking for.”

“I didn’t expect it to be this easy. When I realized Arthur had disappeared, I knew it wouldn’t be a simple matter.”

“I see.”

“Did Arthur give any clue as to where he’d go next?”

“No. He left without a word. Just said, ‘Let’s do better from now on.’”

“Let’s do better from now on....”

Merlin murmured, repeating the phrase, then said goodbye to Morgan.

Just as everyone was leaving, Morgan called out to Yu-hyun.

“Hold on. You, human.”

“What is it?”

“I need a word with you alone.”

Yu-hyun asked his companions for permission and moved to a lake nearby with Morgan.

“...I’m sorry for earlier.”

Once out of sight from the others, Morgan immediately apologized.

Was she referring to what had happened at the entrance? Yu-hyun’s wariness only grew at Morgan’s unexpected apology.

“Why are you suddenly apologizing?”

“It’s just...I assumed you were dangerous.... I made a hasty judgment on my own.”

“Because I have a fragment?”

“...!”

Judging by her reaction, it hit the mark. Morgan glanced nervously at Yu-hyun’s companions, then asked in a small voice.

“You...also carry a fragment, don’t you?”

“That’s why you were wary of me, wasn’t it?”

“If you have a fragment, you’ll understand what I’m saying.”

“What?”

“No matter what I say, they can’t understand it because they don’t have a fragment. But you can, since you’re connected to a fragment. Listen closely. Arthur has a purpose.”

Another truth she hadn’t shared with Merlin or Kay.

Yu-hyun listened intently to Morgan’s words.

“A purpose?”

“I don’t know exactly what it is. Arthur didn’t go into detail. He just said...it was to correct the past and move toward the future.”

“Toward the future....”

“I don’t know what he intends to do, but it’s certainly not an ordinary matter. It could affect not only Arthur but also all of Camelot, and even the entire Mabinogion.”

“Why tell me?”

“Because there’s no one else who can hear.”

Without a fragment or a connection to it, one can’t understand matters related to fragments. Morgan didn’t possess a fragment herself, but she was aware of their existence, allowing her to discuss them.

Knowing this, Morgan had resigned herself to not explaining things to Merlin or Kay.

“What do you want from me?”

“Nothing. I don’t think you’d help me if I asked.”

“You’re not wrong.”

“But even knowing that, I told you because there’s no one else. I don’t expect anything, but something will surely change.”

Morgan Le Fay, the witch.

A grand witch known for using magic, practicing sorcery, and sometimes even foretelling the future.

She looked at Yu-hyun with unwavering eyes.

“I can’t see your future, but that’s why I think putting my faith in you isn’t a bad idea.”

“...Don’t get your hopes up.”

“I know.”

Their conversation ended there.

Rejoining his companions, Yu-hyun pondered over Morgan’s words.

‘I can’t see your future....’ That was only natural. Since he possessed a fragment and used Laplace’s power, no form of prophecy or foresight could ever reveal Yu-hyun’s future. No premonition could surpass the demon of Laplace.

Yet, it seemed Morgan felt relieved by the fact she couldn’t see his future.

As if she valued the fact that things might change, even if it led to a disastrous path.

‘She’s hard to understand.’

In that case, what was King Arthur planning? And what about the other attackers carrying fragments?

As Yu-hyun rejoined his group and they exited Avalon, they were met by a familiar face.

“Ah, everyone! There’s big news!”

“Gareth? How did you get here?”

“Hey, pretty boy. What’s this about now?”

Kay’s tone was brusque, as if Gareth’s sudden appearance wasn’t surprising enough to make him act this way without reason.

What Gareth said next was shocking.

“An unknown enemy force has invaded Camelot!”