Hyden's Growth

Early the next morning, Canterbury set out on his journey back to Camelot.

Just as when he had arrived, he didn't disturb anyone, and the only ones seeing him off were Arkhan, Kay, Artoria, and Ector.

As for a certain white-haired troublemaker, he had disappeared, no one knew where.

"Let's end it here. I'll continue on my own from here." Canterbury stood at the town's entrance, saying to Arkhan and the others.

Arkhan smiled and said, "Looking forward to our next meeting."

"I too hope for that day, Your Majesty." Canterbury nodded with a smile, then turned to Ector. "Ector, are you really not coming back with me?"

"I've grown old, Your Excellency. My only wish now is to spend the rest of my days in this quiet place. Camelot is no longer suitable for me." Ector sighed. 

Canterbury nodded in regret. He knew that Ector's reluctance to return to Camelot was mainly because the person he had once sworn loyalty to was no longer there.

He then turned to Artoria, a hint of guilt in his eyes.

"Uther's child, will you hate me? The sword should have been pulled by you, but I failed to fulfill the duty your father entrusted to me."

Artoria blinked and quickly waved her hand.

"Please don't say that, Your Excellency! You are a person worthy of respect by all Camelot citizens. Besides, I believe your actions were just, and my teacher was clearly more suitable to be king than I am. I am not yet ready to take on the responsibilities of a king."

Looking into her clear azure eyes, Canterbury felt a sense of relief and nodded slightly.

"If that's the case, then I can rest easy. Everyone, I hope we will meet again in the future. May the Lord bless all of you."

Canterbury made the sign of the cross on his chest, offering his blessings to the group, and then turned to leave.

Everyone watched in silence until the elderly figure disappeared from their view.

"I thought the archbishop would be a very serious person." Kay scratched his head. "But he's actually quite easygoing huh... like a grandpa from next door..."

"When do you plan to set off?" Ector asked Arkhan.

"Wait for another two days..." Arkhan thought for a moment. "Just need to take care of a few final businesses."

The four of them returned to the estate and saw Merlin sitting on the house's steps, looking disheartened.

A little boy, about two or three years old, was riding on his neck, holding onto his hair tightly.

"You little rascal, stop tugging on my hair. If you keep pulling, I'll go bald!"

Merlin yelled and sighed, but his eyes lit up when he saw Arkhan and the rest returned. He rushed over to Arkhan as if seeing a savior.

"Your Majesty! You're finally back. Please take this little devil off me before I lose all my hair!" Merlin looked pitifully at Arkhan. "You wouldn't want to see your court mage become bald, would you?"

"Heh! I think it would suit you quite well. It matches your personality!" Kay chimed in, amused.

Upon seeing Arkhan, the little boy's eyes brightened, and he let go of Merlin's hair. He reached out to Arkhan with his arms wide open.

"Hug~ hug~" The little boy said in a cute, childish voice.

Without delay, Arkhan picked up the little boy from Merlin's neck and hugged him. The little boy clung to his clothes and closed his eyes happily while contentedly smelling his scent.

This little boy was none other than Hyden, born with the power of the Abyss Flower, destined to become a mortal hero. He now lived in Ector's estate with his mother, to give him a proper place to grow.

Due to the excessive life energy in his body, Hyden grew rapidly, almost changing every day. In just half a month, he could already walk normally.

His learning speed was also astonishing. Whatever the preschool teacher taught him, he learned quickly. Even now, Hyden knew more words than his mother.

At first, everyone was surprised, but by now, they had all gotten used to it.

"Hyden, tell your big brother, what did this white-haired rascal do to you just now?" Arkhan gently pinched Hyden's nose and asked with a smile.

"He asked me if I wanted to be his apprentice and if I agreed, he said he would introduce me to many beautiful girls in the future!" Hyden replied in a childish voice, and after some thought, he added, "As beautiful as Sister Artoria."

"Merlin!" Artoria's furious voice pierced the sky, and her azure eyes seemed to burn with flames. "Hyden is still too young! What on earth are you teaching him?!"

*Whistle~ Whistle~*

Watching Merlin, who whistled and gazed at the sky as if spotting something interesting, Kay chuckled and crossed his arms. "O Great Mage, so this is how you take on apprentices ehh~"

Ector sighed helplessly, shook his head, and walked into the house.

"I didn't expect you to be this shameless, Merlin." Arkhan coldly glanced at Merlin, then turned to Hyden. "You did well, Hyden. If this white-haired rascal gets close to you again, grab his hair as hard as you can, even if you pull it all out, it's alright."

"Okay!" Hyden earnestly nodded his little head.

"You can't!" Merlin complained but was ignored by everyone.

This was no joke.

Although Hyden had only been born for half a month, the potential of a hero was already evident in him.

With his current strength alone, he could easily kill a wild dog with one punch.

And given his abnormal rate of growth, in a few more years, tasks like taming tigers in the Southern Mountains or capturing sea dragons in the Northern Sea would probably pose no difficulty.

That was something even Arkhan couldn't achieve back then.

The so-called heroes were such unreasonable beings.

===

"Master, is there something you need from me?"

Yulina asked curiously while glancing discreetly at the old knight beside her. Judging by the scent of his blood, he should have been on the verge of death, but for some reason, there was still such a strong vitality within him.

"I need you both to help me with a few tasks."

Arkhan looked at the old knight, Karl.

"Karl, you haven't forgotten what I've taught you before, have you?"

"Of course not. Every word of Your Majesty's teachings is engraved in my heart!" Karl replied promptly.

'Good thing he's not calling me Lord God again.'

Arkhan said wryly inside his mind while giving a subtle nod on the surface.

"Very well, now you will go to Camelot and procure land there. Use the farm tools and the techniques I've taught you to cultivate crops. Remember, try not to be discovered. I will have Sir Ector give you the fund."

"Yes!" Karl agreed without hesitation.

Yulina looked puzzled. It was just some crops, why did her master seem so solemn about it?

"Karl, do you remember what I once told you?" Arkhan smiled calmly. "Whether or not we can take the first step in opening up a new world depends entirely on you."

Karl was so excited that his whole body trembled, and he immediately knelt down.

"With this body, I, Karl, solemnly swear to never let Your Majesty down!"