My Mother, King Arthur

Author's Note:

Heroic Spirit Artorius gained the inherent skill Incitement B.

This Is What Family Happiness Feels Like

When Arthur once again climbed the stairs of the Tower of White Chalk, the first person to greet him was his nominal "mother," Guinevere. A girl who looked fragile on the outside but was strong within.

Over the more than ten years he had spent with her, Arthur's initial dislike of her because he knew history had gradually turned into respect.

After all, not everyone could happily become a mother and raise her husband's child, who was not her own, as if he were her biological son.

Of course, considering King Arthur's actual gender, then...

All right, this was getting a little complicated. Arthur decided not to think about it anymore.

Naturally, Arthur was not troubled by such vexing matters at all. There was no confusion in his eyes.

"The King is waiting for you, Arthur."

As if she were looking at her own child, Guinevere gazed at Arthur with a complicated expression.

As Britannia's savior, King Arthur always had to fight abroad, while Agravain, as Arthur's teacher, usually only cared about his studies and abilities.

So, during King Arthur's absence, the woman before him had been the one caring for Arthur's daily life.

She was a very gentle, loving older sister.

"Thank you, Mother."

Arthur nodded to her, then prepared to continue onward.

"Arthur."

But before that, she called out to him.

"You... be nicer to your Father King."

"Of course." Arthur smiled and nodded. "I am the most filial son there is."

"..."

For some reason, Guinevere found Arthur's words strange.

Though taken literally, there was nothing wrong with them.

After that, Arthur encountered Merlin.

"Yo, young Prince, have you found your own Mandate of Heaven?"

His attitude was as frivolous as ever. Arthur had wanted to flip him off and leave, but after thinking about it, he decided to say a little more.

"What did you see this time?" He stopped and asked.

"Nothing. Just chaos."

"Oh."

Hearing that, Arthur's tone remained calm, neither joyful nor sorrowful.

"Ah, hehe, that is why humans are truly so interesting."

Watching Arthur's retreating figure, Merlin smiled happily.

At the same time.

Arthur had a subtle illusion.

When people spoke of towers, what did they think of first? At this moment, Arthur thought of fairy tales.

The princesses in fairy tales always lived at the top of towers, always waiting for princes to rescue them, while evil dragons always stood beside the princesses and opposed the prince.

"Unfortunately for Mother, she is both the dragon and the princess. Fortunately for me, I am both the dragon and the prince."

"So this time."

"I will be the one to love you, protect you, and save you."

"Artoria."

"My mother."

Arthur pushed open the doors. The majestic, perfect King turned and looked at him.

"Arthur."

There was a trace of sorrow in her calm gaze.

"Father King."

Arthur bowed to her, then stepped forward.

Behind him, the magnificent white doors closed, cutting off the inside from the outside.

Only King Arthur and her eldest son Artorius remained here.

As always, King Arthur seemed at a loss when facing Arthur.

In contrast, Artorius maintained his gentle smile. He stepped forward and took King Arthur's hand.

"I will soon be heading to Europe to seek my own glory. Father King, you will bless me, won't you?"

"I..."

"The Saxons have stabilized, and grain from Gaul will continue flowing into Britannia. I have taken away those resentful nobles and ambitious men as well. The nation will become even more stable."

"With that, Britannia will become better, won't it?"

"My child..."

"Ah, of course, I have my own selfish desires as well."

Arthur said gently, "I also want to become great. I want you to be proud of me, Father King."

"..."

As Artoria fell silent, Arthur's actions became bolder. He reached out and, like an ordinary child, hugged his "Father King" around the waist.

The cold, sturdy armor blocked any direct touch, yet the warmth and strange feeling gave Artoria a subtle illusion.

"From today onward, Father King will no longer have to bear all those burdens alone."

He smiled. "I will share the weight of the nation for Father King, even if it is only a small part of it."

"..."

"I have always wanted to place a glorious and perfect nation in your hands, Arthur."

After a brief silence, King Arthur spoke to Arthur in a somewhat hoarse voice. "I have always wanted to..."

"I know, I know. But Father King, do not underestimate your child. I can do even better."

As he spoke, Arthur cupped Artoria's face and kissed her forehead. "Please bless me, Father King. Bless your child. I will bring you victory and glory."

After that, Arthur turned and left King Arthur, left the Tower of White Chalk, left Britannia, and headed for the war-torn lands of Rome.

As his army gathered, the decisive battle between the Romans and the Visigoths was about to begin.

The Visigoths, a branch of the Germans and descendants of Alaric, who had once captured Rome, were now the strongest force in Gaul. They intended to sweep Rome's influence completely out of Gaul.

In contrast, the Roman Emperor intended to avenge Rome's destruction here.

This battle would determine Gaul's final fate. It would also determine the destinies of two peoples.

Artorius would lead Britannia's knights into this battle and make a name for himself on the battlefields of Europe.

Author's Note:

Updated, la la la.

Roman Fanatics Rejoice

"This is where I begin."

After meeting the Emperor once more, Arthur returned to his army.

The Britannian knights and Saxon forces were somewhat larger than Arthur had previously promised.

The number of knights and squires had reached three hundred, while the Saxon army numbered a full four thousand. Besides the veterans who had migrated from the island of Britannia, there were also those who had joined them along the way.

Some were Saxons from the continent, while quite a few came from other German tribes. Arthur welcomed them all without discrimination.

A single tribe might be able to conquer a nation, but to conquer all of Europe, one had to become the king of all barbarians, like Attila.

"This is the first appearance of us Britannian knights on the continent."

After returning to his Barracks, Arthur gathered the members of the Knights of the Round Table and assigned their tasks.

Gareth, Mordred, Gawain, and the others either became commanders of individual units or captains of knight squads. Agravain, the chief steward of the Knights of the Round Table, as usual handled administration and logistics.

Arthur's trusted men controlled the military authority.

Regarding this, the Saxon tribal chieftains had some complaints.

"By tradition, the warriors of each tribe should be commanded by that tribe's chieftain..."

"This is exactly why you have kept losing."

Arthur answered him without hesitation.

"But—"

"—I am the commander now."

He interrupted the Saxon chieftain. "Watch your position. Or are you saying that when you served under Vortigern, you dared defy his orders? How did he punish those who disobeyed him back then?"

"No, Your Highness, never. We will obey your commands completely."

"Good." Arthur patted his shoulder, nearly knocking him flat.

"Now, does anyone else have any questions?"

"No?"

"Very well, then go make preparations!"

Several hours later, fully armed Artorius joined the ranks of the Roman army.

At the front of the battlefield stood an infantry formation composed of five Roman Legions and five auxiliary legions. Arthur's four thousand infantrymen were among them, as was the Roman commander-in-chief, Emperor Lucius Tiberius.

Arthur could see the Roman Emperor riding in a chariot.

He raised the crimson imperial sword Florent high overhead, Clarent's brother blade, and shouted as he ordered his soldiers to maintain formation and advance.

Besides the Roman Imperial Guard clad in lorica segmentata, a group of enormous "monsters" clustered around him—the Phantasmal Beasts known as Giants.

They wore oversized Roman Crested Helmets and, driven by beast-tamer-like magi, let out muffled roars as they slowly advanced.

These mad, desperate monsters lacked the mana needed to reach the Inner Sea of Stars and were destined to perish.

This era was the Giants' final revelry. It was also the final revelry of those monsters unable to enter the Inner Sea of Stars. At the end of this Age of Gods, they would celebrate, slaughter, go mad, and then die to the last.

"Forward, forward, warriors of Rome! Crush all this trash!"

The arrogant Emperor roared excitedly.

At the same time, the Visigoth formation opposite the Roman army also adopted infantry square tactics very similar to those of the Romans.

This imitation infantry tactic was repeatedly shattered when it met the genuine Roman formations. That was thanks to Lucius.

This Roman Emperor had raised Rome's military standards.

Meanwhile, the sorcerers on both sides cast spells continuously, summoning massive elements or directly unleashing storms of magic.

Flames, lightning, frost, rocks, or simply raw mana.