After Arthur left, Vivian was delighted for a while before making this decision.
Since Arthur treated her so well, she had to repay him wholeheartedly.
Meanwhile.
"Brother, did something good happen?"
At Arthur's side, Mordred asked curiously.
Seeing Arthur unconsciously smile, Mordred was a little curious.
"Yes." Arthur replied, "The plan to persuade the fairy Vivian has entered its next stage."
"I see."
Hearing Arthur say that, Mordred revealed an enlightened expression.
As always, her brother had not deceived her. He chose to share every secret and plan with her, even while they journeyed toward Ireland together.
At this moment, they were already aboard a ship. Enduring the rocking of the wind and waves, the high-prowed, highly seaworthy Dragon Head Warship cut through the waves before them.
This type of vessel, invented by the Norse Germans and made famous in later generations through extensive Viking use, was also an oared sailing ship. Yet it was far more suited than its Mediterranean counterparts to sailing through the stormy North Sea.
In later generations, Viking adventurers even used such ships to sail across the Arctic Ocean and eventually reach the New World.
Arthur, who commanded a considerable number of Germans, naturally adopted the era's most North Sea-suited vessel as the standard issue equipment of the German Army, making only slight improvements to its design.
"Land ahoy!"
At that moment, the sailor standing in the crow's nest shouted excitedly, making the oarsmen even more excited—Arthur preferred free sailors to slaves at the oars. Though they were harder to control, having more fighters than the enemy in a boarding battle was always welcome.
"We've reached Ireland."
Arthur told Mordred, "Next, we'll head for the Shadow Country."
The Evil Dragon Prince spoke with complete confidence, and he was somewhat looking forward to what would happen next.
After all, who wouldn't love that purple-haired old woman?
The Prince's plan ran into trouble half an hour later.
The shallow-draft Dragon Head Warship landed directly on the shoals. Then sailors, pirates, and soldiers armed with all kinds of weapons happily disembarked onto Ireland, a land that had had little contact with the continent since ancient times and could almost be considered isolated from the world...
Although this place had also been influenced by Rome and the island of Britannia, and the people living in Ireland were basically Celts who had migrated from Britannia.
In terms of politics, economic exchange, and cultural exchange, however, Ireland had always remained self-contained.
It had always maintained a state of divided warlords. Several small kingdoms fought each other constantly and had never been unified.
If history was not wrong, this chaotic situation would continue for several more centuries, until Britannia annexed it.
"But now, perhaps there's another possibility."
Artorius thought, It's merely a forgotten corner of Europe, an insignificant place. It's also an appendage of Britannia.
So even if I bring it under control and annex it, it won't provoke Fate's backlash. Hmph.
Author's Note:
Today's second update.
The weather suddenly turned cold. Cool weather is a good thing, but yesterday I went out in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. Today, dressed the same way, I nearly froze to death. Seriously...
Is There a Place Like This in Avalon? (Third Update)
The poor Irish, the last refuge of the Celts, still had no idea how "glorious" their future would become because of the Dragon Child's sudden whim—
Of course, not as "Ireland," but as part of Arthur's Great Empire, a county within the Province of Britannia.
Present-day Ireland had four "powers" standing side by side. The four small kingdoms of Leinster, Munster, Connacht, and Ulster constantly engaged in every kind of Vertical Alliance and Horizontal Alliance, like a miniature version of the Middle Ages.
Of course, no matter how they formed alliances among themselves, they did not dare offend any powerful nation—especially a powerhouse like Artorius.
The knights serving under Arthur were not only from Britannia; some were Irish Celts as well.
There was also some trade between the Germanic War Zone under Arthur's control and Ireland.
Thus, after landing, when Arthur sent envoys to declare that he intended to travel to the secret realm known as the Shadow Country, the rulers of Ireland's small kingdoms were all extremely compliant. They rushed to send envoys, expressing their willingness to serve as guides. They would have had no objection even to becoming tributary states of Rome.
However, upon hearing that Arthur's destination was the Shadow Country, the situation changed.
"However, the Shadow Country cannot be entered?"
Facing a sweaty Irish envoy who looked terrified, Arthur could not help frowning.
The location was Dublin—ah, of course, it was not called Dublin yet. In the original history, this city had only been built during the Viking Age. But that did not matter—anyway, in Dublin, the envoy Arthur received brought bad news.
"Y-yes, that is correct, great General Artorius, Dragon Child."
The Irish envoy forced himself to answer:
"For the past few years, Queen Scathach has no longer recruited disciples, nor has she appeared in Ireland. You know, ordinary people like us simply cannot reach a secret realm like the Shadow Country. Normally, one can only go there upon receiving Queen Scathach's invitation, so..."
Arthur then asked further about the situation and visited some of Scathach's former students within Ireland.
Even the youngest among those students was over sixty years old. From them, Arthur confirmed that Scathach had gradually reduced her activities more than thirty years ago.
"Was it also because the Age of Gods was fading?" Arthur wondered.
He knew that Scathach had lived all the way into later generations. But being alive did not mean she could move about freely in the present world.
"What should we do next, Brother?"
Seeing Arthur lost in thought for several days straight, Mordred grew anxious as well.
"Besides, we've been away from the Germans for some time. If this continues, could the situation there worsen?"
"That is also a problem."
When Arthur departed, he entrusted the secret service and intelligence network to Agravain. As for internal administration, he handed it over to the military district administrative system he had personally planned.
This could ensure the German Military District's stability for a certain period.
But this was, in the end, an era ruled primarily by people. An age centered on bloodlines, heroes, and raw power.
If Artorius, the core supporting this system, remained abroad for too long without returning, the situation would become uncertain.
"I do need to find a solution."
Arthur thought and made his decision. "If we cannot obtain news of Scathach soon, we'll leave behind some intelligence agents and envoys to continue searching in Ireland. Then we'll return to the Germans."
The voyage from Ireland back to the German Military District would not take long. It would not delay them too much.
"Mm, then let's do that."
Since Arthur had made up his mind, Mordred settled down. The group then searched all over Ireland for traces of the Shadow Country.
Until one night.
After telling Little Mo an altered story, Arthur entered the land of dreams as well.
In the dream, Arthur followed his thoughts toward "Avalon."
When awake, he took care of Little Mo. Once asleep, he went to act spoiled with big sister Vivian. An ordinary bishonen would probably have withered to death long ago.
But Arthur, as the Dragon Child, was different.
The Dragon Never Bows.
Back when his still-immature mother, Artoria, had been an apprentice knight, she could train hard during the day and receive Merlin's education in the art of kingship while asleep. Arthur now was an enhanced version of the Artoria Lily from back then. Naturally, this was nothing to him.
"Next, I can finally lay my cards on the table with big sister Vivian."
He thought this as he walked forward.
The path in dreams was determined by one's state of mind. It could be long or short. Yet this time, Arthur felt that he had walked for a very long time without seeing the sea of flowers from his memories.
"Did I take the wrong road?"
"That can't be right. Can one even take a wrong turn on a dream path? Hmm..."
Thinking about this, Arthur grew a little irritated.
Just as he considered what to do next, a lush green woodland appeared before him.
Birds sang, and small animals such as rabbits and squirrels hopped about. Arthur could also hear the sound of running water.
"Does Avalon have a place like this? I haven't been here before."
Thinking that, he approached with curiosity. Then he heard it.
A girl was humming.
It was a scene famous in artistic works.
A pink-haired girl with delicate skin was bathing in spring water that rose to her waist.
Her back was toward Arthur, so he could only see the curve of her back. It was enough to make Arthur want to whistle. It was no less impressive than Mordred's.
If he had to distinguish them, Little Mo was firmer and more streamlined from all her training, and her complexion was a little healthier as well.
This big sister facing away from Arthur was softer, with fairer skin.
Both were beauties in their own way.
Thinking that, Arthur turned and prepared to leave.
Though the desires in his heart did not disgrace the name of a dragon, Arthur was generally a gentleman. He would not peep at someone, much less steal her clothes like some gigolo or the headmaster of Mount Shu.
Leaving quietly without letting her notice his presence—that was Arthur's decision.
However, before that could happen.
"Is someone there?"
A pure voice tinged with a trace of temptation drifted over.
He had been discovered.
Thinking that, Arthur stopped and came face-to-face with the naked big sister in the spring.
As a ruler and an iron-fisted Warlord, he was indeed a gentleman, but he was not a deserter. Therefore, he did not panic.
Thus, they held each other's gaze for two minutes.
Author's Note:
Third update! Please give monthly tickets, blades, and recommendation votes.
I had briefly thought about doing some kind of reward event on a whim, but after thinking it over, I decided against it... I lack stamina, my mind isn't up to it, and my health is terrible. I can't handle that kind of strain. = =
Maintaining three updates a day is already very hard work...
So I still hope everyone will support me more!
In the Dream
"What a cute child."
Though she was wearing nothing at all, the pink-haired big sister with gentle features and an exceptionally sweet appearance smiled as she said this.
She did not look embarrassed at all. That body, that face—it was as though she had been born solely to tempt men.
She was a natural seductress.
She was different from a child like Little Mo. Different from Aunt Morgan, Mother Artoria, and big sister Vivian... different from all of them.
Besides being a girl, Little Mo was also an outstanding warrior, an all-round talent cultivated by Arthur, and an excellent commander.
Besides being a woman, Morgan was also a powerful Witch and mage. Big sister Vivian was the Lady of the Lake, and there was no need to mention Mother Artoria. She was the Knight King.
Yet the girl now smiling and looking at him with eyes full of interest—Arthur could not tell what her occupation or anything else might be.
Knight, swordswoman, mage, commoner, village girl, younger sister, daughter, noblewoman, big sister... Arthur was not bragging when he said he had trained himself considerably over the past few years. If he guessed, he could usually get it eighty or ninety percent right.
But at this moment, that special skill seemed to have lost its effect.
Before you continue