"Mordred..."
"Today really has been..."
In front of his adorable little sister, Arthur could finally set down his burdens. It was fine for him to reveal a little of his weariness and distress.
It was unlike when he was before his subordinates. Even if he was already furious and mentally exhausted, he still had to pretend to be calm and composed in front of them. Only then could he keep the situation under control. Otherwise, it would shake his subordinates' confidence, even their loyalty.
Mordred alone was different. There was no need to doubt this child's resolve, confidence, or loyalty, so she was also one of Arthur's safe harbors.
"Did something happen? Ah, of course, it's fine even if you don't want to tell me, Brother."
Skillfully using the Lap Pillow Skill on Arthur, Mordred gently held his hand and spoke.
"Something did happen. I'll tell you once I'm feeling a little better," Arthur replied.
"Mm, understood." And so, Arthur rested his head on Little Mo's lap and closed his eyes.
He should rest for a while, while he still had the time.
However...
"Um..."
Though she did not want to disturb her brother's rest, after spending so long at Arthur's side, Mordred understood what was urgent and what was not.
"What is it, Little Mo?"
"Actually..." Little Mo said to him, "Lord Galahad came by earlier too." She told Arthur, "It seemed he had something he wanted to discuss with you, Brother."
"..."
It was about whether Galahad would stay or leave. With Little Mo's reminder, Arthur remembered.
Seriously, none of them ever let him relax.
"I understand." Arthur rose to his feet.
"I'll go see him."
"Brother..."
"It's fine. Don't worry, Little Mo. I'm not that fragile."
"..."
"Mm."
Little Mo broke into a bright smile.
Author's Note:
It'll be going premium tomorrow.
The bounty is still ongoing. But the results have been average. I don't know whether I should be happy or sad. Stared at the sky.
In any case, before the bounty, monthly votes were 1,123 and blades were 291. They're currently at 1,590 monthly votes and 721 blades. An increase of 467 and 430 respectively. That means four extra chapters.
Nine chapters tomorrow when it goes premium!
Should I Sell My Junior? That Is the Question
Some time later, as the knight Galahad paced restlessly around his room, there came a knock at his door.
"Lord Galahad."
"Your Highness?"
The frail white-haired youth sprang to his feet at top speed, opened the door, and welcomed Arthur inside with an attitude that was less respectful than nervous.
"How have you been lately?"
"Thanks to you, I've been quite well."
After that meaningless exchange of pleasantries, Arthur and Galahad both fell silent. They remained silent for some time before Arthur finally spoke.
"Lord Galahad, you received the news too, didn't you? The news about the Holy Grail."
"Yes, I did."
Galahad nodded. After that, Arthur rapidly considered his options—
After Father King said she would retrieve the Holy Grail, the safest course was to have Galahad hurry to the Holy Grail's location overnight and recreate the original plot. That would be the most reliable option.
"But Galahad is one of my best subordinates."
Arthur thought, If it really is like the original story, where only a specific person can lift the Holy Grail, and I can't just find some scum like Merlin to do it, then in the end, I'll still have to sacrifice Galahad.
"So, Your Highness..."
Seeing Arthur remain silent, Galahad had no idea that the man sitting opposite him was coldly considering throwing him away and replacing him with a junior sister. He was still uneasy, worried that his actions might anger Arthur.
"Either way, Galahad can be a backup option." Arthur thought, We need to move fast and bring a batch of cannon fodder to the Holy Grail's location.
Let the cannon fodder go first, then Merlin. After that, Galahad. In any case, we have to settle this before Father King comes into contact with the Holy Grail.
Having made up his mind, Arthur looked at Galahad with helplessness in his eyes.
"Galahad, Lord Galahad."
Arthur said to him,
"Why would you think that?"
He said,
"We've been through quite a lot together.
From Britannia to Rome, then to the Germans. War, slaughter, governing territories, resolving disputes, drafting laws, reclaiming land, building castles, workshops, lumberyards, harbor docks...
We did all of it well, didn't we? You helped me tremendously, Galahad. You are my best friend, my finest subordinate, and one of the best commanders under my command."
Arthur's helpless tone carried a hint of grief and indignation.
"You actually... you actually doubted me—do you know how much that hurts me?! My sorrow surpasses Tristan's!"
Although he was constantly thinking about selling the other man off in exchange for a busty eggplant, on the surface, Artorius still looked grief-stricken, making Galahad feel deeply embarrassed.
"Do you think I am the kind of man who disregards justice for personal gain?"
"Do you think I dragged Britannia into war for my own ambitions?"
"Do you think I would stop the Holy Grail if it could save Britannia?"
"No, of course not. Absolutely not, Galahad."
"If the Holy Grail can save Britannia, then naturally I will not stop it."
Faced with the righteous Artorius Pendragon, Galahad was deeply moved and grew even more emotional.
"Yes, exactly—this is the prince I know, the lord I serve!"
Faced with Artorius, so noble and compassionate, who had revealed none of his dark thoughts about "replacing a junior with a junior sister," Galahad's heart stirred.
"That is precisely why I am willing to sacrifice my life for you."
"So, what we need to do next is rush over at the fastest possible speed and bring back the Holy Grail!" Arthur told Galahad without hesitation.
"For every day we return sooner, the people of Britannia will suffer one day less!"
"Yes, exactly."
"No buts! The location of the Holy Grail has already been confirmed, right?! You know where it is, don't you?" Arthur looked at him seriously and asked.
"Yes, yes. Lord Percival and Lord Bors found the Holy Grail. But neither of them could lift it. They said only someone with a pure soul could lift the Holy Grail, so I wanted to try."
"Mm, very good. Then what are we waiting for?! We leave now!"
"Yes... now?"
"That's right, now!" Arthur turned to the side. "How long are you going to keep watching, Merlin?!"
"..."
After Arthur called him out, the pink-haired man finally sauntered over with a flirtatious gait.
"I thought my Invisibility Spell was the best in the world. I didn't expect you to see through it."
"Hmph. Because I know that the thing you bastard love most is joining in the fun." Arthur snorted. "You know what to do, right, Merlin?"
"Of course, of course. Take you to the Holy Grail's location by the fastest method. Magic really is incredibly convenient, isn't it? Though I do bite my tongue when chanting spells."
"So...?"
"Fine, fine, I'll do it. Stop looking at me so terrifyingly, Arthur. Come to think of it, I even held you when you were little."
As he said something that made Arthur want to draw his sword, Merlin casually and expertly manipulated his magic power. A portal leading to Europe—or, more precisely, Gaul—opened at once.
It seemed he also knew the Holy Grail's location. He did not even need Galahad to tell him.
Galahad looked somewhat uncomfortable as he listened to Arthur and Merlin's exchange. Or rather, from the moment Arthur entered his room and brought up this matter, Galahad had felt a powerful sense of unease. It was as though he was about to pay a terrible price and lose something very important to him.
"Is it my life?"
He thought so, then swiftly hardened his resolve.
"No. Even if I must sacrifice my life, I will definitely fulfill Your Highness's wish!"
"It isn't about saving Britannia, but..."
He looked at Artorius, his eyes full of emotion.
"It is Your Highness's wish."
With that resolve, Galahad walked toward the portal...
After passing through the portal, Galahad looked around in surprise.
The cold air, the chirping insects, the stars and moonlight overhead all proved that they were standing in the wilderness.
"More specifically, Burgundy."
At his side, Arthur calmly said, "Southeastern Gaul, on the banks of the River Seine. So the Holy Grail is in a place like this."
"Look over there, Lord Galahad."
After that, Arthur pointed into the distance.
Across the flat wilderness, amid the sound of the River Seine's current, a holy platinum-gold radiance rose into the sky.
"If I'm not mistaken, that is where the Holy Grail is."
As Arthur spoke, he squeezed the Magic Crystal in his right hand behind his back.
Author's Note:
The Holy Grail, one of the most important elements in the Type-Moon series. If I remember correctly, only the previous director successfully made a wish for lots of money?
Also, please spare some recommendation votes.
It goes premium tomorrow. I'm a little nervous.
Setting up a reader group: 103434270
Premium Release Thoughts
It goes premium tomorrow.
The time has finally come.
Time to test the results.
I'm feeling a little uneasy. But thinking about it, overthinking won't do much good.
Keep working hard.
Keep the bounty going.
Bounty for bonus chapters!
Before you continue