If you readers support me, I'll write like crazy and do my best to repay everyone by writing an interesting book!
The story of this book has only just begun. Readers who are interested, please continue supporting it!
Mother's daughter-in-law (?).jpg
Meanwhile, in Mainz.
This former capital of the Roman Empire's Upper Germania Province had gradually regained its vitality under Arthur's management.
Gathering refugees, reclaiming land, constructing fortresses.
Thanks to its convenient transportation and crucial geographical position, it rose once more and became the administrative center of the "German Military District" under General Artorius's control.
During Arthur's absence, the one handling administrative affairs in his stead while also overseeing intelligence work was Artorius's mentor, Agravain the Iron.
Ignoring the hour and the late night, he was still tirelessly processing official business. He rubbed his eyes slightly and was about to take a few sips of hot soup to refresh himself when a frost-colored crystal at one side of the office began to glow.
"Need at least one hundred 'volunteers.' Location is... Burgundy... These coordinates, hmm."
At the fastest speed, he rose to his feet, walked over to the crystal, and accepted the message.
"What is His Highness planning to do?"
Because his magical power was limited, Arthur had not explained everything to him.
That did not hinder Agravain's loyalty, much less his execution of orders.
In that regard, he and Merlin were practically two extremes. One was extremely reliable; the other was extremely unreliable.
Meanwhile.
"Lord Galahad, Lord Merlin, and... Prince Arthur?!"
Not long after Arthur's group headed toward the light, they encountered familiar faces there.
Sir Bos and Percival, the Knights of the Round Table who had sent word back to Camelot, were still guarding the place. They had set up a camp.
Besides them, the camp held their attendants, as well as several other Knights of the Round Table who had gathered after receiving word, along with local guides.
Because of the light emitted by the Holy Grail, they had not even needed a bonfire. They simply built a small camp around the Holy Grail.
When they saw Arthur and the others approaching, the Knights of the Round Table were somewhat tense. Only after confirming that they were colleagues did they relax.
"I see. So Lord Galahad has come to retrieve the Holy Grail."
Sir Bos, who said this, was slightly disappointed. He told Arthur's group, "Lord Percival and I, along with our fellow Knights of the Round Table, even the attendants and servants, all tried. The Holy Grail seemed as though it had grown there; it could not be moved at all. So we remained here to guard it and sent someone back to Camelot to report the matter. And then...
Your Highness, forgive my bluntness, were you sent by the King?"
"No." Arthur said. "But we do indeed wish to bring the Holy Grail back to Camelot."
Hearing Arthur say this, the Knights of the Round Table exchanged glances. Then none of them raised any objection—after all, Artorius was still the Prince of Camelot and heir to Britannia, the legitimate successor to the throne. They would still have to make a living under Arthur in the future. Even if not them, then their sons; if not their sons, then their sons' sons.
The mature and worldly Sir Bos said nothing, but the innocent Percival spoke up.
"Of course, Your Highness. If you can truly do it, that would be a tremendous help."
"Because it is said that only one with a pure soul can lift the Holy Grail. So at first, we thought the one who came would be the King."
"..."
Hearing this, Arthur's inner wariness rose once more.
The closer he got to the Holy Grail, the more Arthur could sense the terrifying power contained within it.
It was unlike the so-called Holy Grails in the Holy Grail system created by The Three Founding Families. It was likewise unlike the Holy Grail some Goetia had cobbled together by hand.
The Holy Grail before Artorius was genuine. It was the real, legendary, terrifying treasure once held by the Holy Son, containing infinite power.
If "Buddhism's influence spanning the universe" was the benchmark for measuring "Catholicism," then the genuine Holy Grail's rank likely exceeded the Counter Force—that was, the planetary level. It had reached the universal level, or at least the galactic or galaxy-cluster level.
"In other words, if this thing really is the Holy Grail... if I truly gain control of this power, then I'll have a trump card against the Counter Force, perhaps even..."
Thinking this, Arthur turned to look at Merlin. Though he said nothing, his meaning was obvious: he wanted Merlin to determine whether this Holy Grail was real or fake.
"..."
"Oh~"
Meeting Arthur's gaze, the Flower Magician froze for a moment, then rubbed his nose and put on a bashful expression.
"Little Arthur~ Even if you look at Brother Merlin with such burning eyes, Brother Merlin cannot respond to your feelings~ Although Little Arthur truly is a peerless bishonen, Brother Merlin only likes cute girls.
Why don't you try Lord Galahad beside you? Although he is not as beautiful as Brother Merlin, Lord Galahad is quite good too~"
"..."
Before this guy had even finished speaking, Arthur had gripped the hilt of Frost Clarent and nearly failed to restrain himself from castrating him.
Of course, he ultimately held back.
This was not because Arthur had a good temper, or for any other reason. It was simply because Merlin was strong. Arthur was not confident he could castrate him. Rather than alert the enemy prematurely, he might as well endure it for now. When the chance came, he would hit him hard.
"What I mean is, is this actually the real Holy Grail?"
Arthur asked directly.
"As for that... Brother Merlin cannot say for sure either."
"..."
Old bastard, your Clairvoyance really is the most useless!
While continuing to beat Merlin up in his mind, Arthur could not help feeling a little regretful. If teaming up with Merlin was going to be this aggravating, he might as well have gone looking for Morgan le Fay earlier.
"Then..."
Arthur settled for the next best thing. "This Holy Grail does contain enormous energy, correct?"
"That much is true."
"Can part of that energy be drawn out?" Arthur asked next.
"As for that... it is not something Brother Merlin is good at~"
Artorius Pendragon: "..."
"Calm down, Your Highness, calm down."
"You'll get used to it, you'll get used to it."
"Your Highness, just treat Lord Merlin like a fart and let him go."
When Arthur once again could not resist wanting to draw his sword, the prepared Knights of the Round Table immediately swarmed forward. Looking as though they were saying, "Big brother, forget it. Don't lower yourself to his level," they separated Arthur and Merlin.
Seeing how practiced they were at this, it was obvious they had plenty of experience. This was not their first time doing it.
Before Arthur, surely more than one or two Knights of the Round Table had wanted to chop this guy into dumpling filling.
"..."
"Is it really impossible?"
After barely calming down, Arthur looked at Merlin and asked.
"It really is impossible~ How about changing your request? Brother Merlin can take you to pick up girls. Satisfaction guaranteed~"
The next second, Arthur drew Frost Clarent again.
Satisfaction my ass.
Did this prince need him to teach him how to pick up girls?!
Author's Note:
Buddhism is a cosmic-level power in Type-Moon. Although it has not been explicitly stated, Type-Moon's Catholicism is comparable to Buddhism, so it should also be cosmic in scale.
Today's first update! The next one will be here soon!
The reward event is still ongoing!
Monthly tickets went from 1123 to 1705, rounding up that makes six hundred, +3 updates. Blades went from 291 to 750, over 400 in total.
So, ten updates today!
Need New Allies (Second Update)
Merlin was useless.
The kind of useless where you could shout at him, "Iron Useless, your Clairvoyance is the most useless!"
He could not lift the Holy Grail—this had already been tested under the joint coercion of four Knights of the Round Table, including Arthur.
Nor could he extract the power within the Holy Grail—this had been part of Arthur's plan.
And then, this deadweight was not only useless, but also a chatterbox, babbling nonstop in front of everyone.
Arthur was only able to tolerate him because of his good temper. Otherwise, he would have chopped him up long ago, then thrown him to Zelretch so she could turn him into Magical☆Meli.
Originally, Arthur had been considering whether he should recruit this guy into his effort to Usurp Fate.
But seeing this useless fool like this, Arthur began to doubt again.
Even if this guy joined his team to Usurp Fate, what use would he be?
Or rather, could the role he played possibly be a negative one?
After all, that was Merlin.
"I'm returning to Camelot."
Thinking this, Arthur took a deep breath. His interest in talking with Merlin had also faded, so he told everyone staying behind, "I'll find other helpers. Keep an eye on Merlin and don't let him ruin anything. If necessary, it is fine to kill him. This is an order from me as Crown Prince of Britannia."
After Arthur said this, the Knights of the Round Table all nodded and enthusiastically responded, guaranteeing that Merlin would die. Only then did he nod in satisfaction.
"Hey, hey, don't describe Brother Merlin as though he's some useless fool." Merlin protested loudly.
"At least I can serve as a tool for opening portals."
Though he said that, Arthur still rejected him. When Arthur snapped his fingers and opened a portal to Camelot once again, Merlin looked at him in surprise. He confirmed that Arthur's magecraft had improved by leaps and bounds compared to before.
Previously, it had been a patchwork B-. Now, with the foundation filled in and the system perfected, it was a proper B.
Even if he threw aside Clarent, picked up a staff, and cosplayed as a magus, there would be no problem at all.
"This guy has recruited a new ally."
He thought, Vivian does not have that ability. Then... Morgan? Merlin landed on a wrong answer, and his lips curved into a delighted smile.
"His tastes really are unique. Even I would not dare provoke a woman like that. The new wave drives on the old."
If Arthur had still been there, he certainly would have protested Merlin's words—the meaning was practically that Arthur's scumbag abilities had now surpassed Merlin's, making him the foremost of Camelot's four great scumbags.
"Good grief."
Afterward, Merlin let out a somewhat troubled sigh.
"Arthur really has become a frightening adult."
He commented, "Is this what children are like? Take your eyes off them for just a moment, and they grow to the point where you no longer recognize them.
I took a hands-off approach with this one, and he ended up completely different from our daughter. Life truly is strange, isn't it, Uther."
Calling his old friend's name, Merlin wore a nostalgic expression, another emotion he had imitated from humans.
After that small tease, Merlin's gaze toward the Holy Grail became somewhat anxious.
Though everyone kept saying his Clairvoyance was useless, Clairvoyance was still Clairvoyance. Even the weakest candidate for Grand was still a candidate for Grand.
Merlin's understanding of what the Holy Grail's appearance signified was second only to Artorius.
So after Arthur left, the first thing he wanted to do was persuade that thin young man to lift the Holy Grail, fulfill his destiny, and prevent something even worse from happening.
But after that, he hesitated. Perhaps I should first see what Arthur does?
Perhaps Arthur has a better way?
"Waiting a little longer might not be impossible either."
Before you continue