Interests? Friendship?

Time passed, and Sovell and his two companions remained in Cornwall for half a year.

Half a year earlier, Sovell had contacted Merlin and learned of the situation in France.

Although tensions ran high between King Ban and King Bors on one side and King Claudus of Berry on the other, war had not broken out.

The earlier reports of war had likely been rumors spread by someone blinded by greed or harboring ulterior motives.

Thus, after discussing the matter, Sovell and his companions decided to remain near Cornwall for the time being and offer aid once war truly broke out.

After all, help in a crisis was far more precious to the struggling side than another boon when things were already going well, and it would give them leverage when negotiating an alliance later.

Artoria had some objections to this, owing to the chivalry she upheld.

But after thinking it through herself, she understood that even if this approach was not honorable, it would maximize the benefits Britain stood to gain in the future.

Kay, on the other hand, was indifferent.

After all, the other side was the one in need of aid. However formidable King Ban and King Bors might be as warriors, resisting the higher-ranking Kingdom of Berry with the troops and territory of two duchies was impossible to begin with.

As observers, Sovell and his companions had no obligation to get involved. They were offering a favor because they wanted something, and naturally, they had to make that favor count for as much as possible.

That was how relations between nations worked.

Ultimately, friendship was merely something insubstantial that floated on the surface, barely held together by society's basic moral standards.

Interests were different. The tower of interests would never collapse. In the end, a so-called favor was simply another weight on the scales of self-interest.

A weight that used public opinion as leverage.

If someone lent you a hand in your hour of need, yet you turned a blind eye when they faced a crisis, doing nothing and refusing even to take a stance...

Fine. If you refused to abide by moral rules, then the great tree of public opinion built upon those morals would come crashing down on you. There would be no need even to erect a cross.

The credibility of the entire nation and the king's personal moral standing would vanish in an instant.

If you helped someone and received nothing in return, why would you save them?

There was a story about ransoming people in an ancient country in the East.

A country issued a bounty:

If anyone ransomed a slave in a neighboring country who had once been one of its citizens, the government would reimburse the ransom and provide a reward upon their return.

Yet a student taught by a great educator ransomed someone and declined both reimbursement and reward.

That seemed noble, didn't it?

Yes, indeed. It was certainly noble.

But if such noble behavior became widespread, what effect would it have on society as a whole?

The first outcome-

Congratulations. Thanks to you, the nation's moral standards had risen, and no one would claim reimbursement or rewards anymore.

The state no longer had to spend that money, while gaining a great deal of labor at no cost, and society flourished.

The second outcome-

Sorry. Thanks to you, the nation's people shied away from the bounty, and no one would ransom their fellow citizens stranded in foreign lands anymore.

The treasury did have one less burden, but the workforce did not grow at all, hindering the next stage of national and economic development.

Which outcome was more likely?

The second.

Without a doubt.

Because those capable of helping others without compensation were ultimately a minority in society.

Many people struggled even to feed and clothe themselves. How could they possibly spare a damn thought for helping the government ransom people?

They spent their time and money, then got nothing out of it. What was in it for them?

That was why reimbursement and rewards were necessary to encourage citizens to ransom people.

The same principle held when applied to nations rather than individuals.

If they were already run ragged managing their own country, where would they find the spare strength and time to help you?

And even if they had the strength and time, why should they help you?

That was why interests were necessary.

During their half-year in Cornwall, Tristan hired Sovell and his companions in a personal capacity to help Cornwall City subjugate the nonhuman peoples encamped nearby and drive away demonic beasts.

King Mark tacitly approved of this. He knew that Sovell and his companions would not become his subjects.

It was already a rare boon that Tristan could secure their temporary assistance through friendship.

Besides, look-the Three Knights of Redemption were all serving under King Mark, at least on the surface. Surely that meant his lands were well governed. Let's go there.

That was the celebrity effect.

Although Sovell and his companions had never realized it, their standing among the common people of Wales and England was no lower than Tristan's in Cornwall.

It was simply that, unlike Tristan, who appeared at Cornwall City's main gate when returning from patrol, the three of them had no fixed "spawn point," so they seemed far less famous.

Over that half-year, thanks to their reputation as the Three Knights of Redemption, the rate at which people moved into Cornwall City had actually increased by thirty percent!

Although the crime rate rose slightly, it was almost negligible compared with the benefits of the influx of labor.

And all Tristan paid to hire Sovell and his companions was "some" money, the friendship between the four of them, and instruction in his archery.

Despite spending his days carrying a Self-Regulating Mystic Code and playing at being an Archer, when Tristan got serious, his archery ranked among the top two in all of Britain, with a shot at first place.

Over those six months, Sovell learned the basics of using a bow and a few techniques from Tristan.

But he could only be considered a beginner. Any further improvement would have to come purely from the experience and time he put in himself.

That day, Sovell received word from Merlin:

"King Ban and King Bors have gone to war with King Claudus. They are currently at a disadvantage. Now is the best time to form an alliance."

"Understood."

So, after discussing it with Kay and Artoria, Sovell decided to present Tristan with a farewell letter that very day.

"Sir Stam, are you leaving?"

"Yes, Sir Tristan. The three of us have stayed in Cornwall long enough. It truly is time for us to leave."

Sovell and his companions said their final farewells to Tristan before the gangplank at the harbor.

"I see... my friends are leaving... it truly is... saddening.

"But even in my sorrow, I must admit that you are right, Sir Stam. No journey can remain at a standstill."

Tristan understood their resolve to leave. Though saddened, he still forced a smile as he faced the three of them.

Kay said nothing, but his unhappy expression was plain enough. Though it had only been half a year, they had already forged a deep friendship with Tristan.

"Try to smile more naturally, Sir Tristan. It would look better."

Artoria said this after seeing through Tristan's forced smile, then offered him a parting blessing in Celtic.

"Sir Tristan, may the gods watch over you."

("Tristan, fy mrawd, gweler y duwiau yn dy gynnal.")

Tristan had still managed to keep his smile in place, but when Artoria spoke those words in Celtic-

Wishing him the blessing of the Celtic Gods, the deepest defenses of his heart crumbled completely.

The red-haired boy clung to Sovell and burst into sobs. Sovell could only imitate the way his father had soothed him as a child, gently patting Tristan's back to comfort him.

In the end, Sovell and his companions boarded the ship, and Tristan stopped sobbing.

He struggled to steady his turbulent emotions and trembling body, then once more played for the three aboard the ship the ballad from their first meeting-

"The Lament of the White Doe (Complainte De La Blanche Biche)"