hotmtlnovel Page 88
Page 88
Having demonstrated his strength and been called by Hinako Akuta's full name, Quinn no longer hesitated to ask questions in public. His reputation in the Britannian Empire was too great; anyone willing to investigate what was happening here would inevitably connect him with the founder of the empire and then spread the news to London.
“At least the origin and current state of this world are clear now. My partner told me a lot. She promised me that as long as I bring you to see her, she will help me contact other people and then assist us in returning to Chaldea.”
When Hinako Akuta is in a calm and composed state, she is quite easy to talk to.
[Having reverted from her irritable, old-timer mode to a quiet, book-loving beauty mode, she explains the whole story to you. Just as you deduced, due to a teleportation error by Chaldea, Hinako Akuta, who found herself separated from the others after arriving in Britannia, initially caused a commotion in Germania to attract the attention of the other Masters and you.]
[Until her partner, having caught wind of this, arrived, identified her as a visitor from beyond the world, and told her a way back—to go to London and destroy the Dragonbone Throne.]
According to that partner, the failure of Chaldea's spiritual transfer was not due to a problem with the experiment itself, but rather the result of the world's master, Europa II, instinctively intervening after sensing someone attempting to enter her territory. She severed the communication channels between the two worlds, preventing people from traveling between them. Even the most powerful magicians could not leave this world without her permission.
Therefore, if Chaldea wants to return to Pan-Human History, they only have two choices: one, to confront the Emperor and return with his permission and assistance; two, to destroy the Emperor's throne, which is the core that supports the Emperor's power radiating throughout the world. As long as the Dragon Bone Throne is destroyed, Chaldea can recall the Masters at any time.
You fell silent, having roughly understood why Hinako Akuta had suddenly started engaging in territorial conquests.
At the same time, you begin to wonder about the identity of this partner. Clearly, the other party knows the Emperor and those treasures very well, and knows how to use each item. This is no ordinary information; it must be a secret known only to those who have personally witnessed the power of the treasures.
You had a vague idea, but you weren't sure. You agreed to Hinako's request to meet this partner first, but with one condition.
【Akuta Hinako must immediately break free from those slaves, abandon her impulsive idea, and obediently follow your arrangements】
Considering the relative strengths of both sides, Hinako Akuta hesitated only briefly before agreeing to all the conditions, much to your surprise. She then led you away from Viana City, and you met the "partner" Hinako Akuta had mentioned near a fishing village on the banks of the Danube River.
Although you hadn't seen that figure for a long time, you recognized them immediately upon your reunion.
【Altria Pendragon】
One of your primary objectives in coming to Germania was to find her standing in a dilapidated house in this run-down fishing village, wearing a cloak similar to yours to conceal her figure, crouching alone by the fire, her gaze and attention fixed on the roaring flames, completely unaware of your arrival with Hinako Akuta.
Chapter 200 What does it mean that I have an affair with Morgan?
"It's because she wants to see you."
Hinako and Quinn pointed at Artoria, who seemed to be deep in thought, and said, "I ran into her not long after I landed here. She told me about the situation in Britain. In return, I told her about Chaldea. At first, she only wanted to recruit me to help her assassinate the emperor because of my strength. But after hearing your name from me, she suddenly changed her tune and asked me to bring you to meet her."
"So, you're planning to knock me out and bring me here?"
Upon seeing Artoria, Quinn was no longer angry, nor was he surprised by her sudden idea of conquering territory. All his doubts about Hinako's behavior were explained with the appearance of an old acquaintance, but he still couldn't help but complain about Hinako's bizarre way of thinking.
"..." Hinako Akuta remained silent.
Seeing that Hinako Akuta had stopped talking, Quinn was too lazy to argue with her anymore. He looked at Artoria from afar, who had not yet noticed anyone coming, and assessed her current situation.
Even from a distance, Quinn could tell that she was not in good condition. If it were the Artoria of the past, she would not have been unresponsive to his direct gaze. But now, this former King Arthur seemed to be trapped in some inescapable memory, completely losing her keen perception of her surroundings.
Mordred, who was following Quinn in spirit form, was in a state of mixed emotions.
The Artoria in her memory had never shown such vulnerability. Although the Artoria of this world seemed much more mature than the one in the pan-human history, for some reason, when she looked at that figure that was completely different from her memory yet extremely similar, she always felt a sense of unfamiliarity, as if she were seeing a fragile and vulnerable widow with a certain resilience.
Where have I been brought here? Where is my strong and reliable father? Father, Father! How did you become a woman?!
Finally, Mordred couldn't hold back any longer and withdrew from her spirit form, grabbing Quinn's arm. "Hey, Master, Father...is something wrong with her? You need to do something right now, don't let her look like she's about to die. I have a feeling she's going to jump into the river and commit suicide any second now?"
"She is protected by fairies and is insoluble in water."
Quinn, who was still observing Artoria, twitched at the corner of his eye at Mordred's words. He could tell that Artoria's condition was not quite right, but it wasn't as serious as Mordred made it out to be. Mordred's voice was not suppressed at all, and as soon as she spoke, it startled Artoria, who seemed to be thinking about something.
Hearing the familiar voice from afar, Artoria shuddered and looked in alarm toward the source of the sound. She froze on the spot, staring at Quinn and Mordred beside him, a look of realization crossing her face. A profound sense of unreality filled Artoria's mind, making it impossible for her to think.
In an instant, Artoria felt as if she had returned to a bygone era, when Britannia was at its most beautiful, the happiest time of her life.
But she quickly came to her senses because Hinako Akuta was waving at her.
Upon seeing the figure of the stranger with whom she had barely formed an alliance, Artoria suddenly realized that she was not dreaming, and that the figures of Quinn and Mordred appearing before her eyes were not illusions. So, she immediately got up and went to the man she had not seen for a long time.
"It's been a long time, Artoria."
Quinn, who was still thinking about how to explain the situation to Artoria, had to hastily respond to the woman who had come to him. However, as soon as he opened his mouth, a fragrant embrace was directly pulled into his chest. To Mordred's astonishment, Artoria hugged Quinn tightly without any hesitation, so tightly that even Quinn could hardly breathe.
This completely different reaction from Morgan left Quinn somewhat flustered. In the end, he simply hugged Artoria, who was only a head shorter than him, silently and reservedly easing the loneliness of the woman in his arms that had accumulated over nearly a thousand years.
Fortunately, this time, neither Mordred nor Hinako, who was an outsider, said anything to spoil the atmosphere. The two big light bulbs stood obediently to the side like wooden blocks until, after a long while, Artoria took the initiative to let go of Quinn's hand and re-examine Quinn's face, breaking the somewhat awkward reunion.
"It has indeed been a long time. You look almost the same as when you died, but she..."
To Quinn's surprise, Artoria was unusually calm after their long-awaited reunion. She didn't rush to express her feelings to Quinn, but instead focused her gaze on Mordred beside her. "Mordred... what's going on with her? Although she looks a lot like me, I can still tell that she's not my goddaughter. You and Morgan had another child?"
This one sentence was enough to make Mordred, who had just been sitting there like a block of wood, lose his composure.
"What do you mean you had another child with Morgan? I am Mordred, and he is not my father!"
"..."
Artoria blinked, staring at Mordred's snarling face, which was exactly the same as the one she remembered. She then turned to Quinn with a questioning look, though she didn't say anything, her gaze clearly conveyed her thoughts.
Did you do something strange? Why doesn't even your daughter want to acknowledge you anymore?
Artoria's undisguised expression infuriated Mordred even more. The knight, who had been worried about his father in this other world, now only wanted to rekindle their past relationship and used his filial piety sword to give Artoria a good whack. Quinn, on the other hand, had already seen through Artoria's act.
To be more precise, she was waiting for her own response.
[Artoria, whom you haven't seen in a long time, didn't show the enthusiasm you expected. Clearly, she was equally unhappy about your departure. She deliberately confused your Servant with her goddaughter, trying to get you to give her a proper explanation.]
She wants to know your true purpose in returning to Britain, whether you already know what she plans to do, and whether you will stand by her side as firmly as she did before, supporting you in becoming Emperor of Britain.
Faced with the questions posed upon their long-awaited reunion, you did not hesitate for a moment.
“She is not my daughter, Artoria. She comes from Pan-Human History and is the daughter of ‘you’ and ‘Morgan’.”
"?" Mei, have you thought about it? Lin Zaizai, are you free yet...?
Now it was Artoria's turn to be dumbfounded. She stared blankly at Quinn, who had uttered such a shocking statement with a straight face, her mind completely blank.
What do you mean, "I had Mordred with Morgan"? What kind of bizarre anecdote is this? How could two women possibly have a child?
Chapter 201 You've Gotten Me While I Was Afraid
Quinn's lewd words didn't shock Artoria for long. She quickly understood his meaning, gazing at her lover with a complex expression. She realized her old flame was planning to return to his old ways. Quinn had completely isolated himself from this world and from the pan-human history he inhabited, and the Servants he summoned were proof of his intention to overthrow his daughter's throne. (The last sentence appears to be unrelated and possibly a fragment from another text.)
Otherwise, why would he keep Mordred by his side and come specifically to find him?
In the end, Artoria simply sighed, which was considered an acceptance of Quinn's statement.
[Your response barely satisfied Artoria. Now that she understood your position, she stopped pursuing the reason for your disappearance and instead discussed her plans with you. You quickly shared your thoughts and past experiences, and through Artoria's narration, you finally understood the situation in Britannia.]
[She did indeed rebel against Mordred. Just as you might have guessed, after arriving in this world, Merry revealed to Artoria the secret that Mordred might break down and transform into a beast. Artoria, who had raised Mordred, could not stand by and watch her beloved child perish. Therefore, she tried to persuade Mordred to end everything.]
This attempt at persuasion naturally failed. Mordred, unwilling to listen, resolutely rebuked his godmother, and the two became estranged afterward. However, Artoria never gave up on saving Mordred. She secretly plotted a series of schemes, attempting to directly coerce Mordred into abdicating by force, and then destroy the Dragon Bone Throne, the core artifact of the great magic that would allow Mordred to isolate himself from the world.
[What happened next is well-known to you. Despite her failed rebellion, she did not give up. She led the Knights of the Round Table who were still willing to follow her, traveling throughout the Britannian Empire, searching for treasures scattered across the European continent, just as you had done to find the Holy Lance. She was trying to find one that could help her achieve victory in a direct confrontation.]
Ultimately, with the help of Meli, Artoria arrived in Germania and encountered Hinako Akuta, who had just landed there. Since Hinako Akuta was not Britannian and knew very little about Britannian history, Artoria reached a cooperation agreement with her. Hinako Akuta would form an army, while Artoria would act as her behind-the-scenes strategist, providing her with various suggestions.
[Until you arrived here, interrupting our collaboration.]
“I know Meryl isn’t a good person, but the problems she raised are real. Overthrowing Mordred is the only way to save her. I can’t stand by and watch that child go to ruin, even if she sees me as an enemy.”
Having poured out her heart to Quinn, Artoria felt much better. Seeing the "you've worked hard" look on Quinn's face, she couldn't help but smile with relief. Artoria never felt that her rebellion was wrong, nor did she think that she had betrayed those who trusted her.
On the contrary, she believed that if she turned a blind eye to her goddaughter's situation, it would be a betrayal—a betrayal of Quinn, who had entrusted her with the daughter.
Therefore, her words were so matter-of-fact that Mordred, who had overheard the whole process, felt incredibly envious. If gaining her father's approval was Mordred's lifelong wish, then the love shown by this otherworldly "father" to her other self was something she never dared to dream of.
For the first time, Mordred was extremely glad that she had agreed to Quinn's suggestion and followed him to overthrow her other self.
So enviable.
Mordred's face was distorted by jealousy, and all her actions were observed by Artoria, solidifying the former King Arthur's resolve.
This child has a serious illness.
Even though she thought Mordred might have some mental issues, Artoria didn't show any disgust. Looking at Mordred dressed as a knight, she felt as if she were seeing a young child who would call her godmother, and she instinctively cared for him.
"Quinn asked you to overturn your own beliefs. I'm sure you were in a difficult position. To be honest, when I heard you talk about the child I had with Morgan, I also found it hard to accept."
Artoria's tone was exceptionally gentle. Mordred, who had never eaten such good food before, immediately said, "Let's not talk about this... You are very different from the father and mother I know. Besides, I can still accept your destination. Anyway, Master promised me a very generous reward, so I don't mind helping you."
Generous compensation?
Completely out of instinct, Artoria looked at Quinn with suspicion, feeling that Quinn was planning to trick her. Quinn, feeling that she was being stared at, immediately stopped Artoria from saying anything and took over the conversation.
"Alright, let's talk about reminiscing later. The most urgent thing now is to disband that pointless army. Those slave soldiers with no manners can't threaten the stability of the empire at all. On the contrary, they will only confirm that you are traitors. Besides, the fairy knight Melyuchina has already arrived in Germania. She should be in Vienna in less than two days."
Upon hearing the name Melyuchina, Artoria's expression turned serious. She didn't refute your opinion, and seeing that her partner remained silent, Hinako, who was already uninterested in doing this kind of thing, also expressed her agreement. However, before that, she still had to prevent the slaves from revealing her existence.
Faced with this concern, you presented the solution you had already prepared.
You suggested that Hinako Akuta go with you to "turn herself in."
"Huh?" Hinako Akuta's eyes widened. "What nonsense are you talking about? Why would I have to pretend to be your prisoner of war or slave?"
"Because this is the best way to save your life. I have already infiltrated the Fairy Knights. Melyuchina and Bavan Shi both trust me. As long as you pretend to be my prisoner of war, they will only point the finger at me, not you. Or do you want to continue to flee alone on British soil until you are caught by the Fairy Knights?"
Quinn narrowed his eyes slightly and said meaningfully, "I know you have the ability to be immortal, but your opponent is Melyuchina, that fairy is the pinnacle of martial power in this land. If she wants, she can kill you a thousand times over, or even forcibly imprison you and take you to London."
Hinako Akuta stopped talking, not because she was afraid, but because Quinn was giving her a hint.
He knew her secret, knew her identity, and knew how to make her obey if she didn't. Before, Hinako would have angrily taken action to prove she wasn't a pushover, but now…
Okay, you've got your foot in the door, I'll admit it, alright?
Chapter 202 I will put in a good word for His Majesty
You placed a collar symbolizing slavery on Hinako Akuta, preparing to take her back to Vienna and disband the already unstable slave army.
Artoria, however, rejected your suggestion to take her back to Britain. She decided to remain in the Germanic region to search for the Rhine Gold and the sword of Siegfried, the dragon-slaying hero. Her attitude was firm, and her reasons were hard to refute.
After all, a weapon with a history of slaying dragons and the ability to specifically target dragons would truly provide an advantage in future battles. Therefore, you compromised by only requiring Artoria to maintain constant contact with you, and then cast a spell on her to prevent others from seeing her, in order to prevent Bavan Shi and the Knights of the Righteousness from actually finding her.
[In response to your understanding, Artoria kissed your cheek and promised that she would travel to Britain to find you as soon as she found her goal.]
You trusted your most loyal servant, just as she had always trusted you. So, after leaving Artoria with a device that enabled remote communication, you led Mordred and Hinako Akuta back to Vienna.
When Hinako Akuta, wearing a slave collar and looking utterly unwilling, appeared at the gates of Vienna, the slaves who had gathered because of her personal strength immediately scattered. You destroyed this barely formed rebel force with little effort. Coincidentally, as these slaves fled, the streaks of light that lit up from the sky also arrived.
[A dragon, enveloped in highly concentrated compressed true ether, descended from the sky like a shooting star. As the dragon's wings danced, the true ether, upon reaching the low skies above Vienna, obliterated most of the city's high-rise buildings, leaving only the low-rise bungalows barely standing.]
[Perhaps it was because the dragon that descended from the sky had noticed your figure early on, after only a brief patrol of the city and confirming that there were no hidden armies within, the dragon slowly hovered above your head. Then, its dragon-shaped body dissolved into true ether and vanished into the air, and Meryuchina appeared from the dissipating magic.]
[You observed the entire process, a hint of solemnity appearing on your face. This fairy knight's strength was far greater than you had imagined. She seemed to have fully mastered her power as a descendant of the Albion Dragon, easily transforming into dragon bones and soaring through the sky on her own.]
[However, when Melyuchina, who had landed on the ground, saw you, she appeared exceptionally kind. She eagerly inquired whether you had seen any trace of the rebels, how long you had been in Vienna, and explained that she had come immediately to eliminate the traitors after hearing that Vienna had fallen. She acted like a kind older sister, until her gaze fell upon Hinako Akuta.]