C128

The night sky was breathtakingly beautiful with its dazzling display of stars. Beyond the city limits lay a vast expanse of suburban wilderness.

Kay lay back, resting his hands behind his head and chewing on a piece of grass as he gazed up at the moon, which hung high in the sky like a shimmering silver plate. The stars twinkled like a sparkling sea, creating a stunning display.

Shirou approached him slowly and asked, "What's on your mind, Kay?"

Kay sat up and turned towards Shirou. "I'm thinking about us."

Shirou sat down next to him, smiling. "I'm all ears,"

"I'm trying to figure out Sir Ywain," Kay replied. "Sir Brastias has already acknowledged your right to succeed, so why not go straight to Camelot with Sir Ywain?"

"The coronation ceremony takes three months," Shirou explained. "Rather than wasting that time in Camelot, it would be more beneficial to travel across the country and raise awareness about Arthur to ensure that more people know about him."

Kay furrowed his brow in thought. He knew that Shirou wouldn't make any decisions without good reason, so he tried to understand the rationale behind his friend's decision. However, after a moment's consideration, he shook his head and gave up, realizing he couldn't grasp the full extent of Shirou's plan.

He didn't feel comfortable with strategies and tactics. He would rather be on the battlefield, fighting alongside his comrades against the enemy. Just like in that dream world, where he fought against Artoria.

Even though he could only defend himself against Artoria's attacks in that dream world, Kay still felt the rush of being on the battlefield, wielding his sword, and engaging in strategic battles. It was the thrill he craved and longed for.

Kay posed a question to Shirou, "You've succeeded Artoria, inherited the name 'Arthur,' and even the throne. How would you like me to address you? As Arthur or Guinevere?"

Shirou chuckled, "You talk too much, like an older brother standing up for his unfairly treated little sister. You can call me either Guinevere or Arthur, whichever you prefer. A name is simply a label, I am still the same person."

Kay gazed at Shirou for a long moment before finally asking, "Do you truly intend to return the throne to Artoria?"

He turned to Kay, wearing a peculiar expression, and replied, "Why do you think I would covet this throne?"

"That's because so many people aspire to become king. The Northern Kings and the former King Uther were once just lords of Britain, but when the Roman Empire fell and was unable to govern the area anymore, they became kings."

He understood Kay's concern and asked, "Are you worried that once I ascend to the throne, I will become greedy and refuse to relinquish it?"

Kay nodded and replied honestly, "I won't be hypocritical with you, so I'll tell you the truth. Yes, I am worried about that."

Shirou reassured Kay with a smile, "There's no need to worry about that. Even if you made me the ruler of this world, I wouldn't be interested."

Kay looked at Shirou's sincere attitude and couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

"Being a king would be too exhausting, and the enjoyment it brings in this world isn't comparable to living a normal life in my own world. To be honest, my ultimate goal is to return home, buy a few houses, marry a good woman, and have two children, a boy and a girl. That would be sufficient...oh, wait! It's not enough! In addition to that, I also want to become a wealthy man! This is the one thing I cannot overlook!"

Shirou's eyes sparkled with a desire for wealth.

Kay couldn't help but point out the apparent contradiction and said, "Wait a minute! You just said you weren't interested in ruling the world, and now you want to be wealthy? Isn't that contradictory?"

Shirou responded eagerly, "Not at all! When you've experienced being a slave to your house, car, credit card, and various financial obligations, you'll understand why I'm so driven by the desire for wealth! Yes, I admit it, I'm a little crass, but I want to be wealthy!"

Kay tried to calm Shirou down, saying, "Hold on, Guinevere! What you're saying, is it something specific to Avalon? I don't quite understand."

Shirou's excitement dissipated as he apologized, "Avalon?...Sorry, sorry. I remembered some unpleasant memories, and negative emotions took over for a moment."

Kay was curious and asked, "Memories? Is it something you've experienced before? Is that the source of your strength?"

Shurou responded in a perplexed tone, "Why does everyone think I'm strong? I'm actually a very weak person."

Kay was left speechless, wondering, 'Does this guy have no self-awareness at all?'

Despite his humility, Shirou exhibited a remarkable level of composure and strength. He could handle the knights' nasty protest with ease and express his opinions confidently. He could face Sir Brastias directly and tolerate his questioning. He could accept the throne with equanimity and bear the weight of people's expectations with a smile.

Kay couldn't help but be amazed by Shirou's humility despite his inner strength. If it were him, he had no doubt that he would have become angry and would want to attack the knights with his sword just because of their protests. He wouldn't be able to maintain the same level of calm and composure as Shirou.

The contrast between Shirou's strength of character and Kay's own lack of composure was staggering!

"What kind of experiences have you been through?"

"Hmm? What experiences are you referring to? To be honest, the most hectic event in my life was being involved in a war."

Kay's expression became intense as he heard Shirou mention the war.

"In a war?" Kay's voice was serious.

"Yes, during that time, I was scared every day, every minute, every second. But looking back now, it's actually a precious memory."

Shirou reflected, "Maybe that's just how people are - strong and fragile beyond their own understanding. There are times when a few words can make me burst into tears, but then there are times when I find myself gritting my teeth and enduring a long and arduous path."

In the moonlight, Shirou's face wore a gentle, somewhat dismissive smile. The weight of life, the chaos of war, the bitterness and pain hidden in words, and the struggles - all seemed to have transformed into beautiful memories and become a part of his journey in life.

Kay was left speechless, feeling a tinge of shame in his heart. He had silently judged and doubted Shirou's character, but instead of becoming offended, Shirou had accepted his doubts with great tolerance.

"I made a promise with you, Kay. If and when I find my way home or if Artoria wishes to reclaim the throne, I will return it to her. But until then--"

Standing up, bathed in the silvery moonlight, Shirou extended his hand to Kay and asked, "Would you like to become my knight?"

Kay couldn't refuse such a request. The inner beauty of Shirou had completely captured his heart and soul.

He rose to his feet and kneeled down on one knee, his face solemn as he made his oath, "I pledge myself as your knight, whether you take the guise of King Arthur or Guinevere, until the end of days."

...

The two of them made their way back along the starry path, walking under the twinkling stars and the glowing moon.

The next day, Shirou's group was sent off to the entrance of the town by Ector, with cheers from the townspeople ringing in their ears.

Ector apologized, "I'm sorry, I would have loved to accompany you, but my body isn't what it used to be. I can only send you here."

Shirou reassured him, "It's okay, Sir Ector. Actually, I'm very grateful to you. If it wasn't for you appearing and saving my life a year ago, I might have died under the cavalry's assault."

Ector's emotions were stirred, "Who would have thought that the person who was once chased by the cavalry would become the king of Britain today."

His gaze shifted towards Kay, who was carrying a large bundle. "Kay, since you have sworn allegiance to King Arthur, you must obey the king's orders during the journey, and also take care of your sister."

Kay nodded.

Artoria frowned discontentedly and objected, "Ector, I am not a weak woman!"

"But the king has stated that you are now."

This response made her sulky. She was not accustomed to being treated as a woman.

"King Arthur! King Arthur!"

"King Arthur! King Arthur!"

...

Shirou's group departed amidst the cheers of the people.

"Merlin, where is our first stop?" Shirou asked, turning towards him.

"It's Garrod," replied Merlin.

Shirou nodded, acknowledging that he was not familiar with the town distribution of ancient Britain. However, he trusted that Merlin and Kay were knowledgeable about the area. The day prior, he had already been shown a map of ancient Britain.

Today, the island of Britain is divided into two parts, with the city of Londinium occupied by the usurper Vortigern in the center, serving as the boundary between the two parts.

In the north, Vortigern, the Saxons, and the Picts from Ireland have occupied Scotland and the northern part of England.

In the south, the Britons and the old Roman aristocracy still own Wales and the southern part of England.

The powerful kings, Nantes and Lot, led the northern kings of Britain in forming a defense line along the Welsh coast that connected Cornwall, Northumberland, Nottingham, and Windsor. This line effectively blocked Vortigern, the Saxons, and the Picts from entering Britain from the north.

Shirou didn't need to go to the northern defense line. He simply had to pass through the Camelot's territory on his way, which allowed more people to get to know him and understand the basic situation of Camelot before he reached the capital.

He took the lead with Merlin at his side, while Artoria caught up to Kay, who was burdened with carrying all the luggage on his back.

"Brother, please let me help carry some of the luggage and share the burden with you,"

"Quit your blabbering, you oaf, and hurry up to the king," Kay said brusquely.

She frowned, her displeasure evident. "Brother--"

Before she could finish her sentence, the sound of galloping hooves reverberated through the thick fog, approaching from behind.

She acted quickly to shield Shirou, her expression alert. However, Shirou calmly pulled her behind him and turned to face the source of the disturbance. A cavalry unit emerged from the thick smoke, galloping towards them.

The cavalry unit arrived before Shirou, dismounted, and knelt one by one before him, their expressions resolute. "Your Highness, please allow us to escort you to Camelot,"

He recognized the knights as the same ones who had previously surrounded the estate and questioned him. While they had once been skeptical of Shirou, they now showed him great respect, as he had managed to win them over.

Although they had not pledged their allegiance to him like Artoria and Kay, the knights were willing to support Shirou as long as it did not compromise their honor and interests. However, Shirou shook his head and declined their proposal.

The knights looked bewildered and asked, "Your Highness, are you still holding us accountable for our previous doubts?"

Shirou shook his head and replied, "No, it's not about that. The past is like smoke, and I don't hold grudges. However, traveling with a large group through villages and towns could potentially cause unrest and anxiety among the people, I deeply appreciate your loyalty and devotion to me, but for now, I must ask you to depart and wait for me in Camelot, where the king and knights will achieve everlasting glory."

"Your Highness, we will wait for you in Camelot!" The knights were touched by his words and nodded in agreement before turning around and galloping towards their destination.

Shirou and his companions rode through the night towards Garrod, the nearest town. Artoria looked at Kay and asked, "Huh? Did you call me a pig again, brother?"

"Stop chattering and catch up. I'm already carrying too much baggage," Kay retorted.

"How can that be? I'm a knight of the king too. I can't let you carry all the luggage by yourself," she protested.

"Artoria," Shirou turned his head and smiled at her. "Hold on to Caliburn and make sure you don't lose it."

She quickly touched the sword in her arms and replied with utmost seriousness, "You can count on me, my king!"

From then on, she didn't bring up the idea of sharing the luggage again.

"Whether it's before or after becoming a king, why does Artoria listen to you so obediently, argh!" Kay gazed at Shirou's back with a mix of annoyance and frustration.

Despite spending ten years together every day as foster brothers, Kay found that he couldn't sway any of Artoria's decisions. In contrast, Shirou could change everything with just one sentence.

Kay couldn't help but wonder if this was the difference between him and Shirou. No wonder Shirou was the king he served now! In the end, Kay could only think in this way.

...

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