Good and Evil

"What do you think, Artoria? Are you angry that you didn't inherit the throne that was rightfully supposed to be yours?" King Uther asked with a playful tone, though there was a certain weight behind his words.

If this question were directed at anyone else, they would undoubtedly be unwilling to accept it, perhaps even consumed by anger. But Artoria was no ordinary person. She had been groomed to be the savior of Britannia since the day she was born, a responsibility that went beyond the desires of an ordinary human being.

From the very beginning to the inevitable end, Artoria had been nothing more than a puppet of Britannia, her every action dictated by the will to save the nation from the looming Dark Age. The original owner of this body, King Uther, loved Britannia so deeply that he was willing to go to extraordinary lengths, even sacrificing his own daughter. In doing so, he had stripped her of her very humanity, forcing her to forsake her feelings as a human being for the sake of the kingdom.

It is no wonder, then, that in Fate/Zero, Artoria is so obsessively driven to save Britannia, even when it no longer requires saving. In the modern world, the nation has already flourished, yet Artoria continues to cling to the belief that Britannia needs her.

Why?

Because since the day of her birth, she had been conditioned to see herself as a savior. Merlin, through dreams and insidious manipulation, had planted this idea deep in her mind, reinforcing it with relentless brainwashing.

Whether Uther and Merlin were aware of the consequences of their actions or not, they had sealed her fate. By molding her into this savior, they had taken away her ability to be happy.

Artoria had been programmed to prioritize the nation and this island over her own personal happiness, sacrificing everything in the name of duty. It was inevitable—her future was doomed by the very grooming that had shaped her into what she had become.

Benevolence, chivalry, justice—all of these were mere products of the grooming she had received from both men, Uther and Merlin.

If justice and the salvation of the world were to be achieved through brainwashing and manipulation, then Uther would rather embrace evil than become a sanctimonious hypocrite.

For those unfamiliar with the term "sanctimonious hypocrite," it refers to someone who parades around as if they possess superior morals, often by condemning others whom they perceive as morally inferior.

However, despite their self-righteous posturing, they are no better than the very people they insult, equally morally reprehensible but hiding behind a mask of false virtue.

That, in essence, is what it means to be a sanctimonious hypocrite.

They condemn Vortigern's actions as wrong, labeling him the evil dragon and invader, but was what they did in the first place truly right?

If one wishes to achieve great things by handing over their ideals to others, it is nothing more than a cowardly choice.

Because Uther and Merlin believed they couldn't save Britannia, they placed this burden on a young girl. This left him speechless—if you want to save Britannia, then do so by your own hands.

What is this incompetent, cowardly method of handing everything to others and shifting all responsibility onto them?

Honestly, his blood pressure was indeed rising after witnessing Uther's memory.

Uther had the capability to save Britannia if he could have just set aside his pride, apologized to Morgan, and united everyone.

But no, he chose this cowardly route instead, handing over the burden to his unborn daughter.

His way of handling her was so wrong that it left him utterly speechless.

He didn't just forge a ruler; he forged a martyr, someone who would burn her own life away for a nation that, in the grand scheme of things, doesn't even need saving anymore.

Now, he is left to deal with the mess—the undeniable truth that the righteous ideals Uther and Merlin instilled in Artoria would backfire spectacularly if she ever discovered the kind of person he truly was.

In her mind, he was supposed to embody nobility, righteousness, and chivalry, wasn't he?

Unfortunately, that illusion should ended.

He would never hide behind the mask of a retard hero complex like this former owner did.

Now, returning to the question at hand.

"It's impossible for me to say I was unhappy, Father. You seem to have done exceedingly well, better than I could have imagined. In fact, I don't even know if I could do better than you," Artoria shook her head, reflecting on the inquiry.

What could she possibly be unhappy about, having witnessed with her own eyes the prosperity of Britannia under her father's rule?

It was a land that flourished under his careful guidance and protection. As long as the invaders were repelled, and the people thrived under his reign, there was not a single reason for her to feel discontent. The fact that she did not ascend to the throne was irrelevant.

Her true purpose was never to rule, but rather to protect this sacred island from those who would bring harm to it and to save as many lives as possible from tragedy.

This, after all, was the very reason she had been born into this world.

"Do you know why I have summoned you to the capital, Artoria?" Uther asked, his voice carrying a weight of importance.

"I do not know, Father. Please, enlighten me," Artoria responded with humility, her gaze steady.

"I have decided to form the Knights of the Round Table, and I want you to lead them. However, before you begin this monumental duty, I want you to experience life in a broader sense. The world, Artoria, is not merely black and white. It is not simply bound by notions of good and evil. I want you to grasp the complexity of human nature before you embark on your responsibilities." Uther paused briefly, then continued.

"For that reason, I am tasking you with a specific mission. You are to hunt down all the vampires listed here. But before you strike them down, I want you to speak with them. Ask them about their lives, their experiences, their suffering, and their misdeeds. Learn about both the good and the evil they have committed. I want you to extract confessions from them, uncover their past mistakes, and, in doing so, learn from them."

Artoria scratched her head, visibly puzzled.

How could she possibly ask them for such information if they were unwilling to speak?

The very idea seemed impossible.

Perhaps sensing her uncertainty, Uther added, "Do not feel pressured, my daughter. Take your time. You do not need to extract information from all of them—only from those who are willing to share, in whatever manner you find effective. I care not how you go about it, as long as it yields results. Even if it's only one vampire, so be it. You may bring Kay and Gareth along with you to assist."

"Yes, Father," Artoria nodded, despite her lingering doubts, and began preparing herself mentally for the journey that lay ahead.