19. A New Religion (Prologue)

After the discussion with Ains. Artoria the very next day announced her alignment with the religion of Ainz Oowl Gown. This however led to catatonic reaction from every sphere. The Romans who were mildly infuriated with artoria's rule directly declared war against Briton. The Saxons could not care more. Most of her noble brethren broke all connections from her. Merlin was severely disappointed with her actions and asked her multiple times to reconsider. The Knights of round table even fell off.

Everything she worked for, all destroyed by a single decision. But the person herself could not care any less. While she lost her knights who were her blades she found something far more valuable in exchange for that. A lesson of life of false friendship sipped to very mind.

"Sir Ector" she decided to talk to him.

"... Artoria Pendragon" the times when spoke in that tone meant strictly business.

She immediately lost all sense of emotion from her face. It is said that those who stay with you at the darkest of times are your greatest allies and she would test it here and now. Whether she was raised as a tool of war or a daughter?

"Why are you here, sir Ector"

Both king and knight were currently standing at the cathedral which was considered the biggest structure in Camelot. In order to show support to Ains the cathedral meant to the archbishop of Canterbury was delegated to Ains's religion. A mockery towards the catholic to the greatest degree.

That very instant was when she was declared a heretic. But something unexpected happened that pulled the entire situation to her knees. The biggest drought to ever occur has happened at this time.

Artoria did not how or why? The timing is awfully convenient for the situation to occur. Anyone against his religion was forced to starve as the only place with cheap and free food was for the followers of his religion.

And those who followed were not only given bare minimum education but also trained in the art of battle by his sentinels. The ones who passed were further forced to spread their teachings around the cult.

The protestants and Catholics wanted to antagonize him by making a treasonous statement.

But it backfired immediately when he banished them from his place. The shortage of food drove people insane. No one cared about which religion they belonged to. After a certain threshold men turned to a monster. she revealed at the situation as it felt invigorating. For everything felt like was moving in the palm of her hand.

Heretic?Monster? Now, where are those words gone. The nobles who pitted against her were forced to bend their knee. Anything and everything against him would lead to destruction.

Before she knew it, whatever she lost had gained it back. Peasants looked at her in adoration. Ainz's made sure to produce heavenly knights which caused massive religious tension all around. No one was sure what god to believe. The knights in their plea asked sir Ector to be their representative and this is how she finds herself with him.

"What brings you here in this sanctuary?" Though Artoria knew the answer already. She decided to humor him.

"This knight of yours is here to further understand the situation that my king currently faces. Around Camelot a few weeks earlier because of some actions filled with a myriad of rumors calling your greatness in various names"

She smiled. If he is here to play the game then she would honor as well, "What you heard around is all true. I decided to abdicate from teachings of god and embraced a new religion"

"My king. You knights fail to understand your reasoning. Why would you accept this blasphemous religion? This clearly besmirches not only the pendragon family but the family of all those who follows you" He was getting agitated. She knew the expression all too well.

"Sir Ector. Whatever religion I decide to follow is of my own volition. There remains no reason to actually publicize it."

"Why? Why are you doing this? Artoria, it is not like you. In the past, you wanted to be a knight in order to help others. To be a hero who saves them. What happened to change you like this?" He spoke with sadness in his words.

She knew it very of the consequence of her decision. She would hurt everyone close to her. But that was a decision she made long ago in front of Ainz. She would not cower in front of knights. She would not show weakness.

As such she spoke with finality, "If this is the conversation where I cry and turn back to all my knights and beg to them to return then you are mistaken, Sir Ector. The decision I made was calculated of these consequences and I have no reason to back down now."

"Artoria, You are following a devil. In this time of drought, where is Ains even getting his food? Have you ever questioned? The establishment of his religion according to official records determines no reason for him to have such abundance to feed the entire Camelot. Come back to us, Artoria " He smiled like a father.

"Together with the rest of knights we will conquer his resources and banish this monster."

This is what was about. Food. The church themselves were starving for such they had to procure food from outside regions which became extremely costly to their resources and because of the ongoing drought they were being overcharged to a great degree and to add salt to injury their recent shipment was plundered by the wandering pirates.

They were desperate and for such, they forced him to come here. Artoria was sure they negotiated with Sir Ector with promises of giving some special position to his son kay. Her eyes became frosty. She now knew that there was no one she could trust.

From now on they no longer were her trusted knights of the round but the knights who simply followed for reputation and money.

"If there is nothing else to talk about we should conclude our discussion here, Sir Ector. I, too have many previous appointments pending to waste time here" he was seething. But nevertheless, he could not point his sword against her. At least not here, the moment his sword would be drawn ains sentinel statue will all wake up. Common knowledge in Camelot is to not make a mess here paid by an innocent bystander.

"Uther would have been disappointed to see you like this. "With his final words Sir Ector Left.

"huhh..."

"Do you regret it?" From out of nowhere Ainz appeared beside her. She did not know for how long had he watched them. But she could guess from the very beginning

"No. You were right. There truly was no other way to reverse the situation. Camelot is not made of its knights but the people themselves. Seeing them smile and happy while they show their respect towards me instead of fearing me is something I treasure far more than my relationship with the knights."

The pain of kingship is something now she has to endure. But at least there was a silver lining to this.

"Mo..Artoria-san thinks too much of this situation. If you want to hate then hate them after all showing your emotions is what makes you human" Sakura said with a smile.

"There also was a time when I was nothing but a puppet to my family but now see how I've turned "

"What? Becoming a delinquent " Sakura was surprised at how she knew the term. Artoria explained when saw her predicament

"The holy grail grants all the information of the current time when summoned."

"Oh.Sorry about that. The only participation I had was when I was a little kid. Ainz held my hand all the way" She smiled at those fond memories.

Ainz felt happy seeing sakura casually interact with Artoria. Connecting with strangers was not an easy feat for her. For after a certain event the only connection she had was with the corpses of her enemies. The Reaper Of Death they would call her. Freezing everyone with her vicious weapon. She gained quite a following while fighting in the army.

"Artoria come in the basement. Caster recreated modern games room in the basement" Artoria was surprised but it was nothing that she had not expected Ainz to do.

"Alright. Lead the way"

"Yay"

Ainz decided to stroll outside to get a lay of the land.

Its been quite a few years since he could rest easily like. The moment Gaia contacted him of his own religion was like a bombshell. But even she was not strong enough to break Ainz's Kingly Etiquette #13. Afterward, he contacted Nazarick in order to know their progress as well as deliver an ample amount of food to this world. Using wish upon a star he created a dungeon in the church's basement locked to the normal populace and filled it with food which could easily last this nation for 10 years.

And the waiting game started. The moment Artoria regarded his help was when he started his plan to sell food and spread the brand of Ainz Oowl Gown. But the problem was he could not catch a break creating sentinels and other beings. Maneuvering the nation's politics from the dark by brainwashing them. Advertising overpriced runic weapons. Too much work.

"Ma..These days I feel like an overworked CEO. Everyone gets a paycheck where is my paycheck" The only thing he got was "All Hail Ainz Oowl Gown" and nothing more.

His weary soul felt empty and tired from all the daily commotions as well as the antics of his followers and so he decided to visit the hot springs in the basement. But before he could do so he felt a certain individual stalking him.

Ainz silently castes [time stop] and [paralysis] towards the guy. But he was surprised the moment he took a good look at the individual. Blonde hair, black eyes but there was something out of the ordinary.

"Black wings and they are authentic"

He finally decided to ask, "Who are you, and why are you here?"