Return to Avalon

In the morning breeze of Britain, Artorius and his companions set off once again. They traversed the country, heading towards Wales.

Artorius intended to board a ship there and travel to the Irish region in search of the woman mentioned by his dear aunt, the woman who could help him to usurp fate.

That woman was none other than Queen of the Land of Shadows—Scathach.

She possessed the Primordial Rune.

'As we journey, let's make a stop at Avalon again. It would be perfect if I can persuade Vivian.' Artorius thought while observing his surroundings.

Although it was May, the weather still felt like early spring. Occasionally, they came across pedestrians dressed inadequately, shivering in the cold. They seemed tired and lacked vitality.

This was not solely due to poverty, hunger, and cold. The diminishing presence of True Ether, the essence of the Age of Gods, played a significant role.

The people of Britain, as inhabitants of the Age of Gods, relied on this factor as if fish couldn't survive without water. As the Age of Gods gradually faded away, their physical conditions naturally deteriorated.

In contrast, there were the Saxons. Their spirits seemed far more vibrant compared to the Celts. Despite facing the same cold and hunger, they exuded an inexplicable sense of vitality. It was as if they were chosen...

Well, in reality, they were indeed chosen.

'The process of racial integration needs to be accelerated.' Artorius thought.

In the Germanic regions under his control, policies regarding intermarriage between Celts, Germanic peoples, Romans, and Gauls were reasonably well implemented. He commanded a group of knights from Britain who actively worked towards this goal. They married noble daughters from Germanic, Roman, and Gaul backgrounds, setting an example for others. This led to a favorable pace of ethnic integration.

Artorius had conducted experiments and found that these children, with mixed Germanic heritage, had hardly any physiological issues in the absence of True Ether. He believed that with a few more generations of integration, the influence of the Age of Gods would completely fade away. The Celts of Britain would then become members of this human era, ruling the Earth and becoming the dominant species.

However, in Britain, without a strong central government to promote such policies, the pace of integration was frustratingly slow, relying solely on the spontaneous actions of the population.

'This won't do.' Artorius thought. 'The Age of Gods is on the verge of disappearing. We don't have so much time to spare.'

'To address this issue, I need to implement policies similar to those in the Germanic regions. And to implement such policies, I need to obtain political power...'

'...No, even with that, the progress would still be somewhat sluggish. So... should I employ better tactics?'

After contemplating for a few seconds, Artorius still believed that the leadership role was indispensable. As Dragon Prince destined to reign over Britain in the future, he should lead by example, charging forward and setting the standard.

If it were Roman ladies, he could reluctantly consider them. But those Germanic peoples were somewhat... 'No, let's think positively. Maybe it's because I haven't found the right one? Look at Brynhildr from FGO, she's not bad, right? She's considered a Germanic, isn't she?'

So, for the sake of his grand plan, perhaps...

Artorius began to seriously consider a plan to entice ten or eight Valkyries. As for whether her stories of tragic love with Sigurd would deviate because of this, he couldn't care less.

Such matters would at most create a parallel world. No matter how you look at it, it wouldn't cause human civilization to stagnate and subsequently face the judgment of Alaya.

"Let's give it a try. When I have some free time... No, it's better to send spies to gather intelligence first. After returning, I'll discuss it with Agravain."

Agravain, the chief spy under Artorius's command, was one of the few individuals Artorius could trust completely.

Although, in certain timelines of the future, this guy displayed an abnormal obsession with Artoria. But at least for now, he remained someone who prioritized 'national interest'. He was the kind of individual who would resort to any means necessary to protect the country.

For an outstanding ruler, such individuals were as essential as trusted ministers and capable generals.

'Send more scouts to the Germanic lands to gather information. If we can capture a few Valkyries, it will be even more advantageous. Yes, that's the decision, and it's quite delightful.'

'By sacrificing oneself, His Highness is also doing it for the nation... I'm sure everyone who learns about the situation will be moved by that.'

'Brother, is he pondering over strategies for governing the country and ensuring its security again?'

At the same time, Mordred, mounted on a warhorse beside Artorius, couldn't help but think that way. And she cast an admiring gaze at Artorius.

'Constantly pondering how to bring welfare to the people, shining with brilliant thoughts at every moment. As expected of Brother.'

At that moment, Mordred was one of his subordinates who had been deeply moved by Artorius's dedication.

'In this era, are there any famous beauties in the Germanic region? Ah, I should have read more history books.' As the Son of Dragon, Artorius felt a strong sense of distress.

At the same time, witnessing his brother's distress, Mordred also felt sorrowful, cursing her own foolishness for being unable to help her brother. So all she could do was silently pray, hoping that her brother would quickly find the right solution to the problem.

Artorius, the Dragon Prince, led his armies forward without any hesitation.

Before them, lay Wales, and across the sea was Ireland. Just the thought of finally meeting the purple lady, whom he had been longing for, made Artorius feel a bit excited.

Of course, while marching, Artorius didn't forget to take a detour to Avalon.

That utopia, far away from everything, couldn't be reached from a physical perspective; one could only approach it from a 'spiritual' perspective. As the saying goes, where the heart desires, the body follows.

To put it in simpler terms, Artorius simply 'thought' about it and instantly appeared in Avalon's courtyard. It was safe to say it was very convenient.

"Artorius~"

And so, the next moment, Artorius, who had now turned 16 years old, transitioning from a pretty and attractive boy to a handsome and captivating youth, had a reunion with the fairy big sister, the face's cleanser.