C186

"Whew... It's getting chilly out here! Feels like the weather's about to take a turn. It wasn't this cold just a few days ago," Merlin exclaimed, shivering and trembling despite the palace's lit fires. The cold air still lingered.

Merlin glanced at Shirou, who appeared as composed as ever, and inquired, "My king, aren't you feeling cold?"

Shirou smiled in response and said, "I'm fine."

"I guess I have to retract what I said before. Your body is resilient," Merlin commented.

"It's not only that; it's a question of adaptability," Shirou shook his head..

He could recall with great detail that, prior to his arrival in this world, he attended university in a different province and had hurried back home for the New Year. When he missed his train, he had to endure the frigid snow, shivering and waiting while eating steamed buns.

That had been an intensely bone-chilling experience. Compared to that, the current cold weather was nothing. However, as Britain was situated in the temperate zone with a mild climate year-round, it was understandable for locals to struggle with the cold.

But...

"You are a magus. Can't you just cast a warming spell on yourself?"

"I could, but I don't feel like reciting the incantation... I'm shaking so much I might end up biting my tongue."

Shirou sneered, "Do you really believe that using that excuse will get you out of work? Think again! No matter how cold it gets, as long as this planet doesn't explode, you must continue working for me."

Merlin: "..."

His little trick was exposed!

Shirou fetched a quilt and draped it over Merlin, remarking, "Once you feel warm, cast a warming spell on yourself and get back to work!"

"Ugh..." Merlin groaned. Why was he so difficult to fool?

Shirou settled back into his seat and resumed his review of government affairs. Having been on the throne for over two months, several institutional frameworks had been established, and projects were making steady progress.

Lucan and his associates were not inept. After he imparted the fundamental concepts and showed them how to implement them, they were able to utilize them, albeit not yet to their full extent.

He reviewed the one-year development plan, with a primary emphasis on official training and fostering national unity. The remaining initiatives centered on control of the production industry.

Despite the existence of conventional methods, such as magecraft, in this ancient era, the productivity of most countries was considerably lacking. Therefore, prioritizing productivity was not a wrong decision.

Regarding the food supply, the grains provided by King Ban had already arrived, but after more than two months of consumption, even with careful rationing, they were nearly depleted.

Nonetheless, it was of little consequence. The crops grown and tended to by Camelot had been thriving for over two months, and the remaining provisions were anticipated to last until the winter wheat had matured.

The collective spirit of the populace was high, and they remained motivated and enthusiastic. Even on this chilly day, their fervent and determined hearts could not be dampened.

However...

"Something's wrong, my king!" Lucan rushed into the room.

"What's the matter that's causing such panic?" Shirou set aside the document he was reading and focused on Lucan.

"Our crops... our crops..." Lucan's voice shook with emotion, as if he were about to break down in tears. "Our crops have almost all frozen to death!"

"What... what did you say!?" Shirou stood up in shock, staring at Lucan.

"It's too cold...the crops...all of them have been frozen to death!" Lucan sobbed.

Shirou's facial muscles twitched as if struck by a bolt of lightning. He spoke in a deep, urgent tone, "Lead the way...take me to see it quickly!"

...

Sunday, February 21, 1999.

Shinto Town, Hot Pot Restaurant, Fuyuki City.

As they entered, the open air conditioning and heating quickly dispelled the cold air from outside. A waiter promptly served hot tea, which Shinji and Issei gratefully accepted, holding the warm cups tightly with their cold hands, relishing the warmth it provided.

"Is Mrs. Emiya really coming, Shinji?" Issei asked.

"Yes, she is. I asked her, and she agreed to come and discuss the relationship between the King of Knights and the Eternal King with me."

"That's quite rare...if I recall correctly, Mrs. Emiya and Mr. Emiya were mortal enemies of your father in the Fourth Holy Grail War, right?" Issei remarked.

"Yes, but that's all in the past. We need to move forward. I have no intention of inheriting my family's grudges. Even though they were considered enemies, my father didn't care about the Holy Grail War. He only hated Kotomine Kirei, who happened to die in the Fourth Holy Grail War," Shinji replied, pushing his glasses up.

"The most crucial aspect is that Mrs. Emiya had contact with the King of Knights, which is extremely beneficial for my thesis," Shinji stated.

"As for the Eternal King, there have been many papers written about him in Britain, haven't there? I understand that you plan to study in Britain, but even if you choose to write about this king, it might not satisfy your professors. There are already countless papers about him," Issei asked.

"All of those are just general overviews. I want to write something more in-depth and sophisticated, something that will truly impress those professors," Shinji replied, pushing his glasses.

"But is there really anything noteworthy to write about? Although he left behind many accomplishments that still hold value in modern society, it doesn't seem like he faced many difficulties. He began the journey in Cornwall, but it appears that the only initial challenge was a food shortage, which the king resolved by exchanging minerals from the European continent," Issei remarked.

"It's not as simple as that," Shinji responded. "I have conducted a thorough investigation, and it just so happens that the era in which this king lived was during the Little Ice Age period! I don't need to elaborate on the extent of the disasters caused by the LIA. It was one of the most feared natural disasters for all ancient agricultural societies. What's even more crucial is that prior to the LIA, Europe had experienced centuries of favorable climatic conditions, with very little famine or hunger, and the Arctic ice was located far to the north, leaving them with no experience in dealing with the Little Ice Age. However, the time when the Eternal King lived was precisely during this period of the Little Ice Age!"

Taking a moment to collect his thoughts, Shinji pressed on, "As a result of the Ice Age, winters became harsher, fish migration patterns changed, and the lives of fishermen and farmers became exceedingly difficult. The atypical cold climate, coupled with wars, famines, and epidemics...these aren't mere phrases in history that can be resolved with a good harvest the following year. History only documents the end results, and people typically only examine those outcomes. But what I want to write about is the process! That's what will truly capture the attention of the professors!"

A waiter arrived with a sizzling hot pot, which he placed on the electric stove. The aroma was delightful.

Another waiter followed with a variety of dishes, including beef, mutton, potatoes, and other meat and vegetable dishes, each with its own unique style and presentation.

"Shall we begin cooking now?"

"I recall that you had a bowl of instant noodles earlier in the afternoon. Are you already hungry again? Let's wait for Mrs. Emiya to arrive. It would be impolite to start eating without her."

"But if the Eternal King lived during the Little Ice Age, how did he manage to survive? I remember that he didn't have much food in exchange for minerals, right?"

"Not much, according to the planting history of ancient Europe, which was divided into spring and winter planting. The Eternal King exchanged for food before winter planting and happened to encounter the Little Ice Age. Honestly, it's impressive that he managed to survive...and magecraft was prevalent during that era, and there may have been gods involved as well? I even speculate if he received divine assistance..."

"Are you delving into theology again? Well whatever. I'm feeling a bit peckish, so I'll order some chicken nuggets."

...

Shirou was taken aback by the intense cold and seemingly never-ending duration of this winter. In Britain, where the weather is typically mild and rainy year-round due to its temperate maritime climate, Merlin had previously mentioned that there were four distinct seasons, with spring characterized by its gentle and humid weather.

However, this winter was a stark departure from the norm. It was so bitterly cold that even the tears in his eyes threatened to freeze and fall as tiny ice crystals.

As Shirou inspected the frozen soil in his hands and surveyed the lifeless crops that had succumbed to the harsh cold, his heart sank. This wasn't how things were supposed to be. How could the seeds and crops have frozen to death like this?

He couldn't help but worry about the ramifications of this disaster. Without these crops, how would he feed the people? As he gazed up at the gray, frigid sky, he felt a sense of despair creeping in.

"What am I going to do? What can I do?" he muttered.

The farmers around Shirou were weeping, their faces etched with sadness as they wiped away their tears, "The cold has killed them all! What are we supposed to do now? How will we make it through this winter?"

They had never encountered such a cold day before. But no matter how cold their bodies were, their hearts were even colder.

With all the crops dead and gone, the farmers were left wondering what they could possibly do to survive.

Shirou stood there, staring blankly at the bleak, gray sky, his mind clouded with despair. Why did this have to happen? Why them? Was there no hope left? These questions swirled in his mind, leaving him feeling hopeless and lost.

"My King...what are we going to do? How can we possibly survive?" The anxious voices of his subjects echoed in Shirou's ears.

"Please, Your Majesty, tell us what to do next," another voice pleaded.

"Your Majesty..."

Shirou could hear the longing and desperation in their voices.

He felt the urge to snap, to tell everyone that he had no idea what to do. But instead, he held back his words and wiped away his tears, hiding any sign of weakness from those around him.

As he turned to face the devastated crowd, he clenched his fists tightly under his sleeves, trying to maintain his composure. He knew that everyone else was feeling just as lost and helpless as he was, but he couldn't afford to give in to despair. Not when his people were depending on him.

"It's going to be okay," Shirou reassured the frightened people. "We'll plant again and start anew. We still have enough food to make it through the planting season."

Despite their initial fears and uncertainties, Shirou's words had a calming effect on the crowd. His composed demeanor made it seem as though the situation wasn't as dire as they had originally thought, and this sense of reassurance put their minds at ease.

"Lucan," Shirou called out urgently. "Gather a team to immediately pull out all the frozen crops. Those that can be used to make bread, start processing them right away. We'll have to temporarily suspend the food in the warehouse. Any crops that can be eaten right now, distribute them as quickly as possible. And then, we need to build shelters!"

"Shelters?" Lucan was taken aback.

"Don't question it, just do it as quickly as you can," he replied firmly.

"Understood!" Lucan nodded, before quickly setting off to carry out the king's orders.

Shirou made his way back to the palace, his steps deliberate and unhurried. As he walked, the calm expression on his face conveyed a sense of reassurance to those around him. Despite the devastating loss of their crops to the cold, his serene demeanor made it seem as though it was just another problem to be solved.

The people who saw him felt a sense of comfort in his composed state. It was as though the bitter cold and the ruined crops were no match for the king's unshakable resolve. And with that, a glimmer of hope returned to their hearts.

As Shirou returned to the palace, he found himself enveloped in darkness. Despite the flickering candles that lined the walls, their dim light was insufficient to dispel the pitch-blackness that shrouded the palace.

No one else was around, and the deafening silence chilled Shirou to his core. His face twisted in anguish, and tears streamed down his cheeks, though he made no sound. He was afraid to be heard, afraid to be seen in this moment of vulnerability.

The weight of responsibility hung heavy on Shirou's shoulders.

How was he supposed to feed so many people?

Tears streamed down his face, his cries of pain muted and unspoken. He wiped away his tears and took a seat on his cold, empty throne, surrounded by documents that required his attention even in this moment of despair.

Despite his best efforts, the tears kept falling, splashing onto the parchment before him.

The chill of the day was nothing compared to the icy grip of despair that had seized his heart. In the darkness, he cried bitterly, but there was no sound.

...

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