章 168: C168
Shirou's magical reinforcement allowed him to walk despite his weakened state from excessive blood loss, although he couldn't move with the same vigor as before.
What's more concerning is that Cornwall's negative emotions were particularly strong, causing the black mud to absorb and convert magical energy at an incredibly efficient rate - almost three times more than that of Tintagel per day.
Merlin accompanied Shirou to the internal affairs hall, where Bedivere and others were in the midst of a discussion regarding the housing plan for the people of Caerleon. Upon seeing Shirou, they expressed surprise and immediately gathered around him, "My King, you are unwell and should rest!"
"At this critical moment of survival, how can I be lazy when you are all working?"
Bedivere and the others felt a slight tremble in their hearts upon hearing Shirou's response.
Shirou then took his seat on the throne and proceeded to inquire about the events that took place during his two-day coma from Bedivere and the others.
During the two-day period, there were no conflicts between the people of Cornwall and the people of Caerleon, despite the former's lingering resentment towards Camelot.
Bedivere and the others, under Geraint's leadership, focused on planning the housing arrangements for the people of Caerleon, and made arrangements for them to build their own homes.
After gaining a rough understanding of the situation, Shirou turned to Geraint and inquired, "Geraint, is there a place where the people of Cornwall can access the kingdom's laws?"
"No, my king." Geraint responded respectfully. He had come to recognize Shirou as the rightful king, who bore the weight of the kingdom's past, and thus his manner of addressing him had become more respectful than before.
Geraint, however, found Shirou's question somewhat perplexing, as he believed that everyone already understood the laws and questioned the need to post them again.
Shirou responded firmly, "The people are the foundation of any kingdom. Without them, there can only be chaos. Incomplete rules and unclear laws will only lead to further confusion. Therefore, I ask that you list the laws of the kingdom and ensure that they are posted around for all to see. I give you one day to do so, and not a single person should be left ignorant of the law."
"Yes!" Geraint obediently nodded and stepped aside, acknowledging the king's request.
Shirou was aware that the laws of the ancient century were created by the nobles, and they held the final say in their interpretation. However, he believed that a clear and just law was essential, regardless of the opinions of the nobles who may feel their interests were infringed upon.
He was unconcerned about any potential opposition from the nobles, given that Cornwall had been oppressed by Camelot for years and the power of the nobles was at its weakest. With his team and growing roots in Cornwall, Shirou was confident that he could enforce the law and demonstrate his strength to anyone who dared to oppose him.
Shirou inquired, "Have there been any reports of magical beasts attacking in the past two days?"
Aggravain responded, "No, my King."
He then asked, "Have Gawain and the others not returned yet?"
Bedivere replied, "No, my King."
Shirou furrowed his brows, growing concerned that it had been two days and Gawain and the others had yet to return. He wondered if they could be in danger.
He turned to Merlin and requested, "Merlin, use your abilities to check on Artoria's current situation."
Merlin nodded and concentrated for a moment before responding, "Lily is currently engaged in battle against magical beasts. However, Gawain and the others are expected to return by noon today."
He nodded in acknowledgement of Merlin's response before turning to address the group. "Aggravain, I would like for you to remain here. The rest of you may go and attend to your other duties."
"Yes, my King!" the group responded in unison.
As everyone else departed, Aggravain remained behind with Shirou.
He locked eyes with Aggravain and addressed him directly. "Aggravain, I have noticed that you have yet to address me as your king, unlike the other knights. I understand that you have not yet pledged your allegiance to me. However, I need your assistance with a matter that may not be entirely honorable."
"Please tell me, Your Majesty."
"I want you to do something, and it requires some discretion. I need your help in spreading rumors among the people of Cornwall. These rumors should portray Vortigern as a cruel and ruthless figure. Convince them that if he were to take control, life would not be worth living. Can I count on you to complete this task for me?"
Aggravain nodded and replied, "You can trust me, Your Majesty. I will ensure that the rumors are spread effectively."
Shirou expressed remorse and offered an apology, saying, "I am sorry to ask you to undertake such a dark task. Once our situation improves, I promise to bestow the honor and recognition that you rightfully deserve."
Aggravain reassured him, stating, "Your Majesty, there is no need to apologize. The safety and security of Britain is of utmost importance to me, and I will do whatever it takes to protect it."
As Shirou watched Aggravain depart, he turned to Merlin and declared, "I must have him by my side."
Merlin appeared puzzled and questioned, "Why do you want his loyalty? He has yet to display any sense of honor or desire to serve you."
"Despite his flaws, Aggravain is a capable individual and his talents could be useful to us. I won't let him slip through my fingers, and I want him to serve me willingly."
Shirou then shifted the focus to the current food crisis and announced, "However, our top priority right now is to address the food shortage. Merlin, take me to Morgan's workshop."
Merlin nodded in agreement before leading Shirou towards Morgan's workshop, which was situated on the eastern side of the Cornwall palace.
"King Arthur!"
"Your Majesty!"
As they made their way through the busy crowds of people from Caerleon, Shirou received numerous bows and respectful gestures from the citizens. Some individuals from Cornwall even addressed him as "King Arthur".
However, Shirou couldn't be certain how many of these individuals were truly willing to accept him as their king in their hearts, despite the outward displays of reverence.
Upon arriving at Morgan's workshop, he was impressed by the efficiency and productivity displayed by Morgan. It was evident that she wielded great power, as she had managed to create a fully functional workshop in just two days. The workshop was protected by dense bounded fields, showcasing the level of skill and knowledge possessed by Morgan.
As Shirou entered Morgan's workshop, she immediately greeted him with a mixture of reproach and concern. "Arthur, my dear brother, why aren't you resting properly in the palace?" she scolded.
He reassured her, "Sister, I'm perfectly fine. I don't need too much rest, and besides, the Pendragon family is in crisis. As the only male descendant of the Pendragon family, I have a responsibility to lift up our family."
Morgan's face was filled with emotion as she addressed her brother, "Oh, my poor brother. You're too considerate, making your sister worry like this..." She then shot a sharp glare in Merlin's direction. She was clearly displeased with his inability to properly care for her brother.
Merlin couldn't help feeling a little wronged. After all, he was simply following the orders of the king...
"Sister," He spoke up, "can you reach out to the remaining lords of Camelot and the kings of the north?"
"I can, but what's your plan?"
"We need to borrow some food," He explained simply. They had no other options.
He had been unconscious for two days, and the grain supply in Caerleon was running dangerously low - they only had enough to last three more days. Cornwall was even worse off, with no guarantee that they would be able to feed themselves.
It was already November, and winter was quickly approaching. While Britain's temperate maritime climate meant that it wouldn't get too cold, the lack of food was a death sentence for the people.
Poverty and chaos were bearable, even external enemies were bearable, but to be without food was simply intolerable.
This was the situation that Shirou faced, and he knew that they had to act fast. Borrowing from the lords and kings was their only option.
However --
"Food? I'm sorry, King Arthur," one lord apologized. "Our kingdom's harvest has been poor this year, and we only have enough to sustain ourselves."
Another lord offered a similar explanation, "I'm sorry, the soil fertility has been poor this year, and not much food has been grown. And with the colder weather, we need to ensure that we have enough to sustain our own people. There may even be a big cold wave this year, so we must prepare accordingly."
One lord did offer some help, "Our kingdom can offer you a thousand kilograms, but unfortunately, we cannot spare any more than that. We must also consider our own survival."
These responses were already considered polite. Some kings even refused outright when they heard the request for food.
The lords who had worked with Shirou before were quick to respond to his call, taking out a batch of grain and arranging for manpower to transport it to Cornwall.
However, these same lords explained that this year's grain tax had already been collected, and most of the grain had been sent to Camelot and the frontline cities. Unfortunately, these cities had already fallen to Vortigern's forces, meaning that the grain had fallen into enemy hands.
Food shortages were widespread, and the situation was dire. There was simply not enough food to go around.
Even with the grain that had been gathered, it was unlikely to be enough to sustain the people of Caerleon for more than a single day.
Shirou felt a heavy weight in his heart
"Snap!"
Morgan slammed her hand on the table, her face contorted in anger. "Those kings!"
He looked on with a heavy expression, feeling restless and unsure of what to say.
At this moment, Merlin said, "My king, Gawain and the others are back!"
Shirou took a bronze mirror from the workshop, rubbed his face in front of the mirror, and finally rubbed out a smiling face.
"Sister, please calm down," he said, trying to soothe her anger. "I'll go meet Gawain first."
She nodded with a complicated expression.
Shirou turned and left.
"Snap!"
Morgan slammed her hand on the table again, frustration and helplessness etched on her face.
"Arthur..." she sighed, her voice heavy with sorrow and worry.
...
As Shirou made his way towards the city gates, he turned to Merlin and asked, "Is my smile really that bad?"
"It's super ugly," Merlin replied without hesitation.
Shirou retrieved his bronze mirror again, rubbing his face anxiously. "What about now?"
Merlin advised, "Maybe don't smile. You look much better with a calm expression. Like a gentle sea."
Shirou waited patiently outside the city gates, watching as Gawain and the others returned with their wounded soldiers in tow. Even from a kilometer away, he could see the toll that the battle had taken on them.
As they drew closer, he stepped forward to welcome them back and help the wounded soldiers into the city.
Gawain and his men were deeply moved by the sight of their king personally greeting them.
Shirou was deeply moved when Gawain shared his plan to use himself as bait to lure the monsters away. "You're all truly great! Heroes of Britain!"
One wounded soldier, who had lost a hand in battle, spoke up, his voice trembling with emotion. "My king, will our fallen brothers be remembered in the book of heroes?"
"Absolutely," He replied without hesitation. "Their names will be recorded, and their heroic spirits will shine like bright lights, illuminating the path for us to move forward."
The soldiers were all touched by his words, but he knew that their morale would only remain high for a short time. The real challenge was figuring out how to care for the living and wounded soldiers in the long term.
Establishing a new kingdom brought with it a host of challenges - laws, agriculture, economy, people's livelihoods, military ranks, and many others. These issues would require careful consideration and planning in order to ensure that the kingdom could thrive and grow.
Unfortunately, their resources were limited, and there were only a few people available to tackle the multitude of challenges ahead.
The ancients were constrained by their limited perspective and lacked the scientific frameworks necessary to build a cohesive system.
Moreover, Shirou was responsible for creating these frameworks from scratch, a daunting task that left his head spinning.
Despite these challenges, the most pressing issue was the dire lack of food. Without a solution to this problem, their kingdom would be doomed from the start.
The lack of food was an existential threat to their kingdom - without it, they couldn't even begin to think about defeating Vortigern. In fact, survival itself was uncertain; they might not make it five days without proper sustenance.
Despite the chaos in his heart, Shirou still managed to maintain a reassuring smile on his face. It gave people a sense of comfort and stability, even in the face of such dire circumstances.
Back at the castle, Shirou's expression was grave as he grappled with the reality of their situation. How were they going to acquire enough food to defeat Vortigern and secure their survival?
Suddenly, a voice spoke up, offering a solution. It wasn't Merlin or Morgan, but Humanity.
"You only need a little bit of assistance," the voice said, offering a glimmer of hope in the midst of their dire circumstances.
This voice was a product of humanity's unconscious collective, a defense mechanism that had been created to ensure the survival of human history. It had absorbed countless records and powers, becoming a soul storage facility that would endure until the very end of human existence.
In simpler terms, it was like a high-interest loan without any limits, a source of untapped potential that could be drawn upon to sustain their kingdom and ensure their survival.
This mechanism had the power to grant unlimited magical energy to any individual deemed useful in ensuring the survival of humanity. It would empower these individuals, allowing them to serve as tools for the continuation of human history.
Shirou, consumed by worry, heard the voice clearly as it penetrated his evil and reached deep into his soul.
"I will grant you the power to defeat Vortigern. In exchange, I will claim your soul once your wish is fulfilled."
This voice belonged to a powerful entity known as "Alaya"
Shirou, skeptical of the offer, posed a question to Alaya. "Will defeating Vortigern ensure the survival of the people of Britain?"
"No, it will not," came the reply.
"Then why should I accept your contract?" He asked, his tone laced with contempt.
"Because you have no miracles, no future," Alaya answered. "Only by accepting my contract can you obtain enough magical energy to defeat Vortigern."
He sneered in response. "No miracles, no future? Humanity has advanced beyond barbarism, relying on our own ingenuity and hard work to carve out a path to the future. As a collective unconsciousness of mankind, you deny the very reason that has brought us this far."
"I have no army, not enough people, no food, but I still have...I still have..." Shirou suddenly paused, a bright idea flashing through his mind.
"Hahaha!" he laughed heartily, the weight of his worries suddenly lifted.
"What's so funny?" asked Alaya, confused by Shirou's sudden outburst of laughter.
"I'm laughing because I still have mines! I still have mines!" He replied, still chuckling heartily.
"And I'm laughing because the so-called defense mechanism of humanity doesn't understand human reason. It's a colossal joke, really!" He chuckled to himself before turning to walk away.
"Merlin! Merlin! Where did you run off to? Hurry up and come here!" he called out, his laughter echoing throughout the palace.
...
Next 204 Chapters are up on my Patreon: patreon.com/bcloud
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