Chương 126: C126
Shirou strode confidently down the town's main road, which led straight to the central Town Hall. He held his head high and his chest out, exuding an air of self-assurance.
As he approached the central Town Hall, he noticed a group of knights already waiting for him. They were impeccably dressed, and their leader was a friendly-looking, middle-aged man with a bit of extra weight.
Ector sidled up to Shirou and whispered in his ear, "That portly fellow over there is Sir Ywain."
Shirou gave a subtle nod and focused his gaze on Sir Ywain, studying him closely while keeping his own emotions hidden.
Sir Ywain greeted them with a friendly smile that made Shirou feel at ease, but he couldn't help feeling cautious. In his experience, people who appeared affable and held high positions were often the most challenging to deal with. Nevertheless, Shirou remained guarded and kept his wariness hidden.
Shirou glanced over his shoulder to check the expressions of the people standing behind him.
He ignored Artoria and Kay since they were unfamiliar with Sir Ywain. Instead, he focused on Ector and Merlin, studying their expressions carefully, with a particular interest in Merlin's reactions. He cast a few extra glances at the latter.
Ector's expression appeared neutral, but Merlin's face was alight with a smile that resembled that of an audience member watching an exciting drama.
Merlin noticed Shirou's gaze and touched his own face, asking, "Why are you staring at me, my king 'Arthur'?"
Shirou grinned and replied, "Nothing in particular, just admiring the beauty of Magus Merlin."
Although he lacked clairvoyance, Shirou had a sense of what was going on just by observing Merlin's expression.
Merlin's playful smile hinted that he had picked up on something significant. Shirou had a feeling that this meeting was not going to be a straightforward one, so he kept his guard up, preparing himself for whatever might come his way.
The group arrived in front of Sir Ywain, who was waiting for them.
Rather than addressing Shirou right away, Sir Ywain's attention was drawn to Ector, and he greeted him with a beaming smile. "Sir Ector! It's been ten years since we last met in the royal city! Look at me, I've put on some weight!"
Sir Ywain playfully patted his belly and grinned at Ector.
Shirou raised an eyebrow, wondering if this was some sort of joke. Artoria noticed his reaction and furrowed her brow, taking a step closer to him.
Ector squinted slightly before offering a reassuring smile to Shirou. "My king, Sir Ywain and I go way back! He's just happy to see an old friend and got a bit carried away."
Shirou couldn't help but wonder if they were playing some sort of political prank on him. He cast a casual glance at Merlin, who continued to wear a smile on his face. After a moment of thought, he spoke up. "I understand completely. Sir Ywain was so happy to see an old friend that he forgot to greet me. It's understandable to get caught up in the moment."
Shirou subtly acknowledged Sir Ywain's blunder and graciously gave him an out.
Sir Ywain apologized profusely, "I'm terribly sorry, how rude of me! I completely forgot where I was!"
Sir Ywain then greeted Shirou with sincere respect and a friendly smile, asking, "You're the successor who pulled the sword from the stone, aren't you?"
He didn't directly answer Sir Ywain's question, but instead replied, "I am Arthur, the son of Uther Pendragon."
Sir Ywain's smile widened, and he raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Your name is ringing throughout the land, successor! The people know that you, as the son of Uther Pendragon, are the embodiment of the British Red Dragon, destined to defeat the White Dragon!" He gestured towards the cheering crowd as if to emphasize his point.
He nodded and returned Sir Ywain's smile. "Indeed, I am Arthur, the destined king, and the son of Uther Pendragon. I was born to defeat the White Dragon and bring a bright future to all of Britain, which is why my name resonates throughout the land!"
Sir Ywain squinted his eyes and carefully looked at Shirou before saying with a smile, "Hmm... indeed. When the former King Uther passed away, he said something along those lines."
Shirou hoisted the sword he had pulled from the stone high and turned towards the people, his voice ringing out with conviction. "I, Arthur, am the son of the late king Uther Pendragon, the destined king, and the one born to defeat the White Dragon and bring a bright future to all of Britain!"
The people of the town were filled with excitement.
"King Arthur! King Arthur!"
"King Arthur! King Arthur!"
The people erupted in cheers, their excitement palpable. Shirou's words had struck a chord in their hearts, even though they knew little about the White Dragon. All they wanted was a stable and prosperous future.
Shirou turned back towards Sir Ywain and smiled at him, asking, "Sir Ywain, you will surely help me achieve this great feat, won't you?"
"Of course," Sir Ywain returned Shirou's smile with one of his own. However, he couldn't help but feel suspicious as he quickly glanced over at Merlin, only to find that the magus had turned his head away and was staring off in another direction, revealing only his side profile to Sir Ywain.
Sir Ywain couldn't help but wonder to himself, 'What has that guy been teaching him?'
Moreover, Sir Ywain couldn't help but wonder why Shirou's hair had turned black when he pulled the sword at the age of fifteen, even though it had been golden when he was taken away at the age of five. Had he undergone some kind of drastic transformation?
Although Sir Ywain had heard of people undergoing drastic changes, he had never heard of anyone changing their gender. It couldn't be possible!
It must be an illusion cast by Merlin!
Sir Ywain understood immediately, and couldn't help but glance at Merlin again, thinking, "He really is Merlin! I didn't even notice it was an illusion. But why didn't he tell me beforehand? Did he want to embarrass me?"
"Please follow me, successor."
Sir Ywain instructed the knights to clear a path and then led Shirou towards the Town Hall.
Shirou followed with a smile and spoke up, "No need to be so formal, Sir Ywain. I understand that you were the guardian knight of my late father, King Uther, and that you're also my uncle. Please feel free to call me Arthur."
Sir Ywain's gaze flickered as he looked at Shirou's smiling face. He couldn't help but think that Shirou was quite tricky.
Despite his tender age of fifteen, Shirou displayed a surprising level of worldly wisdom. Initially, Sir Ywain had assumed that Shirou would be easy to handle due to his youth, but now he realized his mistake in underestimating him.
This kind of cunning, it was truly befitting of the son of Uther Pendragon. However, Sir Ywain knew that being cunning alone was not enough to become a king!
As Shirou and Sir Ywain walked towards the Town Hall, they both wore refreshing smiles on their faces while engaging in conversation.
Artoria felt increasingly uncomfortable as she watched the two men's cheerful expressions, and even Kay shared in her discomfort.
As he observed Shirou and Sir Yelfis conversing, Kay experienced a strange sensation. It didn't feel like two people were chatting and laughing, but rather two foxes playing chess or two snakes in a standoff. Despite the tension, the atmosphere remained peaceful.
Kay stole another glance at Artoria, who stood upright like a lily, and he couldn't help but release a sigh of relief. If Artoria were in the same situation, she would have unsheathed her sword and attacked someone by now.
Even Ector had to concede that Shirou was a more suitable temporary king than the current Artoria.
Amidst the cheers of the people, the group entered the town hall. Once inside the hall, Shirou discreetly scanned the room, his gaze eventually settling on a middle-aged knight donning red armor.
He couldn't help but take notice of the middle-aged knight who exuded a commanding presence similar to Ector's. Even among a group of knights, this individual could not be ignored.
Upon catching sight of the middle-aged knight, Ector, who had previously been at ease, couldn't help but be taken aback and blurt out, "You-- how did you get here, Brastias?"
Shirou cast a knowing glance at Ector. This middle-aged knight was none other than Sir Brastias, a legacy left by Uther before his passing and the current Minister of Military Affairs.
Sir Brastias calmly turned his head and regarded Ector, "The Caliburn has been drawn, and the successor who inherited Uther's will has emerged. As the Minister of Military Affairs, it is only appropriate for me to come and assess the so-called successor's capabilities and determine if he has the capacity to bear the weight of Britain's future."
Ector's brow furrowed deeply in concern. This turn of events was not foreseen in the "Ideal King" plan, as only Ywain was meant to receive Arthur here. Consequently, Ector did not anticipate Sir Brastias, the Minister of Military Affairs, to be present as well.
Ywain was a shrewd and composed individual who, even if he disagreed with the successor, wouldn't make things too difficult. This was precisely why Uther had appointed him as the Minister of Ceremonies.
However, Sir Brastias was an entirely different character. As the Minister of Military Affairs, he possessed a fiery temperament. When King Tathagill of Cornwall rebelled against Uther, Brastias didn't even wait for Uther's command before leading 150 cavalrymen into Cornwall, where he decapitated Tathagill and presented his head to Uther.
And at that time, Uther's order had just been issued!
Since Uther's passing, it could be argued that Sir Brastias had become one of the primary reasons why the various kings coveted but dared not act against Camelot.
Now that Sir Brastias was present, the situation had taken a turn for the worse. It was apparent that if Shirou failed to earn his approval, as the successor, he would be deemed unfit to lead!
If Shirou angered Brastias, he was likely to attack and kill him on the spot. The suddenness of the situation was overwhelming, catching even Ector off guard.
Ector shot a glance at Merlin, only to find him smiling. A surge of anger rose within him. Having worked alongside Merlin for many years, Ector was aware of the power of Merlin's foresight. It was evident that Merlin had been aware of Sir Brastias's presence all along but had chosen to keep it hidden.
Judging whether this was good or bad according to human standards was futile since Merlin was not human. The standards that applied to humans did not necessarily apply to him.
Despite everything, Uther's evaluation of Merlin lingered in Ector's mind. He understood that Merlin was not human and could carry out both good and evil acts for humanity. This was not out of malicious intention, but because he was a non-human entity observing human affairs.
'Don't mess with Brastias, Guinevere!' Ector secretly said to himself.
Shirou took notice of the expressions of those around him, directing his attention towards Sir Ywain and Merlin beside him.
Sir Ywain maintained a flawless smile on his face, revealing no emotions, whereas Merlin seemed deeply intrigued by the situation.
Merlin's lack of effort to conceal his emotions provided Shirou with a reference point for the situation. It was evident that Sir Brastias was the root of Merlin's entertainment, as he had been detected by his clairvoyance.
Brastias strode over and peered down at Shirou with contempt, sneering, "I had hoped that the Red Dragon of Britain, the so-called 'Ideal King' that His Majesty spoke of, would be someone of remarkable stature. Yet, it appears that he is nothing but a mere shrimp."
Shirou raised his head slightly, gazing directly at Brastias with a cold expression, and questioned, "As a knight of the late King, are you ridiculing me for my height?"
"Isn't that the case?" Brastias retorted.
The atmosphere became tense, and the situation was fraught with danger. Artoria furrowed her brows, taking a small step forward to stand behind Shirou.
For a knight, their honor was intricately tied to the honor of their lord. Any dishonor or disgrace brought upon a knight reflected poorly on their lord as well.
Shirou locked eyes with Brastias for a moment before letting out a laugh and speaking seriously. "Listen here, Sir Brastias. While I admit that I may be shorter than you, if you continue to mock me for it, I will use this sword to sever your head so that you won't be able to insult me again."
The atmosphere grew even more tense in an instant!
...
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