novelhk Page 85
Page 85
As you navigate the palace architecture and arrive at your destination, and see once again the tower that served as your base, you also see a figure you don't really want to see at this moment.
"The former emperor has returned so early?"
Standing guard at the tower's main gate was a red-clad archer. He looked as if he had been on guard duty all night, his flippant face bearing a hint of weariness. Clearly, the tower's mistress was in a bad mood after her husband's absence, and she took her displeasure out on the servants. As a result, the innocent servants were also somewhat annoyed and began to tease their master.
"Hmm, I slept quite well last night, but you... stood outside all night?"
Quinn chuckled in response to the red archer's teasing, causing the red archer's face to stiffen.
Looking at the Servant who was currently on his side, Quinn remained calm and began to chat with him in a friendly manner as his master's teacher. However, he had already become somewhat wary. Regardless of whether the Nightmare intended to split the team, there was one fact that could not be changed.
Emiya Shirou, the male version of his good student Emiya Haku, is indeed a guardian who has made a contract with Alaya and is the killer of the Counter Force.
Chapter 191 Artoria's Whereabouts
After resupplying, the Knights of the Purification set off again to patrol the country. Before departing, Bavan Shi handed you a Mystic Code that allows you to contact her directly, implying that she doesn't care about Merry's disappearance. As long as you help her find Artoria, she can pretend to know nothing about it.
As you watch the beautiful fairy knight depart, you mentally add her to your "usable" list, just like the red archer.
The nightmare's hints weren't enough to make you immediately launch a cleanup operation against the red archers. Unsure how much of Meryl's words were true or false, you simply maintained basic vigilance towards this guardian of Alaya, trying to keep her out of trouble in matters other than combat.
Meanwhile, you re-established contact with the Knights of the Round Table, informing your loyal subordinates of the location of the new stronghold.
[As time passed, you soon received a reply from the Knights of the Round Table. In the reply, you learned of the whereabouts of the other Chaldea Masters. These Masters of Group A are indeed talents carefully selected by the Celestial Department Lord. Even when alone in another world, they can live with ease. Most of them have already disguised themselves as local mages.]
[These Masters are quite adept at disguise, having already established a certain level of recognition in their respective locations. They have begun advising local lords under the guise of Clock Tower Mages, gaining the trust of the locals. However, due to limitations in the spread of information, they have not done anything outrageous, but rather have chosen to play it safe by disguising themselves and attempting to seek help using messages that only modern people can understand.]
[And some minority groups, or more accurately, some individuals, act in more extreme ways.]
[A Master named Hinako Akuta is currently wreaking havoc in the Germania region. She is wanted by the Germania lords for blasphemy against idols and heresy. Unlike other Masters who are hiding well and living a relatively peaceful life, Hinako Akuta seems to be acting recklessly with the idea that the bigger the trouble she causes, the higher her chances of being saved.]
[But her actions were destined to end badly, because when Galahad sent this message, Guinevere also told you something.]
To quell the unrest in Germania, the current emperor has dispatched the fairy knight Melyuchina to Germania. It won't be long before you hear the news that the monsters ravaging Germania have been wiped out by the fairy knight.
"Is she out of her mind?" When Guinevere brought this news to the tower, everyone fell silent. After a long while, Mordred looked at her Master speechlessly. "I feel like you should just go find my other self and discuss the matter of dual emperors ruling together. The future of Chaldea is predictable."
Mordred's rant resonated with everyone present, and even the red archer couldn't help but nod in agreement.
Normally, Quinn could have retorted a couple of times, for example, by stating that this Hinako Akuta was not a normal human, but an elf similar to the 'True Ancestor,' possessing extraordinary power and having enough confidence to do such a thing. However, this was Britannia, and the one sent to eliminate her was the fairy knight Melyuchina.
Compared to the fairy knight born from the remains of the strongest pureblood dragon, the Grand Dragon "Albion," Hinako Akuta was far too weak and utterly powerless.
In the end, after a moment of silence, it was Haku Emiya who spoke first.
"Um, teacher, is it okay for us to let Hinako Akuta run wild like this?"
"Of course we can't just leave her aside."
Quinn sighed, beginning to regret agreeing to let Animusphia bring the Masters of Group A. He had expected the Masters of Group A to cause trouble, but Hinako Akuta's actions were so swift. He hadn't even had time to find Artoria yet, and that hot-tempered little sister had already lost her temper.
He had originally planned to gather all the Masters of Group A together for Servant summoning after finding Artoria, but now the plan has changed.
"Actually, it's good that you're planning to go to Germania." Seeing Quinn sigh, Guinevere suddenly said, "When Artoria came to me, she also talked about the Germania region. She said it's the region with the weakest control over the Empire, and if any lords were to join her faction, the Germans would be the first to be affected, perhaps..."
Artoria may be hiding in Germania.
Guinevere's implication was quite clear, but Quinn was deeply skeptical of it, because the Germania region's refusal to submit to the king was not a recent development. Back when he was fighting against Vortigern, the Germania barbarians had sided with Vortigern. The Germania were only willing to submit later because the king's actions were too extreme, forcing them to choose a better ally.
Quinn's good daughter, Mordred, was also a witness to this event, so she naturally understood that the Germanians could turn against her at any time. If Artoria were in the Germania region, his good daughter would have found her long ago, and it would be impossible for her to still have Bavan Shi searching for her nationwide.
can only say……
You have obtained a new clue.
Ok?
Quinn glanced sideways at the pop-up window that had suddenly appeared.
When Nightmare refuses to help you find Artoria's whereabouts, you accidentally obtain a new clue from Guinevere—the Germania region, the land where the white dragon Vortigern died. You defeated Britain's great enemy on that land, but fate is always unpredictable. As the saying goes, the dragon slayer becomes the dragon, and a new enemy may appear where the great enemy falls.
For Britannia, the Germanic region was like the Chu state to the Qin state; if anyone wanted to overthrow Britannia, the only option was Germania.
The current emperor's dispatch of her strongest knights to Germania to eliminate the Chaldea Masters stems from her distrust of the Germans. She believes that potential resistance still exists in that land, and you, too, have recalled something.
There is indeed a path leading to the Inner Sea of Stars in the Germania region; perhaps the person you are looking for is on it.
Chapter 192 The Fairy on the Rhine
Before the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire, which is jokingly referred to as "bottled water" by some players, the countries in Germania could hardly be called feudal states in the strict sense. In the timeline of Holy Britannia, this land was the most backward region in all of Europe.
During Quinn's reign, the lords of Germania were still in the form of tribes. Now, under Mordred's rule, this land has been simply designated as an autonomous region. As long as people cooperate with the imperial tax collectors and pay taxes and register their population on time, the empire will not deliberately impose laws on the people of this land.
This lenient policy did not win the cheers of the Germanic peoples, because as the least favored region in the entire empire, their living standards did not improve under imperial rule. The people of this land continued to maintain their old customs and traditions, therefore…
"Germania is the oldest and most mysterious land in present-day Britannia."
When he heard Quinn suspect that Artoria was hiding in Germania, Morgan pondered for a moment and then nodded. “When I was still in the court, I heard some things about the Germanic regions, such as the inexhaustible gold hidden in the Rhine. You and I both know that there is no such thing as an inexhaustible resource in this world, unless it does not belong to humankind.”
"You mean the Rhine River is the road to the Inner Sea of Stars?"
“Very likely,” Morgan nodded. “And there’s one more thing.”
“Since you disappeared, I have studied myths from all over Europe, trying to find a way to bring you back from the gods. During this time, a group of Norsemen came to Britain and tried to plunder the coastal areas of England. I learned some myths from them that originated from Norse mythology…” she continued.
"Many of the gods worshipped by the Germanic peoples are remarkably similar to those worshipped by the Norse peoples, especially among the tribes north of the Germanic regions. Among the beliefs of these Germanic peoples are legends related to Rhine gold. It is said that when the gods still roamed the earth, a dwarf forged a ring from Rhine gold that could rule the world. In other words…"
If Artoria's only hope of overthrowing Mordred, given that both the Holy Lance and the Holy Sword are in Mordred's hands, is to find the ring in the Rhine River and rely on the power of this ring, which is said to be able to rule the world, to stand against the mysterious Mordred who monopolizes Britain.
The Nibelungen Ring on the Rhine
[You've heard of this legendary treasure. In the early concept art of Mushroom, the prototype for the Sword in the Stone was a treasure called the Sword in the Tree. That so-called Sword in the Tree was the sword of Sigurd's father in Norse mythology. Later, Sigurd used a sword reforged from this sword to kill the dragon guarding the Rhinegold and obtained the ring that was said to be able to rule the world, but was actually cursed.]
[Given the high degree of overlap between Germanic and Norse mythology, and the early character design of Mushroom, you don't doubt Morgan's reasoning.]
Perhaps the Rhine River is indeed the road to the Inner Sea, and Artoria is searching for the Nibelungen Ring, but do you think her greater goal is probably the sword that once belonged to the dragon slayer?
Just as Artoria is essentially a humanoid dragon, Mordred, who possesses dragon genes within her, also possesses the characteristics of a dragon. In the Type-Moon world, where special attacks are paramount, a sword with anti-dragon capabilities can provide a significant advantage when fighting Mordred.
Having confirmed that the Rhine River is highly likely the passage to the Inner Sea, you linger no longer. You leave Morgan in Ireland to guard Meryl, while the others accompany you to the Rhine River.
Upon learning of your travel plans, Guinevere, who had become your lover, immediately prepared a ship large enough to hold dozens of people for you and arranged for her trusted subordinates to take you directly to your destination by boat.
[And you, before you left, informed the Fairy Knight Bavan Shi that Artoria might be hiding near the Rhine River. The reason is simple: you don't have many people at your disposal. Whether it's your own Servants or your students' Servants, you won't let them leave your side easily. And the Paradise Fairy Lily isn't someone who can show herself in public.]
[If you want to find Artoria's whereabouts in the vast Rhine River, the best way is to have someone else search for her. Bavan Shi, who commands the Knights of the Righteous Order, is the perfect pawn. Anyway, the fairy knight Bavan Shi is no match for you. If you want, you can beat her to her knees at any time and take away the Artoria that she has worked so hard to find right in front of her.]
[Given your idea of getting two birds with one stone, Bavan Shi quickly responded.]
She will travel to the Rhine region to investigate. If she finds Artoria there, she will invite you to join the Knights and serve the Emperor.
You weren't impressed with this explanation, but that didn't stop you from establishing a cooperative relationship. So, you quickly replied, saying you would be waiting for her and the Knights at the mouth of the Rhine. Then, you revealed your plan to your companions.
As the leader of this small team, your plan was beyond reproach. Therefore, you established a temporary base at the mouth of the Rhine River to await Bavan Shi's arrival, while simultaneously gathering intelligence on the Rhine gold.
Perhaps because the legends of the Rhine are so famous in Germania, you've gathered various versions of the rumors in less than two days. One of them has caught your attention, and more importantly, it's the red archers who brought you this news.
"You mean, in the middle of the Rhine, a boatman once saw the legendary Rhine Fairy?"
Quinn raised an eyebrow as he looked at the red archer standing in front of him, nodding.
"Yes, and the boatman clearly described the characteristics of one of the Rhine River nymphs: silver hair, wearing silver armor, with a dignified demeanor, a tall and beautiful woman whose gender was indistinguishable. Without a doubt, that so-called Rhine River nymph should be Bedivere, King Arthur's knight."
The red archer recounted the information he had gathered, his expression somewhat strange. "And beside this 'Rhine Nymph,' there's a woman who can walk on the river, her figure shrouded in a long robe, but at least 1.7 meters tall. If I'm not mistaken, that person should be King Arthur, the one you're looking for."
Chapter 193 Now, I'm the client.
Bedivere and the woman who can walk on the lake—this combination clearly points to Artoria as the target.
However, the fact that the message came from a red archer is somewhat intriguing, because the characteristics of this combination are too obvious. Anyone who knows Artoria can recognize their identity from these characteristics. It can be said that Artoria has almost not hidden any trace of herself in this message.
However, the fairy knight Bavan Shi has yet to find his whereabouts, and even with Meryl's interference, this should not be the case.
"..." Quinn stared at the red archer in front of him in silence for a few seconds.
The silence was deafening, causing the red archer to slightly avert his gaze. "I know it sounds strange, but the fishermen on the Rhine seem to know about this. I don't understand why the goblin knights didn't notice such obvious news."
"Okay, I believe you."
In the end, Quinn chose to believe.
Although this guy is the guardian of Alaya, considering Melina's attempt to break up her team with words, Quinn felt that the red archer was more reliable between the two. At least, this guy still had a basic level of morality.
Upon hearing Quinn's words, the red archer exhaled directly in front of Quinn, "Thank you for your trust. You know who I am, right?"
"Shirou Emiya, guardian of Alaya, counterforce killer... how would you like me to address you?" Seeing the red archer reveal his identity, Quinn didn't bother with any more pretense.
“Call me Nameless, or Archer, whatever you like, just don’t call me Shirou Emiya. I’ll feel very uncomfortable, especially after seeing Shirou Emiya in this world.” When talking about Shirou Emiya, the Red Archer’s face became awkward. “I’ve seen many Shirou Emiyas, but this is the first time I’ve seen a female Shirou, especially since she still holds that naive idea, just like the other Shirou Emiyas.”
"You want to kill her?"
“No, she’s much more pleasing to the eye than the other Shirou Emiya.” The Red Archer, who had always wanted to erase her immature past, said something very rare. “She’s resolute. Unlike those individuals who were inexplicably dragged into the Holy Grail War, Shirou Emiya clearly has a clear plan for her future and knows how to achieve her dreams in a more down-to-earth way…”
With your trust, the guardian named Emiya Shirou is also trying to open his heart to you. You know very well that he is trying to gain your trust. Similarly, you also know that the fact that he is willing to mention Emiya Haku to you means that at least for now, he really wants to gain your trust. This is a good sign.
If there's a thorn in your side within your team, it will inevitably affect your subsequent plans. Now that someone is willing to remove this thorn, you have no reason not to respond.
So, you start talking to the other person about Emiya Shiro and listening to them express their feelings.
[Through this simple yet fruitful chat, you at least learned that the Red Archer wouldn't harm your good student. He believes your interference led Shirou Emiya down a path completely different from most Shirou Emiyas. Having joined Chaldea, Shirou Emiya does indeed have the opportunity to realize that naive fantasy of being called a "partner of justice." He is very grateful to you for giving Shirou Emiya this opportunity.]
Therefore, in return, he will fully support most of your ideas; currently, he has also stated the premise of this assistance.
"The potential danger of Mordred turning into a 'beast' must be eliminated. As long as your plan ensures this, I will not become your enemy." Saying this, which would likely be immediately labeled as an enemy by Quinn, the Red Archer directly stated his position.
"Great, then we share the same goal."
Although the Red Archers were also an unstable factor, they were far better than Meryl. Quinn could accept this alliance, which could break down at any time. After all, he was always good at maintaining alliances, just like the alliance between Britain and France in the early days.
Moreover, they do indeed share the same goal.
After making things clear, the red archer was completely relieved. Just as Quinn was worried that he would betray him, he was equally concerned that Quinn would attack him because he suspected him, even though he was quite capable as the guardian of Alaya.
Possessing the skill of Unlimited Blade Works, which allows him to draw weapons that can counter any character at any time, he is a true all-rounder in the Type-Moon world, which emphasizes restraint. This makes any Heroic Spirit who encounters him wonder if he is a bugged player. However, his ability also has its natural enemies.
That is, a pure numerical monster without any obvious flaws, and Quinn happens to be this type.
Since his arrival, he has been observing Quinn. Through this period of observation, the Red Archer has basically come to a conclusion: if he were to clash with Quinn, unless he releases his Reality Marble: Unlimited Blade Works in advance, Quinn would be able to pull him into close combat before he can activate Unlimited Blade Works, and then defeat him with his superior physical abilities.
This conclusion is still based on the premise that one's own Master is the other's student and may very well help Quinn counterattack.
Everything is fine now.