[You begin to fulfill your promise.]
[The first thing you do is to secretly spread highly targeted rumors in Camelot.]
[The core of which is the questioning of Artorius pulling out the sword.]
[After all, she looks so petite, not at all like someone capable of doing such a thing.]
"Father, that's about the public opinion in the city."
Gawain reported to Ian the information he had collected.
"There have been many comments like this recently."
"Most of them are doubts about Artorius pulling out the sword—they think this is a strange king selection."
Ian felt a secret joy in his heart, but still maintained restraint on the surface.
"Then, my child, what do you think of this comment?"
"..."
Gawain was silent for a while, and soon answered respectfully:
"Since father has recognized this sword pulling that day, then I will definitely not have any complaints."
"Just—"
"Just what?" Ian looked at the knight in front of him, "Gawain, if you have anything to say, just say it. There are only you and me here, and no one else will know."
"Father."
Gawain's voice seemed a little tangled.
"Unlike what they think, I don't think it's absurd for Artorius to pull out the sword."
"In fact, I can feel that while we are challenging the sword, it is also choosing us."
"Gawain."
Ian looked at Gawain, who had revealed his thoughts.
"So you mean, even if you tried so many times and finally lost this opportunity, you have no complaints about it?"
"Not without complaints, but I think I have more things to do than complain."
"..."
Ian patted Gawain on the shoulder.
"Gawain, you have the excellent qualities that a knight should have."
"But step back first, I still have something to do now."
"Yes."
[You watched Gawain leave.]
[You realize that although your rumors have indeed had an effect, they are not as perfect as you imagined.]
[You feel that you need to understand the views of several children on the current situation.]
[The first one you find is Gaheris.]
[He is Gawain's younger brother, the second oldest among his brothers and sisters.]
"Gaheris."
"Father."
"Gaheris, what do you think of the comments that have appeared in the city?" Ian went straight to the point.
"..."
Gaheris was silent for a while, and then gave his opinion.
"Father, rather than thinking about such a question at the moment, I would rather judge the right and wrong of this moment through future deeds."
"Continue the correct and correct the wrong, this is the truth you taught us."
[You realize that Gaheris's thoughts are somewhat similar to Gawain's.]
[But compared to Gawain, who does not question anything, he seems to have his own set of judgment criteria.]
[You let him leave.]
[You called Agravain over.]
"Father."
"Agravain, you don't seem to have expressed your opinion."
"But this time, I want to hear your opinion on these comments in the city."
"Meaningless."
Agravain answered Ian's question almost without hesitation.
"Why do you think so?"
"Tell me, Agravain."
"Because that is a sword that is destined to be open to only one person."
Agravain looked at his hand, as if recalling something.
"Father, I realized this the moment I touched it."
Like Gawain, Agravain also participated in the sword pulling attempt.
It's just that the time he tried before and after was probably not even enough for one breath.
"Then Agravain, do you think this method is reasonable?"
"Maybe it's reasonable, maybe it's not reasonable, but as long as it can continue Britain, then I have no opinion."
[You realize that Agravain is far more mature than you imagined.]
[He will neither directly admit his thoughts like Gawain, nor maintain a wait-and-see attitude like Gaheris.]
[What he is pursuing seems to be the more far-reaching survival of Britain.]
[You let him leave.]
[You called Gareth over.]
[She is the youngest sister.]
"Father!"
Gareth jumped and came to Ian.
"You've been looking for the brothers all around, and now it's finally my turn?"
The youngest one is always particularly easy to get favored.
Gareth's lively appearance made Ian couldn't help but smile and touch her head.
"Yes, it's finally your turn."
"Tell me, what do you think of these comments in the city?"
"Uh—"
Gareth tilted her head slightly, squinted her eyes, pursed her chin, and it took a long time to squeeze out a sentence.
"We should as Camelot..."
"Stop."
Ian interrupted Gareth's discontinuous words.
"Gareth, this is not what you originally wanted to say, right?"
"Eh?!"
Gareth opened her eyes wide, showing an unbelievable look.
"Father, how do you know?"
"Because this is not the tone you should have." Ian looked at his little daughter.
"Who taught you to say that?"
"I can't say!" Gareth waved her hand, "Otherwise brother Gawain will scold me!"
"So it was Gawain who taught you."
"Eh—?!" Gareth was shocked again, "Why do you know even if I didn't say anything, father?"
"It doesn't matter, why did he teach you to say that?" Ian asked.
"Because brother Gawain said..." Gareth muttered, "If I tell my true thoughts, you will definitely scold me."
Hearing this, Ian became interested.
"Then Gareth, what did you originally want to say?"
"Uh..."
"Say it, I won't be angry."
"That is—" Gareth poked her finger.
"Father, doesn't the saying go 'no matter how barren the wheat field is, as long as enough seeds are sown, it will grow full ears of wheat'?"
"So, I think the root of this problem lies with you and mother."
"You see, you and mother are very outstanding people, and in fact, except for me, brother Gawain and the others are indeed very powerful people."
"I think—"
Gareth looked up at Ian, her eyes sparkling.
"If I could have more younger brothers and sisters, then there would definitely be someone who could pull out the sword!"
"In this way, there is no need to worry about this problem!"
I have to admit that Gawain was right.
Gareth's remarks are completely unreliable. It is the kind that makes people wonder if there is something wrong with this person's thinking as soon as they hear it.
However, since she promised not to be angry, she must do what she said.
"Gareth, I understand what you mean. What you said does make some sense."
"Huh~" Gareth breathed a sigh of relief.
"I said it! Brother Gawain's worry is unnecessary! How could you be angry because of these few words, father?!"
[Gareth left full of energy.]
[You thought about all the previous conversations by yourself.]
[You realize that rumors are not omnipotent.]
[Everyone has different views on rumors, and they may not go in the same direction. Your children are the best proof.]
[You decide to take some more radical and despicable methods.]
[You want to make others clearly realize that the appearance of Artorius may not be a good thing.]
In the magic workshop.
"Princess, is it possible to do what I said?"
"Of course."
Morgan answered directly without hesitation.
"If it is just to temporarily invalidate those magic seeds, it is not difficult for me."
"But in this way—"
Morgan looked at Ian in front of her, with a little more concern in her blue eyes.
"You should know what it means to those civilians."
"Yes, I know."
Ian's firm eyes showed a bit of regret, but it was only a moment.
"So absolutely no one can understand that this matter has something to do with you, Princess."
"I will bear all the sins of this alone."
"..."
Morgan walked up to Ian, tiptoed slightly, and left a shallow kiss on his weathered cheek.
"Ian, you are really my best pawn."
"It should be, Princess."
[You learned from Morgan how to stop the magic seeds.]
[Talent hidden deep talent has been replaced by the heart of absolute evil dedication: compared to using talent in a more upright place, sacrificing one's conscience for Morgan seems to be able to stimulate your ability more.]
[Talent magic enhancement has been activated: based on what Morgan provided, you further optimized it, making the stagnation speed even more amazing.]
[You know you are despicable now.]
[But this is your only way to resist this scam.]
[Magic seeds start to stop.]
[The influence of the retreat of the Age of Gods quickly spread in the wheat fields outside Camelot.]
[The wheat fields began to show large patches of black ears that had never been seen before.]
[This is a process that cannot be reversed by simple manpower, and no amount of irrigation will help.]
[You further manipulated the rumors in Camelot, combining them with the facts.]
[Soon, uninformed people linked this phenomenon to Artorius pulling the sword.]
[This is exactly the result you want.]
"It must be because the wrong person pulled the sword!"
"That's right! This has never happened before! Our wheat is of very good quality!"
"There's a problem! There's definitely a problem!"
Once a habit becomes natural, and then it is completely taken away.
No one can accept it.
[You further expanded the chaotic situation.]
[More and more people came to you, who had always been hardworking.]
[You pretended to listen to their demands, but secretly let the situation go in a more extreme direction.]
[You acted as a good person on the surface, but you were also the biggest villain.]
[Finally, the situation you needed appeared.]
[The knights who were fed up began to spread the idea of not recognizing this sword pulling—they refused to bring disaster to Camelot.]
[You realize this is a perfect opportunity.]
[You and Artorius met again.]
On the streets of Camelot, Ian was walking side by side with Artorius, looking somewhat intimate.
Resentful eyes flickered in the houses on both sides of the street, staring at Artorius alone.
Ian knew everything in his heart, but on the surface, he still had to ask knowingly:
"Artorius, they all seem to be looking at you."
"Mr. Ian, I know."
Artorius's eyes swept around, but there was no sadness in her green eyes.
"They think it was my sword pulling that caused the wheat to spoil, so they have this kind of look."
Ian felt a hint of sweetness from the success of his resistance.
But he also knew that this was not the time to be complacent.
"Then Artorius, you must be feeling very uncomfortable now, right?"
"No."
Artorius turned her head and looked at the man beside her, who was much taller than her.
She smiled.
That was the smile she should have at her age.
"Mr. Ian, I don't really feel uncomfortable."
"Before pulling out this sword, I heard the voice from the sword. It told me that I would gain a lot and lose a lot."
"Then—"
Artorius looked at Ian in front of her. There was a bit of deep affection in her green eyes.
"Since what I can get is already in my hands."
"I should indeed bear what I have lost."
"What's more, I don't think it's the disaster I brought."
"So I won't be sad about it."
Artorius, or rather Artoria, spoke very frankly.
This was the exchange and oath she made with the sword in her hand.
Now it will be shown to Ian without reservation.
However—
Artoria didn't know one thing.
That is, the more frankly she confessed her extraordinary exchange with the sword in her hand, the more Ian could feel the stinging pain coming towards him.
Effort and dedication are meaningless in the face of a predetermined scam.
How ironic is that?
Ian's nails almost dug into his palm, and his expression also brought a bit of hatred.
"Mr. Ian, what's wrong with you?"
Seeing Ian like this, Artoria grabbed his hand, looking worried.
"Is it because you endured these gazes with me that made you uncomfortable?"
"If that's the case, I'm really sorry!"
The irony is indeed ironic.
But Artoria's worry was indeed a genuine worry.
Ian's mood was complicated, so he had to change the subject.
"Artoria, it's not like that."
"I just want to know how you plan to solve these problems—you can't just ignore them, right?"
"You mean this."
Artoria breathed a sigh of relief.
"Then Mr. Ian, you can rest assured."
"I already have enough countermeasures."
"As for the wheat problem outside the city, the magician named Merlin promised to help me solve it."
"As for these knights in the city—"
The girl's eyes left Ian, and then suddenly became cold.
In the eyes of everyone gathered, she walked onto the stone platform where the sword used to be inserted.
The girl raised the sword in her hand and pointed it at the blue sky above her head.
"The problem of knights should be solved by knights."
"If any of you have any objections to me—"
"Then challenge me with your blades."