I want to just drift through life in Type-Moon.

Page 42

After leaving the lounge, Arthur came to a place with a wide view, looking out at the yellow sand and the scorching sun that, although obscured by the sandstorm, could still be seen.

This wasn't the first time he'd seen such apocalyptic scenes, but he had never allowed himself to get used to them.

Because Arthur knew that if he admitted he had gotten used to it, he would gradually become indifferent to these scenes, and one day, even if this tragedy happened before his eyes, he would become apathetic.

“Merry…you said my journey is meaningful, so is that child also part of the meaning of my journey?” Arthur knew very well that his inexplicable ability to travel between worlds was for the purpose of saving lives.

But this rescue doesn't always succeed. Reality is often cruel; by the time he arrives, things are often beyond repair—or rather, beyond his control.

Humans have limits. Even if one surpasses humanity and breaks through one's own restraints, the red line of that limit is only slightly raised.

An individual is too insignificant. Even when he was as powerful as he was in the past, he still needed to rely on his companions at the Round Table to win those wars.

“Merry, if you were by my side, I wouldn’t have to think about these things, right? After all, with your guidance, I could fight without any worries.” Arthur sighed, reminiscing about the past.

"My prince, you are a king, and as a commander, you can't do without strategy~" Suddenly, Arthur heard that familiar voice.

“Merry!” He suddenly looked up, staring in a certain direction.

"Stop looking. I didn't come into this world. I can only talk to you now because that child is holding my clothes. Oh, by the way, if you really miss me that much, you can ask that child for those clothes to smell. I just took them off not long ago, so the smell should still be very strong."

The voice teased Arthur without any sense of tension, but it didn't anger him.

After all, Arthur was well aware of Meryl's sharp tongue. He gave a wry, nostalgic smile and shook his head: "You..."

"Alright, my prince, don't say anything, just listen to me."

Even though he couldn't see her face clearly, Arthur could imagine that when she said those words, she must have had an expression that said, "I love seeing you looking so upset."

"Now that I can talk to you, it means you have successfully met that strange child. There is only one thing left to do: please teach that child a lesson."

Arthur could tell that Mary was very serious when she said this, and even her usual sharp tongue was not on display.

"Please make the arrangements as you see fit, but in any case, you must ensure that the child has the ability to protect himself as quickly as possible. Also, you absolutely must not let him have the chance to go to our world! Remember that! This is the most important thing!"

"What happened?" Arthur asked, puzzled. He could tell from Mary's words that the problem was serious.

"The specific reasons are hard to explain in a short time, but in short, we can't let him come to our world. It concerns the survival of our world. If he comes to our world and meets 'her' from our world, our world will face problems many times more serious than 'cutting'."

Meryl's tone was helpless, "Our world is a node. If it is not properly [reclaimed], then not only will we die, but the determination of possibilities will also suffer irreparable damage."

Chapter 104 The End of the Stars

“Alright, since it’s so serious for you, I’ll listen to you.” Arthur knew that if Mary could tell him, she would tell him everything she could. As for what she didn’t tell him, it was probably because she didn’t want him to worry.

"Well, you're smart enough to let it go for now. I'll let bygones be bygones regarding your cheating in other worlds."

"This, this..." Upon hearing this, Arthur broke out in a cold sweat, his mind racing, hoping to find a way to gloss over the problem.

"Alright, you don't need to explain. I'm not angry. If I were really angry, I would have died of anger long ago."

Arthur had no idea what expression Mary would have when she said that, so he could only say, as always, "Hug..."

"Don't say sorry. That's something only scumbags do. My prince, I've said it before, never say sorry to me. Because I'm already standing on the hill of victory, looking down on those who are still chasing after you."

"Whether it's those two sisters or the others at the round table, they're all laggards. Oh, and speaking of the round table, you'd better get that kid into it."

Arthur, who was already covered in sweat, breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that Mary had finally steered the conversation back on track. He hurriedly asked, "Didn't we say we couldn't let him go to our world? Then why are we deepening the bond between us and him?"

"The one who is not destined to be with me is another. Although I have only seen this one once, I have to admit that Merlin from the other world has a good eye and has found a treasure."

Mary's tone sounded a little annoyed, but then turned into a little smug, "Consider this an early investment. Teach him well, and use your charm to make him feel close to you. He may become the world's fuse in the future."

"If one day things develop to an unimaginable degree, and 'she' in our world goes mad, then this person will be the only means of control."

Although he didn't know what Merry was referring to, Arthur still chose to listen to her. Moreover, from the moment he saw through Yue Zhengling's true nature, he had already resolved to correct her thinking.

“I understand, I will teach him well, but let me make it clear beforehand—” Arthur paused deliberately at this point, “I want you to know that my teaching is not based on your admonition, but on my own desire to do so.”

The noble knight gazed into the distance with his peaceful emerald eyes and sighed softly.

“Merry, you wise people are so clever that you always like to scheme. It has become your instinct. But I hope you remember that the more you scheme, the more trouble will happen.”

Everything Arthur has experienced since childhood has given him invaluable lessons, unlike Mary who only enjoys watching. Some things cannot be learned from "seeing"; without personal experience, one cannot understand the complexity of something called "emotion."

“…It wasn’t a scheme, I just happened to see it.” After a long silence, when Arthur thought she was no longer able to continue the conversation, Mary suddenly said this.

Hearing the remorse in her tone, Arthur gave her a gentle smile that could charm countless girls.

"By the way, the world I've come to this time is a bit strange. Can you help me figure it out?" Arthur thought that if it was Mary, she should know what was going on in this world.

"Hehe~ Sorry, although I really want to help you, I don't have time, my prince~" Meryl said in a playful voice.

"Hey, hey... stop joking, Mary." Arthur rubbed the bridge of his nose between his eyes, feeling a bit of a headache.

“No, I’m not lying. There really isn’t any time left. Besides, since you’ve come to this world, you must be able to find a way out,” Meryl said in a very ordinary tone.

“Because justice will not be absent—is that right?” Arthur replied in a helpless tone.

“Yes, my prince, though he may be late, he is never absent.” When Mary said this, it sounded very ethereal.

“Being late makes it pointless.” Arthur looked at the apocalyptic scene outside, and his heart clenched again. The desolation of civilization and the destruction of cities—no matter how many times he saw such a sight, he could never get used to it.

“No, since you find it difficult, it proves you're already late, so the answer is already decided.” Meryl seemed oblivious to his pain. “Alright, it's almost time, my prince. Please remember my words and teach that child a good lesson.”

Arthur knew this was Mary's farewell, so he suppressed his distress and said, "I understand, Mary—we'll meet again after everything is over."

"Hehehe~ Great son of King Uther, my beloved red dragon! I will wait for you forever in this promised land..."

As Meryl's voice faded away and that familiar presence completely disappeared, Arthur knew that he could no longer contact her.

Standing there for a moment, reflecting on the conversation, Arthur seemed to transform into a statue, standing there quietly.

On the other hand, Yue Zhengling had gone from lying down like Ge You to lying down like a salted fish, completely giving up on thinking.

Neither of them knew that because of their encounter, something far away in Egypt had "awakened."

If Yue Zhengling could see satellite images, he would definitely know what was happening in the world.

Now, sandstorms are blowing across all the landmasses of this planet. However, the sand does not originate from the desertification of the soil, but is transformed from countless lives.

The atmosphere became a thick, glass-like membrane, protecting the Earth and turning it into a snow globe.

The world has not been destroyed, and humanity has not gone extinct. Instead, it has been preserved through special means. What appears to be destruction to outsiders is actually a means to avoid a certain ultimate dead end.

This is the final and best method of redemption, derived from good intentions and great sacrifices, after lengthy calculations and unimaginable measurements.

This is a recording medium that, after human history has completely ceased, has left behind a complete record of everything and will never wear out or be consumed.

At the end of the stars, everything returns to sand, a future utterly destroyed.

Although Yue Zhengling is currently lounging on the sofa like a couch potato, she has already sensed something. All that's missing is the last message from someone in the Clock Tower who can't escape the fate of working overtime and is close to dying from overwork.

Chapter 105 Arthur Has Seen Through Everything

King Arthur is the most legendary and greatest king of ancient Britain, the last king in Celtic mythology, and a king with a charismatic personality that makes people admire him.

Both Artoria and Arthur possess this special charisma, which manifests itself when they are serious about something. For example, Arthur, with his keen intuition, has already found many things in the store that can help him train Yue Zhengling.

"This thing looks pretty good." Arthur smiled nostalgically as he picked up the imitation Celtic longsword (unsharpened) that had somehow appeared in the mall's merchandise, and casually swung it a few times.

Modern processing technology is undoubtedly far more advanced than that of ancient times. Even this metal sword, whether it's for decoration or a movie prop, is much easier to wield than the longsword he used for training.

A skilled swordsman can often tell whether a sword is good or not the moment he picks it up, by observing the feeling of contact with the air when wielding it, the friction between the hilt and his fingers, and the firmness of the fit between the blade and the jaws.

The weapon he was holding was clearly up to standard; if used for training, it would be perfectly usable as long as he didn't take it too seriously.

He put all the similar longswords on the glass display case into the trolley, and then looked at the only English lance in the shop, a lance over two meters long. However, after thinking for a moment, he shook his head. If it wasn't a mounted battle, this lance was just for decoration.

Although it's not that he can't use it, there's no need to include it as part of the teaching process for now.

After leaving the store, Arthur didn't rush back so that Yue Zhengling would have more free time, because he believed that if he took these things back now, he would be unable to resist immediately teaching them.

After all, it was their first day meeting. If he suddenly offered to train him, he feared the other would refuse without hesitation, as it would be too abrupt. If Yue Zhengling asked about it, it would be difficult for him to explain without lying.

If he were to tell the whole story, Arthur feared that Le Zhengling would develop a dislike for him and Merry.

At this moment, Arthur was walking and thinking, holding the instant coffee and canned food that hadn't expired yet. Although heroic spirits don't need food, that doesn't mean they can't eat. He himself hadn't eaten anything for a long time.

After scouring various canned goods, Arthur thought for a moment and went to the mall's large cold storage room. He used his sword to cut open the small door of the cold storage room, and the temperature inside was still unusually low. Moreover, it seemed that the frozen meat inside had not been thawed.

He tore open one of the packages, pressed it with his index finger, and after confirming that it was still edible, he took the various meats without hesitation. In fact, even expired and poisonous food would have no effect on a heroic spirit like him, and with his skills, removing the poison would be a piece of cake.

After all, they had eaten the monsters of Britain before, and knowing how to remove poison and how to make inedible meat edible was an essential skill for the team, especially since they were the only ones who could cook.

Finally, he found an alcohol stove and a pot, and made a stew using whatever he had on hand.

When he returned to the lounge with the stew and other food that day, he found that Yue Zhengling was no longer there. After putting everything away, he closed his eyes and sensed that Yue Zhengling was upstairs.

"I remember that floor was a bookstore and a stationery store." Arthur thought for a moment, then looked a little confused.

Although I asked him to find some things that he could use later, what I really meant was for him to change his clothes and find some small tools.

Because Yue Zhengling is currently wearing Mei Li's outer robe, although it's not clear what's underneath, it looks like a hospital gown.

He didn't know why Yue Zhengling was dressed like that, but that outfit was definitely not conducive to movement.

Le Zhengling himself was unaware of this, and the reason he was wearing a hospital gown was because when he became a soul, his clothing changed along with the changes in his body.

When he left the world he was born into, he was wearing a hospital gown. Later in Avalon, Merlin didn't remind him, so he's been wearing that gown ever since. The gown is also part of his soul, so it doesn't get dirty, and it quickly heals itself if it gets torn.

When Yue Zhengling returned, he saw Arthur sitting next to a pot of meat waiting for him. He was slightly taken aback, then remembered that this person was also a person with superb domestic skills and was known as the ultimate existence of the Moon Boyfriend.

"Hey, you've worked hard. Come and get something to eat." Arthur reached out and greeted him with a smile, glancing at the bag he was carrying at the same time.

Le Zhengling nodded, placed the bag next to the cart of things Arthur had brought back, and quickly sat down opposite him. Without any hesitation, he picked up a ladle and ladled out a bowl of meat soup.

Looking at the rich cheese and pork soup in his hand, Yue Zhengling took a bite with a subtle expression, then widened his eyes in surprise. As a chef, although he specialized in Chinese cuisine, cooking skills are universal.

He could tell a lot from this soup. The water must have been bottled distilled water because he could taste that the cheese was completely incorporated into it. Ordinary water couldn't do that, and it's easy to imagine that there are no clean water sources left in this world.

He picked up a piece of tenderloin that was cooked until it was completely soft and put it in his mouth. The melt-in-your-mouth texture amazed Yue Zhengling. He calculated the time. The two of them had been apart for less than three hours. Unless Arthur had used those two hours to make this dish, it was absolutely impossible for him to cook the meat to this extent.

"So, is the food to your liking?" Arthur asked with some anticipation.

"It's delicious. Even I would have a hard time making it better than you in this short amount of time." Having been a chef in his previous life, he admitted that the meat was delicious, but his competitive spirit was also rising.

Hearing Yue Zhengling's words, Arthur was not angry. Instead, his eyes lit up. "You mean, if it were you, you could make something just as delicious?"

Le Zhengling tilted his head and thought for a moment, then nodded.

Arthur was even happier to see him admit it, after all, he knew that this pot of soup was the best he could do with the ingredients he had.

"If it were you, what could you make? The meat in this mall's cold storage is still usable, the other seasonings are also usable, and the cooking utensils are all complete." Arthur looked at Yue Zhengling with interest, his tone full of anticipation.

“…I haven’t cooked in a long time either. How about I take care of all three meals tomorrow and let you try some different foreign cuisine?” Completely following Arthur’s lead, Yue Zhengling felt that another day had been wasted.

Chapter 106 The Clock Tower Conference (Part 1)

Dining table culture is universal and can bring people closer together.

The two chatted as they ate, mostly focusing on cooking. Arthur learned that Yue Zhengling was an expert in Chinese cuisine, while Yue Zhengling learned that Arthur had a deep understanding of barbecue.

Although they were having a lively conversation, both of them were intentionally or unintentionally avoiding questions about the world and deliberately not touching on each other's past.

As a king, Arthur has seen many people with all sorts of desires. Coupled with his strange ability to travel between worlds, his vision has become incredibly broad. He had long seen that Yue Zhengling did not actually want to leave this place.

The reason is not yet clear, but it is speculated that it is related to his past.

The other person only gets excited about things that interest them, which is a new discovery. From the beginning of the chat, Le Zhengling has been talking non-stop with great enthusiasm, even using body language.

Most importantly, Arthur could see from the other man's eyes that he loved cooking, but when he mentioned the difference between using a sword to kill a person and using a sword to cut meat, Yue Zhengling's gaze immediately shifted away, and even his voice lowered, but he still echoed a few words.

Finally, when the two talked non-stop until it got dark, he still seemed a little reluctant to stop.

As Arthur packed his things, he gained a general understanding of Yue Zhengling's character and behavior patterns.

In terms of temperament, although he acts like a child, he is actually quite mature. This can be seen from the fact that even when I bring up topics he is not interested in, he will still politely respond.

His behavior pattern is extremely passive; if the other party acts assertively, Yue Zhengling will be led by the nose.

During their conversation, Arthur mentioned that this was the apocalypse and that going out would be extremely dangerous. In order for their previous plan to proceed smoothly, he wanted to test Yue Zhengling's abilities.

He then noticed that Yue Zhengling seemed about to refuse several times, but ultimately didn't say it. This prompted Arthur to put the training plan on the agenda. He had originally wanted to communicate for a few more days before making a decision, but it seemed unnecessary now.

As Meryl said, the world is already like this, and he is already late. So it doesn't matter whether he finds out the reason sooner or later. He might as well take advantage of the fact that Yue Zhengling doesn't want to leave and train him properly.

However, neither he nor Yue Zhengling knew that in the clock tower not far from them, the remaining high-ranking members of the clock tower who detected the magical fluctuations of the two had held several meetings to discuss whether or not to send out an exploration team to find them.

"I object!" Barthezmero Loreleia, the monarch of the Forensic Department and candidate for dean of the Clock Tower, stood up and said loudly.

"My Clone squad has already suffered a major blow and hasn't recovered yet! They're no longer able to carry out retrieval missions! If anyone wants to go out, they can go on their own! I won't stop them! But I won't provide any manpower to help them either."