Davidian's Holy Grail War

I cannot afford to lose my life in this battle. I hope you understand that such a waste of life is unforgivable.

I also hope that you can use your life for something more valuable.

David's words expressed many of his own thoughts, which he hoped Gawain would understand.

"Therefore, please put aside your hatred for now, and wait until the day my king's ideal is achieved. I will give you as many lives as you want. But until then, please fight alongside me and my king."

Davidian extended his hand, and he made it very clear that he would temporarily set aside his hatred for the sake of his king's great wish.

Gawain was deeply shocked at this moment. He could tell whether David Ann was speaking from the heart or just lying to deceive him.

At this moment, Gawain sensed no falsehood whatsoever; he could only feel the sincerity in David's words. He was not acting for himself, but for King Arthur's great wish.

“Sir, Davidian, your words fill me with deep shame. Overwhelmed by personal grudges, I have completely forgotten my duty and responsibility as a knight and a subject of the king. I... I really am..."

Gawain grasped David's hand, tears of shame welling in his eyes. But David shook his head, indicating that he didn't need to feel so guilty.

“Gao Wenqing, I understand your feelings, please don’t do this. No matter the era, avenging one’s father is never a wrong thing. You have done nothing wrong, have you? But please let this matter end here.”

Davidian simply smiled and reassured him that, in any case, the duel had indeed ended within a controllable range.

The knights were also satisfied with the ending, considering their internal problems; it was a happy conclusion for everyone.

"What a wonderful duel, Gao Wenqing, you fought well."

Lancelot also reassured Gawain, saying that he had really played well. It was just that David was a step ahead, which was nothing to worry about.

"Lord Lancelot, for a moment I cannot tell whether you are praising me or insulting me."

Gao Wen smiled wryly. He had already lost, yet he was still praised for playing well. It was truly inexplicably frustrating.

But Lancelot suddenly became serious, and without hesitation said:

"Of course you played well. Do you really think your opponent is that bad? Haven't you noticed that David has changed? Is he still the same as he was at the beginning?"

Think back carefully to your first encounter with him, and then think about now. Is David still the same David?

Gawain carefully recalled his initial duel with Davidian in the forest, and then he recalled Davidian from just now.

Only then did he realize that, compared to Davidian, who had been overjoyed and thought he had found a worthy opponent, Davidian now seemed... completely devoid of emotional fluctuation in this one-on-one duel.

He felt neither joy nor distress, nor any sense that he could no longer bear it. He simply endured Gawain's attacks like a stubborn rock, and then, like a gentle breeze, retaliated at the most opportune moment.

"He has changed. Only on the real battlefield will he show those emotions, whether it be anger or the joy of victory."

But in this duel, he revealed nothing; only a mechanical, task-performing quality remained.

Gawain recalled Davidian, who had remained silent during the duel. He had truly changed. Perhaps it was because Davidian hadn't uttered a single word that Gawain himself hadn't said a word either.

"I thought he was silent because he had nothing to say during his duel with you. But now I realize that even if his opponent were me, it would be the same. No matter the reason, it would be difficult for him to have any emotional fluctuations in this kind of private duel."

Lancelot sighed. He didn't know why Davian had become like this. It seemed that even a life-or-death duel couldn't arouse Davian's interest in anything.

"So don't think there's anything wrong with you, you played really well."

After comforting Gawain, Lancelot left. Gawain could only smile bitterly; the course of fate was truly unpredictable. Why had things turned out this way?

Davidan pulled the dark sword from the ground and left with Artoria; the others wisely didn't follow. After all, judging from the atmosphere, it seemed inappropriate for them to interfere.

“You showed neither joy nor remorse just now, and seemed to take your attitude too for granted.”

Artoria could also sense the strange atmosphere, even though it was a fair duel where everyone was risking their lives to avenge their father.

But David's punch was completely uneventful, as if it had become a mere swordsmanship performance.

"Because this duel won't bring me anything anyway. What good would it do me to win? It would only save my life."

Even if I lose, I'm not too bothered by it. After all, I killed his father, so it's just a matter of life for life. At most, I regret that I can no longer fight alongside you.

As for guilt, have you ever seen me feel that? This duel was perfectly natural, so it didn't stir any emotions in me.

David made it very clear that he wouldn't feel any joy just because he won.

Artoria understood what he meant, so she just smiled and said nothing more.

After all, David had already taken the most appropriate measures, which not only saved his own life but also convinced Gawain to stop causing more riots because of these things.

"We don't know what battles await us next, so let's rest well and prepare for tomorrow. Artoria, I will always be with you, until the very end."

After accompanying the king back to his residence, David said something that Artoria said, and upon hearing it, flicked his chest and then returned to her residence with a smile.

David touched the spot where he'd been flicked, smiled, and returned to his barracks. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly from now on.

Chapter 106 Rome

Three years have passed since the defeat of the coalition of the northern kings and the duel with Gawain, and David's life has become much easier during these three years.

Although the situation in Britain had not improved, it had at least not worsened, and the intensity of the war had decreased.

The continuous wars were no longer against the kings of Britain, but against the various Saxon tribes. This truly relieved the knights considerably, as many did not wish to fight against people they once knew.

The spring sunshine was just right, and as David walked up the city wall, he saw twelve people holding olive branches walking in a special formation into the still unfinished Camelot.

David looked at the man in the front row, who held an olive branch in one hand and a flag he couldn't understand in the other. Who? Whose envoy could this be?

“That’s a Roman flag; it looks like a Roman envoy.”

Bedivere, standing beside him, recognized it; after all, Bedivere had received more education than Davidian. But the fact that a Roman envoy had arrived at this time could only mean that he was truly up to no good.

"The twilight of the Roman Empire? I heard that a very powerful emperor came from there, was he called Lucius the Sword?"

Davidian shook his head; he roughly understood why the Roman envoy had come so brazenly. More trouble was about to begin.

The arrival of the Roman envoys immediately caught Artoria's attention. She summoned her knights and then received the twelve men in the palace hall.

Judging from the expressions on the faces of these twelve people, Artoria knew that they definitely had ill intentions.

"The noble and great Emperor Lucius has sent us to extend our greetings to the King of Britain, and at the same time request that you recognize him as your monarch and pay in full the tribute that Britain owes to the Roman Empire."

Your father has always paid this tribute, but you do the opposite, refusing to acknowledge him as your sovereign and failing to comply with the decrees and laws ordained by the noble and venerable Emperor Caesar.

If you dare to continue to defy Emperor Lucius's will and orders, he will surely lead a large army to conquer you and your kingdom, and punish you and your subjects.

"To make an example of him, to warn all kings and their princes, so that they would never again neglect their obligation to pay tribute to the Roman Empire."

The leader of the twelve men finished speaking arrogantly, and David's hand was already on the hilt of his sword. This group, to a certain extent, didn't treat people like human beings.

Many people could no longer tolerate this. Lancelot's nephew, Sir Bose, who had recently come to Britain, was so angry that he shouted that he had to kill all twelve of them. How could they be allowed to humiliate the King of Knights like this?

"Silence. Silence. My knights."

Artoria held out her hand, silencing everyone present; she had something to say.

She looked down at the Roman envoys on the steps and, in front of everyone, replied to them in this way:

“Please reply to Emperor Lucius. I cannot meet his demands. I owe him no tribute and have the right to rule all of Britain.”

"Go back now. If Emperor Lucius intends to conquer me and my kingdom, let him come. The British have never feared war."

Upon hearing this, the messenger wore a mocking expression.

The twelve then departed, heading back to Rome to report to Emperor Lucius. They believed that the Roman army would soon descend upon Britain.

Once the gathering concluded, Artoria immediately convened a crucial meeting with the core members. Lucius was certain to attend, and the question was how to defeat him.

“I can go ahead first, and once Lucius has set off, I will immediately go to Flanders to garrison the territory. It is a necessary stop on the way; Rome must land there to set foot on British soil.”

The First Legion will hold off the Roman vanguard there first, and then our king will use the time we buy to gather enough strength to drive the Romans back in one fell swoop.”

Davidian was the first to volunteer for the mission. That's what the First Legion was for. As long as they were still around, Rome wouldn't be able to spread the flames of war throughout Britain.

“I can go first, my king!” Gawain also volunteered, believing this was the perfect opportunity for him to contribute to King Arthur.

Bose shook his head: "Gao Wenqing, what are you saying? You are the commander of the King's personal guard. You should stay by the King's side. Let me go with Lord David."

"What nonsense are you talking about! You better behave yourself and don't cause any trouble for David!"

Lancelot grabbed Bose, saying that the kid was too young and had never been beaten before, yet he wanted to join the First Legion.

Is that a place he should go? With Boss's pathetic fighting skills, Lancelot is afraid he'd get stabbed in the face if he went into battle.

David Ann laughed, saying nonchalantly:

"Let him come with me. It'll be a good opportunity to temper his temperament. He can skip the front line, but he can come to my tent as a servant and learn properly first. What do you think?"

"Great!" Boss exclaimed happily. He had long wanted to go out and broaden his horizons.

What's the point of staying by Lancelot's side all the time? A knight should go out on adventures and make a name for himself on the battlefield.

Lancelot nearly covered his face in embarrassment; he knew his nephew's capabilities best. He was weak in combat and worldly-wise—could he really be trusted to let him out?

But then he saw David's confident expression and felt relieved. Since he was confident, he decided to let David do it.

After all, they were going to be operating alongside the First Legion, so Davidian should be confident.

At this moment, Bedivere also said, "Then, Your Majesty, I am also willing to go to the front lines with David. It's been a long time since we've had a major battle, and I should be on the front lines. I can't stay in the rear forever."

Artoria nodded. Bedivere's willingness to volunteer for the mission showed that he had indeed been quite idle in the back.

"Then, all of you should return to prepare for war. If Rome makes any move, the First Legion will be the first to set out and block their advance. Then I will lead the main force to make these Romans understand that Britain is not a place where they can act with impunity!"

Artoria stood up and ordered everyone to return to prepare for battle; they were determined to ensure that the Romans would not return alive.

After everyone had left, leaving only Merlin and Artoria, Artoria breathed a sigh of relief, and Merlin smiled and said:

"Everyone is in high spirits. It seems that this period of rest has not dulled them. They are still excellent knights who can fight for you in all directions."