The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

Although it was embarrassing to admit, Artoria had to confess that she didn't have a single penny to her name.

She had no shortage of titles, ambitions, or the ideal of unifying the world.

But she simply didn't have any money...

If you lack funds, then gather resources; perhaps only those with noble ideals will choose to join you...

But are there really that many people like this?

Anyway, give it a try...

"Yes, I accept your suggestion. Now let's go back to Gulitian to gather strength."

"Artoria said slowly."

Seeing that she had her own ideas, Kiana didn't say much and just nodded in agreement.

Then both sides returned to Britain...

...

"Ah, what lofty ideal did you say about ending the war with unification? I'm telling you, little girl, are you out of your mind..."

"What the heck? Are you guys kidding me? We're asking about salary. Don't try to fool me with these childish stories."

"I'm telling you, little girls, we're going to be fighting on the battlefield with weapons, risking our lives. Are you trying to fool us with these ridiculous fairy tales?"

In a town near Artoria's village, a group of mercenaries, having heard the news, came and hurled insults at her employer.

These guys were disheveled and poorly equipped, but their imposing presence was in no way inferior to that of the still young Artoria.

After all, for these people who live on the edge, only tangible rewards can drive them crazy.

As for glory and chivalry...

These are things that only noble gentlemen need to consider.

Therefore, when these rather rude mercenaries encountered the inexperienced Artoria...

Their aggressive demeanor showed that they completely disregarded their employer.

Artoria, as the employer, looked at these people with some dismay.

As a knight, she could not accept that the honor she believed in was being called worthless by a group of people.

But as a queen, she was well aware of her own demands, which were indeed somewhat unreasonable.

Beyond these two identities, she felt a deep sorrow.

It is sad that these people have so little sense of honor.

"Is that so? You are not prepared to pledge allegiance to me?"

"...They just couldn't agree on a price, kid. Your young lady hasn't said anything, so why are you interrupting?"

Because Artoria was still disguised as a male knight in disguise, the mercenaries mistook Kiana for a noble lady from some family.

To avoid attracting attention, Kiana changed into a pure white dress, the long, trailing skirt revealing her long, slender legs.

She looks very beautiful like this.

However, because she was a woman and wore a mask covering half her face, her charm was diminished considerably.

Moreover, she exudes a faint, pleasant fragrance that is refreshing to the senses.

Seeing that Kiana remained silent, the mercenaries turned their attention to Artoria beside her.

The child didn't look particularly special; in fact, he was quite ordinary.

However, seeing Artoria's impoverished appearance, the mercenaries' tone inevitably became contemptuous.

"Hey kid, get out of the way. Don't block my way, or don't blame me for being rude."

A burly man in the mercenary group roared fiercely.

They are considered to be among the more ruthless figures in the mercenary world.

Therefore, most people would be so frightened by their appearance that they would stay far away or even run away immediately.

only...

The person in front of me...

They had never encountered anything like it before.

Not only are they not afraid of them, on the contrary...

They still dare to provoke us.

"Watch your words, or I won't hesitate to show you what a knight with lofty ideals truly is."

"See that? That brat dared to provoke us!"

Mocking voices echoed within the mercenary group.

"hehe."

Artoria merely glanced at them coldly in response to their mocking remarks.

But this one glance stunned the group of people.

This kid's eyes are terrifying.

Their eyes seemed to see right through them, making them feel flustered and uneasy.

"Little brat, you'd better get lost, or you'll regret it when we bring our help."

The burly man stammered as he spoke to Artoria.

"Fine, you can leave. I won't hire you."

Artoria ignored them and continued walking forward.

Seeing that she was determined to leave, Kiana didn't say anything more.

Ultimately, it was Artoria who made the final decision on whether to hire him; she was just changing her clothes to make an appearance.

Unfortunately, mercenaries aren't exactly a group of virtuous people; sometimes it's easy to hire them, but difficult to get rid of them...

"You think we can leave? Ha! We're taking you with us today, so your young lady can teach you a lesson!"

At this moment, in this chaotic Britain, mercenaries and bandits are really just different names for each other.

Mercenaries often take on the role of bandits, engaging in robbery, kidnapping, and other similar activities.

These days, these guys feel that it's better to risk their lives for a tiny commission than to risk everything.

It would be better to kidnap this pretty noble lady in front of us; maybe her family could pay her a large sum of money.

The mercenaries exchanged glances, their greed evident in their expressions...

Chapter Six: Lancelot, look closely, this is the person you will follow for the rest of your life.

Are these guys really mercenaries?

Could they be bandits disguised as mercenaries?

"If you have any sense left, I advise you to get out of the way."

"Artori said calmly."

Although the employers' reaction was far beyond her expectations, the scene was not enough to make her panic.

The moment she left her hiding place, she had already prepared herself mentally.

Now, it's just that there's been a slight deviation.

They thought they'd be attacked by their pursuers, but instead, they were targeted by a group of mercenaries...

This is really not something to laugh about.

"Hahaha."

Seeing this, the mercenaries finally couldn't hold back any longer.

They burst into laughter.

"Kid, did you get your brain squeezed in a door?"

"Hahaha."

"I think you really are a fool."

These guys are so arrogant, they actually dared to insult Artoria in public!

This is a blatant insult!

Kiana was furious, a cold glint flashing in her eyes, and her hands clenched into fists.

Although going on a killing spree here would inevitably cause trouble.

But it should be understood that those who achieve great things are more than just famous figures, especially for someone like Artoria who is a successor to the throne.

So, sometimes it might be okay to be a little impulsive.

At least if a big scene is created here, the consequences afterward will be completely acceptable.

Just as Kiana was pondering whether or not to give these people a surprise.

"Vulgar language."

Artoria's voice was so cold it sent chills down your spine.

Her demeanor also changed suddenly.

She, who was originally gentle and refined, now looked like a sword drawn from its sheath.

"I advise you to leave now, until I change my mind!"

"Haha, you think you can beat us? Do you know we've all been through life-or-death trials? Although we lack experience, our fighting strength is definitely much stronger than you imagine!"

"Yes, we survive in such harsh conditions."

The final warrior.

"You little brat, you're getting way too arrogant! I think you're asking for trouble!"

"We'll send you to your cowardly father right now, so he can teach his son a lesson!"