Beneath a bright moon and scattered stars, firewood crackled in the flickering campfire. The travelers who had met by chance sat together in its glow, talking late into the night.
Samael told them the story of Wallace and shared his own thoughts along the way.
Before being stabbed to death by an enraged reader, the Ancient Serpent had been an author, after all. Anyone capable of being hunted down by readers for abandoning a story naturally knew how to tell one.
In an age starved for entertainment, everyone listened with rapt attention. Even the fugitive couple became absorbed in the tale and fell into deep thought.
To strengthen his argument, Samael also dragged in Gilgamesh, who had been quite the bastard in his youth, and used him as an example.
As the leader of the ancient slave-owning class, the King of Uruk had never shown much compassion for his people.
To him, restraining his desires, sealing away his emotions, remaining rational, sacrificing himself for the people, or empathizing with them would have sounded like an enormous joke.
According to his values, everyone belonged to him. They were his property and his slaves. Slaves existed to sacrifice themselves for their master, not the other way around.
Unless Uruk faced an existential crisis like the "Third Storm," where both the nation and Gilgamesh himself were certain to perish, he would only occasionally display something resembling "kindness."
At ordinary times, expecting that pleasure-seeking tyrant to understand the hardships of common life was nothing but a fantasy.
Even so, at the busiest point of his reign, that arrogant king still remembered when Tabbad's daughter was due to give birth and knew the circumstances in General Tim's hometown. He also knew exactly how to offer thoughtful concern at the right moment.
That was precisely why the people of Uruk were willing to face death and stand united against natural disasters.
One could call it charity or dismiss it as an act, but there was no denying that these small gestures were the most effective way to win people's loyalty.
By comparison, Artoria was far too inexperienced in such matters. By suppressing herself and clinging to reason, she had created a distance no one could cross.
The Knights of the Round Table and the people alike worshiped her, yet everyone kept their distance.
Once the figure upon the altar gradually became stained, the deity was no longer flawless or towering. Those who had bowed their heads for so long naturally began to look up, and contempt and resentment took root.
Raising mortals onto altars and watching gods fall into the dust were two of humanity's favorite pastimes.
Governing a country and caring for its people did not require some noble act of total self-sacrifice. It was enough to handle the ordinary concerns of food, clothing, birth, old age, sickness, and death properly.
Drawing upon his many years of governing during peaceful times, Samael condensed his experience into one heartfelt conclusion.
"In the end, a ruler must provide for the people. The great affairs of a nation are the small concerns of its citizens!"
When his speech ended, an oddly profound silence settled over the camp.
The Ancient Serpent felt eight eyes fixed upon him and suddenly grew uncomfortable.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?"
After a brief silence, the slave laborer Nock bowed solemnly. His expression was grave, and he looked at the nameless swordsman before him with sincere admiration.
"You are a remarkable man..."
The other three nodded in unison.
"I wish you were our lord."
The timid slave woman could not help murmuring wistfully.
"Mm-hmm. You certainly are someone worth serving, in every sense..."
Mari's purple eyes sparkled mischievously as she teased him in her usual shameless fashion, earning an exasperated eye roll from Samael.
"I will consider advising the King to abolish this vile custom..."
Even Morgan had changed her opinion of this "trivial matter" and now intended to intervene.
When she saw the trace of surprise on Samael's face and noticed that he seemed about to speak, the witch quietly added,
"I am a woman too..."
The right of the first night did not merely trample upon a man's dignity. It was also an exploitation of women.
Seeing Morgan treat the matter so seriously, Samael did not know whether to laugh or sigh. A complicated mixture of emotions welled within him.
He had merely slept for too long and wanted someone to talk to, so he had spoken without thinking much of it. He had never expected his words to genuinely change Morgan's attitude.
If this witch, who was at odds with the King of Knights Artoria, became an advisor in the governance of the country and altered Artoria's approach to ruling, then the decline of Britannia's Age of Gods might be delayed.
That would run directly counter to Samael's original objective.
Tsk. Why can't I ever keep my mouth shut?
Samael rubbed his forehead in frustration, feeling utterly helpless.
Yet after considering it several times, the Ancient Serpent realized that even if he had known the consequences, he probably would have made the same choice.
History was cold, but people were warm.
After personally witnessing so many different lives, with all their joys and sorrows, reunions and separations, could he truly remain detached and watch from the sidelines?
In the end, Samael found no answer. A faint ripple of melancholy crossed his deep eyes as he gazed at the moonlight.
"You're going to Darlington under orders to deal with the insect plague?"
During their conversation, the couple learned the identities and destination of the three travelers. They were deeply shocked, their faces filled with awe and relief.
After taking in that startling revelation, Nock seemed to remember something. His eyes flickered as he asked quietly,
"Do you have any way to stop it?"
Morgan's expression stiffened at the thought of those endlessly writhing creatures whose numbers blotted out the land. Still shaken by the memory, she shook her head.
The Insect of the Abyss was a monster born from filth. Although her attacks could scatter the creatures, they could not eliminate the problem at its source.
The contaminated soil, plants, and water were also serious problems.
The insect plague was even more troublesome than the earlier beast plague. For now, finding a proper solution remained a source of frustration for all three of them.
"I know where you can find someone capable of dealing with those demonic insects!"
Nock hesitated briefly before speaking with a solemn expression. His words immediately drew surprised looks from the three travelers.
The man gathered himself, organized his thoughts, and began recounting what the couple had experienced during their escape.
The Insect of the Abyss had swept across the Southern Frontier. Many demonic insects had also appeared near the territory where they once lived, bringing all mining operations to a halt.
The mine fairies, who were waiting to receive their share of the harvest, grew increasingly restless.
Before long, however, the demonic insects infesting the area around the mines, devouring the soil and polluting the water, vanished without a trace. Mining then resumed in full swing.
As a slave miner descended from generations of miners, Nock had naturally dealt with the mine fairies before. Curious about what had happened, he had once given them several pieces of ore he had secretly saved in exchange for an explanation.
They told him that the mine fairies had sought help from the Chief of the Earth Clan, who had successfully ended the disaster.
Of course!
Realization struck Samael as he recalled the records concerning the Six Great Fairy Clans.
Fairies were manifestations of the planet's Divided Spirits, which gave them an innately powerful affinity with nature.
The Insect of the Abyss emerged from underground and was born from the filth of the dead.
The Earth Clan could purify the land and encourage plant growth, making them the ideal allies against those demonic insects.
Nock's words had awakened him to the obvious solution. The Ancient Serpent immediately asked in earnest,
"Where are they?"
"The Nameless Forest! I know where it is. I can lead you there!"
Nock's anxiety gradually eased, and he made the promise without the slightest hesitation.
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