Nuclear Sword Immortal Starting from Type-Moon

After all, she thought she had perfectly disguised herself as a man.

Although her weakness had already been exposed, the girl felt that she hadn't given herself away yet.

She was touched to that extent, yet she didn't even realize she was being touched.

If Shirou knew what she was thinking, he would only marvel at the girl's naiveté.

Just then, the girl, gazing at the drifting white clouds in the sky, suddenly asked:

"Senior... why do you think the lords hoard so many knights and soldiers, yet are unwilling to wipe out bandits and monsters?"

The girl recalled Merlin's lessons on 'the art of kingship'.

The magician advised her to abandon her human emotions.

Only by emulating her father, becoming a transcendent being indifferent to everything, can one grow into a qualified king.

Is indifference and ruthlessness the mark of a true king?

The blonde girl racked her brains but couldn't figure out the logic behind it.

"If people live and work in peace and contentment, won't towns and cities also become more prosperous?"

Hearing the girl's murmured question, Shirou turned his gaze and glanced at her serene and pretty face.

"A prosperous town does not necessarily mean a wealthy lord."

"Humans are selfish creatures. No one is willing to hand over the fruits of their hard work as taxes."

Shirou gazed at the clear blue sky, his eyes following the white clouds as they slowly moved.

"Whether in the age of gods or not, human suffering has never changed."

"Private interests and desires, extravagance and arrogance..."

"Making a partner, making sacrifices and dedicating oneself..."

"Serving the country and its people, with lofty ideals and aspirations..."

Throughout their lives, people pursue things that bring them inner peace.

"And those lords and nobles, in order to maintain their own stability, will stop at nothing..."

Shirou's words made the girl frown. She tried hard to understand the true meaning behind his words.

Shirou's words continued.

"Only when people are restless can the lord continue to conscript soldiers and collect taxes from them."

"The incursions of bandits and monsters are one of the factors that cause people to fear."

"Therefore, in order to save trouble and to maintain this fear, the lord will not go to sweep it away."

"People, fearing the dangers of the outside world, cowered like lambs behind the high walls built by their lords, willingly becoming enslaved."

Hearing these words, Artoria was slightly stunned.

The chivalrous spirit that had been instilled in them for so long was greatly challenged at this moment.

"If that's the case, then aren't these lords no different from bandits?"

Upon hearing this, Shirou nodded, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips.

"That's right.

“Exploiting the fruits of others’ labor is one of the very essences of the aristocracy.”

This is actually a very simple truth to modern people.

However, given the context of the Middle Ages, it was difficult for people to understand.

"It's a pity, but that's the truth."

The red-haired boy's gentle, persuasive voice slowly rang in the girl's ears.

"A small favor is appreciated, but a large one breeds resentment; this has been human nature since ancient times."

"Humans are inherently selfish; without selfishness, one cannot be called a human being."

"You seem unable to understand such things."

"Because you don't see yourself as a 'human being' at all, do you?"

Shirou's gaze swept over the girl's bewildered eyes.

His eyes were so deep they seemed to see through time.

"So noble, so kind, so considerate of others."

"You've never had a place for yourself in your heart."

"A saint can comfort people, but he can never lead them."

"Altoris..."

"You don't understand people's hearts."

The gentle words left the girl feeling somewhat confused.

Human nature...

The girl stared blankly at the wooden sword in her hand.

The sword, weathered by countless trials, was covered in scars.

But her heart has not yet been tempered and remains as blank as a sheet of paper.

Therefore, she couldn't understand.

She remembered the magician in her dream, whose teachings had always been nothing more than empty words:

To become king, you must wield a sword, uphold the code of chivalry... and learn to be ruthless.

Why be so heartless?

"Because you are ruthless, you will not suffer."

That's how the magician answered.

Why is it painful to become king?

Isn't leading the people forward a righteous act?

When I ask myself this question.

The magician could only smile wryly, because he had no way of answering the question.

If it were a senior...

Will he tell me the answer?

"forward……"

Artoria had just opened her mouth and uttered the first syllable when the boy's voice drowned out her words.

"You want to be king, don't you?"

"Eh? Senior, how... how did you know...?"

The girl asked, somewhat bewildered.

"With Merlin's prophecy, which knight in Britain wouldn't want to become king?"

"It's nothing more than an obvious fact."

Shirou chuckled and shook his head, his tone tinged with a hint of helplessness.

"Are you still worried?"

He worried that if he became king, people would not approve of him and would not understand his actions.

"what……"

The young girl's lips parted slightly, speechless, struck by those words that struck straight to her heart.

"Senior, why... do you know me so well?"

It was only our first meeting.

But it had already seen through her heart.

This situation left the girl full of doubts, yet she also felt a strange sense of relief.

"Well..."

Shirou glanced at the beautiful face of the girl beside him.

A hint of reminiscence flashed in his eyes.

"You are very similar to one of my friends."

“My friend suffered a terrible betrayal, and I don’t want you to repeat the same mistake.”

As the girl gazed blankly into his eyes, Shirou looked toward the distant horizon.

He had no friends; he was merely describing the situation of a young girl who had become a queen.

The sun was tilting, and its warm, orange-red light swept across the earth, casting long shadows of the two people.