Chapter 180: But what was Mia's identity?

If it were a child who grew up in a minor noble family in a remote area like her, it would be absolutely impossible to think of becoming a King.

“Then, may I ask, how should I address you now?” King Braden asked Mia.

Mia’s power was definitely not inferior to Artoria’s.

Everyone had seen the two of them work together to repel Vortigern two days ago.

But what was Mia’s identity?

As for famous mages, he knew Merlin, and for someone who looked similar to Artoria Pendragon, King Braden could only guess at a Morgan Pendragon.

“To this world, I am just a traveler.” Mia smiled faintly, then brought up another matter: “Have the citizens been affected by the crystals?”

King Braden replied: “There must be some, but will that field of crystals have any effect on people?”

“With the average human lifespan, one won’t live long enough to be affected by glintstone.”

“Oh, that’s good… glintstone, glintstone… Is that thing called glintstone?”

King Braden nodded thoughtfully.

Regarding this matter, to be honest, Mia felt a bit apologetic.

The impact caused by that glintstone jungle had not yet spread because of the short two days.

But as time passed.

Those glintstones would definitely be like a fire axe breaking through a wooden door, bringing shockwaves to this world.

After all, this was the ‘Star-Creating Rain’ that brought Glintstone Magic to The Lands Between.

So, for the magic world of this place, the impact glintstone would bring was self-evident.

“Artoria, what are you going to do next?” Mia asked again.

“After Lancaster stabilizes, Merlin will take me back to Wales for the coronation ceremony.”

This trial was much shorter than imagined.

“Will I have to call you Her Majesty the Queen from now on?” Mia said half-jokingly.

Artoria, however, had a face full of worry: “Merlin always says that only a strong male can convince the public…”

“Don’t believe him. Do you think a playboy like him, who flirts with girls wherever he goes, can understand the true power of women? Take a coin, Artoria, and look at the Goddess Britannia engraved on its back.”

“You are not the first, Artoria. The women of Britain have never been inferior to men. Once upon a time, Britain also had a Queen who united the entire island under her sword.”

Artoria knew who Mia was talking about: “Boudica…”

“Exactly. Besides, if it’s really as Merlin says, that a Queen cannot convince the public, what about King Braden? Do you think you can’t replicate the achievements of your predecessors, Artoria? Boudica didn’t have a Holy Sword and a Holy Spear.”

“I can.” Artoria nodded seriously.

Reverse psychology is as effective as ever on this girl.

Mia nodded in her heart with some pride.

After that, she exhaled and quietly watched the noisy palace. Artoria leaned against the back of the throne, likely thinking about what Mia had said.

After a brief silence, Mia spoke again.

“I’m planning to leave too.”

“Are you coming back to Wales with us?” Artoria asked.

“No,” Mia shook her head: “Remember what I told you? I’m going back to where I came from.”

——

A carriage and three horses traveled through the glintstone jungle.

Wilden drove the carriage, Mia and Melina sat in the back, and Artoria and the other two were beside them.

This was probably the last time they would travel together like this.

“It’s truly wonderful,” Artoria looked at the glintstone clusters overhead that were translucent in the sunlight.

“Something that looks so valuable, yet I haven’t seen anyone mining it.”

“Because there’s too much of it,” Kay replied. “Things are valued for their rarity. When the number of gems covers the entire land, people naturally won’t care for them anymore.”

“I see. Even the most beautiful things, once they exist in excessive quantities, not many people are interested anymore?”

“That’s probably human nature,” Mia said, squinting as she looked up at the sky.

The carriage wheels creaked and turned, bumping over a pile of rubble.

The glintstone jungle was at its end.

“Just send me this far, Artoria.”

Mia stood up, feeling that faint, ethereal grace. There was still a long way to go.

“Since you’re going to be King, you should also learn more things. I think King Braden definitely knows how to rule a country.”

“Will you come back in the future?” Artoria reined in her horse.

“Perhaps,” Mia replied. “My place is a total mess. If possible, I’d really like to ask for your help.”

“I’ll help you with whatever you need.”

“We’ll talk about it later.” Mia smiled and waved her hand.

“Take care!” Artoria shouted toward the moving carriage.

The young girl’s shout formed an ethereal echo within the glintstone forest.

With this, the two said their goodbyes.

As the carriage left the light and shadows of the glintstone forest and entered the plains where a fire had just passed through, Artoria felt an exceptional sense of melancholy.

“Unhappy?” Merlin asked.

“Yes.” Artoria nodded.

It was as if someone who often cared for her had suddenly departed; like a sparrow leaving its nest, her heart felt empty.

“You must learn to adapt, Artoria,” Merlin said, swaying his head.

“Why?”

“To become a perfect King, one must abandon human emotions.”

Merlin trotted out the same old clichéd words once again.

This time, however, Artoria did not take Merlin’s words as the only correct answer.

“Miss Mia said that a King who does not understand humanity cannot possibly rule humanity.”

“Mm-hmm,” Kay nodded as well. “As long as it’s a King with humanity, even if they aren’t perfect, I can accept that.”

Especially since the one who was to become King was the sister he had lived with for ten years.

“Vortigern also said that if I am not human, I cannot lead humanity to victory.”

“He… said that?” Merlin asked, sounding unsure.

“He said: I cannot lead humanity to victory because my power cannot coexist with humanity—it was something like that.”

Artoria was aware of the fact that she possessed the heart of a Red Dragon and that mysterious blood flowed through her body.

“So, humanity is indispensable.” As Artoria spoke, she turned her horse around.

“Three to one. According to the principle of majority rule, Merlin, you should think hard about whether you’re the one with the problem~” Kay also rode his horse past Merlin. “Making a mistake isn’t scary; what’s scary is being unrepentant.”