Yuto sighed heavily as he cleaned the room.
"How many times will I have to apologise for that?" Yuto spoke. "It's been two hundred years."
Merlin sympathised with him and even enjoyed it a little. He knew Vivian could be vengeful and ruthless. After all, she was Morgan's mirror image.
"It's been 306 years to be precise," Vivian said, staring at Yuto. "And you still haven't returned me what stole."
"Ah ah ah... what did I steal you?" Yuto asked casually.
"That lake's water," Vivian said, frowning. "You seduced me and stole my water."
"Did you sleep with Vivian?" Mordred said this with a mocking smile.
Yuto grunted, irritated. It was better that the situation had been clarified before his reputation as a new Merlin became on par with, if not worse than, the original.
"I don't deny stealing, but my actions were justified," Yuto stated, staring stoically at Vivian. "I don't have specific medical knowledge. So I had to look for a cure for the plague on the opposite side of society."
Yuto was in Britain on an exploratory mission when he came across a village. He soon discovered that there were infected among the residents. To prevent the plague from spreading, he gave some advice, such as not allowing travellers and merchants from other tribes into the village. However, he needed a definitive treatment for the disease, and Yuto remembered that he was near the Water Elemental's home.
"You used my water to wash the villagers, didn't you?" Vivian asked.
"Do not worry. I told them it was just some water I had infused with medicinal herbs," Yuto reassured.
He wasn't stupid. He knew Vivian's peace would be shattered if anyone discovered that the waters of her lake were special. Warlords or even the Romans themselves would have fought to conquer that territory.
"You should feel happy. You saved many lives," Yuto said inadvertently.
Vivian sighed. "No, you didn't understand what you did."
"By using Vivian's water, you saved them, but you also extended their lives," Arthur said.
Vivian nodded and explained that a rumour was circulating outside of the village. It was a voice that would eventually give rise to the myth of the Fountain of the Youth. This is because, as Vivian explained, the villagers had developed a long lifespan and complete immunity to disease.
"Why do you think Caesar was interested in Britain?" Vivian inquired sternly. "The first expedition was a failure because I waved the oceans around the island."
"Is it possible that the rumour was spread by Lucius Tarquinius and Morgan?" Tiberius asked.
"Certainly, this is so," Vivian stated firmly. "How do you think Lucius Tarquinius is alive otherwise?"
"I thought he had used the potion of youth stored in the vault," Yuto replied.
"That can only restore youth, but it can not guarantee eternal life," Vivian said. "However, Caesar heard from Morgan about the fountain of youth."
"What would she gain from this?" Claudius asked.
Morgan's seemingly irrational actions made no sense. Only Yuto, Mordred, and Merlin understood the purpose.
Vivian ignored Claudius' question and proceeded.
"The news spread and all the warlords began a series of wars over control of the source," Vivian explained, turning to Yuto. "Among them is one who most of all is close to finding the source."
"Did something happen to that village?" Yuto inquired.
"That village is where it all started," Vivian explained. "Britain is hell because of you."
"I guess, but what do you expect from me?" Yuto didn't feel guilty because he didn't realise how powerful the water was and believed he was doing the right thing. He was unable to predict the problems that occurred 300 years later. "The only option is for Rome to conquer the island. However, I would support Morgan's and Lucius Tarquinius' goals.
Morgan would have free reign over Britain if Lucius Tarquinius restored the monarchy in Rome, which is not impossible.
"If I may ask, I would like to know why Britain is so important?" Tiberius asked.
"First, British blood flows through my veins. The second is that it is a land rich in magical energy," Yuto replied.
The first permanent settlement in Rome was also built on a layline too. Yuto suggested that point to Romulus under the guise that the gods would favour it.
"So what should we do?" Mordred asked.
"I don't know. A military campaign would necessitate not only Senate approval but also the formation of an army," Yuto reasoned, citing a lack of resources to form a functional legion. "I couldn't even go there as Archer." He looked surprised as he realised something. "No, maybe Archer could do it." He turned towards Merlin. "Would you like to go home?"
"Do you want to send me back to Avalon so soon?" Merlin joked.
One tick pulsed on Yuto's forehead. "Don't tempt me."
"I heard you are leaving soon. "Or rather, I heard Archer will leave," Lavinia the younger said.
"Yeah, as soon as your father gets the Senate green light," you replied.
This was the only flaw in the plan. Yuto had no idea how long it would take them to vote in favour of the war. Even more difficult was persuading ambitious seniles to give Tiberius command.
"I thought you wouldn't be back in the army," Lavinia said, smiling lightly.
"Neither did I." Yuto sighed wearily. "But lately many things have happened that I didn't plan."
"That is the beauty of life. You never know what might happen," Lavinia said cheerfully. "Rather, don't you care to get into politics?"
"Politics? I?" Yuto muttered thoughtfully. "I don't understand politics."
"No, you enter hearts with actions," Lavinia said, noticing how many people had approached Yuto and Mordred to express gratitude for saving the town from the monsters. "You should also consider your future. I understand your desire to repay your debts, but you are a free man. You should also value your happiness too."
"I'm already happy," Yuto said.
"Can you really say that?" Lavinia inquired, staring intently at Yuto. "Even if you think my father was nice to you, he only did it for his own sake, especially now that another rumour is spreading."
"What are you talking?" Yuto asked.
"There is this rumour that you are actually god Vulcan's son," Lavinia replied.
Lavinia reported hearing from some of her friends whose brothers were trapped inside Unlimited Blade Works.
"I don't care what strangers think or say about me," Yuto said, turning to face her. "Instead, what do you think of me?"
Lavinia bit her lips. To say Yuto was Yuto would be a platitude that which even she did not believe.
"A fool," she finally said, eliciting a laugh from Yuto. "But that is why everyone is supporting you. It shows how much they love and care for you."
Yuto looked down, smiling slightly as he looked at the command spells.
"Yeah, I'm a fool. Otherwise, I wouldn't have chosen to live so long," Yuto revealed unexpectedly. "Maybe I can't find anything that gives me happiness."
Had he ever felt happy in 800 years? Has he ever truly felt a part of something? He had asked himself these questions several times but had not found an answer. He was taken away after the Sixth Holy Grail War ended. Because he knew he wouldn't be able to return, he was forced to choose between saving or condemning Rin and his parents.
"My desire is contradictory," Yuto explained. "Although I want happiness for those people, they are bound to suffer."
His mother and Mordred would have murdered each other.
His father would be the only survivor at the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War.
"Will you give up?"
"If I did, I would only be disrespecting those who have suffered before," Yuto said, watching Jack play tag with Merlin's familiar.
Archer's words had opened his eyes a little.
"It's because of this." Yuto extracted a clay tablet bearing his name and that of the founding king and handed it to Lavinia. "Since I signed it, my life has been totally bound to Rome. In a way, you can say that I no longer have free will."
"What have you earned in return?" Lavinia asked.
That language was very old, too old for her to read it correctly. However, she had sensed that it was a contract.
"I don't think you made it without getting anything in return," Lavinia said, returning the tablet to Yuto. "Gold? Wealth? Power?"
"None of this really matters to me," Yuto said. "In exchange for being the guardian of Rome, I was exempted from all obligations and I had a certain degree of freedom."
However, they were all privileges that allowed him to continue his work while being free of legal consequences. He had gained nothing else.
"Are you busy after sunset?" Yuto asked.
"Won't you...?" Lavinia crossed suspiciously.
"Do you think I am a pervert?" Yuto responded lazily. It was true that he seduced Vivian, but not in the way that most people would expect. "I'm inviting you to dinner."
Lavinia laughed ironically. Why would she think that?
Desires shaped the men who lived their lives to fulfil them. This frequently involved crushing others' desires, and Yuto had broken many of them both before and after the Sixth Holy Grail War.
"So when will you give me a nephew?" Mordred asked jokingly.
"The day you find yourself a man," Yuto quickly answered.
That means never. It was almost impossible for Mordred to consider anyone worthy of her.
Mordred smiled slightly. "This is the first time I've seen you at least relaxed."
"Uh?" Yuto looked at her and blinked.
"You're not as obsessed as you were last time," Mordred said, smiling slightly. "I don't think history must follow the standard script. For example, you could become the first shogun in Japanese history or the King of Britain."
"Yes, of course. Why not?" Yuto laughed mockingly.
"The Counter Force is already active but you are not the cause." Mordred moved next to him. She took a couple of glasses and poured wine for both Yuto and herself. "And even if it is, I will fight alongside you. We'll fight and die together."
Yuto smiled. Hearing those words made him happy to an extent.
"So what is the battle plan?" Mordred asked, sipping the wine. "I mean the plan to give the world to Rin."
"We have essentially to do two things: prevent the beginning of the Holy Grail War and to change the Clock Tower." Yuto drank and exhaled.
"This is a guaranteed failure," Mordred said sarcastically. "It is impossible to change the magi's personalities."
"Who said anything about changing it?"
Mordred turned to look at the bag that Yuto had placed on the table. She then turned to Yuto and, judging by the severity of his expression, realised what he wanted to do.
"That's why you sent Merlin ahead." Mordred recognised that Merlin's role was to lay the groundwork for their future activities in Britain. "Are you sure you're not the witch's son?"
"Thank you for this supreme insult," Yuto lamented.
He didn't deny that he was playing chess with his aunt, attempting to predict and anticipate her moves.
"I guess you won't tell me your plan in detail." Mordred nodded at herself. "So... when is my time to shine?"
Soon. Very soon.
"Take this," Yuto offered her a silver bullet. "It has Morgan's name written on it, but I want you to stick it in her body."
"No beheading?" Mordred appeared disappointed.
"She does not deserve a quick and painless death," Yuto said, his eyes flickering from green to gold like a traffic light. "I cannot forgive her. I want to urinate on her body and dance on her grave."
Mordred smiled lazily. "All right, but remember there's more." She placed a hand on Yuto's shoulder. "Keep that in mind, lest you fall into that mistake again."
"I will." Yuto stood up, took the basket, and walked to the door, pausing briefly before leaving.
"Thank you, Mordred."