Type-Moon Simulation: Starting with Conquering a Greek Goddess!-Chapter 116 - : At the City Gates, the King’s Decision

[You led the army to the city gates]

[In terms of numbers, your army consisted of three thousand men, including one thousand cavalry and the rest infantry]

[Not only Camelot needed attention]

[Besides Camelot, there was also the northern region, which served as a supply base. The Picts there also needed to be watched]

[According to intelligence, you learned]

[Currently, the combined forces of the Saxons and Picts within the city amount to around four thousand soldiers.]

[Most of them are infantry.]

[There are only a few hundred cavalry at most.]

[To prevent reinforcements from the northern enemy from causing unforeseen variables, you, Artoria, and the Knights of the Round Table decided to split off a thousand infantry and cavalry, dividing them into three groups.]

[They were sent to occupy the three main roads leading to the capital of Camelot.]

[This force of one thousand was tasked with observing and obstructing enemy reinforcements in advance.]

[They also aimed to block the enemy's retreat routes.]

[The key to this war lies with King Arthur and Vortigern. If Vortigern considers retreating or relocating,]

[then this divided force would still serve a purpose.]

[This was a necessary strategic expenditure.]

[As a result, the original force of three thousand soldiers was reduced to only two thousand.]

[You must rely on these two thousand soldiers to defeat Vortigern.]

[Although you are at a clear numerical disadvantage, you have a significant advantage in cavalry compared to Vortigern.]

[You and Artoria reached a consensus.]

[The main focus of this war is Vortigern.]

[As long as he is killed, it will greatly demoralize the Picts and Saxons.]

[Victory is not impossible.]

[Therefore, a direct clash of forces is not feasible, as it would be the most strenuous and costly strategy for you.]

[You pondered and discussed with Artoria.]

[You must create a situation where Vortigern is forced to leave the city and engage in battle. If you can shift the disadvantage of being outnumbered into a duel between commanders, then there is still a chance.]

[In terms of top-tier commanders,]

[you have Artoria, who wields the Holy Sword, Gawain, and yourself, the Dragon of the Boundary.]

[Your top-tier combat strength is unmatched.]

"As you said, Moran, although the Saxons and Picts have superior numbers, only a small portion of them can truly demonstrate their strength on the battlefield. The rest are merely hastily assembled troops."

Artoria, riding a white horse, slowly came to a halt.

Her Holy Sword emitted a radiant light like the stars, still stained with the warm blood of her enemies.

"The Sword of Promised Victory (Excalibur)."

Merlin had not broken her promise.

Although there had been an incident where the chosen sword was lost, she managed to deliver the Holy Sword just before the battle began.

"Divide the troops into seven groups and surround the enemy city."

"We have already achieved three victories in three battles. Even if Vortigern is patient, he will soon be unable to sit still."

Moran, also riding a fine horse, divided the two thousand troops into seven groups to attack from different directions.

This was to make Vortigern believe they were weak.

At the same time, it was a provocation.

Even if Vortigern, as a monster, could endure, the Picts and Saxons, being human, would not remain idle.

However, they did not expect that King Arthur was not only powerful herself.

Her army was also composed of elite soldiers.

Even though their numbers were less than half of the enemy's, they were enough to crush the forces that emerged from the city.

Apart from Moran and Artoria leading the troops.

The other units were led by Gawain, Agravain, and Gareth.

These were knights among knights.

Looking at Vortigern's forces.

Although their numbers were vast, the only notable commander was Vortigern himself.

The strengths and weaknesses of both sides were clear.

[Just as you predicted,]

[under the guidance of you and King Arthur, the morale of the troops continued to rise as they repeatedly defeated the enemy.]

[We can win! We can crush the foreign tribes! Slay the demon dragon!]

[Please lead us! Bring us victory!]

[The soldiers were confident that despite being outnumbered,

[with their two thousand elite troops, they could confidently clash with Vortigern's four thousand.]

[They believed they could achieve victory.]

[The soldiers and knights never doubted the power of their king, nor questioned the decisions of the strongest dragon.]

[In heart, skill, and body, they were flawless. Your decisions and judgments were without error.]

[Artoria, as a king, had already deeply rooted herself in the hearts of the people.]

[You also reflected on how far you had come.]

[If being undefeated in a hundred battles is a condition for being a king, then Artoria was undoubtedly an invincible war goddess."]

[She was the king who grew under your watch.]

[In several battles where they were at a disadvantage, they emerged victorious because of her kingly radiance.]

[Her personal leadership at the forefront of battles made the knights and soldiers certain that Britain had a bright future whenever they followed her.]

[However, this was the last time.]

[This king's war was filled with darkness and danger, and even the aurora of the strongest dragon began to fade—]

[The Tyrant King Vortigern.]

[After repeated defeats, he finally chose to leave the city and engage in a decisive battle with King Arthur.

[As commanders, Artoria and you agreed that killing Vortigern would solve everything.]

[At the very least, it would halt the foreign invasion.]

[Vortigern thought the same.]

[If he could kill the undefeated King of Victory and extinguish the last hope of Britain, he was certain he could finally claim Britain for himself—]

[Your intelligence had been miscalculated.]

This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.

[The previous strategy was based on the assumption that the enemy had only four thousand troops, but this was not the case."]

[The true number of Vortigern's forces in the city alone was seven thousand.

[In other fortified cities, there were tens of thousands of additional troops ready to reinforce at any moment.]

"Moran, this is going to be another fierce battle."

Artoria gazed at the distant, dark mass of enemy troops.

At a glance, she could estimate their numbers.

They were three times the size of her forces, and the battlefield was an open highland marsh.

"The intelligence was miscalculated, but this was within expectations. We didn't have much time to verify the accuracy of the information. Now, we are in a situation where there is no retreat..."

Moran was not surprised by the intelligence error.

Their forces were deep in enemy territory, facing numerous disadvantages in numbers and lacking sufficient supplies.

Reinforcements were weak, and the rear was strained.

This was the same for both Vortigern and them.

In recent years, Britain had seen little harvest, and even the forests no longer provided their bounty.

They could not afford a prolonged war.

They didn't even have the luxury of verifying accurate intelligence, as the time needed for such verification was insufficient for resupplying the front lines.

Attempting to seize supplies from the foreign tribes along the way was also impossible, as Vortigern had already plundered everything before the war began.

Whether it was the Britons, the Picts, or the foreign Saxons.

All had been forcibly taken into the city under the guise of protection, preventing King Arthur from resupplying during the campaign.

It was a situation so unfavorable that it was almost laughable.

Artoria had brought countless victories to her troops, but when they saw that the enemy's numbers were three to four times their own.

A sense of facing an abyss overwhelmed them.

Yet, the troops still believed in the king's radiance.

Their lack of fear at this moment was a testament to that.

"However, there is still a chance for a breakthrough. Vortigern is among those enemy troops. If we can find and kill him, there is still hope for us in this war."

"Haha, Moran, you and I think alike. I'm sure Vortigern is thinking the same."

"Of course, otherwise he wouldn't have shown himself."

Moran and Artoria shared a faint smile.

Both of them had experience as kings, and even in the face of such a dire situation, they did not falter.

They should not show gloomy expressions on the battlefield.

Instead, they should face the enemy with a confident smile.

Artoria, who had been taught this by Moran since childhood, had engraved this lesson in her heart.

"However, that guy is not easy to deal with. Artoria, you lead the army. I will confront him. He is not an enemy that humans can defeat. There's no need to waste too many lives on him."

"Moran, are you planning to face him alone?"

Artoria's brows furrowed slightly.

As a king, she knew this was undoubtedly the best choice and the optimal solution for the army.

However, there was an issue that could not be ignored...

"How long has it been... since you last returned to Avalon?"

"This..."

Moran fell into a brief silence.

In the end, he answered with a sigh.

"Ah, can't you let me show off a little?"

"As a king, Artoria, you should be more decisive. My issues are not something you need to worry about. The victory in this war is what matters..."

"Before I became a king, one of my wishes was to protect you! If victory requires your sacrifice, then for me, such a war—"

"No, you must not say any more. Before going into battle, saying such things will shake the morale of the troops..."

Although Moran spoke as if he were reprimanding her.

His tone was gentle.

"I will hold on. This is the only promise I can give you. This island, driven to madness, requires a being of equal caliber to oppose it. I, who have always watched over Britain, am the best choice."

He endured the pain brought by the present world at all times.

As the Age of Gods faded, the pain intensified.

At this moment, Moran found himself empathizing with the choices made by the Crimson Moon. She had once rushed into love like this, likely carrying the same emotions.

"Can you... promise me?"

Artoria bit her lip, suppressing the emotions in her heart, doing her best to maintain the demeanor of a king. It had been so long since Moran had seen this vulnerable side of her.

Though it was unbecoming of a king, he would not scold her for it.

"Ah, this is just the island of Britain throwing a tantrum. If I can't even suppress this, then the title of the strongest dragon would truly be lost. Rest assured, I will win."

Moran gently caressed Artoria's cheek. At this moment, he did not see her as a king, but as the girl who had once drawn the sword, the warmth and emotion of that memory flowing through him.

"You..."

Artoria hesitated, her expression on the verge of tears. She had heard the promise in Moran's words, but he had only assured her of victory, not that he would return to her side. She knew she couldn't dissuade him. Since childhood, he had always protected her, prioritizing her happiness above all else. Artoria, who had been watched over by him all this time, understood this well. So, she would not stop him.

"I will fulfill my duties as a king..."

Artoria spoke as if making a promise, uttering words that would put the man before her at ease. She trusted Moran more than anyone.

"That's good. It's almost time to head into battle... Artoria, it's not good to wear such a gloomy expression. As a king, you can't lead your soldiers forward without a radiant smile."

"...You always make things so difficult."

"Hahaha, I'm sorry. I'm still so selfish to the end... No matter what, I will crush Vortigern."

[Together, you rode into battle]

[Leading a mere two thousand soldiers against the enemy, no one knew where this battle would lead the future]

[The king, seen by the world as undefeated, seemed to awaken the memory of the first time she drew the sword]

[The magus had once offered her advice]

["King Arthur. What you seek is itself a miracle. Miracles often come at a cost—you will lose the most important thing on this path."]

[Something in her heart was stirred]

[Each swing of the holy sword cleaved the enemy in two, blood staining the white horse and the sacred blade]

[The restlessness in her heart did not subside]

[Her throat was parched]

[The air, thick with the scent of blood, seemed to pull at her limbs, as if trying to strip her from the hollow shell of a king]

[Finally, tears could not help but fall from the corners of her eyes]

"So, you still can't let go? Though it's not the choice a king should make, it is what a human would do..."

[The magus watched this scene]

[A smile of delight could not help but form on her lips. She knew this noble king, no, this girl, had made her decision].