Fate: I Will Eventually Become the Hero of Justice

Chapter 178

Merlin looked confused as he pointed to the pile of documents on the table and asked, "You called me here just to handle these paperwork?"

Shirou simply nodded in response.

Merlin complained, "What's going on? I'm a magus! I'm a court mage! What kind of magus handles government affairs?"

Shirou pointed to himself, "I do. Stop wasting time and go handle them. Otherwise, I'll have Kay entertain you properly."

Merlin's expression turned sour at the mention of Kay, and he spoke with a depressed tone, "Can we please not talk about Kay? My stomach is starting to hurt again."

"Then get to work quickly!"

Merlin asked helplessly, "Could you at least tell me what exactly I'm supposed to do?"

"Of course, handle things!"

Merlin sighed, "That's too vague. I'm more than willing to help you as part of our agreement, but the thing is, my Clairvoyance can only see the present, and the kingdom you want to build is a future kingdom based on wisdom. Regrettably, creating a kingdom beyond my comprehension is not something I can assist you with."

"So, you mean to say that I have to teach you?" Shirou narrowed his eyes.

Merlin nodded.

Shirou: "..."

He covered his eyes with his hand as he felt a headache coming on. 'This wise man isn't reliable,' he thought with a sigh.

"Then classify these first," he said to him, trying to keep his frustration in check. "Please tell me you understand the concept of classification."

"I may not know about the wisdom of the future, but in this era, I'm still a wise man. Don't treat me like a fool!" he protested.

"Thank you for your help."

Merlin nodded in acknowledgement and set his staff aside to begin classifying the documents.

Shirou sat down and began to project Gáe Bolg, his chosen Noble Phantasm.

Both his origin and attribute were sword, which meant that projecting sword-type Noble Phantasms would consume less magical energy and allow him to produce more of them. However, he knew that on the battlefield, the length of a weapon could be the deciding factor between victory and defeat.

For the safety of his soldiers, projecting Gáe Bolg was the best option. As for armor, that would need even more magical energy and wasn't a viable option at the moment.

He decided to prioritize providing his army with good weapons before gradually equipping them with armor.

Currently, Artoria was stationed in the north, single-handedly fending off the relentless onslaught of magical beasts. She had been at it for three days straight and was likely on the brink of exhaustion. Meanwhile, Bedivere was leading the people to construct defensive walls. Once the walls were erected, Artoria could withdraw and take a much-needed respite.

Shirou's military might was woefully inadequate. He had even contemplated resorting to feudal conscription to bolster his forces. Under this system, peasants toiled as farmers during peacetime but were obligated to serve as soldiers in times of war, with the entire populace being armed for battle.

Unfortunately, Cornwall was presently in a state of poverty, and the northern region was under constant siege from magical creatures, leaving the people in Caerleon without proper homes. With such a lack of fundamental necessities, there was simply no excess labor force available.

Feudal conscription was certainly necessary, but it was crucial to prioritize the most pressing matters and deal with them first before gradually tackling other issues.