Fate/Magus Path

175 Farewell

What is a king?

Is it a wise ruler who shelters their people, entrusting them with dreams and protection?

Or is it a conqueror who pursues distant horizons, willing to sacrifice everything for the future and their ideals?

Perhaps it is a defiant rebel who refuses to bow to the gods, claiming authority through sheer will?

All these paths of kingship are valid. Yet, in Roy's eyes, they weren't entirely correct.

To him, a king was akin to a shepherd... a tool, albeit an advanced one, meant to guide the flock.

Having finished his tasks, Roy stepped down from the throne in the Sun Temple, which doubled as Ur's palace, and let out a weary sigh. His original plan had been to foster mutual understanding between Quetzalcoatl and the people of Ur, allowing her to lead them in facing the impending calamity brought by Tiamat.

But he hadn't anticipated Quetzalcoatl's cunning side. She had deftly shifted the responsibility of guiding Ur's people onto his shoulders, leaving him to lead tens of thousands of lives.

Yet, what did he know about being a king?

If circumstances allowed, he would have gladly handed Ur's population crisis over to Gilgamesh, who was already overworked in Uruk. Compared to Roy, a pseudo-king thrust into power by a goddess, Gilgamesh was the true and capable ruler.

Moreover, the thousands of soldiers Quetzalcoatl had taken from Ur were eager to return to the frontlines of the demon beast war. But the time wasn't right yet...

"What are you thinking about, Master?"

Roy was pulled from his thoughts by Quetzalcoatl's voice. He looked up to see her standing before him, having returned from training the soldiers.

He remembered she had left in the morning. Her return to the Sun Temple meant he had been busy here all day.

"..."

For someone who wasn't a true king, he had surprisingly thrown himself into the role.

"Nothing much. Just planning Ur's next steps," Roy replied, taking a rough clay tablet from an attendant and handing it to Quetzalcoatl.

"This is..."

Quetzalcoatl's eyes widened as she read the information inscribed on the tablet. It detailed a comprehensive plan for Ur's future.

First, a portion of the workforce would be allocated to restore basic agriculture. They would also hunt edible game in the rainforest, using the Sun Temple's energy to preserve the meat as emergency rations.

Additionally, they would construct sturdy defensive lines in the rainforest to fend off future demon beast attacks.

Next, envoys would be sent to Uruk to establish an alliance with Gilgamesh, informing him of Ur's situation and offering support when needed.

They would also deliver letters from the soldiers stranded in Ur to their families, assuring them that their loved ones were alive and fighting alongside a hero.

Lastly, Roy planned to visit Ereshkigal, the mistress of the Mesopotamian underworld and a member of the Three Goddess Alliance, to persuade her to join their cause in protecting humanity.

To ensure Ur's survival, they needed food, weapons, training, and allies. Time was of the essence, and they had to act swiftly.

However, they couldn't afford to draw too much attention. If Kingu and Gorgon discovered Quetzalcoatl's betrayal, Ur would face relentless attacks from demon beasts. Unlike Ur, which had a robust defensive line, Ur was ill-equipped to withstand such an onslaught.