UWTD 383: Debt

The Counter Force feared that the world Britian Artoria created wasn't just another timeline, but this world, where she had established her ideal Britain, would replace the one where she failed. Changing the proper Human history.

Understanding this, Morgan bided her time; she did the Counter force's bidding on the surface and waited for the right moment. And the sudden high-risk movements of a certain curious True Magician gave her the opening to make direct contact with Adam.

"Adam, won't you make a deal with me?" Morgan asked, a tiny sliver of hope in her dull voice.

"A deal? What type of deal are you talking about?" He asked.

"The type you made with Artoria," Morgan said, her voice turning cold again. "I will leave this world and refuse any contact with the Counter force if you accept."

"Do you think I can't make you leave?" Adam folded his hands; he wanted to get Morgan's real information and intentions.

"I do not doubt that you can, but you can't stay here forever either," Morgan said, calm and collected. "Every other heroic spirit from this era has refused to come here and cause trouble because they are that loyal to Artoria, but I have no reason to stop. Unless I gain something from it."

"And even if you destroy me, you cannot erase me. The 'people' in this world only exist because the land remembers them, and the Isles will forever remember their true heir, Morgan. And you can't erase 'me' the Morgan from the Throne of Heroes, doing that will cause a confrontation with the Root." Morgan continued. "If you make a deal with me, I will make sure that the 'Morgan' in this world never causes trouble for the righteous King Art… Queen Artoria, now or in the future."

"So, what do you say?" Morgan's words hung in the tense air.

Adam went over his options. It wasn't that he couldn't erase Morgan, even from the Isles' memories, but to do that, he had to interfere with the Throne of Heroes and the world itself. Which, as Morgan guessed, would cause a conflict with the Root, the culmination of all knowledge in this multiversal universe.

Adam wasn't scared of facing the Root. But if he did, realizing Artoria's contract wouldn't happen. As Morgan said, he couldn't stay next to Artoria forever, and surely didn't want to half-ass the contract. If Artoria had to keep making contracts just to keep her world safe, even after their initial contract, that would be shoddy work.

Of course, he could claim that protection wasn't part of the contract, but he couldn't do that. Not to someone like Artoria. This was where he understood Morgan's cunning.

She had stayed in the background collecting data this entire time, making small moves to fool the Counter force into thinking she followed their orders. And, she only moved after the change in his and Artoria's relationship.

They had become more intimate now, and Morgan understood that Adam had started to value Artoria more. So, she showed herself and proposed her deal, knowing he'd accept the easier way out.

"You've surprised me." Adam smiled a little. "I will accept your deal."

"What is surprising is that you aren't the least bit angry. I had heard that you are more… emotional." A slight smile appeared on Morgan's pink lips, but like a snowflake under the sun, it vanished the next moment. "Thank you for listening to my request."

"That's fine and all, but you will have to wait for the contract," Adam said with a sigh. "I have to finish Artoria's contract, then I'll come to where you are."

"That won't be needed," Morgan said, lowering her veil.

"What do you mean?"

"We will meet in the near future."

"You can see the future?" Adam asked, after confirming that he'd meet Morgan again in the near future, using his divination skills.

"I had a little help," Morgan said.

"Well, ok. Until next time, then."

Understanding that Morgan didn't want to share the information about how she knew, Adam decided to leave. Since he couldn't find the answer through his divination or future sight, he could only make a guess.

"That goddess is meddling. But why?" Adam thought of the Goddess of Wishes.

He didn't know what that gluttonous goddess had in mind, but she'd come by soon enough to explain, or so he guessed.

"I wonder, what should I make for her when she comes back?" He wondered, looking at the clear blue sky.

***

Six months went by in a flash, and Artoria's kingdom had never been more peaceful. Her citizens enjoyed the new wave of prosperity and lived without fear. There were no invaders, no magic beasts, no pirates; the Knight of the Round Table had kept order and led a strong military force.

Artoria smiled, overlooking her kingdom. The ideal kingdom where she didn't forsake anyone. How did she know that already?

'I never knew he would go as far as to do divinations for my kingdom, and finding out about the future of the next 1000 years.' Although astonished, Artoria accepted this situation.

As Adam had done things that were far more absurd than the divination. She also accepted that it was time for them to part ways. The contract in her hand showed that Adam had done his part; now only her payment remained.

If he were to stay here and receive it all at once, Adam would have to stay for a few years. Although it didn't sound as bad to the two, Adam couldn't stay with Artoria for that long. He had barely stopped his shop from summoning him forcefully.

So, he came up with a new plan, a well-established method of the shop.

"A debt card… I can use this and come to you?" Artoria asked, examining the white card in her hand. It had her name on the front and the remaining number of days she had left for payment.

"Yes, it will open a door to where I am at that moment." Adam didn't think he'd have to use this function. It was mostly because fulfilling Artoria's wish required a stupid amount of power, mostly because of how hard it was, and the constant threat from the Counter Force just piled the debt on.

Artoria looked at the card in her hand and at Adam. She had a lot to say, but wasn't good enough with words to say it. So, she wrapped her arms around his muscular frame, her face buried in his chest. His arms held her waist gently, and she felt like she could melt from his warmth, leaning into him.

Nearly fifty, mentally, Artoria didn't know that she would feel her heart race like a young maiden, even if she was one currently. She thought she had left her emotions behind, but they had resurfaced since she met Adam. Even now, her heart thumped in her chest, blood rushing to her face, the face she rubbed on his wide chest, trying to etch the feeling into her body for when he was gone.

She looked up at him, her face red.

"When the payment is over… let's hold a real wedding ceremony," she said.

...

Hope you enjoyed the chapters this week.

See you lot on monday.