Since the battle in which Gawain was ambushed, turmoil had swept across the British Isles.
It was as if that battle had drawn the curtain on the war between Britain and Rome, igniting fierce struggles both overt and covert.
Even after the construction of the new city, British civilians—who had never before suffered the ravages of war—felt the tense atmosphere lingering in the air.
Yet, overall, the people held absolute confidence in King Arthur and refused to believe that Britain could lose to Rome. Life went on in orderly fashion.
Meanwhile, in Rome, an entirely different—and opposite—drama unfolded daily.
"They promised us happiness, said if we labored hard, spilled our blood and lives, we could please the gods. But what did we get? Locked in cages, torn from our families, shackled and stripped of freedom. Even a glimpse of blue sky and white clouds has become a luxury!"
In the arena, a blonde girl held high a magnificent longsword that resembled the Sword of Choice, delivering a solemn speech.
At this moment, Arturia had discarded her former magician's robes and donned the armor of a knight, embodying heroism.
Behind the scenes, Mary worked her magic, conjuring effects to inflame the crowd's emotions.
Yes, she was fighting for these slaves, liberating those who suffered.
Perhaps this defied the old code of chivalry.
But Arturia no longer cared about such ideals. After learning the grim reality of Roman slavery, she could no longer consider her actions wrong.
Because compared to Britain, the life of Roman slaves was utterly wretched.
The Colosseum was wildly popular in Rome.
Originally a stage for gladiatorial combat, such duels were limited to true Roman citizens—fair competitions fought for fame and glory.
But for slaves, the Colosseum was a death trap. They lived only to entertain the Roman masses, trapped like animals in a colossal cage, fighting beasts. This barbaric spectacle offered them no honor. The end was always death.
In the arena, survival was meaningless.
Even if you survived today, tomorrow you would be forced to fight again—and eventually, you would perish.
The crowd showed no mercy; they laughed and paid for the slaves' final moments—those glorious, bloody scenes.
Slaves ate the filthiest food, endured the worst treatment, and were driven onto the stage to battle wild beasts whenever called upon. In such brutal conditions, hope was lost, and death awaited like a distant dream.
Yet now, before their eyes, the girl stormed the arena with overwhelming strength, slaying Roman soldiers and shattering their chains.
To the slaves, she was a savior.
Arturia urged them to resist.
"They restrain our minds, bodies, and even our ability to communicate. What right do those Romans have to such evil? They are human—but are we not? Why must we exist in these cages, battling beasts daily, exchanging our precious lives for the laughter of those who believe themselves superior?"
Her voice rang out loud and clear.
In this moment, Arturia possessed a certain compelling aura.
Though not overpowering, it stirred resonance and identification in her listeners.
"Countless lonely souls lie buried here. This sinful place, built on blood and bones, is no home for us. Romans have the right to seek happiness—and so do we. We are born free! Free souls! Fight for freedom and happiness! From this moment, reject the power of Rome. If you believe in this truth and will, if you still feel passion burning in your chest, pick up your weapons and prove our courage to the world!"
"""Ohh ...""
Suddenly, a thunderous cheer erupted throughout the arena.
Those slaves, once lifeless in spirit, were ignited with rage.
And intense emotion spreads like wildfire.
Even those hesitant to resist were swept away by the roar around them, their hearts stirred by the call for vengeance and pride.
Perhaps it was instinct.
Subconsciously, they felt if their "companions" stood for this cause, then they must be right. Or maybe... they feared showing dissent, lest they be dragged out and sacrificed by their comrades.
In short, unrest blossomed once more.
Yes, another rebellion.
Rome's vast territory exceeded common imagination. War naturally brought countless slaves into captivity, and their anger simmered beneath the surface. Gladiatorial arenas were common in many large cities—and all became Arturia's targets.
——————
"Report! Antioch has fallen due to uprising and mob riots—"
A Roman soldier burst into the council chamber, gave his brief report, and fled trembling, unwilling to stay another moment.
Three Roman senators and numerous officers busily convened.
They answered only to His Majesty Lucius in handling the mob unrest.
The first few days passed smoothly. After the order to destroy the Red Dragon Coins was issued, most people reluctantly complied. After all, those targeted were common citizens without the means to resist soldiers. With the aid of "patriots," the purge proceeded without incident.
But peace was short-lived.
Within two days, the true nature of those so-called "patriots" revealed itself.
They realized that merely destroying the Red Dragon Coins brought no personal gain. At best, it only flaunted their power—an unsatisfactory reward.
So the first person finally broke the line and began attacking objects beyond the Red Dragon Coins.
Whether motivated by violence or greed, they seized whatever they could.
The justification was simple.
"Anything produced in Britain is evil. If you keep it, you're a British spy with nefarious intentions."
An utterly irrational pretext.
Yet everyone saw through it—and no one dared resist.
Because objection or reluctance meant more looting, and even threats to personal and family safety.
Reasoning with a mob was futile.
But some got carried away—and blood was spilled.
-End Chapter-
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