Five years later—that is, the ninth year of the British Dynasty.
A mere nine years is nothing in the life of a mortal dynasty.
What can be accomplished in nine years?
Initial reforms? The construction of a new city?
Britain gave the world its answer:
Nine years is enough to spread the glory of King Arthur to every corner of the European continent.
Naturally, the war with the Roman Empire five years prior had exacted a heavy toll on Britain's finances, resources, and manpower. Even in victory, mid-level officials within the dynasty grumbled and complained.
After all, there was an ocean between Britain and Rome.
In this era, shipbuilding technology was still underdeveloped in both realms. No one could guarantee a safe return from a voyage. Furthermore, as the mysteries of the land gradually faded, the deep sea remained shrouded in eternal enigma—especially the waters surrounding the British Isles.
Traveling from Britain to Rome, one faced a high risk of encountering formidable sea monsters.
The journey from Rome to Britain was even worse.
One could hardly expect Lady Skadi to stay asleep at the ocean's floor forever, could they?
Thus, British officials had no illusions that victory would bring tangible benefits from Rome.
But His Majesty Arthur defied all expectations—with a tyrannical will that stunned even his closest retainers.
You dared attack us unprovoked, and now you expect to leave without offering compensation?
The day after Britain's victory was secured, Arthur led the Knights of the Round Table and five thousand soldiers in a surprise campaign against Rome. To be fair, Rome was already in a state of collapse. The capital, too, was under full control by Artoria and Lancelot.
Most of Rome's senior military leadership had perished in the conflict. Virtually all of its decision-makers were gone, save for two veteran senators left behind to maintain order.
In that weakened state, Rome was forced to sign a series of unequal treaties with Arthur.
Territorial cessions and war reparations were the expected terms.
Arthur, however, showed little interest in Rome's wealth. To the British, Rome was a backward and impoverished land, devoid of any meaningful treasure. A few weapons of note—barely worthy of Arthur's personal collection—were all that could be claimed for the royal treasury.
What Arthur truly sought were resources—resources that could be mined.
Naturally, Rome would handle the mining. Britain would merely be responsible for receiving the goods.
But as for the territorial cession, that required more "planning."
"We don't need much. Just two provinces. The two closest to the sea should suffice—perfect locations for helping you, Rome, rebuild your port facilities. After all, it's a long journey between our nations."
A month after the war ended, the two Roman elders finally understood the true nature of Arthur's "plan."
They witnessed a territorial cession—literally.
The Continental Sever, a colossal circular blade, toiled day and night for three full days, cutting the two coastal provinces away from the mainland. Then, hundreds of massive, solar-furnace-like machines pushed the severed provinces toward the British Isles, until they became an inseparable extension of the empire.
"······"
Utterly inhumane.
However, as foreign lands, these territories differed fundamentally from the British Isles in their magical nature.
To assimilate them, the British Empire invested a massive sum of resources. The goal: to merge the new land into the mysteries of the Age of Gods. Arthur then activated his unique ability, Earthweaving (Healing), to reconnect the spiritual ley lines—effectively doubling the size of Britain's territory.
Still, that alone would have been far too merciful to Rome.
During a diplomatic visit, Arthur "happened" to witness the chaos in Rome. He then "happened" to learn that many of Rome's vassal states had revolted and seceded.
As the two elders forced stiff smiles onto their pale faces, Arthur offered his opinion in an unassumingly friendly tone.
"Rome's security, defense, and policies are quite lacking. Otherwise, how could this have happened?"
What could the elders say? They silently cursed him while keeping their faces civil.
The events that followed were all too simple.
"I intend to grow closer to Rome in the future. Rome, after all, is a true superpower with global influence. But if your defenses remain as they are, I fear that one day, I'll come seeking trade… only to find your nation destroyed."
What the hell are you trying to say?
The senators cursed him again in their hearts. Arthur's smile only widened.
"I believe Rome lacks the strength to protect itself. So why not let Britain provide protection? All you need is to pay a small annual fee. In exchange, I'll guarantee Rome's absolute safety."
Why not just annex Rome outright?
If they had spoken those words aloud, there'd be no argument to counter it.
Several Roman senators turned red with rage, and some even fainted.
But what choice did they have?
Even the invincible Sword Emperor had fallen. What chance did they, the defeated, possibly stand?
Rome, beaten and humiliated, had no choice but to compromise.
Thus, ten British military bases were naturally established throughout Rome.
Even more absurd: most of the soldiers stationed there were Romans.
Yet Britain never turned completely against Rome. In fact, it helped stabilize key territories—Egypt, Spain, Greece, and others—that sought independence after the death of the Sword Emperor. Officially, these vassal states still belonged to Rome.
At least… in name.
As for the Roman captives and prisoners of war taken from the two provinces—
Once Britain had collected enough slaves, the rest became superfluous. They were strong—"Super Romans" wasn't just a nickname—but still ultimately weak.
Under Britain's full-barrier protections, native Celts had already surpassed Romans in physical strength, and utterly outclassed them in magical potential and adaptability.
Only these native British citizens were truly protected by Arthur.
The Saxons, Picts, and Romans? They couldn't compare. Even if granted British citizenship, they lacked the blessings of Britain's divine land. Living in the Age of Gods didn't make one a citizen of the Age of Gods.
So, once Rome paid its ransom, Arthur graciously granted the captives their freedom.
In short, everyone rushed to return to Rome.
Don't even think about freeloading off Britain. We barely have enough food for ourselves. Can't you see how His Majesty and the princess restrain themselves at every meal, never truly eating their fill?
With Rome dealt with, the British Dynasty could finally begin developing in earnest.
The rewards from the missions Broken Sword and Alaya were as follows:
Item – Heaven's Will
Domain – Kunlun Wonderland
Special – The Eternal Overlord's Court (Boundary)
The first allowed the British Isles to float. Combined with the power of the Holy Lance Longinus (Rhongomyniad), the island conducted planetary-scale internal testing, continuously extracting true ether and transforming Britain's atmosphere. The ether concentration in the air soon surpassed that of ancient times.
The second created Arthur's personal divine realm—an eternal sanctuary.
It was completely free from external interference—even the Counter Force could not reach it.
In a very real sense, Britain had detached itself from the planet.
Thus was born the Kingdom of God, hidden within secrets and clouds.
Incidentally, the floating island of Britain often hovered directly above Rome.
Thinking of rebelling? Not a chance.
-End Chapter-
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