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Chapter 681 A Joyful Dinner

　　The next time Arthur opened his eyes, the sky in his window was dark. He was awakened by clattering and chattering from the standard room, where he and Mistletoe used to dine. As he tried to move his body, it responded, and there was no pain.

　　"I remember it quite differently, as you were about to die muttering something about your life having meaning," said Julia while laughing. The crowd roared in laughter, and Kody turned red.

　　Arthur blinked as he stared at the scene. Oren, Selena, Maryam, Mero, Marvi, Ruki, and Tiara were also there. This unusual gathering was all eating together, but his subordinates were more reserved and only had a smile.

　　"My Liege!" the first one to kneel was Ruki, her shadow cloak falling to the sides. The dinner stopped as the crowd turned toward Arthur. After seeing Ruki, Marvi and Mero bowed, although Mero was quite drunk.

　　"There is no need to make me ruin this occasion," said Arthur with a smile before he walked toward them and pulled a chair. "Rise, and let's eat."

　　"Are you alright, Arthur?" asked Julia with worry. "It has been nothing but a day, so you shouldn't be moving about. Isn't that right, Princess Tiara?"

　　"An average man would need a month to heal from that battle, but the outsider is no average man." Tiara smiled as she placed another bite of roasted meat in her mouth. "However, it does come with consequences if you fight these days. Rest is your best ally."

　　"Aren't the people of Janea all vegetarians?" asked Arthur as he watched her eat the meat. "I once read about your respect for all lives, or whatever."

　　"We hate to waste unnecessary lives," said Tiara while nodding. "However, since the food has been made already, I have no reason to refuse. The deed has been committed, and this meat is delicious."

　　The crowd stared at her with speechless faces. The Janea Nation was known to be a nation of life and prosperity because of its thick forests and wide rivers. Everyone there avoided eating meat and relied solely on plants to survive. However, the woman in front of them was their princess, eating meat.

　　"Stereotypes are always wrong, it seems," said Oren with a smile. "I want to thank you again, Princess Tiara, for healing my brother. That is a debt we cannot forget." Oren bowed his head.

　　"No need for thanks," said Princess Tiara while waving her spoon. "I watched the fight where he protected the kingdom, and I didn't like how the Yalen King wanted to handle things. I came all the way here, after all. So I might as well have fun."

　　"And why are you acting as the older brother?" rebuked Arthur with a frown. "You are still a brat, so just eat your meal."

　　"After I saw how reckless you are, I decided to become the older brother," Oren said. The crown laughed, and Arthur couldn't help but smile. Then, he raised a glass, and the crowd quietened.

　　All that was left was the peaceful music that someone played. Arthur closed his eyes with a smile as he raised a toast. "It has been a long battle," he said. "I almost lost my life multiple times. All those present fought in their way, and we won. However, many lost their homes and family and cannot celebrate like this."

　　The mood turned from joyful to somber. Everyone stopped eating as they heard his words, but Arthur continued. "I'm not here to ruin the mood, but it is essential to remember what we lost and continue to live. We survived, and that is a joyful result. I'm just thankful for everyone here who had my back during different steps of the way. A toast to the ones we lost and to a better tomorrow! Cheers!"

　　"Cheers!" cheered the rest as they clanged their glasses against each other. Oren was about to drink his when Arthur snatched it from his hand using his telekinesis rune.

　　"You are still too young, so juice it is for Selena and you!" reprimanded Arthur with a grin, to the dismay of the two. The rest of them laughed and slammed their glasses on the table.

　　"That is right, Oren! You are still too young!"

　　"Maybe in a year, we'll let you!" laughed Kody heartily, and Oren's face was red.

　　"Didn't you used to drink some of it when our mom was asleep, Arthur?" asked Oren with a raised brow. Arthur choked on his glass before looking around, ensuring his mother wasn't there.

　　"Don't let her hear you!" said Arthur with panic, and the crowd laughed again. The chattering resumed as each told their battle stories while Arthur simply watched them. Then, he rose from his chair and left.

　　Mr. Tate and his mother were in a different room, far from the hustle. It seems the two of them were still unconscious. Arthur walked toward his mother's side and tried to hold her hand. However, the moment he did, he felt a resonance.

　　[Powers of the Holy Crown have been detected.]

　　Arthur paused and grabbed Mr. Tate's hand, but it did not have that reaction. His frown deepened as he held his mother's hand and tried to use Wake-rune to make her regain consciousness, but it didn't work. Instead, it felt like his rune was sucked into a bottomless abyss.

　　"What is going on?" muttered Arthur with a frown. His mother was sleeping without any problems, and she looked unharmed. Tiara healed their injuries, and she said that all they needed was rest.

　　The Holy Crown was the artifact created by the Scholar Guardian and King Arthur. It should be used to change the next generations of the seven families and choose a king for the people. However, Seref was using it, as did Jasmine in Runera.

　　Arthur placed his hand on his mother and tried to use his insignia, Breaker. It was the one given to him by the Holy Crown and his former self. King Arthur might have set it up as a method to stop the trial from going overboard.

　　[Powers of Holy Crown cannot be broken unless in the trial.]

　　A message appeared as Arthur tried to use his insignia on his mother, proving his efforts useless. Then, as he grew frustrated, a person entered the door behind him. Arthur could tell it was Oren without turning.

　　"Is there something wrong, brother?" asked Oren as he saw Arthur standing beside their mother, holding her tightly. "Tiara said mom should wake up in a few days."

　　"I'm afraid that won't happen," said Arthur as he placed his mother's hand down. "Seref did something to her, and we must find a way to undo it. It seems the answer lies in the trial of the Holy Crown."

　　"…was that truly him?" asked Oren with a shaky voice, and Arthur paused. Then, he nodded without turning back, and Oren clenched his fist. "I didn't want to believe it, but why does he have to do all of this?"

　　"Everything that happened to me, and us, was a part of his plan," said Arthur as he turned toward his brother and walked toward the door. "Seref wants me to become the strongest in the world and be its savior. His ambitions aren't for the people, but for glory."

　　"Can that glory be eaten? Because I remember days when we had nothing to eat," asked Oren with a hollow laugh. "It's a sick joke I don't want to believe."

　　"Choose to believe what you want, Oren," said Arthur while patting his shoulder. "I chose to live as I wish instead of following his plans like a puppet. Even I have yet to find out what I want. All I know is that seeing you today has made my struggles worth it."

　　Arthur let go of his brother's shoulder and left him crying. Selena was at the door, and Arthur nodded toward her in greeting before leaving the two together.

　　After he left the room, Arthur's face crumbled. His earlier expression was replaced with rage over Seref's diabolical plan. But, if this was a part of it, then his father had a backup plan to hinder him later on in the trial of the Holy Crown.

　　The dinner was over as he entered the common room, and most of them returned to rest. However, the only two people still sitting there were Julia and Maryam.

　　"Arthur," turned Julia toward him. "I wanted to tell you something before I go to sleep. It's about what your actions did to the world and what is going on right now."