Chapter 149: How Is 100% Enough? It Needs to Be 1000%!
Regarding the matter of the White Titan, after Odin asked his final question, even after receiving such an answer, he did not inquire further.
Because he likely realized that Noah truly had his own thoughts on this matter, rather than making a decision out of momentary frustration upon seeing the God-King of another pantheon on his own turf.
Since that was the case, there was nothing more for him to say.
If Noah intended to carry out his own plan, then let him do so.
After all, at least for Odin, no matter how resolute he might be, he could not guarantee that his chances of preventing the White Titan's revival were one hundred percent.
And judging by Noah's demeanor, if he were to ask about this, he suspected Noah would reply—one hundred percent isn't enough; it must be one thousand percent!
He did not know why Noah was so confident, nor could he discern the source of Noah's resolve. But in his reasoning, since no one's chances were one hundred percent, internal conflict was unwise. It didn't matter whose plan was executed, as long as there was a genuine plan.
However, Mary was well aware of the answers to these questions he did not know.
Mary believed the reason for Noah's confidence lay in his resolve from the very beginning—to know fear, understand fear, and face it head-on.
If they lost, everything would be lost, so they could only win, and they must win!
Thus, as Noah, for some reason, led an unusually subdued Lucius back toward Marcus, Mary began to converse with Noah.
"Now that we know the second Lucius is Odin and have seen the Pantheon, it's time for you to meet Manaka Sajyou, right?"
"Yes."
Noah had no reason to hide anything from Mary.
"Once Merlin brings his people, I'll have them suppress Rome first. Then, I'll have the intelligence unit spread the origin of my name throughout all of Rome."
"At the same time, I'll contact Morgan and Artoria. If things are stable in Britain, now is the time to apply pressure on Rome from Britain—all to pave the way for my complete control over Rome."
"Once Rome is under control, that will be the time to meet Manaka Sajyou."
Mary saw no issue with Noah's arrangements but suddenly remembered something.
"This plan seems fine... but what's the point of calling Merlin here?"
Mary was puzzled, and Noah smiled.
"Merlin possesses a talent that others can hardly match. When I have the intelligence operatives build momentum for me, I'll have Merlin build momentum for Lucius..."
As Noah spoke to Mary, he glanced at the inexplicably subdued Lucius.
"Since she no longer intends to use the identity of Lucius and even dislikes the name, that means this aspect can also be utilized."
Hearing this, Mary was even more confused.
"Build momentum for Lucius? Why do that?"
Seeing Mary's expression, Noah's smile grew more pronounced.
"It's quite simple. If I also assign some personnel to Merlin to help him build momentum for Lucius, then I believe Merlin can certainly do a great job—but what if I don't assign him any personnel..."
Hearing Noah say this, Mary caught on!
And Noah continued.
"If I don't assign Merlin any personnel, he'll have to go on his own. Setting aside his tendency to slack off, if he just visits the homes of officials, soldiers, taverns, and the like, I don't even think we'll have to wait until late next spring. By then, Rome will likely become more inclined to support me because of Merlin speaking up for Lucius."
"This is my trust in Merlin."
"Because I believe no one could possibly surpass him in the talent for being annoying, and on top of that, his abilities to escape and survive are top-notch. So I think this task is the one best suited to his talents."
Hearing Noah's plan, Mary found it absurd, but when she tried to voice her opinion, she found herself opening her mouth yet unable to utter a single word.
If she had never met Merlin, she would have thought it absurd.
But she had met him... and just thinking about Merlin made her feel that this plan wasn't absurd at all—it was even somewhat ingenious!
Mary was left speechless!
So after some thought, she simply skipped over the topic and brought up what she had originally intended to say to Noah.
"Noah, you must be careful when you meet Manaka Sajyou—I can sense that when the distortion occurred, I gained something from her, like her information, but Manaka Sajyou didn't just take the Excalibur from me; she likely also took a part of my memories..."
Mary hesitated but ultimately didn't mention that she had gained a portion of Manaka Sajyou's love for King Arthur, nor that a part of her own memories and perceptions had been transferred to Manaka Sajyou.
She simply emphasized the warning.
She knew this was enough to make Noah take it seriously.
And indeed, it was.
After hearing Mary's earnest reminder, Noah nodded and began seriously contemplating the implications.
Seeing Noah's reaction, Mary felt somewhat relieved.
But what she didn't know was that the changes in Manaka Sajyou she worried about were not what she imagined.
A prince who exists only in fairy tales, if brought into reality, might be fine for a short time, but prolonged contact gradually shatters that dreamlike, fantastical feeling found only in tales.
This was how it was for Manaka Sajyou with King Arthur.
When the distortion occurred, Mary gained some of her information and a portion of her love for King Arthur.
And Manaka Sajyou took the Excalibur, some of Mary's information, and... Mary's memories of the Arthur from her world!
From Arthur's childhood to his growth...
As Manaka Sajyou observed these memories, she felt her heart, which had been ignited by the Holy Grail War, gradually cool down once more.
Following Mary's memories further, she realized that the so-called King Arthur was not the fairy-tale prince she had longed for.
Thus, at that time, she naturally aligned herself with Rome and helped resolve the internal and external crises that had plagued it.
Initially, Manaka Sajyou thought she would settle into a predictable, uneventful life here.
Until she learned about this world's King Arthur.
Even though she had been disappointed by the King Arthur in Mary's memories, upon discovering information about this world's King Arthur, Manaka still paid a bit more attention.
Then, she picked up the Epic of Radiance that depicted the Knight of the Dawn and began reading it.
It was from this moment that Manaka felt her passion reignite!
From then on, she began making arrangements bit by bit, gathering information about him step by step.
Quelling the nobles, holding public trials, suppressing the north, defeating Pictavia, repelling the White Dragon... and most recently, learning that he was Romulus, who had declared war on Rome.
Each and every one of these deeds reignited Manaka Sajyou's passion.
And this time, it was not for King Arthur, nor for some fairy-tale prince.
She felt...
—that she had fallen in love with the real person named Noah Blake, or rather, Noah Mulius~!