Chapter 1032: Return to Londinium
Londinium.
This city gathered hundreds of thousands of humans and fairies, where human guards and fairy residents coexisted peacefully without exception. The snow-white walls were magnificently constructed, and the tall clock tower stood at the very center of the city, overlooking the entire surroundings.
This was Britain of the Fairy Calendar, the most prosperous city in legend.
The city of the Round Table Knights—Londinium!
After a day's journey, the group finally arrived before this city that displayed extraordinary prosperity.
The bustling scene was vivid and clear; even standing at the city gates, one could feel the vitality emanating from the city.
"Lady Cernunnos has returned!"
With the joyful cheers of the human guards, the entire city was instantly ignited.
Like a general returning in triumph, walking along the main road toward the clock tower, the group received countless gazes.
Both fairies and humans seemed to cheer for Cernunnos's return from the bottom of their hearts.
"Lady Cernunnos is quite popular, isn't she?"
Mash looked around at the surrounding citizens in disbelief.
Even though Fairy of Paradise were usually rejected by earthly fairies, Lady Cernunnos was unexpectedly well-loved.
This was a world of difference from the situation she had imagined, where they would be met with scornful glances.
"That's right, they all adore Cernunnos. Humans aside, even the fairies are like this."
Ector let out a low, cold laugh, his tone filled with sarcasm.
"Who would have guessed that in a few days, they would tear off those false masks, reveal their wicked nature, and reduce all efforts to ashes?"
"Fairies are creatures that easily follow the crowd and are very blind."
Even the cheerful Habenyan smiled wryly in silence.
"No matter how much malice they harbor in their hearts, as long as something becomes trendy, they will abandon everything to chase after it... So, before they reveal their true intentions, almost no one can see through their hearts, unless they possess Fairy Eyes!"
Cernunnos coldly scanned the fairies along the roadside.
Unlike the gentleness she showed her companions, Cernunnos's attitude toward other fairies was noticeably more aloof and distant.
"Calling you brothers and sisters to your face, while stabbing you in the back—this is nothing out of the ordinary for fairies. Mash, you must also be on guard and not be deceived by the smiles on these fairies' faces."
Cernunnos warned Mash, as this girl always tended to view things too naively.
She must have witnessed that kind of change far too many times.
Eiji watched Cernunnos, thinking this in his heart.
When the fairies needed Cernunnos, they treated her as a trend, relying on her to resolve Britain's calamities.
Once the disasters disappeared, the fairies would immediately reveal their true nature, viewing Cernunnos as unnecessary and even ostracizing and hunting her down.
Even painted faces couldn't change as quickly as fairies.
"Lady Cernunnos, please come in quickly! King Uther has been waiting for a long time!"
Arriving in front of the clock tower, the guards at the door hurriedly opened the gates.
"Mm, thank you for your hard work."
Cernunnos's expression softened slightly.
Unlike the fairies, the humans of the Round Table Army truly believed in and adored her.
Facing them, Cernunnos was willing to show her gentleness and kindness.
Eiji lifted his head, gazing up at the enormous clock tower.
It was called a clock tower rather than a castle because the structure was designed around the bell chamber at its top floor. The leaders of the Round Table Army, including King Uther, currently resided here, and it would be expanded into a castle after the coronation.
To Eiji's eyes, it felt strangely incongruous.
This magnificent clock tower perfectly matched the ruins from 2400 years in the future!
Everywhere he looked, he could find traces of what would remain after everything had vanished with time 2400 years later.
For a moment, a peculiar sense of antiquity settled in Eiji's heart, lingering for a long time.
"Place this stone slab carefully."
Cernunnos instructed the guards at the gate.
"Yes! Please rest assured!"
The guards responded resolutely upon hearing her words.
Then, three to five of them worked together to move the stone slab from the carriage and placed it in a corner of the clock tower's courtyard, where it almost blended seamlessly with the surrounding walls.
"That's the spot..."
Eiji's eyes followed the guards as he murmured under his breath.
2400 years later, when he visited Londinium, he had discovered that very stone slab in that exact corner.
Everything unfolding before his eyes was filled with a strong sense of déjà vu.
"Cernunnos, you've finally returned!"
As they entered the clock tower, a handsome young man with golden hair and blue eyes rushed over eagerly from the hall.
He wore gleaming silver armor, his handsome features were pleasant to look at, and his upright posture exuded authority. Even in his apparent haste, his steps remained orderly, giving him a distinct air of gentlemanly demeanor.
"Same as always, only have eyes for Cernunnos, huh, Uther!"
Ector stood at the front, grumbling discontentedly at the golden-haired youth.
"Putting Totorot aside for now, I did watch you grow up after all. Are you going to ignore me like this?"
"Hey!"
Habetrot protested urgently.
"That's not the case, Elder Ector, and Miss Totorot, welcome back to you both as well!"
The golden-haired youth cleared his throat.
Realizing he had been too self-absorbed, he quickly corrected his attitude and humbly greeted them both.
"And these two are?"
Immediately after, his gaze fell upon Eiji and Mash.
Mash was quite cute, but the young man showed no trace of looking at her as someone of the opposite sex.
His focus was primarily on Eiji.
Cloaked, wearing sunglasses and a face mask—he looked highly suspicious no matter how one viewed it.
But since Cernunnos had brought him back, he must be an ally, right?
"Uther, I actually have something important to discuss with you as well."
"What is it, Cernunnos?"
Cernunnos spoke up, completely capturing the young man's attention, making him disregard Eiji entirely.
Eiji stroked his chin.
There was a legend passed down through later generations.
It said that the Knight of Londinium and the Savior Cernunnos were lovers.
The Knight of Londinium, of course, referred to the founder of the Round Table Army—King Uther.
But Uther was raised by Cernunnos.
Could it be that Uther actually had a mother complex?
"Let's find a private place first."
"Understood."
Uther agreed to Cernunnos's suggestion without hesitation.
A few minutes later.
Led by Uther, the group of several people arrived at an empty reception room.
"Where's Grimm?"
"He's helping me with some matters. I'll have someone summon him right away!"
Shortly after, a blue-haired youth strolled leisurely into the reception room.
"I thought Uther had something to discuss with me, but it turns out it's because Ector has returned?"
The boy appeared to be around fourteen or fifteen years old, with pointed ears that marked him as a fairy of the Wind Clan.
Yet his distinctive blue hair and crimson eyes made Eiji recognize him instantly.
"Everyone is here now."
Ector glanced around the room.
Aside from her salvation squad, only Eiji, Mash, and Uther—the most directly affected victim—remained present.
With a wave of her hand, she deployed the pre-prepared Age of Gods barrier around them.
This was an ultra-powerful barrier that had stepped into the divine realm—one capable of shielding them from even the world's prying eyes, rendering them invisible to the Counter Force!