Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 325 - 324: Gawain’s Vision

Gawain had many thoughts, yet he found it difficult to make those around him understand all of them.

He wanted to change this world, to build a new order—although he initially just wanted to survive in this world, this idea had gradually changed as he lived here longer—but how hard it was to change the world?

Even just looking at the small kingdom of Anzu, he could see a powerful inertia that had accumulated over seven hundred years—the inertia of the land nobility, the inertia of the common people, the inertia of the social system. Everything in this country was built on old orders. If this order did not change, then nothing would change.

He did establish his domain in the extreme south region, setting up the Cecil and a whole new social order on this land. But in fact, he knew very well that this was merely a beginning—he could enact new laws, use Magic Technology to advance productivity, form a more advanced administrative team, and implement more scientific and reasonable territorial management, but all of this was just "surface" work.

Whether it was those managing the territory or those being managed, just a year ago, they were still part of the traditional Anzu system: small merchants under the traditional land nobility, fallen scholars, ordinary civilians, and even serfs and slaves. Although they could now follow Gawain’s orders and do as he required, they had not changed fundamentally. For them, the new laws and new order were just another set of rules by another aristocrat. They knew how to do it, but many of them didn’t understand why.

As long as the people’s thoughts hadn’t changed, all changes would be temporary, and the benefits of industrialization would be greatly wasted due to the limitations of "people." Gawain deeply understood this, which is why he had to enforce compulsory education in the territory, especially for minors—not only mandating literacy and cultural classes in schools but also general knowledge education regarding the structure of the kingdom, the history of nobility and commoners, the law of distribution of social resources, and its rationality. All of this was his effort in ideological indoctrination.

It was easy to update a batch of new machines in the territory, but it was very difficult to enlighten the thoughts of the people of this era. Sometimes, even those serfs and slaves, who had nothing and were still oppressed, would resist this. They had already accepted and adapted to their fate, even accepting the entire Anzu system and rules. If you told them that nobles and slaves have the same blood running through their veins, they would even think you’re heretical and inconceivable; but this wasn’t because they were ignorant, it was because this era had twisted them into such a state.

Sometimes, Gawain also wondered if the new order, new laws, and new thoughts he was advancing were too radical, but one thing he was very clear about—the chaotic wave waits for no one, and the war between Typhon and Anzu wouldn’t wait for him either. The more he understood the current situation of the world, the more he felt that time was insufficient, so he had to force all progress to the fastest possible pace—if it weren’t for the chaotic wave and war being two swords hanging over his head, why else would he need to be so urgent?

Gawain was momentarily lost in thought and contemplation until Rebecca’s voice brought him back: "Ancestor, what are you thinking about?"

Gawain returned to his senses, looking at the curious-faced Rebecca, and then at Aunt Heidi standing behind her, with a pondering look, as well as a few trustworthy faces around him. He smiled slightly: "Rebecca, do you remember what I once told you? The noble class has continuously decayed over these seven hundred years not because there’s a problem with the inheritance of the nobility itself, but because they have nothing to fear."

Rebecca thought for a moment and nodded: "You’ve said that to me..."

"Protecting the people, defending the land, and maintaining honor—these noble principles are not wrong in themselves, but if you only rely on the nobles themselves to willingly adhere to these principles, that’s nothing more than wishful thinking," Gawain shook his head, "Many nobles boast of noble bloodlines, boast of inherent righteousness, and even have scholars use various theories to prove that there are inherent genes of morality and righteousness in the blood of the nobility, so that the nobility does not need extra moral monitoring to strictly adhere to principles, but in reality, this is all nonsense."

This statement caused almost everyone’s eyes to widen; Rebecca and Aunt Heidi looked dumbfounded at their ancestor, seemingly unable to believe such a heretical statement came from the mouth of a great nobleman of Anzu’s founding generation. Meanwhile, Soldrin sitting in a chair nearby couldn’t help but pinch his chin, looking at his old friend with a smile.

"There is no such thing as innate nobility; nobility is just something later generations adorn with," Gawain continued, "Do I not know about the backgrounds and experiences of those people at the founding of the country? A group of Mage apprentices, blacksmiths, and carpenters’ descendants, how did they become innately noble in just seven hundred years? Frankly speaking, it’s just because no one has challenged them, and they’ve all swelled up beyond recognition..."

When the ancestor from seven hundred years ago said these things, no one could argue against him, so the people in the room could only listen attentively. However, there was someone present who could interject, and that was the equally ancient Elf Ranger, Soldrin, who looked at Gawain with a smile and, after the other party finished speaking, leisurely opened his mouth: "Well, my old friend, if one day you defeat them all, what kind of new order do you want to establish afterward? You know, even the legendary ancient sage king of Gondor’s days had his empire eventually rot and collapse. Humans are a race with short lives, forgetful and volatile. Can you ensure the new order you establish will always be as you wish?"

As the conversation reached this point, certain things had almost been laid bare, causing the room to momentarily fall silent.

"Of course not," Gawain’s response to Soldrin’s question was simple and straightforward. His first two words startled the audience, but he then smiled and said, "Hence, what I establish is not the order of a single city or nation, nor is it an order of a single dynasty or generation. What I am establishing is the order of the civilization as a whole, where no noble is born noble, where no ruler can act recklessly; so when that day comes, it won’t matter if the one sitting on the throne is an emperor, a king, or anyone else. They must always be cautious, always be on edge, because there will always be a force capable of pulling them off the throne if they err."

The point had been made clear enough; there was no need to over-explain many things.

For a moment, the room fell so silent that you could hear a pin drop, and Amber couldn’t help rubbing her neck, looking earnestly at Gawain: "To be honest, you’re not going to kill me to keep this secret afterwards, are you?"

Gawain did not respond, merely placing his hand on Amber’s head with a smile.

"Seven hundred years ago, you could always surprise people, and seven hundred years later, you’re still the same," Soldrin stood up from the chair, the Elf Ranger walked up to Gawain, suddenly kneeling on one knee, solemnly performed the salute that human knights give to their liege, "As I promised before I set out — Soldrin Frostleaf, willing to rejoin your command."

Gawain also returned the salute solemnly and helped this old friend up (at least the old friend of his body’s inherited memory): "Welcome back. But for now, you still need to rest and heal."

Pittman laughed from the side: "Leader, don’t worry, with my ointment and healing spells, he’ll fully recover in just a few days."

Gawain took a deep look at this old Druid, he was certain that it was the first time the other used the word "leader" with such a formal tone.

He nodded: "I’ll leave the injured to you then."

One by one, people left, soon, only Gawain and Amber were left in the study.

"Weren’t you just muttering that you thought I’d kill you to silence you? Why are you still shamelessly staying now?" Gawain looked at the half-elf still in the study, teasing her deliberately.

For the first time, Amber didn’t respond to Gawain’s teasing, she just looked at him seriously for a long time before breaking the silence: "I’m thinking, how much of what you say when you’re bragging is serious."

"All of it is serious," Gawain said with a straight face, but then nodded, "But upon cooling down and thinking carefully, saying that’s bragging isn’t entirely wrong — after all, the Cecil Clan has just found its footing, planning the kingdom’s situation at this time is indeed a bit premature."

Amber rolled her eyes at Gawain: "Being so modest is not like you at all — and although others may not know, how can I not know? While the Cecil Clan has only just found its footing, those dark lines and pieces you’ve set... are not just within the Cecil Clan."

She paused here, crossing her arms while looking at Gawain: "Until today, I finally understand why you have so many strange behaviors, you... from the beginning, never intended to just be a peaceful frontier aristocrat."

"Actually, I did intend to peacefully build," Gawain spread his hands, "If possible, I don’t want to meddle in the current Anzu Kingdom’s aristocratic system, but speaking of which... they’re fools with a lot of money, so why not?"

"I’d be crazy to believe you!"

Gawain: "..."

Meanwhile, in a secret underground ruin near the borders of Anzu and Typhon.

In a side hall covered by vines and roots, a mutated plant suddenly swelled, and with the rapid swelling, maturation, and cracking of a bud-like structure atop the plant, a woman with dark green long hair clad in priest robes emerged from the cracked pod.

Beltira’s face was gloomy and pale, she glanced down at her hands and arms, confirming that all wounds have healed, then stepped forward, dragging the intimidating roots and vines towards the black-robed figure that seemed to have been waiting at the side hall door.

"Archon Xidon," Beltira looked at the black-robed figure with a rather cold tone, "I didn’t expect that the first thing you’d do after emerging from the Flesh Abyss would be to greet me, that’s truly surprising."

"It’s even more surprising to see the almost infallible Preceptor Beltira in such a sorry state," said Archon Xidon with a stern face, his build lean and his expression unyielding, "However, I’m not here to greet you, I’m just here to tell you that during your absence, the Archbishop awoke, and he wants to see you immediately upon your return."

"The Archbishop awoke?" Beltira frowned slightly, then nodded coldly, "Alright, I understand."