I Am A Villain

The following days were… entertaining to say the least. Artoria kept ignoring and avoiding me. It was cute at first but now it was just getting in the way of me doing my job.

Zero: "C'mon stop ignoring me… if anything it's your fault that you didn't lock your room."

A woman always hates when someone says it is their fault… even if it actually is. Artoria may be king/queen, but she was no different.

Artoria: "I'm sure it is a certain somebody's fault that he didn't knock before coming in."

'I am surprised I'm still not getting bored of this.'

Zero: "I said I'm sorry."

Artoria: "You didn't, not even once."

Zero: "See, I am honest. I got to see something pretty after all."

'Ah she blushed, so cute.'

As I thought that Artoria headed toward her room to try and get away from me.

Artoria: "I'm going to my room, guard the door and make sure no one come's in."

Zero: "Can I come in?"

Artoria: "NO!"

Zero: "Fine, fine… have you talked to Merlin?"

Artoria: "Yes, he said he'll be bringing your payment in a month."

Slowly she made her way into the room and I stood in front of the door.

Zero: "Can I come in now?"

Artoria: "NO!"

Who knew that a (relatively) normal life would be so happy. That might just be because mine was a little crazy so far.

…

The reputation of King Arthur, a king who cared for his people and country fighting on the battlefield leading his troops and the knights of the round table who followed behind him.

I was currently talking to that so called king in her room

Zero: "You are an idiot Artoria."

As she flung her arms around in a childlike manner she replied.

Artoria: "How am I an idiot, is that even a way to talk to your king?!"

Granted I was kind of pissed right now.

Zero: "Excuse me, you are an idiot your highness."

Arotria: "That is bett… wait why did you call me an idiot again?!"

Zero: "What kind of king rushes head on to the battlefield before his own soldiers?! How are you not an idiot?"

Artoria: "A strong king." – she said with a proud face.

Zero: "So you are a strong idiot."

Artoria: "Why are you calling me an idiot again?"

Zero: "A king is a leader first and a fighter second."

Artoria: "But I don't need to worry, I have a reliable meat shield."

Zero: "What did you call me?" – I'm pretty sure a tick formed in my armored form's forehead

And so we continued fighting for a while. Soon I became pretty famous among the knights for talking back to their famous king. They even started throwing theories of how I was his childhood best friend and whatnot.

…

Artoria was continuing fighting on the battlefield and we needed allies. It was decided that King Arthur would marry Guinevere. Now this was something I was very interested in and headed straight for her chambers and barged in like always.

Zero: "Your highness when I heard the news, this servant couldn't keep still."

Artoria was just looking more and more pissed as every moment passed.

Zero: "Who would have expected that your highness was so beautiful that even the women would come over."

Her hand was inching closer and closer to Excalibur.

Zero: "Anyway… all jokes aside do we need to have her killed?"

Artoria: "Of course not, she was bought by Merlin personally… it seems they made a deal back then."

Zero: "…How is he doing?"

Artoria: "Every time I ask he always says the same thing, I'm doing good, you don't need to worry. I haven't gone for a while. I am afraid he'll get mad at me for bothering him so much."

Zero: "Too bad for you, you still have to go."

Artoria: "Why?"

Zero: "I have to pick up my payment and I still have to watch over you, so you have to come with me. I also can't carry as much as before so I'll have to go more often. Ah what a pain."

Artoria: "You think so?"

Zero: "Yes."

Artoria: "…Thank you." – she said as she lowered her head.

'Stupid girl just needed a reason.'

…

Granted not everything was all well and good. Not everyone was happy with King Arthur being so loved by the people and not every peson loved King Arthur. As a new knight, not of the round table, discussed with some of his sympathizers and decided to come to me instead of the King or the knights of the round table.

Knight: "Sir Zero, I wonder if I can have your attention for a moment?"

The Knight was clearly intimidated, I was taller, definitely stronger and in full armor.

Kinght: "It concerns the kingdom."

Zero: "Can't Arthur take care of it?"

Knight: "Myself and some others have decided that it's better for you to hear about it first."

Zero: "Let's hear it then."

Knight: "Some of our hidden spies have mentioned that some villages have been won over by the promises of the enemy? You have to understand that some people don't believe on the king and are happy to make a profit."

Zero: "So you want me to 'take care' of it."

Knight: "The king is too forgiving and the knights too focused on chivalry, so they won't execute them even if they spread rumors or straight up launch a rebellion. Our forces are already preoccupied and our financial capacity is below our enemy so we can't stop them from using this method."

Zero: "You realize that this might push the people to believe our enemies if it gets out."

Knight: "That is exactly why it must not get out. I am ready to give my life to serve my king because I believe in him. I have gathered some other sympathizers and believers and formed a small force, no further recruits are needed. They are ready to take their own lives if it can help the king and will follow all of your commands. The one who delivered the message will come across an accident on his way back. The hidden spies live as normal civilians and they have no combat skills. I believe it's not necessary to say that nobody outside this small group has to know of the actions we will take. "

Zero: "So I need to take care of the entire populace of the villages."

Knight: "Kingdoms will rise and fall. Our duty is to make sure it lasts as long as possible… no matter what we have to do."

Zero: "The informants?"

Knight: "They are not aware of this."

Zero: "So they have to go as well."

Knight: "Sacrifices are necessary, theirs will be remembered."

Zero: "And his highness safety?"

Knight: "I'll make sure to take care that the dates of the war campaign don't interfere with your 'other' activities. However I will need your excellency to provide me information regarding that."

[A.N: I used your excellency because that is all that I could find. I don't know if there is another way to refer him so If anybody does comment on this paragraph.]

Zero: "What is your name?"

Knight: "This one is called Joseph. I am of common birth and barely made it to low-level knighthood thanks to the kings generosity."

Zero: "Very well Joseph, from now on you only answer to me. You have no need to bow to other knights, be they round table or not. You only bow to the King and me. Should our King question you on what you do you are not to reveal any of what we talked about to him. This may be lying but we need to protect the king, he is too kind and would not allow our actions to continue. This would give the enemy a chance to advance on their plans."

Joseph looked like he was struggling but finally decided.

Joseph: "Yes my lord, I will protect the king, even if I have to lie to him to do it."

Zero: "Then let us start."