Chapter 985: What Is the "Water Mirror"?
The arguments in the council hall ultimately ended as mere verbal sparring.
The small meeting concluded quickly.
Barghest accepted her punishment and withdrew, while Woodwose and Spriggan returned to their territories by carriage.
Among everyone, Beryl was the most displeased.
He had prepared a full speech, only to have it utterly dismissed by the Queen with a single sentence!
He had been convinced that it was Eiji who proposed becoming the Queen Consort and offered terms Morgan couldn't refuse, which led her to agree to appoint him as such.
But it turned out that wasn't the case at all!
Instead, it was the Queen who actively proposed making Eiji her Consort!
This was utterly absurd!
Beryl knew very well that the Queen was not the type to initiate such a thing!
Her regarding him as her husband was purely because he was her Master—since he had summoned her, she now ruled over Britain, and there was undoubtedly an element of repayment in her actions.
But why would the Queen actively appoint Eiji as her Consort?
There should be no connection between them at all!
Could it really be because she was taken with his face?
That would be just too ridiculous!
"Hey, hey, hey, Mr. Red Beryl?"
"What is it, Miss Spinel?"
Beryl quickly composed himself and smiled as he looked at Fairy Tristan.
No matter what, Fairy Tristan still needed to be carefully managed.
After all, she was quite useful.
"Back in Sheffield, did you really see that mysterious person was Consort Eiji?"
Fairy Tristan looked at him with some unease.
"What, do you think it's bad if it was him?"
"Well, both you and he are Mother's men. I think it's best if you can coexist peacefully. That would be ideal for Mother too…"
"Don't worry, I was just testing him."
Beryl paused, a gentle smile spreading across his face.
"I found him a bit suspicious, which is why I did it. It's for the future of the Fairy Kingdom—we can't let suspicious people join the Queen's harem, right?"
"Hmm, if you say so, then it must be true… But you're the legitimate husband, while he's just a Consort at best. The future king will definitely be you. I don't think there's any need to bother with him!"
Fairy Tristan's words caused Beryl's expression to darken for a moment.
"Besides, I'm still waiting for you and Mother to marry so you can come for me!"
"…Heh, you're right."
Beryl's face also lit up with a seemingly longing smile.
But what he was truly thinking deep down, no one knew.
The "Mirror" opened before them, and the two soon stepped through to the other side, disappearing from Camelot.
...
Top floor of the castle, council hall.
All other irrelevant personnel had withdrawn, leaving only Eiji and the Queen in the vast council hall.
"You've been wandering outside for ten days. You must have seen what Britain is like now."
Morgan remained seated on her throne, not moving an inch.
She slowly spoke, initiating conversation with Eiji.
"What do you think of my Britain?"
She really doesn't treat me like an outsider!
Eiji rolled his eyes.
He was actually quite puzzled.
Over ten days ago, he had just arrived in this Lostbelt, fought his way into Camelot, and battled all the way to the Queen's presence.
He could tell at a glance that the queen's power was exceptionally formidable. The magical energy surrounding her was at least a hundred times greater than his own, and that wasn't even accounting for the throne beneath her. Including the throne, it likely surpassed his by ten thousandfold or more!
Even so, Eiji did not retreat.
Most of his strength lay in his sword, with little reliance on magical energy. Judging by magical energy alone would never reveal his true capabilities.
Moreover, he still had his trump card stored in his imaginary number pocket, so there was no need for him to feel intimidated!
Eiji immediately engaged Morgan in battle.
Yet after over half an hour of fighting, neither could gain the upper hand.
Morgan's power was astonishingly vast, no less formidable than Arcueid during her rampage. Though it was a forcibly halted version of that power, it still showcased Morgan's terror!
And Eiji was remarkably tenacious. After an hour of combat, utilizing his intuition, supernatural abilities, causality manipulation, swordsmanship, and otherworldly magic, he hadn't even been grazed by Morgan!
"Become my consort."
Then Morgan abruptly made her request.
Eiji was stunned for a long moment, utterly baffled by how her train of thought had shifted so suddenly.
"Fine!"
If you dare take me, I dare become it!
Eiji decisively agreed.
If the stalemate continued, it would be difficult for Eiji to defeat Morgan. Honestly, even if he brought out his ultimate technique, "Light-Chaser," he wasn't confident he could win.
In that case, why not try to destroy the Fairy Kingdom from within?
Driven by this thought, he became Morgan's consort.
What followed was a series of upheavals during the celebrations and in places like Sheffield and Salisbury.
Even now, Eiji still hadn't figured out what Morgan was truly thinking.
"It's beautiful."
Eiji walked to the window.
The dusky yellow sky and the distant earth complemented each other, creating a rare and fresh sight to behold.
Though he had traveled to many places, he had never seen a Fairy Britain like this.
"That's good."
Morgan nodded slowly, as if pleased.
However.
At the same time, it was also very ugly!
This thought, Eiji did not voice aloud.
"Morgan, there's something I... No, never mind."
Eiji hesitated, then held back.
He thought of the human pastures.
He had wanted to discuss the issue of human rights with Morgan, but he decided against it.
After all, this was a Lostbelt.
No matter how much effort he put in, the world would not remember it, and the future held no meaning.
Even if changes occurred, there was no foundation for them here.
Since he didn't explain, Morgan didn't press further.
"By the way, are you really not going to deal with the Great Calamity in Norwich?"
Eiji turned around, leaning against the window as he gazed at the queen on her throne.
Her silver hair cascaded over the throne, blending with the sunlight and the throne's glow to create an ethereal hue.
A crown adorned her head, symbolizing an authority that brooked no dispute.
Though she wore a veil, Eiji's sharp eyes could tell she had a face identical to Artoria's, albeit more mature, standing around 170 cm tall with a better figure, reminiscent of the Lion King.
Overall, she was quite to Eiji's taste.
Even if she was an enemy.
"I've already said I will use the 'Water Mirror' on Norwich."
Morgan's tone was as cold and unchanging as ever.
Even when facing Eiji, she showed no signs of relaxation.
Her expression revealed nothing of her true thoughts.
"What exactly is the Water Mirror?"
Eiji frowned.
He had been fixated on this term since earlier.
What in the world was that thing?
If it was some incredibly powerful technique, why hadn't she used it at all during their battle?
"Chaldea possesses a technology called 'Spiritron Transfer'—are you aware of it?"
"...I know of it."
"My Water Mirror is a magecraft formula I created by analyzing and replicating Spiritron Transfer."
Morgan spoke without the slightest concealment, openly revealing the secrets of her magecraft.
"The Great Calamity of Norwich will be sent back to the era of the Fairy Calendar—such trifles as calamities hardly require my personal intervention."