"Did we complete the mission even earlier than before?!"
Panting heavily, Guinevere asked Artoria as she looked at the last human village occupied by the fairies, now conquered by their forces.
The entire way, Artoria had been sprinting at full speed.
For a knight, this was basic operation nothing to worry about.
But for Guinevere, it was somewhat exhausting.
Even so, Guinevere had clung tightly to Artoria's pace without relaxing for a moment.
"Yes."
Artoria was genuinely moved by her perseverance throughout the journey.
"If you're tired, you should rest a bit more."
She couldn't help but say.
"I'm not tired."
Hearing such concern from the one she loved, Guinevere instantly regained her energy.
Seeing her like this, Artoria didn't know what to say.
After a moment's thought, she asked Guinevere:
"By the way, if one day I suddenly became a woman, what would you do?"
"Why do you have such a strange thought?! Have you ever seen a girl with an appetite as big as yours?!"
Guinevere asked in utter bewilderment.
"But… I've never seen a man with an appetite this big either?"
Artoria retorted.
"...Well, that's true, I suppose."
Guinevere thought about it and realized Artoria had a point.
"So, what's your answer?"
"Why does it feel like you're really concerned about this?"
Guinevere eyed Artoria suspiciously.
Then,
After another moment of consideration, she shrugged and replied:
"I don't know what I'd do. It's like you're asking me if one day my father and you both fell into a river, who I'd save. But I think… Their Majesties Morgan and Lot wouldn't let such a thing happen."
Lot's crossing into this world hadn't only brought convenience to humanity in the Type-Moon world. Sometimes, it also brought along soul-crushing, existential questions like this.
Artoria had encountered Guinevere, who adored her, but among the common folk especially the newly affluent townsfolk in Camelot due to Lot's policies this dilemma had plagued many.
"That's true. Their Majesties Lot and Morgan likely wouldn't let it happen."
Artoria nodded with a smile, agreeing with Guinevere's words.
But inwardly, she grew even more troubled.
This Guinevere wouldn't even entertain the thought in that direction.
What would she do when she found out?
Troublesome!
And she didn't even know who to confide in about this.
Neither Lot nor Her Majesty Morgan knew she was a woman.
She didn't dare reveal it.
The two monarchs didn't discriminate against women,
But being a knight was another matter entirely.
She had no idea that Lot and Morgan had actually known the truth all along.
After some thought, Artoria realized the only one who knew her true gender was her teacher.
But picturing Merlin's face, Artoria immediately shook her head.
Her teacher's unreliability…
Was about as credible as her claiming to eat only one loaf of bread per meal.
After some deliberation, Artoria decided this was far too mentally taxing. It'd be better to focus on winning this battle first.
"We've arrived at the entrance to the Fairy Kingdom even earlier than scheduled. Next, we need to set up defenses to prevent the fairies from escaping."
Artoria thought it over, then addressed the soldiers behind her.
"Yes!"
The soldiers quickly began arranging their defensive formations.
...
The fairies of the Wind Clan continued their retreat.
"What if the Fang Clan members we left behind, leading the other clans, actually defeat the humans?"
After parting ways with the other fairies, the Wind Clan leader's face betrayed her growing anxiety.
Though she had earlier claimed those fairies wouldn't succeed,
Now that they had left, she began to worry.
What if they lost?
Unable to hold back her concern, she voiced it to Melusine.
However, upon hearing this, Melusine wore a thoughtful expression.
Then,
She replied to the clan leader:
"I believe they won't win."
"At least, the Fang Clan won't."
Recalling Lot and Morgan's affairs, Melusine added.
"Why?"
The Wind Clan leader asked curiously.
"Because some fairies will never submit to others."
Melusine answered bluntly.
She had spoken with Lot and knew he would never bow to anyone.
Let alone the Fang Clan's brutish, brainless lot even if their leader were truly wise, they could never command his allegiance.
Now, Melusine suspected this entire situation was orchestrated by Lot behind the scenes.
Thinking this, she shared her thoughts with the Wind Clan leader.
Hearing this, the Wind Clan leader's face brightened with joy.
"That's wonderful!"
She exclaimed happily.
Seeing this expression, Melusine instinctively clenched her fists.
Weren't the Six Clans all part of the fairy race?
Why was their defeat and death something to celebrate?
Melusine tightened her fists, wanting to demand an answer.
But glancing at the Wind Clan leader the one who had taken her in she held back.
Yet at this moment, she couldn't help but wonder:
Had she been under Morgan's command, or that masked fairy's, she might never have faced such a dilemma.
But now,
She could only follow this leader.
With these thoughts weighing on her, Melusine pressed forward.
As they neared the entrance to the Fairy Kingdom, the Wind Clan leader's face lit up with delight.
"Hehe, we'll be back soon. Then I'll gather our forces and launch another attack on the humans…"
But just as her laughter began, Melusine raised a hand to stop her.
"Clan Leader, don't celebrate too soon."
"Huh?"
The Wind Clan leader shot her a puzzled, slightly displeased look.
"Ahead… there's a human army."
Melusine said.
Then,
Amidst the roar of an energy blast, Artoria and her forces appeared before the Wind Clan fairies.