Since they were being open with each other, they might as well lay everything out.
Lot also told Morgan about his cheat ability.
"Your cheat?" Morgan narrowed her eyes, then immediately recalled how Lot always obtained those divine artifacts or items with only minor uses. She promptly asked him, "So, you weren't actually going out to fish before? Oh, right—you call yourself an angler, but I've never seen you bring back any fish."
"Ah, that's just how anglers are. I'm no exception."
Hearing Morgan's skeptical tone, Lot hurriedly defended himself.
Just because he hadn't caught any fish didn't mean he lacked skill—he was simply a proper angler.
"You're actually serious?"
Morgan reacted with a mix of amusement and exasperation at Lot's explanation.
"Obviously. What did you think?"
Lot immediately retorted.
"Well then, I'll have to see it for myself someday."
Morgan looked at Lot and spoke.
"Sure. Next time I go fishing, I'll take you with me."
Without a second thought, Lot agreed.
...
A few more days passed.
The cooldown for his cheat ability had finally ended.
"Alright, I can go fishing now. Perfect timing to take you along." He reached out, took Morgan's hand, and began leading her outside.
"Fine."
Hearing this, Morgan nodded and agreed immediately.
As the two stepped out, it happened to be the time when Gawain returned home from training.
Gawain saw his father and mother carrying fishing rods, clearly about to head out.
And—
They were even holding an extra rod.
"Mom, have you picked up Dad's habit of neglecting duty for frivolities?"
Gawain quickly addressed Morgan.
Was his mother now slacking off too?
This kind of bad influence couldn't be encouraged!
His father was already idling around all day, leaving much of the administrative work to him.
If his mother joined in, wouldn't all the governance fall entirely on him?
No—
Absolutely not.
If they really did this, he'd go straight to Agravain and dump everything on him.
Force him to grow up faster.
"I'm going for serious business. Who said I'm slacking off?"
Morgan stood on her tiptoes and rapped Gawain sharply on the head.
"Sure looks like it to me!"
Gawain muttered under his breath.
"Then keep thinking that!"
Morgan smacked him again, harder this time, then took Lot's hand and strode off leisurely.
The sight was the very picture of irresponsible parents, engrossed in their own pursuits while neglecting their children.
...
Carrying their fishing rods, Lot and Morgan arrived by the River of Time.
Now, the river had grown immensely wide.
The grasslands and forests on either side had also flourished, rich and vibrant.
It was truly as beautiful as a fairyland.
Morgan gazed at the scenery, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"The air and mana here are far better than outside."
She spoke to Lot.
"Yeah. After all, our Britain is still in the final stages of the Age of Gods, constantly oppressed by Gaia. So of course, this place is completely different."
Lot nodded in agreement.
Hearing her husband say this, Morgan shook her head and sighed.
"Ah, if only we could move this place to Camelot."
"Yeah…" Lot nodded again.
Then—
He froze.
He looked down at Morgan, his face filled with surprise.
At the same time, Morgan also heard Lot's thoughts.
The two exchanged a glance and spoke in unison:
"Then why don't we?"
Lot realized he had been stuck in a mental trap.
This—
Might just be the solution they needed.
...
Meanwhile, in the outside world—
Artoria, stationed at the White Chalk City (Camelot), was patrolling the castle walls when Merlin's figure appeared beside her.
"Teacher?"
Seeing Merlin, Artoria looked at him in confusion.
His appearance was truly unexpected.
Hadn't he left with Fujimaru Ritsuka?
Shouldn't he be busy scheming somewhere right now?
Why was he here?
Wasn't he afraid her sister and brother-in-law would interfere?
"Yep, it's me, Artoria."
Merlin waved cheerfully.
Before he could say more, another figure appeared beside Artoria—
Scáthach.
The moment he saw her, Merlin instinctively shrank back.
Scáthach glanced at him, then spoke with a grave expression.
"Save the greetings for later. We have a formidable enemy to face."
"Who?"
Artoria asked.
"That Oberon."
Merlin cut in.
"What?! Oberon?"
Though Artoria already knew about Oberon's true nature, the solemn looks on Scáthach and Merlin's faces left her deeply puzzled.
"He… is no longer the same as before."
Merlin said this just as they spotted Oberon emerging below the castle walls.
But unlike before, his entire body had turned pitch-black, radiating an intensely sinister aura.
Now, he gazed up at Merlin, Scáthach, and the others on the walls, shaking his head as if displeased.
"I thought I could keep hiding for much longer, let Chaldea and Camelot weaken each other. But it seems you've seen through me."
As he spoke, he continued,
"Also, I don't know what you've done, but you've agitated the World's consciousness to the point of panic. So now, I have no choice but to drag all of you into the abyss of eternal darkness."
Without waiting for Artoria's response, Oberon's body began to transform.
The sky darkened.
He took on a monstrous form—
A massive maw, a grotesque body, as if ready to devour everything in existence.
Its jaws opened wide, ready to consume.
Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others were also brought to the castle walls.
"This scale… it's no less than Tiamat's."
Staring at the insectoid dragon, Fujimaru muttered in shock.
"He wasn't supposed to be like this. But for some reason, Gaia seems to have been provoked, forcing him into this state."
Scáthach gripped her twin spears and charged at Oberon.
"Prepare for battle. And—though I seek death, I refuse to die at the hands of such an ugly monster. This fight… we must win!"
As she rushed forward, she declared.