[Thanks to Artoria's teleportation scroll, you successfully escaped from the pincer attack of Fairy Knight Lancelot and the Lord of Oxford, Woodworth.]
[After being teleported to the exit of the Vein Corridor, you regroup and discuss your next move. Oberon volunteers to scout for information nearby.]
"…I'm sorry, everyone. This time, it's probably my fault. I acted too hastily. I should've gathered more intel before approaching Aurora."
As soon as he returned, Oberon apologized to everyone.
"I didn't expect that, for fairies with no concept of lifespan, the situation in Fairy Britain could change so drastically in just one month."
Let us turn back the clock.
After losing track of Guinevere's group at the Vein Corridor, Melusine quickly located another entrance to the subterranean complex and began her own pursuit.
However, since the Vein Corridor spanned the entire underground of Britain and was incredibly vast and labyrinthine, Melusine ultimately failed to track them down.
After much deliberation, she decided to abandon her solo pursuit and instead leverage the power of other fairies.
After all, no matter how long the prophesied child and her group evaded her underground, they would eventually have to resurface to continue their pilgrimage.
[Upon returning to the surface, you immediately begin searching for potential allies.]
[After weighing your options, your first choice is the Lord of Oxford and Chieftain of the Fang Clan—Woodworth.]
[Having clashed several times with the human named Guinevere, you've begun to realize her terrifying potential. In a few months, you might not be able to defeat her easily, and it would become exponentially harder to kill her. Woodworth, you believe, would make an ideal partner.]
"With Morgan missing for so long, Woodworth, I bet you've been feeling the itch to become the next King of Fairy Britain, haven't you?"
"Let's strike a deal. Help me kill Baobhan Sith and that human named Guinevere, and I'll swear loyalty to you. I'll join your ranks and help you become Britain's new king. Sound fair?"
Wasting no time on negotiation pleasantries, Melusine laid out her conditions the moment she saw him.
"Baobhan Sith? And a human? Lancelot, are you sleepwalking or what?" Woodworth frowned. "Why bother killing a brat and some insect of a human? Are you messing with me?"
"Do I look like someone who jokes around?" Melusine replied coldly.
"…Then why?" Woodworth asked.
"As the purest of dragonkind, I can see the future," Melusine said without blinking. "And in several of the futures I've glimpsed, Baobhan Sith and that human Guinevere destroy Fairy Britain together. I will not allow that to happen."
Woodworth stared at her in disbelief.
"Baobhan Sith and a human can destroy the entire country? Lancelot, you're serious?"
After closely scrutinizing Melusine's expression and confirming she wasn't joking, Woodworth hesitated briefly before stating his condition.
"Fine. I'll help you kill the human named Guinevere… but Baobhan Sith must live."
"Why?" Melusine was surprised. "Haven't you always hated her?"
"I do. She's nothing more than a spoiled brat who orders people around and kills at a whim. Because of her, even Queen Morgan's prestige has suffered over the years."
"But even so, she's still the Queen's chosen heir. She may lack the bearing to rule, and the title of 'heir' may be meaningless to an immortal like Her Majesty… but it still means Morgan favored her."
"And for that reason alone, Baobhan Sith cannot die."
"Oh?" Melusine raised an eyebrow. "You still call her 'Her Majesty,' even when you want to be king?"
"What are you implying? Are you questioning my loyalty to Her Majesty?"
Woodworth suddenly bared his fangs, his aura turning dangerous.
"I'm willing to become king only because, in Her Majesty's absence, someone must rein in this chaotic land. That's why I considered your proposal. Even if I do become king, if Morgan ever returns, I'll still serve loyally as her vassal."
"…A loyal dog through and through, huh. Alright, I take back my earlier remark."
Melusine muttered—perhaps to him, perhaps to herself:
"After all, I can't say I don't understand. Even if they're no longer around, we still act for the sake of a vanished shadow…"
"Hmph. Glad you understand."
Woodworth cast her a glance.
"As for Baobhan Sith, if she really is destined to bring about our nation's downfall, then a little discipline won't hurt. Let's throw her into the prison in Glasgow and have her reflect on her actions."
"You're the Warden of Fairy Britain, aren't you? I'm sure you know how to properly rehabilitate unstable elements."
"Warden, my ass. Don't call me that," Melusine snapped. "I never liked that job in the first place."
[Having reached an agreement with Woodworth, you continue seeking new allies.]
[After careful thought, you propose recruiting the Lord of Sheffield—Boggart.]
"That guy may be one of the few remaining fairy lords with actual strength. More importantly, his desires are easy to fulfill."
"Promise to lift the disaster over Norwich when the time comes, and offer him the title of lord afterward—he should be easy to win over."
"As for Spriggan? That bastard doesn't care if fairies or humans under him live or die. A backstabbing weakling with no real power—Boggart is far more reliable. Besides, didn't Spriggan steal the Norwich lordship from Boggart in the first place?"
"Don't be too quick to refuse. Sure, Boggart was once a rebel—but think about it: if you can bring a former rebel territory back under Camelot's banner, Queen Morgan will surely praise your capabilities when she returns."
[You successfully persuade Woodworth and bring your terms to Sheffield for negotiation with Boggart.]
[Just as you predicted, the once-stubborn Boggart agrees to the alliance after hearing your offer concerning Norwich.]
[Next, you head to Londinium in search of your brother, Percival, leader of the Round Table Army, hoping he will fight for the future of Britain.]
[Due to Baobhan Sith's notorious reputation, he quickly believes your warning and agrees to join—on two conditions: that all Round Table members be treated fairly, and that the Prophesied Child be spared, as he believes she is innocent.]
[Knowing you'll need accurate reports of the Prophesied Child's movements after battle begins, you set your sights on Aurora, Chieftain of the Wind Clan.]
[Although you dislike her for previously attacking the Round Table Army, you judge that acting against her now would be unwise.]
[You advise Woodworth to pressure her into submission through military strength, in exchange for her intelligence network and assistance in locating the Prophesied Child's party.]
[To appease her, you and Woodworth offer to help fulfill her own desires.]
[Surprisingly, Aurora's request is to "kill the Prophesied Child and the Northern Queen, Nocknere."]
—But hadn't she previously simulated alliances with them in every early phase?
Naturally, Melusine was baffled, and Aurora's explanation was…
"Because you see, I am the most dazzling fairy in all of Britain. That's obvious, right?"
"But lately, don't you think those two—Guinevere and the Northern Queen—have been hogging way too much attention? Neither title has anything to do with beauty… and yet, everyone's eyes are on them."
"That's not right, is it? Everyone should be looking at me. I'm the most beautiful, after all. Isn't that obvious?"
—This woman… is mentally deranged, isn't she?
She wanted to kill them just for getting more attention? What kind of utterly stupid psycho is this?
Disgusting.
Melusine felt physically ill talking to her.
She thought, anyone with half a brain would find her repulsive after realizing what kind of person she is.
Still, for Uther's sake… she would tolerate this idiot for now. Once Guinevere was dead and Baobhan Sith captured, then she'd take out the trash.
[Thus, in just one month, you manage to forge an alliance between the armies of Sheffield, Salisbury, and Oxford—under Woodworth's leadership.]
[You successfully bring them all into your campaign to execute Guinevere.]
"So that's why Aurora looked so weird when she saw us…" Guinevere smacked her own face upon hearing the news from Oberon about the alliance of the three fairy lords.
No wonder her expression was so awkward—she'd been searching all over for them, and then they just showed up on her doorstep like idiots. Who wouldn't be dumbfounded?
"But at least Artoria managed to ring the bell in the end," Guinevere said. "So, where do we go from here?"
"Or rather, where can we even go now?"
Author's Note: Pushing a recommendation from my good bro, Wuliaojiang.
Synopsis:
Chu Yuanqing swore that, as a former savior of the world, she never imagined she'd one day turn into a magical girl to join an idol competition just to leave some inheritance for her daughter.
But hey, as long as no one finds out, it doesn't count, right?
So why the hell is her sweet, well-behaved daughter also joining the show?
Now, stuck every day calling each other "sisters" and hearing "I'm your fan!", the middle-aged wage slave is mentally collapsing.
Damn it—she really doesn't want to steal her daughter's debut slot!
And now she's being bombarded with:
"Who do you like more?"
"You picked her last time—this time should be mine, right?"
"No teaming up with others—they're just leeching off you!"
Somehow she's scraped by, but… why is every teammate so dangerously obsessed?
Looking at her deranged teammates and fanbase screaming she must debut and become the world's #1 idol, the former savior just wants to run away.
But with her popularity rising—she just might debut after all.