Hearing that unfamiliar voice, everyone present froze in place. They quickly turned their heads and saw a woman wearing a crown and veil, dressed in a resplendent robe, walking toward them from the night with graceful, composed steps.
A cascade of silver hair flowed down from beneath her crown, the moonlight streaming across it, shrouding her in an aura of mystery.
The moment they saw her, whether they recognized her or not, everyone's expression instantly changed.
"This... this spirit origin reading... What's going on? Has the plan changed? Did you already clash with the Lion King?"
Dr. Roman's projection suddenly appeared beside Ritsuka Fujimaru, his face tense.
"Shh, Doctor, now is not the time for you to clown around. Hold it in for a bit," Ritsuka quickly pressed her finger to her lips, signaling him to stay quiet.
"Who are you?!"
On the other side, Hundred Faces had already jumped up, her expression wary, her hand swiftly gripping the dagger hidden in her robes. But in the next moment, she noticed that Bavanzi was right beside the woman.
"Bavanzi, did you bring her here? Who is she?" Hundred Faces asked.
Before Bavanzi could reply, however, someone else in the group had already given the answer.
With a sharp metallic scrape, Hundred Faces turned her head just in time to see Barguest drop swiftly to one knee, bowing her head reverently.
"Fairy Knight Gawain pays respects to Her Majesty, the Queen."
Right after her, Melusine glanced at Barguest, then at Morgan. With a sigh, she too lowered herself to one knee.
"Fairy Knight Lancelot pays respects to Her Majesty, the Queen."
"Eh? Then, then that means... Her Majesty Morgan?"
Artoria glanced at Morgan twice, then remembered the prophecy that said she was to replace Morgan as the child of prophecy. She shrank her neck and subconsciously tried to hide behind Guinevere. But just as she took two steps back, Noknare suddenly sidled up, yanked her forward, and held her in place.
"What are you afraid of?" Noknare glared at her impatiently. "You're Guinevere's rightful consort now. Stand properly at his side and don't embarrass yourself."
"Ah?" Artoria blinked, looking lost.
Noknare shook her head helplessly, her expression almost screaming "angry at her weakness, pitying her misfortune." She leaned in close to whisper in Artoria's ear:
"Don't forget—Morgan, like Melusine, was also Guinevere's lover in a past life. In fact, she was Uther's real girlfriend. Do you think she might try to steal him back from us?"
Artoria's eyes went wide in shock.
"So, no matter what Uther was, you're still the first companion Guinevere met after coming to Britain, the first one to capture him in the simulation. That makes you the legitimate consort in theory. Don't lose face here, understand?"
"O-okay!" Artoria stammered, nodding hurriedly. Though still nervous, she glanced at Guinevere, drew courage, and quickly stepped forward, adopting a protective stance in front of him like a hen shielding her chick.
Guinevere, meanwhile, was utterly baffled.
"?"
A question mark practically formed over his head.
"Your Majesty the Queen... So you're the Fairy Queen Morgan?" Ignoring these small antics, Hundred Faces stepped forward, looked at the two kneeling knights, then at Morgan, and spoke.
"Hey! Watch your attitude! Show some respect before Mother!"
Bavanzi suddenly stuck her head out and scolded her.
"Hah? Even if she's the Fairy Queen, what's that got to do with me? This is the land of the mountain folk—"
"You talk too much."
Morgan turned her head slightly to glance at Hundred Faces. Before the assassin could react, a crushing weight of magical energy pressed down on her shoulders. Caught off guard, Hundred Faces was forced to her knees by the sheer force.
"Wow... That's no small feat. At the very least, that's divine spirit level power, right?" Biaotengtai whistled in awe, then quickly ducked behind Xuanzang when Morgan's gaze swept his way.
"Hey! Why are you hiding behind me? I'm scared too! With that kind of pressure, I thought I was facing a bodhisattva!" Xuanzang whispered frantically.
"No, no, you're Xuanzang, aren't you? Gentle, virtuous, respected—anyone would show you face. And if not for you, at least for your disciple," Biaotengtai whispered back.
Even Morgan chuckled softly at the pair's antics. But soon she turned her gaze back on the group, her tone calm:
"If it's the Lion King's Holy Lance you fear, rest assured—I will handle it when the time comes."
"In the final battle against her, I too shall take the field."
"I see... I never imagined I'd one day stand alongside you against my king... but with your aid, the chances of victory rise considerably." Bedivere fell silent, then sighed softly.
"Well then, since such a powerful Servant as Her Majesty Morgan has joined us, we should be glad, shouldn't we? No need to keep the atmosphere so tense."
Sensing the suffocating tension, Ritsuka cleared her throat, stepped forward, and tried to lighten the mood.
As she spoke, she secretly glanced toward Hundred Faces, relieved to see that the magical pressure suppressing her had dissipated. Quickly she added:
"Then, Your Majesty Morgan, please—take the seat of honor."
She watched Morgan's expression cautiously, awaiting her response.
"Hmph..."
Morgan suddenly let out a cold laugh. She lifted her hand, and a black spear etched with glowing blue runes appeared, its tip pressing directly against Ritsuka's throat.
"I'll fight only because I oppose Artoria. But when did I ever say I was Chaldea's ally?"
"Senpai!" Mash cried out and rushed forward. But with a flick of Morgan's hand, a wave of deep blue magical energy surged like a tide across the ground. A cresting wave rose before Mash and hurled her backward.
The fragile balance in the camp shattered instantly. Everyone, already taut as bowstrings, leapt into action: Cursed Arm, Hundred Faces, Bedivere, Da Vinci, and Kotomine all struck at once, trying to save Ritsuka. Barguest and Melusine, however, were just as swift, intercepting them with heavy and swift sword strikes, the gusts of clashing blades forcing the attackers back.
Bavanzi, meanwhile, simply blinked in confusion, her mouth agape.
"Wh-what's going on now?!" Xuanzang stammered, frozen by the scene.
"Doesn't matter, just don't go near them. If you get caught in this, you'll really die," Biaotengtai muttered, dragging her back.
"But... I feel like the Chaldean Master is a good person. Shouldn't we help?"
Even as Xuanzang began to step forward, the atmosphere shifted again.
Unnoticed until now, Guinevere suddenly strode forward, planting himself between Morgan's spear and Ritsuka. With one hand, he drew her behind him protectively.
He didn't draw his weapon. Something deep inside told him Morgan wasn't his enemy, and he couldn't bring himself to point a blade at her. But his time traveling with Ritsuka compelled him to shield her without hesitation.
Because of his haste, he hadn't entirely avoided the spear, but Morgan had sensed his movement and slightly withdrew her hand, sparing him from harm.
Guinevere noticed, his thoughts stirring.
When he lifted his head to meet Morgan's gaze, she sighed softly, then with a wave dismissed the spear.
"I understand. Since protecting her is your decision, I will support it unconditionally. Let us end it here. Until Chaldea truly threatens Fairy Britain, I will not raise my hand against them again."
"But know this: Chaldea is not the Fairy Kingdom's friend. The day we are enemies will inevitably come."
Guinevere blinked.
That... was it?
He had expected an argument, at least some resistance. Yet Morgan had so easily withdrawn her hostility toward Chaldea, purely on his account.
As for her warning, he treated it like wind passing his ears. Whether Chaldea was friend or foe to the Fairy Kingdom—what did that matter to him? He'd rather see those repulsive fairies destroyed anyway... well, aside from a rare few he called friends.
Still... Had Morgan really spared Chaldea for his sake?
Did his face carry such weight? Or rather... was he truly so important to her?
Had she, like Melusine, mistaken him for Uther?
Guinevere's eyes flickered with unspoken thoughts. Outwardly calm, inside he was in turmoil.
"You don't need to overthink," Morgan said softly, as if reading him.
"When this simulation ends, I'll come to you myself..."
She paused, her gaze sliding toward Artoria, whose face had gone stiff. Morgan's voice turned icy.
"And I'll also see for myself how the so-called next child of prophecy managed to turn herself into a boar princess."