Truth be told, staying behind to watch over the prisoners wasn't so bad.
However, Lot soon realized he had something far more important to do.
Fishing.
His system had just informed him that it was time to go "fishing" again.
[Alright, off to fish. Let's see what goodies I can reel in this time.]
"Mm, go ahead. The sooner you leave, the sooner you'll return."
Upon hearing Lot's inner thoughts, Morgan learned that he was heading out to fish and of course, she was fully supportive.
Fishing was good.
The more treasures he brought back, the better.
With enough gains, they could cross the seas not just conquering all of Britain, but even the entirety of Europe.
Britain was too small. It couldn't possibly contain her husband's talents.
His abilities shouldn't be confined to this tiny island nation.
That husband of hers often mused in his heart that wielding Joyeuse meant becoming the ruler of all Europe.
Hmm, not a bad idea at all.
Besides, he also wanted her to bear more children.
Gawain. Agravain. Gareth. And so on.
They could appoint a king for each territory.
One for Britain. One for France. Another for the Italian Peninsula over in Rome.
That way, He could become the Father of Europe.
And she, the Mother of Europe.
Nice.
Very nice.
"Understood."
Lot gave a slight nod.
Gawain, watching this, grew curious and wanted to follow. But the moment she took a step, Morgan whacked her hard on the head with her staff.
"Don't go causing trouble for your father. He's off to attend to important matters."
Morgan scolded Gawain.
Hearing this, Gawain muttered, "Doesn't look like Dad's doing anything important. Judging by his usual mindset, he's probably just going fishing, right?"
"Ah, yes. Your father is going fishing." Morgan nodded matter-of-factly. But before Gawain could say anything else, she continued, "However, in this household, your father's fishing counts as an important matter."
"Huh?! Fishing counts as important?!" Gawain scratched her head in disbelief. Then, her eyes lit up. "Oh! Mother, how about I learn to fish too? Then I can also do important things!"
But the moment she said this, she saw the look on her mother's face one that suggested she was about to pull out something to smack her with.
"I said fishing is important, but only when your father does it. For you, it's just a waste of time."
Morgan glared at her.
Before Gawain could protest, she added, "And don't think this is favoritism."
Pausing, Morgan pointed at Gawain's Galatine and said, "Fine, I won't ask for much. Go out and fish, and casually bring back two weapons no weaker than this one. That's all."
"C-Casually?!"
Gawain's eyes bulged.
Mother, do you even hear yourself?!
Where the hell am I supposed to get those?!
Seeing Gawain's stunned expression, Morgan felt immensely pleased.
Then, patting her daughter's shoulder, she said, "So now you understand, don't you? Later, you'll stay here and help me keep an eye on these prisoners. Make sure they don't escape, and that no fairies come to rescue them."
"...Understood."
Faced with such blatant double standards, Gawain wasn't sure how to react.
All she could say was
My parents' love life is way too intense.
"Thank goodness I'm grown up now."
At this moment, Gawain felt profoundly grateful for her maturity.
At least a dog could run away when being bullied, right?
If she couldn't win, she could at least avoid it.
For the Sun Knight Gawain to develop such thoughts, it just went to show how overwhelmingly strong Lot and Morgan's displays of affection were.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Lot was preparing for his next move.
Finding a fishing rod.
And preferably one sturdy enough to handle immense pressure.
That way, it'd be perfect for his needs.
He summoned the captain of the castle guard.
"Your Majesty, what do you require of me?"
Seeing Lot's urgent demeanor, the captain felt a surge of loyalty a willingness to die for his lord.
"Ah, there's something I need you to do."
"What is it?"
The captain responded eagerly.
If his lord was in a hurry, he couldn't afford to slack.
"I need you to find something for me."
"What thing?!"
Is His Majesty asking for a dragon's claw? A giant's fang?
The captain felt like he was about to make it big.
Perhaps he was witnessing the dawn of an epic legend.
His heart swelled with anticipation.
Then, he heard Lot softly say
"Get me a fishing rod."
"A… fishing rod?"
The captain's excitement deflated instantly. But then, he quickly rationalized it.
"Your Majesty, is this fishing rod a relic once wielded by some legendary hero?"
He racked his brain, trying to recall any Celtic or British myths about heroes who used fishing rods.
…None come to mind.
No, it can't be that there aren't any. My knowledge must just be lacking.
His Majesty is far more learned than I am. He must know something I don't.
The captain's imagination ran wild.
But then, Lot shattered his dreams with a simple shake of his head.
"No, just a normal fishing rod will do. Though, the sturdier, the better."
Lot replied softly.
"…Understood, Your Majesty."
Hearing this, the captain's spirits sank.
So it's really just that…
"Very well. I'll fetch one for you."
The captain went off to search the castle.
After a while, he still couldn't find a suitable rod.
In the end, he returned with a few ordinary ones and reported to Lot, "Your Majesty, these are the only ones available. Anything truly sturdy would've been used to forge weapons."
"Ah… I suppose this will have to do."
Lot sighed in disappointment.
Just as he reached out to take the rod, a sudden idea struck him.
Wait a minute.
If there's no proper fishing rod… why not make one?
Wouldn't it be perfectly normal for a fishing rod to have a spearhead attached?
First, Lot accepted the rod. Then, he said to the captain, "Bring me an iron spear as well."
"Yes."
Though puzzled, the captain obeyed without question.
Soon, he returned with a steel spear.
Lot tied a fishing line to it.
There.
Now it's just a spear with a minor defensive modification.
Lot closed his eyes, wondering if his system would acknowledge this setup.
Hmm.
It's acceptable.
Lot had a gut feeling this would work.
Perfect. This is a guaranteed success.
"Your Majesty?"
Seeing Lot's pleased expression, the captain couldn't help but call out.
Hearing this, Lot opened his eyes and replied, "I'm fine. You're dismissed."
"Understood."
The captain bowed and turned to leave.
But just as he was about to go, Lot called him back again.
"Ah, wait."
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
The captain turned back.
"Bring me a fishing net as well."
Lot ordered.
His reasoning was simple:
If it's normal for a fishing rod to have a spearhead, then hanging a net from it as decoration should be just as normal, right?
Soon, the captain returned with a sturdy net.
Lot attached it to his newly modified spear-fishing rod.
"Alright, you may go."
To avoid further misunderstandings, Lot dismissed the captain outright.
The captain left, dejected.
He had thought this would mark the beginning of a grand adventure only to realize he'd just been running errands for His Majesty.
Why is my life so bitter?
He lamented inwardly.
Ah, woe is me…
But as he glanced back at Lot's bizarrely decorated fishing rod, something felt off.
…Wait.
Maybe His Majesty is testing a new weapon?
The spearhead for offense. The fishing line for entanglement. The net for obscuring vision or trapping enemies…
His thoughts raced.
Then, he recalled Lot's earlier mention of fishing.
His Majesty would never indulge in frivolous pastimes. There must be a deeper meaning.
So when he says "fishing," he might not mean actual fish. And if that "fishing rod" is a new weapon…
Is he treating his enemies as the catch?
Fishing for foes, not fish?
Admittedly, while most of the captain's theories were far-fetched, this last one hit the nail on the head.
When Lot went fishing, he never fished for fish.
That was just a basic principle of being an angler.
Lot paid no mind to his subordinate's mental gymnastics. After sending him away, he checked in with his system again.
Let's see if this spear-turned-rod with a decorative net passes inspection.
And
It does.
Lot was thrilled.
For two reasons:
First, if a net-decorated rod was acceptable, then adding even more accessories in the future should be fine too, right?
Could I attach a crane to my fishing rod? Why not?
If so, the range of items he could fish up would expand dramatically.
He could accelerate his power growth far sooner.
Once he amassed an arsenal of legendary or even futuristic weapons,
Who in this era could stand against me?
Toss in something like a black hole, and even Gaia or Alaya wouldn't scare me.
That was the first reason for his joy.
Second, he'd just tested the system's limits.
It wasn't some sentient entity that might betray its host.
It was just a tool one he could exploit to its fullest.
Good.
An external cheat should always remain under the user's control.
Lot was extremely satisfied with the current situation.
Excellent.
This feels amazing.
Now, all that remained was to find a fishing spot.
Given the urgency Lot had no idea when the fairies might strike he couldn't afford to waste time.
If not for his confidence in crushing the fairies, he might've skipped this fishing trip altogether.
But even now, to avoid mishaps, he needed to make this quick.
So, Lot decided to fish somewhere nearby.
Leaving the castle, he stepped outside.
Thanks to prolonged exposure to Joyeuse's energy and Scáthach's training, his strength had grown considerably.
He no longer had to worry about being spied on.
Finding a secluded spot,
Lot raised his bizarrely modified spear and stepped into the river of time.
Inside,
The endless currents stretched even farther, the river's breadth seemingly expanded.
A smile spread across Lot's face.
This was proof of his growing power.
Or perhaps, as time progressed, the river itself was evolving.
Lot lifted his customized fishing rod.
"Alright, let's see what I can reel in this time."
Then, he picked up this 'fishing rod' and fiercely cast it into the river of time.
Hmm, along with the fishing line, the decorative net flew out as well. Isn't that perfectly normal?
Lot thought to himself.
As the fishing rod and net simultaneously entered the river of time, Lot's system activated.
Then, Lot felt an immense weight in his hands heavier than anything he had ever fished out before.
This was a far bigger catch.
Lot lifted the fishing rod, but there was nothing on the line.
Seeing this, a look of joy appeared on Lot's face.
If nothing was on the line, that could only mean one thing:
The prize was in the net.
Lot then raised the fishing rod completely.
"Let's see what we got..."
Lot murmured.
Just as the net was about to emerge, Lot closed his eyes.
This was a ritual a sense of ceremony.
He closed his eyes, raised the fishing rod to its highest point, and then
[What will it be?]
Under these circumstances, Lot opened his eyes.
And there, within the net, lay a dazzling golden armor.
"This armor..."
Lot stared at the armor, pondering its origins.
After a moment of thought,
he seemed to recall its history.
A look of astonishment crossed his face.
The river of time truly held treasures beyond imagination.
Lot mused to himself.
...
Thousands of years earlier, in ancient India.
The sun god Surya was preparing gifts for the birth of his illegitimate son with the mortal woman Kunti.
"I shall bestow upon my child golden armor, earrings, and a radiant birth."
He picked up the earrings, then reached for the golden armor only for his hand to freeze midair.
Huh?!
Wait.
Where is my golden armor?
The armor I prepared for my son how could it just vanish like that?
A look of shock appeared on Surya's face.
Then, sensing something, he looked up only to see a massive net in the sky, and within it, the very armor he had prepared for his child.
Hey, wait why are my earrings going up there too?!
Damn it, you're not leaving me anything!
"Who did this?!"
He had no idea who was responsible, but fury surged within him.
This was an outright insult! He raised his hand and unleashed an attack. No matter who it was, he would make them suffer his wrath.
Surya swore to himself.
However, when his strike landed, the net remained completely unharmed.
Huh?! Seeing that even a casual attack failed to pierce the net, his expression stiffened. What was going on?!
Instinctively, Surya launched another attack at the net in the sky and not just once.
He bombarded it with a relentless barrage.
Yet, every strike dissipated like mud thrown into the sea, utterly ineffective.
Witnessing this, Surya felt his dignity trampled upon.
This was beyond humiliating. Clenching his fists, he pushed his power to its limits launching rapid, continuous assaults.
In an instant, the entire sky was dyed golden.
The other gods of India were baffled. What madness had seized the Sun God?
Why would he unleash such an attack now? Had he lost his mind?
Meanwhile, the mortals below trembled in fear at the celestial phenomenon.
They fell to their knees, praying desperately to the gods.
This land had no spirit of defiance when faced with divine wrath, its people cowered like quails.
Had this occurred in Lot's homeland, any god who dared torment the people so would have been struck down by an arrow that fells the sun.
Yet at the heart of this storm, Surya had exhausted himself completely.
Gasping for breath, he leaned on his weapon. Then, horror dawned on his face.
What was this?! His attacks had achieved nothing. What kind of net could withstand such power? Just how formidable was the being behind this?!
Surya mentally reviewed the pantheon of India only a handful could possibly match this feat.
So why would such a being toy with him? If they could casually toss out a net he couldn't breach, why would they covet a mere set of armor for a bastard child? What use was this thing anyway?!
Surya laughed bitterly in his heart.
Well, this time, he had to admit defeat. If he ever encountered this culprit again, he would demand answers.
Surya vowed silently.
For now, it seemed his son would have to make do with other gifts.
Just as he resigned himself to this, he noticed the other gods surrounding him.
"Surya, what is the meaning of this?!"
one demanded.
"Uh… I was just exercising. Believe me?"
Surya replied with an awkward smile.
What else could he do?
His energy was nearly depleted.
Even in a one-on-one fight now,
victory was far from guaranteed.
So, he endured. He swallowed his pride.
...
Back to Lot.
He examined the golden armor before him,
along with the earrings nestled within.
Recalling its legend
[Kavacha and Kundala: O' Sun, Become Armor]
The divine armor bestowed by Surya upon his son Karna, a radiant defensive Noble Phantasm.
Karna's mother, Kunti, fearful of bearing a child out of wedlock, had begged Surya for this golden armor and earrings to protect him.
Forged from the sun itself, not even the gods could destroy it.
An exceptional treasure indeed.
Lot remembered how he had given Avalon to Morgan, only for her to refuse, insisting he keep it.
He had promised her he would find even greater protection in the future.
Now, with [Kavacha and Kundala] in hand, he could finally fulfill that promise.
Moreover, this armor would ensure his safety in battles to come.
Good. Lot nodded in satisfaction.
Then, he retrieved the armor via his fishing rod.
By the rules of his "Angler Never Returns Empty-Handed" system,
anything he caught was his to claim.
As he touched the armor, it became his.
In a flash of golden light, the armor and earrings materialized on his body.
Resplendent, he looked like a celestial being descended from the heavens.
His golden hair cascaded over the armor's shoulders, while the earrings adorned his face with regal elegance.
Though the armor had once belonged to Karna, on Lot, it looked no less fitting if not even more dashing.
He drew Joyeuse, striking a few poses against the river's reflection.
"Not bad at all,"
Lot thought smugly.
Then, with a thought, the armor vanished from his body.
Only showoffs flaunted their treasures recklessly.
And while Kavacha and Kundala were subtler than Gilgamesh's golden plates, they were still far too conspicuous.
Better to keep them hidden, ready to catch enemies off guard.
Especially since the armor reduced all damage to a tenth, a perfect tool for countering assassins.
With the armor stored away, Lot left the river of time behind. This haul had been more than satisfying.
...
Night fell.
"Ugh, I'm so bored! I wish someone would try to escape so I could fight them! After dinner, I was hoping a few would make a run for it just to pass the time. But not a single fairy tried."
Sitting atop her watchpost, Gawain sighed dramatically.
After Lot's departure, Morgan had also left to attend to matters, leaving the fairy prisoners under Gawain's watch.
That the fairies wouldn't attempt a rescue was unthinkable, even Gawain knew they would try eventually.
But she never imagined her parents would assign guard duty to a child less than a year old.
How cruel!
Gawain couldn't help complaining to her mother.
What?
You say Lot was the first to slip away?
Ahem.
Dad didn't make me do anything when he left.
It was only after Mom left that I got stuck with this job.
And what a tedious job it was!
Or rather, it was too easy, which made it unbearably dull.
All she had to do was watch.
The Earth Clan fairies weren't clever enough to escape, and their attempts were laughably futile.
The Wind Clan, however, were far too shrewd.
They knew Gawain was here, and the defenses were airtight.
Escape was impossible.
So why bother trying?
They might as well lie down and accept their fate.
This left Gawain in a state of utter boredom.
Just then, Lot returned, spear slung over his shoulder.
Seeing his daughter's gloom, he grinned and asked,
"What's wrong, my dear? Why so glum?"
"I "
Gawain glanced at her father's empty hands and had an idea.
Ah!
Dad came back with nothing this time.
So if I go out and return empty-handed too, wouldn't that make us the same?
Thus, whatever I do would be equivalent to what Dad does.
Mom always says Dad's actions are for our family's good.
By that logic, if I go out and bring nothing back,
doesn't that mean I'm also contributing?
Gawain's eyes sparkled with hope.
Then,she eagerly turned her gaze to Morgan,
who had just arrived.
Mom~
Her eyes pleaded.
But Morgan's attention was entirely on Lot.
Who had time for a troublesome child?
Seeing Lot empty-handed,
Morgan was slightly disappointed.
But then she recalled
while rare, it wasn't unheard of for him to return with nothing.
And so,she let it slide.
"Well then,"
"It seems this time is just like all the previous ones."
"Sigh,"
"But it's fine."
"Even if I didn't catch anything good this time,"
"There's always next time."
"No, if he didn't catch anything suitable today, he must be feeling quite upset."
"I'll have to properly comfort Lot later."
Morgan thought to herself.
Then she took a few steps forward, preparing to console Lot.
But at that very moment, Morgan heard Lot's inner thoughts:
[Hmm, the invisibility effect of this Kavacha and Kundala is truly excellent. No one can tell I'm wearing it right now. Yes, this armor is really quite impressive.]
Hearing this, Morgan couldn't help but blink rapidly.
Wait
What was this husband of hers saying?!
He currently had the 'Kavacha and Kundala' equipped on his body?!
Though Morgan had never seen this armor before, just hearing its name suggested it was no ordinary item.
It seemed this husband of hers had actually obtained something quite remarkable.
Thinking this, Morgan recalled the Avalon (the scabbard of Excalibur) that Lot had previously given her.
She had originally believed Lot fabricated the story about easily obtaining armor rivaling the scabbard just to convince her to take it.
But now it appeared though she didn't yet know the armor's exact capabilities it must be quite exceptional.
With this realization, Morgan's expression of intended consolation instantly vanished.
It transformed into one of celebration instead.
Nearby, Gawain watched her mother's dramatic expression change with her mouth hanging open in shock.
Mother! Your favoritism is showing too much!
If Father returned empty-handed and you comforted him, I could understand that.
But now?
You're making a celebratory face?!
What does that mean?!
Are you celebrating that your husband my father didn't kill anything today?!
This is textbook "creating something from nothing" and "calling a deer a horse"!
I protest!
I PROTEST!
Gawain screamed internally.
However, as she was mentally protesting, Morgan finally noticed her daughter's expression and immediately shot her a sidelong glare.
This brat instead of being happy about her father's excellent acquisition, she's making such a miserable face.
This simply won't do.
My child needs proper discipline.
Seeing her mother's glare, Little G instantly straightened up obediently.
Furthermore, judging by Morgan's expression
Not only was crying forbidden, but she was expected to smile instead.
Under her mother's piercing gaze,
Little G had no choice.
She forced her cheeks into a strained smile directed at Morgan and Lot.
How to describe Gawain's smile at this moment?
Even more sorrowful than Tristan's.
Ah... so exhausting.
Lot remained completely unaware of the rapid-fire emotional exchange between Morgan and Gawain during these brief seconds.
He was simply delighted.
Hmm, our daughter has grown up.
She knows to be happy for her father's new acquisition.
Lot thought proudly to himself.
Having satisfied this parental pride, Lot glanced at the relatively well-behaved fairies and asked Morgan:
"So, these fairies have they been here all day? And no rescue attempts from their clans?"
In Lot and Morgan's predictions, after capturing these fairies, their clans would absolutely not take it lying down.
They would certainly send forces to rescue their comrades.
Of course, the exact method remained unclear to Lot.
With fairies, nothing would be surprising whether it was the Fang Clan warriors besieging the castle en masse, or assassins targeting him or Morgan directly, or even the Wing Clan launching an aerial ambush to catch them off guard.
Fairy attack methods could be endlessly unpredictable.
Naturally, Lot and Morgan had prepared defenses against all possibilities.
Yet when Lot returned and inquired about fairy movements,
Morgan reported that no rescue attempts had been made whatsoever.
This left Lot utterly perplexed.
Couldn't they at least try?
He thought irritably.
Nevertheless, Lot remained vigilant.
Perhaps the fairies predicted tight security immediately after the capture,
choosing to wait until guard duties relaxed over time before launching a surprise attack.
Such tactics would indeed be concerning.
Neither Morgan nor Lot wished to "capsize in a drainage ditch" due to carelessness.
Thus, Lot specifically instructed Gawain:
"So remember, Gawain you must guard this place thoroughly. If fairies come, you must immediately notify me and your mother."
"Mm, I will!"
Hearing her father's orders, Gawain nodded vigorously.
Though she couldn't help muttering under her breath:
"You fairies better hurry up and come already! I want to kill something!"
Exchanging glances, Lot and Morgan thought simultaneously:
Thank goodness we have a daughter!
And such a capable one at that.
...
What Lot and Morgan could never have anticipated even if they smashed their heads trying was that all would-be rescuers from the fairy clans were being intercepted by a single fairy:
Baobhan Sith.
To them, she presented herself as the only competent warrior among the "useless" Fang Clan soldiers.
If anyone wanted real results, they'd have to rely on her.
As for others' opinions?
Baobhan Sith couldn't care less.
She only cared about achieving her promised results.
Having boasted so boldly, she naturally had to deliver.
Her plan was simple: infiltrate the castle unnoticed, then eliminate Lot and Morgan when least expected.
First, she captured a merchant to interrogate about the castle's layout.
"P-please, great fairy! I truly know nothing about the castle's interior! I've told you everything I know!"
The merchant begged tearfully. Around him lay several corpses other merchants who had come for trade, judging by their clothing.
"Enough. I've no time to waste on you. Get lost."
With that dismissal, Baobhan Sith advanced toward the castle, leaving the pleading merchant behind.
Since the merchant proved useless, she'd have to scout the castle herself and find an optimal infiltration route.
Baobhan Sith departed swiftly, vanishing from sight.
The merchant, nearly fainting from terror, looked at his fallen companions and prepared to arrange their burials.
But as he moved, he discovered something shocking the companions who'd been "knocked out" by Baobhan Sith's attack were all still breathing.
Not just the one he'd checked, but every single "corpse" still clung to life.
"Why didn't that fairy kill us?"
He wondered in confusion.