"Of course, I absolutely won't let her escape."
With Baobhan Sith slung over her shoulder, Gawain declared loudly.
Then, she glanced at her father, Lot, who was clad in the sun-armor and wearing earrings, and curiously asked, "Hey, Dad, where did you get this armor from?"
"Oh, this? I fished it out," Lot replied with a smile.
"What!?"
Gawain's expression turned to shock.
"Impossible!"
Meanwhile, Baobhan Sith, still draped over Gawain's shoulder, grew even angrier upon hearing Lot's words.
A powerful fairy like me lost to armor you fished out?
And this armor is infused with the power of the sun!
I refuse to believe anyone could fish out something so absurdly strong.
If fishing could yield something like this, we fairies might as well abandon everything else and just fish all day.
However, her skepticism provoked Gawain.
How dare you doubt my father while I'm talking to him!
So, she raised her hand and delivered a fierce slap to Baobhan Sith's rear.
How strong was Gawain's strength?
Given her stature and lineage, even outside her triple-strength time frame, her power was extraordinary.
PAK!
The crisp sound of the slap made even Lot, who was merely watching, suck in a sharp breath.
Just seeing it looked painful, let alone feeling it.
And for Baobhan Sith, who was on the receiving end?
It felt like her backside had been pressed against red-hot steel.
Burning agony!
"Y-You! Put me down and fight me properly!"
After such humiliation, Baobhan Sith glared at Gawain, her pride refusing to yield.
When have I ever suffered such indignity?!
How can I tolerate this!?
"Don't think just because you're tall, I can't crush you!"
"Go ahead and try. Even if you and your father team up, you still wouldn't be my match…"
Baobhan Sith continued hurling insults at Gawain, occasionally throwing a taunt Lot's way as well.
Faced with her relentless provocations, Gawain had only one response:
Hit her.
I might not be good at arguing
After all, I'm not even a year old yet.
My vocabulary's limited.
Besides,
Mom told me to be a well-mannered child and never curse.
So, I'll just stick to hitting.
Gawain thought to herself.
PAK! PAK! PAK!
Baobhan Sith's stream of insults never stopped
And neither did Gawain's slaps.
As she continued, Gawain began to feel an odd sense of satisfaction.
Hmm… not bad. This feels… nice.
Back then
Well, a few months ago
Mom and Dad used to spank me so enthusiastically.
Hitting someone really is addictive.
Not that I have kids of my own yet.
But I can always look forward to a little brother or sister.
Hey, Mom, hurry up and give me a brother!
Then I can scold him for being naughty every day and find excuses to beat him up.
Yeah…
This is a great plan.
Gawain fantasized.
Her strikes grew progressively heavier.
Thwack!
Thwack!
THWACK!
Eventually, Baobhan Sith couldn't hold back anymore tears began streaming down her face.
Sometimes, no matter how much you want to hold back tears, your body betrays you.
It was a natural physiological reaction, completely beyond her control.
Yet, neither of them backed down.
One refused to surrender even unto death.
The other, seeing her defiance, only intensified the punishment.
Even Gawain, the one delivering the blows, began to feel her hand sting.
And Lot, who was merely watching, felt his heart ache just from witnessing it.
By the time Morgan arrived, this was the scene that greeted her.
"What in the world are you two doing!?"
Morgan stared at the trio her husband, her daughter, and the fairy utterly bewildered.
Here I was, worrying myself sick over Lot, only to find him standing there watching our daughter spank some girl!
This is nothing like what I imagined!
In Morgan's mind, this should have been an epic battle.
Shattered earth, ruined buildings, and a defeated enemy gasping for breath on the ground.
And Lot, the victor, leaning on his sword, exhausted but triumphant.
That's how knightly tales are supposed to go!
Or, at the very least, if Lot was far stronger than this fairy, he should have been standing tall maybe on some elevated platform (since he couldn't float mid-air) looking down at his foe with a haughty gaze.
Preferably while radiating some kind of divine light.
Well, at least his armor looks impressive.
What was it he called it again?
"Full of majesty" or something.
But aside from that?
Lot stood there, wincing in sympathy, while their daughter Gawain carried a fairy girl and relentlessly spanked her.
The fairy occasionally rolled her eyes in pain.
What kind of scene is this!?
You're supposed to be fairies, a king, and a princess!
Not some bandits bullying a village girl!
If this were written in a knight's tale, even if I gave it away for free, no one would read it!
This is utterly disgraceful.
Lot… is this really appropriate?
Your holy sword and sun-armor are weeping!!!!
Morgan swore if those weapons had consciousness, they'd abandon Lot on the spot.
And if they couldn't, they'd probably break themselves out of sheer shame.
This is too humiliating.
"So… this is the fairy who came?"
Morgan pointed at Baobhan Sith, still draped over Gawain's shoulder, and frowned.
This girl doesn't seem like much.
Why would the fairies send her?
She'd expected an entire army.
In fact, earlier that day, she'd secretly contacted Bedivere, still in Camelot, ordering him to bring troops.
And they just sent… this?
"That's right! I am the Scottish fairy, Baobhan Sith!"
Baobhan Sith declared proudly, as if her name alone should strike fear into Morgan's heart.
She hoped Morgan would at least flinch upon hearing it.
But instead, Morgan just looked confused.
Her expression plainly said:
Who?
Never heard of her.
Then, upon hearing Baobhan Sith was from Scotland, Morgan asked curiously,
"Are you a friend of my sister's? Oh, my sister is the Queen of the Land of Shadows Scáthach."
THUD!
Baobhan Sith's harp slipped from her grip and hit the ground.
She was equal parts furious and terrified.
Furious because
She really doesn't know me!?
Am I that insignificant!?
I
Ugh! This is infuriating!
And terrified because
What did Morgan just say?
Her sister is who!?
Scáthach!?
And what did Lot say earlier?
That his wife's sister is that purple-haired woman in skintight clothes.
Putting it together
I attacked Scáthach.
I attacked Scáthach…
Baobhan Sith fell silent.
I'm doomed.
Who is Scáthach?
And I actually dared to provoke her!?
The realization sent a chill down her spine, as if a spear had already pierced her heart.
Too horrifying.
Baobhan Sith was terrified in hindsight.
Thank goodness Scáthach was in a good mood that day and didn't bother finishing me off.
Otherwise…
Even someone as arrogant as Baobhan Sith knew better than to think she stood a chance against Scáthach.
Seeing the fairy finally subdued, Morgan smiled.
Her earlier remark had been deliberate to intimidate Baobhan Sith into compliance.
Now satisfied, she turned to Gawain.
"Let's go. We'll take this fairy, Baobhan Sith, to join the other fairy prisoners."
This fairy's abilities were decent, but nothing extraordinary.
Treating her as a regular prisoner would suffice.
"Got it!"
Gawain replied energetically.
Morgan assumed the matter was settled.
But as Baobhan Sith was being led away, Lot felt a pang of unease.
[To think that in the Lostbelt, she was raised as a daughter and given the title of Fairy Knight Tristan… Yet here, she's just another fairy prisoner. What a shame. Back then, I only saw her Noble Phantasm and artwork I never learned much about her personality.]
He mused silently.
Hearing his thoughts, Morgan's gaze lingered on Baobhan Sith.
This fairy was my subordinate in a Lostbelt?
Over the years, Morgan had grown adept at eavesdropping on Lot's inner monologues.
And she'd learned one crucial thing:
There are other versions of me out there.
One was the "normal" Morgan the one Lot didn't know about yet.
That Morgan, after losing her throne to Artoria, became consumed by vengeance.
She sought to destroy Camelot at any cost, using her children Gawain, Agravain (still in her womb), Gareth, and Mordred as tools for revenge.
Most of them eventually betrayed her.
And in the end, it was a tragedy for everyone herself, her sister Artoria, and her children.
And in that timeline…
Lot wasn't there.
He likely met some terrible fate because of that Morgan's recklessness.
That's what the "normal" me would have done.
Every time Morgan heard Lot think this, she shuddered.
I could have become that.
How horrifying.
Now, before bed each night, Morgan reflected on her actions.
Am I becoming like that other me?
I can't let that happen.
In this timeline, I'm chasing a happy ending.
Besides the "normal" Morgan, Lot had also mentioned something called a "Lostbelt" version.
Lostbelt?
What's that?
Morgan had no frame of reference for it.
But she gathered that in another world, there was a third version of herself.
And that Lostbelt Morgan seemed… off.
No Lot.
None of the people I know.
No Artoria.
No Uther.
In fact, "humans" might not even exist there just fairies.
Morgan pondered.
But the Lostbelt held no relevance to her, so she didn't dwell on it.
However, if Lot said that this fairy Baobhan Sith was treated as a daughter in the Lostbelt and even granted the title of Fairy Knight Tristan…
Then she must be worth recruiting.
Perfect timing.
These fairies dared to attack us.
Now it's time to retaliate.
Hmph.
Baobhan Sith's mission was likely to assassinate me and Lot.
You dare attempt such treachery?
Then prepare to face the consequences.
You vile fairies…
You don't deserve to exist in this world.
Morgan's attitude toward these fairies mirrored how she'd once felt toward Vortigern.
If you threaten my most precious family…
Then annihilation is your only fate.
As for Baobhan Sith, Morgan decided to observe her first.
Lot admitted he doesn't know much about her personality.
I'll have to figure her out myself.
With that, Morgan silently watched as Gawain escorted Baobhan Sith to the prisoner area.
Once they were gone, she turned to Lot.
"Lot, you must be tired after that battle. Go rest. Gawain and I will handle the rest."
Hearing this, Gawain's eyes widened.
"Uh, Mom? I'm tired too."
Not exhausted, but her hand did hurt from all that spanking.
But while Morgan would dote on Lot, fussing over him and giving him massages…
For her own child?
She shot Gawain a glare.
"Tired? At your age? Don't be ridiculous. Come with me."
Gawain's face fell.
Seriously?
Mom!
I'm genuinely tired!
Can't I rest!?
But this era had no child labor laws.
And no "minor protection act" would cover someone like Gawain, who'd once vaporized the White Dragon Vortigern with a single Excalibur Galatine.
Trapped under her mother's tyranny, Gawain had no choice but to endure.
What else can I do?
Sulking, she followed Morgan.
Seeing this, Lot spoke up sympathetically.
"Morgan, let her rest. I'm fine I'll stay with you."
But to his surprise, Gawain shook her head.
"It's okay, Dad. I've still got energy. I'll stay with Mom."
She said to Lot.
She didn't mention everyone resting together.
With so many prisoners currently held,
if Lot, Gawain, and Morgan all rested at once, these captives even the seemingly docile Wind Clan members would undoubtedly attempt to escape or cause chaos.
They had to wait until Bedivere arrived with reinforcements before they could consider resting.
Gawain wanted to insist further, but Lot promptly tapped her shoulder.
"Enough. Listen to me and go rest."
Seeing her father's firm stance, Gawain reluctantly nodded with a pained expression. "Okay, I understand. I'll rest first."
After Gawain left, Lot also removed his Kavacha and Kundala,
revealing his everyday attire.
"So, did you see my armor earlier? Pretty cool, right?"
[Praise me, wife. Hurry up and praise me.]
Seeing Lot's eagerly expectant expression, Morgan couldn't help but laugh wryly.
But of course, she wouldn't refuse such a request.
Watching Lot's smug face, Morgan nodded. "Of course, it's very impressive armor."
Hearing Morgan's praise, Lot finally nodded in satisfaction.
Then, he gently took Morgan's hand,
and they began to stroll
around the imprisoned fairies…
Damn.
"What kind of situation is this?!"
As they walked, Lot couldn't help but complain to Morgan.
"Other couples go on romantic dates beneath flowers and moonlight, visiting scenic spots. But us? Our lovey-dovey spot is outside a POW camp. At this rate, we look like a pair of bandit spouses admiring our loot."
"That's your own fault for ruining your image. I've never seen such majestic armor and a holy sword produce such a ridiculous outcome."
Morgan rolled her eyes at Lot's complaint.
"Heh… Ridiculous is good. At least you don't have to worry when it's ridiculous!"
Lot scratched his head in response.
"Fine, there's some twisted logic to that."
Morgan reluctantly conceded to Lot's warped reasoning.
Then, she led Lot to a bench and motioned for him to sit.
The two sat down together.
At the same time, Morgan patted her lap.
"Come on. We've been fighting for so long it's time to relax."
"Huh? What? Ear massage?"
Lot asked excitedly.
"Yes."
Morgan nodded slightly, her face reddening.
Even though it wasn't their first time, she still felt embarrassed.
"Lie down properly."
Lot, of course, complied immediately,
settling into a comfortable position even smugly crossing his legs.
"Look at you, so pleased with yourself. Behave."
Morgan lightly smacked his raised thigh.
"Hehe…"
Lot obediently uncrossed his legs.
Then, Morgan began gently massaging Lot's ears.
First the massage, then using specialized ear-cleaning tools.
After finishing, she blew warm air into his ears
and even playfully nibbled his earlobe at the end.
The entire process, the tools all were executed with professional precision.
After all, while His Majesty Lot may have been a virgin in his past life,
he'd certainly watched enough videos to master the necessary knowledge.
Teaching Morgan hadn't been difficult.
Once finished, Lot lay comfortably on Morgan's lap.
"Tch, if only we could do this every day. Too bad we've got too much to handle."
He sighed, looking up.
[Hmm…]
[From this angle, I can't see her face clearly.]
[Blocked. What a shame.]
"Where are you looking?!"
Morgan scolded him again.
"Okay, okay…"
Lot quickly nodded.
After a while, Morgan spoke softly.
"Once everything's settled, I'll give you lap pillows and ear cleanings every day."
"Mhm."
Lot nodded gently.
Then, as if her thoughts had wandered, Morgan continued.
"At that time, we'll pass the throne to our children. We can retire."
"What titles should the king's father and mother have?"
She asked Lot.
"Easy just call us 'Retired Emperor' and 'Retired Empress.'"
Lot answered without hesitation.
"'Retired Emperor'… What a strange title."
Morgan commented, but then added,
"But if you like it, we'll use it."
"Okay…"
The two chatted idly for a while longer.
But due to the exhaustion from today's battle,
Lot soon fell asleep.
Morgan watched the sleeping Lot, gently stroking his hair while humming a Celtic lullaby.
Only then did she turn her attention to Baobhan Sith the fairy who, in the Lostbelt, had supposedly been raised as her daughter.
Observing Baobhan Sith, Morgan found something odd.
No other fairies were near her.
The others would rather crowd together than share space with Baobhan Sith.
Morgan quietly cast a spell to eavesdrop on their conversations.
"Hey, no way they captured that vicious woman too?!"
"Yeah, these human kings are terrifyingly strong!"
"Wait, why are you all so scared of her? She just looks like a fairy with slightly unusual fashion sense."
"You newborn fairy! 'Slightly unusual'?! You have no idea. Fine, I'll tell you who she really is."
"Please, you're not much better. Let me explain: Even among fairies, pure evil like hers is rare."
Then, Morgan heard a flood of rumors about Baobhan Sith
How she drank human blood, ambushed travelers, and was cruel even to fellow fairies.
How no fairy around her had escaped her bullying.
How she supposedly drank a person's blood every morning and another at night.
One fairy even claimed that just looking at Baobhan Sith once earned him a brutal beating.
In short She was a figure feared by humans, despised by fairies,
with no friends or family left.
A truly wicked creature.
Some fairies even whispered that Morgan and Lot were too merciful why capture such a monster instead of executing her on the spot?
Morgan found it all quite amusing.
Compared to you lot, this Baobhan Sith seems far more useful.
Why would I kill her?
Still, Morgan took the rumors seriously.
If Baobhan Sith was truly that vile, she could never recruit her no matter how strong she was.
That was a principle she wouldn't compromise.
The cause she and him were building required people of faith, virtue, and perseverance.
If Baobhan Sith lacked those, Morgan would have to treat her as just another fairy prisoner.
Or, given her alleged crimes, deliver the punishment she deserved.
With these thoughts, Morgan waited until morning.
When dawn came, Gawain woke up,
and mother and daughter carried Lot back to bed so he could keep sleeping.
Morgan had Gawain continue guarding the prisoners
while she discreetly questioned the refugees who'd arrived with Baobhan Sith,
hoping to learn more about her.
Soon, Morgan's investigation yielded unexpected results.
None of the villagers considered Baobhan Sith evil.
One child even told Morgan:
"Your Majesty, that hooded big sister talks mean, but she's really nice. I believe in her."
After extensive questioning,
Morgan arrived at two completely contradictory conclusions.
Those who knew her reputation or judged by her behavior saw her as pure evil.
But to those unaware, she was just a foul-mouthed do-gooder.
How could there be such a stark contrast?
Misunderstanding?
Slander?
No according to the fairies, they had been beaten by Baobhan Sith.
Then
Detective Morgan is on the case.
There's only one truth!
The mastermind behind this was none other than…
Baobhan Sith herself.
She was intentionally spreading her own infamy.
"What on earth is she thinking?"
Morgan was both exasperated and amused.
Most hypocrites would kill to be seen as saints.
Yet here you are, trying to be a villain?
And you're not even committed you still help people in secret.
How contradictory.
That said… this personality was oddly endearing.
Now Morgan understood why the Lostbelt version of herself had "adopted" Baobhan Sith.
Honestly, this tsundere-like attitude was rather cute once you saw through it.
With this realization, Morgan called to Gawain.
"Gawain, bring Baobhan Sith here."
"Huh? Mother, are we interrogating her again?"
Gawain asked.
"Interrogation? I need to discuss something else with her."
Morgan rolled her eyes.
"Oh."
Gawain quickly fetched Baobhan Sith.
Stumbling forward, Baobhan Sith lifted her chin defiantly at Morgan.
"Hmph. What do you want with me?"
She snapped.
This brat…
Morgan gritted her teeth internally ignoring that she wasn't much older herself.
Outwardly, she smiled.
"Baobhan Sith, the infamous fairy. Your notoriety stretches from Scotland to the Fairy Kingdom everyone knows of you."
"Exactly. That's me."
Baobhan Sith preened at the description.
"I'm impressed you've gathered such accurate intel. So? Are you scared now?"
"Terrified."
Morgan deadpanned.
Before Baobhan Sith could revel in it, Morgan continued,
"Does that satisfy you, Miss 'Fake Villain' Baobhan Sith?"
"W-What?! Fake? What am I faking?!"
Baobhan Sith feigned ignorance.
Morgan smirked, crossing her legs with regal grace.
"A good person pretending to be a monster. Doesn't that get exhausting?"
"Wha ?! I'm genuinely evil! The worst of the worst!"
Baobhan Sith protested loudly.
Then, as if realizing something, she added,
"You're trying to mess with my head, aren't you? Too bad it won't work! I'll keep laughing! Ahahaha! I'm the most wicked fairy in the world!"
Beside them, Gawain gaped in shock.
"Mom… are you serious? This woman is a good person?"
Morgan studied Baobhan Sith until her forced laughter died.
"You're such a buzzkill." Baobhan Sith muttered.
Morgan pressed on. "Little Baobhan Sith, have you ever taken a life?"
"HUH?!"
Gawain was stunned again.
A good person is one thing but zero killings?!
Gawain couldn't believe it.
Even her "kind" parents had blood on their hands.
Yet her mother claimed Baobhan Sith had never killed?
"That's the funniest joke I've ever heard! Ahahaha "
"Oh? Then explain why, despite countless chances last night, you didn't kill a single person?"
"I… I needed them alive to cause chaos!"
"What about the child? Surely he wasn't part of your plan?"
"I I just couldn't be bothered! I only wanted to infiltrate!"
Baobhan Sith scrambled for excuses.
Now even Gawain sensed something off.
Is she… just putting up a front?
Morgan smirked coldly.
Baobhan Sith instinctively stepped back.
Morgan advanced.
"Earlier, before coming here, you used the same excuses, didn't you? You try to be evil, but it never works out. In the end, you can't bring yourself to do it. Am I wrong… kind-hearted fairy Baobhan Sith?"
THUD.
Baobhan Sith collapsed to the ground.
"N-No… I'm evil. I don't care about others! I just want to be wicked !"
Her voice grew hysterical, eyes wild.
Alarmed, Gawain drew Galatine and shielded Morgan.
But Baobhan Sith didn't attack.
Instead, she clutched her head, muttering in agony.
"No… I'll never be a kind fairy. Kind fairies get exploited and die miserable deaths. I refuse that life!"
Watching her, Morgan stepped forward.
"And I promise you won't have to live that way."
"…Huh?"
Baobhan Sith looked up, wary.
Morgan continued,
"If this world makes it impossible for good people to survive, the fault lies with the world not their goodness. We can't let the world's cruelty corrupt our kindness."
Baobhan Sith listened silently.
"Baobhan Sith, every time you 'act evil,' it hurts you inside, doesn't it? You might smile outside, but what about your heart?"
"…It's fine."
She stubbornly insisted.
Morgan turned to leave.
"If it's fine, then you've truly lost all hope."
"Then… what should I do?!"
Baobhan Sith scrambled after her.
Morgan smiled.
"Start doing good. See if that brings you real happiness."