"I'll never call you father."
Upon hearing Lot say those words with a smiling face, Mordred couldn't help but shudder slightly, yet she still gritted her teeth and spoke.
"Is that so?"
Hearing Mordred's words, Lot tilted his head and asked her.
Seeing the look in Lot's eyes, Mordred's expression became conflicted as she glanced at him, then very honestly said: "O-of course...ah, fine, fine, I'll call you father, how about that?"
"Next time say it with a smile!"
Lot approached Mordred and said to her.
His tone was so devilish, as if telling Mordred that he was quite different from the King Lot she remembered.
"Mhm mhm."
Beside them, Mordred's actual father Artoria was nodding seriously.
Watching this made Mordred roll her eyes hard.
This person! How can she have no principles at all!
Just because you feel like you're working for Lot now doesn't mean you should abandon your integrity.
You need to learn to resist!
Mordred thought earnestly in her heart.
However, if she were to say these words to Artoria, Artoria would firmly refuse.
Resist?
What's the point of resisting?
If I resist, forget about the chances of success - I'd probably just get suppressed single-handedly by my sister.
Even if I were the victor,
Then what?
What if Their Majesties Morgan and Lot get angry and stop feeding me?
Go back to eating bread mixed with sawdust?
No thanks!
I'm just a teenage girl under twenty who loves to eat.
Things beyond my capabilities shouldn't be my concern.
Having me defeat any vicious enemy would be easy. But asking me to give up my love for food? Forget it. That's something I could never abandon.
So when facing her daughter's eye-rolling, Artoria turned her head away, firmly expressing an attitude of "I didn't see anything, continue what you're doing and don't drag me into this."
Mordred was speechless.
Meanwhile, Lot continued speaking to her:
"Now, will you behave?"
"Tch, I just lost to her by a fluke. If I really go all out, she couldn't possibly beat me again. And you - you couldn't beat me either."
Mordred refused to admit defeat in spirit despite losing the fight.
Hearing Mordred's words, Artoria silently raised Excalibur.
While she indeed lacked the ability to resist Lot, when it came to disciplining a rebellious child, Artoria could confidently say she was quite skilled.
Seeing Mordred like this, she quietly drew Excalibur, ready to battle her again at any moment.
The moment Mordred saw Artoria like this, she immediately said: "Next time, let's talk next time. Let's call it a day for now."
Having already been beaten by Artoria once, even someone as confident as her knew she would lose badly if they fought again.
Hearing this, Lot and Artoria couldn't help but smile.
The air was filled with joy.
Lot then said to Mordred:
"I was going to say - when you claim you could take on Artoria again today without fear, I'd call out Gawain and Galahad too."
Gawain...
The flawless Galahad...
Hearing Lot mention these two names made Mordred gulp.
Their strength was such that even she couldn't claim she could defeat them.
In her previous life, if not for Lancelot killing Gawain and Galahad returning to heaven, her rebellion would have been easily suppressed.
"Have some humanity!"
Mordred said seriously to Lot.
Lot smiled without responding.
Though he thought to himself:
[This is nothing. I haven't even mentioned Melusine yet. Lancelot's spirit origin combined with Albion's dragon - fighting her would surely be an extremely thrilling experience.]
After a pause, Lot continued: "Now do you see the difference between you and us? Tell me, how exactly do you plan to turn things around in this situation?"
"The enemies we've faced on our journey were no less formidable than what you have here."
Hearing Lot's words, Mordred immediately retorted.
Lot quickly countered: "But in your previous battles, when were you ever completely isolated like this?"
"In Uruk, you had the aid of the Wise King Gilgamesh; against the Lion King, you had the First Hassan. But here in Britain, who can you possibly rely on now?"
Hearing Lot's words, Mordred looked surprised.
On one hand, she was shocked at how Lot knew everything - even the details of her previous journeys. On the other hand, she realized things were exactly as Lot described.
Their side truly had no allies left.
In previous battles, there had always been opposing factions.
Even if the forces were uneven, the weaker side still had means to resist.
Not like here.
Here in the British Isles, one faction overwhelmingly dominated.
The Scottish forces were completely insignificant, incapable of serving as resistance.
Similarly, Ireland in this era was even less viable.
She had originally thought this era's singularity would feature Morgan and Artoria opposing each other.
But instead?
Here Morgan and Artoria had joined forces against their enemies.
This was too absurd.
Now, looking around at the surrounding regions and factions...
The only ones who could oppose Lot and Morgan would be...
"Let me tell you, some things can be done while others cannot. Some people can be contacted, but others absolutely must not be."
Lot cautioned Mordred.
"I know, don't worry. I wouldn't go so far as to ally with my enemies from my past life. Just the thought is disgusting enough."
Mordred saw through Lot's concern and loudly refuted.
She certainly knew who Lot was referring to.
The Roman Emperor, the Sword Emperor Lucius.
In terms of personal martial prowess, he could defeat even Gawain in a fair one-on-one fight. In terms of military strength, he commanded numerous Roman legions.
Although the Roman legions of this era were inferior to those of Caesar or Augustus' time,
Rome was still Rome.
Their strength remained formidable.
But inviting Roman legions into Camelot to pillage and plunder, all while pretending it was for Britain's benefit? That thought filled Mordred with immense anger.
When she came of age, the Vile King Vortigern had already been defeated. After joining the Round Table, her main enemy had been this Roman Emperor Lucius. She knew his character and the conduct of Roman legions in this era all too well.
She would rather lose than allow Roman legions onto British soil.
"Mhm, it's good that you understand."
Seeing Mordred's expression, Lot knew she understood clearly.
"We welcome fair competition, but equally, we won't tolerate underhanded tactics."
Lot reminded Mordred again.
"What? You don't trust us?"
Hearing Lot's words, Mordred raised an eyebrow at him.
Then she saw Lot nod affirmatively.
"Huh?"
"Don't forget, your team still has that white-haired old swindler. You know exactly how low his standards are."
Lot said to Mordred.
Hearing this, Mordred fell silent.
Because she felt Lot wasn't wrong!
Merlin's moral compass was about as reliable as Da Vinci's conscience.
Not completely absent, but not something to count on either.
"Anyway, Master and I know what Merlin is like. When the time comes, we'll make the appropriate choices."
Mordred said seriously to Lot.
"Mhm, as long as you understand. I have faith in you and Fujimaru Ritsuka."
Lot nodded earnestly.
Then he simply turned and left.
Mordred also prepared to leave.
"Alright, nothing more for me here, right? I should get going."
However, as she spoke, Lot stopped her.
"Wait, I can leave, but shouldn't you take this chance to express to Artoria the feelings you couldn't voice in your past life?"
Having said this, he promptly left.
"Hey! Hey hey!"
Mordred shouted after Lot.
After several shouts with no response, she helplessly turned back.
Then she happened to see Artoria picking up a plate of pastries about to stuff them into her mouth.
Noticing Mordred's gaze, Artoria first looked somewhat awkward.
Then she put on a serious expression and offered a pastry to Mordred.
"Low energy is a knight's worst enemy. Here, replenish your strength."
Seeing Artoria's expression, Mordred was silent for several seconds before lightly waving her hand. "No, I don't need these."
"Huh?"
"Let me be alone."
She said this to Artoria.
At this moment, she missed intensely the King Arthur from another timeline.
While a king who didn't understand people's hearts was certainly frustrating,
An Artoria who was too much like a young girl gave Mordred a sense of shattered illusions.
Too terrifying.
She thought earnestly to herself.
...
Lot returned to the spectator stands. Seeing him return, Fujimaru Ritsuka couldn't help but ask: "Your Majesty Lot, will Mordred be alright?"
"Don't worry, that's Artoria. Mordred hasn't rebelled in this world, so of course nothing will happen."
Lot waved his hand with a smile.
At the same time, he gave Morgan a reassuring look.
Seeing his expression, Morgan secretly gave a thumbs-up to indicate her understanding.
This gesture, introduced by Lot, had appeared in this world over a thousand years ahead of schedule.
Along with Churchill's victory sign.
"By the way, who's fighting next? Will it be good?"
Having handled that matter, Lot turned his attention to the next match.
"Look, the next one should be quite interesting."
Morgan pointed below.
Lot looked.
Well,
Another parent-child match no, more accurately, mother-daughter match.
The competitors were Mash on one side, and Melusine on the other.
While they shared no blood relation, in terms of spirit origins they were indeed mother and daughter.
"Hello, Miss Melusine!"
Seeing the petite Melusine, Mash greeted her with a slightly strange tone.
Having learned of Melusine's identity from Lancelot, Mash wasn't sure what expression to make facing this childlike mother.
"Mhm mhm, hello."
Melusine nodded.
However, her expression seemed conflicted.
Finally, as if steeling her resolve,
Melusine spoke to Mash: "If I win later, could you lie on my lap and let me pat your head?"
"Huh?"
Hearing Melusine's words, Mash's face turned slightly red.
Fortunately, Melusine was female.
And Mash understood this wasn't some strange request, but simply a mother wanting to pat her "daughter's" head.
After some thought, she nodded lightly.
"But only if you defeat me first, Miss Melusine."
"That's all I need!"
Hearing Mash's words, Melusine's spirits lifted instantly.
She dashed forward with incredible speed.
Mash barely had time to react.
At the last moment, she raised her shield.
But the tremendous force behind the blow still sent her stumbling back several steps.
This strength is truly fearsome.
Mash thought with lingering fear.
Before she could think further, Melusine's next attack arrived.
One could only say,
Her motivation was extremely high right now.