"You think Baobhan Sith is acting strangely?"
Artoria, having finished handling the various affairs of Camelot, said this upon seeing Mélusine with Ian.
"Y-Yes!"
Mélusine nodded repeatedly.
"She always gives me the feeling that she wants me to do something against you behind your back."
"And this isn't the first time!"
"Then did you do as she said, Mélusine?" Artoria suddenly asked.
"Eh, well—"
Suddenly becoming the center of the topic, Mélusine's expression became a little embarrassed.
"I..."
"No need to stammer." Artoria smiled. "I think the answer is already obvious—you actually enjoy doing it, don't you?"
"In that case, I don't think there's any need to be too critical of Baobhan Sith's actions."
"She..."
Artoria's gaze fell upon Ian.
"...perhaps this is simply what she wants."
"..."
Artoria's words left Mélusine silent for a good while.
After a long time, she finally spoke again:
"Artoria, I feel like you've changed a lot."
"In the past, you would have definitely gotten very angry about something like this, but now, you don't seem to mind at all."
"What... what changed you?"
"If you're asking what changed me—"
Artoria's gaze gradually shifted to Ian beside her.
"It's probably the things he told me before."
"Now, I no longer worry about him betraying me at all, Mélusine. Can you understand what I'm saying?"
"..."
"Absolute trust?"
Mélusine seemed to understand something.
"I see."
"Then, my King, what should I do next—should I tell Baobhan Sith my true feelings as she asked? Or something else..."
"For now, just go along with what she says, Mélusine."
There wasn't a single trace of panic in Artoria's eyes.
On the contrary, Mélusine read an absolute calm in them, as if everything was already under control.
"I... don't think she would do anything too outrageous."
"Ian, you think so too, right?"
"Mhm."
The dragon's answer gave the two women before him all the confidence they needed.
...
And so—
As per Artoria's request, Mélusine did not hide anything from Baobhan Sith.
On the contrary, she did her best to comply with her request, describing in great detail every sensation she felt during her indescribable time with Ian.
Of course.
This didn't mean Mélusine wasn't thinking.
Quite the opposite, as she told Baobhan Sith more and more, she realized a problem.
"By the way—"
"If you just wanted these descriptions, wouldn't observing Mash have been enough?"
"Why... did we have to do it again? Doesn't it feel a bit redundant?"
Faced with Mélusine's question, Baobhan Sith, as if long prepared, quickly had an answer.
"That's different, Mélusine."
"Mash was born under my mother's intervention. We don't know what kind of influence that might have had."
"But this time, no one interfered with you and Ian, right?"
"I think this is the most genuine result."
"..."
Although she felt something wasn't quite right, with Artoria's instructions, Mélusine didn't say anything more.
"Alright."
"I'll do my best to cooperate with you."
....
During the time Mélusine was repeatedly recounting this process, she wasn't the only one doing something.
As the "father" of many children, Ian was also working very hard to train those who were already serving at the Round Table.
When facing Barghest, what he taught was absolute power.
"Barghest, that's not enough force."
"You must treat every battle as if it were your last. That is how you will completely unleash the power within your body."
"Yes!"
And so—
Barghest, the strongest of the Round Table Knights, became even more "violent." It was said that any weapon in her hands, other than Excalibur Galatine, wouldn't last for more than three seconds.
"Mash, you must make protecting others your greatest responsibility."
"Therefore—"
"No matter what, you must not be afraid. You must always be at the very front of the team. Only then can you bring out all of your strengths."
"Understood completely!"
Wielding the shield given to her by her many "mothers," Mash, though still young, acted with more determination than any other knight.
No matter how many times she was knocked down by her training partner, Barghest, she would always get back up, again and again, and shout at her:
"Sister Barghest, let's continue!"
"..."
To be honest, Barghest originally didn't have a very good impression of the shield-wielding Mash.
After all, both she and her father used blades like Excalibur Galatine and Excalibur.
She alone wielded a shield, making her seem like a coward.
However—
Now it seemed that wasn't the case at all.
Knocked down, then getting back up;
Knocked down again, getting back up again.
Although she looked quite battered, she truly possessed the tenacious and unyielding spirit of a knight.
No.
It should be said, she was stronger than the vast majority of knights.
"Alright."
Completely acknowledging Mash's indomitable spirit, Barghest once again raised her greatsword.
It was a colossal weapon that only she and her father, Ian, could wield in all of Camelot.
"I won't hold back, Mash."
"That's for the best!"
The training between Barghest and Mash continued amidst the clanging sounds.
But what neither of them knew was that as they fought so hard, a figure was quietly approaching their father.
It was none other.
It was Baobhan Sith.
She walked step by step towards Ian, who was "observing the battle," until she reached his side.
"Father," she began.
"..."
Looking at Baobhan Sith, Ian's expression didn't change much. He just asked softly.
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
Baobhan Sith quietly took Ian's hand.
"I just have a few questions I'd like to ask you—"
"Can you come with me?"