A few minutes later, in a small wooden cottage near Glastonbury.
"Please, have a seat. I live here alone, so it's a bit simple—hope you don't mind."
Morgan led Naoki and Mordred into her home, then went to what must be the kitchen, pouring tea for both of them.
Carefully sitting near the table, Mordred surveyed the room's setup with a clearly shocked expression. Naoki was the same. Though he'd suspected Morgan might be around, he hadn't expected her to be settled here.
Merry didn't tell her before they came!
"What's with those looks? You both seem very surprised." Morgan said, placing her teacup down and smiling as she returned to them.
Naoki nodded. "A bit surprised. You're living in a place this… modest."
Even if praised, the living conditions here couldn't be called good. Naoki recalled the hunter's cabin he stayed in years ago at Blackstone Cemetery. The environment here was similar.
Morgan gave a faint smile. "Merlin—the one at your place, I mean—said something similar once and asked if I wanted to move in with her, be your neighbor."
(Merry, you jerk!)
"Of course, I declined. I'm not picky about where I live. Over these ten years, I've been to all sorts of places, even slept in the open. I don't have any special requirements now."
Her unexpectedly gentle tone left Naoki and Mordred speechless—especially Mordred.
This is Mother Queen?!
The Mother Queen set on avenging King Arthur?!
The Mother Queen later dubbed the poison witch?!
She's gotta be fake!
"You're thinking something very rude, aren't you, Mordred?" Morgan glanced at her daughter. Mordred flinched, instantly straightening her back and sitting upright! She banished all those thoughts to Avalon!
Nodding with satisfaction, Morgan turned back to Naoki. "Still, this meeting surprises me—or rather, shocks me. Your combination, even I didn't see it coming. Seems you've been through a lot in that parallel world."
"So, has my daughter been a burden to you, King Arthur?"
"Don't tease, Morgan." Naoki said with a wry smile. "She's a handful, but that's just how she is. As her mother, you should know better than me—expecting her to behave is impossible."
"No way you're talking about me like that, Father King…"
Morgan's brow furrowed instantly.
Father King?
"Mordred, what's with that way you address him?"
"Ah! That… it's… just a habit, slipped out… Look, Mother Queen, isn't Master kinda, like, half—no, a quarter of my Father King? I called him that jokingly once, and now… uh, sometimes… it just comes out…"
Seeing Mordred stammering through her explanation, Morgan roughly grasped the situation. Her meaningful gaze fell on Naoki. "So, by that logic, you and I are husband and wife?"
"Then I'd divorce you on the spot." Naoki joked. "Alright, enough casual talk, Morgan. I heard from Merry that you're joining the upcoming Fifth Holy Grail War?"
Merry had already told Naoki who the participants of this Holy Grail War were after his return.
Honestly, Naoki's mental state crumbled a bit—seven Masters, and aside from himself, the rest were all people he knew in various ways!
This was a family feud.
Morgan smiled. "So, you came to scout for info? Too bad I haven't summoned my Servant yet, so your trip's for nothing. Disappointed?"
"No matter. Whoever the opponent is, I don't plan on losing."
(I—not we.)
This meant Naoki wasn't relying on a Servant's strength to decide the winner—a supremely confident statement. Of course, Morgan could understand where his confidence came from. After all, Naoki had Merry, the "spy." by his side. She knew nearly all his affairs.
The current Naoki might be unbeatable, even by a top-tier Servant.
(But how long will that confidence hold?)
"By the way, Merry told me something interesting earlier." Morgan changed the topic. "If you win the Holy Grail War to the end, she'll grant that request of yours?"
"Why's she spilling everything…"
Naoki scratched his head, mildly annoyed, then nodded. "Yeah, we agreed on that. Why, got something to say?"
"With so many good women in the world, you picked the worst one."
"I don't think you've got any right to say that, do you, Mordred?"
"Uh… um…"
Mordred, suddenly caught in the crossfire, fell silent, unable to respond—this was a trap question, even she could tell!
"Mordred, is this something you need to think about?" Morgan gave her a cold glance.
"I think Mother Queen's actually an amazing woman… uh, when it doesn't involve Father King (whisper)."
A decent answer, but that final whisper still left Morgan slightly displeased. This good daughter of hers, after so long apart, seemed underdisciplined. She should've answered with firm, positive conviction.
Sighing softly, Morgan said, "Fine. Whatever future you want, decide for yourself. I've got no right to meddle. Besides, we're not connected. By the way, why'd you come here this time? Nostalgia after five years back in an old place?"
"No specific goal. If I had to say, I just wanted to bring Mordred to meet you, though I wasn't sure you'd be here."
"Master! You really had no good intentions! First Father King's grave, then Mother Queen… If you don't buy me ten ice creams when we get back, I won't let this go!"
"Alright, alright, I'll buy you a hundred, but don't complain about a stomachache later."
Patting Mordred's head, Naoki stood. "We'll take our leave then. Our next meeting might be at the Holy Grail War. Ten years ago, you beat me badly—this time, I'll get my revenge, [Caster]."
"Then I'll look forward to it, [Master Saber]—Oh, Mordred."
"Uh—! Mother Queen… w-what's up?"
"This time, I'm looking forward to your performance."
"Huh?"
Looking forward to her performance?
Did she mean her plan to bash Father King again?
(If Mother Queen's saying that, then… alright! Just wait, Father King!)