「Your daughter, Melusine Pendragon, has been born.」
「Watching the witch happily nursing her daughter, a complex and unfamiliar sentiment wells up within your heart.」
「It isn't just about your milk supply being claimed by another...」
「Rather—you now have a daughter.」
「Love, affection, cherish.」
「It's as if you want to give her all the beautiful things in the world.」
「And with it, a hazy, surreal feeling.」
「Becoming a father at sixteen feels a little criminal. Very criminal.」
「But, your soul's accumulated age is already forty, so in a way, this is you having a child late in life.」
「Morgan hands your daughter to you, and you take her gently.」
「Gazing at the small, adorable, yet vibrant little life in the swaddling clothes, a tremor runs through your heart.」
「So small...」
「—And yet, filled with such life?」
「Inspiration strikes you like lightning.」
「You suddenly realize a tremendous breakthrough, a way to potentially bypass the barrier of the World's Will.」
「After replenishing the witch with a sea of magical energy, your wife falls into a deep and satisfied sleep. You, however, make your way to the basement where you were first born.」
「The ley line aura is richest here, making it the perfect laboratory to carry out your new idea.」
「Under the cover of night, you head to the forest on the outskirts, returning shortly after, fully laden.」
「You unload the items you had stored in your shadow—various mushrooms, fungi, and decaying leaves and branches.」
「You grip the Sword of Lingering Ember, a blade that now stores the 'souls' of thousands of humans—the result of your kingdom-wide purge some time ago.」
「Aided by your Noble Phantasm, your mind and spirit focus... concentrating deeper and deeper into the microscopic world.」
「You perceive the most fundamental cellular structures of life: various bacteria and fungi, invisible to the naked eye...」
「Compared to humans, or even any visible animal or plant, the size of these single-celled organisms is so minuscule as to be almost non-existent.」
「At the same time, their 'souls' are equally light.」
「Therefore, if you were to use your Noble Phantasm to influence and modify these single-celled organisms, the cost would also be almost negligible.」
「With unwavering concentration...」
「You begin to use the power of the Lingering Ember to alter the internal structure of these single-celled organisms, causing them to grow runes that can absorb True Ether.」
「The toll on your magical energy and soul is minor, but the mental strain is immense.」
「You work tirelessly, experimenting with different strains of bacteria, fungi, and various single-celled organisms, until you gradually drift into exhausted sleep...」
「In the darkness, you feel someone gently draping a blanket over you. You reach out and grasp her hand. A familiar, soft touch meets your lips, and your consciousnesses link together.」
「You open your eyes to see the witch's bewitching, deep blue eyes shimmering before you.」
「After giving birth, her figure seems to have become even more voluptuous, possessing a new, motherly tenderness, blended with the alluring charm of a mature, ripe fruit waiting to be plucked.」
「With a breathy, flushed whisper, she leans down and presses your face into her ample bosom, her thin, silk nightdress slipping from her shoulders.」
「"Darling, isn't it my turn to replenish your mana?"」
「Amidst a round of applause.」
「A dreamless night passed.」
「In the Celtic kingdom, Artoria is pushing for massive political reforms—abolishing the nobility, creating administrative districts, and dismantling feudal titles in favor of a bureaucratic system, all to fight for the benefit of the common people.」
「Building upon your policies, she has even made various optimizations tailored to local conditions.」
「You hear this news and feel incredibly gratified.」
「The 'tutoring session' has paid off.」
「King Arthur wields the Holy Sword of the Planet. The entire Round Table combined couldn't defeat her. Which of those dukes would dare defy her will?」
「And wherever she goes, the Holy Sword of the Planet hovers behind her, an undeniable deterrent.」
「The noble knights, whose assets have been seized, lands annexed, and family lines overturned, are suffering immensely. Yet they dare not rebuke their sacred King Arthur, because Artoria will, quite literally, seize their homes.」
「And so, the knights have placed all the blame on you, the true culprit who started these reforms in the first place!」
「"Damn it, this must be Alwin's doing!"」
「They furiously denounce you as a man of calamity, an object of misfortune, a fearsome shadow that has corrupted the mind of their king and stained her sacred radiance!」
「You have acquired a new title: 'The Ominous Son of the White Dragon'.」
「The Anglo-Saxons chuckle silently. Are those the best insults they can come up with from across the sea? They feel inferior to titles like 'Butcher,' 'Tyrant,' or 'The Great Evil'.」
「The war machines of both nations roar to life, each side continuously building up its strength.」
「Spring passes and autumn comes. Two more peaceful years go by with no war between the north and south.」
「Both kingdoms improve their national power, and the nobility seems to have become a relic of the past. The people of the island have never known such peace and prosperity. Their faces are painted with smiles of happiness and security.」
「However... this peace is but a fleeting illusion. Both of you know that the time for the true, final battle will soon be at hand.」
"...Lily, we're running out of time."
"We have to kill Vortigern's physical body before he can draw the Holy Spear. Otherwise, the Age of Gods will return, and all will be lost."
The blind nightmare magus floated beside the golden-haired girl, sighing and pleading incessantly.
Vivian, the Lady of the Lake, had already set out to stop Vortigern.
However, the Demonic Dragon's aura was overwhelming. He was the very incarnation of Britain's will; on this land, there was no one with a stronger spirit than his.
Vortigern had already devoured half the light of the Radiant Tower. If he managed to project the Holy Spear and break free from its thirteen restraints...
—The consequences would be unthinkable.
Everyone understood this.
However, Artoria completely ignored the nightmare's words.
She stood on the high balcony of the castle, staring blankly at the people below, living peacefully under the sun.
With her eyesight, she could clearly see the smiles on their faces—smiles of such pure happiness they had never worn before.
She couldn't bear to shatter such a tranquil peace.
"Lily!"
Merlin was practically frantic.
He might be an agent of chaos, but he was also a candidate for Grand Caster. It was his duty to protect the Human Order.
If a Pruning Phenomenon was triggered, he would die even in his nightmare form. The entire planet would fall into absolute despair, with no escape for anyone.
"...Merlin, I no longer believe a single word you say. You are not worthy of trust."
Artoria's tone was as still as an ancient well.
"I may not be worthy of trust, but what about this world? I understand your desire to save Alwin! But if you want to save him and live with him, you must kill Vortigern!"
The deep green lake in his mind rippled slightly.
"Stop being stubborn, Lily. I'm doing this for your own good."
Shing—
The form of the nightmare magus was seared by the flash of the Holy Sword of the Planet, slicing him in half at the waist and turning him into a shower of brilliant flower petals.
"Useless."
Artoria casually tossed the Holy Sword aside, and it sheepishly floated back to her side.
"Merlin, you speak to me using a clone even when you're right next to me. I find it laughable."
"If I used my real body, you would have killed me long ago. I can't block the Holy Sword, and I know just how much you hate me."
The nightmare's clone reappeared once more.
With a worried expression, the magus sighed deeply.
"This time, I'm truly not lying to you, Lily. Because Vivian has gone to stop Vortigern, we have a perfect opportunity...
"If you launch a war and draw Alwin to the front lines, we can create a window for you. Vivian will lead Morgan away, and you can transform into Morgan and sneak into Londinium!
"You only need to destroy Vortigern's physical body. His spirit will then wither and die, and all hope for the return of the Age of Gods will be lost.
"This way, you and Alwin can live together in peace and happiness!
"And no one will even know it was you! It will all happen silently. Alwin wouldn't even be able to hate you if he wanted to.
"Besides... how could he hate you?
"If he truly hated you, he wouldn't have taught you how to govern a country so painstakingly!
"Don't you understand yet?"
The nightmare's tone was one of exasperation, as if scolding a hopeless child.
"He's been subtly expressing... his love for you all along.
"He is, after all, the son of Vortigern, and he must uphold his father's will. But death extinguishes all. If everything becomes irreversible, how could he not accept you?
"Whether he has a soft spot, what kind of person he is—you know him better than I do.
"And besides, do you truly care about these people before you?"
"..."
Artoria clenched her fists.
Staring into the brilliant sunlight, her expression was dazed and frozen.
The golden-haired girl slowly raised her hand.
As if... trying to touch the sun itself.
"Is this... Darling, did you succeed?"
"This should be the closest I've ever been to success."
Staring at the results of his experiment, Su Shu (Alwin) was slightly dazed.
Two years of relentless research, forgetting to eat or sleep.
Countless cycles of modification, failure, selection, and optimization.
He had finally... seen the dawn of success.
"What kind of creature is this... or is it a plant?"
The witch stared at the basin of dark green water before her, unable to discern what it was.
"This is... Chlorella."
"What...?"
"A type of algae. Perhaps one of the earliest life forms on this planet. It's very common in water."
"Ohh," the witch seemed to understand. "So when lakes look green sometimes, it's because of this?"
"Exactly. It possesses every advantage I could possibly want—it's widespread, easy to cultivate, grows using only light, and reproduces at an extremely fast rate."
Su Shu stroked the witch's silver hair and said with a smile.
"Most importantly—it's edible."
The witch's expression froze.
She looked at the basin of green water.
To ask her, someone who tasted Alwin's cooking every day, to drink this green sludge... she would rather starve.
"In a barren age, any food that keeps people alive is good food. Not to mention, this stuff is also highly nutritious," Su Shu said with emotion.
That's right. This was a perfect food to break through the decline of the Age of Gods.
Vibrant with life.
It was the color of hope.
"I've modified the structure of this Chlorella. As they reproduce now, they can also absorb True Ether from the air.
"They have almost no soul to speak of, so even the World's Will cannot make them wither naturally.
"—The Celts, as remnants of the Age of Gods, might be able to survive by consuming it, tiding them over until they can adapt to the environment after the decline.
"Furthermore, it can grow and spread rampantly even in the most barren of lands."
This... unassuming algae?
To think it possessed such a miraculous effect.
Morgan only half-understood Su Shu's words, but that didn't stop her from grasping how truly world-shaking this was.
This was a product born to defy fate itself.
"Darling! You're the best in the world!"
The witch flew into the silver-haired young man's arms, her ample chest instinctively pressing against his face.
Ever since having their daughter, she had grown increasingly fond of... these affectionate, motherly gestures.
"I owe it all to you, my wife. You're the one who saved Britain."
"...Eh?"
Hearing her husband's words, the witch tilted her head.
Su Shu held her, and his form dissolved into the shadows, reappearing in their bedroom in an instant.
Looking down from the high balcony, they could see the lively princess of Britain running about in the garden.
Her silver hair fluttered as her delicate fingertips touched the flowers, yet she couldn't bring herself to pick them. The smile on her face was innocent and bright.
In just two years.
She had already grown into a beautifully carved, white-haired little girl.
"...Or perhaps, it was our daughter who gave me the inspiration.
"She was so lovely when she was born, so tiny, curled up in her swaddling clothes, sucking her thumb.
"Small, yet full of life.
"The smallest and most fragile of lives, yet it can shatter the grandest of fates."
Watching his daughter run and laugh in the garden.
Such vitality, such hope...
The silver-haired young man's gaze grew distant.
"Give me ten years. Let me use my Noble Phantasm to gradually transform the ecosystem of this island. Even without bringing back the Age of Gods, I am confident I can solve Britain's future famine and ensure the vast majority of people survive."
"Ten years..."
Hearing this number, Morgan's face filled with worry.
"Do we have ten years, darling? Vortigern will be able to draw the Holy Spear in two or three years at most. We will face a choice then."
"I don't know. But at least, now we have new hope."
「A vitality named Hope seems to have taken root on this island.」
「However, at this moment, unexpected news arrives from the front lines.」
「Sensing the time was right, King Arthur has led her army in a fierce counterattack. The edge of her Holy Sword of the Planet is nearly unstoppable, routing the Anglo-Saxon forces on the front lines.」
「Aside from you and Morgan, no one on your side can stop her. You look at the battle reports. At this rate of defeat, your forces will be pushed all the way back to Londinium in just three months.」
「You instruct Morgan to guard Vortigern's body, don your armor, and appear on the battlefield. In an instant, darkness covers the sky. The Celtic army's morale shatters, and you hand them a crushing defeat.」
「However, Artoria consistently avoids meeting you on the battlefield. You understand her complex feelings, and you gradually establish a firm foothold on the front lines.」
...
In the castle of Londinium.
Upon the shadowy throne, a sharp crack suddenly echoed.
Crack—
A fissure appeared in the blood-red crystal covering half of Vortiggen's body. The image of a lake was reflected from within. Morgan's eyes narrowed with alarm as she instantly guessed the truth of the matter.
"Vivian?"
An expression of fury appeared on her face, and her form abruptly dissolved into the shadows.
"This time, I'll settle all our accounts at once."
...
In a chaotic, colorless space.
The star-anchor that connected the surface and reverse sides of the world had dimmed to half its original brilliance.
A burly old man stood before the anchor, seemingly in deep meditation with his eyes closed. He held up his hand, light gathering in his palm, gradually forming the phantom image of a long spear.
Suddenly.
A tranquil lake spread out from nowhere, flooding over his lower body.
Krr-crack—
Countless heavy chains extended from the lake's surface, fiercely binding Vortigern's limbs and interrupting his process of devouring the light.
"Vivian? You can't stop me. This fae lake water you went to such lengths to bring here can only delay me for another three to five days at most."
"One more day I can stop you is one more day gained."
Vortigern's massive frame was bound to the chain-covered surface of the lake, completely immobilized.
Yet his iron-grey eyes remained as deep and calm as an ancient well, without a single ripple.
On the chains, cracks were silently spreading.
...
"Artoria, this is your best chance. Sneak into Londinium, destroy Vortigern's body. No one will know it was you..."
She paid no heed to the nightmare's urgings.
Staring at the full-length mirror before her, the golden-haired, voluptuous woman's eyelids were slightly lowered.
Relying on the healing effect of the Scabbard of Avalon, she released the suppression on her growth and development caused by the Sword of Selection. Her body instantly became curvaceous and full.
The sisters' faces required no adjustment.
In both figure and appearance.
At this moment, she was almost... identical to the witch.
No illusion was needed.
She gently ran her hands through her hair, letting the smooth locks cascade down.
Her brilliant golden hair was instantly dyed a silvery shade with a hint of deep blue.
"Alwin..."
Placing the crown properly on her head.
She silently draped herself in the deep, mysterious gown that had always belonged to the witch.
...
「You return to the castle on the front lines. You have stabilized the battlefield over the past few days, and with your magical energy severely depleted, you prepare to rest for a moment.」
「However, to your surprise, when you push open the bedroom door, Morgan is already waiting for you inside.」
「You're slightly surprised that she isn't in Londinium, but has come here instead.」
「But, upon seeing those shimmering, deep blue eyes, everything becomes self-explanatory.」
「"I've only been gone a few days, and you already miss me this much, my wife?"」
「You smile.」
「And then, she fiercely seals your lips with hers, pushing you directly down onto the bed—」
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