[When the Knight-King, Arthur — Artoria's — army marched out, you were, as always, left behind on the British mainland to guard the rear.]
[With you was also Mordred, the artificial child you personally raised, who bears both your blood and Pendragon blood.]
Only three years old by age but appearing as a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl, Mordred stood atop a high tower of Camelot, watching the banners of the departing army flutter away. Silver-white armor clung to her slender frame; the breastplate showed a clear curve, and her waist tapered into a smooth arc with the line of her hips. Her thigh muscles were taut beneath the battle skirt, calves straight and strong; the skin glimpsed between armor and cloth caught the sunlight and gleamed with health. Her golden hair streamed in disorder; beneath the horned faceplate she usually wore, a face extremely like Artoria's now wore a look of regret.
"Why can't I go with them…?" she pouted, more wounded than angry.
"Because you're the future 'king', Mordred." Lucan said, glancing sideways.
Though not yet publicly declared, Mordred's identity — that she was Artoria's child — was already known to Lucan. Unlike the original timeline you once knew, this Mordred's birth had been carried out with the approval and cooperation of Lucan, Morgan, and Artoria herself — made to ensure the continuation of Camelot's future: an extraordinary heir. She bore strong Pendragon royal blood and also traces of your line; though she could not inherit their exact origins — Morgan's island-sovereignty was a will of Britain rather than simple bloodline, and the triune origin traits came from the revival of primordial sources; Artoria's red-dragon factor was the manifestation of the Celtic people's emblem — none of these came by ordinary heredity. As for your triple loop, that was unique and nearly impossible to replicate: an occult masterpiece beyond typical divine tier.
Even so, Mordred's talent was immense. Not equal to all three parents combined, yet her magical capacity was enormous — she inherited 272 high-quality magical circuits from your body, Morgan's refined aptitude for mana control, and Artoria's powerful physique. Her strength now exceeded the "original" timeline. Artoria accepted her. An emperor goes to war; the crown prince serves as regent — it was only natural.
All the same.
"I still want to go fight with the King!" the golden-haired girl grumbled.
Lucan asked, "Do you not want to be with me?"
"Ah ha… No, Father!" Mordred instantly feigned a laugh.
Having grown under Lucan's strict upbringing, she knew too well the 'peculiar tastes' of this man — the lofty, upright founder of the Knightly Code, the Grand Duke of Knights, the state chancellor, the vice-leader of the Round Table — and what that implied in private.
"Good," Lucan said. "If you do, I'll write and tell the King to take you."
"They haven't gone far yet, there's still time—"
"Really?" Mordred's eyes brightened.
"Kidding." Lucan smiled, as if savoring the prank.
Mordred froze and swallowed. She knew she'd been caught.
…
"King, all the ships are gathered at London Harbor—three thousand three hundred and sixty-two in total. That's enough for us to cross."
At the spearhead, Artoria reined up on high and glanced back at the white chalk silhouette of Camelot slowly shrinking along the horizon. Bedevere, the silver-armed knight, rode forward and reported, respectfully: "Yes, My King. The Duke has prepared everything for this expedition."
Instinctively, Artoria felt something off but could not say what. "Then let us depart," she said. She trusted Lucan without hesitation.
…
[That afternoon, Mordred was punished by you: she had to copy the kingdom's official codices one hundred times — a truly severe punishment for the restless child.]
[That night, you detected that Artoria's army had fully departed the port and set sail south.]
"Time is about right." Lucan opened his eyes in the depths of the palace.
"Father—what's about right?" Mordred, just finishing her writing with trembling hands, flinched at his voice and looked puzzled.
"The King has led the army out." Lucan smiled. "Now Camelot is hollow."
"This is the best opportunity."
Mordred became even more confused. Before she could ask further, her father continued in a soft tone:
"Little Mo."
"Let's rebel."
"?"
…
While the King rode at the front, news came from the rear: unrest within the Camelot realm. It was said the Hungarii—people who had long integrated into Camelot—were rising. It was said this was Subertai Equinus's deliberate action. He intended to fully integrate the Hungarii nation into Camelot.
The Eternal King.
…
[You incited the Hungarii to rebel and raise the banner of a Hunnic Emperor over Europa.]
[But the origin wasn't you.]
[It was the one who had your blood in this life —]
[Mordred Ugur Pendragon.]
[Camelot is a dual kingdom, forged from the blood of the Hunnic empire and the Celtic realm.]
[This was your earliest blow against human-order — your first challenge to the fabric of human history.]
[An early preparation to secure Camelot's fate.]
"So this is your true purpose?"
"Really... that's ridiculous!"
In the inner sea of stars, in the fairy realm, the 'sage' Merlin saw everything in the world and finally, for once, saw the true purpose of the man named 'Subotai Aquinus'! Such actions...should I just keep watching?
During this period...
Whether it was Subotai or the King's efforts...
He had seen them all...