Chapter 40: Morgan is Back
Noah's daily routine had settled into a remarkably stable cycle after he stopped simulating.
Each morning began with training, followed by breakfast, then handling various affairs. He would continue training until noon, deal with matters after lunch, then resume training throughout the afternoon until evening. Even after dinner, he would add extra practice before finally resting while holding Artoria close.
This routine served both to avoid missing Scáthach and to develop the physical constitution he had acquired from the One Piece world.
His martial arts were the culmination of decades of refinement after obtaining the "Martial Prodigy" trait, making further advancement exceptionally difficult without that label now.
His daily martial practice, beyond maintaining proficiency, was primarily dedicated to Scáthach.
However, his pirate-world physique showed remarkable improvement after intensifying training, and he even began developing ideas about using Conqueror's Haki during this period.
This progress consistently amazed Mary, who always stayed by Noah's side.
Mary had mentored King Arthur before.
The half-human, half-dragon King Arthur naturally possessed far greater talent and potential than ordinary people.
But even that Arthur... seemed incomparable to the current Noah!
Mary felt as if Noah's physical capabilities had no upper limit—growing stronger each day through training as if he were still in his most rapid growth phase during adolescence!
This felt somewhat unreal to her.
Before she could inquire about this matter, another even more perplexing event occurred.
That was
—Morgan had returned!
...
Most residents of Camelot were quite familiar with Morgan.
Even Camelot's knights and nobles knew her well.
After all, Morgan hadn't always been a witch. Before becoming one, she had campaigned with knights as a princess and attended numerous noble gatherings.
Before her transformation, both knights and nobles of Camelot held Morgan in high esteem.
Among King Uther's knightly order, aside from King Pellinore—one of the Twelve Kings—most knights were no match for Morgan.
And this was before Morgan reached full maturity and inherited the power of the island.
Thus, to everyone in Camelot at that time, Morgan appeared as the perfect successor—inheriting both King Uther's martial prowess and the royal family's nobility and elegance.
Unfortunately...
Merlin somehow concealed the fact that Morgan had inherited the island's power.
King Uther knew well that only a mystical being could succeed him as holder of the island's power.
Although Morgan excelled in every aspect, without inheriting the island's power, she could become King of Camelot but not qualify as King of Britain.
Hence came Artoria.
After realizing her failure to inherit the island's power, Morgan gradually transformed into a witch to become a mystical being.
By the time Morgan completed her transformation into a witch, Merlin had already sent Artoria to Sir Ector.
After King Uther failed to subdue Vortigern, to prevent Morgan—the heir incapable of defeating Vortigern—from contesting the throne, he followed Merlin's suggestion and directly exiled her.
This was Morgan's experience over the past few decades.
A fall from the highest tower of Camelot Castle all the way to the remote Cape of the Sea.
And all of this was Merlin's fault.
Afterwards, Morgan deliberately investigated, and the results were what she found most unacceptable.
That Merlin hadn't suppressed her out of personal motives; rather, Merlin believed that King Uther, who possessed the power of the island, couldn't handle Vortigern, and she, as the heir with the same island power, likewise couldn't handle Vortigern. So, under the pressure of Vortigern, he chose Artoria, who could defeat Vortigern.
In other words, Merlin genuinely believed Artoria was more suited to be king than her!
After returning to Camelot and walking through its streets, Morgan felt somewhat conflicted.
However, when she remembered that the one who became king wasn't her sister, chosen by Uther and Merlin, but Noah, a cold yet exceptionally beautiful smile appeared beneath her veil.
Hah, the Chosen King.
Uther and Merlin thought fate hadn't chosen her but her younger sister, even going so far as to create the concept of the Chosen King. Now they must be stunned—fate didn't choose her sister but Noah!
This was probably the most joyous thing Morgan had encountered in the past decade.
It was also what truly allowed her to temporarily set aside all past grievances.
With these thoughts, she openly entered Camelot Castle via its main thoroughfare, holding Noah's appointment letter, and went straight to Noah's study via the central staircase of the castle.
Many people saw and recognized Morgan along the way.
At first, they wondered why Morgan, who had been exiled, was there.
But when they saw her produce Noah's appointment letter, though still puzzled by the new king's intentions, they understood that significant events were likely to unfold in Camelot, and perhaps all of Britain.
...
Morgan had made no effort to conceal her return to Camelot after deciding not to investigate the Southern Six Territories.
Though earlier sightings were met with uncertainty, her open entry into Camelot confirmed it for everyone.
The news quickly spread throughout Camelot and then across Britain.
Merlin, who was currently tormenting the Southern Six Kings in the Southern Six Territories, soon learned of it.
Amid the "reluctant" tears of the Southern Six Kings, Merlin departed the Southern Six Territories and prepared to return to Camelot.
Since Noah became King Arthur, Merlin felt that nothing had gone as he'd imagined.
Even so, Merlin never expected Noah to bring Morgan back!
With Morgan's exile revoked by King Uther and Uther deceased, Morgan was now the sole holder of the island's power in Britain... If she were to run amok in Camelot over past grievances...
At this thought, Merlin quickened his pace.
It wasn't that he held any particular affection for Camelot, or rather, for Britain.
Nor did he harbor any hatred toward Vortigern.
If Britain were to perish tomorrow, Merlin might be the only one capable of watching the entire event with complete detachment.
It was just like when King Uther died.
But...
If Britain were to be destroyed over something like this, that would be far too dull, wouldn't it?
—This was Merlin's most genuine thought.
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