Gloucester (II)

Good morning.

I'm sorry to call you all here so early when I know you're still exhausted from yesterday's battle, but I'm afraid this couldn't wait.

Last night, Altria and Fujimaru received invitations from Lady Murian of Gloucester...

...to attend Faerium, a faerie ball, she'll be holding soon.

Me? Oh, don't worry, I'm fine. My hair's the only thing different about me.

In fact, I'm actually happy about this. It makes me look distinguished.

I always admired the Count's dashing hairstyle, so now I feel like I can hold my own, at least a little.

...Oops. I'm sorry, that just slipped out. Ugh. Come on, Percival. You're not a child anymore.

Ahem. Anyway, we still need to decide what to do about Lady Murian's invitation.

？！

Holding a ball NOW, huh... She's up to something, that much is for sure.

Hang on. You said this faerie ball is called Faerium? What exactly is that, anyway?

Allow me to explain! I've always wanted to go to a ball, so I know all about them!

Faerium: a moonlit gala that every faerie in Britain dreams of attending.

Every faerie who has done something impressive that year, like clan heads, is invited to speak about and be celebrated for their accomplishments.

Attendees get to enjoy never-before seen scenery, never-before eaten cuisine, and never-before heard music...

And then, to cap it all off, they decide on the faerie of the yearthe one who stands atop faerie society, and shines more brightly than any other...

Isn't that right, Altria!? There's not a faerie in Britain who doesn't dream of attending Faerium, right!?

I-I guess? Maybe? I suppose there was a time I dreamed about it myself.

Wait. Does this mean we're going?

'Cause I was kind of hoping I'd never have to go to another Faerium if I could help it!

...

Oh, absolutely. An invitation like this is still an opportunity for us.

This Murian lady is practically offering you her bell on a silver platter.

Yeah, that's definitely what Murian has in mind with this invitation.

Though I still don't know WHY she's giving us this opportunity.

？！

That's right. This is Murian's way of making her intentions known to both the queen and the Child of Prophecy.

It makes perfect sense that the lord of Gloucester would hold a ball from time to time, and that goes double for one with a long, storied history like Faerium.

Though of course, Altria and Fujimaru will hardly be her only guests.

I doubt Morgan will step away from her throne, but she'll almost certainly send a delegation.

At minimum, Tristan and Lancelot will be among them.

Right. Of course. Lancelot always wins faerie of the year...

That little blue bitch, huh.

I'd love a little payback while we're there, but Gloucester is bound by Murian's rules.

So no one from any faction can fight at this ball, right?

That's right. Which makes this a perfect opportunity.

Under ordinary circumstances, we'd never be allowed into Gloucester now that we've defied the queen by ringing two bells and defeating Woodwose.

But for this occasion, we can proudly attend the ball as distinguished guests.

And once we're inside...

Well, sneaking around and finding secret rooms is what you do best, right, Altria?

Gaaah! I knew it!

？！

Did you have to say it like that!?

Then it's settled. I'll ready a carriage right away.

The ball is being held tonight, so we'll need to hurry if we're going to make it to Gloucester by evening!

What was Murian thinking!?

Phew, we made it. Our second time in Gloucester.

Redra Bit and Percival are waiting outside the city limits, so we don't have to worry about them...

But, unfortunately, we only have two invitationsone for Altria, and one for Fujimaru...

And each invitation only allows for a single plus-one. So, who should go with them?

Da Vinci and I make the most sense; we've both met Murian.

Having you around would be helpful, since words hit harder than swords here...

But, knowing you, I'm also sure you'll have no problem sneaking in anyway.

Naturally. I'm flattered by your trust, Muramasa.

I know a number of Gloucester's fair ladies, so I'm sure I can find one in need of a kingly companion.

Fine with me. You guys have fun. I'm just gonna spend some time in the city.

Damn. I just realized this means I won't get to go to the ball after all.

But that's okay! That just means I have a great opportunity to visit the Count's shop! Come with me, Habbycat!

Count Peperon gave me a letter of introduction to his shop here when we left Londinium!

He even said we should go and have a good time together! He's so considerate, don't you think!?

Oh, the Count's store, huh. I guess that sounds kind of interesting...

Okay, let's go!

I wasn't really looking for fun tonight, but this doesn't sound bad!

Wonderful. Glad you're both getting along so well. Now, moving on...

What should we do about Little Ms. Cold Feet over here, Fujimaru?

？！

Guess that's all we can do, huh. I got the left side. You get the right.

Aaaah! Nooo! Don't make me do thiiis!

I don't wanna go to the ball dressed like thiiis! I don't wanna run into anyone I knooow!

You're a king, right, Oberon!? You can go and ring the bell!

Just don't forget to bring me a souvenir! Something tasty would be nice!

Cut that out! No proper Child of Prophecy would ever say that!

Do you know how many aspiring Cinderellas would give their eye teeth for an invitation to this ball!? Deal with it!

？！

...I'm sorry. I just didn't expect Altria to be so stubborn about this.

Do you have some ball-related trauma? Did you get mistaken for a server or something at one before?

D-don't be silly! Of course I've never had anything that embarrassing happen to me!

It's just, you know, I'm basically the face of the Round Table Army now, so I don't want to go there underdressed...

Oh, is that all? Well, don't worry, then. Nothing better or more formal for a warrior to wear than their battle dress.

Then again, if you prefer, you could always have Fujimaru go on ahead.

But I doubt you'll be able to find him again later, so it'll just be you and Muramasa at the ball in that case.

？！

Okay, okay! I'll go, I'll go already! Just don't leave me behiiind!

？！

Yup, this is amazing. I never would've thought there was such a fancy ballroom next to the auction house.

It's a fae domain within a fae domain... A top-notch, otherworldly Reality Marble the likes of which you rarely get to see.

You can tell since the inside of this building is clearly bigger than the outside.

Whatever it is, it's damn impressive. If this place is any indication, Murian might just be the best damn gardener I've ever seen.

Hell, the view's so great it even got Altria to calm down.

I'll have you know this is my second time here, so it's not like I was entranced by the scenery.

I was mostly wondering why Murian hasn't bothered to greet us after she invited us.

(Whup, Altria's pissed now. Once she gets over herself, she really is a dependable ally.)

Huh, you're right. Now that you mention it, I don't see her anywhere.

I would've thought she'd be the first to use the Child of Prophecy to liven things up at her parHm?

May I have your attention, distinguished guests?

On behalf of Lady Murian, the owner of this beautiful building, I would like to apologize for her tardiness.

I've been told she should arrive in about one hour, so please relax and enjoy yourselves in the meantime.

...So Murian isn't even here yet. And there's no sign of Oberon, either...

What do you think, Fujimaru? Should we just go sneak into the bell tower now?

？！

Hm? Looks like we've got a new arrival. Oh wow, all the faeries are making way for

？！

Bwa...

Damn.

(Low whistle)

H-hey, look. Who's that girl next to Aurora?

Aurora's an exceptional beauty, but that faerie next to her is...something else...

...I see. So you go for the prim and proper young lady types, huh, Muramasa?

Got nothin' to do with what I like. I'm just being objective here.

It's Beryl! And Tam Lin Tristan!

...Yeah, that tracks. 'Course Morgan's daughter's here.

(So that's Murian's game, huh. She sure is a vindictive little brat, isn't she...)

(Or maybe she's a perfectionist? One who's clearly not gonna be satisfied until she downright obliterates anyone who defies her.)

？！

...

？！

O-oh, no, it's nothing. I was just kind of wondering if Cnoc na Riabh was here, that's all.

Thank goodness she's not! Now I won't have to hear all her snide remarks about how she's so much better than me!

Good day, Child of Prophecy. Congratulations on your victory at Londinium.

C-Coral! I'm so sorry! I hope I wasn't being too loud!

Oh gosh, I was, wasn't I? I'm sorry. I'm from the country, so I'm totally out of place here.

S-s-still, it's nice of you to come say hello!

Hehe. I know how you feel, but it's okay. There's nothing to be nervous about.

Murian's cast a spell on this ballroom that hides attendees' faces from anyone who doesn't already know them.

So please, relax. You don't have to worry about anyone you don't know seeing you here.

These kinds of parties don't happen every day. It's best to enjoy them while you can.

I-I see. Thank you, Coral. ...You know, I have to say

？！

I assure you, I'm not the least bit giddy about being here. I'm only here to guard Lady Aurora.

Let me remind you, foreign mage. You may have been invited here, but you're still just a human.

I suggest that you remember your place and not speak your mind so freely if you know what's good for you.

Thanks for the warning. You're always worried about humans' welfare, aren't you?

That was your way of telling him that speaking to other faeries that way could cause big trouble, right?

Don't go putting words in my mouth. I intended nothing of the sort.

I'm not like Lady Aurora. I have no fondness for humans, and I don't think of them as equal in any way.

Is that so?

'Cause the way I see it, Aurora might let humans do whatever they want, but you actually tell them what they need to hear.

So between the two of you, you seem like you actually treat humans much more kindly than

Silence. I don't care what kind of faerie you are or what clan you're from. To slander Lady Aurora is to slander the entire Wind clan.

And daring to compare her with the likes of me? Absolutely unthinkable.

I see now it was foolish of me to bother paying my respects to the Child of Prophecy.

This is supposed to be a gala for distinguished guests. Brush up on your etiquette before you consider attending another.

Gotcha. Sorry about that. But before you go, do you mind if I ask just one more question?

I couldn't help but notice that other faerie next to Aurora. Is she serving as her escort tonight?

Even though you're her right-hand faerie?

...

No faerie shines more brightly than Lady Aurora. Only the most beautiful of faeries deserves to stand by her side.

As such, I'm happy to offer up my seat to one more suitable, like her.

...Even if she is a grotesque creature who crawled her way up from the foulest sludge imaginable.

After what Da Vinci just said, I don't blame her. What was that all about, Da Vinci? It's not like you.

？！

Nnn, well that was a bust.

I've been wondering just how different Coral's and Aurora's values really are for a while now, so I thought I'd take this chance to see for myself...

But I guess I went a little too far☆

How different their values are?

...

What did you people say to Coral? I've never seen her so upset before.

？！

Hm? Oh, right. I'm not wearing my armor today, am I? Pardon me.

This isn't our first meeting, but it is my first time properly introducing myself.

I'm Tam Lin Lancelot.

Welcome to the ball, Altria, Fujimaru.

And who might you be, young lady? Would you mind if I asked your name?

N-not at all. I'm Leonardo da Vinci. P-pleasure to meet you.

？！

(Whaaat!? I might be Chaldea's technical advisor, but I'm still an artist first and foremost! I can't help but appreciate beauty, wherever I find it!)

Well damn if you don't seem like a totally different person. Is this what you're like when you're not in armor?

...I'm sorry, have we met?

You mean you don't remember!? You knocked me off a damn castle and filled me full of holes!

Ohhh, you must be Muramasa! I'm sorry! I never got a good look at your face!

I do remember you though! Gutting you like a fish was so much fun!

I knew you must still be alive. I had a feeling we would get to fight again someday.

I wonder when our next fight will be? Maybe you'll finally manage to cut off my head?

Oh, I can't wait to punch that cobbled-together Spirit Core straight out of you.

...U-uh, yeah. Right on. (The hell? She kind of reminds me of Oberon.)

(She's the princely type! A total prince! No wonder she's been Gifted Lancelot's name!)

Um... You wouldn't happen to be Avalon's

Oh, right. Aurora told me not to let my true personality show too much.

Congratulations on your victory at Londinium. We may be enemies, but that was a battle well-fought, and I must commend you.

...Also, there's one thing I'd like to ask you.

How is Percival doing? I've been told he's still alive, but...

...is he hurt at all? Or is there anything unusual about him?

？！

？！

I'm his big sister.

Oh! His big sister! Well, no wonder you're worried about

？！

?

Tam Lin Lancelot...

She just up and left after telling us she was Percival's sister...

？！

Percival kept this pretty close to the chest...

I don't think he was hiding it from us. There was just never any reason to bring it up.

Is this something most people in Britain know about, Altria?

No, not at all. In fact, I don't think most people would believe it if we told them.

I can barely believe it, and I just heard it straight from Lancelot!

Then I guess Percival wants to keep it a secret.

It'd probably be hell on the Round Table Army's morale to know their commander is actually Lancelot's brother.

But that oblivious Tam Lin just spilled the beans like it was nothing...

I swear, Tam Lin just seem to go around doing whatever the hell they want, all the time, don't they?

？！

It's not a big deal. I think we can just keep this to ourselves.

It's not as though Percival and Lancelot are in contact, and it's not our place to comment on their relationship as siblings.

G-got it. If you're okay with that, we don't mind keeping it quiet...

I still don't get how they can be siblings at all when Percival's human and Lancelot's a faerie.

It's not uncommon for faeries to adopt humans as their children.

So I'd guess Lancelot and the faerie who took in Percival are old acquaintances.

...Well, this explains why he didn't want to go near Salisbury.

？！

You there, human. That's right, I'm talking to you.

One of the Tam Lin said they wanted to talk to you out on the terrace. Get out there, and fast. Make sure you're on your best behavior too.

？！

Well, you are the only human here, so.

What're you going to do? Are you going to see what she wants?

？！

Of course. Even with Murian's rules in place, this is still enemy territory.

And the terrace is a private area, so no other faeries will bother us there. It's perfect for clandestine conversations.

I guess Lancelot must have more she wanted to ask us about after all.

Fine with me. Honestly, I was hoping to observe her a little more anyway.

Uh, by which I mean her outfit. Just her outfit. I thought I could pick up some tips from its construction, you know?

Oh for

I'm impressed you accepted an invitation from the enemy. ...Not that I ever doubted you would.

I can't go by that name anymore. It's just Barghest now.

...Of course it does. I'm a lord. I'm not so barbaric as to wear armor to a ball.

？！

Good evening, Barghest. We haven't seen you since that night in the Welsh forest.

We also have no idea what kind of disciplinary measures you had to face afterwards.

If you have something you want to say to us, why don't you start with that?

...

Hm? What is it, Barghest? Is this for Fujimaru's ears only or something?

No, not exactly...

It's not that, Da Vinci. You just captivate her.

Come on, Barghest, spit it out already! We don't have all night here!

I know. I'm a busy woman myself, so I'll keep this brief.

Da Vinci, was it? I'm currently confined to my territory, and I've been relieved of my duty to protect Britain.

Consequently, I have no reason to raise a hand to the Child of Prophecy now.

I wasn't even planning to attend this ball at all, until I realized I might see you all here.

So I swallowed my pride and came here to speak with you. Does that answer your question?

Sure does. I know you don't mean us any harm right now, but I had to be sure, you understand.

Pay it no heed. You're the foreign mage's advisor. I understand you had to ask.

...Now, here is my question for you.

I'd like you to tell me whatever you can about the outside worldabout Proper Human History.

High Queen Morgan has given me a broad overview, but I still know nothing of its history, or what things are truly like there.

I would like to know if you are actually merciless arbitrators, barbaric invaders...

...or well-meaning visitors who truly wish to know our history.

...And there you go. That's all I can tell you in the limited time we have.

Our battles in the Lostbelts have been to reclaim our history and our future.

This place isn't our target now, but it is still a Lostbelt that will eventually need to be pruned.

But that doesn't mean we have any issue with this Lostbelt's inhabitants, or that we want to erase its history.

Even though this may be a zero-sum game where only a Lostbelt or Proper Human History can ultimately survive...

...that's an issue between worlds, not residents.

Is that how you feel too, Fujimaru?

？！

...I see. You truly are a young man of integrity, aren't you?

In that case, let me now ask you this: Do faeries exist in Proper Human History as well?

Yup. Life isn't exactly easy for them, but we do still have fairies in Britain's woods.

There are also fairies in Ireland, the Isle of Skye, and France just across the channel.

Ireland? Skye? France? I-I see. All right, setting those questions aside for later...

What about calamities, and mors? Do those exist, too?

？！

...What a peaceful world yours must be. I envy the faeries who inhabit it.

...Okay, then, let's say, strictly hypothetically...

...What if we were to...

...No. Never mind. That would be asking far too much.

I've learned what I wished to know. My apologies for taking up your time.

Why? It's not asking too much at all. You want to talk about the possibility of moving to Proper Human History, right?

？！

!

...How did you know? I didn't think that would even occur to you.

Oh please, it wasn't hard to figure out. And I have no doubt Fujimaru feels the same after talking to you.

Barghest, you've always seemed more focused on protecting the faeries of Britain than the land itself.

The whole reason you agreed to serve Morgan is because she was keeping Britain safe.

But if she has no intention of protecting its people, you'd have to find another way to do so yourself.

So it makes perfect sense that you'd consider moving them to a more peaceful place, like Proper Human History.

But...is such a thing even possible? The inhabitants of a Lostbelt can only survive inside their Lostbelt.

And the faeries of Britain are doomed to be used and discarded as mere tools for High Queen Morgan.

True, that was the case for the other Lostbelts. But Britain is different.

It really is possible for you and the other faeries to exist in Proper Human History, Barghest.

It won't exactly be easy, of course. There are a number of major hurdles that would need to be overcome first.

But they're nothing that can't be resolved through peaceful discussion.

And I'm sure we could manage that as long as we have kindhearted faeries like you and Altria leading the others.

...I see. Then it seems I need to make a decision as well.

Da Vinci. Fujimaru.

I'd like you to come to my domain, Manchester. I have a proposition I'd like to discuss with you there.

...I understand if you still can't trust me. Just hearing what you had to say has been enlightening enough.

Sorry I'm late! It took me longer to get in than I thouWas that Barghest I just saw leaving?

Looks like whatever she wanted must have been pretty serious... She didn't challenge you to a duel or something, did she?

？！

...I see. So she's thinking about emigrating to Proper Human History. There's something I hadn't considered.

But that's just the kind of bigI mean, bold thinking I'd expect from her! Definitely an idea worth pursuing!

I wish I could have been here for that discussion. So, what did you tell her?

That was as far as we got. It's too dangerous a topic to discuss here.

So she asked us to come to Manchester to talk it over. What do you think, Oberon?

Manchester, huh... Not sure I like the sound of that.

The rule of Barghest's domain is survival of the fittesta very literal dog-eat-dog world where the weak are just meat for the strong.

I'm not talking natural laws here, either. This is something everyone there truly believes.

In Manchester, the weak offer themselves up to the strong, and the strong think nothing of exploiting the weak.

The very idea of fighting for their lives never even crosses their minds.

Gloucester's fae domain is designed to let the weak and strong coexist on equal footing...

But Manchester's is all about letting the strong do whatever they like, the weak be damned.

Still, if you're absolutely positive that Barghest won't try to attack you there, then I suppose you could pay her a visit.

Hmm... Baggie didn't seem like she meant us any harm, but she's also definitely a carnivore...

So if she did decide to eat us, there wouldn't be anything we could do to stop her?

Not really. You know the stories about the Black Dog Duchess, right?

Barghest has taken a number of lovers over the years, but none of her relationships have lasted very long.

They say she'll marry her then boyfriend and bring him back to her mansion, and by the next day she'll have eaten him whole.

The only creatures in all of Britain who eat faeries are the black dogs, and Barghest.

She may struggle against her nature, trying to be civilized, but those instincts always win out eventually.

There's a reason she's so widely feared. I really can't endorse this plan.

So that's why she's called the Black Dog Duchess. Come to think of it, Mike said something about her, too:

"Gawain of Many Loves, Gawain the Glutton. Always hungry, never satisfied, she'll take a lover one day and eat them up the next."

Hmm. She seemed pretty sincere to me, but I guess that could just be part of her nature as a faerie.

Let's forget about Barghest for now. We still have an objective of here, and we should focus.

The bell tower's right next to this hall. In fact, we can sneak in there from this terrace.

I think it would be best if we handled that now, before the ball ends. Are you ready, Altria?

...Yeah, okay. After everything else that's happened, I'm not even nervous anymore.

Come on, Fujimaru. Let's go ring that third bell!

Emigrating, huh. What a clever idea you've had, Barghest.

And just after you burned down the Welsh forest, too.

(Nice work with that lock, Altria. You did a helluva job, like a modern-day Nezumi Kozou or Jiraiya.)

(I don't know who those Proper Human History faeries are, but something about their names tells me that wasn't a compliment.)

(Now that you mention it, there are lots of faeries who love to play pranks, but I've never heard of one who likes to steal money.)

(Of course you haven't. Ordinarily, faeries would never have any need for money.)

(It's only because Morgan created currency that faerie society started building banks to keep their property safe, and why lockpicking was developed in the first place.)

(It's not easy to open human-made safes with faerie sacraments alone, so now, we have lockpicking.)

(Merlin said something to that effect, too...something about these skills being useful on a journey like mine.)

？！

(Altria, you said Merlin taught you magecraft, right? Did he live in Tintagel, too?)

(Actually, I've never seen him in person. I only heard his voice whenever I was by myself.)

(He said he'd been imprisoned by a scary queen, but that he could still teach me magecraft if I didn't mind distance learning.)

(So that's how I learned the basics of magecraft. Everything else I basically came up with on my own.)

(I see... That sounds a lot like what happened with Proper Human History's Altria.)

(By day, her adoptive father taught her the ways of knighthood, and when she was asleep, Merlin taught her what she would need to know to be king.)

(Yup. That part is more or less the same here in Faerie Britain, too.)

(...Hm? Hang on. Are you all hearing that chatter, too?)

That Faerium you saw below was child's play. A fancy illusion, nothing more.

But this is Gloucester, the city of trends, brands, and joy. It needs more than a party to liven things up. It needs excitement. Stakes. Pathos. Drama.

Which is why I've prepared a once-in-a-lifetime show for all of you to enjoy.

This audition will decide the true queen. The winner of this battle will chart Faerie Britain's very future.

Now, get ready to howl with laughter and gasp in envy, because it's time for the main event!

Waah! Where'd all those masked faeries come from!?

...I knew it. I knew you were up to something like this, Murian!

Allow me to introduce the contenders once again.

Up on the stage now, we have one of the hottest couples in all the land:

Tam Lin Tristan, Her Majesty's beloved daughter, and Lord Beryl Gut, Her Majesty's fiancé!

Their opponent is the wind of change sweeping across Britain itself, Ainsel's prophesied savior.

Altria, the Child of Prophecy, and Lord Fujimaru, the foreign mage!

It will be here, on this stage, that Tristan and Altria's fated showdown began.

And I'm also told that Lord Beryl and Lord Fujimaru have an even deeper connection.

Can you think of a better matchup? I certainly can't. Now, come to the stage!

Whatever I may think, Gloucester's bell will not reject one capable of defeating Tam Lin Tristan!

This is amazing! Trust Lady Murian to give us what we didn't even know we wanted!

Lady Tristan means business this time! That's a traditional combat faerie outfit if ever I've seen one, and I have!

Oh my gosh. No matter how many times I see Beryl Gut, there's just something...indescribably wonderful about him...

Just look at his limber stature... His strong, muscular limbs... He looks like an expert dancer...

The Child of Prophecy must be quite the looker too, seeing how she defeated Lord Woodwose!

I can't wait to see what the savior of Britain looks like!

？！

It's too late! She's already trying to sneak away! Get back here, Altria! There's no getting out of this now!

Nooo! Lemme gooo! I can't do this! No, seriously, I CAN'T!

Just kick her onto the stage. It won't matter once she's up there.

Ooobeeerooon!

？！

Murian! A stage like this has gotta have a dressing room, right!? Where's it at!?

Oh, if it isn't Muramasa. I'm glad to see you're still alive and well. Yes, there is a dressing room behind the stage... What's this about?

Great. Give us a minute.

Hey, Fujimaru. C'mere a second.

？！

Aw man, where'd they go? Are they seriously not gonna fight after we went to all this trouble?

Of course not! Nobody in their right mind would ever fight me!

This isn't like the last time.

There's no rule against magecraft, I'm wearing a muuuch more glamorous outfit, AND I've got you here with me.

It's a shame I won't be able to cut that cheeky tongue of hers out, but I can live with watching her run off with her tail between her legs.

In fact, I actually feel sorry for her!

I mean, can you imagine anything more hilarious than a pathetic low-class faerie being paraded around as the Child of Prophecy, of all things!?

You couldn't find anyone more miserable in all of Britain!

？！

？！

!

Huh!?

...

？！

R-right... Okay. Deep breaths. Deep breaths...

Well, you've said your bit, Tristan. But what's with that totally obscene outfit!?

I am Altria, the Child of Prophecy! And on my honor as a Caster, I'm going to ring the Bell of Pilgrimage whether you like it or not!

Try to get in my way, and I'll cut you AND those tastefully expensive heels down to size!

Ha! Kitty's got claws! Still, I didn't think you'd know a decent high heel if it stepped on you.

But all this big talk is going to make losing muuuch more embarrassing. I feel sorry for you, sure, but that doesn't mean I'm going to spare you.

Huh? Wait, you actually think you're stronger than me? Oh, now I actually feel kinda bad.

I really do have nothing but pity for you, you know!

You've had plenty of practice running home and crying to Mommy, right? I mean, I'd think so, since this'll be your second crack at it!

No, it won't! You're the one who's gonna be crying after I tear you apart!

Ouch. Tristan can't hold a candle to her trash talk, huh? Guess it's hard to compete with someone who's used to bottling up her frustrations.

Anyway, I would have liked to chat with you a little more, Fujimaru, but since this is a two-on-two battle...

Well, it was never gonna go any other way, right?

Personally, this is my very first time fighting a Master, and I'm going up against a seasoned veteran who's defied death more times than I can count, so I plan on treating this as a learning experience.

Let's enjoy killing each other, shall we, Kouhai?

Ah... Aah!

No... It's...leaving me... Wait... Come back... Mother's going...to be furious with me again!

She's going to ask me why I'm like this... Why I'm always like this...!

The Tam Lin lost! After Barghest, that makes two! Fantastic!

I knew Ainsel's prophecy was right. From here on, the Child of Prophecy's the one to invest in!

All that aside, where have I seen Tristan before...?

Oh! I remember now! I know exactly who she is!

I saw her a hundred years ago back in Lord Grimalkin's mansion!

Her real name is Baobhan Sith! She was a servant in Darlington, and a vampire!

A vampire!? What in the world was the high queen thinking!?

I can't imagine anything more disgusting than living on human blood! No wonder she stinks like a sewer!

I can only wonder how many humans she's sold her body to!

The resurrection a hundred years ago! Remember how Darlington was overrun with corpses!?

She and Morgan must have been responsible for Darlington's destruction and Lord Grimalkin becoming a Nightcall!

No wonder that damn vampire's the only one who made it out of that place alive!

Ah... Aah... No... You've got it all wrong... I... I just...

Stop it. Stop it! Don't badmouth Mother! Mother always knows best!

So what if I suck blood from dead bodies!? So what if I'm undead!?

Darlington wasn't my fault!

She's running away! Baobhan Sith is running away!

I knew the queen wasn't thinking straight! Why else would she choose a low-class faerie like that as her successor!?

？！

...So she was lying about everything, huh? I guess that's no surprise.

Well, shit. You really handed me my ass. You're as good as I've heard, Fujimaru!

Pretty sure there's no way I'll ever beat you in a Master battle anymore.

So, what're you gonna do now? Gonna have your lady friend there kill me, or are you gonna settle this yourself?

As you can see, I'm totally unarmed now, and I don't have Baobhan Sith to protect me anymore.

Seems to me you're not gonna get a better chance than this to off me, am I right?

...Fujimaru.

？！

...Gotcha. Too bad. I really thought I could end this here.

Looks like you've got an even better nose for danger than Kadoc. Now I'm really impressed!

Welp, time to show myself out.

Besides, I don't see the point in playing with you anymore while Mash is still missing.

So long, saviors! See you in Camelot someday!

Eee☆ Great work out there, everyone! I'm so glad you enjoyed yourselves☆

That so? Pretty sure you were the only one here enjoying herself.

Your dumbass show made me pull out all the tricks I've been saving, and way earlier than I'd have liked.

Oh? What tricks? Did you join the fight while I wasn't looking?

No. Shut up.

(...Dammit. So much for saving it for Camelot.)

...

By the way, Fujimaru, I really have to thank you for this lovely outfit.

I had no idea you'd been working on it in secret all this time.

Were you just too shy to say something sooner? You considerate little dickens, you!

？！

... (Look that screams, "Not. One. Word")

？！

Thank you. I feel so dashing and gallant in this.

When I think about people seeing me like that, it's enough to even make a timid thing like me want to give it my all.

Hmm. It seems you're all working together much better now than you were the last time you came here.

Oh, someone a little upset about being the odd faerie out?

Not anymore, no.

It's not like you to be so acerbic, Oberon. Are you feeling left out too or something?

Just a little, if I'm being honest. No fair, making an outfit like that behind my back.

Maaan. I was really hoping to put Altria's official Child of Prophecy debut off until later...

...when we could really do it up in style at Londinium!

Now, now, don't be like that. I'd say this debut worked out just as well as we could have hoped. You saw all those upper-class faeries in the auction house too, right?

They all saw Altria beat Tristan fair and square, and in a manner befitting the Child of Prophecy.

So it won't be long before they've told all of Britain as well. Plus, we also got to ring a third bell while we were at it.

So, does this mean the Wing clan officially recognizes the Child of Prophecy, Murian?

Of course. Now that the bell has recognized her, I have nothing more to say.

That being said, Gloucester's still going to remain neutral.

This was Tristan's show. I didn't decide to offer you the bell myself.

As such, I haven't technically defied the queen.

While we're at it, let's get one thing straight. I have no plans to help the Round Table Army.

Faeries and humans may both be equal in Gloucester, since we value brands and trends more than anything...

...but in general, I still hate humans, and the Round Table Army is no exception.

So please don't expect me to help them in any way, shape, or form unless they have an exceptionally good business deal for me.

Now I see. So if we can work out a deal, you'll have no problem coming over to our side, huh?

Oh for... Would you knock it off with the "Can't we all just get along" nonsense!?

Ugh, your blockheaded idealism just REALLY pisses me off!

Huh? The hell're you talking about?

Never mind. Just forget it. Anyway, I really am busy right now.

You guys want to wage war? Knock yourselves out. Me, I have books to get back to.

All the old Fae Era documents I found in the records I just bought from Camelot aren't going to read themselves.

You all showed Baobhan Sith who's boss, and rang the bell like you wanted, right?

So if there's nothing else you want from me, would you just get lost already?

Oh, Lady Fox? She's...

...out on business at the moment. Apparently, she finally found something she was looking for.

I would wish her good luck with her work...but I know she doesn't need anything of the sort.

？！

Thanks for waiting, you two! We made it back from the ball in one piece!

Whoooa! I don't know much about fashion, so I don't have the words to describe it well, but...

Aaah! You look awesome, Altria! Your battle dress was good, but this...this is great!

You think so? You know, maybe it does! That reminds me, your new armor looks really cool too, Gareth!

...

？！

Huh!?

Me? I'm fine. I was just a little taken aback by Altria's new outfit.

...I'll be damned. I guess faeries from paradise really do all have the same taste in clothes...

I'm glad to see you and Gareth are no worse for wear either, Habetrot.

Okay, let's get out of Gloucester then. We don't want to keep Percival waiting too long.

Oh, don't worry, I already bought a souvenir for Redra Bit. He's much more innocent than he looks, so I know he'd be disappointed if we didn't bring something back for him.

Hey, that's real considerate of you, Oberon.

Now if only a certain someone I could name would start following your example!

Speaking of souvenirs, we got some the last time we left Gloucester too, didn't we?

I wonder how those faeries are doing now. Want to go say hi before we leave, Altria?

They'll actually believe you if you introduce yourself as the Child of Prophecy now.

Huh? You mean, those faeries from last time?

Hm?

...

No, not today. It's a little too late for a surprise visit now. We can thank them the next time we're in town.

Right, Altria? You can see them anytime you come back here, can't you?

Right. Besides, I don't have anything to give them now, anyway. Next time, I'll make sure I have lots of thank-you gifts before I pay them a visit.

Got it. Then let's get going! Time is money, and we still have to discuss our next move!

？！

Oh? How come you're hanging back, Fujimaru?

Did you forget something? Oh, did you want to pick up some of the good tea while you're here?

？！

Sure. What is it?

？！

...Ah. I think Beryl may have been more right about you than even he realized.

You really do have almost a sixth sense for danger. Or maybe your life has forced you to develop one.

...Well, there's no point in keeping it secret, especially since it looks like you've already figured it out, so I'll be straight with you.

That night, I was here in Gloucester, negotiating a deal that would help us defeat Woodwose.

It wasn't with Murian, either. It was with Koyanskaya, one of your enemies.

Oh, I can tell she's a horrible monster. Probably at least as much of an obstacle to you as Morgan.

But even poison can be useful depending how you use it. Hm? Poison is still poison? Exactly.

That's why I took steps to ensure it would be used against our enemy, Woodwose, rather than against us.

Morgan was absolutely going to send reinforcements to help him, no question about it. Woodwose is one of her most valued soldiers, after all.

And once her reinforcements arrived, Londinium would have fallen.

Percival is a great knight, sure.

But he has a bad habit of assuming every other soldier can fight just as well as him.

He loves the Round Table Army so much that he can't help but overestimate their abilities.

Don't get me wrong. That's a good thing. It may be one of Percival's weaknesses, but as commander of the Round Table Army, it's inarguably a strength.

...Which is why I had no choice but to employ an underhanded trick.

Woodwose was fully aware of how many soldiers the Round Table Army had, and what tactic they were going to use.

He could have easily handled whatever the Round Table Army alone threw at him.

So I chose to deploy something he could never see coming: a foreign poison known as Koyanskaya, which never previously existed in Britain.

I knew where she could find something she was looking for...

...so I used that as leverage to convince her to stall the queen's reinforcements for us.

But...she did much more than that. Much more than I ever expected.

She somehow made every single soldier disappear without a trace.

？！

It was a cowardly move, I know. And believe me, I'm not proud of it.

But if that's what I have to do to advance our cause, I won't think twice.

When this is over, I'd like you to decide my punishment.

That's why you took the time to ask me about this, right?

You could have said nothing, but you're my friend, and friends don't let friends do that kind of thing.

Somebody! Anybody! Help! Please! I just want to go back to Japan!

I swear, I don't know when I'm going to get a decent night's rest again. Orders have been pouring in nonstop ever since yesterday.

Camelot... Londinium... Edinburgh... Our iron weapons are selling as fast as we can make them.

And then there's the remnants of Woodwose's army, and Gloucester's Bell of Pilgrimage.

Faeries calling for Morgan's downfall have been popping up in villages all throughout the land, not just in the major cities.

Good grief... I can only imagine how the queen must feel, seeing her two-thousand years of rule come to this.

Queen Morgan may be a great ruler, but the masses still have no idea just how great her accomplishments are.

Only a scant handful of them could even begin to comprehend the sheer scale of her strategy.

It's a lot like how those who live in cities only see their own homes, and completely miss the fact that their city wouldn't exist at all if not for the ground it's built on.

Well, this is a surprise. It almost sounds like you want Morgan to keep ruling.

Not at all. I'm simply stating facts.

Personally, I agree with the world at large. It's time Her Majesty stepped down.

I'm not even saying she's at fault. She's simply been in power for far too long.

The queen has made an excellent country, but her values are simply too old-fashioned. I can hardly blame her, seeing as she's over two-thousand years old.

Countless generations of her subjects have come and gone, and in that time, their values have changed.

If the queen continues her policy of being at one with nature while tightly controlling the human population, this island will never grow beyond its current tiny size.

There are few things more frightening than the harm perpetrated by an out-of-touch gerontocracy. Old parts are meant to be changed out, not left running forever.

Of course, I have no intentions of becoming king myself.

Even in the world of Proper Human History I came from, Britain was ruled by a queen.

So I believe Faerie Britain is also best ruled by a queen. Wouldn't you agree?

...Then who did you have in mind for the next one?

Ideally, I would prefer a bright and cheery faerie who genuinely loves her people.

One of surpassing beauty, but who is more wicked still, and preferably ignorant of her own foolishness.

Now that would be a queen worth supporting. If I never serve another overly intelligent ruler in my life, it will still be too soon.

So that's why you chose her. True, she does seem like she would be a good fit for you.

But the chances of that coming to pass are negligible. She has no hope of defeating Morgan, much less assuming the throne.

Right you are. As far as I know, there's only one person out there capable of defeating her.

And as luck would have it, my soldiers keeping an eye on the battlefield just happened to find them.

All I have to do now is decide when to send them in.

I must say, I'm glad we're in Britain. No one else here is familiar with the idea of using a piece captured from the enemy for your own ends.

You're not born with a trump card. You gain them as spoils of battle.

That said...I haven't exactly had many opponents to play with over these last hundred years.

They let me escape... They let me escape! They took pity on ME! The high queen's daughter!

Beryl was there helping me! I wasn't holding anything back!

So why... Why...?

Why couldn't I win!? Me, the high queen's own daughter!? Aaaaaaaaah!!!

(Huff... Huff... Huff...)

...Mother doesn't need any daughters but me... ...There doesn't need to be any other mage than me...

...If only I had some magecraft that was just mine... Something special, fit for the queen's high daughter...

...Oh.

What was I thinking? I haven't lost at all.

All I have to do is bring the Garden from Mother's throne.