Chocolate Empire, Edinburgh

I hear a bell ringing. ...I hear bones, too.

"The harbor shall return to empty shore, but the calamity shall vanish into the distant sky."

It's a signifier of the faeries' apology. The sound of a soul accepting its sins.

"The round fortress shall burn, and the bell of water shall appear."

...Once all of them have rung...

"Confessed sinners shall make the acquaintance of the guillotine."

...And as for the faerie of paradise...

"Having fulfilled her role, the Child of Prophecy shall say farewell to her home."

Yes. I offer faeries no salvation. I shall defend my land. Nothing more.

With all the magical energy I have stored in this throne, I have nothing to fear from the Great Calamity.

...Furthermore, only a chosen faerie can sit this throne.

You are neither like other faeries nor that foreign mage; you have been chosen.

You are neither a rebel, nor an invader. You are the Staff of Selection's chosen wielder.

You and you alone have the right to bring me to justice, faerie sent from paradise. Even should you fill oceans with the blood you shed in battle against me, you would be innocent of sin.

If you wish to save Britain, you must defeat me, and claim the throne for yourself.

Go, then. Fulfill that absurd prophecy, if you can. You should know better than anyone that you have no choice.

...But what happens afterwards?

What happens after I do something I don't want to do? Something nobody wanted me to do?

I'm a faerie of paradise, too. ...Is there anywhere I can call home?

Hello, everyone! You got back sooner than I expected.

？！

Huh!? Senpai! Da Vinci! Who is that, and why does he look exactly like Red Hare!?

Oh, that's Redra Bit. He's a faerie from this Lostbelt, and one of our trusty companions. Don't worry, he won't bite.

I-I see. Nice to meet you, Redra Bit.

My name's Mash Kyrielight. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

The pleasure's all mine, sweet lady. How deliciously polite of you.

Hang on, though. Weren't you supposed to wait for us in Edinburgh?

Yes, I was, but I'm not really one for staying put, you know?

I thought I might run into you all sooner if I waited near the entrance to the ashen shore, so I just ran on up here.

All right then, hop into the wagon. I'll make sure your ride to the queen's city of Edinburgh is as smooth as can be!

That sounds great. I was just thinking I was sick of walking everywhere! That's the biggest downside of being summoned as a Caster; your legs get tired way too damn fast!

Hm? One moment, please. I don't believe we've met before...

Oh, my name's Grímr. I'm a friend of Fujimaru's.

A friend of Fujimaru's... Then, does that mean you're also from Pro... Pro... Propeller Humming...

Proper Human History?

That's the one. Proper Human History. Thank you, Mash. Any girl as thoughtful as you is especially welcome to ride on my wagon.

？！

R-right. I'm still not sure what your relationships are to one another, but I'll do my best to be careful.

So if you're both Fujimaru's acquaintances from Proper Human History, Lord Muramasa, does that mean you and Lord Grímr are two horses of a mane, so to speak?

Huh? Uh, I guess we're in the same category, technically. Why?

Oh, it's nothing. My animal intuition tells me that the two of you are the best of friends...

...but I can't help but wonder which of you would win in a fight.

What, you gotta ask!? Me, of course!

Yeah, that's ridiculous! Ask any fool, and even they can tell you Grímr'd be the clear winner!

Exactly! Who gives a fig what a fool has to say!? All right, you, get over here. I'll take it easy on you and only use the back of my sword.

Well, I'm impressed you can tell which is which. That thing's so dull, it might as well be a club!

Hahahahaha! Hahahahahahahahahaha!

All right, punk, you're going down!

And the winner is...neither of you! The truly strong don't get into stupid brawls!

？！

Hang on. I didn't really lose.

The only reason we technically lost is 'cause Grímr's so-called mage ass doesn't have a single support skill.

How was I supposed to know you're such a crap warrior you can't even defend yourself!?

Besides, when it comes to Guts, I've got enough for a boatload of vikings!

Both of you, shut up and get on the wagon! We need to get to Edinburgh today, dammit!

...

...

Wow, that worked better than I thought. Anyway, assuming Grímr's wolves are walking...

The wagon only holds six people, and there're seven of us now. Want me to follow along on my skates?

That's okay. I'll just ride on Redra Bit's back. You don't mind, right, Redra Bit?

No, that should be fine. A little faerie like you won't affect my performance at all.

But, we're still quite far north. Won't you be cold riding outside? I could always run alongside the wagon instea

Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'm used to the cold up here. All right, let's go, Fujimaru.

I know there used to be a village in Edinburgh a long time ago, but I don't know what's become of it in the Era of the High Queen.

'Course, given Cnoc na Riabh's distaste for humans, I doubt it'll be more than a handful of people at a campsite!

Attention citizens of Edinburgh! Lady Cnoc na Riabh has returned to our fair city for a temporary respite!

She will be recuperating at the previous queen's grave for the next few days, after which she will once again depart for the front lines!

Main street vendors may remain open for business after sundown! Do not let the city's lamplights die out!

Remember, Lady Cnoc na Riabh loves this nightless city with all her heart! Glory to the King Clan! Glory to Edinburgh, the queen's city!

Woohooo! At long last, it's time for war! I can't wait! I thought this day would never come!

It's been ten years since I escaped from the south! I'm proud to call myself a member of the King Clan now!

I still can't believe how generous Lady Cnoc na Riabh was to share her power with a good-for-nothing like me!

I'd do anything to help her! I'm liquidating my whole stock! Go on, help yourselves for next to nothing!

Do you have the latest daily report? May I see it?

"Twenty-ninth military training exercise complete. The victory bell rings for the north."

"Even as I write these words, I cannot help but tremble with awe at the sheer might of the King Clan's army."

"Even the giant troops, whose lack of expertise we feared might hold our forces back, have become exceptional soldiers."

"If the way these fine warriors make quick work of large mors is any indication, Camelot's ramparts won't stand a chance."

"According to First Captain Gerbei, our army could easily overthrow Camelot even if they were to march out today."

"Once the fighting began, it would be over in one, two...no more than three or four days at most."

Hmm. That last part's a little worrying, but Lady Cnoc na Riabh's going to be on the front line herself, right?

We can't lose, then! Besides, our queen would never pick a fight she knew she couldn't win!

Lady Cnoc na Riabh can always use another pair of hands! Soldiers, medics, clerics, transport, production... We need all the help we can get!

Whatever job you take, you're guaranteed a fair wage! All we want to see from you is motivation!

Also, if you know anyone afflicted with mors sickness, please bring them in right away.

If the disease is caught early enough, it can still be cured. I know, because I was once infected myself.

Lady Cnoc na Riabh doesn't discriminate between upper and lower class like Morgan.

All she cares about is whether you have the will to live!

That is why the leader of our very own King Clan, who believes in all of her citizens equally, should be the next king of Britain!

...

？！

Wow.

(Low whistle)

？！

I can't believe it. THIS is the northern village!? It's even more developed than Salisbury!

What in the world has happened here since the beginning of the Era of the High Queen!?

I know how you feel. I was shocked the first time I came here, too.

My past self's notes said the northern faeries used to be basically a small group of nomads!

I guess Mab, the King Clan's last queen, must've been one hell of a leader.

In just a single generation, she built a city that rivals the Edinburgh of Proper Human History.

And a city that's home to northern faeries as well as the faeries who migrated here from the south to boot.

I don't know where you get off looking so smug about that. You got nothing to do with their success.

Still, there's no denying this is one helluva city. Everything from the foot traffic to the business dealings feels like the real deal.

？！

Yup. There's a beautiful church called Saint Giles' Cathedral in our world's Edinburgh, too.

It's probably another one of those human history convergence things.

That said, the Edinburgh in Proper Human History and the one here are built on very different ground.

Namely, this one looks like it's been built on top of a rocky mountain.

And unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any Calton Hill or Arthur's Seat here, either.

?

Hey, Mash? Do you know what "Arthur's Seat" is?

I've only read about it, but yes. In Proper Human History, Arthur's Seat is a well-known tourist spot.

It's a steep rocky mountain not too far from Edinburgh itself.

According to legend, King Arthur himself once sat on it to look out over the land. Thus the name.

I-I see... There sure are a lot of legends about King Arthur, huh?

Yup. He's brought up in one form or another in all the big tourist spots.

Some other notable ones include Winchester, Glastonbury, and Tintagel in Cornwa

So, uh, getting back to our negotiations with Cnoc na Riabh... They did say she was back here now, didn't they?

So that probably means she's in the palace then, right? Shall we just barge in there now?

Y-yeah, okay. I guess Cnoc na Riabh is technically our enemy.

She's probably not exactly eager for an audience with us, but...hold that thought for a minute, okay?

(Hey, Fujimaru. I think Altria's doin' her headstrong thing again.)

(Now what do we do? It's too bad Oberon's not here right now.)

(I mean, just look at her.)

A head-on clash with Cnoc na Riabh, huh? Now I'll finally get to let out all those years of pent-up frustration with her!

Obviously. There's no way she'd listen to us then. Now how to go about it...

Great, now you're bein' weird too. Have you not been sleeping or something?

？！

Um... Excuse me. I'm sorry to interrupt your discussion...

But, it looks like we have, um...company...

They clearly have us surrounded now. We may have no choice but to fight...

There, you see!? I knew that stuff about law and order in this city was all a load of bunk!

Then again, attacking outsiders without even a word of warning is just the kind of thing I'd expect from a nation run by Cnoc na Riabh!

All right, everyone, get your weapons ready! Once we break through this dragnet, we'll storm our way right into the castle!

Thank you for coming, Lady Altria. We've been waiting for you and your entourage to arrive.

I'm sure you must be tired from your long journey, but please, do try to compose yourself.

Now, if you'll kindly follow me to the cathedral, I can take you to see Lady Cnoc na Riabh right now.

Wat?

Oh, right. I almost forgot. I wrote a letter to make an appointment for you ahead of time.

It said, "Dear Cnoc na Riabh, Queen of the North. Get ready to see me, 'cause I'm coming for you tomorrow. Cheers."

And of course, since I wrote such a nice letter, I got a very nice reply back not long after.

It said "I am prepared to welcome the Child of Prophecy in a manner befitting a king. Best wishes."

I must say, I thought the northern faeries were all barbarians who tried to solve their problems with violence...

But it seems Queen Cnoc na Riabh is much more sophisticated than I realized!

O-okay. If she's extended us an invitation, I guess we should take her up on it?

Huh? She actually accepted the invitation? She didn't try to kick in the front gate? Really!?

Oh crap! All of you, get out of here! Take the back entrance! I want you out of this room in two seconds!

Are you sure about this?

Just a few moments ago, you were giddily talking about knocking the Child of Prophecy down a few pegs...

...and showing her that ringing four bells wasn't nearly enough to make her a match for you.

Change of plans, okay!?

I mean, how would it look if I were to greet a small group of peaceful visitors with a fully armed platoon!?

Huh? You're still worried about your reputation? Isn't it at about the same level as an apple that missed harvest season?

What's that? You're saying my rep already fell from the tree and is rolling in the mud? Is that your way of asking for a hundred lashes?

Okay, you heard her! Everybody ouuut☆

...My apologies for keeping you waiting. The queen will see you in the cathedral now.

？！

Well, well. How bold of you to just waltz in here like this, Altria.

Does this mean you've finally scrounged up a bit of manners, guts, and confidence then?

You're not fooling anyone, Cnoc na Riabh. We could hear your soldiers scrambling to get out of here.

Don't be ridiculous. Those were my footsteps, no one else's. Now, I won't hear one more word about it!

...Hm? One, three, five, seven... I'm not surprised to see Oberon's not with you, but what about that other girl?

You know, the one who looked like she was in heaven with her cheeks all puffed out full of my chocolate. Gareth, right?

GarethI mean, Lady Gareth stayed in Londinium to defend it as one of my knights.

There was no sense in her coming all the way out here just to see another evil empire. She's already been to Camelot.

Well that's too bad. I was planning to give her a tour of my chocolate factory.

Oh well, another time, perhaps. Anyway, I know how you guys went up to Orkney without my permission.

You know damn well that the north belongs to the King Clan, and that trespassing is prohibited no matter what your reasons might be.

Honestly, what are you, some bandits hiding out in the mountains? I guess you still have yet to learn your place.

？！

...

...

Huh? Cnoc na Riabh? Why did you freeze like that?

I'm not frozen! I swear, what were those guards thinking!?

How could they let a human into my cathedral!? I'll have to give them an extra special "reward" for this later!

Oh. Now I see...

Oh, hello, Fujimaru. I'm glad to see you're doing well.

I can only imagine how exhausted you are, having to travel with a Child of Prophecy who can't ever look before she leaps.

Would you like me to make you an appointment at my favorite luxury spa later?

Ugh, can it, Cnoc na Riabh! Besides, Fujimaru is made of sterner stuff than that.

Sorry to interrupt your friendly chat, but it sounds like you already know that Orkney's bell has been rung?

Good, that saves us the trouble of filling you in. Anyway, yes, Orkney's bell used to belong to the Rain clan.

But now that the Rain clan is gone, the King Clan are the bell's de facto guardians, as you well know.

That means, to an outsiderwhich is to say, from Morgan's perspective, it looks like the King Clan has officially recognized the Child of Prophecy.

What do you make of that?

What do I make of it? Hang on. Who are you?

My name's Grímr. Well, technically, I'm the second to bear that name, but that's neither here nor there.

I've been watching over Orkney's bell on behalf of Merlinus Ambrosius.

(Crap, I almost forgot! When Queen Medb and Cú Chulainn mix)

？！

Aha, so you're Grímr the Sage. The last queen told me you're a cold-blooded bastard, but you'd be bound to show up eventually.

You once taught Aesc the Savior magecraft, right?

I see. If you're here, then I guess this so-called "savior" must be the real deal after all.

...Huh? Is that all you have to say, Cnoc na Riabh? I mean, this is Grímr, you know? You don't feel any connection to his Spirit Origin?

What are you talking about? You there. DO we have a connection?

Nope. Sure don't.

You're Cnoc na Riabh, the proud queen of the north.

You care far more about your life and destiny here than you do any silly ties from human history.

Speaking personally, I, for one, couldn't be happier about that last part.

Is that so? I don't know what that's all about, but thanks. I'll say this for you: you do have a nice smile.

Anyway, that aside, Grímr is right. Now that Orkney's bell has been rung, I don't have a lot of options here.

Just this morning, Morgan sent me a final warning.

It said, "Kill the Child of Prophecy at the ashen shore when she returns from Orkney."

"If you fail to do so, I will consider my treaty with the previous head of the King Clan null and void."

The end.

A treaty with the previous head of the King Clan? What's she talking about?

None of your business. The point is, if I don't kill the Child of Prophecy, there'll be war.

Of course, I was always planning to fight Morgan at some point, so that part's fine.

The only problem is you, Altria. Remember what I told you before?

Get an army of my own, ring at least two bells, and learn to carry myself in a manner befitting the Child of Prophecy, right?

Well, well. If you can rattle all that off so readily, I must've really gotten to you. Now I'm glad I took the time to deal with you before.

Yes, those were my conditions, and you've met them, which means you're worthy of joining forces with me.

That IS why you came to Edinburgh in the first place, right?

An alliance between the King Clan and the Child of Prophecy, hm? I like it.

？！

...It's too soon to celebrate just yet, Fujimaru. Cnoc na Riabh would never make things that easy.

Just look at her! That's the face she makes right before she squeezes some poor sucker for everything they're worth!

Hey, I've never made a face like that!

...Still, you're not wrong. My skin might smell of sweet honey and be wonderfully soft, but I myself am neither.

I'm willing to form an alliance, but needless to say, I'll be the only king.

If you're going to join me, you need to pledge your loyalty to me and obey my every command.

Also, only faeries are welcome to join my alliance forces, so as far as the Round Table Army's humans go...

I think I'll turn them into bees and put them to work in my chocolate factory.

I'm sure they'd be much happier that way, since those pathetic, useless humans would be the first to die when the fighting starts anyway.

？！

Wait, Fujimaru. You don't have to say anything.

Cnoc na Riabh, the Round Table Army is the best army in all of Britain.

The day we obey you is the day apples start falling back up onto their trees.

If you want to command us, you'll have to pound us into submission first!

So how about it!? You and me, faerie-to-faerie! Unless, of course, you're too chicken to face me!

You're on!

This will be a battle to determine the next king of Britain a fight for the throne, our pride, and beauty itself!

I swear on the name of the previous queen that I will face you alone and on fair ground, faerie-to-faerie!

The winner takes command of all our combined armed forces, and the loser has to do whatever the winner says!

And as a bonus prize, the winner will also get to claim the foreign mage as her spouse!

Bwa!?

Hm? I missed that last condition, but fine! Whatever you say!

So, how are we going to do this!? Another chess match!?

Heh. Don't be ridiculous.

This is Edinburghthe headquarters of the entire British sweets industry.

There's only one kind of battle fought for pride and beauty around here.

Valentine Mab Match: the ancient, traditional art of fire confectionery!

？！

I... What?

Huh? You mean you don't know about it? I see... You really are just a country bumpkin, aren't you?

Knock it off with the yokel digs already! Besides, we country girls are tough cookies!

Excuse me! I wasn't originally going to say anything, since these negotiations are between Altria and Cnoc na Riabh...

...but now that the stakes have become personal for Chaldea, I have to ask!

What exactly does a Mab Match entail!?

(Huh. That girl's got as much magical energy as a Tam Lin, but she's also wearing black armor and carrying a greatshield... Is she the one from Sheffield?)

Very well, I'll ignore your impertinence this one time. The Mab Match is the last will and testament of the King Clan's previous leader, Queen Mab.

It's a law that says whoever makes the most delectable-looking chocolate shall be queen. Pretty sweet, right?

And I, Devil Caren, the chocolate faerie, shall be the judge!

？！

It seems these would-be contenders have what it takes to compete! As the chocolate faerie, I declare this Mab Match is now officially underway!

The taste testing shall take place at high noon tomorrow! Contestants will have until then to prepare their chocolate!

Both contestants must use the cooking facilities provided in this cathedral, and may employ up to one faerie assistant.

Any questions?

None here. I can't wait to get started, since I already have someone in mind to give this chocolate to.

I'm going to make the best chocolate anyone will taste all year; it will be better than anything Gloucester has to offer.

Hang on. Are we really doing this!? What in the world does making chocolate have to do with choosing a leader!?

Everything! This has been the law of the land in Edinburgh for the past sixteen hundred years!

All right, Lady Altria, you take the star kitchen. Lady Cnoc na Riabh, you take the moon kitchen.

I will prepare rooms for the night for the rest of Lady Altria's companions.

I'm afraid you won't be able to talk to the choc-testants while they're in the kitchen, but you're free to talk outside the kitchens if you like.

All right, enjoy your chocolate-making. And remember, fortune smiles on those with truly strong hearts♡

Well, at least it was nice of them to reserve rooms for us, but...

？！

I know. You'd like me to assist Altria in her chocolate duel, right?

I may be a Demi-Servant, but the faeries seem to treat me as one of them, so that shouldn't be a problem.

That would be great. Thanks for doing this.

But before you get started, I'd like to go over everything we've learned so far, just us Chaldeans.

You already told us about what happened after you were sent to the past in Norwich, of course...

But I still want to hear what happened to you before then, and fill you in on what's happened with us.

And this should be a good place for a private chat, especially since Muramasa and Grímr are in another room.

...So that's what happened to you after we got separated. Salisbury, Gloucester, Londinium...

Manchester,...and the Lake District. Plus everything with the Round Table Army, of course.

I never would have guessed that Pepe was here too, and as a count of all things! I'm sure it fits him like a glove!

Unfortunately, Pepe's not the only Crypter here. We saw Beryl in Camelot, too.

Though it sounds like you were actually the first to run into him here.

...That's right. I saw him in Sheffield. That was when

you lost the Black Barrel, huh? Beryl probably took it for himself.

I'm so sorry.

All the time and effort you and Sion spent on it, and I just left it there...

？！

...Again, I'm so sorry. If only I'd

Hey, you still didn't have your memories back after the Nameless Woods ordeal, right? Then there's no way you could have known.

Don't worry about the Black Barrel. We can always track it down. The important thing is that you're still alive.

And fortunately, it looks like we won't even need it for this mission, anyway.

Really? I mean, if we don't have to use it, that's great, but

？！

Yup. We have something even better than the Black Barrel now.

Hm? What do you mean? Are Director Goredolf and Holmes coming to help us in the Shadow Border?

No, no, nothing like that. I'm talking about YOU, Mash.

The Ortinax may not be working right now, but your Spirit Origin is putting out more power now than it ever has.

It's probably the Tam Lin rules at work. Barghest and the others were Gifted the Round Table Knights' names...

...but you're Gifted with Tam Lin Galahad's name on top of already borrowing his power, giving you effectively a double-Galahad bonus.

No wonder you were able to go toe-to-toe with Lancelot.

You're basically a High Servant nowa peerless warrior even among peerless warriors.

You can feel that too, as her Master, right, Fujimaru?

？！

...!

I-I see. Th-th-then, I'll do my very super best to help!

Hey, we're gonna go look around the city. You guys wanna come?

？！

Altria might be busy in the kitchen right now, but we've got nothing but time on our hands...

So we gotta do SOMETHING to make ourselves useful. How about you, Da Vinci?

I'm going to sit this one out. Besides, I still have to write my report.

Say, where's Mash? Isn't she with you?

？！

Gotcha. Sounds like she's got a real shot at winning, then. If it came to it, I was thinking I'd make the chocolate myself, but maybe now I won't need to.

You're way too easy on Altria, you know that? Is that any way for one of the Foreign God's Disciples to conduct himself?

Shut up, you blue-haired dillweed. I still owe her my life for saving me from that auction.

Besides, I oughta be asking you why you were so easy on Cnoc na Riabh. She look like a friend of yours or something?

Actually, yes. But even though she's the spitting image of her, they're completely different people.

Cnoc na Riabh's been living her own life free of influence from any human history connections.

I had to go after my destiny, but she took hers by the horns and made it submit to her.

I swear, I've never seen such a free-spirited woman anywhere. You can't help but smile, right?

You don't say. So the last queen, Mab, disappeared in the Era of the High Queen 400, and Cnoc na Riabh was born a hundred years ago, in the Era of the High Queen 1900.

So this city went without a leader for about fifteen hundred years, huh?

That's right. I thought it was strange when I first heard about this, too...

But apparently, the northern faeries continued to live by the past queen's teachings even after she was gone.

They say she told them that a new King Clan faerie would be born again one day, and that they were to obey Morgan until that day came.

？！

They went right back to their old ways, of course. Things have been tense between them and Morgan ever since.

For a hundred years, Cnoc na Riabh's been teaching the northern faeries order and discipline, gradually turning them into a real army.

When Ainsel predicted the Child of Prophecy, Morgan wasn't the only one who was worried.

I bet Cnoc na Riabh went ballistic upon hearing the news too, at least on the inside. She was probably all:

"I've been working towards this for a hundred years now! No way am I letting some Podunk backwater faerie beat me to the punch!"

Ahh, now I gotcha. So that's why Altria and the queenie hit it off so well.

？！

I mean they both know what it's like to bear the weight of crushing responsibility.

They probably never had anyone else they could curse out without it becoming a big to-do before they met each other. They might be in completely different circumstances, but they're still equals where it counts.

The way I see it, things are gonna work out no matter who wins this contest, so let's just let 'em have their fun!

All that aside, you sure know a whole lot of things, don't you, Grímr?

Anything else you know but haven't shared? Like, say, why this place is called the queen's city?

I don't know where the name comes from. I already told you everything I could.

...Huh, we're a long ways from the main road now, aren't we?

Oh, hey guys. You out for a walk, too? I don't blame you. Not much to do up in our hotel room, after all.

We thought we would take advantage of the opportunity to do some sightseeing too, especially since we almost never come this far north.

Back alley? Um... I think it's pretty obvious if you just look around, Fujimaru.

...No. No, not really...

What's with you, Redra? Not like you to be so hedgy.

Well... I'm hoping this is just my imagination, but...

...there seem to be a lot more Wind clan faeries here than I was expecting.

？！

Oh, are you guys new here? Welcome to the Edinburgh development ward.

This is where all the refugees who haven't been able to share in Lady Cnoc na Riabh's power live.

Still, we're all treated as full citizens. We all have jobs and roofs over our heads, even if they are just tents.

In the meantime, I'm sure Lady Cnoc na Riabh will make you guys into King Clan faeries once the war against Queen Morgan is over.

So go ahead and put your tent up wherever you like.

If you're lucky, you might even get a job in the medical ward. Don't worry, mors disease isn't nearly as bad as it's made out to be.

？！

Aah! I-is that a human!?

What in the world were you all thinking, bringing a human to Edinburgh of all places!?

If Cnoc na Riabh finds out about this, you'll all be

...Wait. Don't tell me... Are you guys also...?

No. We're travelers. We're just passing through.

We'll be leaving tomorrow, so please, don't worry about us.

I-I see. Guess I'd better get going, then. Sorry for taking up your time...

...No way that guy actually lives around here. There's something way too shifty about him.

He's probably one of Morgan's spies. Lotta room for rats like that in a city this big.

？！

Don't bother. We can't snitch on a resident on Muramasa's hunch alone.

...For that matter, have you noticed how all the faeries in this ward have scars on their shins?

I'm guessing they're either refugees from the south, faeries who've lost their purpose, or

Or fugitives who fled the south.

So this town's full of criminals, huh? I guess Cnoc na Riabh's either really magnanimous, or she's really big on cheap labor.

Maybe it's both? Every faerie becomes land when they die, regardless of what they were like in life.

So having more faeries live here means that her territory will eventually expand.

That must be how Edinburgh grew to this scale in the sixteen hundred years since Queen Mab disappeared.

Hm... Then something doesn't add up.

If faeries have been living up here for over sixteen hundred years in the Era of the High Queen...

...then why are the edges of Britain unchanged since the Fae Era?

Could this city be...? I wouldn't put it past Mab to do that...

Turning a desolate wasteland into a prosperous city in a single generation... Her next generation being born a hundred years ago...

I knew it. Now it's all making sense... No wonder Morgan's left her alone all this time.

If she plays her cards wrong, Cnoc na Riabh could end up becoming a calamity herself...

？！

...Nah, I'm probably just overthinking it. There's no way that could actually be the case.

Anyway, let's head back, Redra Bit. It's all wasteland up ahead, so there's nothing more to see here, anyway.

I see. And I take it you're going to ride on my back again?

I was the one who said it wouldn't be any trouble... But that was before I knew you were much, much heavier than you look.

Meowhaha, that's 'cause I got substance where it counts!

Just you wait! Once I eventually grow up, old Habbycat's gonna have the most banging bod you've ever seen!

Aren't you the type of faerie who never gets any older?

Anyway, I wouldn't wander around here too much if I were you either, Fujimaru.

I don't know why Cnoc na Riabh let you off the hook, but if you run into any northern faeries with long memories, they won't think twice about ganging up on you!

Oh, yeah. I guess you'd know more about that than I do, since I only have the first Grímr's notes to go off of.

Tell us something, Habetrot.

The northern faeries used to be the first group of faeries who coexisted with humans, right? Like in the War of Summer and such.

So why does Cnoc na Riabh hate them so much now?

？！

What, you mean you don't even know that? All right, I guess I can tell you!

It all goes back to what happened about four thousand years ago, during the War of Summer in Fae Era 2000.

Queen Mab invaded Britain from the western island and drove the other clans to the brink of extinction.

Word has it that Aesc then stepped in, convinced Mab to back down and reconcile with the clans, and had her and her people officially recognized as the King Clan...

But that's not exactly the whole truth.

For one thing, Mab would never agree to reconcile with the clans when her victory was already assured.

...Yeah, good point. I always thought that story spun things a little too neatly for the other clans... Wait. Don't tell me.

Yup. Mab snatched defeat from the jaws of victory right at the very end, when her human right-hand man and husband betrayed her.

And of course, Aesc wasn't about to pass up a chance like that!

She backed Mab into a corner while she was already writhing in pain and gave her the thrashing of her life!

Then she made her swear to join the other clans and never attack Britain again!

...When it rains, it pours, huh. I know that kind of underhanded tactic is par for the course when it comes to war, but still...

Snort... No wonder she hates humans so much. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if she wants to wipe them all out.

Nah. Edinburgh'd never be this grand of a city if she just wanted to wipe humans out.

I think the real question that story raises is: Why was she writhing in pain?

？！

Excuse me, Senpai! I'm back on temporary reprieve from chocolate duty!

But this chocolate battle is very heated, so I can't stay long!

？！

Now, if you don't mind, I'd like you to answer a question for me!

What shape do you think would be best for chocolate!?

？！

？！

I knew it! Thank you, Senpai. This was very helpful.

Okay, I'd better get back to the battlefield! Sleep well, Senpai!

？！

Woooooohoooooooooooo!!!

It's okay, human. There's nothing to be afraid of. I'm Aiken, Lady Cnoc na Riabh's faithful soldier.

Lady Cnoc na Riabh has just finished the eighth step of her chocolate recipe, and is currently taking a break.

Once she's finished, she'll be up all night working on steps nine through nineteen...

But for now, she'd like someone to talk to while she takes her break.

Yes, of course I mean you. There's no one else in this room.

Just accept that there's no getting out of this and come with me. And don't even think about trying to escape by jumping out the window.

Needless to say, a faerie in Lady Cnoc na Riabh's position has many things to consider at all times, so this break she's taking is on a strictly need-to-know basis.

There won't be any guards keeping watch. This is as far as I go, too.

Don't worry. Lady Cnoc na Riabh's hatred of humans may be famous, but she's still not as unreasonable as a Nightcall.

As long as you hold your breath, keep quiet, stay perfectly still, and never speak except to agree with her, you might just make it out of there alive.

All right then, good night, and good luck!

There you are. I didn't expect you to come alone.

Have you been enjoying the Edinburgh nightscape?

We may not be as fancy as Gloucester, but I like to think our main street is still a pretty sight.

Really? You couldn't relax by yourself, even though the chocolate battle has nothing to do with you?

Hmm. I see. You're more considerate than I thought. Faeries don't generally show that kind of solidarity.

Oh, what am I saying? Of course you did. I can tell from that sparkle in your eyes.

That's the look of someone who picked up a beautiful insect-thread scarf before stopping by a café for a chocolate-infused cocktail.

My Edinburgh really is the best, isn't it? Just look at how it's even entranced the foreign mage with its charms.

？！

... ...But I digress.

I invited you here for a very specific reason.

Tell me about the outside worldwhat Morgan called "Proper Human History."

I don't care about it, of course, but as the queen of the northern faeries, I need to at least be familiar with it.

Or are you so scared to be here without your companions that you can't even speak?

Foreign mage or not, you're still just a weak little human, after all.

You could never be the one to make a call about whether to leak classified info to an enemy on your ow

？！

？！

Hang on. You covered all that stuff so eloquently that it was easy to follow along...

I need you to stop here for a moment though; I need to process all of that.

Okay, there's Chaldea, Heroic Spirits, Lostbelts, Proper Human History...

...Okay. I've basically got it.

Looks like there's not much point in thinking about this stuff now, is there? This is the kind of thing I can worry about after Morgan's been defeated, right?

？！

That's fine then. Thanks for the valuable info. You have my gratitudethe gratitude of a queen.

A good ruler does more than just wage war with their enemies, you know. They also need a plan to rule their nation after they've won.

I know Britain isn't really surrounded by a sea of nothingness. There's actually a much larger world out there beyond the water.

...Of course, faeries typically hide in the woods, and don't mesh well with the human world...

...but with the right motivation, there are a lot of ways to get around that!

I can't believe there's still so much to do even after things are wrapped up here! I can't wait to get started!

？！

That's right. If there's another world that rich in resources, I'll have to make another western island...

...and pay thisyou called it North America, right?a little visit.

I guess that means you and I will be enemies again when that happens. That should be fun.

？！

...There. You just made that face again, just like the one you did when you made that weird comment about my chocolate fields.

Why is that? Is there a version of me in your world too or something?

Wait. On second thought, don't answer that!

I really, really want to know about this other me, but if I find out now, it's going to make me throw a tantrum!

？！

...Phew. That was close, but I managed to preserve my queenly dignity.

？！

Dignity! Preserved! Because if anyone saw that, I'd have them executed before they could tell anyone!

？！

Very good. A perfect response!

...Still, maybe I should at least ask you this.

Let's say another version of me did exist in your world. In her final moments...

...was she not betrayed by her lover? Did she remain a cold-blooded queen to the end?

？！

...I see. Heh... Hehe. Hehehehe!

Well of course I was! There's no way I of all people would ever die of a broken heart!

So, what kind of valiant warrior defeated me? They must've been a really strong faerie, right?

Huh? Cheese? As in, the stuff you make from sheep's milk and eat with bread?

Huh. So there's a cheese faerie in your world. Maybe they're related to Aiken Drum.

？！

!

...So, that other me was killed by a human? That's what you're telling me?

Did you just take all that trouble to tell me such a ridiculous story, even knowing how much I hate humans?

？！

Are you kidding me?

You can't say that kind of thing with a straight face. It's a total mood killer.

Then again, it was a human that was responsible for the last queen's downfall, too. I guess when you're big enough, even a little pebble can trip you up.

Thinking about it that way, I could see my other self getting killed by a human. And hey, at least she wouldn't have to put up with any weird curses afterwards.

？！

That's right. Losing her lover hurt her so badly that she couldn't fight anymore, which led to Aesc beating her.

Mab put too much trust in humans. She thought they were the same as her, and so she loved them too much.

She charged onto the battlefield with her most beloved soldier by her side. He did his best to keep up with her.

But he couldn't quite make it to the end.

Just when they'd won their final battle against the clans, Mab turned, intending to celebrate with him...

...only to see her beloved draw his final breath.

It's no surprise, really. Of course a mere human could never keep up with a faerie, let alone an A-ray like Mab.

But he still promised to stay with her, and he broke that promise. That was his betrayal.

That was when Mab lost the will to fight.

The moment she realized how foolish she had been, and how much that soldier had really loved her...

Still, her broken heart was all healed up by the time the Era of the High Queen came around, and she soon set her sights on ruling all of Britain.

Mab then retired after she built Edinburgh, and no new King Clan faeries were born for a long time.

She left a hole for about fifteen hundred years until I came along and filled it.

I'm the second King Clan faerie ever. I inherited Mab's power and am truly worthy of being queen; I am a truly great faerie.

I hate humans because they're useless in war.

I'm not going to make the same mistake Mab did. I'm going to defeat Morgan with my clan alone.

...That's why I don't need Altria's Round Table Army getting in my way. It's an eyesore at best.

I'd make your peace soon if I were you. Once I win tomorrow's duel, all humans will be mine to do with as I please.

And I'm going to put you all to work in my nice, safe chocolate factory with full benefits until the day you die.

？！

？！

...

Okay, break's over. I'd better get back to work.

Enjoy your freedom while you can, Fujimaru. This is the last night you'll have it, after all.

？！

？！

？！

Made you look. You totally thought I was knocking on your door, didn't you? Well, this time, I came in through the window!

？！

Easy there. Keep your voice down. It's very late, you know.

And what's more, I'm traveling incognito today! If anyone asks, I was never here, okay?

Hm? Why incognito, you ask?

Okay, it's partly because I got tired of being the Round Table Army's errand boy and ran off for a while.

Really though? It's that the Faerie King never stays in one place for too long.

And the REAL real reason is that I was worried about you guys.

I mean, we're all friends now, right? Of course I'm going to worry about you.

So on that note, I hope you don't mind that I'm here.

So, good evening, Fujimaru. Congratulations on ringing the fourth bell.

We could hear it all the way back in Londinium. The Round Table Army's morale has never been higher.

Percival's made a seat at the table for any Fang clan faeries who want to come over from Oxford.

Gareth's been having a great time in Londinium with the kids. They just finished tilling a new field, in fact.

Spriggan seems to be up to something, which worries me, I admit.

But all in all, the south has been relatively stable so far. Of course, whether it stays that way is all up to you guys.

You're here to talk to Cnoc na Riabh, right? I've been hearing rumors about tomorrow's Mab Match all throughout the city.

If Cnoc na Riabh joins forces with the Child of Prophecy, that'd be a huge boost to our chances against Camelot.

Once Cnoc na Riabh agrees to an alliance, and Altria rings Oxford's bell...

...we could begin our attack on Camelot in around three days.

？！

...I'm sorry. I've been looking everywhere for it, but still no luck.

Still, the Bells of Pilgrimage are meant to show that the clans have recognized the Child of Prophecy.

And since the last one, the Mirror clan, is gone now, there arguably isn't much point in ringing theirs.

So I think just five bells ought to be enough.

？！

...Something bothering you?

？！

...I see. Well, that makes sense.

You know how she gets stronger every time she rings a bell? At first I thought that meant she was growing...

But I've realized that it's actually more...unlocking her latent power.

I think the faerie of paradise is probably born with her true power essentially bound...

And the Bells of Pilgrimage are a means to break those bonds.

They probably also restore the knowledge and memories she's always had, but were locked away all this time.

Every time Altria rings a bell, she learns more about her duty and her destiny.

Now that she's rung four of them, she's probably a completely different person from who she was when we met her in the Nameless Woods.

？！

By now, she must have a much stronger sense of duty, and I'm sure her priorities must have shifted a lot, too.

She's probably making decisions based on what the Child of Prophecy should be doing rather than what she herself actually wants.

Am I wrong?

？！

I-is that so? ...Well, in this case, I guess it's a good thing she's so naturally stubborn.

Still, I can tell you're concerned about her, and that you're keeping your concerns to yourself so as not to worry her.

...

Do you remember what I said before?

In this Lostbelt, you and I are just bystanders. Our role here is to see how things play out.

？！

Well, it's still true. We can't save Britain, and we can't save Altria from her destiny.

Once we acquire a means of fighting the Foreign God, the best thing we can do is put this place behind us.

...That being said...

I really respect your determination, and your commitment.

And I'm not just talking about Chaldea. I'm talking about every step you've taken to get here.

Once Morgan has been defeated, if you still want to save BritainNo. If you still want to help Altria...

...I'll support you however I can, even if it means going well out of our way before helping Proper Human History.

？！

Of course it is. When you get right down to it, the only ones who can do really big things are those who work hard for what it is they want.

Trust me, I've come this far on my own too, so I have some idea of what that feels like.

I mean, you've been working so hard for so long. I think you're entitled to put at least a tenth of that effort into indulging yourself.

？！

Altria is another matter, though. I have no intention of indulging her.

You know how she's incredibly competitive but has almost no self-esteem? Not a great combination.

If we don't keep her in line with her sense of duty, she's liable to go completely off the rails.

？！

Of course I am! You would be too if you spent as much time worrying about her as I do, only to have her go and do something you never expected!

I don't even know how many times I've had to pull strings from behind the scenes anymore! Ugh, if only she'd grown up more like a docile princess and less like a wild boar!

Uh, I mean... I'm sorry. That's more a personal preference thing than anything else.

Honestly, well, I think Altria's just fine the way she is. There's certainly never a dull moment when she's around.

？！

...Anyway, that's enough chatter for today.

In fact... Crap, I've been talking too long!

I need to be back in Londinium by morning, or they'll know I skived off! Bye!

？！

...

Oh, I don't know about that. I mean, I'm always on the lookout for her, even now.

But even in a story with a guaranteed happy ending, she's only the very smallest of bit players.

She's a convenient plot device, forgotten as soon as it's no longer needed. No one ever gave a thought to her happiness when all was said and done.

But that's the life of a side character. You can't stop to worry about every little thing, or the whole world will fall apart.

You can't expect that kind of imagination from a reader, or even from the playwright writing their script.

Besides, it's all just a fairy tale. She was born to be forgotten with the turn of a page.

So it's okay. My queen is the sort of woman who shouldn't ever actually exist.

Good day, distinguished guests, and thank you all for coming.

This is the moment you've all been waiting for.

The Valentine Mab Match to determine which of these two faeries is prouder, more dignified, and just overall better than the other!

？！

In the moon kitchen, we have Lady Cnoc na Riabh: leader of the northern faeries, and daughter of the last queen.

Damn, is that all chocolate she's carting around behind her!? There's enough there to make a chocolate Ortinax!

In the star kitchen, we have Lady Altria: the Child of Prophecy who has made even Queen Morgan sit up and take notice.

Uh-oh. Is that stuff she's carting behind her really chocolate? Even Mash's shield looks more appetizing...

Are both contestants ready? You now have one hour to complete your finishing touches here in the cathedral.

Remember, chocolate is toxic! Be sure to go out with a fiery finish!

？！

Please direct your attention to Lady Cnoc na Riabh in the moon kitchen.

As you can see, she is both calm and unhurried, even as she remains constantly in motion.

A sure sign of someone with eyes on the prize.

When I stopped by her kitchen this morning for a comment, she said, and I quote:

"My chocolate isn't merely a delicacy. It's art designed to melt your very soul."

And looking at how it's coming along now, I believe it! I only wish all of you in the mezzanine could see this, too!

We can't even see it from the ground floor! Don't you have any screens around here!?

Unfortunately, only those in the box seats can see the action unfold for themselves.

If that interests you, you can always reserve one for the next Mab Match for sixty-thousand Morpounds.

Ten times the price of the mezzanine seats, hmm? Sounds fair.

Next, please direct your attention to Lady Altria and her dazzling collaboration with her assistant in the star kitchen!

Is that...a cake? I've never seen such wonderfully intricate decorations on one before!

Her assistant is practically glowing with magical energyI mean, sheer concentration!

In the midst of all this chaos, she's adding details down to the millimeter! What an absolute madwoman!

We may have a dark horse on our hands!

Word on the street was that Lady Cnoc na Riabh was a shoo-in to win, but at this stage, it looks like the odds may actually be favoring the star

Whoa, it already looks good enough to eat! You really are great at this, Mash!

Okay, now to add a pinch of my secret ingredient! Yah!

...Are you an idiot!?

...Ahem.

I do beg your pardon. Please, continue to enjoy this, um, unique form of chocolate-making.

...

...

...

...So we should just run for it now, right?

Nah. I can't believe I'm saying this either, but we still don't know how this is gonna go.

Valentine chocolate's more about feeling than flavor, right? So there's still a chance she could pull ahead.

？！

Time's up!

All right, contestants, let's see what you've got. First up, Lady Cnoc na Riabh in the moon kitchen!

Magnificent. Truly magnificent. The sheer artistry and technical skill on display is a sight to behold.

This chocolate Edinburgh Castle with a special nineteen-layer coating perfectly captures the dignity of a queen.

If ever there was a chocolate to take its recipient's breath away, this is it. Though I think actually receiving this could be a bit too much, in more ways than one.

Heh. It's all true, of course, but there's no need to be THAT effusive with your praise.

I couldn't have done this without my capable assistant, Aiken Drum.

Thank you, Lady Cnoc na Riabh. Now, it's time to see what Lady Altria's made in the star kitchen!

I can't imagine why you made such a...bold choice for your chocolate, but let's see it, anyway.

？！

No... It can't be...

What the meow?

What's the meaning of this...?

Woo...hoo?

？！

I understand how you feel, everyone. I'm right there with you myself.

But, as your MC, and as judge, it falls to me to be the first to say this, so say it I will!

What an incredible shape! It's smooth, plump, and seems to be practically pulsing with warmth!

Now that's what I call a valentine! We are all witness to the birth of an all-new chocolate design!

Huh?

Wooohooooooooo!

What power! What strength! I can feel my blood boiling with excitement just looking at it!

I simply have to ask you, Lady Altria: How did you come up with this design?

Why did you abandon that lovely cake your assistant made in favor of this?

That shape is the northern faeries' most venerated symbol. It means, "Prove thyself the strongest."

What made you think to use it for your chocolate? Are you some kind of genius?

Oh, no, definitely not. Mash just taught me how to make it, that's all.

She said it also represents the heart, even though it looks nothing like a real one.

And since it's so simple to make, it's easy to put your own heart and soul into it!

Easy to put your heart and soul into... What a beautiful expression.

I can't believe I of all faeries forgot about the single most important thing that goes into chocolate...

That's right! It doesn't matter how expensive your ingredients are, or how fancy the brand is! What truly matters is the feelings you put into it!

While Lady Cnoc na Riabh's chocolate is undoubtedly more beautiful to look at, and surely more delicious...

...there's no question that Lady Altria's chocolate is the clear winner when it comes to sheer passion.

As of this moment, I have nothing but the highest respect for her.

And so, we have our winner: Lady Altria of the star kitchen!

Heh... That's it, Altria. You finally found your own forte. (Taking credit as her mentor despite being completely uninvolved.)

Well, I'll be damned. I had no idea you had an ace like that up your sleeve. Would you consider selling me the rights to that idea?

You did it, Altria!

It's all thanks to you, Mash! This makes the two-hundred and twelve practice chocolates we made worth it!

？！

Sure looks that way.

Either that, or they just don't associate that symbol with the heart or soul.

I mean, just look at Cnoc na Riabh's magical energy aura.

？！

This doesn't make any sense. The castle should've won no matter how you slice it! How did they make that into some kinda feelgood story!?

Now, now. Let's just call this a one-of-a-kind fluke victory!

Besides, knowing Cnoc na Riabh, I'm sure it'll just be a matter of time until she incorporates heart shapes into her next beautiful casHuh?

Hm? Hey, Altria, how come your chocolate looks like it's pounding? Did you do something to it?

Just to be sure... It's not about to explode, is it?

Of course not. Not even Altria would mistake gunpowder for sugar

Nope, I definitely didn't. Trust me, I tasted every ingredient and only put in the yummy ones.

All of them.

All of them? What...exactly do you mean by "all of them"?

I mean all the different ingredients, of course!

You guys had so many good ones for us to use that it would've been a waste not to use them, right?

It's true. I saw it myself. While Mash was cleaning up the mixing bowls...

Lady Altria used some shifty technique to squeeze all the ingredients into the chocolate.

That gave the chocolate a massive amount of magical energy, fusing its ingredients and creating a new life-form...

And now, as you can see, it's created a calamity that threatens the entire world. Urk.

The Child of Prophecy made a superweapon! Run for your liiives!

Aah! It's damaging my cathedral! And it's turning my faeries into chocolate!

What in the world were you thinking!? You can't just mix in anything and everything!

Let me guess: You're the kind of faerie who thinks anything that takes ten minutes at low heat to cook can also be cooked in two minutes at high heat, aren't you!?

(Nods)

Master! We need to fight to preserve Altria's honor

I mean, to cover up the evidence! Some hearts just can't be saved!

？！

Please, don't beat it up too badly! I promise, it should still be really yummyyy!

？！

Huh?

Cnoc na Riabh!

Wow, you're a King Clan faerie, Cnoc na Riabh!? I've never seen one of you before!

...Well, that's no surprise. I don't have any subjects in the south yet.

But just you wait. One day, all the south's major cities will be home to King Clan faeries.

That's what the northern faeries all want, and it's the destiny I've inherited from the previous queen.

So you're carrying on the last queen's purpose, huh...

But, you're the only King Clan faerie around, right, Cnoc na Riabh?

So even if you do get the northern faeries to move here, that doesn't mean there'll be more King Clan faeries...

Sure there will. Any faerie I share my blood with becomes part of the King Clan.

Huh? Um, is that sort of a mindset thing? Like, the difference between being a bully and a victim?

Wow, you are just the worst at analogies, aren't you? Queen bee and drones were right there. Or even a king and her vassals.

Anyway, there's always only been one King Clan faerie, ever since the King Clan began.

Mab was born from the corpses of the many northern faeries who were killed in the War of Spring.

Sure, their bodies became part of Britain itself when they died, but they also refused to be reborn as next generations.

Well, it was more like, since there was no land where they would've been born, they would've just died and been born again right away...

So rather than subjecting themselves to a cycle like that, they decided to pour all of themselves into a single king.

That king was Mab, the great faerie. She was kind of like the northern faeries' version of Queen Morgan.

Mab was all of the northern faeries combined into a single faerie. Her rules focused on control and prosperity.

That allowed her to share power with anyone who swore loyalty to her.

So she did just that with faeries who sought her out, and created a place for them all to live on the western island.

Of course, creating a whole island took a lot out of her, so she was pretty weak by the time it was done.

It just goes to show you never know what life has in store.

If Mab hadn't grown weak, she would never have taken on the bodyguard who eventually became her spouse.

A spouse!?

And let me tell you, they could barely keep their hands off each other! It was like a never-ending spring!

And that's why you should always avoid spring. Stick to autumn and winter.

At any rate, anyone who swears loyalty to the King Clan gets to share in their power.

That means any faerie who's given some of my blood becomes part of the King Clan for as long as they remain loyal.

As the queen bee, I have my drones show their loyalty by performing labor, and the drones in turn get my power for themselves.

So the more northern faeries I bring together under my command, the more the King Clan grows in number.

I see... So, when you share your power, does that power eventually come back to you?

...No, it doesn't. That's the one big downside to this system. I don't lend them my power, I give it to them.

So the more King Clan faeries I make, the weaker I become.

But obviously, that wouldn't be sustainable, right? So of course Mab thought of a solution.

She expanded her fae domain to encompass all of Britain, and made a new rule to go with it:

As long as her subjects remain part of the King Clan, the clan's combined power shall be her power as well.

So even though she was pretty poor after doling out money to all of her subjects, she hadn't actually lost anything, since the whole kingdom belonged to her.

She chose to empower her nation rather than herself. I think she was really on to something.

A nation can't grow by the hand of one person alone, on one set of values.

You need many working together to make it as rich and beautiful as it can be.

Gloucester here might be a little, um, twisted, but it's still a prime example of what I'm talking about.

That's why my duty is to claim Camelot's throne for myself and unify all of Britain.

It would've been a lot easier if Morgan had named me her successor, but instead, she chose Tristan, right?

So as long as that whackjob's around, what choice do I have but to take it by force?

Th-that's one hell of a purpose... But, um, are you sure it's okay to tell me that?

I-I mean, you're talking about revolting against the queen, right?

Oh? Are you going to report me? Could you even do that if you wanted to?

Especially when you're practically radiating "death to all the clans" energy yourself?

A-am I?

You are. I know I'm something else, but you're pretty impressive in your own right, you know that?

You see yourself as being apart from every other faerie out there, right? Hell, your everything about you is out of the ordinary.

I'm not talking about the kind of lower-class and upper-class distinctions that Morgan chose.

No, in your case, it feels more like...like you're an entirely different kind of being altogether.

Basically, you're looking down at every faerie in Britain.

Are you nuts!? I'M the one who's looked down upon!

That's it. That's the spirit!

Being reasonable is all well and good, but pieces of you will die if you take it too far, like I did.

Huh? Are you saying you're dead on the inside, Cnoc na Riabh? Even though you're so, well, brazen?

Oh, wait, I get it. It's the other way around! You're brazen BECAUSE you're dead, like the Darlington zombie incident!

Don't be ridiculous!

Ow! Owww! Stop that! There's no need for violence!

That was just an example! Or rather, that all happened a long time ago!

I saw you apologizing to that faerie you were with in the hall earlier. Was that your village's leader or something? No, forget that. It doesn't matter.

The point is, you kept apologizing, saying you were sorry you're so weak and promising to try your best next time, right?

Well cut it out, at least when I'm within earshot. Hearing that crap really pisses me off.

What's wrong with being weak? Who gets hurt if you can't do it?

You're the only one who's going to get upset about you being weak, and it's not other faeries who'll be doing their best next time.

Of course it's natural to have regrets over failures, mistakes, overeating, and so on...

But never, ever apologize just for being weak. There's no greater waste of time.

And just so you know, I'm not telling you this because I feel sorry for you.

I'm mad because apologizing for your weakness doesn't help anyone, least of all yourself.

With that kind of power, you should be holding your head high, and fighting for what you yourself want.

You're a real fiery faerie deep down, right? Like a dragon pretending to be a house cat.

So quit worrying about what everyone else thinks of you and sink those fangs into your dreams.

Because believe me, there are plenty of people out there who don't have the power to even do that.

...Hmph. Easy for you to say when you're not the one who'll have to live with the consequences.

All right then, if you're going to lecture me about dreams, what about yours? You've probably already sunk your fangs into them, but still.

My dream? You need to ask?

It's romance!

When I find someone who rocks me to my core, our romance is going to rock the whole damn kingdom to its foundation!

Are you crazy?

Besides, that's no dream, that's reality! I mean, you must've had a lover for ages now, right?

Well, that's just it. I don't.

Hold it! You just laughed at me in your head, didn't you!?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not lacking opportunities. I could have anyone in Edinburgh if I wanted.

R-right, of course. How could you not, when you're so pretty. But then, why aren't you dating anyone?

Hmm... I guess it's my way of setting myself apart from the last queen?

You know how depriving yourself of the thing you want most lights a figurative fire in your belly?

Well, I'm going to use that fire to claim the throne, and save my romance for after I'm king of Britain!

What's so funny? What's your dream then, huh? Is it that much better than mine?

Nnn, I guess mine's not too far off.

I want to try walking around the city as an upper-class faerie. I want to be proud and stylish, like you are.

I can only imagine how great that must feel.

You idiot. This isn't pride. This is fashion.

I don't mind helping you with that side of things... But that's not what a real dream is.

Anyway, first, we need to see who can put down the burdens we're carrying the soonest. Should we see who gets there first?

(Gasp!) I thought I'd sealed that horrid memory away!

？！

Hm? Why are you all looking at me like that? Did I miss out on something fun, or

...That's right. I remember now. I took a direct hit from that chocolate...

How dare that thing revolt against its creator!? Come on, everyone! Let's smash that thing and eat it up like the sweet treat it was supposed to be!

I guess you really were just knocked out for a bit. Have pleasant dreams since it seems you were up all night?

No, I didn't! A-and I wasn't up all night, either! I slept great, if you must know! Now, do you give in, or what!?

Yes, yes, I give in. You won the Mab Match fair and square.

Lucky for you, the judge made her decision before all the spectators ran for their lives.

As promised, I'll let the Child of Prophecy command my forces, and I'll go along with whatever you tell me to.

I look forward to seeing what you're capable of.

...Huh? Are you feeling okay, Cnoc na Riabh? Did you eat something that didn't agree with you?

Oh, right!

...Hey, Fujimaru? Do you ever think you might be giving Altria too long a leash?

At least stop feeding her pies after midnight, okay? She needs all the brainpower she can get, and those things clearly aren't doing her any favors.

Hey, what's wrong with a midnight snack!?

Um, Altria? I think Cnoc na Riabh's talking about your alliance...

...! Oh, right!

？！

Still... Are you sure you're sure about this?

I mean, given what a horrible mess this turned out to be, it doesn't really feel like I won...

Oh good, so you DO see what a mess this was. I'm glad to know you still have some semblance of rational thought left in that thick skull.

Anyway, while it's obvious I would win a rematch, we don't have any more time to waste.

Especially since the queen's probably known you were in Edinburgh since last night.

And once she realizes we're teaming up, she's going to assemble all her forces scattered in Camelot.

So we need to take her down before that happens. Are you ready to do this, Altria?

You need to hurry back to the south, ring Oxford's bell...

...then bring the Round Table Army and any other troops you can gather to my camp.

In the meantime, I'll have my forces march to Camelot's main gate.

But, I thought you said you'd never join forces with the Round Table Army?

I just don't want to see them dying in front of me. I can't ensure their safety since they can't join my clan.

But I will admit that human knights, Percival included, are a good match for the queen's knights.

My subjects certainly can't use mors poison weapons.

So I suppose I can make an exception. Especially since I've been told humans aren't as fragile as I believed.

Isn't that right, Fujimaru?

Well, well. How nice to see you two became friends while I was up all night learning how to make chocolate.

By the way, Cnoc na Riabh, do you still remember that night in Gloucester?

Of course I do! What do you take me for, a fool!?

At any rate, you have my word that the northern faeries will fight beside the Child of Prophecy.

Now get going! We don't have any time to spare.

...Okay, that's fair. I was the one who rang Orkney's bell.

Fujimaru, Mash, Da Vinci...

Muramasa, Habbycat, Redra, and Grímr.

Please pack your bags as soon as you can. We need to hurry to Oxford.

No, I'm gonna stay put here. You'll need someone to coordinate communications between you and the north, right?

Besides, it looks like these guys don't have a mage of their own, so I'm gonna teach them some basics they'll need to know when going up against Morgan.

You will? Well, as long as you can be useful, that's fine with me.

Don't you worry. I'm going to inscribe runes on as many of your soldiers' shields as I can.

Morgan's spells pack a serious wallop, so we gotta make sure they can take at least one hit from them.

Okay, I'll make you my official court mage and tactician then. This is great! Now I'm really starting to feel like a queen!

Well, see you later, Altria, Fujimaru.

I would have liked to show you around Edinburgh, but that'll have to wait until another day.

Next time we meet, it'll be on the battlefield. Let's make sure we're both dressed to kill!

Phew! It was a lot of work getting here, but we finally have lots of good news to share!

I can't wait to see the look on Percival's face...

...when I tell him Cnoc na Riabh agreed to do what we say!

？！

Well, look at you giggling like a schoolgirl. Really enjoyed your match with Cnoc na Riabh, huh?

Huh? ...Um, yeah, I guess so. Plus, maybe it's because I stayed up all night, but I didn't have any weird dreams... Haha.

Still... Now that I think about it, I HAVE been enjoying myself a lot.

And not just in Edinburgh. For this whole journey.

In fact, once we defeat Morgan and this is all over, I think I might even miss traveling around like this.

...

Oh... Right. You said Aesc and I look identical, didn't you?

And saying that kind of thing probably doesn't make it any easier for you, does it?

I'm sorry. This whole experience must have been a lot for you.

Still...in a way, I'm glad you're mourning her loss. We were both lucky to have you as a companion.

...Not at all. I'm the one who was lucky to have such great companions.

There was Aesc, The Black Knight, Wryneckeven though he was a little scaryand...

...and... Huh? That's weird. I could have sworn there was someone else with us the whole time, but I can't seem to remember them...

...

？！

We're under attack! Someone's been waiting to ambush us!

We're surrounded! Everyone, please get out here! I need you to defend the wagon!

Tch. Can't believe we're running into the queen's soldiers even out here in Cnoc na Riabh's territory!

Let's go, Fujimaru, Da Vinci, Mash!

Ahhh... Ahhh... Aaahhh...

？！

...Dammit. I know what I just said, but you'd better stand back, Fujimaru.

You shouldn't even get near these things!

Da Vinci, Habetrot, we're gonna take care of them ourselves. Got that?

Works for me.

Fujimaru, Mash, you two keep your distance. I'm guessing those things are

Ahh... Aaaaaaaaah!!!

This way, Master! We should get away from the wagon for now!

I think...those creatures that attacked us are living humans who were afflicted with the mors curse!

(The mors curse, affecting humans...? That shouldn't even be possible unless someone)

Look out!

Ahaha... Wow, that was amaaazing! You deflected my magecraft yet again!

How did you do it? How did you know what I was up to?

Why are you the only ones running away after all the trouble I went through to scatter all that human trash around?

Don't you dare say that name! It's not my fault! It's not!

I remember you! You're...Tam Lin Tristan!

？！

Yes, that's right! I'm Mother's only daughter! The only faerie in all of Faerie Britain to inherit her magecraft!

Which is why...

I'm going to kill you pieces of shit! No pathetic little shits like you are gonna take my rightful place from me!

Ahh... I lost. I lost. I lost...

Poor, pathetic Baobhan Sith... Everyone loves Baobhan Sith...

Of course I can't beat you. You're the Child of Prophecy... You and I are nothing alike...

Nothing alike at all...

So since I can't beat you in a fair fight...

I'll just have to make the human my toy instead.

？！

Oh no! Fujimaru!

Huh? Where did Senpai and Altria go...?

Hee... Keehee, keeheeheehee! Ahh, that was perfect!

Now that's one hell of a bonus!

I knew the Child of Prophecy would dodge that, so I was going to just trap the human to have some fun with him...

But then she walked right into it herself! Ahahaha, what a dumbass!

But hey, they're both trash, anyway, so what better place for them than a dumpster!?

Then, they're in that jar!

What was that? You trying to avenge Boggart or something? Hah! As if I'd ever fight you again, idiot!

Mirror, o mirror, show me my reflection!

Ahahahahaha! Sucks to be all brawn and no brains, doesn't it!?

The Child of Prophecy and the foreign mage are finished!

Britain belongs to Mother and no one else, dammit! Ah, she's going to be sooo happy with me!

Wait! Stop! Get back here, Tristaaan!