In a deep, secret underground workshop, Morgan le Fay, the Witch of Britain, was plunged into profound anguish.
What could she offer to sway Kay's heart? How could she make that gentle yet overwhelming man completely hers?
But Morgan hadn't realized that someone was quietly eavesdropping on her cold, sticky soliloquy from the shadows of the workshop.
Using an unseen power—Force—she had listened in on every word spoken in the underground workshop.
It was the enigmatic heroine Artoria X Alter.
From the darkness, she pushed her glasses up her nose.
Bound by blood as sisters and having cooperated until now for each other's purposes, Artoria X Alter had never once truly trusted Morgan as her elder sister.
"You love Britain more than anyone else. But… your heart is nothing but a monster—shattered into pieces and devoured by madness."
A precarious alliance in which they thoroughly used each other.
While Artoria X Alter's original mission had been to find Kay and kill Merlin, the source of all evil, Morgan herself actually had no real interest in Merlin.
Moreover, now that she knew her beloved big brother Kay had returned safely, she had no reason to remain by this gloomy, twisted witch's side.
"I suppose I'll just swipe a few Craft Essences that'll fetch some coin and then slip away."
Silently, she scanned the workshop's display cabinets and was about to pocket several Craft Essences.
Her gaze then fell on a gigantic incubation test tube set at the farthest depths of the workshop.
"...Ah."
Inside the tube, brimming with crimson incubation fluid, a tiny life form lay curled up, softly breathing.
A homunculus baby, crafted from the combined genetics of all the Pendragon sisters—including Morgan herself.
A pureblooded Pendragon in the truest sense, containing the essence of dragon, fairy, and human.
Morgan intended to finish nurturing this child to become the Scarecrow King of Britain, while she herself would pull the strings from the shadows, wielding power as she pleased.
She clearly remembered just a few days ago hearing Morgan coo as she stroked the test tube, murmuring that only a few more days of nutrient infusion would make the child perfect.
"...I can't leave this child in that witch's hands as a mere pawn. Waking up a few days early won't kill them, after all."
Having made her decision, she extended her fist without hesitation, powered by Force.
Crash!!
The thick reinforced glass shattered, and the incubation fluid poured down like a waterfall. Artoria X Alter swiftly snatched the tiny life form as it fell to the ground, wrapping it securely in a baby sling she'd prepared in advance.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
At the deafening crash of breaking glass, Morgan turned and let out an enraged scream. Dozens of deadly spears of magical power formed around her.
But Artoria X Alter showed no sign of flinching; with a calm expression, she pressed the button at her waist.
"This contract ends here, Sister Morgan. This child belongs not in a witch's workshop, but in a home where they can grow up eating warm meals."
Screeeech!!
At her declaration, the auxiliary armor Morgan had crafted for her long ago deployed. A rapid-response powered suit, directly linked to the Alter Reactor within her body, enveloped X Alter in an instant.
"Stop right there!! How dare you take my child…!"
"Take care!"
BOOOOM!!!
Amid the debris of the shattered ceiling and the spilled incubation fluid stood Morgan.
Furious at losing both her child and her sister before her very eyes, her hand gripping her staff trembled violently.
"Damn it… once again… to be stabbed in the back by my own family…!"
But Morgan's furious rage didn't last long. She took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the rising anger. The witch's extraordinary mind was already calculating the cost and benefit.
"...Stay calm. After all, the only place that defiant brat can flee to is North Wales, where Kay is. I might as well count my work done."
After all, Morgan's ultimate goal was to entrust the child to Kay so that, under the pretext of co-parenting, she could bind him by her side.
Although the courier had changed from her to X Alter, the child would end up cradled in Kay's arms. After all, the gentle Kay could never turn his back on an abandoned baby.
"Alright… now's not the time for anger. I'll refine my plan for how to thoroughly twist that man around my finger."
Regaining her composure, Morgan let a cold, fishy smile curl on her lips amid the ruins of her workshop.
Meanwhile, far to the north—completely unaware of the witch's plot and escape drama unfolding—a totally different commotion was taking place in the dining hall of the North Wales castle.
"Wait, brother!! After pounding someone senseless until they submit, why are you suddenly wearing an apron and cooking for me!? If you keep this up, I'll seriously get the wrong idea, you know? Hurry and take me to the bedroom! Hold me right now!!"
Until a moment ago, Artoria Lancer Alter had been spilling blood in the training yard, but now, her head swathed in bandages, she clung to Kay's apron hem, whining desperately.
Completely defeated and utterly smitten by Kay's virile charm, she was showering him with ostentatious advances like a big dog in heat, her epithet rendered meaningless.
"Ugh, please stop it! Enough with the nonsense and just eat your food!!"
Kay grimaced, then plopped down a plate heaped high with thick wild boar steaks right in front of her face.
"Here!! I grilled a ton of meat, so eat this and shut that mouth of yours! Keep talking and I'll confiscate it!"
"Ahh! Such a heartfelt meal cooked just for me! As expected of my companion, sob. It's so delicious..."
As meat filled her mouth, Artoria Lancer Alter wore an expression of bliss and began chewing and swallowing the steaks until her cheeks bulged.
It was proper food she hadn't had in five years, and tears blurred her vision.
Watching that lunacy, Kay pressed a hand to his brow and let out a deep sigh.
And at that moment:
On a forest path at the outskirts, where the North Wales castle could be glimpsed in the distance.
"Haah… we've finally arrived."
Artoria X pressed down firmly on the brim of her blue cap as she halted her steps.
Beside her stood Artoria Caster, draped in a cloak and leaning on a staff, and the massive armored knight Britomart, his heavy boots thundering on the ground.
"Wow~! North Wales is truly overflowing with magical energy! This incredible maelstrom of magical energy I've felt from inside the castle all the way out here… surely everyone's raising hell over there, right?"
Artoria Caster smiled radiantly and pointed toward the distant castle. But Artoria X's gaze was firm and piercing.