I, Guinevere, am going to crush you, you curry stick, today!

Her pinkish-purple hair was smooth and shiny, clearly the result of long-term careful maintenance. There wasn't a single split end. It was simply draped over her shoulders. She was petite, about eleven or twelve years old, with skin that seemed too pale due to lack of sunlight. Her big red eyes blinked, making her very cute.

And that kind of hazy, indescribable temperament.

Guinevere had no doubt that if she dressed the girl in a beautiful dress and showed her to others, nine out of ten people would think she was someone's princess.

However, this "princess" was almost completely naked at this moment. In fact, she could be considered to be dressed, although it was actually just a few tattered pieces of cloth draped over her body, barely covering a few key parts. It seemed that if a gust of wind blew, these few pieces of cloth would probably be blown away by the wind to chase after freedom.

No wonder Royal couldn't utter a single complete sentence; the scene before him was simply too shocking, and also filled with a sinister beauty...

"Fina?"

Artoria glanced at her companion, who had suddenly stopped and was covering her nose, tilting her head as if a question mark had popped up above her head. Guinevere simply shook her head, discreetly removing her hand and glancing over... thankfully, no nosebleed.

In front of Artoria, she managed to maintain her ladylike composure.

and many more.

Given her situation, wouldn't it be a bit of a problem if she maintained this kind of reserve?

Guinevere was quite conflicted for a moment. She pointed to the girl in front of her and tried to change the subject, saying, "This child seems very different from the Nimiao you mentioned."

To the others, these words sounded like a low, veiled roar. The young man, who had just opened his eyes a crack as he heard footsteps approaching, glanced over, only to be startled by the sight of the strange half-dragon, half-human girl and the provocative growl. His fingers were already on the bowstring.

"and many more."

"Tristan—"

Sensing the sudden surge of fighting spirit, both Artoria and Royal spoke up to stop her. Even though they didn't know exactly what had happened, Royal understood that Guinevere was probably still conscious, otherwise she wouldn't have been led over so obediently. Perhaps it was because little brother Artoria's animal taming skills were superb, he thought with a bit of amusement.

The words that could be explained have not yet been uttered.

The girl with purple hair and red eyes suddenly cheered and darted out from behind the two men. As she moved, the tattered cloths floated into the air...

With a slap, almost the instant the girl moved, Tristan slapped himself across the face with such force that Guinevere had no doubt that a bright red maple leaf mark had appeared on his face: "I didn't see anything!"

Even with his eyes covered, he didn't forget to emphasize this point.

"Well, after all, I don't think I've ever seen you open your eyes..." Guinevere twitched her lips. Royal, on the other hand, didn't give herself such a hard time. He just turned around with lightning speed, leaving them with only his tall back: "I...I...I...I didn't see anything either."

"..."

For a moment, Guinevere was at a loss for words.

But she won't have to worry about this problem anymore soon.

As the last bit of clothing covering the purple-haired girl was swept away by the wind, amidst the sound of running footsteps, she suddenly hugged Artoria: "Artoria-neechan, you're back!"

Her voice was clear and crisp, and although it had changed somewhat, Nimia's distinctive features were still discernible. Having confirmed the girl's identity, Artoria was about to speak when the girl suddenly released her grip, turned abruptly, and crashed headfirst into Guinevere's arms.

Theoretically, in her current state, her strength should have increased considerably, but the girl slammed into her like a cannonball. Guinevere instinctively reached out to catch her, only to be forcefully thrown back several steps, her head hitting her chest directly, causing her so much pain she almost coughed up blood. However, before she could even spit out the blood, the girl's joyful voice rang out:

"I'm so glad to see you, Dad!"

"What!?"

...so frightened that he swallowed it back.

P.S.: After a few days of adjustment, the most difficult phase is almost over. I'll try to get back into the swing of things in the next few days. Although I've already missed my perfect attendance record, I'll still see if I can push myself to the limit... Please vote!

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Starting Today, I'm a Dad

Suddenly, something came to mind.

It was a long, long time ago, one night, I was drinking with a friend at a roadside stall. We were chatting about what happiness really meant, and this guy who got married early said with a smile, "Happiness is when you reach a certain age, you have someone you love by your side, and a well-behaved and adorable child runs up to you and happily calls you 'Dad'."

"So, if you're not planning on getting married, at least go have a child and raise it. Having a child out of wedlock isn't anything new these days. Hahahaha..."

The memory and her friend's hearty laughter flashed through her mind. Guinevere turned her head and glanced at the purple-haired girl beside her, who was holding onto her clothes with her left hand and leaning most of her body against Artoria. Her feelings were very complicated.

Old friend, your infamous jinx seems to be...

It's unleashed its power again.

In a sense, Al was indeed someone she liked—even if it wasn't romantic liking, but more of an admiration and longing, like a star falling into a lake, making her want to reach out and touch it. But this feeling could ultimately be classified as liking, and now, suddenly, a cute and obedient girl appeared, calling her "Dad" in a crisp voice. As a well-rounded, intelligent, and sophisticated young woman who had spent many years navigating the internet, she had, of course, fantasized about such a wonderful thing as a cute girl falling from the sky.

However, given that one's own gender has been changed, this development only leaves one speechless and sighing inwardly.

"...So, this child is the one my little brother mentioned...Nimia?" When he came to his senses, he saw Royal sitting cross-legged on the ground, stroking his thick, iron-like beard, his eyes full of curiosity as he looked over.

"Yes..." Before Artoria could answer, the girl clinging to her arm like a wombat shouted back, "I'm not Nemia!"

"Oh? What's your name?" Royal asked with interest.

"Nimia!"

"This is different from what you just said."

Seemingly conflicted herself, or perhaps confused only after being pointed out by Royal, the girl tilted her head and gently bit her finger with her left canine tooth. After biting it twice, Artoria slapped her hand away: "Dirty."

"Oh."

The little girl was very obedient and stopped biting her fingers. She looked at Royal with a serious expression on her face; "I don't know either. Although I don't know, but... Nemia is me, and I am not Nemia. That's how it is."

Looking away, Royal smiled and shrugged at Guinevere: "What a wonderful child. As her father, can you explain what your daughter meant by that?"

"—"

"Ah, I forgot you can't speak for the time being... What did Miss just say?"

"Fina said that she is neither the father nor does she have a child that big."

Looking at Guinevere, who was nodding vigorously, and then at Artoria, who remained calm as if this was nothing, Royal was silent for two or three seconds before sincerely giving her a thumbs up: "Amazing!"

"what?"

Artoria tilted her head, and a large question mark seemed to pop up above her head—a question mark that only Guinevere could probably see. Royal didn't continue the topic, but turned to look at the red-haired youth sitting beside him, checking on Bedivere, who was still unconscious: "Tristan, why aren't you saying a word? This taciturn behavior isn't like you."

"……pain"

Tristan silently raised his head, pointed to the bright red handprint on his face, and his expression was filled with sorrow in silence.

The others all responded with an understanding "Oh".

"—"

“Fina said, ‘This is really sad.’”

Tristan nodded in agreement, then quietly plucked the bow in his arms with a soft tinkling sound.

A short time had passed since the battle with Terena. Traces of the fierce fighting still lingered in the abandoned village, but the dust that had risen had settled, and the village had returned to its former tranquility. Guinevere and Nemia emerged from the house, caught off guard by Nemia's unexpected appearance. However, they then learned from Tristan that Merlin had arrived, and the Flower Magician had asked him to convey a message: "The matter with Terena is settled. I know you have many questions, and there are still some loose ends to be taken care of here. I'll be staying at King Marco's castle for now, bringing with me the broken sword I painstakingly crafted! And also, Lord Merlin is very busy; if you arrive too late, I'll be angry—"

As expected of a musician, Tristan perfectly imitated the other man's relaxed yet slightly frivolous tone, including the sudden change in expression and the clenched, stern voice that startled Guinevere and her companion, who were completely unprepared. Although this conversation led to the conclusion that Merlin was collaborating with Marco, Royal and Tristan were deeply worried. In their view, Merlin, to some extent, represented the young King Arthur, meaning that King Arthur might be planning, or even already was, siding with Marco.

For Royal and others who opposed Marco's recent oppressive rule, this was truly devastating news. However, Tristan, having just heard Marco's heartfelt words, was also experiencing complex emotions. He didn't know whether to believe them, nor what to do. After relaying Merlin's message, he remained silent, partly due to his inner turmoil.

Of course, the main reason was that my face felt hot and painful.

That slap, delivered in a moment of desperation, was almost with all his might. If it had been an ordinary person, they would probably have suffered a severe concussion, if not died on the spot. Even though Tristan's physical abilities were several times superior to those of an average person, he was still in a dazed state for quite some time. But suffering himself was better than letting a man see the lady's naked body... even if this little lady looked no more than ten years old, he genuinely felt that way.

They then buried poor Miles and the horses that had been affected, and gave Bedivere, who was unconscious, emergency treatment. The group was extremely exhausted, both physically and mentally, so they decided to rest in the village for a while. The house was covered in dust and cobwebs, and the only two habitable houses had been completely destroyed in the initial battle. After searching everywhere without success, they simply found an open space and sat down on the ground, which was actually cleaner.

The rest, naturally, included inquiring about the battle. However, neither Royal nor Artoria mentioned Terena's revelation that Guinevere was the daughter of the King of Scotland. Royal already knew, but Guinevere's attitude, despite being kept in the dark, made her feel somewhat guilty. But this guilt melted away the moment she met Artoria's gaze.

This tacit understanding was clear to Royal, the middle-aged man simply shaking his head and sighing that youth was truly wonderful. Because of this, the conversation mostly revolved around why Guinevere had become a half-human, half-dragon, and why the suddenly appearing little girl called them "sister" and "father"... Actually, calling Artoria "sister" was understandable; after all, she had delicate features, and even dressed as a boy, she looked like a somewhat thin, androgynous young man. It was quite normal for a child to mistake her and call her "sister."

However, calling a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl "dad" is quite incomprehensible.

But the fact that she called him "Dad" instead of "Mom" was, in a sense, a stroke of luck. At least for now, the gazes directed at Guinevere were filled with curiosity and a hint of schadenfreude. If she had called him "Mom," the gazes from the group would have been much more intense.

The problem is that.

She herself was completely baffled, let alone able to explain. Guinevere, on the contrary, began to feel fortunate that she couldn't speak—Royal's reaction made her immediately realize this—since others couldn't understand what she was saying, she didn't have to bother explaining herself.

Oh, Artoria seems to understand a little bit.

...However, the reason she could understand it remains a mystery. Was it a telepathic connection, or perhaps because she possessed the heart of a dragon, allowing her to understand dragon language to some extent? Although there was no evidence, Guinevere had some guesses. This child named Nemia might be related to the fifth son of the black dragon that emerged from the mist. When fighting Terenas, she seemed to hear the other party mention the name "Fafner." Considering the appearance of that black dragon, could it be that one of the identities the fifth son once used in reality was that of the evil dragon transformed from a dwarf?

In that case... my current state doesn't seem very optimistic.

I just hope that Merlin, who is said to be all-powerful and omnipotent—who has even stolen food from the starving Artoria countless times without getting hurt—can find a way to turn me back to normal.

Thinking to herself, she couldn't help but sigh softly.

"belch!"

He even let out a small sigh of relief...

P.S.: This might be a bit weak, as I'm still getting back into shape after rehabilitation. Please forgive me! Please vote!

Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Unknown Future

It was May, late spring and early summer. The weather was sunny and already a bit hot, but true summer was still some time away. A gentle breeze made it feel pleasant and relaxing. A white eagle flew across the sky.

Smoke rose from the long-abandoned village. Bedivere and Miles had lived there for a long time, so they had no shortage of basic food supplies. As for drinking water, besides a nearby stream, Miles had also secretly hidden a barrel of ale, which he originally planned to use for some future celebration. Now that things had settled down, after Bedivere woke up, he and Royal worked together to carry the barrel of ale out. Along with some broth and softened bread, it wasn't exactly a gourmet meal, but it was quite good for filling their stomachs.

In fact, for many ordinary British citizens at this time, a meal like this, with wine and meat, was an unimaginable feast; such luxury was something they probably only enjoyed during the New Year. During the ten years of protracted war, besides the countless lives lost, the impact was more or less reflected in every aspect of people's daily lives. The dead are gone, but the living must grit their teeth and wait, hoping for the dawn to break.

Even in the midst of suffering, good news can be found.

Although Bedivere took a real hit from the Shadow Giant, Terenas didn't focus much on this one-armed boy, whom she considered insignificant. The real fatal attack was deflected by Royal's spear. The reason she later fainted was probably because she watched Miles being killed before her eyes and thought she was going to die too. When reinforcements arrived at the last moment, she was overwhelmed with emotion and fainted. Although she had injuries, they were not the main reason.

Half an hour later, Bedivere slowly awoke. Upon opening his eyes, he struggled to find his weapon. After calming down, he solemnly thanked Guinevere and Artoria, then stayed alone at Miles' grave and cried for a while. When he returned, his eyes were red-rimmed, but the intense emotions he had displayed upon first waking were gone. He didn't seem to care much about Guinevere's half-dragon, half-human appearance. While he was initially shocked, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets, he surprisingly accepted it easily afterward.

"After all, it was Sir Royal who brought in the reinforcements... Hmm, I can understand!"

Royal himself seemed unable to accept this reason. It's said that he later found another dark and stormy night to take Bedivere out for a proper "discussion" about what kind of image he held in the young man's heart—it wasn't anything important, so we won't dwell on it. Meanwhile, Guinevere finally confirmed one thing.

Bedivere... he really is a man.

I thought that with Gareth as a precedent, the character voiced by Noto in the anime would at least be the most beautiful girl on the Round Table. I just felt deceived in my feelings, but this matter couldn't resonate with anyone else, so I could only sigh silently and think that things in life are mostly unsatisfactory.

Another piece of good news came before the group set off for Marco Castle. Bedivere's brother, Lucan the Falconer, who had been staking out the castle earlier and had been attacked by Terena, came looking for them. It turned out that he had fought the monster that appeared from Terena's shadow for several rounds. Although he was no match for it, he was very familiar with the surroundings because he used his eagle as his eyes and ears. He jumped off a cliff and made his way to a pre-arranged outpost, thinking that he might be able to save his brother and Miles. He then brought three horses to the deserted village and met up with the others.

So when they set off again, this hastily assembled team—though still small—appeared much larger than before. However, a few minor mishaps still occurred at the end:

Even though Guinevere was never particularly liked by animals for some reason, the horses only showed disdain rather than disgust towards her; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to ride alongside Artoria on the journey here. But perhaps because of her appearance, whenever Guinevere got even slightly close to a horse, the horse would immediately tremble, looking terrified as if it would be eaten at any moment.

Although she didn't yet understand what was happening to her body, it was obvious to anyone that it was most likely related to the fifth son. Dragons were powerful beings standing at the pinnacle of fantasy species, so whatever the black dragon had done to her—whether it was some kind of "pressure" or something else—that instilled fear in these horses wasn't particularly surprising.

I don't know how to turn it back to normal...

Completely baffled, the young girl was overwhelmed with grief, and because of this incident, she could no longer travel with the others. After some discussion and practical experience demonstrating that horses only became startled and trembled when within ten meters of Guinevere's perimeter, Royal, the most prestigious person present, immediately decided to split the group into two. He, Tristan, Lucan, and the Bedivere brothers would take the luggage ahead, partly to scout the route and check for any ambushes. Even with Merlin's assurance, they still seemed unable to fully trust King Marco, hence their cautious approach.

Guinevere, on the other hand, walked with Artoria and Nemia. Her appearance was so striking that even with a cloak, she easily attracted all sorts of stares. To avoid any potential trouble, they decided to travel at night when there were fewer people around. Although none of the three knew the way, Lucan's white eagle reminded them, and it was said that they would leave signal trails along the way, so they were not worried about getting lost.

Originally, I planned to leave Nemia with Royal as well, but the girl absolutely refused to be separated from her "sister" and "father." She would start crying after just a few words of persuasion, but she cried very quietly and without making a fuss. This sensible appearance only made people feel more sorry for her. In addition, Nemia's identity and background were quite suspicious. Royal was currently injured and his strength was greatly reduced. Lucan and Bedivere were young and their swordsmanship was far inferior to Artoria's. Although Tristan was capable, each person had their limits. In terms of strength alone, Guinevere in her half-dragon form was no less than Royal, and even slightly superior. Leaving Nemia with the two of them would allow us to respond immediately in case of any unexpected events.

And so, as the sun began to set and began to set in the west, in the afternoon, Royal and his two companions rode away. The remaining three, this strange "family of three," looked at each other awkwardly as they waited for nightfall.

"—If I could just fold those wings, I could squeeze into that hole…"

“Yes, it’s a pity you can’t get into the entrance to that secret passage. And if Sir Royal and the others were to go there, there might be another conflict. After all, Merlin is over there, and given her personality, she definitely wouldn’t explain things clearly from the start… Sir Tristan knew about the existence of the secret passage, but he didn’t mention it earlier, probably because he had this in mind.”

"—(There's still a little time. Al, are you hungry? You only ate enough for two people, so it might not be enough... I have some food here that you can have to tide you over.)"

"We'll set off after dark. There's still some time; Fina, would you like to get some sleep first?"

"—" She shook her head. Realizing that the meaning of her previous words hadn't been fully conveyed, Guinevere thought for a moment, then glanced at Nemia, who was leaning against Artoria's chest, her little head nodding off in sleep: "I mean, you—" She pointed at Nemia: "Would you like something to eat?" Then she pointed to her own stomach.

But then Artoria suddenly blushed.

"This...is not good."

"—(What did you interpret it as!?)" Guinevere, sensing something was wrong, asked hurriedly.

“You didn’t want me to…” Artoria pointed to herself, “to help you take off this dress that’s been torn by your wings? But… that’s not a good idea, and I don’t have any other clothes to change into…” She gestured towards Guinevere, explaining somewhat hesitantly. The girl looked down and realized that the spot she had just pointed to was, in a sense, the very spot where she was putting on and taking off her dress.

Gradually, her ears turned red...

*****

"So, Your Majesty, there's still some time before their arrival. Have you decided how to explain all this?"

Truro, a magnificent castle perched atop a precipitous mountain peak, has a grand reception room where guards stand on either side, spears in hand. Inside, Marco sits in a chair, his chin resting on his hand, gazing at a silver-haired woman in a white robe before him.

There were only the two of them in the house.

“Even if Terenas was the instigator, you are still an accomplice, or rather, the actual executioner. The tragedy that has befallen Cornwall these past few days ultimately bears a large part of the responsibility. Of course, you know Royal and Tristan well and will certainly be able to handle this matter properly. But that Scottish princess and the young King Arthur are absolutely intolerant of any wrongdoing. Are you really confident you can come up with an explanation that will satisfy them and prevent them from pursuing the matter further? Or perhaps…”

Merlin pinched a corner of his robe with his hand and gave a rather awkward bow with a smile: "With just a little bit of payment, this trouble will no longer be a trouble for you. Please rest assured, it really only requires a small price. I believe it will be absolutely no problem for you, and... once I tell you, you might be very happy to agree immediately."

"Oh?"

The old man raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. Although his appearance remained as aged as ever, the air of dejection and weariness he had exuded until now had completely vanished. At this moment, it was as if a young and energetic soul had been crammed into a frail old body, incongruous yet displaying a strange harmony: "I originally thought that dealing with Terena was your goal, but now I understand that this is your true purpose."