Although Camelot’s guards and mages were mobilized and ransacked every corner of the castle and its surroundings, they ultimately failed to uncover any trace or identity of Umiin.
A tense, unsettled atmosphere lingered, but time flowed on mercilessly.
Kay ordered a massive reinforcement of the castle’s security and decreed that all drinking water and ingredients must be thoroughly inspected by the fairies before being brought into the kitchen.
At the same time, to ease his family’s anxieties, he held a modest yet warm first birthday party for Mordred.
Of course, Morgan did not show herself on the day of the party.
But the next morning, a huge plush lion sat all alone by Mordred’s bedside.
A few days later. The audience chamber within the inner walls of Camelot.
Kay frowned as he reviewed the documents for a new military reform plan he had been drafting.
"Gawain. If you organize the knight order like this, how on earth do you plan to handle logistics later…."
"My lord! A visitor has arrived!"
Tamamo flicked her tail and opened the door to the audience chamber.
Following her in were two fairies whose flamboyant, overwhelming presence could brighten even the bleak air of Camelot in an instant.
"Oh ho, you really have turned into a little brat, haven’t you? The rumors were true."
The fairy was none other than Bavanshi: clad in a red dress and sharp high heels, arms crossed arrogantly as she tilted her chin up.
Beside her stood the fairy knight Britomart, clad in heavy armor and wielding a greatsword, smiling bravely.
"Sir Kay! It’s been so long! This is the first time since the Fairy Kingdom! I’m glad to see you look so well!"
Britomart removed her armor and greeted him warmly.
"…Bavanshi? Britomart? What brings you all the way here?"
Kay put down the documents and asked with a puzzled look.
"Hmph. Do you think I set foot in this musty human castle just to look at a runt like you?"
Bavanshi clicked her high heels on the floor and sneered.
"Pathetic, really. You talked such a big game, yet you couldn't even fend off a cheap witch’s prank. Do you even have the strength to properly wield a sword in that tiny body?"
Incensed by Bavanshi’s provocation, Bagest, who stood behind Kay, growled menacingly as if ready to draw her greatsword at any moment.
"Watch your tongue, Bavanshi. If you insult my master, I will tear your throat out with my teeth, regardless of whether you are a fellow fairy."
"Oh my, how scary. It looks like the dog handler’s leash is a bit loose, Bagest."
Bavanshi retorted with a cruel laugh.
"Both of you, stop it. Bagest, calm down."
Kay raised a hand to halt them, then looked at Britomart.
"So, what is your real business here?"
Britomart cleared her throat and straightened her posture.
"We have come under the orders of the great Fairy Queen Gloriana."
"The Queen?"
"Yes. Her Majesty has commanded that the two of us join the newly formed knight order centered around Sir Kay and actively support the defense of Logres."
"You’re here to support us?"
When Kay asked in surprise, Britomart nodded solemnly.
"Her Majesty knows that the decisive battle against the White Dragon is fast approaching. Moreover… that cunning Phantom Demon is ceaselessly plotting vile schemes to permanently eliminate Sir Kay from this Britain. The Fairy Woods will not stand idly by while Sir Kay falls to the demon’s machinations."
The support of fairy knights dispatched to oppose the Phantom Demon’s malice.
For Kay, considering the massive war to come against Botigan, it was an offer like receiving a million allies—there was no reason to refuse.
"Hmph, I couldn’t care less about that high-and-mighty queen’s orders. I’m only here to keep an eye on you so you don’t up and croak; otherwise, I’d never get my revenge. Don’t get the wrong idea."
Bavanshi pouted, turning her head away in a classic tsundere fashion.
"What revenge?"
"Huh? Have you forgotten? You tossed me around so roughly!"
"That’s all this is?"
"Ugh…!"
"Well, it’s not like I mind. Welcome aboard. Leave your luggage to the maids and pick any vacant room you like."
When Kay coolly granted their admission, Bagest, standing nearby, interjected with great displeasure.
"Master, do we really need to borrow the power of this unpleasant bloodsucking fairy? The strongest shield and sword of the Fairy Kingdom—me, Bagest—is right by your side! I alone am enough to protect you!"
At Bagest’s protest, Bavanshi scoffed and stabbed her with words like a dagger.
"The strongest fairy knight? Ha! Don't make me laugh. This so-called 'strongest' was wide-eyed and on guard, yet couldn't stop a simple revulsion potion fiasco, letting the entire castle turn into a disaster, right?"
"Grr…! Th-that was…!"
"To think a fairy knight is at such a pathetic level, it brings tears to my eyes."
Shaken by Bavanshi’s harsh truth-bombs, Bagest trembled with rage.
"…Bavanshi has a point. I fell short."
Kay toyed with the documents, wearing a bitter expression.
"The antidote worked perfectly… but ever since that day, those who were affected by the potion treat me incredibly awkwardly. Those prideful ones keep watching my every move and sneakily avoiding me."
It was exactly as Kay said.
When the Pendragon sisters regained their senses after drinking the antidote, they were utterly shocked to realize how much hateful abuse and murderous intent they had unleashed at Kay.
Even if it was a ridiculous charade provoked by the drug, they were plagued by horrifying self-loathing and guilt, wondering if the potion had merely manifested a deep-seated part of them that viewed Kay as vermin or a parasite.
Of course, they didn't actually feel that way. However, they began to doubt themselves, unable to trust their own hearts, wondering if such a thought had existed even for a single moment.
As a result, their once towering pride plummeted to the depths, and whenever they stood before Kay, they timidly tiptoed around him as if searching for a mousehole to hide in.
"Alter is in the worst shape of all."
Kay let out a deep sigh and rubbed his forehead.
"She used to easily polish off twenty hamburgers in one sitting, but these days she’s so worried about my reaction that she only eats about ten. At this rate, she might lose so much weight she ends up malnourished. I’m really worried."
"…What? Twenty? Ten?"
Bavanshi’s jaw dropped in disbelief.
"What are you raising, a sister or a pig?! Even a pig wouldn’t scarf down ten hamburgers!! If ten is her 'low' amount, that’s not malnourishment—that’s a guaranteed case of obesity!!"
"What do you know! My Alter is still growing, so she has to eat a lot!"
When Kay snapped back, Bavanshi shook her head as if utterly dumbfounded.
"The fact that you survived that magical maze with such a half-baked mindset… you’re truly insane."
"Ha ha ha, this place is lively and delightful."
Britomart smiled as she lightened the mood.
"By the way, Sir Kay, I would very much like to meet Your Highness Mordred, your daughter. And also those whom I already know from before."
"Oh, she’s right over there."
Where Britomart looked, at the end of the corridor, Mordred was running toward them, swinging a toy sword, accompanied by Tamamo-no-Mae, Medusa, and Jeanne d’Arc Alter.
"I, being quick on the uptake, went ahead and fetched her, you know?"
Tamamo flicked her tail and was the first to approach, greeting them warmly.
"Want an update on me? As you can see, I’m faithfully managing my lord’s table and bedchamber, receiving excellent lessons in how to be a wonderful wife.
"…You still give off that cunning fox scent."
Bavanshi sniffed and scowled, while Jeanne d’Arc Alter chuckled and approached Bavanshi.
"Hey, pointy heels. Even now you haven’t changed that obnoxious personality, have you? Well, I was bored, so you've come at a good time. Come to the training yard later. I’ll scorch that dress of yours with my black flames."
"Oh ho, fairies!!"
Mordred leaped into Kay’s arms, staring at Britomart in astonishment.
In his shrunken form, Kay struggled but hefted Mordred into a full lift and proudly said to Britomart and Bavanshi:
"What do you think of my daughter? The cutest in all of Britain, right? Later, go boast to the Fairy Queen about how wonderful she is, will you?"
"Yes, yes, she’s absolutely as cute as a bunny. You silly, doting father."
Britomart smiled faintly.
With the addition of the fairy knights, Camelot gained fresh strength.
But how would he deal with the unseen fangs of Merlin the Phantom Demon and the sisters’ shattered self-esteem?
Before Kay lay a mountain of tasks to solve, as daunting as the looming war.
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