Chapter 53: Sisters -1-

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 her own?

But Morgan failed to realize that someone was quietly eavesdropping on her cold, clinging soliloquy from the deep shadows of the workshop.

Using an unseen power—Force—she had listened to every word spoken in the depths of the underground lab.

It was Artoria X Alter.

From the darkness, she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose.

Bound by blood as sisters and having cooperated for their respective goals until now, X Alter had never once truly trusted Morgan as an elder sister.

You love Britain more than anyone else. But... in truth, you are nothing but a monster—your heart shattered into pieces, devoured by your own obsession.

It was a precarious alliance where each side merely exploited the other.

While X Alter’s original mission had been to find Kay and kill Merlin, the source of all evil, Morgan herself had no real interest in Merlin.

Moreover, now that she knew her beloved brother, Kay, had returned safely, she saw no reason to remain by this gloomy, twisted witch’s side.

I suppose I’ll just swipe a few Craft Essences that will fetch a good price and then slip away.

Silently, she scanned the workshop’s display cabinets, preparing to pocket several magical items.

Then, her gaze fell upon a gigantic incubation tube situated in the farthest depths of the workshop.

“...Ah.”

Inside the tube, brimming with crimson incubation fluid, a tiny life form lay curled up, breathing softly.

A homunculus baby, crafted by integrating the genetics of all the Pendragon sisters—including Morgan herself.

A pureblooded Pendragon in the truest sense, concentrating the essence of dragon, fairy, and human.

Morgan intended to complete the child and install them as a puppet king of Britain, while she herself would rule from the shadows, manipulating power at will.

X Alter clearly remembered Morgan stroking the glass just a few days ago, murmuring that the child would be perfect after only a few more days of nutrient infusion.

...I can’t leave this child in that witch’s hands to be used as a mere pawn. Waking up a few days early won’t kill them.

Having made her decision, she extended her fist without hesitation, channeling the Force.

CRASH!!!

The thick reinforced glass shattered, and the incubation fluid poured down like a waterfall. X Alter swiftly snatched the tiny life form as it fell, wrapping it securely in a baby sling she had prepared in advance.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

At the deafening roar of breaking glass, Morgan turned and let out an enraged scream. Dozens of murderous spears of magical energy materialized around her.

But X Alter showed no sign of panic; with a calm expression, she pressed a button at her waist.

“Our contract ends here, Sister Morgan. This child doesn't belong in a witch's workshop; they need to grow up eating warm meals.”

Screeeech!!

At her declaration, the quantum armor Morgan had once crafted for her 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!!!!

Morgan was left standing amidst the debris of the shattered ceiling and the spilled incubation fluid.

Furious at losing both her child and her sister in a single stroke, her hand gripping her staff trembled violently.

“Damn it... again... to be stabbed in the back by my own family...!”

However, Morgan’s blinding rage did not last long. She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her anger as her extraordinary mind began to rapidly calculate the gains and losses.

...Stay calm. After all, the only place that rebellious brat can go is North Wales, where Kay is. I might as well consider this a shortcut.

Morgan’s ultimate goal had been to entrust the child to Kay, using the pretext of co-parenting to bind him to her side.

The courier had simply changed from herself to X Alter, but the result remained the same: the child would end up in Kay’s arms. The gentle Kay could never turn his back on an abandoned baby.

“Yes... now is not the time for anger. I shall instead refine my plan on how to thoroughly wrap that man around my finger.”

Regaining her composure, Morgan let a predatory smile curl on her lips amidst the ruins of her workshop.

Meanwhile, far to the north—completely unaware of the witch’s plot and the daring escape—a commotion of a entirely different nature was unfolding in the dining hall of the North Wales castle.

“Wait, brother!! After beating me into submission so seriously, why are you suddenly wearing an apron and cooking for me!? If you keep this up, I'll seriously get the wrong idea! Hurry and take me to the bedroom! Hold me right now!!”

Until a moment ago, Artoria Lancer Alter had been fighting a bloody battle in the training yard, but now, her head swathed in bandages, she clung to Kay’s apron, whining desperately.

Utterly defeated and smitten by Kay’s masculine charm, she was showering him with blatant advances like a giant dog in heat, her fearsome reputation completely forgotten.

“Ugh, please just stop it! Enough with the nonsense and just eat your food!!”

Kay grimaced and slammed a plate heaped with thick, grilled wild boar steaks down in front of her.

“Here!! I grilled a ton of meat, so eat this and shut up! If you keep talking, I’m taking it back!”

“Ahh! Such a heartfelt meal cooked just for me! As expected of my partner... *sob*... it’s so delicious...!”

The moment the meat hit her tongue, Artoria Lancer Alter’s expression turned to one of pure bliss, chewing the steak until her cheeks bulged.

It was the first proper meal she had eaten in five years; tears of joy blurred her vision.

Watching this absurdity, Kay pressed a hand to his forehead and let out a deep sigh.

And at that same moment.

On a forest path on the outskirts, where the North Wales castle could be seen in the distance.

“Haah... we’ve finally arrived.”

X Alter stopped in her tracks, pulling down the brim of her blue cap.

Beside her stood Artoria Caster, draped in a cloak and leaning on her staff, and the massive armored knight Britomart, whose heavy footsteps echoed through the woods.

“Wow~! North Wales is truly overflowing with magical energy! I can feel this incredible maelstrom of mana all the way from the castle to here... I bet everyone is raising absolute hell, right?”

Artoria Caster smiled radiantly, pointing toward the distant castle. However, X Alter’s gaze remained firm and piercing.

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