"I don't understand Lott's character and actions at all. My Clairvoyance can't be used to observe him. As for Morgan, she doesn't have any abilities to block my vision, yet her actions often surprise me," Merlin confessed, looking puzzled.
Mash and Ritsuka Fujimaru exchanged concerned glances. The fact that even Merlin, with his mystical sight, couldn't foresee Lott's actions was troubling.
"Merlin, you mentioned that Morgan and Lott are leading an assault on Scotland. Do you think it will go smoothly?" Leonardo Da Vinci inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"Absolutely, it will be a resounding success," Merlin replied confidently.
"Oh? And what makes you so certain?" Da Vinci probed further.
Merlin began recounting the events where Lott and Morgan assisted Leodegrance, Guinevere's father, and how they gained loyalty from Scáthach. He even mentioned how they cleverly used a grenade against King Ryan during one of their encounters.
Hearing this, Ritsuka and Mash looked at each other with widened eyes. This was more than just knowing future events—it was as if they were seeing technology and knowledge from another time period.
"In this era, even with complete knowledge of history, creating something like a grenade would be impossible," Mash reasoned. "Even a military scientist couldn't achieve that with the primitive science of this time."
"Which means," Ritsuka continued her line of thought, "one of them has to be a time traveler. But who?"
Initially, they suspected Morgan, but as they learned more, Lott also seemed like a strong candidate. However, after considering Morgan's interactions with Scáthach, they leaned back toward her.
"Scotland won't stand a chance. We should consider what happens next—perhaps Ireland," Ritsuka speculated, now more eager to see Camelot's forces in action.
On the other side, Lott returned to Morgan's chambers.
"Well, I've communicated with them," Lott announced as he casually laid his head on Morgan's lap.
Morgan, sitting on the bed, looked down at him, half-amused, half-annoyed by his relaxed demeanor. "And what did you accomplish?"
"With my relentless persuasion, they've decided to fight us to the end," Lott said boastfully.
"I'm not sure that's something to be proud of," Morgan replied dryly.
"Of course it is! It's like handling a hostage situation—if you kill all the hostages, there's no problem left!" Lott said, shamelessly grinning.
Morgan shook her head in disbelief but found herself smirking at his outrageous logic. "And what else did you discuss?"
Lott began recounting his conversation with Ritsuka, including Merlin's sudden appearance.
"It seems we should find another chance to give that old white-haired liar a good beating," Morgan said thoughtfully.
"Definitely."
"Alright, let's get some rest. We have another battle tomorrow. I'm certain my sister won't interfere with our unification of Scotland, but she'll definitely be watching. If our strength hasn't grown, it will be a problem."
Morgan's voice trailed off, her concern for the looming challenges evident.
"Don't worry. Believe in yourself. And if that's not enough, believe in your husband!" Lott said, trying to reassure her.
"Your strength?" Morgan looked at him skeptically.
"Yes, my strength!" Lott paused, then added cheekily, "Both my physical strength and my handsome face. Surely, my charm alone can defeat Vortigern!"
"Are you saying your face is as thick as your skin?" Morgan quipped, laughing softly.
Lott just grinned, repositioning himself more comfortably in Morgan's arms.
Meanwhile, deep in the forests of Scotland, a mysterious figure appeared out of nowhere.
Dressed in a white noble outfit with delicate butterfly wings, his appearance was both ethereal and enigmatic. His hair was pure white, and a gentle smile graced his lips.
"Oberon. My name is Oberon now," he whispered to himself. "I have a mission to fulfill, and no one in this world must know my true identity."
With a light flutter of his wings, Oberon flew south, intent on observing the world below.
Back with Merlin and the Chaldea group, the atmosphere shifted as Merlin's expression grew serious for a moment.
"Is something wrong?" Ritsuka asked, noticing his change.
Merlin quickly masked his concern with a smile. "Oh, nothing major. Just thinking about our next steps."
"And what are those?" Ritsuka pressed.
Merlin shrugged. "We need to ensure the true protagonist of this story, my brilliant student, takes up her rightful role."
The next morning, the Camelot army was ready to march. Time was of the essence. Lott and Morgan knew that the scattered kingdoms of Scotland wouldn't be able to muster a unified force quickly, but they also understood the importance of swift and decisive action.
Ritsuka, Mash, Mordred, and Lancelot stood at the sidelines, observing the military preparations.
"The precision and discipline of this army… Is this even possible in this era?" Ritsuka muttered, watching the perfectly aligned soldiers.
"This level of coordination is rare, even in our time," Mash replied, astonished. "It's like nothing we've seen."
The sight of Camelot's well-drilled troops left the Chaldea group in awe. They realized that this wasn't just a medieval army; it was a force that defied the limits of the time period.
"Facing them head-on would be a disaster," Lancelot said grimly.
Ritsuka nodded in agreement. "We need to find a way to counter this. Only a powerful force, like the Roman Empire under Emperor Lucius, could possibly stand against them."
As the army began to move, Morgan, Lott, and their entourage prepared to board their ships. Following them was a woman dressed in a distinct style—Guinevere, the princess of Scotland.
They planned to reunite Guinevere with her father to show their goodwill. Despite her personal setbacks, they wanted to demonstrate that she was treated well.
Lancelot, seeing Guinevere from a distance, felt a strange pang of emotion. In this world, their paths had barely crossed. He wasn't sure how to feel or react.
With Camelot's forces ready to embark on their campaign, both sides were preparing for what would come next. For some, it was a chance to protect what they held dear. For others, it was an opportunity to change history. Either way, the stakes were high, and neither side would back down easily.
The clash of worlds and wits was only just beginning.