"I hope these Wind Clan fairies understand far more than the Earth Clan fairies we just interrogated."
Morgan spoke to Lot.
"Mm, indeed. Let's hope they're of some use."
Lot fully agreed with Morgan's sentiment.
Right now, they were eager to figure out what the fairies were plotting so they could prepare countermeasures accordingly.
On the other hand,
it was also because the Wind Clan fairies were practically useless.
Unlike the Earth Clan, who could mine, haul bricks, and build houses,
the Wind Clan fairies were all slender, beautiful men and women.
Forcing them to do hard labor? Clearly, they weren't cut out for it.
As for assigning them other tasks
like the kind of scenarios you'd only see in certain online storage content
that was also impossible.
Never mind that the Wind Clan had plenty of males. Though they were currently in the land of the "rotten Britons," they were nothing like those Anglo-Saxons.
"We Celts are straightforward no sodomy here."
Lot had already decided: this trend had to be stamped out in the future.
If anyone dared suggest they had those tendencies, he'd give them a proper "education" with Joyeuse.
Otherwise, future unofficial histories would surely twist the narrative
"Why was the Round Table full of pretty boys? Because King Lot himself had a taste for them!"
Aside from that, Lot was, after all, a man from 21st-century China.
While he couldn't be expected to treat prisoners as kindly as the PLA,
he also refused to act like a complete monster.
Thus,
if the Wind Clan truly knew nothing, finding suitable work for them would be difficult.
"If all else fails, send them to the mines too."
Lot thought to himself.
At that moment, Lot arrived at the area where the Wind Clan fairies were bound.
Seeing Lot and the others approach, the fairy at the front a curvy, moderately attractive fairy girl (though nowhere near as stunning as Lot's family) spoke up:
"Who are you people? Bandits? We don't have any money for you."
"We're not here for money. We're here for you."
That line came from Gawain.
Lot didn't have the guts to say it himself.
Morgan was perfect in every way
except when it came to jealousy.
And she was ferocious about it.
But Lot didn't mind.
Her jealousy just proved how much she cared.
And it wasn't the petty, childish kind it was the sweet, heartwarming sort.
As for fantasies of a harmonious harem where no one ever got jealous?
Back when he first transmigrated, Lot had entertained such ideas.
But after meeting Morgan, those delusions vanished.
One fascinating wife was infinitely better than a hundred dull trophies.
Hearing Gawain's "we're here for you" remark, the fairy girl studied his face and hesitated.
"Hmm… that might not be so bad…"
She replied to Gawain.
Gawain was horrified.
"Big sis, please no I'm not even a year old yet! I'm still a child!"
Just as things were about to take a yuri turn,
Morgan cast a spell, making the fairy groan in pain.
"Behave yourself."
Morgan glared at her.
"Just who are you people?"
The fairy, now in pain, couldn't believe they were mere bandits.
No ordinary bandit could wield such power.
"Little girl, I'm the one asking questions here."
Morgan stepped closer, gripping the fairy's chin.
(She really does look like a villain right now…)
Lot watched his wife's actions with amusement.
Morgan shot him a glare over her shoulder.
"Seriously? I'm interrogating someone, and you're over there roasting me? How appropriate."
Hmph.
You pervert.
Despite her mental complaints, her expression grew even more villainous.
"I want to know why are you fairies helping those refugees rebuild their homes?"
Morgan pressed on, her tone threatening.
The Wind Clan fairy, however, put on a proud front:
"We fairies live in harmony with humans, so we help them rebuild. What you're doing is sabotaging Camelot!"
She wanted to puff out her chest proudly, but after glancing at Gawain and then Morgan, she lost the nerve.
Had Artoria been present, this fairy would've insisted on sticking her chest out in front of her.
"Sabotage? The real saboteurs here are you."
The fairy's righteous act didn't fool Morgan.
"You dare lie to my face?"
"Do you really think I wouldn't notice?"
"How is rebuilding homes for humans 'sabotage'?"
The fairy retorted.
Morgan narrowed her eyes.
"Oh? Trying to reason with me now?"
"Of course. Some things should be discussed logically, no?"
The fairy, thinking she'd gained the upper hand, smiled triumphantly.
Then
THWACK! THWACK!
Morgan rapped her head twice with her staff.
"Too bad I'm not a reasonable person. Either confess everything now, or find out just how creative I can be with punishments."
Morgan's tone left no room for doubt.
The fairy met her gaze, trying to project defiance.
But Morgan's oppressive stare never wavered.
The two locked eyes for a long moment.
Finally
the fairy cracked.
She wasn't particularly afraid of death, but Morgan's expression promised something far worse.
"Sorry, Clan Leader…"
"It's not that I'm weak it's that she's too terrifying…"
Tearfully, she stammered:
"I I really don't know much! Our clan leader just ordered us to build good relations with humans… and to make sure they turn to us fairies first in times of need…"
She spilled everything she knew.
She was a Wind Clan fairy from the Fairy Realm.
A few days prior, their clan leader had summoned them and assigned tasks:
Work with the Earth Clan to aid humans.
Vortigern had ravaged many regions, and they were to rebuild the ruined towns.
Most of Vortigern's attacks targeted remote areas where government aid couldn't arrive quickly.
This gap was their opportunity.
"The Earth Clan only knew to rebuild houses they had no idea about the bigger plan. Our job was to win over the humans, to make them rely on us fairies instead of the government."
"And then?"
Morgan pressed.
"I don't know."
The fairy shrugged.
After observing her, Morgan and Lot concluded she was likely telling the truth.
"So what are these fairies planning?"
Morgan murmured, puzzled.
Meanwhile, Lot was inwardly shocked.
(Rural cities? Are these fairies playing that advanced a game? But this isn't China mobilizing peasants here wouldn't achieve much.)
In this era, the number of destroyed towns was relatively small. Many were near castles and had already been restored before the fairies could intervene.
The affected population was a drop in the bucket compared to Camelot's whole.
Trying to threaten his rule with these people?
That'd be harder than Gambia defeating the UN Security Council.
(Hmm… if not that, then the fairies must need humans for something else. Either way, we'll disrupt their plans.)
"Forget it. Let's take these fairies back first. We'll see how the others react. This move is called 'beating the grass to startle the snakes.'"
"Agreed."
Morgan nodded.
She extended her magic, threads rising to leash the bound fairies.
"Where are you taking us?!"
The lead fairy panicked.
"Where? How about a trip to the White Chalk City?"
Lot smirked.
"White Chalk City… then you're !"
The fairy seemed to realize their identities.
"Yep. Exactly who you're thinking."
Lot added mockingly:
"And since we're being 'kind captors,' I'll explain: your construction projects lacked permits. Illegal buildings harm Camelot's citizens, so of course I'm confiscating them."
"But we didn't charge any money!"
The fairy protested instinctively.
Lot tossed a copper coin at her.
"Now you've been paid. Let's go."
With that, Morgan and Gawain led the fairies away.
Their destination: the nearest castle.
Upon arrival, the guards initially stood ready for battle
until they recognized Lot and Morgan.
The castle's commander, a graduate of the imperial exams, hurried out to greet them.
Seeing the captured fairies, he was stunned.
"Your Majesty, why have you arrested these fairies?"
"Oh? Is there a problem?"
Lot countered.
"Your Majesty, these fairies have been diligently helping rebuild towns destroyed by Vortigern. They even repaired this castle after an attack. Arresting them seems… rash."
"Fool. Do you think fairies help humans out of kindness?"
Lot scolded.
He clapped the officer's shoulder.
"Remember: the most expensive things in life are free. If they're not after money, their goal is far greater."
"I understand."
The officer nodded, then hesitantly added:
"But… there are many fairies nearby. Won't capturing these ones provoke them?"
"Provoke them…?"
Morgan, ever the iron-willed queen, clenched her fist.
"The dead don't provoke."
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty…"
The officer paled.
Lot, however, laughed.
"Relax. With me and Gawain here, nothing will go wrong."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
The officer bowed, secretly excited.
He'd heard of Lot and Morgan slaying the dragonified Vortigern.
Witnessing their power firsthand?
That was a privilege.
In this era, mystery had yet to fade from Britain.
The fairies of Britain hadn't fully retreated to the Reverse Side of the World.
Many still lived among humans.
The Mirror Clan
a lineage of fairies gifted with prophecy.
Once, they'd been detached, indifferent even to life and death.
But no longer.
Now, they were the most unsettled of all.
Their prophetic abilities had failed.
The future was now a foggy abyss.
Only whiteness remained.
This had persisted for ten years.
Ten years of blindness.
For the Mirror Clan, this was worse than death.
Even if they'd foreseen their own extinction, they wouldn't have cared.
But this void?
It terrified them.
Their calm shattered, replaced by agitation.
Emotions ran wild.
And they weren't alone.
All fairies felt it
a creeping wrongness in their minds.
Something was changing them.
The very concept of the Six Great Clans had emerged during this time, solidifying unnoticed.
They searched for the cause.
What had happened that year?
The only major event:
the death of the previous King of Orkney,
and the rise of the new
King Lot.
Nothing else stood out.
Yet the future had diverged.
Artoria had not become king.
Though she'd drawn the Sword in the Stone,
it was Lot and Morgan who ruled.
And Britain thrived under them
contrary to prophecy.
So the fairies resolved:
They would correct this.
They'd reshape Britain to their design.
And their first obstacle?
Lot and Morgan.
But the fairies knew they couldn't defeat Lot alone.
So they'd allied with Vortigern.
Yet even Vortigern, fearsome as he was, was a known threat.
Lot?
He brought only uncertainty.
And so
they feared him.
The Mirror Clan's leader gazed into the still-chaotic future and sighed.
Then, he entered the Fairy Realm's grand council chamber.
The fairies now lived clustered together, despite their clan divisions.
Inside, two fairies were arguing.
One, a towering, wolf-like figure, snarled:
"We help humans, and they dare imprison our kin? I won't stand for it! I'll lead a rescue myself! Last time, you sent my clansmen to war, and few returned. I tolerated it then but no more!"