In the wilderness northwest of Camelot...
Morgan and her group were leading the surviving refugees who had escaped the "Holy Punishment" toward the deep mountains in that direction.
Although Shiomi had acted immediately at the time, the Enforcement Knights struck first. Under a storm of arrows, even though some managed to flee through the main gate, most of the refugees were still killed.
According to Nitocris's intel, the area ahead was inhabited by the mountain people.
However, they lacked the means to shelter or care for nearly a hundred refugees.
While the refugees were deeply grateful to Morgan and Bedivere for rescuing them, doubts still lingered—how long would these people, so different in race and culture, truly protect them?
It was then that Bedivere stepped forward and proposed heading toward the mountain people's territory. He offered the act of protecting the refugees as proof of goodwill, to avoid being seen as a threat by the elders of the mountains.
With this arrangement, the refugees were finally reassured. They continued following the three camels, slowly making their way through the desolate plains.
One of the camels had even been given to a mother carrying her child, Rushd. Her name was Salia.
"A well-handled negotiation, Sir Bedivere," Morgan remarked mildly.
Bedivere was startled and quickly lowered his head in humility. "Not at all. This is the only thing I'm any good at. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been allowed to remain among the Knights of the Round Table."
"The Knights of the Round Table, hmm..." Scáthach mused. "Did you escape from that White Wall City?"
"No. I came to this Singularity for... certain reasons," Bedivere replied vaguely.
Caren, seated beside Morgan on the same camel, leaned slightly against her and asked, "Is it really okay for you to travel with people like us?"
"It's a fair concern, especially since... you're now traveling with none other than the great witch Morgan," came Romani's voice through the communicator. "Honestly, I expected you to go your separate way once we retreated to safety."
Bedivere seemed surprised by the voice. "From the sound of it, you come across as a wise and adaptable person... someone perceptive and resilient. Am I right?"
"Oh... I wasn't expecting to be praised like that. You're making me a bit embarrassed."
Back in Chaldea, he and Shiomi often exchanged light banter and compliments during idle chats.
Usually, it was half in jest, half in earnest. Like during the New Year's celebration, when Shiomi praised Romani's wisdom as being more precious than the Ten Commandments.
Among the group headed to this Singularity, aside from the director who was always strict with Romani, the others weren't so harsh.
But being complimented so sincerely by a stranger like this still made Romani feel a bit awkward.
"He really is a wise man," Morgan teased playfully. "So, Sir Bedivere—why did you choose to stand with us against your old companions?"
"...In truth, I witnessed your battle with the Knights of the Round Table a few days ago. The situation was changing so rapidly that before I had the chance to step in, the Holy Lance had already been unleashed." Bedivere nodded slightly. "After that, I saw all of you heading toward the territory of the Sun King, so I went on ahead to Camelot alone."
And as it turned out, he had unexpectedly run into the Chaldea girls there—so he simply took the chance to lend a hand.
"But why do you trust us?" Scáthach asked. "Did Merlin tell you something?"
"Just as you said, Lady Scáthach. Sir Merlin did say that if I encountered Chaldea, I shouldn't fear Morgan's presence. And if there was someone named Romani Archaman among them, I should seek their help." Bedivere confirmed her guess.
But he added, a little surprised, "I didn't expect the Queen of the Land of Shadows to know Sir Merlin. That's quite unexpected."
"It's nothing," Scáthach replied. "I was only able to escape the Land of Shadows during the incineration of human history and go to Chaldea to assist my beloved disciple thanks to Merlin—or rather, someone who is both Merlin and not Merlin."
"Eh?" Bedivere was completely confused. "Someone who's... kind of like Merlin?"
Morgan raised an eyebrow. This was the first time she had heard of it too. "If it's not Merlin, then who is it?"
"Well, she calls herself Lady Avalon—Merlin's sister." Scáthach gave a meaningful smile. "Since that's what she claims, we might as well go along with it."
"But I've never heard of Sir Merlin having a sister…" Bedivere felt something was off.
Still, considering it was Merlin, it somehow made a strange sort of sense.
"Seriously? Merlin has a sister? That's impossible!" Romani exclaimed. "That guy's a half-incubus, half-human hybrid, but I've never heard anything about a sister!" Then his eyes widened. "Wait a second… don't tell me it's Magi☆Mar—"
Thud!
Romani was knocked out cold by Da Vinci, who took over the transmission in his place.
"All right, all right, let's set Romani's outburst aside for now. Bedivere, since you're willing to assist Chaldea, that means you intend to stop the Lion King and the Knights of the Round Table too, right?"
"That's right. I originally planned to blend in with the refugees and use the chance offered by the 'Holy Selection' to enter Camelot and meet my king..." Bedivere looked troubled. "But I never imagined the 'Holy Selection' would turn out like this. Sir Gawain even ignored the code of chivalry and raised his sword against defenseless refugees."
"In any case, with just the few of us, we're too weak to launch an invasion." Morgan glanced at Bedivere's prosthetic right arm, sensing the secret it held. She then stated calmly and firmly, "We need to find Servants we can work with to strengthen our forces. Only then can we truly destroy that false Camelot."
Bedivere remained silent.
Though it was difficult for him, as a Knight of the Round Table, to trust Morgan, the fact remained—if the Round Table had become tyrants enforcing oppression, then it was Morgan, seeking to destroy the ideal city of King Arthur, who now stood on the just side.
Even if she still aimed to destroy Camelot.
This ironic twist of fate in the Singularity left a bitter taste in Bedivere's mouth.
Setting aside all irrelevant thoughts, Bedivere focused on what he needed to do. Clenching his prosthetic arm, he asked, "May I ask you one more thing, Lady Morgan?"
"Speak."
"I remember Chaldea had many people just two days ago. Why are there only three of you now?" Bedivere asked with concern.
Morgan let out a quiet sigh. "My husband was captured after holding off the Holy Lance alone. One person stayed behind in Ozymandias' territory to make preparations. The others left from there to explore the Singularity in separate directions... By now, they should have reached the Atlas Institute."