Chapter 9: Staying Over
[You encountered Morgan in the library.]
[She was furious about the matter between you and Artoria, absolutely unwilling to forgive you.]
[But you used some kind of "special method," calming her mood.]
[The situation slightly improved, but between her and Artoria the swords were still drawn.]
"My husband, I have roughly understood the situation."
Morgan calmly wrapped her arm around Eikou, her soft body leaning against him:
"Since this is the school's arrangement, I have no other choice. Though I still have misgivings in my heart, this time I'll let you off."
"If you can understand, that's the best…"
"But I must say it again, compared to you relying on Artoria, you might as well come to me. In the past I was a Fairy inclined toward wisdom, my knowledge is profound, and in imparting learning I am absolutely no worse than that Red Dragon."
"Knowledge not inferior to me? I have no interest in listening to insults from an irrational Berserker."
Before Eikou could say more, Artoria spoke up, pulling him from Morgan's embrace:
"Alright Eikou, hurry back and continue the supplementary lesson. Because of that woman we've already wasted several minutes of study time."
"Hey… adult boar of Tintagel, are you planning to snatch him away outright?"
Artoria's green eyes calmly looked at Morgan: "No. Right now is just supplementary study time. Irrelevant people please leave, this is not your place… speaking of which, what is a Tintagel boar?"
"I'm not an irrelevant person, I am his wife!" Morgan declared firmly.
"Another delusion born of obsession? Have you finally let go of Britain only to get entangled in something else?"
"You are wrong, absolutely not a delusion! In order to realize my ambition, I diligently move forward every single day — just so I can live under the same roof with him. I have already taken the initiative to apply for guardianship with his parents overseas, and they are very pleased with me. Once the paperwork is completed, Eikou will officially move into my house."
Morgan solemnly announced: "If we round it up, at present I can already be considered his legal guardian. If you want to approach him, or tutor him, you must go through my approval!"
"Wait, this is the first time I've heard of this! What kind of rounding up is that?!" Eikou shouted.
But compared to that matter, the more pressing problem was how to reconcile the conflict between these two sisters.
Help me, Shikibu-san, can you step in and save me?!
Carrying a bit of hope, he turned his head toward Shikibu.
The beautiful, full-figured widow's eyes shone brightly as she watched the scene of the three of them.
"Could this be what's called a 'Shurafield' so often mentioned in light novels and modern films…"
Shikibu spoke with a face full of admiration.
Eikou inwardly cried: it's over, this person has absolutely no intention of helping, she purely came to watch the drama and gather material for writing!
No hope of rescue anymore, not a single one of these three women is reliable!
[Next comes the endless, endless, endless argument of the two Pendragon sisters that seemed as if it would never end.]
[In this situation, not only could you not focus on studying, you instead had to spend effort trying to mediate the sisters' conflict.]
[Unknowingly, by the time you all realized, it was already 11:30 at night.]
[When you finally managed with great difficulty to persuade the two Britain sisters, you were shocked to discover you had missed the dormitory lights-out by at least two full hours.]
[Tonight you can only spend the night outside.]
"…I am truly sorry to you, Eikou."
The serious, upright face of the King of Knights now showed a faint blush of guilt:
"At first I wanted to teach you properly, but was interrupted for so long by that uninvited guest. Not only did I fail to teach you anything, but I also caused you to miss the dormitory lights-out. Truly a disgrace to the title of knight."
Eikou only shrugged; he had already accepted his fate long ago.
That said, it was an eye-opening experience. These two usually give off the feeling of icy mountains, yet when they meet a mortal enemy they can bare their fangs and claws like ordinary people.
"It's fine, Artoria-sensei," he said, "tomorrow you just need to testify for me so the school won't deduct my points."
"Of course. After all, this is my responsibility." Artoria nodded.
The two looked outside the library; the sky was already dark as ink.
"Then, Eikou, where is your home?"
Artoria's green eyes were like a deep lake as she quietly looked at him:
"Allow me the chance to escort you home, as atonement."
"That… well…"
Eikou showed a helpless expression:
"Actually I'm a transfer student who just came this year, my parents are both working abroad. If I don't stay in the dorm, I have nowhere to go."
Not to mention he still had to find a safe enough place, in case Sesshouin followed and attacked him in the middle of the night.
"I see." She nodded. "Then it's even simpler. Tonight you can stay right at the casino hotel under my command. To make up for tonight, I'll arrange for you to stay in the most luxurious royal suite!"
"Wait a minute, Artoria, what kind of trick are you planning again?"
Morgan said sternly, her cold jade-white hand grabbing Eikou's arm as she pulled him close.
"How could I allow my husband to stay at your hotel? What if you take the opportunity to seize him? Tonight, if he stays anywhere it must be with me. Whether it's the Orkney hotel or my house, in any case he absolutely cannot go with you!"
…Why does it feel more like you are the one plotting something improper with me? Especially when tonight all your children aren't home, wouldn't it be perfect for you to "eat me alive" without anyone interrupting!
Eikou muttered inwardly.
"This is even more unacceptable!"
The Lion King also reached out, pulling him toward herself,
"You just called him husband, what you intend to do with him tonight I dare not even imagine. Eikou is my first student; I will absolutely not let him fall into a rabbit hole."
"The private matters between me and my husband have nothing to do with you! Don't make a fool of yourself here, adult boar!"
"What on earth is an adult boar?"
"..."
Eikou thought to himself, maybe I should just find some random inn to sleep at—better to let Sesshouin kidnap or ambush me at midnight than watch these two sisters keep arguing.
"Well then, if neither of you can trust the other…"
Murasaki Shikibu, who had been watching the drama for quite a while, finally spoke:
"Then all of you just sleep together, that way you can supervise each other, isn't that better?"
Hearing that suggestion, everyone froze.
"…Genius."