"All this meat… in just one night?"
Morgan looked at the villagers, who were devouring the fresh meat, clearly astonished.
"Yep!" Artoria nodded.
"This way, everyone can eat their fill, right?"
"..."
Morgan wasn't surprised—she knew Artoria still felt guilty about their conversation yesterday.
"But this still doesn't solve the root problem, does it?"
"The food will run out eventually."
"Then things will go back to how they were before."
"No, that won't happen!"
This time, Artoria didn't fall silent.
"Getting everyone full now gives them energy to act."
"We'll definitely find a way to keep them fed."
"So no—it won't go back to the way things were. It won't!"
"..."
In just one night, Artoria's mindset had changed completely.
Morgan knew something must've happened between her and Ian while she was channeling Tiamat's power.
Good.
That's what she wanted.
The closer Artoria and Ian grew, the easier it would be to request things from Tiamat later on.
"So what's your plan then, Artoria?"
"First, figure out why this village ended up like this!"
Artoria answered immediately.
"There must be a reason!"
"Hmm."
Morgan didn't object to her approach.
"Let's give it a try, then."
And so—
The two sisters, who had recently been on awkward terms, began working together again.
However, their methods clearly differed, and soon they split up.
Artoria went to ask the villagers, hoping to get answers from them.
Morgan chose a more direct approach—using her skills as a mage to uncover the truth behind this land's condition.
But soon, Morgan realized something odd…
Why was Ian following her?
Morgan definitely did not want to become Tiamat's enemy too.
"Strange knight—"
"The king is over there."
"You should be by her side."
"…"
Ian didn't answer. Instead, he approached.
Unlike Artoria, Morgan wasn't familiar with him, so she was naturally at a loss in this kind of situation.
"What are you trying to do?"
"You suddenly smell really good—"
Ian gave his response.
Although it sounded a bit off-topic.
"I smell good?"
This was the first time Morgan had heard such a comment.
But she quickly realized it wasn't exactly a compliment.
Because Ian's next words were:
"Just like my mother."
"…"
Recalling Tiamat's obsessive behavior, Morgan immediately felt attacked.
Wasn't that basically calling her an obsessive maniac too?!
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
Still, she was curious about what had happened yesterday.
Maybe… she'd just accept that reasoning?
"Is that so?"
"Then your mother must be very important to you—"
"Otherwise, you wouldn't insist on staying by my side."
"Yeah, she's definitely important."
Ian nodded.
Even though he had left his mother Tiamat's side, that didn't mean he had no feelings for her.
"I see."
"Then… come along for now."
Naturally, Morgan "accepted" Artoria's knight Ian and began her investigation.
But in truth, she already had a rough idea in her heart.
Land doesn't turn barren for no reason.
Rivers don't suddenly start drying up.
At the root of it all, the environment of Britain was deteriorating.
This was just the tip of the iceberg.
Because of that, it was even more impossible to entrust it to Artoria.
She couldn't stop any of it.
Morgan stroked the ground with her fingers, her brow filled with concern for this land.
But at that moment—
She felt a tickling sensation on her neck.
"This part smells the best."
"Eh?!"
Morgan suddenly reacted.
While she was lost in thought, Ian had silently approached her!
"How dare you! That's too—"
Morgan was just about to speak, but Ian quickly covered her mouth.
Then he continued:
"Just for a moment."
"Please, don't move."
Of course Morgan couldn't just do as Ian said.
But she soon realized his physical strength far exceeded her expectations.
Trying to break free from his grip was completely impossible!
The boy leaned in and sniffed at her neck for a while.
In the end, he even took a bite, as if confirming something.
"Just as I thought."
"It's the same scent as my mother."
"…"
Morgan quickly realized it was Tiamat's crystallization that had misled Ian.
But still…
Wasn't his method of confirming things a bit too absurd?
He just came over and sniffed her?
Then again, thinking it through, it wasn't all that surprising.
After all, his mother was already an overwhelming presence.
Having a son like this—maybe it wasn't strange at all.
And if she really thought about it—
Wasn't this an opportunity?
Feeling Ian's somewhat reckless breathing, Morgan suppressed her other emotions.
"Ian, since that's the case, can I ask you a question?"
"A question?"
Sensing the aura on Morgan that resembled his mother's, Ian naturally didn't resist her words.
"What question?"
"It's just—"
Morgan leaned toward Ian's ear and asked softly,
"What exactly did you two do last night?"
"Nothing happened."
Ian answered, then added as if recalling something,
"Or maybe… we exchanged something."
"Exchanged something?"
"Yeah." Ian nodded.
"I kissed her once, she kissed me once. So we don't owe each other anything. That means nothing really happened."
He said it casually.
But Morgan felt her head buzzing.
They already kissed twice?
Things progressed that quickly?
A bold plan began to form quietly in Morgan's mind.
To truly turn Artoria into Tiamat's enemy—
Necessary sacrifices were acceptable.
Morgan turned around.
"You just said… you really liked my scent, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then, if you do one thing, I'll let you get even closer."
Morgan tempted Ian with a vague tone.
The boy was clearly interested in the condition.
"What do I need to do?"
"Confess to Artoria."
Morgan enunciated each word clearly.