Chapter 201: The Winner Today Is Me, Manaka Sajyou!
Noah brought quite a few Ladies of the Lake and excellent Magi on this voyage.
Since he was heading to Japan to seize the Great Yata Barrier, many who weren't originally included in the initial version of the plan ended up being brought along in the end.
For example, Manaka Sajyou and Scáthach...
Initially, Noah hadn't planned to bring the two of them along, but since he now needed to construct an independent Formula Core in Japan, he decided to bring them as well.
As for Merlin, who still held the title of Britain's top Magus to this day, Noah simply left him behind in Rome.
And had Kay keep an eye on him.
This was to prevent Merlin from causing any trouble while Noah was away.
So this time, aside from the sailors, the Ladies of the Lake, and some of the Enforcement Knights, Noah brought Morgan, Vivian, Manaka Sajyou, and Scáthach along.
All to ensure that the Spell Formula this time wouldn't run into any issues.
However, what he didn't know was that while he was organizing the plan with Mary, over on Morgan's side, Manaka Sajyou had come looking for her.
"Do you need something?"
Seeing Manaka Sajyou at her door, Morgan was momentarily puzzled but didn't stop her.
After all, aside from her dislike for Merlin, Morgan's attitude toward others was never too harsh, especially since Manaka Sajyou had joined with resources and had already accomplished great feats as an Adjutant Officer.
"It's not exactly anything particularly important, but ever since I became the Adjutant Officer, that Merlin has been so detestable that I only just remembered now—it seems I haven't properly greeted you, my senior, until today. For a newcomer, that must seem rather arrogant, right?"
Manaka Sajyou wore a smile that easily won people over as she spoke.
Morgan hadn't paid much attention to such formalities before, but hearing Manaka Sajyou say this, she instinctively smiled.
—What a good child!
As long as you also dislike Merlin, we could even be sisters!
Morgan was quite pleased with Manaka Sajyou's visit.
But before she could chat with Manaka Sajyou for long, her door was knocked on once again.
This time...
"Lady Morgan, I noticed you didn't come for dinner tonight, so I brought the meal to you."
Vivian, using Magecraft to carry several dishes that looked freshly cooked, brought them to Morgan.
"Ah, come in then. I haven't eaten yet, so thank you for your trouble."
Hearing Morgan's words, Vivian entered the room wearing the perfect smile she had honed during her time as a maid.
Then she saw Manaka Sajyou, and their eyes met.
Well... the atmosphere became a bit awkward for a moment.
"Oh my, Lady Manaka is here too. This is quite a surprise."
Vivian paused for a moment before regaining her smile.
"But Lady Morgan hasn't had dinner yet. Is there something important you need to discuss, Lady Manaka?"
While placing the dishes on the table in Morgan's room, Vivian spoke to Manaka Sajyou in a seemingly casual but actually dismissive tone.
Manaka Sajyou, for her part, pretended not to understand at all and simply responded with a smile.
"I can't say I have anything particularly important... But seeing you, the head maid, personally delivering the meal, and clearly not just a single portion, I don't think Senior Morgan would mind if I stayed for a bite, right?"
Manaka Sajyou first emphasized the words "head maid," then turned to Morgan, immediately reverting to her well-behaved child demeanor.
Naturally, Morgan had no objections.
"Indeed, I can't finish all this food alone, so Manaka, please stay for dinner... Ah, Vivian, if you haven't eaten yet, you should stay and join us too."
Hearing Morgan say this, Manaka Sajyou and Vivian first smiled and nodded at Morgan, then simply took their seats.
Seeing them both seated, Morgan clapped her hands together.
"Right, since it's rare for the three of us to eat together, I brought along a nice bottle of wine. Let's have a little drink, like a girls' gathering, and chat a bit."
As Morgan said this, she turned to fetch the wine.
While Morgan was looking at Vivian and Manaka Sajyou, Vivian wore a perfect smile, and Manaka also maintained her good-girl appearance.
But once Morgan turned away, the two exchanged a glance. Their smiles remained unchanged, but their eyes turned icy cold.
If they had previously wondered why the other happened to show up so coincidentally, or thought the other had low emotional intelligence for not understanding their obvious hints to leave...
Now, with that one exchanged glance, they understood everything!
Because, ultimately, their plans were the same.
Both had their own little schemes regarding Noah, but they also knew that as long as Morgan remained by Noah's side, they wouldn't have much of a chance.
Getting rid of Morgan was impossible.
Vivian had never considered it, and Manaka Sajyou was well aware that if she did such a thing, there would be no place for her in this household!
So, after ruling out that possibility, they had essentially accepted Morgan's position.
But if getting rid of her wasn't an option, then at least for one day—whether by getting her drunk or something else—they could at least make her go to bed early!
As long as Morgan fell asleep early, then at least for tonight, they could take the initiative to make their move!
Manaka Sajyou was naturally aggressive in this regard.
And Vivian, having waited so long for the prophecy, felt it was time for her to be more proactive as well...
Both of them thought this way.
That's why they had shown up at Morgan's place.
Then...
After Morgan brought out a bottle of wine, Vivian and Manaka Sajyou resumed their original smiling faces and promptly produced the two large barrels of wine they had each brought, stored in their Spatial Bags!
It was time to drink until they dropped!
Morgan had suggested drinking simply because she felt like having a drink.
So when she saw Vivian and Manaka Sajyou had also brought wine, she didn't say anything, simply joining in.
Later, she was the first to propose drinking, and also the first to pass out.
After all, when drinking together, they naturally wouldn't use any Magecraft to dispel the effects of alcohol. Morgan took this for granted, so she quickly got drunk.
Then Vivian and Manaka Sajyou... The former cast a Magecraft spell on herself to dispel the effects of intoxication, while Manaka Sajyou was even more direct—she simply didn't drink at all, instead using a special method to transfer the alcohol she had consumed elsewhere!
"Tsk, it seems getting you drunk won't be so easy."
After Morgan passed out, the smile on Vivian's face vanished completely.
As she spoke these words, she embedded a single-syllable Dispersal Magecraft within the pronunciation of her sentence.
The target of this dispersal was the kind of Magecraft used to counteract drunkenness.
After employing a slight trick, she poured two more glasses of wine and placed one in front of Manaka Sajyou.
"Drink!"
She was done pretending—today, only one person would walk out of here standing!
That was what Vivian thought, but Manaka Sajyou took the "no-pretenses" approach even further!
Manaka Sajyou didn't use any Dispersal Magecraft.
Instead, she directly utilized her own connection to the Root to craft a Spell Formula specifically designed to render the Lady of the Lake unconscious, causing Vivian to pass out on the spot!
After accomplishing this, Manaka Sajyou walked over to Vivian's side and snorted coldly.
"A woman who drinks so much and reeks of alcohol before even launching an attack is completely unacceptable... There's no helping it with Senior Morgan, but with you, is drinking even necessary?"
With these words, Manaka Sajyou tidied up Morgan's room, placed Morgan on the bed, and covered her with a blanket.
As for Vivian...
Manaka Sajyou considered twice whether to simply toss her into the sea, but in the end, she didn't do it—though she also didn't bother with her.
Once she left Morgan's room, Manaka Sajyou resumed her usual good-girl demeanor and headed toward Noah's room.
She believed she had already won.
She believed she was nothing like that loser Vivian.
She believed she was today's victor!