Chapter 55: An Unexpected Catch (rewrite)

An Unexpected Catch

As Lott reeled in the fishing line, he immediately sensed something was amiss. Why is it so heavy? he wondered, noting that the resistance was far greater than what he'd encountered before. The weight on the line was different from the usual catches, making the fishing rod bend into a dramatic arc.

What could this be? Lott thought. Five or six catches of fish would be challenging for an ordinary angler, but the weight here suggested something far larger—perhaps even a hundred catties.

If Lott weren't an exceptionally skilled knight and if the fishing rod hadn't been specially reinforced by Morgan's magic, the rod might have broken under the strain. Intrigued, Lott continued to pull with all his might.

As the line slowly came up, the object gradually became visible. To Lott's astonishment, it wasn't an ordinary fish or item but a human figure.

The person was a young man, clearly taller and more robust than a typical teenager. Though still in his teens, he was strikingly handsome with shredded white hair partially covering his eyes. He wore a purple and black knight's uniform and held a sword that looked quite familiar.

The figure was dazed as he emerged from the river, the long river of time around them disappearing to reveal the river outside Chalk City. Lott and the young man were now back in the present time.

Lott observed the young man with a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. What in the world is this? he mused. He had never expected to catch a person while fishing and the young man seemed oddly familiar.

Galahad, for his part, was equally bewildered. He had been pulled away from his previous location and found himself in an unfamiliar place. His surroundings looked different from what he knew, and he was disoriented. He looked around cautiously, trying to understand where he was and how he had arrived there.

Lott's gaze settled on the young man, and he couldn't help but remark, "Why are you here?"

Galahad, still disoriented, tried to make sense of the situation. He had just seen his father but hadn't had a chance to communicate with him properly. Now, he found himself face-to-face with someone he hadn't expected to meet. His memory of his father was tainted by abandonment, and he wasn't keen on making connections under these circumstances.

"I don't know how I ended up here. Excuse me, who are you?" Galahad asked, trying to maintain his composure despite the shock.

"My name is Lott," Lott responded calmly. The angler is never an air force, he thought. Since Galahad had appeared, Lott was determined to make the most of this unexpected catch.

Observing Galahad, Lott noted that he was without a shield and appeared somewhat immature. He had not yet embarked on the quest for the Holy Grail, and Lott saw potential in him.

Galahad, recognizing the name Lott, was taken aback. Lott? Isn't he King Lot of Orkney? he thought, realizing that the person before him was significantly younger than he had anticipated. This didn't align with his knowledge of the king, who was supposed to be much older.

"Yes, I'm from Orkney," Lott confirmed, noticing Galahad's confusion. "Why do you ask?"

Galahad, still processing the revelation, stammered, "I need to return to Chalk City. I have some important matters to attend to."

Lott, catching on to Galahad's urgency, suggested, "Well, since I'm heading back to Chalk City as well, let's go together."

Galahad hesitated, unsure of Lott's true intentions. Why would the king be casually fishing and talking about government affairs? He wondered.

"Are you going back to Chalk City?" Galahad asked, still wary.

"Yes, I am. Is there a problem with that?" Lott replied, feigning innocence.

Galahad, feeling uneasy, continued to question Lott. "Why are you here alone? And why are you fishing?"

Lott, maintaining his casual demeanour, answered, "Fishing helps me relax after dealing with government affairs. It's a good way to decompress."

Galahad was struck by the news that King Uther had passed away and that Lott and Morgan were temporarily handling the government affairs. This revelation was shocking and confusing, adding to his disorientation.