Chapter 104: Was I This Incompetent in Another Timeline?

Bedivere entered the white walls of Camelot.

This city was renowned throughout all of Britain. Everyone knew of the splendor of Camelot. While it couldn't compare to Rome, it represented the pinnacle of British architecture.

Bedivere had heard travelers speak of this city when they passed through his hometown, filling him with longing. Now seeing it firsthand, he found it even more magnificent than described. It wasn't just the scale of the city, but also the density of its population.

Bedivere observed carefully, wanting to determine whether Morgan and Lot were rulers worthy of his loyalty. Being undefeated in battle didn't necessarily make one praiseworthy or worthy of service. Before Lot's war against the Tyrant Vortigern, Vortigern had been similarly undefeated, his prestige even greater than Camelot's current standing.

But if asked to join Vortigern's faction, Bedivere would absolutely refuse. That wasn't a lord he could follow. So he wanted to observe whether King Lot was a ruler he could pledge himself to. Only after careful observation could he make his decision.

Bedivere began quietly watching the citizens of Camelot. Their condition would reveal the nature of Lot's rule.

He noticed the people moving through Camelot's streets fell into two main categories. The first were those who had come to participate in the civil service examinations. People from across Britain had flocked to the city for these tests, making Camelot more bustling than ever.

It turned out that while Lot and Morgan's crackdown on the nobility was severe, not all nobles opposed them. Many actually supported Lot's reforms. These were often nobles without inheritance rights in their families. Now that Lot offered them the chance to become local administrators through examination, they were enthusiastic participants.

"I never had lands to begin with, so why worry about whether my future children will inherit any?" they thought. "With hard work, maybe I can rise from being a landless noble to a powerful court official with vast estates in Camelot."

Everyone has wishful thinking. Some of these younger noble sons, having gotten this opportunity, saw themselves as chosen ones destined for greatness.

Bedivere noted their hopeful expressions and committed this to memory. That former targets of their policies could become loyal supporters spoke volumes about their political wisdom and understanding of human nature. Being skilled in war wasn't enough - one must also be able to govern.

Next, Bedivere turned his attention to Camelot's commoners. Compared to the noble sons, their lives were clearly more modest. Their clothes were mostly rough linen, not particularly comfortable. But Bedivere noticed that while the fabric was coarse, the garments were thick and warm. The people weren't fat, but neither were they emaciated from hunger. Their conversations were mostly cheerful.

"It seems King Lot is a ruler beloved by his people," Bedivere thought, growing more confident in Lot and Morgan.

Carrying his luggage, Bedivere entered Camelot proper. Before long, he encountered trouble.

"What?! Two Roman silver coins per night for a room?" he exclaimed at an innkeeper who told him they were fully booked.

In this era, population mobility was low, so inns rarely filled completely. Yet today, after visiting several inns, Bedivere found no vacancies. Unlike that old rogue Merlin - who would simply stay at a brothel when inns were full (where the beds were large and soft, with someone to warm them - much more comfortable than an inn) - Bedivere kept searching.

Finally, at a small inn that nobles wouldn't frequent, he found a room available - at that exorbitant price.

Faced with his stunned reaction, the innkeeper retorted: "Hey, if you think it's expensive, so do I! Can you find any room left in Camelot now? I had to remodel to make this space available."

"..."

What could he say to that?

"Fine, I'll take it..."

Just as he was about to agree, a diner in the tavern spoke up:

"I say, innkeeper, that kind of talk could get you killed. I once knew someone who talked like you - the grass on his grave is several meters tall now."

"What did you say?" The innkeeper immediately grew angry at these words. With a wave of his hand, several thugs emerged.

The innkeeper assessed the two at the table - the woman seemed no threat, and the man didn't look particularly strong. Then he looked at the traveler - missing an arm.

Perfect, today's my lucky day!

"Unless you can explain yourselves, all three of you will be working off your debt here!" the innkeeper declared.

Hearing this, Bedivere quietly drew his sword. Even one-handed, he could easily handle these thugs.

But before he could act, the man with his back turned smashed a cup on the ground.

Suddenly, a squad of knights stormed in. Led by a petite knight, they arrested the innkeeper's thugs before Bedivere could process what was happening.

"They're the troublemakers! Why arrest me?" the innkeeper protested angrily to Artoria as he was taken.

"Hmph, you've been price-gouging during the examination period - that's market disruption," Artoria recited the explanation Lot had given her.

"...And then you attempted to attack His Majesty King Lot."

"What?! I never did that!" The innkeeper was stunned.

I'm just running a shady inn, at worst extorting some money. And you're charging me with regicide? That's way beyond me!

"Are you certain?" Lot asked leisurely.

This series of events left Bedivere dumbfounded.

Lot turned with a smile to the innkeeper: "Hello, my name is Lot."

[Received reports this was a shady establishment. Looks like my sting operation worked perfectly.]

Beside him, Morgan rolled her eyes at Lot.

This husband of hers - barely finished with work and already looking for amusement.

Originally they'd planned to team up to tease their daughter. But Gawain had developed countermeasures - the moment they approached, she'd pretend to sleep. Surely even the most shameless parents wouldn't wake a sleeping child just to tease her.

Morgan at least considered herself a decent mother. In these times, there was no such thing as mandatory homework, so when Gawain feigned sleep, they really couldn't do anything.

So the couple decided to find other entertainment.

Lot recalled those undercover emperor dramas from his past life.

Why not try it myself?

Thus began Lot and Morgan's sting operation. This inn was their first stop.

[Next I should receive the traveler's admiration. Ah, showing off before the commoners - I look so cool right now. Just like in those TV dramas.]

Thinking this, Lot turned to the "traveler."

Silver hair. One arm.

He looked familiar...

When he recognized Bedivere, Lot's cheerful expression vanished instantly.

Morgan, mistaking this for recognition of an enemy, nearly ordered the one-armed knight's arrest.

Then she heard Lot's thoughts:

[...Why did it have to be Bedivere? What am I trying to prove here? He'd have been fine without me.]

Even if all those thugs attacked Bedivere simultaneously, it wouldn't have been a problem. Among the famous Knights of the Round Table, his combat skills might not rank at the top, but that's only relative to other elite knights.

It's like boxing against Tyson for dozens of minutes before losing - you're no match for Tyson, but that doesn't mean you're weak. Bedivere was like that.

Hearing Lot's thoughts, Morgan thought:

Huh?

So this one-armed youth was one of my sister's subordinates in the original history?

He seems decent.

From today, he'll serve me and Lot.

Meanwhile, Bedivere finally reacted: "Your Majesties, I am the knight Bedivere."

"Excellent. What brings you here?" Morgan asked.

"I've come to participate in the selection examinations," Bedivere replied respectfully.

"Well then, I wish you success in the examinations," Morgan said after some thought.

"Thank you, Your Majesty Morgan." The encouragement brought a gentle smile to Bedivere's face.

After a few more encouraging words, Morgan and Lot had Artoria's knights handle the aftermath while they departed.

Once outside, Morgan said to Lot: "It seems we may recruit another excellent knight."

"You mean Bedivere?" Lot sounded surprised. "You can tell he's extraordinary?"

"Of course," Morgan smiled knowingly. "My intuition is sharp. I could tell at a glance he's an exceptional knight."

All this, of course, came from Lot's own thoughts. She was just taking advantage - and enjoying his surprise.

Wait no - as Lot's wife, weren't they one entity? What he knew was hers too. This wasn't taking advantage.

Morgan's words did shock Lot.

[My wife's discernment is this sharp? Unlike in history where she sent sons to undermine Artoria only for them to defect, now she can identify talented subordinates on her own. What a huge change.]

Hearing her husband's thoughts, Morgan's smile froze.

What? What are you saying?

I know I was incompetent in another timeline.

But... my sons were sent to serve my sister?

And they defected?!

Good lord.

Was I really that pathetic?

Morgan felt ashamed.

She knew her limitations - her judgment was completely unreliable. Left to her own devices, things would likely have turned out as Lot imagined - not only losing the throne but having her children defect too.

All thanks to Lot.

Morgan looked at Lot with newfound affection. She was about to say something tender when Lot continued thinking:

[Seems my education worked. My wife becoming like this is all my doing. Pity it's not complete - if only I could shape her into the perfect gentle wife and mother.]

"..."

Get lost!

Am I not good enough as I am?

I'm ignoring you for three seconds.

One... two... three.

Time's up.

Morgan said smugly to Lot: "Hey Lot, want to bet I can make this Bedivere completely loyal to us?"

"You? I doubt it."

[Little Bedivere doesn't have obvious weaknesses like Tristan. You can't easily win his loyalty.]

"If you don't believe me, let's make a wager."

"Fine, let's bet."

"Then prepare to lose," Morgan laughed.

She leaned close to Lot's ear: "I never lose. Do you know why I've never failed in life until now?"

"Why?"

"Because I married you."

With that, she kissed Lot's cheek - warm and moist - then took his hand.

"Since we can't play with Gawain today, let's enjoy the city."

Though already a mother, Morgan retained a maiden's heart. Holding Lot's hand, she was like a young girl newly in love.

Lot felt much the same.

As they walked ahead cheerfully, Artoria and the knights followed behind. Though Morgan was a powerful mage and Lot no weakling, having guards couldn't hurt.

Artoria trailed them miserably.

Can't you just go home?!

I want to go eat!

But clearly, Morgan and Lot had no intention of granting her wish. They weren't done playing yet.

You'll just have to stay hungry a while longer.

...

Morgan and Lot could only relax because they'd finished preparing the examination materials. While they rested, the tests proceeded intensively.

After two days of rest, Bedivere's examination day arrived. He came early to the test site, which was divided into two sections - one testing knowledge, the other martial skills. Candidates could choose one or both.

"It seems this is to prepare for future position assignments," Bedivere thought, intrigued.

In this era, all positions were monopolized by nobles, assigned based on status and favor. Sometimes the mightiest warrior might end up a scribe. This examination system felt truly novel.

"Not bad at all," Bedivere mused as he entered the examination hall.

Both literary and martial tests began with basic literacy, which Bedivere passed easily.

At the entrance, he met the proctor - a red-haired knight he found oddly likable.

Tristan similarly assessed Bedivere.

"This knight seems extraordinary. If he performs well, we should recruit him for the Round Table. Though he has only one arm, I sense his skills are formidable."

As a knight proficient in both arts, Bedivere naturally chose to take both tests.

The literary examination began. He received the test paper, picked up his pen, and read the first question:

[There are chickens and rabbits in the same cage. Counting heads, there are 35. Counting legs, there are 94. How many chickens and rabbits are in the cage?]

Bedivere's expression instantly became fascinating.