The Pact

No matter the facts, Gawain had assumed Gwen—the nominal liege—would be the one to place the collar on Woodworth, that "mad dog." But now, inexplicably, the contract ended up handed to him.

Lycoris explained:

"Because of this master-servant pact's nature: the stronger the master, the stronger its binding power on Woodworth. This was the most potent constraint I could devise—provided you sign as Master."

"And as you said, Woodworth doesn't yet truly accept Gwen… but he highly respects the one who defeated him. If he pledges to you, he'll accept it more readily."

Gawain asked, still puzzled: "But how did you persuade him? It's hard to imagine why Woodworth would willingly accept such a pact…"

Lycoris paused, then said:

"Actually, it wasn't entirely my persuasion—it was Queen Morgan herself."

"Hm?" Gawain was surprised.

"It was Morgan's decree," Lycoris continued. "She wished Woodworth to assist Gwen after her departure… I simply presented Morgan's command, and Woodworth naturally agreed."

"Such a decree exists?" Gawain echoed. "Then why not present it at the outset?"

Lycoris hesitated—she hadn't prepared that rationale—but then offered:

"Queen Morgan surely has her deeper intent. I'm just a maid; how could I fully know her thoughts?"

Gawain, intrigued, proposed:

"Could it be she intended to test Gwen through Woodworth? That Woodworth was a trial Morgan set for Gwen and me—to see if Gwen could become a more fitting ruler? Perhaps Morgan left two orders: if Woodworth defeated Gwen, spare her; if he lost, surrender to Gwen."

Lycoris lit up: "Exactly—that's Morgan's intention. Well guessed, Gawain."

Gawain murmured: "I also thought maybe Morgan didn't care who won—Gwen or Woodworth—but simply, as a rational and stern queen, wanted them to fight to prove who truly deserves to rule Britain. Indeed, a cold-hearted monarch."

"Stop, stop, stop." Lycoris gently halted him. "Rather than that, you should first finalize the contract with Woodworth."

[Although puzzled, since Gwen offered no objection, the contract was delivered to you to sign with Woodworth.]

When Gawain presented the binding pact—crackling with potent magic—to Woodworth, who had been resting, Woodworth opened his eyes. Memories of Lycoris's words surfaced: she had said, "Those words came from Morgan's message projected through me; I am but a common maid, insignificant. Only the new queen and her chosen knight can change this kingdom. As a maid, all I can do is serve the one I have long awaited."

Woodworth said nothing at first—too absurd to accept—but ultimately bowed: "I understand. You are but a maid… If this is Her Majesty's wish, I will comply."

Because it was the Queen's choice.

"Ah, so the one she long awaited was you." Woodworth remarked at the signing.

"What do you mean?" Gawain raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing, just resentment: I lost to you… No, I never truly had a chance from the start."

Gawain recalled their three-day duel: "How could you have won? I had prepared thoroughly: with Norwich behind me, new weapons and equipment, my own power surpassed yours. You never had a chance."

Woodworth's face twisted: "...You truly knew nothing—damn it, I want to kill you…"

But then he bowed his head: "Enough. I have lost… Let us sign."

[The signing proceeded smoothly; Woodworth did not waver but solemnly signed, handing the reins to you.]

[At that moment, a hollow, distant bell tolled. All the fairies paused as if a weight had lifted—except Woodworth. He suddenly widened his eyes:]

"Damn! It's the Prophecy Child's faction rebelling! That's from Oxford's direction—my territory!"

[Though you do not yet know the full story, from Woodworth's reaction it seems Artoria's group rang Oxford's bell as he marched on Norwich.]

[Meanwhile, you learn the Round Table Army south of Newdarlington suddenly attacked Newdarlington itself—its defenses, drained of troops sent to Norwich, now on the brink.]

[Next, you hear Northern Queen Nocnare allied with Gloucester's Lord Myrienne to assault Salisbury; under Myrienne's dispelling of local defenses, Salisbury fell swiftly—you will soon confront them.]

[Simultaneously, Sheffield was raided by Lancelot alone; the garrison you left was powerless, and Sheffield has fallen.]

"Ah?" Gawain stared at the flood of urgent reports. "What on earth is happening?"

"How did they all strike at once?"

He opened the system interface, reading the messages:

[Because you commanded your army with those mysterious new weapons to annihilate Oxford's forces and defeat Woodworth, your Terror rating in Britain has risen further.]

[Introducing purely murder-born weaponry changed how fairies perceive your terror; your demon form has shifted accordingly.]

[In demon form, your right hand now appears as a Gun Demon.]

[With your decisive victory over Woodworth, remaining fairy lords feel a strong crisis.]

[Due to your ruthless methods and repeated fairy massacres becoming known, your reputation among other lords has plunged.]

[In Queen's Calendar 2018, under the Prophecy Child's mediation, Northern Queen Nocnare, Gloucester Lord Myrienne, Round Table leader Percival, and Fairy Knight Lancelot allied militarily, targeting Princess Gwen and those loyal to her—including you.]

[While you and Woodworth's forces were fully engaged at Norwich, the alliance struck in four directions simultaneously, seizing all your territories except Norwich at the same moment.]

"Ah?" Gawain's face flushed with anger as the screen filled with dire news. The war had erupted on all fronts simultaneously.