MMMS 61

20 minutes later, at a location several streets away from their Hotel.

"Uh!" Gawain's eyes went wide as he spotted the woman standing on the opposite side of the rooftop.

Everything about her screamed royalty—those elegant features, piercing eyes, and that silvery hair that seemed to glow in the moonlight. Her elaborate robes billowed gently in the night breeze, creating an almost dreamlike vision. Even if he tried, Gawain could never erase her from his memory. She was his king's worst enemy, the infamous witch Morgan. And at the same time, this woman was also...

"Gawain." Morgan's slight frown matched her cold tone. "Making me look up at you like this—is this how arrogant you've become toward me? Are you still playing pretend as a Knight of the Round Table? Even now, are you going to draw your sword against me?"

"...!" Gawain snapped out of his shock like someone waking from a trance. He bit his lip, then quickly dropped to one knee before her. "It's been a long time... Mother."

Cold sweat dotted his forehead as he stared hard at the ground, his deep voice shaking slightly. "I'm glad to see you still in good health, blessed with eternal youth."

Morgan just snorted. "You don't sound particularly happy about it."

["Saber, what's going on here? Your mother, is she..."] Watching from a distance, Kayneth swallowed hard, catching Gawain's nervousness like it was contagious.

["Yes... this is indeed my mother, Morgan le Fey."]

["The legendary witch of Avalon? Isn't she supposed to be a Servant in the Holy Grail War?"]

["No, by all logic, Mother shouldn't be able to be summoned by the Holy Grail..."] Gawain's voice dropped even lower. ["Because she's still alive."]

["Ask her why she's looking for you. Keep her talking,"] Kayneth whispered.

["Yes, my lord,"] Gawain responded mentally before turning his attention back to the witch. "Mother, what brings you to this distant eastern land?"

"Nice to meet you!"

The unexpected voice made Gawain blink in surprise. A boy no older than twelve or thirteen stepped out from behind Morgan, casually wrapping his arms around the witch's waist. He smiled brightly and waved at him.

"Evening, Gawain!" the kid called out with a cheerful voice. "I'm your mother's man in this era. You can call me Dad."

Gawain felt like his brain was about to short-circuit.

"Wait—what are you... saying?" If there was a hole nearby, Gawain would've jumped into it headfirst. He stared dumbfounded at the dark-haired kid standing just a few yards away.

This small boy, who looked barely ten years old, was hugging his mother and casually announcing their relationship to Gawain like it was no big deal. And his mother wasn't even pushing him away—her elegant face actually had a hint of blush as she allowed this child to hold her waist with obvious delight.

For Gawain, Morgan's oldest son, the sight was beyond disturbing. If this had happened in someone else's family, maybe he could've laughed it off as a weird joke. But unfortunately, his mother was THE Morgan le Fay!

The witch who'd had illegitimate children just to spite her sister. The princess who'd thrown the biggest tantrum in history, destroying her homeland just because she couldn't sit on the throne. When it came to his mother, no behavior was too outrageous to be believable.

"...Why isn't Gawain saying anything?" Ryuuto glanced up and asked Morgan.

The witch flashed a charming smile. "Gawain, aren't you being rude? Is this really all the chivalry you learned during your decade-plus at Camelot?"

Just stop talking already! Gawain covered his face with a pained expression and let out a deep sigh.

["Well, uh, it looks like you've got your hands full over there, Saber."] His Master's sympathetic words of comfort drifted through their mental link.

["...Sorry you had to witness something so embarrassing, Master."]

Kayneth pressed his thumb against his temple with a helpless look. ["Women are seriously impossible to understand..."]

Who would have thought that these two, who were like oil and water just fifteen minutes ago, would suddenly bond over their ridiculous family drama? But watching this public execution unfold, Gawain felt something click in his heart. The woman standing before him really was his mother, Morgan. The same willful, unpredictable mother he remembered, though his memories of her had grown hazy over time.

His friends in the Round Table had always told Gawain that Morgan was nothing but a promiscuous, ugly witch. Eventually, he'd just accepted it as fact, cementing this image of his mother—the king's enemy—in his mind. But now, in his second life as a Servant after death, he could finally face her without standing on opposite sides. No longer as a Knight of the Round Table, but simply as her eldest son.

Gawain suddenly understood. He took a deep breath and said, "Mother, as long as you're happy, I'll support you no matter who you choose to be with."

He turned to Ryuuto with a serious expression. "Sir—though I don't know your name—my mother can be stubborn and a bit scheming sometimes, but she has many wonderful and noble qualities. Please be patient with her. I'm trusting you with her."

Ryuuto blinked. "...Huh."

Morgan froze. "...Mm?"

Both stood there stunned by Gawain's heartfelt words. It took them a moment to snap out of their bewilderment.

Ryuuto sighed, his shoulders slumping. ‘Well, that was a waste of a performance. Talk about boring. Gawain's too nice—I thought he'd rush over and try to cut me down in rage.’ He pursed his lips, disappointed that his plan for drama had fallen flat.

He couldn't help thinking how much more entertaining it would've been if Agravain had shown up instead of the ever-so-serious Gawain.

Morgan stood there silently, her face twisted with annoyance.

He caught her expression and smirked. ["What's wrong? Getting emotional over your son's blessing?"]

["Don't be ridiculous,"] she snapped. ["This Gawain, talking to me in such a high and mighty tone—who does he think he is?"]

["The eldest son,"] he replied simply.

["Hmph, I never saw him as my son,"] she scoffed. ["Gawain was just a tool for my revenge against Arthur."] She pulled away from his embrace but kept hold of his hand as she turned her back on Gawain.

"Let's go, Ryuuto."

"Wait, that's it? Nothing else to say to him?" he asked, surprised by her abruptness.

Her jaw tightened. "Just looking at Gawain's face makes my blood pressure spike."

"Fair enough." He flashed a mischievous grin at Gawain and waved. "Guess we're heading out, Gawain! Now I'm off to enjoy some exciting adult nightlife with your mom."

Their silhouettes—one tall, one petite—gradually faded into the darkness.

Kayneth turned to Gawain with a puzzled look. "So what was that all about anyway?"

But the words died in his throat when he saw Saber's face. The knight stood frozen, eyes wide with an expression Kayneth had never seen since summoning him to Fuyuki. Sweat glistened on his suddenly pale face. Even reuniting with his mother after fifteen centuries hadn't rattled him like this. All his usual composure had vanished, replaced by a mixture of confusion, shock, and plain fear.

"Saber? What's wrong?"

"No... it can't be..." Gawain's voice came out hoarse and unsteady. "Ryuuto... that name... I heard Mother mention it when I was very young..."

Kayneth raised an eyebrow. "And? It's not exactly an unusual name, is it?"

Gawain shook his head, his face tight as if trying to deny what he knew to be true. "Mother once told me that my biological father, King Orkney—before he was known as King Lot—his name was Ryuuto."