IBHJ 1131

Dwynwen waved her hand. "We're just crossing the Emperor's Hand on the way to Tír na nÓg. Gets bumpy here every time. I better check on the controls. We can finish our chat when we get there - that child's going to be so happy to see all of you."

After Dwynwen's footsteps faded, silence filled the car. They sat quietly, each lost in their own thoughts. Even without meeting the Emperor in person, just talking about him made everyone feel the weight of his absolute oppression. The Emperor might not inspire the same dread as the Lord of Salvation, but he wasn't far from it.

Goetia pushed himself up from his seat. "Well, now we know why the Chairman never said anything." He left the car with heavy steps.

Even here, where the Imperial Armor had the least power over him, the Emperor's influence still bound him more than anyone else.

Abigail hugged her knees to her chest. "You know what they used to say? About why the Outer Gods couldn't just walk into our universe?" She paused, her voice quiet. "They said it was because of rules made way back by the Holy Spirit." Her shoulders slumped. "No wonder the voice is gone now."

Shirou saw how down Abigail looked and couldn't bring himself to tell her that the Holy Spirit wasn't the only one who made those rules.

The situation looked bleaker by the minute. Just this small glimpse of the Emperor's background had crushed their spirits - and they still barely knew anything about him.

Mordred hadn't moved or spoken. She sat with her head down, lost in her own thoughts. It was natural, since everything that was happening, even the Emperor's very existence, was all because of her.

Shirou rubbed his chin. "Hmm, I just thought of something. Since Mordred's actions led to the Emperor’s birth... doesn't that technically make her his mother?"

"Huh?" Mordred raised her head, staring at him in disbelief.

Abigail and Kama were also stunned by his shocking statement.

"So does that make me a grandfather?" he tilted his head.

"Are you out of your mind?" Mordred grabbed her hair in frustration. "Stop saying weird things!"

His face softened into a smile. "There's the Mordred I know."

She froze, then slumped back in her seat, looking away. "It's not like I've given up or anything. I just..." She picked at a loose thread on her sleeve. "I don't know what to do about all this. About this empire that... that came from what I did."

…

A flash of white light surrounded the train as it went through the glowing barrier, then stopped in a field filled with birdsong and sweet-smelling flowers.

Shirou stepped off the train and looked around. The field was covered in flowers of every color. Nothing blocked his view to the edge of the world - no buildings or walls broke up the natural scene. Only a forest stood in the distance.

He made a full turn. The blue sky met the ground in a perfect circle all around him. Life was everywhere in the field - butterflies flew between flowers while bees gathered honey. Clear streams ran through the forest, where deer walked between the green trees. By the water, fairies with beautiful faces watched from the trees.

This place made all human ideas of paradise look like poor imitations.

"Look, visitors!"

"Are those the troublemakers messing with worldlines and fighting the Emperor?"

"Wait - is that Mordred? She's back!"

The fairies watched Shirou and his group with bright eyes - some peeked from the trees while others danced on flowers.

Shirou couldn't help but study them back. These weren't like Tethys, who lived in a doll. These fairies had their own bodies, ranging from tiny water fairies no bigger than his palm to mountain fairies as tall as trees.

The Age of Gods was long gone in Eternal Kingdom. The True Ether had almost disappeared, and even in Britain, known for its fairies, people rarely saw them anymore.

But he knew fairies loved music. They always came to hear Tristan's songs. Since his own musical skills were even better than Tristan's, he figured he could also make friends with these fairies. He was a musician, after all.

But as this thought crossed his mind, every fairy watching them suddenly trembled.

"The snow fairy isn't here, is she? Why do I feel so cold?" One fairy rubbed her arms.

"I feel it too."

The fairies looked at each other, confused.

"My dear Abby~!" A familiar voice called out.

Abigail's skin crawled. She darted behind Xuanzang. When Shirou turned around, he saw a big white blob dropping from the sky - it looked like a pile of junk.

"It's Merlin," Kama said.

Merlin landed and smiled, but his face changed when he saw him. "Shirou? What brings you here?"

"Which Merlin are you - the Empire's, or the one I know?" Shirou studied the man's face.

This was the problem with crossing worldlines - you never knew if the person standing in front of you was a friend or an enemy.

"Of course I'm the charming big brother Merlin, beloved by beautiful young ladies everywhere," Merlin said with a flirty smile.

Shirou: "..."

Well, that settled it - only their Merlin could be this shameless.

"You know, it was fate that brought you all to this Eternal Empire. Now, Mordred, come give big brother Merlin a hug..."

Merlin spread his arms wide, his face beaming as he walked toward Mordred. She didn't hesitate, made a fist, and slammed it into his stomach.

“Ow!”

Merlin's bright smile disappeared. He grabbed his belly and fell, rolling in the grass.

"Come on, I raised you, didn't I?" He looked up at her with teary eyes. "Is this how you greet me after all this time?"

"Stay away from me! Your pervertedness might be contagious!" Mordred wiped her hands on her clothes like she was trying to clean off some kind of Merlin disease.

Merlin: "..."

"So much for all that time I spent being nice. But at least I still have Abby~"

Merlin got up, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Abigail, who was trying to hide behind Xuanzang.

"Don't look at me..." Abigail pressed herself further behind Xuanzang. "I don't want to catch your pervert germs..."

Merlin froze like a statue.

"My, my. Losing your manner over cute girls? You're making me look bad, little Merlin." Dwynwen stepped down from the train with a graceful smile, her violet eyes laughing at frozen Merlin.

Merlin lifted his head and gave her a sour look. "At least I'm not like you - a perverted incubus who spends all day in Dwynwen's body, Ambrosius."

Ambrosius...

Shirou looked at Dwynwen again. He'd felt something off about her, and now he knew why.

She was actually a trap!

Mordred and Abigail stared at Dwynwen. "Wait, aren't you Dwynwen?"

"Oh? Did I forget to mention? I'm Dwynwen Ambrosius - both Merlin's mother and father." Dwynwen struck a few flirty poses.

"Having you as a father is the worst thing that's happened to me in eight lifetimes." Merlin sighed. He pointed at Dwynwen. "This is a sexless incubus who snuck into Welsh Princess Dwynwen's dreams and got her pregnant. Then he got attached to her body and fused with her."

"Fused..." Xuanzang's face went white. She took a few quiet steps away from Ambrosius.

This whole family is crazy!

But Abigail and Mordred just nodded like this was normal for them.

"Only Dwynwen's perfect form could match my perfection. Ah... my beautiful Dwynwen."

Ambrosius was lost in self-praise until noticing Shirou's calm face. "You don't seem surprised, Fujimaru Shirou?"

"What? No, I'm shocked! I never thought Dwynwen would turn out to be Ambrosius - what a twist!" Shirou put on an over-the-top surprised face.

Kama shook her head and sighed.