Chapter 253: The Intrigues of Heroes and Villains

As Lott contemplated his role, Morgan looked down from her vantage point, surveying the crowd below. "A villain? To the people of Scotland, perhaps I am," she thought. But that didn't matter now. This was about securing the future for her and her husband, Lott. If she had to become a villain or even a devil to achieve that, so be it.

Among the throng of people, a gentle-looking man with white hair moved quietly, offering help to a few unlucky souls who had come to King Leodegrance's castle on a whim, only to run out of provisions. He handed them some dry rations before glancing up at the castle.

"There are so many people here," he mused to himself. "But with so many watching, it's impossible to see clearly… and I still can't discern that person's true nature."

He knew he couldn't see through them completely. Though he had methods to conceal his presence from most people, Merlin and Scáthach were different. He could avoid Merlin's gaze with effort, but Scáthach's clairvoyance was another matter entirely.

Staying here too long was risky. The price of discovery could be steep.

Just as he decided to leave, one of the participants he had helped stopped him.

"Thank you, kind sir, for your generosity. May I know your name? If I defeat Camelot, I will surely spread your name far and wide!" the participant declared confidently.

"If I thought you could win, I wouldn't have saved you," the man thought privately. Outwardly, he responded solemnly, "Thank you for your kindness. I wish you luck."

"As for my name…" he hesitated before tilting his head thoughtfully. "Just call me Oberon."

The name meant nothing to the participant, who nodded before leaving.

Oberon smiled faintly, then turned away. As he walked, he noticed an interesting trio—a girl with orange hair, another with pink hair, and a girl in armor. His curiosity piqued.

"This looks promising," Oberon murmured, rubbing his chin. "But now is not the time to meet them."

He left without a backward glance, knowing he needed to bide his time until the perfect moment.

"Does anyone else feel like we're being watched?" Mordred asked, glancing around suspiciously.

"Someone's watching us?" Ritsuka Fujimaru tilted her head. "Are you sure?"

"I'm not sure," Mordred admitted, shaking her head. Her instincts were not as sharp as Altria's. If Altria were here, she might pinpoint the watcher's exact location, or even glimpse their silhouette. But Mordred could only sense a vague presence.

"Do you know who it might be? Could it be someone sent by Morgan?" Ritsuka inquired.

"I don't think so," Mordred replied. "Morgan isn't the type to send spies like this, at least not in this world."

"I agree with Miss Mordred," Mash added, nodding.

"Then who could it be?" Ritsuka pondered aloud.

"I don't know." Mordred shook her head again. "Instead of worrying about that, let's focus on the competition. Master, are we really entering the tournament?"

"Absolutely," Ritsuka affirmed. "We know what Lott and Morgan are planning, and we can't let them succeed. We have to win."

"Ha, then I'll give it everything I've got! I won't fail like last time," Mordred said with a grin, her excitement palpable.

Last time, her surprise at seeing Gawain as a woman had thrown her off, leading to her defeat. This time, as a heroic spirit, she was determined not to lose.

"I believe in you," Ritsuka encouraged.

In this tournament, Mordred, Mash, and Lancelot would all be competing. Merlin had wanted to join, but Ritsuka had dissuaded him.

"I'm afraid if you participate, you'll just end up being a target for Camelot's knights to vent their frustrations," she had told him.

"Yeah, even though we're on the same side, I'd like to punch you myself," Mordred had agreed, her words blunt.

"..." Merlin sighed, realizing there was no arguing with them.

"Alright, then I'll watch your performance," he said, taking a bite of an apple before disappearing.

With Merlin gone, it would be difficult to identify the mysterious watcher.

The tournament began soon after. Everyone gathered in their assigned places.

Lott's approach was straightforward: groups of ten would fight, and the last person standing would advance. Weapons were allowed, a rule that thrilled the Scots. Fighting and drawing blood was part of their culture.

To ensure fairness, Lott had separated notable fighters like Galahad, Gawain, Kay, and Altria, as well as the prominent members of Ritsuka's group. He didn't want any of them facing off too early, which could skew the tournament's outcome.

From the stands, Morgan glanced at Ritsuka, who was standing nearby. "I must say, you're quite bold. We're enemies, yet you let your people stay near me, alone."

"After all, I trust Her Majesty Morgan won't attack us," came a familiar voice. An image of Leonardo da Vinci shimmered into view beside Morgan.

Morgan smirked. "You're right. I won't stoop to such things."

Lott, watching nearby, tried not to laugh. [My wife is usually so clever, but she can't resist flattery. Well done, Da Vinci. It seems the Chaldeans haven't reached the second part of the story yet, and nothing's happened to Leonardo.]

Morgan, sensing his thoughts, remained composed. [So Lott knows both our future and theirs. If something does happen to Leonardo, we must be ready to intervene.]

Da Vinci continued, addressing Morgan directly. "There's another reason I asked Fujimaru to come here."

"What is it?" Morgan asked.

"I need your help to resolve the issues between a few people," Da Vinci said, glancing at Mordred and Lancelot.

"Lancelot is struggling with his past actions in another world, still haunted by his own mistakes. Facing Galahad, he's consumed with guilt. If this continues, it will only end in tragedy. As for Mordred, she's already experienced her own tragedy, but she needs to resolve her inner turmoil. She's your daughter—surely you won't leave her to suffer alone?"

"Of course not," Morgan replied firmly, acknowledging Da Vinci's request.

This was a situation that could benefit everyone. Whether for Ritsuka's group or her own, finding a resolution for these conflicts would be invaluable.

Galahad was on their side now, and they needed to ensure these bonds were mended before facing the challenges ahead.