Chapter 17

She had not expected that just as she was starting out, the dearest friend she cherished most would leave her like this.

"Morgan!!"

Artoria etched this name deep into her heart! This grudge! She would remember it!

Likewise, Morgan also stared at the name Lin Ye on the screen, gnashing her teeth.

This grudge! She would remember it too!

Watching this scene, Merlin sighed helplessly. He looked at Lin Ye's dimmed name and sighed silently to himself.

"I offer my apologies for the doubts I once held regarding you."

Lin Ye was simply unaware of Merlin's lament; had he known, he surely would have cursed out loud.

Isn't it because you, this guy, kept peeking at the screen without intervening? If you had acted, even if you had just given my King a small warning, the situation would never have developed like this.

However, Lin Ye also understood Merlin's helplessness.

Regarding why Merlin possessed Clairvoyance yet failed to warn my King to be wary of Morgan, there have always been three versions of speculation.

The first version: Merlin is a being half-human and half-incubus; his status is transcendent, and he understands Artoria's fate. Simply, to avoid the emergence of a Singularity, he chose to follow the trajectory of fate.

The second version: This relates to the relationship between Merlin and Vivian. Legend says Merlin fell in love with Vivian, the Lady of the Lake, but in the Pan-Human History of the Type-Moon World, Vivian and Morgan are actually two sides of the same coin. Thus, he chose neutrality in this matter.

The third version: Merlin was close friends with Uther Pendragon, the father of Morgan and Artoria, so he believed it made no difference whether Artoria or Morgan inherited the throne, and thus he remained neutral.

As for which reason is the true one, that is a matter of opinion.

At this moment, all three individuals looked simultaneously at the screen in their minds, because all of this was still continuing.

【Postscript: Artoria cremated Lin Ye, then brought Lin Ye back to Camelot. At this moment, the now-matured Artoria devoted herself to governance. Under Merlin's tutelage, more and more knights arrived to join her, and Camelot grew increasingly powerful...】

The failed Morgan returned home. She once again dispatched Gawain, Agravain, Gareth, and Gaheris to Camelot, hoping to have the four act as inside agents...

The first stage of the life simulation has ended; settlement begins.】

Lin Ye was gone, so this simulation naturally would not continue; after all, Lin Ye was the true master of the system. Seeing this, the remaining three were quite puzzled.

First stage? Does that mean there is a second stage?

Thinking of this, all three were quite excited. After all, this Life Simulation System was truly too miraculous; even the two Counter Forces likely could not achieve this level, could they?

And what shocked them even more was yet to come.

Before Merlin.

【Your simulation evaluation this time is E-. There were no achievements, therefore no additional rewards. Do you wish to obtain the memories related to this simulation?】

Well, clearly, Merlin's appearance in this simulation was minimal, so the reward was naturally quite average.

"Merlin." He hadn't appeared much either, so whether or not he took those memories didn't matter.

However, my King and Morgan were completely different; they immediately chose to obtain the memories. After all, this was closely related to the future, and they did not possess Merlin's bug-like Clairvoyance, so these memories were naturally still very important.

As the simulated memories were infused, all the memories of this simulation appeared in Artoria's mind.

She seemed to see the righteous man who suddenly appeared to hide her when she was being hunted;

She also seemed to see the man who, when she was drugged, risked his life to send her away;

It turned out that, unknowingly, she had already been helped so much by the other party.

"If there is still a chance... I will fulfill your wish."

Artoria murmured to herself. She immediately adjusted her mindset. A simulation is just a simulation; in reality, Lin Ye hasn't died yet, right? No, she must find Lin Ye immediately. This time, she definitely will not let him bleed for her again!

【You have obtained the achievement: Keeping Oneself Pure. You successfully changed a portion of fate in this simulation; comprehensive evaluation: D. Please select one option from the following as a reward:

Option 1: Leadership increased to D (Leadership ability honed over a year; can easily lead a city and is more adept at leading armies in battle.)

Option 2: Instinct increased to A (After a year of campaigning, the originally possessed Instinct: B has been upgraded by one level.)

Option 3: Illusion: D (A skill held by your subject, Lin Ye.)】

"Select two, Instinct A."

My King made the choice directly. Instinct A—if she had possessed this ability in the simulation, she likely wouldn't have been so easily deceived by Morgan.

With A-rank Instinct, she could even briefly predict the future.

And at the same time, Morgan.

【Your simulation evaluation this time is E-; obtained achievement: Drawing Water with a Bamboo Basket—All for Nothing. Please select one option from the following as an achievement reward:

Option 1: Mad Enhancement: B (An ability realized due to being toyed with by Lin Ye in anger. One will lose reason when facing special situations, but strength will be significantly enhanced.)

Option 2: Illusion: D (One of the abilities held by Lin Ye; it will have unexpected effects at critical moments.)

Option 3: Artoria's Blood (One drop) (A consolation prize for 'Drawing Water with a Bamboo Basket—All for Nothing'. The essence blood of Artoria you crave is ultimately out of reach. Although this drop of blood is not as good as essence blood, it can still comfort you; better than nothing.)】

Morgan...

Irony! This is absolutely irony! Look at what these rewards are! Mad Enhancement? Are you mocking me for being driven insane by Lin Ye?

Illusion D? Bah! I, the dignified first witch of Great Britain, would learn this third-rate magecraft from you?

As for Artoria's blood? I wanted essence blood! It's essence blood! Are these two things the same? Besides, it's just one drop of blood; is it really that hard to get?

【Please make your selection as soon as possible.】

"Select the third one!"

Morgan still made the choice. Although it was only ordinary blood, it was not impossible to create new life by combining it with her own blood. Morgan was confident she could obtain Artoria's blood, but having it ready-made now was better than racking her brains for it.

Looking at the bottle in her hand, Morgan's eyes were filled with defiance.

"Artoria, just wait. In the second stage, I will let you know what my true means are!"

(PS: I always feel that the thing between my King and Morgan counts as wearing a green hat. Although yuri is very lovely, I still can't quite stand the idea of them having a child. But I really do want Mordred, so by designing it this way, I can accept it.)