Chapter 911

"Wait, Shirou!? I have something else to say!"

Alright, alright, let's go.

"Well then, Barghest, I'm sorry, but I'll leave the rest to you."

Shirou gave Barghest a confirming look and quickened his pace.

If this continues, they will never be able to leave.

"Okay, leave it to me."

Barghest nodded solemnly, watching the two figures disappear into the distance.

"Hmph, so you're this generation's Avalon Fae... Wait! Shirou, put me down! Stop rubbing your face against mine!"

As Shirou and Artoria walked through the ruins of the Mirror Clan, they unexpectedly encountered an old acquaintance.

Petite figure, pink-gold hair, and a lively personality.

In the past, he was Shirou and Morgan's companion, the Fairy Knight Tatterdemalion.

She is now the Queen's seamstress, a hidden descendant of the Wing Clan.

Habertrot, the spinning wheel fairy from Scottish folklore in the pan-human history.

Thousands of years ago, she was originally a delinquent girl from the Wing Clan. She was defeated in a duel with the savior Ash and then became his companion.

After Shirou's death, Morgan inherited his career, launched the "Winter War," and became Queen of Britain.

Habetrot could not agree with Morgan's ruthless rule and left Camelot.

But in reality, she didn't completely part ways with Morgan.

She extended her life through Morgan's Magecraft and still maintains a certain distance from the Queen as her personal seamstress.

All of the above was what Shirou heard from Tristan when he first arrived in the Fae Kingdom.

So many days have passed, Habetrot must have heard the rumors of Shirou's return.

When she encountered Shirou and the others, she pretended not to know them and adopted a dignified attitude.

However, this imposing manner didn't last more than a few seconds before Shirou rushed over and picked her up.

"Oh, isn't this Queen Habetrot, the Queen's personal seamstress and the top tailor of the Fae Kingdom? What are you doing here?"

Shirou was overjoyed to suddenly encounter an old friend he had never met before.

During their past Journey of Pilgrimage, one of Shirou and Morgan's favorite pastimes was holding Habetrot Trot in their arms and playing with her.

"Gulp... Enough already!"

The pink-haired fairy kicked Shirou in the face and escaped from his arms.

"It's nothing, I just came to pay respects at the graves."

Are you going to sweep the graves in this Fae Kingdom?

In this country, even if people die, the next generation will be born, or they will be wiped out; there is no concept of tomb sweeping at all.

Seeing Shirou's puzzled expression, Habetrot wore a complicated look.

Morgan has been cleaning your grave for 2000 years, you heartless bastard!

Habetrot did not show his dissatisfaction, but simply said that he had heard about it during a work assignment.

"After all, I have quite a few acquaintances in the Mirror Clan."

Habetrot said to Shirou.

"That's really all. I didn't come here after you, nor did I intend to be your enemy."

So could you please get the Child of Prophecy to put down that staff?

From the moment she spoke, Artoria had been holding her wand warily, aiming it at Habetrot.

The other party was rumored to be the Queen's only close friend and confidante, so of course she dared not be careless in the slightest.

"Artoria."

Shirou gestured to the Child of Prophecy, who reluctantly dismounted from his attack stance.

Ultimately, I no longer have the ability to fight.

I am still alive thanks to Morgan.

Being pointed at with a staff by a fairy who looks a lot like a young Morgan is bad for my heart, so please spare me.

After she finished speaking, looking exhausted, she sighed with relief.

Hearing her say that, Shirou couldn't help but recall Ash's initial battle with Habetrot.

Yeah, it definitely leaves a psychological scar... being beaten up like that.

"You clearly have no fighting ability, how did you even get here?"

After Artoria put down her staff, she asked, Habetrot tapped the spinning wheel she was riding on.

"Hmph, I'm quite confident in my escape speed."

Artoria curiously observed the flying spinning wheel.

What is the internal structure like? My inner craftsmanship was ignited.

"Hmm, don't give me that look. No way! This is a very important work tool, don't take it apart!"

The Paradise Fae looked regretful; she seemed genuinely wanting to demolish it.

"Don't worry, I'll tell you about the internal structure later."

Shirou said that he had already dismantled it once before.

"That's enough, let's leave this topic at that."

Habetrot rubbed his head.

"... I see. You specifically passed through a place like this. Was your destination Orkney?"

So you still intend to ring the bell, huh? I thought you had given up on it this time around.

The pink-haired fairy looked at Shirou.

Shirou said, "It's a misunderstanding; the time just hadn't come yet."

Habetrot snorted. "Concerns about Morgan, huh?"

Then she said.

"Whether out of consideration for personal relationships or moral obligations, I cannot betray Morgan, and there are various other reasons as well, so I will not help you."

Habetrot's eyes were fixed on Artoria.

But... I'll cheer you on.

Because that's something you absolutely have to do, and something we, including Morgan, are giving up on."

Shirou: "..."

The "we" she mentioned certainly included Shirou.

Artoria looked surprised.

"Can you really cheer me on? Completing the Journey of Pilgrimage means—"

Completing the pilgrimage almost certainly meant the end of Morgan's reign as Queen.

To put it more bluntly, it even means the end of the Fae Kingdom and the fairies.

This was a fact that all three people present knew, yet kept unspoken.

"It's alright. Rather, we've forcibly extended our lifespans for far too long."

Besides, shouldn't that guy be getting some rest by now?

Habetrot glanced at Shirou, her eyes seeming to say, "If you can't make Morgan happy, I'll never forgive you."

"... I see."

Artoria understood why she wouldn't be her enemy.

Her relationship with Shirou is ambiguous; perhaps she has always been waiting for Morgan to lay down his burdens.

"Although it's not good to rely on others, there's not much I can do."

At most, he would maintain contact with Morgan as a tailor and as an old friend.

Although she said that, Shirou knew that Habetrot would take care of Tristan from time to time.

Morgan may be a good woman, but she was definitely not a good mother.

Without Habetrot, Tristan's personality might have been even more twisted than it is now.

For this, not only Morgan, but even Shirou expressed his gratitude to her.

"So stop rubbing your face against mine! Put me down right now!"

Shirou hugged the spinning wheel fairy tightly.

The feel of this is truly irresistible; no wonder Morgan is so addicted to it.

Volume 11: Chapter 533 Saint Jeanne d'Arc wins the resurrection match.

Morgan and Habetrot also had significant differences in their parenting philosophies.

Shirou really has to thank her for this.

If she hadn't helped look after him and Morgan had been allowed to do whatever he wanted, Tristan would definitely have been even more twisted than he is now.

"Even more twisted than... even more twisted than now?"

Artoria found it hard to imagine, considering that Tristan was already in even more troublesome situations.

"Thank you so much, Habetrot."

"I didn't do this for you! I did it for Morgan!"

"Hehehe, I get it, I get it~ Habeow is so tsundere."

"No, that's not true!!"

Shirou continued to rub his face against Habetrot's face.

Artoria watched from the sidelines, feeling somewhat envious.

"No, no, I think it's better to be more frank when receiving gratitude."

At that moment, a voice that didn't belong to them rang out.

Shirou turned around and looked in the direction from which the sound came, and found a supernatural being there that was clearly not an ordinary person.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?"

Artoria and Habetrot both screamed in agony.

What appeared there was a skeletal ghost, resembling the Gallu Spirit of the Sumer Underworld.

Having experienced living in the Underworld before, Shirou was already used to it.

But for them, who were born and raised in the Fae Kingdom, this was probably the first time they had ever seen a spirit.

It's not that I can't understand their feelings.

"Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to scare you..."

Actually, that's not entirely untrue. Thank you for your wonderful response.

Despite their terrifying appearance, the skeletal ghosts seem to possess intelligence that allows them to communicate.

Artoria gripped the Staff of Selection tightly and slowly lowered it.

"You are... could you be the Night Call? When did you start following us?"

"Because I felt bad for suddenly startling you all. But this time, seeing you chatting so happily, I couldn't help but wander over."