5 [5] The Witch and the Monster
...Speaking of which.
Reinhard suddenly remembered this simulation. It seems that he has the setting of being an artificial human or maybe a homunculus if using the moonlit world interpretation.
So, these two should be his foster parents?
Is the age gap a bit too big?
And moreover, it's even an uncle and niece relationship...
Reinhard understood, the noble relationships in feudal times were often chaotic, and chaos was considered normal!
Especially in Great Britain, it historically produced a lot of family dramas, right?
Hemophilia was spread by these nobles, and they even called it the 'Noble Disease.' It was really quite ridiculous.
After listening for so long, Reinhard basically understood.
After touching that piece of dragon scale, he seemed to be simulated as the... Ill-fated son of the white dragon?
Shouldn't it be said that it truly lives up to the title of an antagonist simulator...
'Am I really the antagonist?'
The way the system assisted him in becoming the ultimate antagonist was to personally experience being a despised and hated big villain...
One had to admit that the system understood the principle of unity of knowledge and action.
Once involved in such a setting, it's challenging to say that one's character won't be influenced during the simulation. After all, a person's personality is largely shaped by their environment. And according to the common nature of simulators, one's actions in the simulation might even affect reality. Similar settings had been explored quite a bit.
This brought about a very interesting question...
Since relics like the 'Son of the White Dragon' had appeared in later generations, it indicated that the history had become established. Then, how should the cause and effect of his actions in the simulation, if later discovered to be part of future history, be defined?
Was it that he left the relic of the 'Son of the White Dragon' behind...
Or did the relic make him simulate as the 'Son of the White Dragon'?
If the historical facts were established, wouldn't it mean that all his actions were predetermined?
In other words...
Free will.
Does his existence truly embody the concept of 'free will'?
Just thinking about it was quite terrifying.
...But, what does it have to do with him!
Facing such a classic time-space paradox, Reinhard chose to address it directly.
After all, he came to experience the benefits of a system, not to become a philosopher.
Even if it's predestined, so what?
Reinhard didn't care whether he was some manipulated puppet or not. Knowing it wouldn't change anything, and now, he still lacked the capital to arm wrestle at that level.
People who have walked on the edge of a cliff will cherish the present even more. Diagnosed with a terminal illness in the past, he saw things very clearly.
Reinhard is Reinhard, just an ordinary person struggling to survive. That's enough.
Even if his life is a piece of music, a script, or a novel...
He has his way of advancing the story.
Leave the philosophical pondering to the barrage and the comments.
Thinking like this.
Reinhard no longer tangled with paradoxes and causality but subconsciously shifted his gaze back to the witch.
His convenient old man was right.
...This witch's is indeed eye-catching.
Perhaps it's due to the blessing of divine phantasmal species lineage, making Morgan's magical veil ineffective in concealing anything from Reinhard.
So, he discovered that his witch cousin completely had a face like Saber...
Although lacking that iconic ahoge.
But compared to the determination of the King of Knights, the corners of this witch's eyes and eyebrows appeared more gentle and charming. The cobalt-colored lip color and eye shadow added a touch of enchanting charm, making her more alluring.
And even though it was the medieval period, this witch was wearing a cool navel-revealing outfit and sexy garter stockings. Between the slits of her skirt, the slightly tightened absolute area was almost like breaking the rules!
Simply put, it's very provocative, extremely seductive, and quite entertaining.
Seems to be called... Morgan?
The illustration looks so good, but she's quite an unimpressive character, huh?
Although he didn't play the game, he did have examples to compare from some images and wikis he had read such as Jeanne, Mash, Mysterious Heroine X, and Gray, Reinhard also knows that this face has long been a scenic spot in the moonlit world. Morgan's dad can even form a basketball team with them.
For Reinhard, a casual audience who has only seen a few anime series, his knowledge of the Arthurian legend is only superficial, at best. After all, who has the time to read this legends while still sick?
So when he heard Morgan and Vortigern's names and the content of the struggle between the Red Dragon and the White Dragon, he had no concept of it at the moment.
At this moment, he was simply appreciating the witch.
"Why does he keep staring at me..."
Morgan felt a bit uncomfortable being stared at.
"There shouldn't be anything on me that a child would like..."
"Perhaps it comes from your creation, born with an affinity for you," Vortigern smiled, "Since you have this bond with the creation, do you want to name your masterpiece?"
"Naming? I'm not good at that kind of thing..."
Morgan shook her head awkwardly, immediately expressing her refusal.
"The Calamity of Britannia."
"Monster Among Monsters."
"Sly and Cunning Witch."
"Unfortunate Existence"
Having endured various malicious nicknames since childhood, she had no confidence in her ability to name herself.
"The let me do it, after all, he is my son."
Vortigern lowered his gaze, looking at the silver-haired baby in the cradle.
The two pairs of iron-gray eyes met, and the flickering candlelight reflected in both pairs of pupils.
"Your name is Alvin."
Reinhard heard the old man say softly,
"Alvin Pendragon."
"...Meaning beloved person."
As the words fell silent.
Morgan, who was on the side, couldn't help but fall silent for a moment.
"As the Son of the White Dragon," Morgan murmured, "wanting to be welcomed by the people is like a fairy tale..."
"Just hope," Vortigern smiled, "that he won't be cursed like me."
Although he said that.
Both of them knew that the phrase 'beloved person' was almost ironic for the Son of the White Dragon.
The scene fell into a silent silence.
It seemed to foresee the thorny path ahead for this child.
Morgan couldn't help but think of her gloomy past.
Yes, just like the cursed King Vortigern, she, who was cast as a witch, was never a 'beloved person.'
As the noble daughter of King Uther.
The mystery that should have been cut off in the previous generation unexpectedly reappeared in Morgan. The extraordinary talent seemed like a gift from the gods, giving her powerful magecraft.
But in Morgan's eyes.
This was more like a curse that was completely opposite to King Uther's glory. From then on, she embarked on an unfortunate life that was feared by others.
In her childhood, uncontrollable dark magecraft inadvertently caused crops to wither and vegetation to dry up. The overflowing magic energy enveloped Morgan in a mysterious shadow, making her existence like a plague, quickly drawing people's hatred.
So Morgan put on a black veil to cover her face, closed herself off in her room, and tried to master her powers, hoping to be welcomed by everyone someday.
Unfortunately, the girl named Morgan Le Fay later realized:
It wasn't because she did something wrong that she was hated.
It was because she was hated that everything she did was wrong.
As a stepdaughter, she was initially not trusted by her father.
So when she awakened such dark magical talent, King Uther's aversion became even more apparent.
The girl named Morgan Le Fay had never been loved.
...Because she was unloved, everything she did was wrong.
Wanting to gain King Uther's approval, she was ruthlessly abandoned as a spare tire,
Wanting to be welcomed by the people, she was shunned as a witch to be avoided,
Clearly not understanding herself, merely through hearsay, one could know how scheming and cunning Morgan Le Fay was.
"Perhaps the reason why King Uther lost to that king is because Morgan, that cunning witch, played a role in it?"
Hahahaha...
...If that's the case.
Then he will comply with their expectations and truly become a mysterious and ominous existence like a witch, and go to assist Vortigern!
But...
Is someone born to be a mysterious witch?
Will his innocent creation have to endure the same fate as herself?
...Why?
Looking at the silver-haired baby curiously examining her, the iron-gray translucent eyes seemed to be filled with the joy unique to children.
He really... feels very close to her.
In a daze, Morgan seemed to understand Vortigern's feelings a bit.
Anger surged within her heart in an instant.
Followed by questioning.
Finally... unwillingness.
There's no way to accept it.
Even less tolerable to endure the repetition of the same misfortune.
So...
"Let me teach him."
The cold voice sounded like a flickering candle in the twilight.
In this dim underground chamber, Morgan spoke softly.
"As the son of divine phantasmal species, his talent is undoubtedly monstrous. In the realm of magecraft, perhaps I can offer some guidance."
"Good." Vortigern nodded. "Thank you for your trouble."
"...Do you trust me so easily?"
Vortigern's unhesitating attitude made Morgan feel uncomfortable instead.
"Aren't you worried that I'll corrupt your good son?"
"Corrupt? Hehe..."
The burly old man raised his hand, pointing to his own face, looking somewhat amused.
"Within this Britannia, is there anyone more corrupt than King Vortigern?"
"...You have a point."
The blue witch chuckled self-mockingly, shaking her head. Slowly, she walked forward and received her creation from Vortigern's hands.
The silver-haired baby in the cradle continued to gaze at her.
In those iron-gray pupils, Morgan saw her own slightly nervous face.
Could it be that he's so close to her, an ominous witch like herself?
Really... It's not something good for you.
"Alvin..."
"If no one expects your birth."
"Then, let this ominous witch give you care."
In the dim firelight.
The witch hugged her own monster.
