"You don't look well."
Arthur had never imagined that this dream was actually real. The moment he found himself face to face with Scáthach, his mind simply collapsed for a few seconds, unable to fully process the situation.
He could act boldly, pressure nobles, and even intimidate those who considered themselves superior… but in front of her, all of those methods completely lost their meaning.
Scáthach wasn't someone who could be "dealt with" in the same way.
She was the Queen of the Land of Shadows — an existence that had endured countless battles long before Arthur had ever arrived in this world.
And now… those crimson eyes were watching him.
There was something in them he rarely saw: concern.
That alone was enough to leave him even more at a loss.
What should have been a dignified reunion, filled with emotion and respect… had turned into something completely out of control.
He hugged her the moment he saw her.
And worse, he laid his head on her lap without even thinking twice.
…Just remembering it now…
A wave of embarrassment surged through him violently.
Damn it… what did I just do…?!
"Arthur?"
Scáthach's voice rang out again, this time carrying a hint of curiosity.
Arthur finally snapped out of his daze.
He straightened up quickly, almost too rigidly, like a soldier caught off guard before a superior.
His face was tense, his mind in chaos.
What is going on…?
Was this Morgan's doing too?
How did she manage to pull Master into this dream as well?
Since when did she have this kind of ability?
Isn't this practically on the same level as Merlin's tricks?
Then… what's even the point of Merlin existing now?!
His thoughts raced wildly, one after another.
But then, an even more dangerous thought emerged.
…And that dream from a few days ago?
Arthur's body stiffened slightly.
Wait, what if… that was real too?
A chill ran down his spine.
No… that can't be…
If that was real, then that means Morgan actually…
…
Arthur forcefully cut off his own thoughts.
No.
Better not go down that path.
"What did you want to ask me?"
Scáthach's voice brought him back to reality once again.
Morgan had said earlier that Arthur had something to ask, which was why the two of them had been connected in this dreamlike space.
But looking at him now…
He didn't look like someone who had anything important to say at all.
Arthur took a deep breath, forcing himself to regain his composure.
"I don't have anything to ask… I just wanted to confirm whether Master is still in the Land of Shadows."
His voice came out relatively steady.
It was a calculated response.
If Master didn't mention what happened earlier… then he could simply pretend nothing had happened as well.
Selective amnesia.
Simple. And effective.
"Now that I've seen you… I feel relieved."
And that wasn't a lie.
Morgan's words had planted unease within him. Even if he thought it was unlikely, part of him couldn't ignore the possibility.
But now he was certain.
Whoever had opened the portal to the Other World…
It wasn't Scáthach.
And that alone lifted a huge weight off his shoulders.
"You thought I was the one who entered the Other World… and that's why you took time out of your schedule to confirm?"
Scáthach asked calmly, as if she could see straight through his thoughts.
Arthur simply nodded in silence.
There was no point in denying it.
"Now you can relax…"
She paused briefly before continuing:
"Is there anything else you want to ask?"
Arthur repeated almost mechanically:
"Anything else…?"
His gaze wandered across the room.
Then something occurred to him.
"By the way… why are you in my room, Master?"
Scáthach seemed to hesitate for a brief moment.
Then she answered naturally:
"I left something here. I came to retrieve it."
Arthur frowned slightly.
"In the middle of the night…?"
That didn't make much sense.
What kind of thing would require such urgency?
And more importantly…
What kind of item of his master would be in his room?
If this were the real world…
Then right now…
Master would be in my room…?
A faint sense of discomfort arose.
But before he could continue thinking—
"By the way… why do you think I would enter the Portal to the Other World?"
Arthur froze.
His entire train of thought vanished instantly.
As expected of Scáthach…
Even though it was a question, there was no room for evasion.
This was when her true presence revealed itself completely.
The Queen of the Land of Shadows.
The pressure she exuded was undeniable.
Arthur scratched his head lightly, averting his gaze for a moment.
Under that pressure… lying made no sense.
"Master is always in search of strong opponents… so I thought maybe… you might go to the Other World."
His voice was honest.
"But now that I know you're still here… I'm relieved."
Even as he said that, a trace of unease still lingered within him.
Because deep down, he knew Scáthach was perfectly capable of doing something like that… if she wanted to.
"By the way…"
Arthur seemed to remember something suddenly.
His eyes met hers again.
"Master… do you still remember that promise we made?"
There was a brief silence.
"If I defeat you… you would have to accept one condition from me."
He tilted his head slightly.
"You remember that… don't you?"
"Defeat me…?" Scáthach repeated, nodding faintly as if savoring the weight of those words before responding. "Well, in a sense, you did win. Have you thought about your conditions?"
Arthur nodded, maintaining his gaze, though there was an unusual seriousness in his eyes.
Of course, it would be more accurate to say that he wouldn't have brought it up now if he hadn't thought deeply about it beforehand. This wasn't an impulsive decision, but something that had been growing within him for a long time.
"Please wait until I become stronger. I will become strong enough to be your opponent," Arthur said with determination, his voice filled with conviction.
He paused briefly before continuing, as if reinforcing that promise not only to Scáthach, but to himself as well.
"So please, wait for me. I will definitely reach your level. I hope you won't leave the Land of Shadows before I become stronger."
"You're still worried that I might go to the Other World?" Scáthach smiled faintly, a subtle, almost imperceptible smile, and shook her head. "It seems I never told you?"
"What?" Arthur frowned, confused.
"The Land of Shadows is also one of the Other Worlds."
"The Land of Shadows is also the Other World…?" Arthur felt his mind plunge into complete chaos, unable to organize his thoughts in the face of that unexpected revelation.
Haven't I always lived in the Land of Shadows? And isn't Britain just across the island? How can they suddenly tell me that the Land of Shadows is also the Other World?
Confusion spread through his mind like a fog.
"To be precise, it's not the Land of Shadows itself that is the Other World, but the abyss within it," Scáthach explained calmly. "That place is what is called the Other World."
The Other World and the present world are separated only by a thin boundary. Some realms lie hidden in a golden paradise, while others rest in a dark and grim purgatory. It is a domain where heaven and hell coexist in unstable balance. Within this context, the abyss in the Land of Shadows would be precisely that purgatory — a convergence point between realities.
"Luckily, I thought I had been living in another world all along." Arthur let out a breath of relief, though the sense of strangeness still lingered.
"Now you shouldn't have anything to worry about, right?" Scáthach stood up gracefully, walked toward the door, and turned her gaze toward the moonlight, which softly illuminated her silhouette. "Then it's my turn to ask: have you already pulled the sword from the stone?"
Arthur watched her graceful figure in silence for a few moments. Her presence was almost hypnotic — flawless posture, purple hair cascading softly over her shoulders, forming an image that was both distant and irresistible.
She is a queen of singular beauty… unattainable… and yet someone he knew better than anyone else.
"It came out," Arthur said, then shook his head slightly. "To be precise, it's not that it came out, but that the sword was pulled from the stone."
As he said this, something seemed to click in his mind. He raised his eyes cautiously, as if about to touch on a delicate subject.
"Ah, right, Master… you said that pulling the sword from the stone would allow me to return, but I'm still in Britain…"
"That woman simply doesn't keep her word," Scáthach said, turning slowly toward Arthur, her eyes carrying a faint irritation. "Do you want to return now? Or do you want to return after settling things in Britain?"
Without a doubt, if he chose the first option, Scáthach could take him away immediately. But both of them knew what that would mean.
If he left now, Britain would fall into chaos.
He had barely assumed the role of King, and he would already be abandoning everything. There would be no avoiding political and military collapse.
"Let's wait until we drive out all the Saxons," Arthur sighed, as if that weight constantly pressed on his shoulders.
In the end… they had still been deceived and trapped within Morgan's plans.
There's no way I can leave now, no matter what happens.
I wonder how long it will take to defeat all the Saxons…
Arthur sighed again, this time silently, feeling the weight of responsibility tightening in his chest.
Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, as if the air itself had grown heavier, Scáthach approached him again.
She placed her hand on his head and gently stroked his hair.
"Although it was that woman's plan, it's good that you have a sense of responsibility and commitment. I'm very pleased," she said calmly. "It's not just you who wants to return; I also hope you can come back… So if you're tired, you can return at any time. The gates of the Land of Shadows will always be open for you."
Arthur slowly raised his gaze.
"Do you miss me too, Master?"
"Hm…" Scáthach averted her gaze slightly before answering. "Nessa misses you too."
Arthur stared into those red eyes for a long time.
Then, suddenly, he smiled.
His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something more…
But suddenly, his vision went completely dark.
His consciousness began to dissolve.
Is Morgan up to something…?
What is she planning now…?
At least let me finish what I wanted to say…!
With those turbulent thoughts, Arthur sank into a deep sleep.
---
"You raised him very well." Morgan placed her hand on Scáthach's shoulder and sighed, her voice carrying a strange mix of admiration and frustration. "No matter how much I tempt him, all he can think about is his master. What did you do to him before?"
"I raised him normally." Scáthach cast a cold glance at Morgan. "Take your hand off."
Morgan completely ignored the warning. Instead, her lips curved into a subtle smile.
"Is he starved for affection?"
Come to think of it… Arthur never mentioned anything about his parents.
That would explain a lot.
"According to Arthur, he probably sees you as a mother? No wonder he's so fixated on you." Morgan now seemed genuinely thoughtful.
He sees me as his mother?
Scáthach raised an eyebrow slightly and shook her head.
This woman… still doesn't understand anything.
But at the same time, even she herself didn't fully understand it.
Or perhaps… she was simply avoiding facing it.
"So, you are the master who raised Arthur… and also his mother…" Morgan murmured, as if connecting pieces of a puzzle.
Then, suddenly, she lifted her gaze.
And with almost absurd naturalness, she said:
"Scáthach."
Scáthach frowned. "What do you mean?"
Morgan grabbed Scáthach's hand, her blue eyes shining with a dangerous yet strangely sincere intensity.
"Scáthach, please give me your son in marriage. I'll take good care of him."
She leaned in slightly, drawing closer.
"Since you can't be with him anyway, you might as well leave him to me."
And then, with a faint smile, she added:
"For the prosperity of Britain, marry him to me. The white dragon and the goddess of death should produce a very powerful lineage."
Scáthach simply cast a sidelong glance at the eccentric woman beside her. Her cold, piercing eyes met Morgan's provocative, yet serious gaze.
Without hesitation, she firmly grabbed Morgan's wrist.
And said, with absolute clarity:
"Don't even think about it."
(End of Chapter)