Transportation in the Fairy Nation, in a certain sense, is actually quite simple.
Even though it has developed for two thousand years, there are no villages or small towns in the Fairy Nation, only a few cities that serve as gathering places for the fairies. Besides that, the entire landmass is purely undeveloped territory.
This situation has led to underdeveloped transportation in Britain. Additionally, fairies don't travel around visiting each other, so there is only one road connecting two relatively close cities.
And now, on the road between the cities of Camelot and Salisbury.
Ritsuka, Mash, Mordred, Gray, and Artoria Caster—five people—were riding in a fairy-drawn carriage arranged by Naoki, heading towards Salisbury.
Sitting by the window observing the world of the Fairy Nation outside, Ritsuka's heart was filled with curiosity and a sense of freshness.
"Outside Camelot city... it's like this?"
The perpetually twilight sky, the endless grasslands, the rolling mountains in the distance... Compared to other Lostbelts she had visited, Ritsuka felt this British Lostbelt was the one that most gave the impression of an Otherworld.
She truly felt like she had come to another fantasy world.
There was even the sound of singing echoing in the air.
"From here, it doesn't look like a desperate world at all." Mash also commented. "It's more like a world from a fairy tale, full of hope and beauty."
"Well, on the surface it is like that."
Artoria Caster laughed. "But that's just put on by everyone. After all, except for a small portion of fairies, all fairies are very afraid of Father. Because they fear Father suddenly imposing punishment, the fairies act very obedient on the surface, maintaining the appearance of Britain as peaceful and beautiful—that's what my older sister told me."
So this peaceful and beautiful scenery is just an illusion created by the fairies? If not for Naoki's tyranny, this world would be extremely terrible and full of despair.
"Brother's tyranny... I still find it hard to believe even now that Brother could become a tyrant." Gray's tone sounded somewhat sad. "He's usually a very easygoing person. Meeting Brother these past two days, I also didn't feel he had changed in that regard."
"Perhaps Father is very good at distinguishing the attitude he should show in private and public situations." explained Artoria Caster. "In fact, I think so too. Although he is very cruel in matters concerning the fairies, privately he is actually a silly Father who loves us very much... He even pulled me aside to talk about many precautions when I wanted to go out this time."
Even though she had just run away once, Artoria Caster's request to go out this time was not hindered at all by Naoki and Morgan. The smoothness of it surprised even her.
However, afterwards, the two of them, like doting parents, pulled her aside and talked about many things to pay attention to outside. They also specifically taught her a few small Magecrafts that might be useful in the wilderness.
"Caster, is your relationship with Brother very good?"
"Eh? Hmm... I don't think it can be called good." Artoria Caster thought for a moment and then said. "I can feel that he cares about me very much and does his best in taking care of me. Even if I make mistakes, he basically won't give me punishments that are too serious. He is a good Father, even though sometimes he does things that scare me."
"Only, between him and me, there always seems to be a distance."
Distance?
Artoria Caster's statement surprised Gray and the others slightly.
"You mean... Brother doesn't open his heart to you all?"
"Perhaps. I don't know if it's just me who feels this, but when I live in Camelot city, I feel Father keeps a distance from everyone, as if hiding something very important without telling anyone, even though it's definitely not a bad thing."
Hearing this explanation, Gray and the others nodded understandingly and showed empathetic expressions.
"We can understand this."
"Father King has been like that since way back, doing things on his own without telling us, and thinking it's the best for us."
"Basically almost the same... The Director will also explain things later."
"Brother sometimes still acts very arbitrarily."
Whether it was Ritsuka, who had only known Naoki for about a year, or the others who had known him for ten years or even longer. Gray, who had been with him the longest, had known him for twenty years, and they had all experienced his well-meaning but high-handed kindness.
Although it was indeed a good thing, finding out about it afterwards still made people feel a bit uncomfortable or sad.
(So... everyone has a good relationship with Father...)
Artoria Caster looked at the several people, then suddenly posed a question: "By the way, there's one thing I've always been curious about—what is your relationship with Father?"
"Uh?!"
A rather startling question made everyone fall silent for a moment.
"Why ask about that suddenly?"
"Well... just curious. After all, before I met all of you yesterday, I met two women named Sajyou Rei and Angelica in the corridor. They said they were... my stepmothers?"
(Stepmothers... in a sense it's true, but you're too blunt, Sister Rei!)
Letting out a soft sigh, Gray explained: "Regarding this, everyone's situation is different... I am Brother's younger sister, an adopted little sister he took in from a small village in Proper Human History twenty years ago. Mordred is a Servant summoned by Brother in a certain parallel world."
"I'm a sort of subordinate of the Director." Ritsuka laughed. "I act together with him in an organization called Chaldea in Proper Human History. Mash is the same, but she has an additional identity as a little sister, just like Sister Gray."
"Oh~~~~ Then what else?" Artoria Caster pressed, "It definitely can't be that simple."
"Uh... this...."
Gray's cheeks flushed slightly. Honestly, asking her to reveal her other relationship with her brother was quite a challenge, because it was somewhat embarrassing.
But—
"Besides that, we are all Father King's fiancées and lovers—the kind who have already boarded the vehicle and are ready to buy the ticket." Mordred directly dropped the bombshell.
Artoria Caster: "Eh?"