Chapter 46: Merlin Thinks He Has Already Won
"I intend to stay."
The day after his battle with Scáthach, while handling official duties in his study, Noah saw Scáthach suddenly leap through the window. Without ceremony, she seated herself in the guest chair, crossed her arms, and spoke these words to him.
Hearing this, Mary, who had transformed into Fou, appeared somewhat surprised. Noah, however, merely set aside the documents in his hand and nodded at Scáthach.
"Fine. But you are, after all, the Queen of the Land of Shadows. Aren't you afraid something might happen there if you're away for too long?"
"It won't."
Scáthach shook her head.
Though Noah didn't know what this woman had done after returning from their fight yesterday, her current demeanor made it clear she had made thorough arrangements for the Land of Shadows.
"The Land of Shadows will be fine, so I'll stay and assist you. But in exchange, I want you to make a pact with me."
"Speak."
Though Noah already knew the terms of the pact, he still paid closer attention.
"While you live, I shall become your... well, in your Britain's terms, it would be called a knight, I suppose. Whether it's combat missions or other tasks, you may assign them to me. I will help you fulfill the destiny that is rightfully yours."
"But upon your death, I will guard the gate to the afterlife, and I demand that you battle me at that time."
Noah had long been aware of this pact, so he nodded, then added a condition of his own.
"The pact is acceptable, but I want to add one clause: winner takes all—meaning the victor of that battle shall gain everything. Do you agree?"
Hearing this, Scáthach smiled.
It wasn't that she failed to see Noah's intent, nor did she find his proposal problematic. Rather, she felt he was being somewhat redundant.
After all...
"The victor claims everything—that goes without saying."
Scáthach slowly approached Noah's desk, placed her hands on it, and leaned forward until her face was close to his, locking eyes with him.
"But I should expect nothing less from one brimming with kingly authority. Not only do you wish to defeat me, you even plan to conquer death through me... I can only say it won't be easy, but if you truly wish to try, I have no objections."
"Then it's settled."
Noah didn't elaborate further to Scáthach, nor did he display excessive confidence. He simply accepted as if approving a routine matter.
To Scáthach, such an attitude was the ultimate display of Noah's extreme self-assurance.
He didn't believe he could lose.
Or perhaps... this man simply couldn't envision himself failing.
The thought that flashed through her mind even surprised Scáthach herself.
After all, throughout history, countless great emperors, deities, and even more extraordinary beings had known defeat.
Even the god of victory could meet failure—this utterly absurd reality existed within an even more preposterous world.
Not even those divine kings could match the confidence radiating from the man before her.
At this realization, Scáthach smiled again.
She didn't dislike the arrogant or the conceited—rather, she despised the timid and incompetent.
So let her watch closely.
To see what kind of existence the person before me truly is.
A truly and absolutely correct king.
Or an arrogant and incompetent king.
I'm... somewhat looking forward to the day the answer arrives.
...
Not long after Scáthach officially became Noah's knight, Morgan headed towards the Southern Six Territories.
She had been organizing various things during this period.
The first princess, who had become a witch nearly a decade ago, had meticulously prepared many 'gifts' for the nobles of the Southern Six Territories. Noah was aware of some of these, and even that portion he found terrifying. However, there was another part that Morgan kept from him, claiming it was too ruthless and fearing even he would be unable to accept it.
Regarding this, Noah simply let it be.
If Morgan believed it could be used, then let her use it.
Noah had a clear understanding of himself: he was not adept at political schemes. Perhaps because his values were shaped before his transmigration, even though the years he had lived in Britain were about to surpass those before his transmigration, he still retained a certain soft-heartedness.
Thus, matters like these were better understood and handled by Morgan.
His greatest help would be to silently support Morgan and avoid causing her trouble.
Since Noah planned his actions based on Mary's Clairvoyance, shortly after Morgan's departure, Merlin returned to Camelot.
Upon his return, Merlin went straight to Noah's study and sought him out.
He silently stared at Noah for a long time before finally letting out a sigh of relief.
When he first heard that Noah had revoked Morgan's exile and allowed her to return to Camelot as an advisor, he feared that during his absence, Morgan had somehow managed to control Noah, the King Arthur.
But now, seeing that Noah was not under any control, at least the situation was not heading in the worst direction.
Even so, Merlin still could not understand.
"Your Majesty, I heard you have recalled the first princess, who was exiled by the previous king, and appointed her as an advisor... Though it may be presumptuous of me to ask, why did you make such a decision?"
Merlin frowned as he posed the question, and Noah, while looking into his eyes, answered.
"Regarding this matter, it is actually I who wish to ask you—Sir Merlin, you usually appear indifferent to most things, so why do you unexpectedly target Morgan so specifically?"
Noah already knew the answer to this question.
Through countless simulations, Noah had come to understand exactly what kind of person Merlin was.
When it came to Britain's inevitable fate of destruction, Merlin was a mere spectator seeking amusement. Thus, he targeted both Vortigern, who sought to save the island, and Morgan, who sought to save its people.
He was merely an audience member wanting to witness a heroic tale.
And preferably, to make a cameo appearance in the story himself.
Naturally, he did not want the story itself to be dull.
Noah knew the answer, so he also knew that Merlin would be unable to reply with his true thoughts on this matter.
Thus, as Merlin pondered an excuse, Noah continued to speak.
"Very well, Lord Merlin, I am not unaware of your concerns—this time, I am sending Morgan to the Southern Six Territories to discipline the nobles there. This is also an opportunity to prove whether she truly poses a threat or not."
Noah smiled as he said this.
"However, since you have come here for this matter, Lord Merlin, would you care to make a wager with me on it?"
Merlin, who had yet to think of an excuse, pondered for a moment after hearing Noah's words and then nodded.
"If that is the King's wish, then it is acceptable. But if I win, I hope Your Majesty will exile Morgan once more. After all, she is a truly dangerous individual, in every sense of the word."
Seeing Merlin's righteous and solemn expression, if Noah didn't know what kind of person Merlin was, he might have been convinced.
One could only say he was truly an old swindler...
But since it was he who proposed the wager, he naturally had no intention of losing.
So he nodded.
"If you truly win, then it shall be arranged as such—so, Lord Merlin, let us use this matter to place a bet. I believe that by sending Morgan to discipline the nobles of the Southern Six Territories, she will handle the matter cleanly and efficiently, without causing any additional trouble. I believe she will act this way, and this incident can serve as her pledge of loyalty. That is my thought."
Hearing Noah's words, Merlin put on a thoughtful expression and nodded, then proposed an idea he believed would work to his advantage.
"Since the King says so, I will wager that although Morgan may handle the nobles of the Southern Six Territories, she will undoubtedly seize the opportunity to stir up trouble. She might even make contact with the Low King, Vortigern, and provoke a greater conflict."
As Merlin spoke, a smile returned to his face.
He was certain he would not lose.
After all, Noah could not personally oversee the matter, and once Vortigern was involved, even as the King, Noah would be unable to intervene.
Under such circumstances, all Merlin needed to do was provoke that White Dragon, and he would be in an unbeatable position.
As for whether the White Dragon would refrain from causing trouble after being provoked?
Hah, Merlin had absolute confidence in his ability to irritate others!
If he went to provoke him, Vortigern would never sit idly by!
So he was sure to win!
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