After about ten minutes of travel, Alvin and Reines quickly found a small rented room in the city.
Once the door was securely closed, the two began analyzing the current situation.
From the available intel, it appeared that a large number of transmigrators had appeared in the Camelot Empire, and not all of them were from the Clock Tower.
Some seemed to be magis from other eras entirely.
Another thing was that these transmigrators were divided into two types: "soul-transmigrators" and "body-transmigrators."
Just as it is clear from their names, Soul-transmigrators directly replaced someone in the Camelot Empire, while body-transmigrators arrived in this world in their own physical forms.
Alvin, Gray, and Reines had all appeared in Camelot as body-transmigrators.
At the moment, Reines sat on a wooden chair, her long legs clad in black stockings pressed together lightly.
Beneath her knee-length skirt, she wore a pair of delicate doe-skin ankle boots, swinging them idly as she looked at Alving and spoke. "So, like me, you're also a 'body-transmigrator'?"
Across from her, the young leaned against the wall and gave a faint "Mm" in response.
"I am indeed a body-transmigrator... Reines, can you see a string of numbers in front of you right now?"
"A countdown?"
After seeing Alvin nod slightly, a thoughtful expression couldn't help but appear on Reines' delicate face.
"It seems our experiences are identical... But we'll only know what it means once the countdown ends."**
"I really want to go back soon... I miss the cake shop near the Clock Tower.
I heard a lot of transmigrators have already been taken in for questioning."
As she spoke, the golden-haired girl propped her chin on her hands and sighed.
"King Arthur seems much stricter than the legends say."
'Well, the current Lily is probably the 'blackened version'...' Alvin thought so in his heart but remained silent.
If it were the Artoria of the past, she likely would have handled these sudden transmigrators with a gentler approach.
But the current her...
After undergoing Alvin's "Heroine Training Plan," Artoria had completely transformed.
The Artoria of the past was dead.
And now, after his death, he was quite sure that the one sitting on the throb of Camelot, leading the empire, was the Lion King, Artoria Pendragon, famously known as Altria(Lancer)
At this moment, Reines continued,
"Our top priority now is to find other companions... I think there must be more transmigrators from the Clock Tower besides the two of us."
"If only one of the Lords from the Clock Tower had also transmigrated... If it's just students like us, it'll be hard to resist on our own."
As she spoke, a trace of worry flickered in Reines' eyes.
Each of the Lords of the Clock Tower was an exceptionally skilled magus.
So, in her view, if a Lord were present among them, the transmigrators' situation might not be so passive.
However, hearing her words, Alvin did not comment.
Unlike a certain ignorant one, he knew all too well that even if there were a "Lord" among the transmigrators, it would still be an uphill battle.
After all, this was not some second rate kingdom,
This was the Camelot Empire, where the Age of Gods had not fully faded yet.
To the modern world, the Clock Tower was indeed a formidable force.
But—
The number of modern magi capable of standing toe-to-toe with the Camelot Empire... was so small to even consider.
"You've been silent this whole time. Care to share your thoughts?"
Looking at the young man in front of her, Reines couldn't help but let out a helpless sigh. "Alvin, I know you're used to slacking off at the Clock Tower, but this situation is urgent, you know?"
Hearing this, Alvin could only shrug.
"I really don't think modern magecraft can hold its own against Camelot's forces."
"Besides, we don't have to be enemies with the empire... If someone could just explain to King Arthur that we mean no harm—"
Reines arched an eyebrow, crossing her legs and swinging her black-stockinged foot idly.
"That makes sense in theory, but do you really think that King Arthur would listen?"
The golden-haired girl from the El-Melloi family tapped her fingers lightly on the table. "More importantly, do we even have a chance to meet King Arthur?"
"...Or maybe you could go to the palace and explain to her that we bear no ill will toward Camelot?"
By the end of her speech, there was a hint of joking in her tone.
If it were that easy to make King Arthur back off, the transmigrators wouldn't have been hiding all this time.
Realistically, the chances of even seeing King Arthur after being captured were slim to none.
"Us explaining to her won't work, but there is someone in this world who can persuade her." Alvin smiled.
"Who?" Reines instinctively looked up at him.
Alvin didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he turned his gaze toward the window, or more precisely, in the direction of Camelot's royal palace.
"Merlin."
He murmured the name softly.
.
.
.
Deep within Camelot's palace, Merlin stood frozen, his eyes locked onto a certain spot in the capital with undisguised shock.
Almost instantly, a single name flashed through his mind.
'Alvin...?'
As the court mage of Camelot, Merlin possessed Clairvoyance—the ability to perceive the present.
Though he often downplayed its usefulness, claiming it couldn't peer into the future or the past...
The truth was that he could deduce the future by observing the present.
Back when Alvin was first born, Merlin had already foreseen his fate.
Yet now... this soul that should have been dead was standing before him, alive and well.
And from the looks of it, Alvin wasn't a summoned "Heroic Spirit, no, he had arrived in his own flesh.
"What is it? Did you see something?"
Artoria's voice cut through his thoughts.
The king of Camelot, turned slightly, her emerald-green eyes deep and unreadable as she looked at the white-haired mage.
As an Incubus, Merlin was a "monster" who fundamentally didn't understand human emotions.
And it was precisely because of that, that Artoria had rarely, if ever—seen such an openly stunned expression on his face.
"It's nothing... I was just surprised to see so many 'body-transmigrators.'"
Merlin smiled faintly, then casually shifted his gaze toward the front of the hall, changing the subject.
"Oh? Has she arrived?"
Artoria followed his line of sight and saw a gray-robed girl being led into the throne room by Agravain.
"Hoh... This child really is quite special."
The moment Merlin laid eyes on Gray's face, his eyes narrowed slightly, his tone laced with astonishment.
After all, the girl named Gray did bear a striking resemblance to Morgan le Fay.
But, it wasn't just that.
This girl didn't just look like Morgan.
She also resembled a younger Artoria.
Not just in appearance, even her Magic Circuits were eerily similar to Lily's in her youth.
As the two spoke, Gray bowed respectfully toward Artoria.
"Such a polite child." Merlin chuckled and spoke. "Judging by your attire... you're also from the Clock Tower?"
"Yes..."
As she answered, Gray instinctively glanced up, and her heart nearly stopped.
At the end of the raised platform, the incomparably noble and beautiful King Arthur sat silently upon her throne, with a golden crown resting on her head.
Beside her stood a man clad in a mage's robe.
Though it was just a fleeting glimpse, the moment she saw him, a name immediately surfaced in Gray's mind.
—Merlin!
The legendary Quasi-Grand Caster, the court mage of Britain!
To think that in just one day, she had encountered two Knights of the Round Table, the King of Britain herself... and now even Merlin.
At this moment, Gray's thoughts were a tangled mess—equal parts awe and anxiety.
Awe, because she was standing before the "King Arthur" of legend.
Anxiety, because she had no idea what kind of fate awaited her.
"Gray, was it? Given your clothing, I assume you transmigrated to Camelot in your own body?"
A woman's authoritative voice echoed from the platform.
Her gaze swept over the girl below as she continued, "Have you met Morgan le Fay?"
'Morgan le Fay...?:
Gray froze for a moment before her mind raced, recalling the witch known as the "Lady of the Lake," she shook her head lightly. "I only arrived in this world recently. After that, I was brought here... so I haven't met the person you speak of."
Artoria's eyes flicked toward Agravain, seeking confirmation.
The knight placed a hand over his chest and bowed. "My King, I believe she is telling the truth. Both Gawain and I can vouch for this."
'So... she just happens to look like my sister?'
Artoria pressed further. "How many transmigrators are there in the Clock Tower?" As her calm yet imposing gaze remained fixed on the girl.
Faced with those piercing eyes, Gray's deer-like pupils flickered with unease as she lowered her head slightly and spoke. "I... I'm not sure. I only just arrived..."
"Do you know Reines?"
Merlin suddenly interjected with a smile.
Gray stiffened for a split second before schooling her expression.
"Why do you ask about her?"
Merlin grinned. "Because my Clairvoyance just spotted a girl whose companion called her 'Reines.'"
Hearing his words, Gray's eyes widened imperceptibly.
'Reines transmigrated too?'
And that "companion" Merlin mentioned... could it be Alvin?
In fact, Gray had always been a somewhat reclusive girl with very few friends.
When Alvin first approached her, she'd been wary of the socially awkward boy.
But over time, she'd gradually let her guard down.
Now, the two could at least be considered close friends.
'I wonder what he's doing now...?'
As Gray lost herself in thought, Merlin's voice pulled her back.
He placed a hand over his chest and bowed. "My King, why not leave this matter to me? I'll ensure these transmigrators are handled... appropriately."
Hearing his words, Artoria couldn't help but look at him in surprise..
"How rare. You're actually volunteering to help."
After all, Merlin was infamous in Camelot for his laziness, "three days of work, two days of slacking."
For him to take initiative was practically unheard of.
A hint of suspicion flashed in Artoria's eyes.
"I've been cooped up in the 'Tower' for too long. A stroll might do me good... May I, my King?" Merlin smiled.
Artoria gave a silent nod.
Then, she turned to the gray-robed girl below. "Gray, you may rest in the palace for now. Once your identity is confirmed, I'll have someone escort you out."
Gray peeked up at the golden-haired woman on the platform, lips parting as if to speak, but she ultimately held her tongue.
Rumors said most transmigrators captured by Camelot were thrown into interrogation cells... Being allowed to stay in the palace, even under what amounted to house arrest, was far better than a cold, dark dungeon.
"Agravain, escort her to her quarters."
At Artoria's command, the knight bowed before murmuring to Gray, "Follow me."
Merlin watched them leave with a smile. "Shall I head to the capital now, my King?"
Receiving another nod, Merlin swept into an elegant bow, then dissolved into a flurry of pink petals, vanishing from the hall.
Artoria remained motionless on her throne.
Her attendant quietly approached, offering a cup of warm tea.
The king accepted it and took a sip, her expression pensive.
'Since when has Merlin ever been so invested in anything?'
'And his reaction when using Clairvoyance earlier... that was unusual.'
Thinking about it, she placed the teacup down on the exquisite mahogany table, and turned to her attendant.
"Make the necessary preparations."
"I'm going out."