That sounded like asking: is she your girlfriend now?
A strong intuition hit Alvin. He flinched and then replied helplessly, "Reines and I get along well, but it's because we're classmates."
Artoria's face showed no expression, "But she does care about you quite a bit."
The golden-haired noble girl downstairs actually had the courage to try to step forward and stop her when facing Artoria today.
That wasn't something ordinary friendship could explain.
Alvin sighed softly, "You've been openly rounding up transmigrators lately. Reines and I are close; she knew you were coming to see me, wouldn't she be worried?"
"That only shows she is upright and loving, full of chivalry."
Alvin thought his excuse was perfect. As the usually tolerant and considerate King Arthur, she probably wouldn't linger on this matter.
However, Artoria merely glanced at Alvin and said, "Ordinary friends wouldn't have the courage to face me, let alone try to act against me."
"You've always been very popular with girls."
Frankly, Alvin's appearance did draw female attention easily, and he even had the [Natural Charisma: A] bonus.
But if it were the Artoria who hadn't yet pulled the sword, his explanation would have been enough to put her at ease.
'Looks like she has changed a bit over the years; at least in this respect she's become much more domineering,' Alvin thought.
Seeing Artoria not pressing the topic, Alvin relaxed a bit. He hesitated and then said, "There's one more thing I'd like your help with."
Artoria looked puzzled; Alvin continued, "It's about transmigrators."
For a moment Artoria's expression shifted slightly.
Alvin saw it and hastily added, "How Camelot treats transmigrators is your decision; I don't intend to interfere. But at least I want to ensure the safety of people close to me."
Alvin didn't consider himself a savior. Conflicts between worlds didn't interest him much. He didn't think he could change everything in a short time.
But he could, at least, guarantee the safety of those close to him.
Besides Reines and Gray, he knew a few people in the Clock Tower. Most were decent, so they shouldn't have problems in Camelot.
But some personalities, if they ran into patrolling Round Table knights, it might end in a fight.
Here one name stood out: the blond broad-shouldered man, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, Alvin's current teacher in the Clock Tower. [T/N: Previously Kenneth]
Before transmigrating into the Type-Moon world, Alvin had heard of Kayneth. He was one of the Clock Tower's lords, Reines's brother, head of the Archibald family.
A genius among geniuses, having had everything smooth from youth, Kayneth had grown quite arrogant.
If he had transmigrated to Camelot too, would he clash with people here?
Although Kayneth was a Clock Tower lord, the Round Table knights of the Age of Gods were no joke in combat.
Alvin sighed quietly and silently prayed a little for Kayneth.
Artoria pondered briefly and then said slowly, "Afterwards give me a list and I'll have people keep an eye out."
'Just as expected, Lily sounds reliable,' Alvin nodded, "If possible, send someone to check the royal city later. I think they probably haven't left the city."
Artoria's brows lifted, "Do you have someone suitable?"
Alvin thought and said, "Gawain and Agravain are still in the palace, send one of them to patrol."
Artoria nodded lightly, hesitated a moment, and then said softly, "When do you plan to meet them?"
In Camelot, aside from a few Round Table knights, most people had good relations with the former Alvin.
But if he met the Round Table in person, word of his return might spread.
If the great nobles learned, the empire's upper echelons would face massive upheaval.
To the knights Alvin was the empire's Watchman; to many nobles he was an unforgiving demon.
After all, he once nailed the empire's great nobles to their house crests.
"Let it be for now."
As Artoria hesitated, Alvin placed a hand lightly on hers.
Under Artoria's stunned gaze he smiled and continued, "This is fine… a little quiet is good."
When the system once tasked Alvin to destroy Camelot, he had considered the rewards. But after thinking he chose to go against the system.
Even now that the game had become reality, he had no regrets.
'After all, offending nobles is nothing compared to winning pretty girls.' [T/N: Damn right, you are!]
Besides, the wonderful experience he'd just had only convinced him his choice was right.
No amount of system reward could beat unlocking new steamy CGs.
Alvin was never about raw power, and his trained Artoria was even stronger than in Type-Moon history.
In a way, as long as he held onto Lily's thigh, living a comfortable life sounded nice.
Thinking that, he looked at her elegant figure and proud chest again.
He felt thirsty again.
Sensing his gaze, Artoria instinctively placed a hand lightly over her chest and glanced at him, "W-what are you doing?"
She had been the one to bring up the matter, yet now she felt shy.
Alvin smiled and said bashfully, "Can I try again?"
It wasn't anything perverse. A man of upright character wouldn't be interested in such things more than necessary. Alvin simply wanted to experience the Red Dragon's mana up close again and check how much spirit Artoria now carried.
Also, he was a little thirsty, that was all.
No big thunder or special fetish; he had no interest.
But if it unlocked a new CG, he would be interested.
Artoria looked at him quietly, and finally, under his expectant gaze, nodded.
"Miss Lily is the cutest in the world!", Alvin couldn't help exclaiming.
"You only praise me like that at times like this," Artoria said softly.
"Not true. You're the cutest to me at all times!", Alvin replied earnestly.
"And compared to Sister?"
A sudden death question.
"Sister is nothing compared to you," Alvin answered decisively and sincerely.
Artoria's lips curved faintly and she turned her face away.
Her hand, still resting on her chest, tacitly consented to Alvin's request.
Though Artoria and Morgan le Fay looked very similar, their personalities were opposite.
In the past, Artoria would blush from merely holding Alvin's hand, whereas Morgan was more proactive.
In short, the former is cute, the latter is sexy. Not even in the same lane.
Now Lily had grown up a lot.
Thinking this, Alvin lay in Artoria's arms and slowly replenished the White Dragon core's mana.
———
One had to admit Artoria was an extreme efficiency fanatic.
Not long after Alvin gave her the list, she left the bedchamber to instruct Gawain and Agravain to watch the listed people, to ensure their safety.
'Still doesn't feel very secure,' Watching the golden-haired woman leave, Alvin withdrew his gaze and thought.
He felt that although Gawain was powerful, he lacked some independent thinking.
As for Agravain, his combat strength among the Round Table was not outstanding.
He could handle most troubles, but there might be variables.
After a moment's thought Alvin took up his pen, wrote a letter, and put a white scale into the envelope.
Dragon Scale, one of the magical items Alvin obtained in the game.
Agravain was one of the few who knew of Alvin's return. To be safe, Alvin left him an insurance.
Alvin went to the bedchamber door.
[Watchman EX] special ability activated.
In an instant Alvin's figure became extremely illusory and then slowly disappeared within the bedchamber.
———
In the palace.
A tall blond man sat under a pavilion, looking at the transmigrator list delivered earlier, frowning.
After a while Gawain put down the list and mused, "If I'm not mistaken, these names are all transmigrators. Why does the King want to ensure their safety?"
Agravain stood nearby and took the list to scan it roughly.
Only a few names were on it, and after each name the name of the force they belonged to was written.
All the names belonged to the same force. The Clock Tower.
Agravain had some understanding of this force.
The Clock Tower gathered people of different nationalities and schools, the highest academy of magecraft.
According to those Clock Tower transmigrators, its headquarters was established in future Britain.
Many transmigrators from the Clock Tower had already been captured in Camelot.
So why did the King care so much about these particular names?
"Do you want to go out of the palace with me to take a look?", Gawain's voice pulled Agravain back to reality.
Agravain nodded slowly, "If it's the King's order, I'll go with you."
Not only to fulfill the King's task, but also because he wanted to know what made these people special.
After discussion they prepared to leave.
As Gawain rose and stepped out of the pavilion, Agravain turned to follow.
Then he suddenly seemed to notice something and turned his head.
Sunlight warm, summer leaves drifting in the breeze, light and shadow mingling.
At the pavilion, a letter had appeared.
Agravain opened it and a white scale fell into his palm.
The scale was fine and dense, shimmering faint white light. A trace of magic seemed to swirl around it.
Agravain's eyes flickered and he murmured, "A magical craft item?"
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