"To deal with the Queenâs army, relying solely on the Round Table is indeed somewhat insufficient."
"The King clan is strong, but isnât it tough for them to defeat the Queenâs army on their own?"
Noconalay did not refute Da Vinciâs statement.
Indeed, the King clan was strong. Under the leadership of Queen Mab, they almost won the summer war and dared to challenge Queen Morgan face-to-face, which is not something the Round Table army can match.
However, unlike in the past, the current King clan is overall weaker than the Queenâs army.
During the summer war, the northern fairies had Queen Mab and human collaboration. The Rain Clan among the six southern fairy clans was already annihilated, while the remaining Tusk, Wind, Earth, Wing, and Mirror clans were internally divided with constant disputes, making it possible for each to be defeated separately until Salvation Ash intervened and forced a retreat.
Now, although the Tusk Clan has lost their chief, they still have strong warriors, and Bagster, as a return to ancestries Elven, is on par with or even surpassing Woodworth. While the Mirror clan is annihilated, the Wind and Earth clans remain, and with survivors like Mourine from the Wing clan leading Gloster and Lancelot, the so-called strongest Elf Knight, their overall strength is not much inferior to the southern fairies during the summer war.
Not to mention, over there stands a witch capable of conquering all of Britain by herself, along with her Camelot army.
This force is decidedly stronger than the southern fairies during the summer war.
In contrast, the northern fairies, due to the death of Queen Mab, and the emergence of Noconalay as the successor for only a hundred years, lack the experience, strength, and influence compared to the time when Queen Mab was alive.
This kind of King clan, if itâs just to deal with the Wind and Earth clans and the half-crippled Tusk and Wing clansâ coalition, then itâs more than enough. But trying to invade Camelot and face the Queenâs army led by Elf Knights Bagster and Lancelot is still a stretch.
The King clan does not lack manpower, as the entire northern Britain is currently their territory.
However, in terms of high-end combat power, the Queenâs army is too ample. Noconalay has no confidence in breaching the high wall formed by the two Elf Knights, not to mention a more terrifying Morgan.
"So we need an alliance."
Da Vinci spoke with utmost seriousness.
"The Round Table is lacking in manpower, which the King clan can supply."
"And the high-end combat power that the King clan lacks, the Round Table can provide."
"Itâs a win-win."
With Reiger, Altoria, Matthew, Pasival, Habettelot, and Fujimaru Ritsuka, capable of summoning Servants, Da Vinci is sure that in terms of high-end combat power, they have a huge advantage that the King clan doesnât possess.
At least, there is no notable figure in the King clan besides Noconalay.
If there were powerful warriors in the King clan, they wouldnât remain unknown.
Thus, Da Vinci smiled.
"I believe, as the ruler of the northern fairies, Noconalay should have enough insight to understand... what is the best choice."
This statement almost put Noconalay on a pedestal.
Evidently, Da Vinci noticed Noconalayâs narcissistic side, which is why he made such a statement?
"... You donât need to remind me. As the Queen of the North, I, Noconalay, will not make the wrong choices due to personal feelings and preferences."
Noconalay glanced at Da Vinci with some displeasure, followed by a cold snort and said.
"Although I dislike humans, indeed, cooperating with the Round Table isnât a bad thing for the northern fairies."
Upon hearing this, Da Vinci and the others like Matthew were visibly excited.
Reiger and Altoria exchanged glances, feeling the matter wouldnât be that simple.
As expected...
"But what comes after that?"
Noconalayâs eyes turned sharp.
"After defeating Morgan, who will take the throne?"
"There can only be one king between Altoria and me."
"Are we to fight another battle then?"
Regarding this sharp question, Altoria responded without hesitation.
"I have no desire to become king."
Altoria has no interest in the throne.
Or rather, she doesnât believe she can become a qualified king.
Especially after witnessing the memories of Arthur from the pan-human history, Altoria felt even more that she is unworthy of becoming king.
Yet, her words triggered an intense reaction from Noconalay.
"If thatâs so, why did you sound the Pilgrimâs Bell and walk this pilgrim journey?"
Noconalayâs rather sharp questioning made Altoria hesitate.
"I, I did it for..."
The following words, Altoria couldnât utter.
She still hasnât figured out what she really should do.
Seeing her like this, a flash of disappointment that others couldnât notice crossed Noconalayâs eyes.
"It seems, even after sounding so many Pilgrimâs Bells, you are still that immature Altoria." Noconalay seemed to be deliberately provoking Altoria, saying: "Forget it, I wonât force you, Altoria. All you need to do is stand among the crowd and witness with your own eyes the moment I become king."
After speaking, as if there was nothing more to say to the current Altoria, Noconalay once again turned to Reiger.
"I want to hear your opinion, Morganâs husband." Noconalay suddenly asked as if testing something: "What do you think?"
"Me?" Reiger met Noconalayâs gaze, watching her silently for a while before responding with a question of his own: "Would you listen to a humanâs opinion?"
It sounded like Reiger was pointing out Noconalayâs disdain for humans.
But in reality, Reiger was asking whether, given Queen Mab as a precedent, Noconalay would still trust humans.
During the summer war, Queen Mab almost had the opportunity to conquer the entire Britain by defeating the southern fairies.
But she ultimately lost.
Why?
A common explanation is that Salvation Ash defeated Queen Mab and forced her to retreat, ending the summer war that swept through both southern and northern fairy lands.
However, in Fairy Year 400, Reiger heard Ash admit that the reason they could defeat Queen Mab was due to some unscrupulous methods.
To put it simply, Ash took advantage of an opportunity to defeat Queen Mab.
How did they take advantage?
Simple, because at that time Queen Mabâs lover died.
Queen Mabâs lover was a human.
In Britain, many fairies claimed that Queen Mab suffered human betrayal, thus losing to an opportunistic Ash.
This view, as Queen Mabâs successor, Noconalay actually agrees with.
Because humans are too fragile, they die easily, leaving the fairies who love them behind to live on alone in pain.
So, Noconalay also believes it was human betrayal that led Mab to her downfall.
Thus, Noconalay claimed to dislike humans.
She doesnât want to see precious humans die lightly on the battlefield, slaughtered by the fairies.
In Fairy Year 400, Queen Mabâs discontent with Morgan grew, prompting the idea of attacking southern Britain again, fundamentally because of opposition to Morgan establishing human farms.
Humans are precious allies to the northern fairies, whereas for southern fairies they are slaves to create entertainment, naturally causing conflict.
As the northern fairy queen inheriting Queen Mabâs will, Noconalay would not truly hate humans.
But whether she would be willing to let humans go on the battlefield, thatâs another matter entirely.
To this, Noconalay was forthright in her response.
"I donât want to cooperate with humans, but there are always exceptions."
Noconalay spoke bluntly.
"And you are that exception."