[After resting overnight, the next day at noon you return to Edinburgh.]
[At this moment, Nokhnarei has completed mobilizing her forces. When you inquire, you learn that Oberon has already gone back to Lentiniën.]
[With Fang Clan leader Woodworth fallen in battle and Oxford's elite troops suffering grievous losses, they no longer have the capacity to resist your army; once your forces reach Oxford, they will likely surrender immediately.]
[However, the true adversary before you remains the growing Beast Calamity, Bagster.]
[Although it attacked Gloucester when the city was already abandoned, devouring the Fang Clan forces outside Gloucester has further augmented its power.]
[In Edinburgh you meet Muiren, the Wing Clan chieftain who fled from Gloucester. By now she has sworn fealty to Nokhnarei in exchange for protection.]
[Yet when you arrive at her lodgings, her emotions are unstable—she is furious, smashing things around her.]
"What a joke! Woodworth that bastard—damned beast, son of a… what does he think? That by feigning remorse before he died he could win my forgiveness?"
"Bastard, bastard, bastard! Damn him! Why must I owe gratitude to Reinac's scion? If the Fang Clan had any shred of conscience, they would have acted long ago! Why did they not spare my kin back then?"
"What a joke, what a joke!"
"…Ah, how pitiable, lone Muiren—her life's purpose, built over so long, is thus trampled, sending her into hysteria?"
Watching Muiren, now devoid of any grace or composure, Nokhnarei murmurs:
"Oh, you may not know: 1,200 years ago, Muiren's Wing Clan was slaughtered by the Fang Clan. The territory now called Oxford once belonged to the Wing Clan city. After her people were wiped out, Muiren spent twelve centuries planning vengeance. She never told me the details, but from her hints I suspect she prepared some trap in that city to annihilate any Fang Clan who entered."
"But as long as Woodworth lived, she could never lure the entire Fang Clan into her city—thus she regarded him as a thorn in her side."
"…I see, that explains it."
[You suddenly realize why Muiren earlier offered support in exchange for Woodworth's death.]
"Yes. The arrival of the black dogs destroyed her ultimate trump card, which she had kept over twelve centuries to exterminate the Fang Clan… That alone is grievous. But before that, the Fang Clan fought so fiercely to defend their city that even Muiren's life was saved by Woodworth… She must harbor deep resentment: saved by an implacable enemy, she would be at a loss how to proceed."
Nokhnarei sighs quietly and continues:
"It seems Muiren is in no state to receive guests. Let us withdraw for now."
[Realizing Muiren's current condition is unsuitable for a formal meeting, you slip away before she notices you.]
[You return to the Great Cathedral in Edinburgh and begin the tactical conference.]
[Grim points out that ordinary fairies cannot survive in Bagster's domain—only Great Fairy–level beings can endure; regular fairies would quickly be drained of mana and life, harming rather than helping your cause.]
[Grim proposes forming an elite task force to attempt to slay Bagster.]
But could a squad of your current size truly defeat Bagster?
"No—that's mistaken. Bagster… that 'Calamity Hound' is not so easily felled."
[Midway through your conference, Muiren joins the discussion.]
"An elite squad… could any force surpass Woodworth, the previous Fairy Hero?"
Now before you stands Muiren: her face still haggard, yet her eyes have regained rational clarity.
"Muiren, you still need rest…" Nokhnarei begins to urge, but Muiren cuts her off resolutely:
"Do not worry for me. Though being saved by a sworn enemy struck me deeply, it also compels me to fulfill my role—bearing the title of chieftain and seer, I cannot be outdone by the hero-chieftain. In the battle where Woodworth fell, I observed the whole fight from outside the city via familiars. My analysis can aid your campaign against Bagster."
Muiren offers a weary smile, then continues:
"Do not underestimate Bagster. To face that monster, your preparations must exceed what you imagine. Those fairies who failed to flee, driven by overwhelming desire to the point of blindness, are transformed by Bagster's domain into black dogs, serving as its minions, hunting any foes around it."
"If it were only swarms of black dogs, Fairy Knight–level forces could suppress them. But that despicable Beryl improved the Mors curse: humans afflicted by it, when killed by black dogs, pass the curse to those black dogs; anyone who kills those cursed black dogs then bears the curse themselves."
"That curse is not something even the powerful can easily withstand. When it accumulates, even mighty heroes are tortured beyond recognition. Under such a hunting tide of black dogs, defeating Bagster is impossible."
"You need an army; someone must deal with the black dog packs, or fairies must absorb the curse for you. Ordinary fairies cannot—they must be highly resistant to the Mors curse. Fortunately, Nokhnarei's giant division and the Fang Clan—renowned as Britain's blade and long active against Mors—have sufficient resistance: they can bear one portion of the curse each, suffer only mild symptoms afterward, and Nokhnarei's side can provide treatment. Correct?"
"These points are valid," Nokhnarei nods. "But the numbers are too few: Fang forces already suffered heavy casualties resisting the Beast Calamity, and my giant division is also a small elite. If we match one-to-one against the black dog hordes, we lack sufficient troops."
"That I anticipated. Regarding the black dogs bearing Beryl's modified Mors curse, I studied it before arriving: fundamentally it remains Mors poison, so aside from Fang and your giants, other fairies cannot approach those cursed black dogs."
"However, that is not insurmountable: if human soldiers intervene, they too would contract the curse, but if three soldiers share one curse's burden briefly, they won't immediately become Mors zombies, and timely treatment can suppress and cure it."
"But upon entering Bagster's domain, soldiers' mana and life will be forcibly drained by its aura—how do you address that?" Nokhnarei asks.
"Yes, but if we simply avoid entering directly?" Muiren shakes her head. "I observed that Bagster's mana-siphon aura extends about a 1 km radius, whereas the surrounding black dogs roam far beyond that. If we engage the black dog packs outside Bagster's aura, using Nokhnarei's giants to hurl weapons and provoke them, the black dogs will converge. Each soldier can bear exactly the tolerable curse portion, then retreat immediately. We can thus exhaust the black dog hordes."
"After that, you proceed with your original plan: an elite strike team to decapitate the Beast Calamity itself."
"Moreover, regarding Bagster's extreme heat environment, I can alter my fairy domain from negating strength to negating heat. Though my modest domain cannot fully suppress its power, I can lower the surrounding temperature to ease your burden."
[True to her title as chieftain-seer, Muiren swiftly proposes a far more comprehensive and sensible plan than your prior ideas.]
[You adopt this plan. After selecting forces suited for this special operation, Nokhnarei and you set out together.]
[Before departure, you and Artoria encounter Oberon returning on Branca in chibi form.]
[Speaking with Oberon, you learn he anticipated these developments; having returned to Lentiniën, he dispatched the Round Table army's main force toward Oxford, likely arriving simultaneously with Nokhnarei's army.]
[Oberon's reconnaissance near the Beast Calamity indicates he too should reach Oxford around the same time.]
[Then Artoria can strike the fifth Prophecy Bell in Oxford to further strengthen herself before challenging Bagster again.]
"Remarkable—despite all she endured, she remains composed enough to analyze the situation?" Oberon applauds as he learns of Muiren's contributions in the tactical meeting.
"Yes, indeed—Muiren, called the 'Seer,' is formidable. If she opposed us, we might feel relief eliminating her… Thankfully, she is our ally."
"Ask for my opinion? None needed—Muiren's decisions are excellent; we follow her plan."
"With battle plan settled, I must depart first; the Round Table forces need oversight."
Saying so, Oberon bursts into smoke and reverts to chibi form, riding Branca.
"Truly reliable, Prince of the White Moth," Gawain remarks wryly.
"Stop calling me that!" Oberon retorts before vanishing from sight.
[The next day, you depart as planned.]
[After a day's march, you reach Oxford and successfully rendezvous with the Lentiniën army arriving here.]
[Though many Fang Clan soldiers remain in Oxford, leaderless they swiftly abandon resistance and join your side.]
[As originally planned, nothing unexpected occurs until Artoria strikes the fifth Bell.]
[The Bell's effect once again raises Artoria's mana.]
[At dusk, the Beast Calamity Bagster arrives outside Newton's gates.]
[Following plan, with cooperation between the Round Table army and Northern fairy forces, your troops lure out the black dogs around Bagster and, as intended, swiftly eliminate them.]
[Then, with no other obstacles, you commence the battle against the Beast Calamity.]