In their first battle, teacher Mordred had defeated Lady Mo, causing Lady Mo to lose her own name. She could only be called "Mo-chan" with humiliation on her face, and refer to teacher Mordred as "Neesan".
In order to regain her name and dignity, Lady Mo frequently challenged teacher Mordred to rematches. Thus began the glorious "Mordred Wars" that had raged at Chaldea over the past three months!
Unfortunately, Lady Mo's record against her teacher was a rather tragic 0 wins and 69 losses.
However...what exactly were they up to now?
Was this Lady Mo's punishment for her repeated defeats in the Mordred Wars?
If so, why was teacher doing the same thing?
Kiara was completely confused.
"Ah...they were having a competition on meowing like cats." Seated on the bed acting as referee, Mash explained to the dumbfounded Kiara.
"A meowing competition?" Kiara tilted her head, perplexed.
"I won!" Mo-chan declared, standing proudly with a smug look towards Mordred. "My meowing just now was a true cat's meow! With this victory, the throne is finally mine!"
"You're getting way ahead of yourself," Mordred scoffed, brushing off her clothes as she rose. "Between you and me the record is 1 win and 69 losses. You've still got a long way to go." She beamed delightedly at her. "But I have to say, making you meow like a cat after just one loss was pretty great. I wonder if next time I can get you oinking like a pig too? Oink oink!" Mordred guffawed loudly.
"You!" Mo-chan clenched her fists, glaring fiercely at Mordred with eyes filled with fury.
"Oh? Are you thinking of getting violent?" Mordred taunted. "Don't forget, according to the war laws, little meow meow Mo-chan can't lay a hand on her cute neesan. Oh right, I forgot - you're a rebellious knight. Violating laws is only natural for you. Of course, I don't really mind. After all, I'm a benevolent king!" She laughed loudly.
Mo-chan shot her a fierce glare.
Unconcerned, Mordred reached out to pat Mo-chan's head.
Only then did she realize the sizable height difference between them. At most, she could barely touch Mo-chan's nose even on her tiptoes.
A sweatdrop hung from Mordred's forehead as she struggled, still unable to reach the top of Mo-chan's head.
Bringing over a chair to stand on, Mordred finally succeeded in smoothly patting Mo-chan's little head, her white stockinged legs balancing precariously.
"Neesan is extremely magnanimous!" Mordred declared haughtily. "Imouto's presumptuous actions are forgiven! Hahahahaha!"
Kiara's senses returned to her.
Ah, finally! This was right - things were back to normal now!
Accompanied by teacher Mordred's oppressive laughter like that of a bully, and the unwilling resentment on Mo-chan's face similar to that of an exploited peasant.
Yes, that was how it should be.
Mordred glanced resentfully at Mo-chan with her teeth gritted.
How dare this bastard walk around with her mother, using "Mordred" as her identity - enjoying the life that rightfully belonged to her!
Unforgivable.
Even though Mordred still couldn't bring herself to face her mother even now, she absolutely refused to let anyone else take what was hers.
What? Mother complex? Nonsense!
This was pure domination!
A king's domineering arrogance!
Feeling Mordred's hand stroking her head, Mo-chan burned with incredible humiliation.
But Mo-chan had agreed to the Mordred Wars herself. Although she didn't see herself as a knight or give credence to their doctrines, Mo-chan refused to violate her oath with her parallel world counterpart.
Because wouldn't that mean total defeat?
Unacceptable!
More importantly, enduring this humiliation now would make her eventual glorious victory even sweeter!
The more rampant this girl acted right now, the more satisfying it would feel when Mo-chan finally pulled her down and reclaimed her name. When she got to humiliate her back just like today, hearing the indignant sullenness and teary pleas of "Neesan" - that would be true glory!
That's right, today's shame was but fertilizer for future victory. The winds would shift, and her day of triumph would certainly come!
Enduring Mordred's disgrace stoically, Mo-chan turned to Kiara and asked, "Weren't you supposed to be off for practical training? Why did you come back here? And...how did you return so quickly?"
Before Kiara could respond, Mordred grinned. "What a stupid imouto, can't even figure this out? There must have been an accident. If I had to guess, something went wrong at the connection point - either the guardian was too strong or the situation got too complicated. So the team leader called off practice early. Isn't that right, Kiara?"
What foresight teacher Mordred has, deducing the truth even before I said anything! Kiara thought, deeply impressed.
Mordred's words further incensed Mo-chan. Glaring at her like an enraged lion, she grabbed the hand stroking her head. Face filled with fury, she roared, "Call me stupid one more time!"
Hearing this, Mordred didn't seem flustered at all. Instead, she revealed an elegant smile just like that of nobility. "What does the first clause of the first edict in the Mordred Wars laws state, my cute imouto? Your dear neesan seems to have suddenly come down with amnesia. Do remind me, as I am but a forgetful king."
Mo-chan gritted her teeth, then slowly recited, "First clause, first edict... little sister cannot defy big sister..."
"That's right!" Mordred beamed brightly.
Mo-chan released her hand, teeth still gritted in resentment.
"Such an obedient, cute little imouto," Mordred remarked, patting Mo-chan's head again and even knocking on it like a watermelon.
Mo-chan clenched her fists tightly, fuming. This girl...! This bastard...!
Mordred turned towards Kiara. "Go on then, what happened to send you panicking over here? It must have something to do with me or Mash, right?"
Kiara nodded anxiously. "I ran into Mr. Assassin at the training area I was at!"
Mordred and Mash froze at her words. Mash's eyes went wide in disbelief.
Mordred stopped teasing Mo-chan, who looked confused by the sudden change.
Mordred's face grew serious. "Tell me everything that happened."
"Yes, teacher!" Kiara nodded nervously. She knew a smile-less Mordred meant dead-serious mode.
Kiara recounted nervously what had happened at the connection point.
"I see..." Mordred stood, donning her red coat. She glanced at Mash, "Time to move out, Mash."
"Ehhh? teacher, you're going after Mr. Assassin? You can't! He's under the Black Grail's control. He attacked us before. It was so painful," Kiara cried. "To take him down, you need more help!"
Mordred turned, a glint of helplessness in her eyes. She crooked a finger, beckoning Kiara closer. "Come here."
"Huh? What is it, teacher?" she approached Mordred.
At just over 5 feet, Mordred was dwarfed by her student.
The height difference...
"Pfft...hahahahaha!" Mo-chan laughed without restraint, though she didn't say anything. She just guffawed loudly.
Mordred shot her a fierce glare, gritting her teeth.
So what if I'm short? You overgrown 9-year old alchemy baby!
She raged internally over her height...the bane of her existence. And as a Heroic Spirit, she was stuck at this height forever.
She looked up at her student. "Kiara, squat down."
"Oh!" Unlike that devil bodhisattva, Kiara was extremely obedient. She normally squatted down before her teacher.
Now taller, Mordred flicked Kiara sharply on the forehead.
"Ow!" she covered her head, crying, "Why'd you hit me, teacher? I didn't do anything!"
Mordred sighed. "It's how I show love. Adding some IQ to that brain of yours."
Her expression turned serious. "You've seen that man's resolve. Even if you don't believe in him, believe in the determination that let him walk out of Beast's Paradise and free you. And the light that destroyed the Beast's tyranny."
"Master, you mean..."
"He kicked your ass to knock some sense into you, my stupid student!" she added meaningfully.
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