Woodworth has been defeated. After being struck by a specially prepared Mors bullet, even his near-immortal regeneration began to falter. Although a dose that would kill an ordinary fairy had only a minimal effect on him, it proved that with a higher dosage, any poison can become lethal. And since Gawain also possessed extraordinary regenerative power—and the Mors toxin only affected fairies—his troops could unleash volley after volley without fear, targeting both sides of the battle.
In his dying struggle, Woodworth once tried to break through and rush the lines of Magic Gunners in the distance. Given his near-superhuman health bar and toxin resistance, he might have succeeded in reaching and slaying them all—if he didn't have to face Gawain, whose Strength and Agility surpassed even his own. But Gawain held him fast in place, and the Magic Gunners concentrated their fire; Woodworth's regeneration steadily declined until he finally succumbed.
With a thunderous impact, dust swirling in the gale, Gawain delivered a devastating blow that drove Woodworth deep into the scarred earth—a vast crater pockmarked with countless bullet holes. This time, Woodworth did not spring out again. His body was now covered in black marks where the Mors toxin had taken its toll.
"Damn it… how could this happen? As clan leader, heir to the duchy… to be truly defeated by a mere human… and by those weapons that snatch all dignity from a warrior…" Woodworth raged, gasping in disbelief. "This can't happen… I cannot die here…"
Even at his last moment, Woodworth continued to struggle, attempting to crawl out and flee—when suddenly a boot came down, kicking him back into the pit.
"No, no—stop, stop—!" he wailed. "Don't kill me! Let me go! Don't destroy Britain! I have protected Britain for a thousand years; without the Clan, who else can guard it—"
"Since you have lost, at least lose with honor, Lord of Oxford." Gawain replied coolly. "You spoke of a warrior's glory—dying on the battlefield is the truest end to a warrior's honor."
He watched Woodworth, utterly spent and his healing reduced to a fatal level. Slowly, Gawain raised his right hand—now transformed into a blade—to bring this long struggle to its close.
Just then, a Water Mirror appeared at his side, and Lycoris's voice came through:
"Lord Gawain, please do not kill him."
"...Hm?" Gawain paused mid-swing and turned toward the mirror. His demon-faced eyes shone with dread-inducing light—the very embodiment of nightmare across Britain to the fairies. Yet Lycoris met his gaze without flinching.
"One point: Woodworth is not wrong. He truly has guarded Fairyland for a thousand years—a great fairy worthy of pride as successor to the previous Lord of Oxford, Rineke."
"And?" Gawain asked coldly.
"He may die, but not by such a death." Lycoris said softly. "Not only I, but Princess Gwen also shares this view."
"Hmm?" Gawain was taken aback. "Is that so? Gwen?"
From the other side of the mirror came Gwen's voice: "Mm…"
Recalling how Woodworth had stood unwavering before the Beast Calamity in the Fourth Simulation, Gwen hesitated, then said:
"Lycoris is right. Woodworth shouldn't die this way… Gawain, you told me not to kill without necessity… and Woodworth was Mother's most loyal retainer. If so, we need not be enemies. You taught me there are no eternal friends or enemies—only interests and positions. We need not oppose Woodworth; perhaps we could recruit him instead?"
"…I see." Gawain fell silent for two seconds, then said slowly, "I'm glad, Gwen—looks like you truly remembered what I taught you in our lessons. You've grown a great deal."
"Really? Being praised by Gawain is so rare, I'm so happy!" Gwen's tone rose with joy.
"But it seems that's not your only reason, Gwen," Gawain said gently. "You surely have more motive to withhold from killing him?"
"Uh…" Gwen's voice faltered and her gaze drifted. "...Alright, I admit it: mainly because if we kill Woodworth, Mother would be upset."
Sure enough, that was the key. Gawain shook his head—Gwen was still Gwen; he had half-believed his naive liege had matured.
Hearing their voices, Woodworth—lying prone in the dust—suddenly roared:
"Damn you! Don't underestimate me! I serve only Morgan—no one else! You, a callow girl, dare issue orders? Don't dream it!"
Seeing this, Gawain again raised his bladed hand. Woodworth, furious, stammered:
"Stop, stop! Don't kill me! Don't kill me—!"
With a "thud," Gawain struck Woodworth's head into the ground. Though it did not instantly kill him, for the already mortally weakened Woodworth it was enough to render him unconscious.
"You refuse to submit, and you refuse to die—this puts me in a difficult position." Gawain said, turning to the Water Mirror. "...That is the situation, Gwen. Woodworth himself refuses your suggestion; he will not bow to you."
"But I feel he was almost about to relent?" Gwen murmured. "He seemed terrified—if we threatened him a bit more, maybe he would surrender?"
"You're too naïve, Gwen." Gawain shook his head with a sigh. "Woodworth's attitude was clear: he despises you. Even if he verbally pledges allegiance out of fear, we cannot trust it, for he will never truly submit; at the first chance, he'd betray us. And his personal strength makes him dangerous: subduing him was only possible thanks to the Magic Gunners' heavy use of Mors bullets. If he feigns surrender, later recovers and destroys the gunners or assassinates you, the consequences would be dire."
Gwen fell into difficulty. Lycoris then spoke:
"But if there were a way to remove Woodworth's threat, Lord Gawain, you would be willing to spare him and recruit him, correct?"
"Hmm?" Having reverted from demon form, Gawain raised an eyebrow. "You have a proposal? I should say this: his vitality is immense; the Mors toxin in his system is fading. Though he cannot fully recover from the curse, in about a day he'll be strong enough to resist it and fight again."
"Then we should sign a contract," Lycoris said. "A master-servant pact, akin to the bond between Servant and Master. Lord Gawain, you know of such contracts. After that, we'd hold a Command Seal over Woodworth."
"I know something of Command Seals, even those that regenerate three marks per day. Woodworth's affinity for magic is high, but with a sufficiently powerful binding, we can add a clause that he may never act against his contract master."
"You say… you 'know something'?" Gawain's eye twitched. That implied surpassing Chaldea's system entirely.
"Fairies live long, so naturally they have vast time for magical research," Lycoris said calmly.
"But even so, Woodworth would not agree to such a pact easily?" Gawain asked.
"He will," Lycoris replied. "After a millennium serving Morgan, I'm confident I can persuade him."
…
[You accept Lycoris's and Gwen's suggestion: abandon killing Woodworth, instead capture him alive and personally guard him, taking him to Norwich's prison, where Lycoris is already waiting.]
[Later, while attempting to persuade Woodworth, Lycoris asks you to step aside.]
"since soon we may discuss many secrets of the Queen's past—things not suited for you to know." Lycoris told Gawain. "Surely you trust me?"
"Perhaps—but are you certain? He's regained much strength." Gawain arched an eyebrow.
"No problem," Lycoris said firmly. "I'm not a frail mage; I can subdue him… at least in his current state."
"…Very well." Considering the faint sense of threat he'd felt from Lycoris, Gawain nodded thoughtfully.
[After full consideration, you grant Lycoris's request.]
[For safety, before leaving the prison, you place Mors-cursed manacles on Woodworth's wrists and ankles.]
…
"...I know you—the one who spared my life before." When Woodworth regained consciousness, his first sight was Lycoris. He sneered: "Give up hope: I will never serve Gwen—"
His words were cut off by Lycoris:
"Sigh… Woodworth, are you so dissatisfied with my chosen heir?"
Her voice shifted from polite to icy authority in an instant. Woodworth sensed the change: a presence of unquestionable majesty emanated from this small maid. He could not mistake it.
"Y-Your Majesty? But why are you here…?" For a moment he was stunned, then quickly bowed respectfully: "Forgive me, my Queen. How may your servant comply?"
…
[You wait outside the prison for some time.]
[After about ten minutes, Lycoris emerges and informs you Woodworth is willing to sign the master-servant contract.]
[However, events unfolded differently than you expected.]
"Hmm? Contract with me? Why am I the master?" Gawain pointed to himself in confusion. "Shouldn't Gwen be the contracting party? Why have Woodworth bind himself to me?"