"Piles of surveys, recipe book, ten secret note pages, request forms."
"Ingredients ready—tarts, mont blancs, cheesecakes. Custom character sweets? I can do it. Flavor and looks make a top-tier patissier."
"Requests: Master '?', Mash '?', annoying gaudy idiot Gilgamesh '?'."
"…Come back soon, idiot."
Fools—!!
"Valiant ones," a majestic, dignified voice echoed.
"Servant signal nearby! Close!" Romani warned.
At the capital's gate, a giant man stood.
"No… it can't be," Nero faltered, trembling.
"You, Nero. Valiant, supporting Rome with frail arms and body," the man said.
"Ho, blind fool, you've devised fine amusement," Gilgamesh smirked.
His voice resonates in my soul, gentle yet direct.
"I am Rome—Rome itself," the man declared.
"Rome is… Rome? Huh?" Ritsuka blinked.
"As suspected… Servants are unpredictable," Romani muttered.
"You, I believed… wanted to believe you were different," Nero whispered.
Black form, crimson eyes like Gilgamesh's vessel.
"I, Rome, am United Empire's leader, founder of the seven hills' empire," he said.
"It can't be wrong… You are—" Nero stammered.
"Come, my beloved child. Past, present, future—all Rome loves you," he urged.
Nero shook, his voice of love and authority commanding, "All Rome will love you. I, Rome, will love you. Even the beast within you."
"Founder King! Romulus!! You stand against me!?" Nero cried.
Before Nero stood—
"I, Rome,"
The true Rome, blocking her path—!
"Rome."
"Hahaha!! Love! It's love!! Tyrant, your end is here!!" Gilgamesh laughed.
"⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛!!!! (The empire's fall nears!! The emperor's head is close!)"
The group stormed the empire's heart.
"Rome, hail!"
"God-Ancestor, hail—"
Soldiers and citizens charged heedlessly, chillingly eerie.
"Hm, charisma bordering on a curse. Every mongrel praises him with lifeless faces," Gilgamesh observed.
All attacked, armed or not.
"No wonder. That's the God-Ancestor's charisma. They'll sacrifice their lives for Romulus without hesitation," Romani explained.
United Empire Rome—a singular, ultimate city-state.
"Nero, you're down," Ritsuka noted.
She fought, commanded, but lacked her usual vigor.
"No surprise. Her revered god, the foundation of her faith, opposes her," Gilgamesh said.
"Like what?" Ritsuka asked.
"Your parents leading an evil secret society," Gilgamesh replied.
"Super shocking!!" Ritsuka gasped.
Nero's despair and confusion are palpable. The Rome she fights for rejects her.
Come home, it says. It loves you.
Her wielding her sword still is a marvel. Perhaps—
"Let's cheer her up!" Ritsuka proposed.
"Ho?"
"It's the final battle! If Nero's down, we'll lose!"
"True. Leaders must be bold, radiant. She needs teaching," Gilgamesh agreed.
"Let's go!"
"Don't stray from me. Mash is guarding another unit, won't return soon," Gilgamesh warned.
"You," Nero noticed them.
"Your voice lacks spirit. Met a nether demon or awaiting judgment? Pathetic either way," Gilgamesh mocked.
"…" Nero hung her head.
Nero's shaken.
"Nero…" Ritsuka murmured.
"Against my uncle or Caesar, I showed weakness, but this is different," Nero said.
"Of course. Your sworn god betrays you. It stings," Gilgamesh said.
"You see through me. He's Romulus, Rome's origin. To Romans, he's perhaps more radiant than you, Hero King," Nero admitted.
"Hm, not the time to compare greatness. So, what now?" Gilgamesh pressed.
"You want to 'submit' to him, Fifth Emperor?"
"What!?" Ritsuka gasped.
"All seen through," Nero smiled weakly.
"Nero…"
"Forgive my weakness, Ritsuka… The Founder King—my father, mother, god," Nero's eyes fell, her rose's brilliance dim.
"No one in Rome surpasses him. He's my enemy now. I waver, doubt… perhaps,"
"—"
"Perhaps I'm the one who's wrong… I confess," Nero whispered.
Her confession, born of love for Rome.
"I want to surrender, leap into Romulus' embrace, join United Rome… I know it's forbidden, but…"
"Nero, you—"
Before I could speak—
"GAAAH!! Fool—!!"
"!?"
"Fwah!?"
"Bride!! Roaring in my ear!?" Gilgamesh snapped.
Another Nero Claudius, summoned in Chaldea, roared.
"I'm here too!? Anything goes!?" Nero gasped.
"Of course!! Listening to your whining, I'm done holding back!! Even if it's me, I'll say it!!"
"Ho, rousing your own cowardice?" Gilgamesh smirked.
"Master, listen!! Romulus is wrong!! We're right!! I guarantee it with confidence!!"
"What—"
Bride Nero declared their cause just.
"You, another me!? How—"
"He's wrong!! Look at United Rome's people and soldiers!!"
She pointed sharply.
"None smile!! Soldiers, citizens—hollow, like funeral mourners, praising Romulus! Look! You call that right, Nero Claudius!?"
"It's… but…"
"Your Rome overflowed with smiles! Why? Obvious!!"
"They believed in your love!!"
"—!!"
"Majesty, calm down!" Romani urged.
"You'd abandon those who believed and loved you—Master, Mash, Hero King—for Romulus!? Who are you!!"
"I… I…"
"Answer!! Who are you!!"
"Enough, noisy fool!! Obviously, I'm Nero Claudius!! Believing in my Rome, loving it!!"
"Hmph," Gilgamesh smirked.
"Yeah!" Ritsuka cheered.
"Swearing to reclaim Rome from Romulus!!"
"Good! Fight to take it back, even against Founder King Romulus!!"
Her fierce spirit stunned me.
"Yeah! I'd pick Nero's Rome!" Ritsuka said.
"Ritsuka…"
"It was fun! Your Rome!"
"Then I'm not wrong!" Nero declared.
"Right prevails not; what I deem worthy endures," Gilgamesh said.
I prefer Nero's Rome.
"Indeed. By an apple's worth, your Rome's better," Gilgamesh added.
That apple was delicious.
"Hero King approves my Rome! No more worries!" Nero's passion reignited.
"No doubts! I'll slay Romulus in the palace, reclaim Rome!!"
"Yeah!!"
"Jing Ke's recon pinned his location. Resolve set—charge!"
"Ohh!!"
"Come, Hero King!"
"Fine. I'll see Rome's fate through," Gilgamesh agreed.
"Mash Kyrielight, back! …Something happen?"
"Just a fool rousing a fool. No worries, Mash," Gilgamesh said.
"Who's the fool!!"
"Haha… hm?"
"Sorry, Hero King!! I'm back as operator!"
"Olga!!"
"Director…!"
"Sorry for the wait, Ritsuka, Mash! Permission to return to the front?"
"Granted!! Haha! The cast's complete! Let's go! Time for the blind to fall!!"
Doubts cleared, passion's flames burned the false capital.
Let's go—decisive battle!!
"Home soon! Gotta cook lots!"
"Make Mapo yourself. I'll cook. Have Arash taste-test first, prepare milder versions for others."
"Yes!"
"I'll help. I cooked plenty as a town girl," Martha offered.
"Count on me, Saint Martha."
"If it's edible spice, I'm in. Bring it!"
"Please, Arash-san! Let's cook!"
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The battle isn't over... and the truth has yet to be revealed. Read the next chapter now on Patreon! [patreon.com/Greyhounds]