(Apologies for the confusing afterword. It will continue just a little bit more (until completion).)
『The completely shattered summoning gate.』
"There is no heavenly decree that condemns the love of mother and child—"
Interlude: The Summoning Arc
The Summoning Arc—A Peculiar King Appears!!
Chaldea, the Second Uruk, perched atop a mountain.
"Sweet treats are definitely the best when you're tired, right, Jeanne~"
"You can have seconds too. Eat as much as you like."
"Darling, open wide!"
"Stop forcing it on me!"
"Absolutely, I'll become a Shielder who can accept all of the Heroic King...!"
"Mashu-dono! That's excellent spirit!"
"I'll make records, but no one will ever truly trust them. It'll just end with 'So what?' Annoying, honestly! Even though I don't write lies!"
"Shall we make it so you can see the footage by reading the text? I think it's best to experience it firsthand. Our journey. Medea-sensei and I will handle the processing."
"Great idea! Let's go with that!"
"『I'm feeling very fulfilled right now. Magi☆Mari, please be careful too...』 Someday, I'll visit Chaldea!? Yes—!!"
"This World Grail... has the image of gears, mist, and lightning."
(Four worlds, huh... That's a huge scale.)
"Right? And you know, once a World Grail is filled, it 'doesn't disappear.' No matter how much you use it. Because the world itself is its content!"
(Amazing! I see, so that's how those handy Holy Grails are born.)
"Right? Even down to every single treasure, the Heroic King is amazing! ...Ah, it's almost time."
(It's going to be a spectacle~)
"Spiritron, change!"
Everyone's leisure time is...
"—Hear my voice!! All staff!! Assemble!!"
...torn apart by the King's command—!!
"I've been waiting~! Summon, summon!"
"Reinforcements, no. It's time to invite new comrades."
Rikka and Marie, who joined midway, enter the room.
"Where's Da Vinci-chan?"
"She's boiling down documents, so she's absent for now. She apparently got Gil's permission too."
"Oh, really. Let's go to the shop later then."
"Mash Kyrielight, arrived!"
"Phew, that was close, five minutes early, we made it!"
Mashu and Roman also appear.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Gil! So, let's get right to it—"
"UMU. WELCOME."
His words are cut off.
"...Huh?"
Something was standing before them.
"WHY ARE YOU SURPRISED? DON'T BE SO DAZED."
A strange creature, clad in magically woven, shimmering platinum cloth and with glowing crimson eyes, stood there.
"...E-Eh?"
"WHAT, DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?"
It abruptly lifts its cloth.
"It is I! Heroic King Gilgamesh! It is a bothersome thing, my overflowing charisma, even when I hide my form! Fuhahahahaha!"
—As usual, I've put my consciousness to sleep. I want it that way outside of Chaldea's rooms. As always, and from now on.
"No, I understand that! But you're the only one who does something so incomprehensible!? What happened!? Is that your secret plan for summoning Sabers!?"
"Indeed! This is the original text of 'Concealment' slumbering in my treasury! A supreme cloak woven with 'radiance'! A superior item that grants Concealment EX simply by wearing it!"
—Ah, by the way, in this case, EX means "Do you even intend to hide?" I worked hard to find it. The concept was "an item that shows the King's majesty even while hidden." No, it was tough, it was camouflage and very hard to see...
"I have resolved and concluded. I have understood, like an epiphany, the reason why Sabers never come. I am a wise King, far superior to mongrels even in clarity! And this form is related to it!"
"Y-Yes... Then, why is that?"
Marie quickly asks. She understands that in such moments, the King seeks an audience.
"A good question. But fear not, it's a simple conclusion. Yes, in short, Sabers are..."
Bang! He slams the throne.
"...shy!! They are intimidated by my overwhelmingly valiant, beautiful, and gorgeous radiance!! Fuhahahahaha! The logic is far too simple! Sabers, indeed, are those who tickle my heart even more! They perfectly understand chastity! As expected of my (provisional) Queen!"
"――――――"
Marie looks utterly bewildered.
"I seeee...!"
"I didn't know...!"
Rikka and Mashu's eyes sparkle.
"That's excessively positive, isn't it!? Don't you ever think you're being avoided!?"
"Why would they avoid me? Only they have the honor of being embraced in my arms."
"My condolences, Knight King! You've really caught someone's attention! Live strong!"
—I think the King's form wearing this is cool and also cute. Like a mascot character, wasn't it? Something like that.
(A mascot character whose eyes glow crimson and glittery isn't "ゆるい" (loose/gentle) at all, is it...)
—Eh!? It glows like Fou!? Mascot characters don't glow!?
(That's the light of the ones you defeated!)
"It is the King's mettle to meet a bashful Queen! I've learned even more consideration by caring for the Princess, so I can handle this with a smile! Fuhaha! Truly Gilgamesh 'Assassin'! Well, enough preamble! This is merely a costume! Just an amusement for this time! Shall we begin then!"
He pulls the cloth over himself.
"CIRCLE. ROTATE. THE. CURTAIN. RISES."
"Whatever. Alright, circle."
The moment it activated—
"Whoa—!!"
Lightning strikes the circle, and Chaldea shakes, along with the summoning room.
"What in the—!!"
"DO. NOT. PANIC. THERE. IS. ONLY. ONE. TYPE. OF. LIGHTNING. STRIKE. THAT. FALLS. UPON. A. SUMMONING."
"Ah (I see)"
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