The Renovation King! Shiwasu (December) Means I Am Busy Moving!
"Just because it's the end of the year doesn't mean the King rests! One day of rest only increases the work that must be done!"
"One task a day is fine, no problem."
"No problem! Up to 10,000 characters!"
"Here are the requests from the newly summoned Servants. King of Heroes, please take a look."
"Hm, well done."
In Gilgamesh's private chambers, Lancer Artoria compiled documents and assisted him with his duties.
It seems that her body had matured into a form befitting a king thanks to the Holy Lance. Saber Artoria, on the other hand, appeared to have stopped growing. That's why Heroine Artoria so vehemently insisted she wasn't flat-chested.
"Hmph, still making demands as freely as ever. Very well, time is precious, let's finish this quickly. You have done well, Lion King."
"It is a king's natural duty; no thanks are necessary."
Artoria stands perfectly straight, embodying impeccable discipline.
"The grown form of that Artoria, hm. While her physique is far from my preference, her impeccable bearing as a king must be highly praised. She is worthy as my assistant, my right-hand to whom I entrust my duties. Artoria, was it a word representing infinite possibility after all?"
"Thank you."
—Indeed. This one, Lancer Artoria, immediately requested to assist the King of Heroes.
"If there are duties, I shall assist you. I am a Servant summoned by you."
—For some reason, she stubbornly refused to transfer the contract to the Master, unhesitatingly stating she would focus solely on assisting the King.
The King of Heroes, for his part, seemed to highly evaluate Artoria's "way of being," which possessed a kingly authority comparable to his own, and readily accepted the Lion King's request.
It's a secret that he muttered, "As a queen, she is somewhat lacking in charm."
"Then, let us get straight to it. —But before that, let's clarify one thing."
He gently touched her chin.
"—!"
He brought their faces close enough to touch, peering into the Lion King's azure eyes.
—Amazing. So clear... like jewels...
"I can tell by your eyes. You are troubled, and lost."
"—What... are you saying?"
"Anyone seeing your clumsy attempt at self-destruction would know at a glance. Did you think I wouldn't notice? Do not underestimate my insight. —I shall guess."
A crimson glow invades her blue eyes.
"You are bewildered by 'your own values, which have approached divinity.' You no longer know if what you consider good aligns with what others consider good, and thus you are narrowing yourself, believing you must keep your distance."
"—!!"
"Hmph. What, you can still be surprised. It seems your heart hasn't rusted yet."
He laughs, "Fuhaha," as he pulls his face away.
"That's also why you don't approach the Master. Is it 'fear of being rejected' or 'fear of being painfully reminded that you are different'?"
He takes out a wine glass from a golden ripple.
"Indeed, you are splendid in all aspects except your physical form. Because of your earnest nature, it seems you cannot escape your troubles. That anguish, that fear, truly to my liking."
The vessel laughs, "Fuhaha."
—By the way, Fou was super excited. Those breasts look soft, after all. Perhaps a person in power needs a dignified body.
Goddess, amazing.
"—..."
The Lion King's face twists into an expression like a maiden whose troubles have been exposed, whose virginity has been defiled, whose face contorts in the pain of defloration.
—Artoria, whose body and values are approaching those of a goddess due to wielding Rhongomyniad.
Artoria herself is the most perplexed by this change.
...If she's troubled, I want to help her even a little. She willingly offered to become the King's strength.
Then, I want to do something for her too. The King holds everything and is solitary. If so, I want to reach out to everything, cling to something valuable, and offer a helping hand. That is my way of life, having been given the name "Princess."
—A divine body, a human heart... Artoria suffering from this discrepancy...
—Yes, then!
"—Hm, I've thought of a good idea."
Crack! He crushes the glass.
"If you were Saber, I might make your anguish my entertainment, but now you are my right-hand, my assistant. I cannot let you wallow in such trivial worries indefinitely."
He pulls her hand.
"Come with me. I shall lighten your heart. But first, let's finish our work."
"—Renovations, understood."
She immediately changes her expression, assuming the look of a king.
"Then let us go! As usual, a digest! Behold only the results! Take a rest, everyone, it's the end of the year!"
—Artoria, the Lancer one, is last. First, everyone else!
Minamoto-no-Raikou: Master's My Room
"Thank you, King of Heroes. To prepare a room for me that is the same as my child's..."
"May your household of three be joyful. ...I also invited Golden, but he said, 'Please, no! It's super dangerous!' "
"Oh no... Am I being avoided by my child...? Sobs, sniffle, sniffle..."
"That is not the case. He merely has not yet grasped the appropriate distance. Watch over him patiently. It is a mother's duty. —A duty only you can fulfill; carry it out steadfastly."
"Oh my—! Yes, thank you, King of Heroes. Hehe, I look forward to working with you, Jeanne-sama."
"Ah, yes. Um, these are some sweet buns as a token of friendship..."
"Oh my..."
"King of Heroes."
"Next!"
Paracelsus: Cafe Hohenheim
"A moment of peace for everyone... that is my wish."
(Slurp...)
"Do not drink so fluidly, Lion King."
"It's delicious. May I have some milk?"
"I believe in the goodness of everyone... Even if it leads to evil, my Master will surely—"
"Hm, live as you wish."
"Would you like some too, King of Heroes? It's herbal tea."
"I shall partake."
—I want to come here with Fou...
"Please tell Ritsuka. That I am always waiting for them."
"Very well. I shall convey it. Next!"
Nitocris: Nito's Room & Grand Throne Room with Marble Dance Floor
"Come forth! Come forth! Come forth!"
"Giiii!" "Giiii!" "Giiii!"
"How bustling. How diligent to renovate the Sun One's room."
"King of Heroes!? No, um, this is—!"
"It is fine, expand as you please. Fuhaha! I can picture his face now!"
"..."
"Giiii!"
"We didn't have these in Britain, did we?"
—Cute... I wonder if I can get a cloak for Fou...
Tamamo: Amaterasu Grand Shrine
"It is designed exactly to your specifications."
"Hooo!! ♥♥ Fuuuu!! ♥♥"
—...I'm starting to get worried.
"Indulge in luxury as you wish, true to your nature."
—Are you alright? If you feel unwell, please tell the King or me anytime.
I don't know if she can hear me, but...
"Ukyaaaaa—!!!!! ♥♥♥♥♥♥ I—can't—take—it—!! ♥♥ Master Dashing Soul King Pure Soul! Tamamo-chan is moved to tears—!! ♥♥♥ Welcoming the two of them, Tamamo! Marrying up!! It's here—!!! ♥♥♥♥"
"Furthermore, by Tamamo Cat-san's request, the room will be shared."
"That is how it is. You will not lack for fox stew curry, rejoice!"
"Gah—!? Why doesn't it have a happy ending—!!?"
"...This is tiring."
"As am I. Next."
Caster of Midrash: Sharing a room with Romani
"Why!? Hey, why!? What about my privacy!? My will!?"
"It is a correction of your tastes. It is time for you to know love, Romani. Once you know the soft skin of a woman, you will realize that virtual realms can only serve as a mere emotional crutch."
"—You're not saying it's worthless, are you?"
"Because I know a certain Master who favors such things."
"No way—!! My wife is Magi☆Mari—!!"
"Alright, suddenly, a riddle for the King of Heroes! ♥"
"Hm—"
"Air, switch. You cannot answer this."
—Y-yes!
"—In that room, there are ten doors. When one opens, the other nine are closed. When nine doors open, one door is closed."
—?
"It is a human. The room is the womb. The ten doors are the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, navel, and excretory orifices. When a human is a fetus, the navel's door is open, but when the first cry of birth is uttered, that door will close."
I-I see...!
"Correct~♪ Now for the next. Those words are heavier than gold or life, and require four people to carry them. Yet, the master has never even seen those words..."
—?, ...?
"That would be the 'Ark' that God bestowed upon humans as a sign of trust. It is the proof of the covenant that Solomon inherited from earlier kings, a box containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments. I hear it was placed in the Holy of Holies in his temple, and burned with incense smoke?"
—I see~!
"Magnificent~♪ Now, for the final question. —The sea is calm. The ship sails against the wind. Dark clouds are visible at the destination indicated by the pilot. The ship's provisions are by no means perfect."
—??????
"Hm? Hmmm? Eh? What does that mean?"
"A clear question. The answer is 'country.' If a skilled captain handles the sail and rudder, a headwind will propel the ship faster in a single direction. The sea, though appearing uniform, is not a monolithic entity. It is a collection of countless drops. Even when calm, the surface hides rough waves and whirlpools beneath. Just as a desert is a collection of sand. Just as subtly shifting quicksand rumbles."
"Then, where exactly is that ship headed?"
"The ship does not stop. To drift in complacency and avoidance is not a ship. It is merely driftwood awaiting its demise. The pilot, knowing the unavoidable storm, issues a warning based on that. Only ships that endure hardship, only crew members who overcome trials, will reach new lands and witness the dawn of a new world—"
—Amazing...! Truly amazing...!
"Magnificent♪ You are a king second to none, the first and absolute king♪ I swear to protect the finances and value of this Chaldea~♪"
"It is only natural to answer to this extent. Such an easy question, even Romani could understand, no?"
"R-right, right... yeah."
"The time of repentance is nigh. Be prepared."
"...Yeah. I won't run away."
"Well then, I'll take charge of the proceedings~. Now, Romani-sama, I have a question for you too."
"Yes!?"
"A devout woman who cuddles with you morning, noon, and night, giving you warmth and comfort, who is it? ♥"
"Help me, Magi☆Mari—!!"
—What was that question, King?
"Those were three word puzzles that she supposedly asked Solomon in life. That woman, so insolent as to assess the worth of my kingship!"
—But, King, you answered perfectly! Amazing! As expected, the King of Heroes is amazing!
"Hmph, naturally. Have you realized my majesty, Air?"
—Yes! King of Heroes!
"Then, next!"
Mordred: Sharing a room with Fran
"Taking responsibility is a bold move, traitor. Tame her completely."
"Ah, right. I messed up, after all. Got it, got it."
"Mord. Please, yakisoba pan. And jerky too."
"I'm not your errand boy! Don't get ahead of yourself!"
"And still, you won't remove your helmet."
"There's no need for conflict."
"How serious. Next."
Andersen: State-of-the-art Study
"Alright, perfect. This is my workspace, my study. My sanctuary alone. You've done well. Now get out."
"Fuhaha! Your rebellious spirit and sharp tongue are as always! But it is good. Write my epic faithfully!"
"Then absolutely do not call me to the battlefield! 'A story for you' relies on motivation! Although the welfare is perfect!"
"The deadline is until the restoration of humanity! Strive your best! Fuhahahahaha!!"
"—"
"Now, are you the last?"
"I am..."
"Say nothing. Come here."
—The renovations are already finished. Come, over here.
"...Yes."
Lancer Artoria
"––––––"
A simple stable and pasture.
"How is it? Quite a thoughtful renovation, even if I say so myself."
"—This place, is..."
—Yes, it's a recreation of the scenery from before King Arthur pulled the sword, when she was just a simple town girl.
He realized. If the day she pulled the Holy Lance was the beginning of her divinity, and the discrepancy between that and her human heart was causing Artoria suffering—
"Was it Dun Stallion? It may be a little cramped, but run freely to your heart's content. While you are here, you have no obligations. No people clinging to you, no knights forcing ideals upon you."
—She can always return to the scenery where she was human, innocently running through the world.
She can leave behind her crown, spear, and mantle, and have a space where she can run for herself.
If so, her human heart will surely never be lost.
—This Chaldea can easily absorb even human selfishness.
Because this place is—"Paradise."
"—The endlessly spreading sky. The smell of earth. The wind caressing my cheek. —I remember. I—remember."
She dismounts her horse and looks up at the sky.
"—Ah, how... beautiful—"
Tears overflowed from her eyes.
"—Hmph. Go forth and ride with that splendid steed. Your duties for today are over."
"—Yes. Then, I shall take you up on your offer. —King of Heroes."
"Hm?"
"—From now on, I look forward to working with you—"
The face of Artoria, smiling as she said that,
was that of a serene young girl—
—The two kings stretch their wings in a simple pasture.
Artoria runs with abandon, oblivious to the mud, laughing with Dun Stallion.
Swinging in a hammock hung from a tree, Gilgamesh drinks wine as he watches Artoria.
"A solution I would not have thought of. This will surely motivate her. A credit to you, Air."
—I just wanted to be of help to the King and Artoria.
"—Is that so."
The King said nothing more.
...The divine wine, beloved by the Sky God, drawn from the treasury,
—Combined with Artoria's smile, it had an exquisitely refreshing taste—
"Are you satisfied, Lion King?"
"Yes. My thanks to you."
—That's good. It seems her spirits have lifted a little.
"From now on, I look forward to working with you."
"Indeed. Teach the Master how to ride a horse. It will be a good opportunity for interaction."
"Yes. —Someday."
"Hm?"
"Someday, I would like to meet... the being who changed you, too."
"—Hmph. Such a being is rarely found."
"Hehe, I'll take your word for it."
—Lion King...
"Well then, until next time. —If anything happens, feel free to call me anytime."
"That fiery heart of yours is the only component that defines yourself. Do not lose it."
"—Yes!"
—Ah, indeed.
Smiles are truly wonderful...
Extra Chapter: Fou – Fou's My Room
"Ta-da! I made a room just for Fou in the King's chambers! It has all sorts of daily necessities, and I made it look fancy and pretty! Fou's image! Here, stick your neck out a bit."
"Neck Choker"
"A custom-made accessory just for Fou! With that, you can warp here anytime. Come whenever you feel like dropping by! Room share? Is that what it's called?"
(I-is it okay...? For me to share a room with you?)
"Of course! The best part about getting a body is being able to express my gratitude like this, right! I might be a little persistent, but let me say it again and again. —Thank you, truly, always! My precious Fou! Let's keep being together, always!"
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