I heard that during New Year's, women are not supposed to cook, so people put their all into making elaborate meals for everyone!
Three tiers of Japanese cuisine, three tiers of Western cuisine, three tiers of Chinese cuisine! And the final tier uses a treasure vessel, instantly producing "everyone's most desired dish" the moment it's opened! With the Heroic King's treasury, each person can have their own custom osechi! Isn't it amazing?! The Heroic King is amazing!
I would be so happy if I could make the auspicious time of New Year's even a little bit more joyful! May your days ahead be filled with happiness!
This has gotten long, but please enjoy the main story! Even now, having received my name, I love you all and this world you live in, unchangingly—!
"Ah, this? It's 'the me that disappeared.' I created the causality of 'having disappeared.' I've already 'disappeared,' you see. With this, I too can—"
—Fou too! This year, too, please treat us well!
"Ah—"
—Fou?
"—Thank you. This New Year, too, I was defeated by you—"
Fou—!?
A Story of Love and Hope
Chaldea, a Certain Room
"Caster of Midrash, by my power. This place has become a space of absolute fairness."
She announced solemnly.
"So please, everyone, relax and receive what is to come."
"Okay!"
Gathered were Mash, Ritsuka, Olga Marie, and Da Vinci.
"What could it be? This important talk?"
"It must be about the Grand Caster. He seemed to have figured something out."
"Given the timing, that's highly probable... But where is the Heroic King...?"
"Hehe..."
Da Vinci-chan chuckled.
"...Master?"
"Oh, ah, sorry, sorry. It's an important discussion, so listen carefully, alright? —Ah, truly."
She wiped away a tear and murmured.
"Finally, your freedom, singing amidst your screams, will be rewarded."
"...? Master...?"
The moment someone was about to ask 'What?',
"Whoa!?"
Suddenly, the lights went out. The room plunged into darkness.
"What's going on!?"
"Senpai! Stay calm!"
"Kyaaah, scary, help me, deshi~"
"What are you saying...?"
The group was confused, but then,
"—Me and!"
Further confusion assailed them!
"Our!"
"What on earth, why, Solomon~!"
The Supreme King, Gilgamesh, wearing a rider suit with a nametag that read 'Assistant.'
And Romani, clearly embarrassed, his face bright red.
"..."
The group blinked in bewilderment.
"See! Didn't I tell you? You've completely put them off!"
"No, one might say we've captivated the room. This is entirely our pace. Behold! Their faces are like pigeons struck by a bean pellet!"
—It couldn't be helped. A simple set had suddenly appeared, and the King and the Doctor were speaking with such high energy.
Oh, Fou and I made the set. We put our hearts into it.
"Romani...?"
"Ah, um, well, you see..."
"In this place, we shall speak of our enemy, the mongrel who claims to be Grand Caster, and indeed, the entirety of the being known as Solomon. For that purpose, we arranged this set. Is that not so, Doctor Romani?"
The vessel quickly interjected a save.
"Y-yes, that's right! Nice save!"
"That set is so cute! It has so many Fou drawings!"
"Did Gil make it, I wonder? ...It's lovely."
"Yes! It's very fairytale-like!"
—It's a huge hit! We did it, Fou! I'm so happy! Your cuteness definitely came across!
(We did it! All that effort was worth it! Thank you, Aer!)
"Now, the conversation is getting off-topic. I understand your happiness, but compose yourself."
—Ah, s-sorry!
"Good. Then let us proceed. I shall guide the questions."
Following the instructions, I relinquished control of the vessel.
"Then this Assistant King Gilgamesh shall immediately take the role of host. Here we go. First question."
The moment the Heroic King spoke, the room became perfectly silent.
"What is that Grand Caster? He seemed quite like a small fry, but is he truly the real Solomon?"
—The vessel and my own impression is 'No.'
Personally, though he claimed to be a king, I felt no 'kingly aura' from him at all.
And they called themselves the true Solomon, 'Goetia.'
To be 'true' implies there is another. This contradiction...
"Ah. He's not Solomon. Or rather, his 'body' is Solomon, but the soul within is something else entirely."
—!
"Hmph. As expected."
"What do you mean?"
"Ah, Solomon has long been dead. He's even become a Heroic Spirit. But that wasn't the Heroic Spirit Solomon. —Remember the Demon Gods? There are seventy-two pillars of them. And the original Demon Gods are higher life forms, they don't have a lifespan. Solomon died, but the magical formula lived on, meaning..."
"'After Solomon's death, the abandoned magical formula attached itself to his corpse and began to function as a living magical formula.' That's roughly the gist of it."
—I see, so that's what it was!
Even after Solomon's death, the system of the 'Seventy-Two Demon Gods' he commanded lived on.
That system lamented, pitied, and hated the concept of death, of finite life, and to overcome it, possessed Solomon's body and began its activity.
Burning human history, consolidating it, gathering it as a light band, and repeating this for thousands of years.
—Jumping to the distant past, they would become stars and restart the world.
That was their plan, the next deed after the incineration of humanity.
The 'Reversed Canal・Genesis Light-Year,' and the collective entity of the Demon Gods who accomplished it, 'Goetia.'
—One of the Seven Evils of Humanity, Beast I, possessing the principle of 'Pity.' A beast with the bestiality of pride and despair, born from humans pitying other humans...!
—The moment the information was gathered, the vessel instantly grasped the truth.
"You swiftly arrived at the truth. As expected of the treasure who has honed herself under me."
—Furthermore, being able to touch them with my own soul was a significant factor. Having heard their plan directly from their mouths, the analytical data was sufficient. With this much, I can see through it in an instant with the King's Clairvoyance.
"Indeed. That is the true identity of the fool who achieved the incineration of humanity. Goetia, what a fatal blunder. To think a parasite would dare touch the soul residing within me. Its trickery was instantly exposed."
—And there's one more thing I understand.
Their philosophy stems from 'love,' from 'overcoming the end' and 'overturning the fate of the finite.'
Yes, 'Evils of Humanity' are precisely 'Humanity's Love.'
The means to achieve a profound, noble goal directly leads to the destruction of humanity as it currently exists.
"Precisely. Their philosophy is consistent. What threatens humanity is not hatred or resentment. It is the very desire to 'wish for a better future.' —Truly, a shameful and troublesome disposition."
—Now I understand. I understand the King's words from France.
The desire to make something better.
The desire to achieve something.
The determination to definitely achieve something.
All of that—turns its fangs upon humanity as it exists now.
Hatred and resentment can always heal.
'This much should be enough,' 'I'll let you off with this.'
But love is not like that.
Love is 'inexhaustible.' Until it is embraced, fulfilled, and satisfied by oneself.
'I will definitely achieve it,' 'I will definitely accomplish something.'
—Therefore, the ultimate destination is the elimination of obstacles, thorough exclusion.
If there is 'love,' anything can be achieved, no matter what. Even if that means 'exterminating humanity.' That is not the goal, but merely the 'process.' It is the 'means' to satisfy love.
—Just like all the people I have seen until now.
—Like the Heroic King, who defined his duty as 'discerning' the people he 'loved' to the ends of the earth.
"—Though it is true, do not speak of this when you are the Heroic Princess, understood? It is self-evident."
My head is ruffled.
Yes. I will not represent or broadcast your impressions. I will never act in a way that sullies your pride.
"Hmm. You are obedient too. Truly, your reverence is pleasing. Fuhaha. Now, I shall continue the questions."
"I see, then why did these Demon Gods undertake such a grand endeavor? Was there something that truly irked them?"
"...Yes, that's right. Back then, I didn't particularly care, but now I understand. What they were thinking. Their determination."
Romani chuckled, "Ahaha."
"To explain that, I first need to talk about Solomon. It's going to be a bit of a long story, but do you mind?"
"He said so. If you need to use the restroom, do so."
"Are you okay? Mash, Marie."
"Of course. It's an important discussion."
"I have no problem either."
"That's what they say. Come on, speak, explain away~"
Da Vinci interjected, and Romani shook his head with a 'good grief.'
"Honestly, you're always so carefree. ...Well, never mind. I'll try to make it as easy to understand as possible, so just listen comfortably."
—And then, Romani began to speak.
"—First off, King Solomon was a 'heartless man.'"
—A story of one easygoing king.
—A story of one non-human, stripped of all freedom.
First, Solomon was a child dedicated to God. He heard God's voice, spoke for God's will, and was an agent who obeyed God's will. Well, essentially, a puppet.
In Solomon's era, human free will was weak. The consciousness of 'doing something' or 'choosing something' was very scarce.
Because there was 'God,' after all. It was much easier to follow God's oracle than to worry oneself.
And the king born to rule such people was Solomon.
A spokesperson for God doesn't need a heart. The minimum personality and minimum spirit are enough.
As long as there's a soul, revelations will reach it.
In that way... Solomon was truly 'heartless.' He had no trace of joy, anger, sorrow, or pleasure. He dealt with everything with "Hmm. So what?" He was a terrible person.
—But one day, God appeared to that Solomon.
He was sleeping soundly, and God was by his bedside. Of course, he was surprised.
When he asked, "What do you want?" do you know what He said?
'Thou hast a wish. Speak what thou desirest. I shall grant it.'
That's what He said. I wanted to say... 'What are you talking about, after not even giving me free will?'
Solomon thought. Fame? I have enough. Wealth? There's no use for it.
—And then he realized.
He wanted to know the hearts of humans. He wanted to know their joys, angers, sorrows, and pleasures. He wanted to know the genuine hearts of the people around him.
He wanted to know what humans thought as they lived their lives to the fullest. What they thought as they walked their pilgrimage, accumulating suffering... he wanted to know.
So he proclaimed,
'Wisdom. The wisdom to know the ordinary things that fill the world.'
He said.
Then, for some reason, God misunderstood and handed Solomon rings!
Ten rings that freely commanded angels and demons. The power of God, later called miracles.
No, no, that's wrong, isn't it? He said 'wisdom,' didn't he? He wanted to know genuine hearts, didn't he? Why was he given familiars? It just meant more errand boys for an errand boy!
...But, he didn't know a heart that could complain, and wasn't taught one.
'Fulfill your mission, guide the people.'
So, a convenient familiar was given to God's puppet.
—And then. While he was fulfilling his duties with the familiars, he received complaints again and again.
The content was 'humans are imperfect,' 'this world is full of sorrow,' wasn't it?
Solomon had no heart, but they did. So... at that time, he couldn't say anything clever.
'Humans are imperfect.'
—Yes, they are, so what?
'This world is full of sorrow.'
—That's right, so?
'Don't you feel anything!?'
—About what?
'This tragedy! Don't you intend to rectify human imperfection!?'
—I thought, 'What are they talking about?' That's all I thought.
—No, well. Not really?
'—'
—Because humans are just like that, aren't they? 'If someone else is suffering but I'm not, then it's fine.' Isn't that what humans are like?
It's my job to govern them, and it's my job to sort things out as God says, isn't it? If that's being done, then why does it matter what happens to humans?
'—'
Fulfill your duties, Demon Gods. It is your 'duty' to see the future of humanity.
'—Duty, duty... duty...!'
They must have gotten angry.
They must have been saddened.
But I didn't pay them any mind.
Because such freedom wasn't permitted.
Solomon possessed Clairvoyance. Eyes that saw through past and future.
He could observe all of humanity. Solomon continued to watch it all, unfeeling. But the Demon Gods were different.
They had will, and they had seen the ugliness of humanity for thousands of years. They weren't even allowed to avert their eyes. In the end, they were inseparably bound to Solomon. It was like being tied down and forced to watch splatter films and bad ends. They must have been unable to endure it.
And the master they tearfully appealed to was in this state. It's understandable that they became desperate. Though at the time, Solomon didn't understand.
—In the end, Solomon observed humanity but did nothing for them, and fell into sleep. He only used the rings he received once, to return them by his own will.
—The story of the heartless Solomon ends here. But the Demon Gods did not die.
Perhaps... they thought, 'Let's do something about it'?
'If he won't do it, I'll do something.'
'We'll do something for humanity ourselves.'
For that... they needed a body, and to do something, they needed Solomon's corpse, perhaps?
And that brings us to the present.
He exhaled with a "phew."
"Well, that's about Solomon. Essentially, it was a communication breakdown with his familiars, wasn't it?"
He scratched his head sheepishly.
"It sounds like an excuse, but if only I had been allowed even a little more free will..."
—That was the Demon Gods' resolution, the Demon Gods' decision.
...More and more, I couldn't help but regret.
If he could see the past and future, why did he only see tragedies?
There should have been just as much joy, future, and hope.
Life, the world, never ends with death and severance.
Rather, beyond that... love and hope overflow, weaving a precious future. I was shown that by this King.
...If Solomon had free will.
Like the Heroic King. Like the Heroic King showed me.
'Tragedy is merely one element that colors the world,' he surely would have taught him.
No one was at fault, no one was wrong.
—It was simply a fatal misalignment of all the gears.
"Hmm, I know a saying that perfectly sums up the relationship between Solomon and those lumps of flesh. It's the words of a saint who appeared on the moon."
—Words of a saint?
"Indeed. 'It was simply bad timing.' A great fool who lacked will. A great fool who burned down the entire tapestry upon seeing a single stain. That's all it was—a fatally bad timing."
—Bad timing...
"You, too, should chant this when you are stuck on your future journey. 'It was bad timing.' Most things can be settled with this, you know."
Bad timing...
The words settled into my soul.
So that's it... that's what it was.
I felt like I finally understood that their relationship was simply a matter of bad timing.
...Precisely why I must give you my thanks.
—Thank you, Heroic King.
"Hm?"
—For showing me the world.
For showing me everything, tragedies and joys...
Truly, thank you.
—I. I was truly happy to have resided within you—
"...That's not to say my authority alone determined you, Aer."
He chuckled with a "Hmph."
"No matter how keen one's eyes, if one 'does not try to see,' it is meaningless. I merely gave you the opportunity to see. —It was you who decided to observe, who chose to observe everything, and who came to a conclusion."
—!
"It was you who concluded that my garden was 'wonderful.' You witnessed tragedy, suffering, and despair, sometimes forced to see it, yet you still decided 'I want to see this world.' —Precisely for that reason,"
The Heroic King looked at me. In his eyes, pride and affection.
"Precisely for that reason—your soul is beautiful. Beautiful enough to be bestowed the name of my treasure, Aer."
—Ah, thank you, very, much...
...My soul feels hot. What is this? A cold?
A cold in my soul? ...No, that can't be...
"Hmph, now it is your turn to scratch your cheek. That is 'shyness.' It is the feeling I experience when I receive your reverence. Fuhaha, does it not make you blush?"
—But I won't stop revering the Heroic King.
Because you were there, I was able to embrace such a beautiful answer.
—Truly, thank you. My one and only Heroic King...
"—...Good."
He poked my cheek with a "muni."
"Are you trying to praise me to death? I have already received as much reverence from you as there are mongrels infesting my garden. Truly... you are utterly endearing."
—Augh~...
"Gil?"
I realized Romani was looking at me with concern.
"Are you okay? Want to take a break?"
"Stay focused, Assistant~!"
Da Vinci jeered.
"I understand. Do you think I, who have experienced the duties of Uruk, would tire from this much, you fool?"
"Really? Then perhaps I'll ask a question instead!"
She raised her hand with a "Pii."
"Question! Why do you know so much about Solomon?"
"I-indeed! It's like..."
"Like you've 'seen it all'..."
The two murmured.
"What do you mean, Doctor?"
He nodded at Mash's question.
"Ah, that's right. Because I 'experienced' it."
"—Eh?"
"Gil, let's ask him a question this time."
Romani asked.
"'Was there anything strange about that Solomon?'"
"—Something strange, now... how was it?"
The vessel pondered, "Hmm."
"Aer, answer."
—Me?
"You confronted him with only your soul. You must have noticed some inconsistency, some oddity. Rely on your memory and recall it. The answer will surely be there."
—Inconsistency, something strange...
His existence, the ominous aura... no, that's not it, something else—
'As the innocent and yearning Demon God 'Remegton,' join our great work.'
A right hand was extended.
On it, five rings—
—!!
That's it!
"Did you realize?"
The middle finger! The ring on the middle finger! Only that one was a different color, a replica! No doubt about it!
"Even more foolish. To expose a weakness to my soul. The leakage of information is incessant. To claim omnipotence with this is laughable."
"The rings. One of his rings is not genuine."
I affirmed and declared.
"That's right. The Grand Caster's rings are incomplete. He's lost one, just one genuine ring. And—"
Slowly, he removed the glove from his right hand.
"That ring is here. The true ring that Solomon prepared for the future, and sent to the future, is on this right hand."
—A true ring gleamed.
Firmly set on his right middle finger, it was undeniably 'Solomon's Ring'—
"—"
"How, could..."
"...Doctor, this is..."
"Now, you have seen through the false Solomon. To commend that accomplishment, I too shall reveal everything. —To you, my dear ones, whom the King of Heroes called 'treasure.'"
Suddenly, Romani's body was enveloped in light.
"Whoa!?"
And then, what appeared was—
"—Allow me to reintroduce myself."
White hair, dignified attire.
And... an unchanged, easygoing smile.
"I am the King of Mages, Solomon. A worthless, heartless man, a chicken with a name too grand for a coward."
Romani, no, Solomon, laughed with an "Ahaha," feigning nonchalance.
"—"
The three were speechless.
"Oh, oh? Are you put off after all? Is it no good?"
"It does not suit you."
"Thank you for your concise and accurate words! Damn it! Compared to you, no one has any flair!"
He denied it, tears welling up. ...That gesture was unmistakably Romani's.
"Congratulations—!! Romani!"
Da Vinci applauded with a clap-clap.
"Finally, your freedom, running with tears streaming down, has ended! You've worked so hard until now!"
—...—
(Steady, Aer! Soul! Soul!)
Huh!? —So, you can lose your soul when you're surprised...!
"Focus your energy in your dantian. Reel back the tail of your soul."
Y-yes, sir!
"Haa. Rushing ahead and leaving others behind is a bad habit of yours, Leonardo."
He shook his head with a 'good grief.'
"Roman... Romani is Solomon? Eh? Solomon is Romani? —Soloman?"
"Soloman!? Oh, but that's a good name! Romani, it sounds good, doesn't it?"
"—Impossible."
Olga Marie opened her mouth.
"The first Heroic Spirit summoned by Chaldea, a Servant even I didn't know about...!"
"—Yes. That's right, Marie. It's me. Your father, Marisbilly Animusphere, summoned me, and I was his partner in the Holy Grail War... I am Solomon."
"Seriously!?"
—What a... turn of events...
Agitation and shock filled the room.
"Rest assured. I will explain everything thoroughly. —Now, allow me to tell you the story of how I was summoned and became human—"
And then, Solomon, no, Romani, began to speak.
His own story—
-----------------------------
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