"Whew, I thought you might at least save your life, but to think you and your Master both made it out safely. Praise your Servant, Master. That one is without a doubt a first-class Heroic Spirit." (Cú Chulainn)
Caster stamps his approval and laughs cheerfully.
Wonderful, I honestly thought.
Working together to break through hard times. I had once given up on that as just a fairy tale from stories and children's books.
I lived in a world where such things had lost their value long ago, and I saw with my own eyes how friendship and effort were crushed by schemes and tricks.
But now, that was proven wrong right in front of me. Something real remains there, and something was truly achieved here.
—Such a refreshing result. A smile naturally spills out.
"Go on, call out to them. Your friend has finally started to take her first steps." (Gilgamesh)
As soon as I push her shoulder, Olga Marie dashes over to them.
"Are you okay!? Ritsuka! Mash!" (Olga Marie)
"Of course! As you can see, I'm alive and well! Thanks to Mash." (Ritsuka)
"Yes... thank you. Director... thanks to the Director's call and Senpai's help... I was able to use my Noble Phantasm..." (Mash)
"That's fine, don't worry about it...! I'm so glad... that you're safe, really...!" (Olga Marie)
"They're girls with guts. If they were a bit older, I'd have tried to sweet-talk them." (Cú Chulainn)
"Oh? For a beast, you understand proper behavior. For a dog, that's quite good." (Gilgamesh)
"You always gotta say something nasty, don't you? You were watching with bated breath. I don't wanna hear it from you when you got so worked up." (Cú Chulainn)
"Of course I got worked up. This is the Master who summoned and commands me. I won't allow half-hearted work. Well, I can't give a perfect score since the True Name wasn't released though." (Gilgamesh)
"A perfect score, huh? Aren't you the type who only allows 100 or 0?" (Cú Chulainn)
"It's still too early to judge. Wouldn't it be harsh to demand perfection from someone who just started holding a pen?" (Gilgamesh)
That's right, it doesn't have to be perfect. Taking it little by little is fine.
Don't stop, don't slack off. I want them to move forward each day without wavering.
Even in this extreme situation—no, because of it.
Things that are truly valuable shine brightly.
...I also need to stay focused.
As long as I rely on this vessel, my fighting style can't stay vague forever.
While the King of Heroes as a Servant may have another chance, there's no guarantee the soul within will.
Feeling that the next battle will be the real test, I focus my mind again.
"It really is different when there are people the same age around. I'm jealous of that kind of thing." (Dr. Roman)
"Doctor. I thought I couldn't hear your voice—what were you doing?" (Gilgamesh)
"I was working! This First Order is finally coming to an end. I found the cause of the Singularity!" (Dr. Roman)
"Huh? The cause? I already know about that." (Cú Chulainn)
"No way!? So you're saying I was just catching up and missed Mash's growth!?" (Dr. Roman)
"Fool. Taking your eyes off a child's growth is unforgivable for someone who calls themselves a parent. You should be punished later." (Gilgamesh)
"That's harsh! Ugh, I shouldn't have tried to show off when I'm not used to it…" (Dr. Roman)
～
Following Romani's identification and Caster's guidance, the group was moving through the underground cave leading to the cause of this Singularity.
From what this vessel's eyes can tell, this seems to be a workshop expanded by three famous families in Fuyuki who aimed for the Root.
All I understand is that this is a handmade cave—I don't know what those families were trying to achieve.
Or perhaps because this vessel has no interest in it, it's not even worth looking at.
"Let's take a short break. Ritsuka's vitals are lower than usual, probably because she suddenly activated circuits she doesn't normally use." (Olga Marie)
"Yeah, you're watching closely, girl. Next is the final push. It's best to be fully prepared." (Cú Chulainn)
"You've gotten much better at being considerate, Director! Well, it's good that breaking out of being alone gave you mental space!" (Dr. Roman)
"If you say one more unnecessary thing, I'll cut your pay, Romani." (Olga Marie)
"That's tyranny!" (Dr. Roman)
"Yay, a break~. Zzz." (Ritsuka)
"Is this alright, King of Heroes...?" (Mash)
"It would be troublesome if she collapsed in the final battle. I don't mind."
Being fully prepared is never a bad thing.
—And now, the predetermined farewell is approaching.
"..." (Gilgamesh)
To put it bluntly, Olga Marie cannot leave this Singularity.
From what this vessel can tell, her body has already died. That she made it this far is probably thanks to lingering traces of her spirit, residual thoughts.
—Which means Ritsuka and Mash will lose a friend they just met.
"...What's wrong? Gil. You're staring at the Director." (Ritsuka)
"No—" (Gilgamesh)
Perhaps I can only say "it can't be helped."
There's no way to help—her life's flame has already gone out.
...Maybe I'm being soft.
If the farewell was unavoidable, perhaps I shouldn't have saved her in the first place.
If death awaits her in the end anyway, perhaps it would have been better if I had given her a merciful end myself.
...But if there's will there, and consciousness, then she's still alive no matter what.
If that weren't true, then someone like me with only a soul couldn't be said to be living either. Though as a Servant, I can't really be called a proper living being.
"No, nothing. I just thought it wouldn't be bad to suddenly share my secret stash of sweets." (Gilgamesh)
What's done is done. Saying it would have been better not to save her is too arrogant.
If I've already saved a life, I'll bet on a small miracle.
Since this uncertain existence of mine is being accepted, a little rule-breaking is nothing new at this point.
"Really!? Yay! Candy!" (Ritsuka)
"Senpai, I'm happy for you." (Mash)
"Really, this is just like feeding animals..." (Olga Marie)
"Well, isn't it fine? It's rare for this guy to generously give things away. Really." (Cú Chulainn)
"I agree. Don't I get some kind of bonus too, King?" (Dr. Roman)
"Let's see. Should I give you scandal photos of that idol you're so fond of?" (Gilgamesh)
"Please don't! Don't show me the dark side of idols!" (Dr. Roman)
"Idol worship, how deeply sinful... That's why you can't get married." (Gilgamesh)
"That's too harsh! And why do you even know about Magi☆Mari!?" (Dr. Roman)
～
"King of Heroes, what's wrong? Everyone went ahead..." (Olga Marie)
I stop Olga Marie.
"...Nothing, your judgment earlier was excellent. Your quick thinking in noticing the Master's poor condition—I praise you for it." (Gilgamesh)
"——!" (Olga Marie)
Seeing her reaction confirms it.
She's not used to being praised. Rather, she's only had enemies around her.
High positions breed jealousy. Her shoulders were shaking.
—This is a gamble. A bet using my uncertain existence as collateral.
A rule-breaking move only possible because I'm an exceptional hero, the King of Heroes. Because I anticipated this.
No. The rule-breaking that only the King of Heroes can do. I do it here and now.
"Here, keep this." (Gilgamesh)
I reach into the golden ripples, grab it, and toss it to her.
"Ow! ...What is this?" (Olga Marie)
"It's a container with no use. I'll give it to you. Use it however you like—I specially permit it." (Gilgamesh)
What I gave her is a golden cup about the size of a mug.
"Uh, um... thank you very much." (Olga Marie)
—From here on, only God knows.
No, I won't pray to God. Relying on gods with this vessel feels like the worst taboo.
The rest depends on whether 'that' will respond to Olga Marie.
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