’You‘re always like that.‘
Normally, I would have said that and let it go. I would have laughed without even properly thinking about what she was saying.
But today, I didn't want to do that.
Isn't this world, created by the Holy Grail, my world? It's a Singularity that will only end when my wish is granted.
My wish is to have fun with everyone at an amusement park. The one who gave me the Holy Grail to grant my wish was none other than Gilgamesh.
And now she's suddenly saying she won't cooperate?
"That won't do."
"Marduk?"
"I want to end it. I want to forget the tiresome emotional disputes. I can't allow you alone to back out now."
I was struck again by the height difference between me and the young Gilgamesh.
I have to look down, and Gilgamesh has to look up. How many times have I had this experience?
"I'm not saying I'm backing out. I want to be on good terms with Marduk. It's just that the others are not included."
"And I'm saying that won't do."
"Whether it will do or not is not for Marduk to decide. Who has the right to decide relationships at will?"
For instance, there are disputes in kindergarten or elementary school.
When children fight, an elder mediates a reconciliation. A hug followed by 'get along' is almost a universal rule.
No matter how many times you say it, there are people you want to be friends with, and there are people who don't mix, like oil and water.
There's nothing wrong with what Gilgamesh is saying.
"Right? Marduk is clever, so I trust you understand."
"No. I don't understand."
Gilgamesh's composed expression crumbles. She tries to analyze my blatant lie, but I was faster.
I walked up to Gilgamesh.
"Ouch!"
And I pulled her cheek.
I focused more on inflicting pain than enjoying the soft texture.
Gilgamesh winced and cried out in pain.
"It huuurts!"
"I'm doing it to hurt you."
I let go at an appropriate moment. Gilgamesh rubbed her bright red cheek and shot me a resentful glare.
"I'm disappointed, Marduk."
"I did it to make you reflect, but it seems you haven't reflected enough."
"W-wait a minute! It really hurts, you know? A little gentler...!"
Both of Gilgamesh's cheeks turned as red as apples.
Seeing her tear-filled face was quite a blow to my conscience. But there was no hesitation in my actions.
"You know why I did this, right?"
"...I know, but I still don't like it."
"Ahem."
"I can't share my treasures! Renting is fine, selling is good too, but splitting them in half is something only that King of Mages would do!"
It was a classic example of a childish tantrum. Gilgamesh threw away her usual arrogant attitude and revealed her true feelings.
"Who likes that kind of thing!"
"I'm not a treasure, I'm a person."
"...I'll apologize for calling you a treasure."
"And the other thing?"
Gilgamesh shut her mouth. It felt like a 'I'd rather die than' kind of feeling.
What words should I use to persuade her? As I was thinking, it suddenly occurred to me.
Do I really need to persuade her?
"Marduk, your eyes are scary...?"
"I've got a good idea."
"What is it? Could you please not come any closer... Ouch!"
If words don't work, and pinching doesn't work... then I have no choice but to bring out my secret weapon.
Tickling.
"W-wait...! Hahahaha! Hehehe... stop...!"
"How about it, are you still going to be like that?"
"It's... it's a foul... Kyaaah!"
It took less than 10 minutes to break Gilgamesh's stubbornness.
Because an exhausted Gilgamesh declared her surrender in 5 minutes.
Perhaps because of her child's body, Gilgamesh was really weak to tickling.
"...My body still feels strange."
Gilgamesh surrendered. In this Singularity, she would unconditionally follow me.
It was a pinky promise, but I had a feeling she wouldn't break it.
Or it would be unfortunate if she did.
Anyway, the long-awaited people finally arrived at the amusement park.
"Father's... cooking?! To create such a precious dish with that piece of junk, Tamamo feels like she's going to faint from shock!"
Tamamo in a stylish office look.
"You've prepared just enough, huh? There are six! We can each have one!"
Johanna with her hair half-tied up and the rest flowing down.
I didn't know the two were coming together, but I was surprised that they seemed to be getting along quite well.
I had known they were on bad terms. In fact, until I saw them up close, I didn't even realize it was the two of them.
I recognized Johanna, but I wasn't sure about the person next to her.
As soon as she saw me, Tamamo ran. She dived into my arms, and if there wasn't a bush behind me, she would have gotten hurt.
Of course, she probably did it after seeing the bush.
Before we could even exchange greetings, Tamamo buried her head in my embrace.
"Father's warmth! You're as delicious as ever in this life! I shall breathe you in to my heart's content!"
"...Delicious? Breathe me in?"
Tamamo took a deep breath, so deep that it was embarrassing even for me. The sound of the wind being sucked in resounded clearly.
"Sluuurp~!"
...It must be because we haven't seen each other in a long time.
Tamamo couldn't even be summoned during the height of the Holy Grail War. It's understandable that she's so happy.
I'm also happy to see these fluffy tails and ears again.
It's a beautiful fur no matter when I see it. The word 'lustrous' doesn't do it justice.
"Oh my~ your touch is so naughty.... With you, Father, I'm always okay, but..."
"Shall we stop here?"
"What?! Tamamo deserves to spend more time with Father!"
"That's true, but shouldn't we at least get the grass off? My back is starting to hurt."
"That kind of thing can be handled with a curse... hah!"
You don't have magical energy. Tamamo, who had reawakened to the forgotten truth, sank with 300 times the shock.
For Tamamo, who had lived her whole life being called a monster and a genius, the label 'incompetent' was not a light title.
I don't look down on Tamamo that much, but that's because I was originally born an ordinary person. She must feel differently.
Behind the dejected Tamamo, Johanna appeared with an awkward smile.
"Ahaha... it seems Tamamo-san has taken all my longing as well. Shall we just say a simple hello?"
"I can't be so cold as that. Here."
I have no intention of leaving anyone out. I opened my arms and welcomed Johanna.
"Then, just for a moment..."
After hesitating slightly, Johanna, with a blushing face, rested her head on my shoulder. She didn't wrap her arms around me. It felt like being hugged by a chrysalis.
A chrysalis is too grotesque, so should I say a rabbit? If Johanna is a rabbit, then is Tamamo a fox? What about Gilgamesh? I can't think of a matching animal.
If it were Gilgamesh, wouldn't she rather wipe out all the animals on Earth than be compared to one? Humans are also animals in a broad sense, so am I also perhaps...?
Shaking off the slight stray thoughts, I could feel Johanna's gaze looking up at me.
I lowered my head slightly and met Johanna's eyes. I found out with my body that Her Holiness was not satisfied.
"My nerves are fine. Could you stop pinching my side?"
"Okay. Sorry. I suddenly felt like you were thinking something strange... did it hurt a lot?"
"It didn't hurt a lot, but what do you mean by 'thinking something strange'?"
Johanna tilted her head, as if she wasn't sure herself.
"I just got a feeling that you were thinking something useless and were about to get depressed!"
"If you say so, then I guess so. Alright. I'll only look at you right now."
"Good boy. Well done!"
Stroking is for bedtime only. Dodging Johanna's hand, I naturally pushed her away.
Johanna was, of course, full of complaints.
"Ooh! This much is fine!"
"Tamamo is watching."
"Then we can just do it with Tamamo-san too, right?"
Why is the logic flowing that way?
"Fufu, then this humble girl will join in as well. I must savor each and every opportunity!"
At some point, the fallen Tamamo had also woken up. Why is she getting behind me? Why is her gesture as sly as a middle-aged man's?
"You're under arrest! Surrender quietly!"
"A chance to stroke Father. Ehehe!"
I was thus surrounded from the front and back.
It wasn't strange at all that my hair became a mess from the two women's unrestrained hands.
When I didn't resist, the two of them made up their minds and made me sit on a bench and played various pranks on me.
Like kissing my forehead while pretending to touch my hair, or constantly touching my chest with their hands...
Whether my gender had changed or not, I was busy fending off actions that I thought could be sued for sexual harassment.
When their over-the-line pranks failed, the two of them finally started to toe the line.
Holding hands, lap pillows, finger biting (I don't know why they do this), etc...
Where is the Gilgamesh who will save me? Only after playing for a long time and becoming exhausted did Gilgamesh return with some familiar faces.
"Marduk! Are you doing well?"
At Gilgamesh's innocent appearance, I was desperate to complain, but the faces next to her made me shut my mouth.
"Ahem...! Ah, hello, brother?"
Morgan, cosplaying as Tonelico with a face full of shame, and,
"Aargh! I can't do it! What is this outfit? Do you think I'm a suckling babe?!"
Draco, wearing a baggy light blue outfit and a yellow hat that a kindergartener would wear, were walking side by side.