"Mood matters. In all things."
—That day, with fate—
"Hm. No Saber after all. Still, the haul wasn't bad. No wonder the mongrels swarm to it."
The final summoning, sealing this ritual's end. From golden ripples, Gilgamesh drew a radiant, prismatic call ticket.
"A slight detour from the plan, but no matter. Your effort to ease Olga Marie's burden by throwing yourself into it—truly touching."
I was half-asleep, so the details are fuzzy, but apparently the summoning wrapped up somehow. It's clear Master and Jeanne made a mess of things.
"Sorry…"
"No need. Punishment was dealt, and you served it. I won't dig up the past—it's forgiven. Raise your head, Master."
"…O-Okay!"
Rikka's brightness returned. She's not the type to deceive—there must've been some pressing reason. If the king forgives her, it's not my place to pry.
"Now, Master. Have you mastered it? Yes, that."
"Yup! I got it. Lord El-Melloi and Olga Marie drilled it into me!"
The final summoning loomed. This time, the king himself would take command.
"Very well! Let's begin! My summoning, by me, for me!"
The king issued his decree!
"'Single-Pull Fate Doctrine'! It begins! Da Vinci, activate the spatial projection device!"
"Alright, alright! Order received!"
Da Vinci-chan fired up the golden planetarium device.
A hologram flickered, transforming the surroundings.
A dim, cramped storehouse—a Japanese dozo. This was…
"A Japanese storehouse?"
"Indeed. This rat-infested scene is, curiously, a fitting stage for summoning a Saber."
"Really!?"
"Why would King Arthur be in a Japanese storehouse…?"
"Maybe he fought in a Japanese Holy Grail War and got summoned. …Though, honestly, I'd expect a grander setting…?"
"Exceptions abound. Always. The weaving gods multiply them as easily as breathing. This illusory stage will do. Master!"
The vessel called out to Rikka.
"Yup! Leave it to me!"
Nostrils flaring, Rikka approached the summoning circle.
"I memorized it! Here we go!"
"Roman, time it right."
"Got it. I'm in too deep to back out now—I'll see it through!"
"Stay calm, Rikka."
"Do your best, Senpai!"
"Yup! Watch this, Marie!"
With a deep breath, Rikka thrust her Command Spell-bearing right hand toward the circle.
"I declare—Let silver and iron take root. Let the wind that descends be walled. Let the four gates close, emerging from the crown, cycling through the three-forked road to the kingdom!"
Rikka's chant, the proper incantation for summoning, echoed through the storehouse.
"Mash! Play the BGM! That 'Fateful Night' vibe!"
"Yes! Activating audio!"
From the golden audio system, a solemn, crystalline voice filled the storehouse.
It's just a storehouse, yet it feels like a grand castle… This BGM is unreal.
"Shut and fill, shut and fill, shut and fill, shut and fill, shut and fill. Fivefold repetition, shattering the moment of fulfillment!"
"Roman! Timing, now!"
"I know!"
"I declare—Your body under me, my fate in your sword! By the Holy Grail's will, if you heed this intent and reason, answer—!"
Magic surged, the room holding its breath.
"There, Rikka!"
"Oh?"
"Yup! I swear here! I am the one who becomes all the world's good! I am the one who lays down all the world's evil! You who stand against a burned future, seeking distant Humanity, wielding that power! I borrow that strength! I seek the deeds etched in your history—!!"
At that verse, a faint reaction stirred in the vessel.
"An unfamiliar chant. Olga Marie, your arrangement?"
"Yes. I registered that verse with my Grail. It should exclude anti-heroes and evil-aligned Servants, summoning only those of good alignment."
So Olga Marie had schemed for this summoning too.
"Saber is undoubtedly good-aligned. Clever! A fine contribution!"
Olga Marie's always so diligent.
The circle spun, responding to the chant, its light shimmering rainbow hues, filling the storehouse—!
"The summoning reaches its climax! Come forth, Saber—!!"
Allow me the honor of narrating.
"You who don the three great words of power, come from the wheel of restraint, guardian of the scales—!!"
The glowing circle settled, and a hero emerged—
I know that face. The girl who bore ideals too grand, shining in heaven and on earth. A radiant dream woven together, the form of a king sparkling above all.
"Spirit Origin pattern, Saber!!"
"Yes! Come forth—! Now, join our journey—!"
She was too dazzling.
"Answer my fate—!!"
Like a star, noble and gallant, I still remember her form.
The circle stilled, revealing—
That day, the king, with fate—
"Saber, Altera. Warrior of the Huns, Great King."
"…Saber… but…"
The Heroic King collapsed.
"I came, Heroic King. I trusted your words."
"…So be it. My own hubris, rusted…"
The Heroic King closed his eyes, serene.
Even now, the king has not met his fate.
"Gacha is a wretched civilization. But its encounters… a fine civilization."
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
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