"Kyaa! Darling, I won!! Let's go meet Rikka-chan!"
"Don't pull, you'll rip me! Why'd you draw when we have catalysts!?"
"I wanted to feel fate!"
"Huh!?"
"Pass."
"Hell yeah, I won! Let me through, Mountain Gramps!"
"Pass."
"Wait, Hero King! I, Achilles, come rushing per our bond!"
"Don't run."
"Gwah! Don't step on my cloak—!!"
"…"
(Did I win? But with no connection, should I be invited there…?)
"Great Sage."
"…Mountain… Elder…"
"Share your wisdom as a guide. —Go."
"…Understood. My thanks."
(Uncle didn't make it. Well, if that guy's going, it'll be fine.)
"⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛—!!!"
"Gotta stop this one first!!"
The summoning circle's light spread and faded.
"Not thrilled about this summon…"
The Hero King propped his cheek, sighing.
"The Greeks, closest to the gods…"
"Now, now, don't say that…"
"Hobbies and judgments are separate."
If you're in a bad mood, I'll support you, King.
"Fine. Hurry up."
Appearing—
"Hey! Rikka, kept you waiting! Artemis and Orion!"
"Yo, Orie here."
A pure-hearted lovebrain, Artemis, appeared, hugging a bear-like thing. Orion, an irregular summon.
"Yaho! Long time!"
"Missed you, Rikka! Here I am♪"
"Sorry, we'll be in your care, sorry."
"…"
"Gil? Calm down, okay?"
"Nothing to say. The Master holds the reins. Irrelevant to me. Next."
"Boo! Cold reaction! Darling, shall we do a comedy duo to win them over?"
"Please don't anger the King!?"
All catalysts used. Now, random summons by fate.
"Here, snacks and drinks for a break."
Heracles entered with a large tray.
"For summoning downtime. Jeanne-senpai's idea."
"Yay! Sweets! Gil, eat some! Sugar's great for stress!"
"Next."
Gil munched away.
"You're eating already!?"
The circle spun, light filling the room.
"Good timing. Join us, Heracles. You might meet a Greek friend."
"So, it's Greeks this time. Gilgamesh, don't stress yourself."
"No matter. Most troubles are the gods' folly. No need for you to bow."
"We both have it rough."
"Indeed."
Heracles seems to soften Gil. Fellow demigods, perhaps?
"Here they come. Who's next?"
The light faded.
Appearing—
"I am Achilles! Son of Peleus and goddess Thetis, swift and valiant hero! I rushed here 'quickly'!"
Light armor, hair spiked with valor.
"You came all the way to Chaldea?"
You came, Achilles…!
"Yeah! Hero King, I'm here to lead your journey's vanguard. Followed our bond and zoomed in! Happy, right?"
"Hmph, restless brat."
"Don't say that. I'll be in your care."
"Right! The stray Servant you mentioned…!"
Yes. He was summoned as a counter to Heracles.
"But… where's my Master?"
Achilles looked around.
"Here! Rikka Fujimaru!"
"Hm. And this one?"
"Mash Kyrielight."
"Hm, hm. And this?"
"Chaldea Director, Olga Marie Animusphere."
"Hoooh… got it, got it…"
Achilles grinned wide.
"Three fine ladies? This is paradise!"
"Fine ladies!! Yes, Mash! We're ladies!!"
"That's the focus!?"
"Don't fall for my valor, okay?"
He winked.
Truly a Greek hero.
"Curb your lust, Achilles."
"—Heracles…!"
"You haven't met. Heracles, Archer with regained reason. How's that for a great hero?"
"—Interesting…! Wanna go!?"
"Not here! We'll run a simulation later!"
"As Roman says. I won't run or hide."
"Don't forget, Heracles. —Well, nice to meet you, Hero King and crew!"
"Yeah! Welcome, Achilles!"
"Right!"
Rikka and Achilles fist-bumped.
"Hahahaha! You're decent! Next!"
Gil's mood lifted. No wonder—Achilles fought alongside Heracles.
"Next! Who's coming?"
The circle glowed, light spreading.
"You were with Achilles…"
"Makes sense, one who could kill me eleven times."
"Tough to beat. —Talk later."
The light faded.
Appearing—
"Archer, Chiron. Here to guide my students."
A sage-like Archer, calm and intellectual.
"—Chiron, Teacher…!?"
"Long time, Heracles. Feel good to cast off?"
"…!!"
"Chiron!? No way…!?"
Olga Marie, stunned.
"Who? What's wrong?"
"Chiron! Son of divine parents, legendary sage! Taught Heracles, Achilles, Castor—Greece's greatest mentor!!"
"Whoa! That amazing!?"
"The constellation Sagittarius? That's Chiron."
The constellation's origin…!? The world's most famous archer!?
"Impossible! Chiron's a divine spirit, unlike Stheno or Euryale! Summoning shouldn't be possible!"
"Haha, you know much. The answer lies in my demise."
"Demise?"
"Great Sage Chiron was poisoned by the Hydra, suffering death and revival endlessly. The gods, in pity…"
"Took my immortality and granted mercy… Thus, I manifest as a downgraded Heroic Spirit."
Gave up immortality for mercy…?
"Hydra's poison lives up to its name. I'll test it on Ishtar next."
"…Teacher, back then—"
"It's fine. I didn't answer this summon to blame you."
Chiron turned to Rikka, Mash, and Olga Marie.
"I'm here to aid your quest to reclaim the future. …Master."
"Yes!"
"Your darkness and the light born from it… May I be illuminated by it?"
"Y-Yes! Of course!!"
"Thank you. Mash Kyrielight."
"Y-Yes?"
"Your journey holds all your wish's answers. Embrace doubt, but march unshaken."
"Y-Yes!"
"I expect much. And Olga Marie Animusphere."
"Y-Yes…?"
"You, especially, I wish to teach. Let's talk later."
"Y-Yes! It's… an honor!"
"Please. …Hero King, may I tour Chaldea?"
"Permitted, Great Sage. Heracles, guide him."
"Right. —This way, Teacher Chiron."
"Thank you, Heracles. …See you all later."
They left with gentle smiles.
"—Great Sage Chiron…"
"You knew a lot, Marie."
"…As a kid, I'd stargaze. Sagittarius shone brightest, so I studied its lore."
"So that's why you like Archers?"
"…Not just that, Gil."
Our eyes met.
"Alright. Let's take a break."
Gil rose from the throne.
"Time to prepare! Bathe, eat, return here!"
Here it comes.
"Summon Saber!! Settle my battle!!"
This will likely fulfill the King's true desire—!!
"Rikka-chan, decided on a god to worship?"
"Hm~ I thought Artemis, but everyone says Hestia or Hades."
"Gah! Why!?"
"They don't hunt boars, spread plagues, or shoot lovers—owowow!!"
"True, but I'm not convinced!!"
"Okay, Artemis."
"?"
"…Can we be friends? I want to hear tons of Artemis and Orion stories by your side! Your meeting, your mushy stuff, everything! I want to love Artemis more and cheer for you!"
"—Ri—"
"Ri?"
"Rikka, I love you—!! Listen, listen! All about me and Darling! I'll shower you with blessings—!!"
"Yay! Here's to us, Artemis!"
"Yup! My first human friend! Yay, Darling!"
(…Good thing Rikka's not a guy. She'd be a worse goddess-charmer than me…!)
"Jeanne-senpai, I brought new applicants."
"From the Iliad, Achilles. Not great with hands, so I'd like delivery. (Bruised from scolding)"
"Chiron. Confident in customer service."
"Please consider."
"Uh, um… My shop, really…?"
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