A lone man wandered the wasteland.
Across barren earth, unsteady, anchorless, adrift, he staggered, carried by the whims of fate.
Clad in a tattered cloak, his steps faltered. Gaunt, filthy, hair grown wild and unkempt.
Yet his eyes and the curve of his lips told a different story.
With bare fists, he slew feral beasts. With raw strength, he crushed specters. Even demonic dragons fell to his unrelenting blows.
A wretched wanderer, he struck down every obstacle in his path.
Sipping muddy water, gnawing on roots, he stumbled, caked in grime, crawling, rising unsteadily, and walking on.
For what purpose?
His lips never ceased their motion.
"…It cannot be."
Muttering faintly, hollowly, as if possessed, he repeated the words.
"…I must not perish…"
How many thousands, how many tens of thousands of times had he whispered them? Yet for every step, he murmured again.
"…I must not fall…"
Beasts trembled before him; even dragons yielded the path. His ghostly wanderings had stretched across a decade's journey.
"…I must not die…"
His eyes alone blazed with unyielding light, a glare so fierce it could make one brace for death.
Yet those eyes only stared at the sky, muttering into the void.
"…This body must be eternally indestructible…"
Hunger, fatigue, and thirst ravaged him, yet he sated none of them.
For what? For whom? He no longer knew what he sought.
The man merely staggered on, frail steps carrying him to the wasteland's end.
This foolish, pitiful man's name…
There could be no mistake, no mishearing.
You—
Reaching out, you tried to cry his name—
And consciousness plunged into darkness.
"Are you awake? Come on, it's time!"
Stirred by a familiar voice, you opened your eyes.
—Fou.
"Were you having a bad dream or something?"
—A dream? Was it a dream?
That pitiable figure, trudging hollowly onward—was he merely a tale spun in sleep?
…No, that wasn't it.
You remembered. You knew. It was written in the book you cherished above all else.
That was—Gilgamesh. Unmistakably. There could be no error.
…That form, after losing his one true friend…
"Showing your ugliest side, huh? Looks like you've finally caught his eye."
—What does that mean?
"I can't say it myself—too embarrassing. Someday, you'll hear it in certain words."
Fou chuckled softly.
Caught his eye… me? The Heroic King's?
…You'd hold off on an answer. If, by some miracle, it were true…
The joy might overwhelm you, unravel the very core of who you are.
"Well, he's asleep, so how about our usual serious talk?"
Fou hopped onto the bed with a bounce.
"Okeanos, conquered! I thoroughly enjoyed your wild antics."
Wild… really?
"Wild, I say! Refitting ships, braving storms, defeating great heroes, and that romantic battleship at the end! What else could you call such a thrilling tale?"
…Was it? You were just caught up in the moment, not aiming to embellish a story.
But from the outside, your journey… it was something worth watching, wasn't it? That's good.
…If you've walked a path worthy of this vessel, this king, there's no greater joy.
"You're fitting in nicely now. I can feel the real you, clear as day."
Fou whispered at your ear with a hop.
"But don't forget."
Those gentle, honeyed words.
"If it gets too hard, you can stop, you know."
…That tender temptation, heard so many times.
"The journey ahead will be harsher, crueler. It might be too much for someone as pure as you. You might see things you wish you hadn't."
—He was serious. No jest, just earnestness.
"You might… come to pity people. To feel sorry for humanity itself."
—Pity? Not hate, not resentment, but pity?
Why pity? Was it wrong to feel that way?
"…If that happens… No, I shouldn't say it."
Clearing his throat, Fou turned to face you.
"So… if you want to end the journey, now's the time. If you want to stop at the peak, this is it."
…
"If you want to end in happiness, to see only joy, now's the time. To avoid pain and suffering, to drift into peaceful slumber… this is the moment."
Gently, Fou pressed the question.
"If it's too hard, you can stop, you know."
—…No, that's wrong.
(?)
I think it's wrong, Fou. I really do.
Because… joy and pleasure aren't the whole of this world.
(!)
To only see what suits me, to be satisfied and step off the journey alone?
…No way. I reject such a foolish end.
(…!)
There's still so much I must see.
Sorrow, anger, pain—they're as vital as joy and delight.
I won't turn away from what's in the human world, won't indulge in self-satisfaction and end it on my terms.
"It won't be pleasant to witness."
That's exactly why. The pain and sorrow everyone wants to avoid—I mustn't look away, mustn't flee.
Because—the king I stand beside is such a being.
I walk with a king who gazes upon joy and sorrow, delight and pain, hope and despair, judging their worth equally.
So—I won't turn away just because it's "hard and painful."
(…)
I'm a nameless soul. But I've made a choice.
(What's that?)
To stand by this king. To hone myself, worthy of this vessel, I swore to myself and to him.
So stopping halfway is unthinkable.
Even the vilest evil, the beastly nature everyone curses as "damned," I won't look away.
Not because I'm unafraid of pain or unbothered by hardship.
—It's just a wish. To see the world this king has shown me, its boundless expanse, together with him.
The sorrow and pain within it… I've decided to face them with all that I am.
—This nameless soul, graced with sights too grand for it.
As the greatest, most splendid king in the world, this is my utmost respect and repayment.
—Perhaps, this is…
(…So?)
—Yes. This must be one of my wishes.
"To see the world as it is with the king. Sorrow, pain, all of it."
I might falter before unimaginable tragedy. I might kneel before heart-wrenching grief.
But—until that moment, I'll never regret this journey.
Because I've seen, up close, something far greater, far more precious than sorrow or pain. There's no reason to despair now.
This king taught me: "This world will never bore you."
(—)
So I want to see more. Know more.
What I'll achieve at this journey's end—I want to see it with my own eyes, Fou.
(…Fou.)
…Now I understand. The meaning of the king's "pleasure."
The joy of learning something new. The instinct to thrill at the unknown, the unimaginable.
The entertainment that colors the soul, the life—that's "pleasure."
—So.
I say it clearly.
I won't stop. This journey won't stop.
I want to feel more "pleasure." To know more "pleasure."
With all this world has—I want to revel in "pleasure" to my heart's content.
So—don't worry, I'll be fine.
(…)
—I'll keep pushing forward.
(…Got it. Heh, got it.)
Fou bounced with glee.
"I miss the old you, all 'I don't get it, I don't get it.' You're a full-fledged pleasure-seeker now!"
—R-really?
"Absolutely. Oh, I wish they could've heard you say, 'The world's more than that.' Same clairvoyance, same sights, yet your answer's so different. Why is that?"
Bouncing merrily.
…You and your cryptic remarks. It's kind of nerve-wracking…
"Sorry, sorry. No need to rush. You'll figure it out eventually."
…Right. I can't stress over every little thing.
"Exactly. Got it. Your story continues."
Giggling, Fou went on.
"Cherish your 'wish' and 'pleasure.' I'll be cheering you on, always."
—Yeah. Thanks. From now on, too.
As you spoke, you noticed something in your hand.
…? What's this?
A golden thermos—this is… the gender-swap potion. Strange, I thought I'd put it away…
(…I see. I said I wouldn't do it, but if you want to, I won't stop you. Or perhaps…)
?
(Your reward for your answer? Go on, drink it.)
…N-no, I can't just mess with the vessel like that…
(Ask the vessel. Feel any disrespect or disgust?)
…Your body moved. At the least, there was no sense of rejection.
(Your answer must've really impressed him. 'The form of a princess, I grant to you,' is what it means.)
—!?
(Pretty cool, right? If he doesn't want it, take it. I'm jealous—you get to be a princess!)
…King…
Even bringing the potion closer, the vessel showed no resistance.
…Its meaning was clear.
(Show me, then. Not the pure Heroic King, but the pure Heroic Princess. So exciting!)
…You know, Fou, I still think you're a bit too wild.
—And so, another facet of the Heroic King emerged.
A golden rule that humbles all, a form that is art itself. The most beautiful creation in the world, before which men and women alike kneel.
…Save for one difference: not the confident, certain "king," but a gentle, serene presence, a demeanor like a tranquil "princess."
The sharp gaze softened kindly, exuding a gentle regality that melted those who saw it.
—Here stood the "Nameless" Heroic Princess.
"…How do I look?"
Bashfully twirling her hair.
"Am I… weird, Fou?"
A frail, ethereal "Gilgamesh"… had taken form.
(Absolutely perfect—!!!)
"W-Wait—!?"
Catching Fou as he leapt into her chest.
(So soft! So warm! Perfect! You're perfect! Stay like this forever! Forever!)
"…You've always jumped at me like this, haven't you?"
(It's my mission! Now pamper me! Pet me! Lovingly! Proudly!)
"…I can never tell Master or Mash about this… Come here, Fou."
(—Ah!)
"Huh?"
(Say it again. One more time.)
"Uh, w-what?"
("Come here"!)
"Oh, um… come here?"
(—Precious…)
"Fou—!?"
—Perhaps, this was…
A small reward… for the soul that walked this journey.
Next Time!
"I can handle enemies! Pankration is awesome!"
"S-Senpai…"
"Mordred! It's Mordred! You're Mordred, right?! Forget Saber!!"
"Hold it, Artoria! Mordred's an ally!"
"Huh?… Huh?"
"That's a phantom clinging to a ghost. No weapon's needed to slay an illusion."
"Awfully kind of you, Editing King. Been poisoned or something?"
"Still as sharp-tongued as ever, Fairy Tale Writer."
"Then I'll—"
"Shut it, you. Quoting your lines is a hassle."
"How cruel—!?"
"We won't be saved. We can't be saved. That's why we're Jack the Ripper."
"No… that can't be—"
"This is gonna be fun… Let's see whose lightning's the golden one!"
"Hahaha! In the name of human myth!!"
"Uh, can I go home now?"
"My name is Grand Caster! The Mage King, Solomon!"
"No… that's impossible—"
"What's wrong, rabble? No words to hurl at me?"
"—No corresponding pillar detected. Conversation deemed unnecessary."
The human world is a chain of sorrow and pain. Nameless, your soul will perish, fade, and die.
So what! I've decided! I've found it! My wish, my purpose!
No one but the king will decide my worth! I won't let the world's conclusions be obstructed!
I've finally found—what I want to achieve!!
Fourth Refinement
"…Good. A truly captivating journey, Nameless. Leave this to me."
—You… are…
"I speak of the primordial. Elements blend, solidify, birthing a star that weaves all creation. Pretender to the crown, know the pinnacle of truth. I'll show you what I deem truly golden. The hidden archetype, unveiled."
—Crown Descent: Demonic Capital, London
"Now—sing with all your might, you wretched thoughts!!!!"
"Even if you claim my soul, you can't stay a shabby Nameless forever."
—I am…
"No choice, then. I'll grant you a name. A direct naming from the king—receive it with gratitude."
…!!
"But really, only one name suits you. Listen well, your name is—"
—Coming Soon
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