Thank you all for embracing the audacious concept of the Nameless Heroic Princess! Please enjoy this relaxed adventure!
"Ah… that's unfair… so unfair… A pure soul in my body? That's just cheating… Oh… I've never felt like this before…"
"Begone, insolent mongrels daring to reach for my treasures…—'The Star of Genesis that Cleaves Heaven and Earth'—!!"
"She's mine to claim as my sister! I won't let you impostors have her! May my radiance reach the pure princess!! The time of great collapse has come—!!!"
"You lot understand nothing! There's no me out there with such devotion!! I'll make her my aide, rivaling Siduri! I won't give a single hair to you who'd discard her when bored!! Vanish, foolish mes!! My resolve shall drench the earth—!!!"
"Ah, sorry for the noise. Just some idiot adults betting their lives on whether she's a 'daughter, sister, or aide.' I sincerely hope they all crash and burn."
"…Oh. I want to protect her… make her gentle meals, bathe with her… Oh…"
Fourth Refinement Complete: Crown Descent, Demonic Capital London – Heroic Princess Anointed
A Stroll Through an Uninspiring City
"La~♪ La~♪ La~♪ La~♪"
Humming a melody, I sorted the room's items, tidied up, wiped down surfaces, and ran the vacuum.
Draped in a custom "Gorgeous" apron, I cleaned the King's chamber as the Heroic Princess.
"This should do. Yup, looks spotless."
The room wasn't too dirty to begin with, but I cleaned thoroughly, just to be sure.
Squeezing the rag, stowing the vacuum in the ripples of gold, I stretched lightly.
"Nn, nnnn~…"
The Heroic Princess's body wasn't just beautiful—it was equipped with top-tier functionality.
Explosive power, endurance, flexibility—every aspect boasted unparalleled athleticism, even for a Servant's supernatural existence.
But what struck me most was this: when I'm in this form, the Heroic King's spirit enters a deep slumber.
While the King rests, body and all, the body's ego sleeps too. As the Heroic Princess, I let the King rest.
Mana recovery is leagues better—three times faster, with superior quality. Biologically optimized, I'm a being tailored to support and restore, truly a "princess" beside the "king."
So… I try to stay as the Heroic Princess when in the room.
"…Hehe."
Rest is part of it, of course. Letting the often-overworked King relax is a big reason.
But more than that… being able to aid the King with my own will? That's what thrills me most.
With this body I control, I can clean, cook meals.
Repaying the vessel that's sheltered me, even in small ways—it's unbelievably joyful.
Right now, it's just cleaning the room or making snacks, but…
Someday, I want to repay the King in a way that leaves him stunned.
"Hehe, what should I do? What would be good? What would make him happy?"
Imagining his reactions, picturing his joy—it's fun.
Seeing someone's happy face is another "pleasure" I, Nameless, have chosen.
…Someday, with this King…
I want to do something inimitable, to revel in the ultimate "pleasure."
—To that end, I'll do everything I can, day by day.
Fou teased me, calling it "bridal training," but… I'm just doing what I want, what I can.
"…Briefing time. Gotta go."
Glaring at the clock, I untied the apron.
"But Fou sure knows a lot…"
Shrrk, the apron slipped off the supreme body.
"'When cleaning, just wear an apron—nothing else.' I didn't know that. He said it's Japanese culture… Japan's pretty open, huh."
Swish, the apron fluttered to the floor beside my bare form…
"All assembled?"
A voice brimming with dominance and certainty, arms crossed with overwhelming majesty—the vessel.
The Heroic King Gilgamesh strode into the control room.
—Ah, this feels right.
Feeling the radiance of his soul beside me, I was wrapped in relief and reassurance.
I only take the Heroic Princess form in that room. Step outside, and I'm only with the Heroic King.
Even gifted the Heroic Princess form, I never flaunt or boast about it.
Even accepting the "Heroic Princess," I'm not replacing "Gilgamesh."
Such arrogance is the one thing I'd never forgive myself for. That form is for my refinement.
That form… is an irreplaceable treasure the Heroic King gave me.
"Hey, morning, Gil!"
Ritsuka, the Master, greeted cheerfully.
"Good morning, Gil."
"Hm. What's the girl doing, groveling on the floor?"
Mash was wrapping Ritsuka's arm in bandages and bangles, fitting anklets and bracelets too.
"We're enhancing and protecting Ritsuka's body with magecraft, so she can fight with Pankration."
"—Oh?"
What—seriously?
"Not that I can take on Servants, but in simulations, I handled most enemies short of large ones with Pankration, so I think I can help!"
"Hahaha! Interesting! Our Master's finally hitting the front lines!"
"It's only for enemy cleanup. I'm no match for heroes yet."
—In other words, she can beat enemies? Ancient Greece is wild…
"But the professor said, with calculations, I could handle a Servant without a Master or mana, as a last resort. 'Keep it in mind,' he said."
"Developed with Da Vinci-sensei, these bracelets and anklets bring her strength and body close to a Servant's. With magical support, she won't break no matter how hard she fights."
"Hahahahaha!! What a morning treat! Who'd have thought our Master would fight shoulder-to-shoulder! The world's mages would be floored!"
—I'm honestly worried, but with Master Chiron's approval, it'll probably be fine.
"Still, fighting Servants is another matter. Don't get cocky."
"Of course! Survival first! Sensei drilled that into me!"
"When Ritsuka uses Pankration, I'll watch her. Don't worry, Gil."
—Please, Mash.
"Ha, quite the wild one you've become. Won't that push your marriage prospects even further?"
"Sensei just smiled and said, 'Wait for the right moment'…"
—Hang in there, Master.
"Now, I came for the briefing, but where's the idol otaku and the snowflake guardian?"
Looking around, they were nowhere in sight.
"Oh, those two…"
"Sorry, sorry! Running late!"
A ponytail guy rushed in.
"Mash, what were you doing?"
"S-Sorry, I got too into my solo training…"
"Solo training!? Mash, why didn't you call me!?"
"S-Sorry, Senpai! It was a secret…"
"…If it's a secret, maybe don't say it out loud?"
"Oh…"
"Haha! Mash, you're such a natural! Here, a post-training treat. It'll hit the spot."
Tossing a candy, Mash caught it in her mouth.
"Fank you vewy mush!"
"Like a puppy, Mash."
"And you, why were you late?"
"Why's it only scary when it's me!?"
"You weren't binge-watching Magi☆Mari all night, were you? I'll lop off your head, plant it in a pot, and post it online as Romani's Tree."
"That's terrifying!? It was research! Writing reports!"
"Research?"
"Yeah. Summarizing our thoughts on the demon, 'Solomon's 72 Pillars,' that appeared among us."
—That grotesque mass of flesh. The vile pillar calling itself a "demon god."
"Permitted. Speak."
"Well, in short, that demon god has nothing to do with Solomon."
…Nothing to do with him?
"—You investigated Solomon's era? Likely found no historical discrepancies or traces of its use."
"Yeah. The Demon Pillars come from a completely different time and place. The idea that Solomon's scheming something is off the table."
"You're awfully certain for you. A figure like Solomon would surely be summoned as a hero. Haven't you considered he could be a Servant called by a mastermind?"
—Right. Servants can't defy their Masters. Like those summoned by Lev.
"No way. Never. Solomon wouldn't be summoned by some villain. Even if asked, he wouldn't lend his power."
"Doctor, but Servants are bound by Command Spells—"
"Command Spells can't bind Solomon. A fraction of the Grail's power? He'd brush it off with a gutsy pose!"
"—If he had that kind of freedom."
The vessel muttered, to no one in particular.
…No freedom? Was Solomon's reign that demanding? …More than the Heroic King's?
…Who is Solomon?
"Well, let's save that for later! Next Rayshift's gonna be fun!"
Clearing his throat, Romani began preparations.
"Oh? What kind of wild land is it this time? I'm ready for a challenge. Celtic? Indian? Greek again?"
"Oh, I wanna go to Greece! Temple-hopping with everyone!"
"It's not a field trip, you know?"
"Don't keep us waiting, spit it out. The sun-ruled Egypt, perhaps?"
I felt the vessel's excitement surge.
…Um, if it's too intense, things could get dicey…
"Alright! It's the Industrial Revolution! The turning point where humanity leaped forward, sparking modern consumer culture!"
Romani clenched his fist.
"The capital, London—!!"
"Haaaaaaa…"
Romani's roar and the vessel's long, long sigh echoed together.
"What's wrong, Gil!?"
"…Of all places, the trigger for the world's wasteful excess? I must aid the moment mongrels infested my garden…"
The vessel's enthusiasm visibly drained.
"Ehh!? Heroic King, you hate London!?"
"Not London. That era's achievements irk me. The world overflowed with waste, people multiplied needlessly, and value was lost. It's the definitive wedge that warped the world uglily. …This won't be promising…"
"Gil's hair is drooping!"
"Please, pull yourself together, Heroic King!"
"It's tough."
"Gil! Let's do this, okay!?"
—To the vessel, who even discarded gods as useless, a world overflowing with things isn't ideal…
…I'm kinda excited. What's there, what's brimming?
What "pleasure" awaits… It's irreverent, but my heart's racing.
"…Hmph. No choice."
Swish, the hair stood tall again.
"I've grown on this journey. I can't just abandon you lot because it's a hassle. For your loyalty, I'll race through this trivial city. It is what it is."
"Yeah! Thanks, Gil!"
"Looking forward to that Pankration."
"Mash, protect Ritsuka, but take care of yourself too. No reckless moves—that's an order."
"Yes, Director!"
"London, not bad… London…"
Romani sulked, fidgeting.
"Work."
"You're the one who lost motivation! That's unfair!"
"Injustice is a king's privilege. Following it is the people's duty."
"Damn it! Uruk's people, you have my sympathies!! Rayshift starting!"
Everyone took their positions.
"Gil, then—"
"Hm!!—Listen, my treasures!!"
Bam, a fist slammed down.
"London!! Do it halfheartedly!! That's all!!"
"That's it—!?"
"I'm not in the mood."
"Are you a child!? Come on, get serious!"
"Tough… but I can't run away. I'll treat it as soul refinement and aim for a casual total victory."
The Rayshift began.
"…I won't let the mastermind live. The irony's too much…"
—I'm excited. What "pleasure" awaits to thrill my heart…?
Surrendering to the spreading light,
The Nameless Heroic King leaped into the fogbound city—
"Hm, the Rayshift's started, Artoria."
"Ex—Hm. Gil's off, huh? Let's go heckle from the control room."
"Artoria, don't be frivolous. This is to save the world…"
"I know. A battle to save the world by crushing the world-saving Saber, right? Decision: Artoria approves."
"—Me too?"
"Obviously. What's with the hesitation?"
"…This is training, right, Artoria?"
"Yup, training where your head might accidentally fly off. Come on, Arthur, let's go tease Gil."
"…What a wild ride, female me…"
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