And yet...
I absolutely won't let this story die...!
So...
Don't give up on me... (Director-level intensity)
"...Senpai, are you awake?"
"I'm up."
"Um, if you'd like..."
"What is it?"
"...N-No, it's nothing! I'm sorry for waking you! Goodnight!"
"...Aha. Can't sleep, huh? Well, I'm wide awake now, too. ...Right. Maybe I'll go move my body a bit."
'Lance.'
"I wonder if the courtyard is free..."
A Dragon's Heart, gazing upon the Human Order.
"Hmph! Hah! Sei-ya!"
In the courtyard of the President's House, under the cover of night, Humanity's Final Master—Rikka—wielded a crimson spear. She moved with boundless energy, her strikes flowing like a dance.
"Haaah! Yah!!"
Using the practice spear bestowed upon her by Scáthach, she sliced through the air and kicked off the earth, letting the sensation of the weapon seep into her very being.
...Rikka's soul was speaking to her. And Rikka herself could feel it.
The final battle would be a death match. It would be a decisive conflict where her own survival was far from guaranteed.
...But setting aside her own life or death, her wish hung on what lay beyond her end.
To save the world. To seize the future of this world with her own hands. To take back the future that was stolen from everyone—without fail.
Because that wish exists, I fight. Because of it, I can fight.
That is the reason I am me.
That is the very—
"Haaaaaaaaah!!!"
Converting the mud within her into magical energy, she ejected it like jet propulsion, transforming her body into a singular evil dragon. She held the spear upright like a colossal tail and slammed it into the ground with every ounce of her strength.
With a brute force no ordinary human could hope to match, the ground was gouged out and blown away, a deep claw mark of destruction carved into the earth.
"The way Artoria did it—using Mana Burst to compensate for a lack of physical strength when swinging the spear... It really is perfect for sending large enemies flying! Yep!"
Feeling the solid impact, Rikka wiped away her sweat. She was dressed for training: a sports bra on top, spats below.
"If I rely on my Servants for everything, I'm disqualified as a Master! I have to get strong enough to help Mash, too!"
Clutching the spear, Rikka laughed brightly.
...But Rikka had noticed. She noticed Mash's strength, and her fragility.
That girl is afraid of fighting. Though she bravely wields her shield, her heart never wishes to hurt anyone.
That is not weakness. That is normal.
It is normal to fear violence. It is natural to be terrified of getting hurt. That is how it should be; it is the rightful state of things.
And yet, for my sake, Mash rouses herself as a Servant, killing her fear to fight.
...It is a magnificent way to be. And yet, it is so fleeting.
She can support someone. She can protect them.
But... among the 'everyone' she protects—among those she wants to keep safe—she doesn't include herself.
"...That's just too painful, Mash."
If you only protect others, then no one is protecting you.
After we repel every enemy, you surely won't be there.
I won't accept that. I don't want to admit that.
Because you are a "normal girl," different from me.
In the world I protect, the world I take back, I need you to be there.
I want you to be there for the future everyone shares at the end of this war—after I have protected, defended, and fought my way through.
—I will protect your heart and your body. I will save the world, and I will protect you.
Not just Mash. Everyone. I will absolutely, undeniably protect everyone.
—Because in the world we save, there will definitely be a place for you all.
That is why I will become strong.
Stronger, stronger, stronger. Until I have the strength to save humanity, I will go to any lengths.
That is my reason for fighting.
"Phew..."
—To take this world back with everyone, to grasp everyone's future.
I will not hesitate to use force, to wield violence, to crush anything that stands in my way.
It is the lowest, most self-righteous, foolish, and barbaric path. Being called a creature of "Gender: Rikka" is probably appropriate.
I am likely less than human. They might call me a hypocrite who preaches saving the world while condoning violence.
—That is fine.
I am a hypocrite. I am a destroyer. I am a monster who chose to wield violence, to take back the future by force, to save everything.
That is fine. That is how it should be.
I don't mind being a human full of contradictions. I don't mind being a repulsive Evil of Humanity.
I have already received a lifetime's worth of abuse and disappointment. So, I am already okay.
—I don't mind if there is no place for me anywhere in this world.
In fact, it is better if there isn't. No matter the reason, using overwhelming power to crush someone else's wish is undeniably "Evil."
—That is why I cannot help but pray.
"Haaah—"
Please, let me be the last one. Let me be the last inhuman wretch who wields violence and swings around power as if they own it.
In the world we save, no matter what hardships await, let us reach a place filled with kindness and love, where people respect one another.
Let the existence that upholds violence and self-righteousness—let the evil—end with me.
And, someday, one day...
—May a world visit us where no one has to bear the burden of being an 'Evil of Humanity,' a world filled with preciousness and gentleness.
Until then, I will not hesitate to swing my fists, my sword, my bow, or this mud.
No matter what anyone says to me, I will definitely save the world.
—Because even the people who condemn me are precious lives breathing in the world I want to save.
—And that is exactly why I will not forgive them.
I will absolutely never forgive the existence that unreasonably stole everyone's world and future.
...I have to apologize to everyone.
My reason for wanting to defeat the mastermind of this incident isn't just duty or a mission. No, those are part of it, but that's not all.
—It's because I'm pissed off.
Because I can't forgive it, no matter what. Because my rage won't settle.
To slam this anger into them—for the sake of my own feelings.
I just... helplessly, desperately want to knock Goetia's lights out.
...That is why I won't stop.
As long as this determination fills my heart.
As long as this anger burns my soul.
Holding these feelings, I will reach the end of this journey someday.
Someday... so I can slam my feelings right into him.
...Until the day I can hurl my everything at the source—the one who burned away this world that Gudoshi wanted to survive in, wanted to live in, yet couldn't.
I will polish myself. I will keep polishing myself.
So that I can stand tall and smile before everyone at Chaldea who accepted me.
I will do whatever I can.
I will risk as many lives as it takes—even my own. I will face any difficulty.
To bring the past that the Heroes spun for us into the present.
To connect the 'now' we are living into the future.
...I have become an Evil of Humanity, Azi Dahaka. A cancer cell of mankind in the shape of a person.
In that case, surely, no one should be close to me.
I cannot allow people to willingly stay near a dragon covered in mud.
...Though the truth is—the truth is! I want a boyfriend! I really do!
But, somehow, I understand that there isn't a gap in this world that would accept me.
So it's fine. I have decided not to desire romance or love for myself.
It is enough if love exists in the world.
It is enough if Mash or Marie find romance someday.
If those two things simply exist in the world, then I am saved by that.
...Being single will be tough, but I'm sure I'll manage somehow.
The confidence and pride of being "The Woman Who Saved The World!" will surely keep me going.
So, I will simply move forward.
Carrying the hopes of everyone at Chaldea—my one and only home.
With determination and resolve, I will save the world.
—I mean, if I call myself a Dragon, I have to at least pull off saving the world quickly!
That is why... I fight.
No matter what awaits on that road.
No matter what stands in my way at the end of it!
I am Rikka. Rikka Fujimaru.
I'm the Super Master fighting for my own wish!
"Alriiiight! Let's save the world! Starting with saving America!"
For that purpose, I have no time to rest!
The whole world is waiting for me!
To fight, to challenge, and to go beyond—together with everyone!
Because I am standing at the very front!
—In the darkness of the night, a single girl hones her martial arts.
Her heart and determination are unwavering.
Having accepted every fear and hardship, having solidified her resolve, her handling of the weapon...
—Becomes a single blade, the pulsation of a dragon, quietly being sharpened and polished to perfection.
—Ah, but...
Suddenly, she stops her hand and looks up at the sky.
"...If I accidentally go to 'the other side,' laugh and forgive me, okay? Nothing is absolute, after all!"
Laughing, she thrusts her fist toward the heavens.
"I'll bring plenty of souvenirs and stories to tell you! Gudoshi!"
A sky full of stars, and the floating moon.
"...Hm?"
In that night darkness, a brilliance like gold glittered sharply in the gloom.
"...Karna-san?"
She watched as it drew a trajectory of scorching heat and crimson, sprinting away toward the far distance.
Rikka simply stared at it...
—No matter the reason, violence is self-righteous and wrong.
If so, let me be the last human to commit it.
And someday...
May a world come where self-righteous humans like me are no longer needed—
-------------------------------
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