"Good grief. To trouble yourself over such trivialities. Whether you are an Evil of Humanity or something else entirely, it does not change the fact that you are My treasure."
—Master. No, Rikka...
—I want you to realize. Please realize that your determination is a very painful, sorrowful wish.
Please, do not forget.
There is not a single existence in this world that is "forbidden from being happy."
—Just as I, once a nameless and unreliable soul, am now filled with bliss and joy...
I am certain that an unwavering future and happiness await you—you, who are so strong and noble.
"—Cú Chulainn."
"Heh, so I'm busted?"
"It is obvious. —Come, join me for a little exercise."
"Sure thing. It's perfect for a warm-up skirmish!"
The Golden Sun Soaring Through the Sky
Across the vast night sky of America, a golden sun was racing.
Spreading eight wings of flame, his entire body covered without a single gap in golden armor, converting magical energy into crimson fire that shone brilliantly, he flew in a straight line at speeds far exceeding Mach.
"—I thank you, King of Heroes."
Slicing through the freezing air, kicking away the deepest darkness just before dawn, Karna voiced his gratitude as he took flight.
...Yes. The current Karna had been granted the Holy Grail from the King of Heroes' treasury and had achieved a reincarnation into a form infinitely close to his prime 'while alive.'
His body was clad in the Golden Armor.
In his right hand, the God-Slaying Spear.
And at his back, eight wings of flame.
To fuel the immense magical energy consumption: 10 Command Spells and 50 chunks of True Ether.
—Normally, this full armament of Karna would be impossible; the two Noble Phantasms cannot coexist. However, this situation involved the circumstances of the King of Heroes' Treasury.
(Flashback)
"I may have mentioned this somewhere, but... your spear and armor are not in My treasury. No, the spear is there. However... your spear is a secret among secrets. It was never wielded even once. Since no one has ever witnessed it, I do not know which original text in My treasury corresponds to it."
—The penance of searching for a needle in the ocean without a hint... It was too much for the current me... Gakku (collapse).
(Ea, you must be tired, aren't you? Come, fluff me. Come on, come on.)
—Fou... I'll try harder next time...
"Do not be disheartened. Just this once, I will make a special exception. Even I threw up my hands in defeat, after all. If anything, I find your state of not twisting reason to be favorable. I cannot very well tell someone to do the impossible when I am not even drunk."
—Thank you for your generous words... Ugh... It's frustrating...
"No, this is sufficient. You have provided the magical energy to fill this body; I can now wield my power to its fullest extent. Anything more would be greed. —I shall head out for a bit."
"Hmph, do not be so hasty. Even if it is not in the treasury, there is a way to draw out your full spirit, is there not?"
"—What?"
The King swirled his wine glass.
"It is the same theory used for that mongrel's Mad Dog. We simply let the Holy Grail absorb the mongrels' wish to 'witness your full power,' and conveniently distort your existence to match."
At those words, Karna opened his eyes wide.
"———Is that possible? Such a thing."
"Naturally. There is nothing impossible for Me. I am Gorgeous. The one and only, the High King of Universal Peace and Good Moods. —Besides, I am curious as well. It would be amusing to witness the true satisfaction of the hero who was on the losing end of the Mahabharata."
"King of Heroes..."
"Now, come. Do not worry; I spare no expense for those who are worthy."
—Leave the selection of materials to me! I will redeem my honor! Come on, bring me anything!
(You really do have dog-attributes, don't you...—)
Fou slowly turned into a heat haze.
—Fou~?!
"—You are going to meet an old acquaintance. You will not suffice in that shabby state. ...First impressions change how a man is perceived. Leave the coordination to Me."
"—I thank you, again and again. For the sake of a flawless Happy End, I swear I will exhaust every ounce of my strength."
As Karna bowed deeply, the King of Heroes flashed a smile.
"Hah. You have allowed me to taste the rare experience of the Hero of Charity begging for something. That is reason enough to bestow My treasures upon you—"
—And so, Karna was reborn.
Reincarnated by the masses' wish to "See Karna at full power, displaying his true worth," he obtained an IF form—one that possessed both the Golden Armor and the God-Slaying Spear simultaneously, staying true to the original text while defying the rules of Servants.
Of course, the care for his curses was thorough. The curse of "Forgetting one's Ultimate Noble Phantasm in a desperate crisis" and the curse of "Vehicle malfunction at the last moment" were collectively transferred into an Ishtar doll.
—Ideally, a Servant can never be stronger than they were in life. By that law, the current Karna is Karna, yet not Karna.
Made in Chaldea. Produced by Gorgeous.
Class: Red Wing Schwartz (The Pitch-Black Sun Bearing Red Wings).
...This name is a nickname given to a Saint who appeared on the Moon.
That aside—it is long, so we shall call him Karna Origin. He was flying intently through the sky.
"Where is he? Where is he—"
He had a conviction.
In this era, Karna—his own self—had been summoned.
If so—he must be here. Even if it is a one-in-a-million chance, in this time where all elements are unstable, he must be.
(Flashback)
"Ah, let Me give you a piece of useful information. —By the Queen's side, there is an Archer with skill enough to neutralize the shooting of Hercules. —Why not look for him? He might be an acquaintance, no?"
The King said "he might be an acquaintance" while telling him to "fix his appearance," so he must have been certain... Right now, Karna was grateful for the King of Heroes' mercy.
The Hero of Charity flew through the vast American sky, shining so brightly that the stars faded from view, his gaze piercing through everything in the world below.
—Eventually, his eyes caught a wandering figure.
"—There you are."
A sudden vertical dive. Reversing course while maintaining maximum speed, the scorching sun descended instantly to the earth.
"An Archer capable of parrying the shots of that Great Hero of Greece? It could be no one but you. —As I thought, I boast the greatest luck in the Servant world."
Smiling faintly, Karna landed on the continent, evaporating all matter scattered across the surrounding plains.
"—I have finally found you. The friction of my lifetime."
Captured in his sight was a figure in white raiment, holding a white bow bestowed by the Fire God.
"—You...!??"
Dark skin, black hair. —Boasting a cool, clear beauty. Karna's lifelong arch-enemy. The Great Hero of the Mahabharata.
"Hey-yo, Cal-deluxe. —Wandering about? You seem quite at ease. As expected of you, Arjuna."
The Awarded Hero—Arjuna.
"KARNA—!!"
Readying his bow with speed invisible to the naked eye, Arjuna fired a barrage of arrows, each possessing power greater than a missile, straight at Karna.
"Calm down, Arjuna."
Karna's body paid it no mind. The Golden Armor dwelling within his flesh evaporated and neutralized every single arrow.
—The Golden Armor, integrated with the flesh given by his father, the Sun God Surya. As long as this exists, damage to Karna is cut by 90%, regardless of whether it is conceptual or physical.
Arjuna... no, no hero possessed a means to wound a Karna clad in the armor that Indra had stolen through petty schemes.
"I did not come to fight you. This attire is strictly for the upcoming decisive battle—no."
"...!?"
Karna shook his head and declared.
"It is for the decisive battle after yours, and for the battle against the Demon Gods. Lower your bow. Our clash is not for today."
"—..."
"If we were to collide in a private duel, the things lost would be too great. That cannot be the conclusion we mutually desire."
"...Do not speak as if you know."
Slowly, Arjuna lowered his bow.
"—My thanks. As expected, you are the noblest hero I know."
Heh, Karna let a smile spill out. —At the posture of his brother, whom his mother had once spoken of with pride.
"Spare me the flattery. State your business, Karna."
Without hiding his killing intent, Arjuna spoke.
"There should be nothing between us but the friction of murderous intent. Is that form not for the purpose of killing me?"
"No. —I came to forge a bond with you."
"A bond, you say?"
Paying no heed to Arjuna, who looked as if to say 'What foolishness is this?', Karna continued.
"Ah. Arjuna, hero of the brilliant Mahabharata—I want you to lend me your strength to save the world."
Saying this, he bowed his head.
"—What are you saying?"
Arjuna muttered, as if unable to comprehend the situation before him.
"Exactly what I said. Your martial arts, the myriad treasures you were awarded. —Just once is enough. I beg for your assistance in this decisive battle. If we have your power, our victory will be unshakable."
"Do you think we can ever join hands!?"
Arjuna shouted.
"Even if we cannot join hands, we should be able to fight together. Even if we cannot stand side-by-side, even if the only relationship possible for us is to turn our backs to one another—we should still be able to stand back-to-back, compete with each other, and grasp victory together."
He raised his head and looked at Arjuna.
"Even if our paths never cross... we should be able to protect and guide precious things."
"Such a thing—"
"We can. —And that is the scene, the karma, that my mother wished for, Arjuna."
Karna's words were gentle, yet filled with a fierce conviction. He was like a burning sun.
Lies and vanity were burned to ash before him. Words filled with that much confidence poured from his mouth.
"—Why? Why do you fixate on me to this extent? With the way you are now, you should be able to accomplish anything with ease."
Overwhelmed by that quiet intensity, Arjuna asked.
"If you are in that form, sung of as being able to conquer the Three Worlds if complete... then surely..."
"The answer is decided. To reach the ending we desire, my meager power alone is entirely insufficient."
...He was speaking from the bottom of his heart.
My power is not enough yet.
I cannot reach the desired conclusion.
So, lend me your strength.
"—What is this conclusion you desire, Karna?"
It was a question that slipped out. An unintended query from Arjuna.
"—Listen and be amazed."
Proudly, Karna spoke.
"What we aim for is a 'Flawless Happy End.' An ending where no one is missing, no one is lost, and we seize glory and the future. That is my—our—goal."
—Arjuna's eyes went wide, showing the whites.
"You do not believe it? True. Perhaps it is too absurd. But—forces capable of doing that are gathering in Chaldea right now. People who can achieve it are gathering. —It is an ideal paradise where even a minor role like me is given such heavy responsibility, Arjuna."
Spilling a smile, he recounted.
"It is a supreme paradise governed by the King of Heroes. Heroes of all ages and places sing the praises of a second life there. Led by a girl who ranks among the top two Masters I have ever known, good people spend their days there. We can interact with those who appear from other worlds. I have been entrusted as the leader of the Cleaning Club. A major role worthy of performing with pride. —Every day is truly fulfilling."
Karna spoke happily. He didn't notice the question marks floating above Arjuna's head.
"You do not believe it? Then... in the current Chaldea, the famous Rama of the Ramayana and his wife Sita have achieved a reunion."
"—Impossible!? They are destined to be separated...!"
"They did it. Yes. Through the prestige of Gorgeous."
He puffed out his chest. That brilliance spoke eloquently.
—There is nothing he cannot do.
"In that paradise, duty and pride are not necessary. All that exists is will. The will to seize one's own selfish desires. —It is a place where every one of your wishes is forgiven, Arjuna."
"My... wish..."
Dumbfounded, he looked at the nemesis before him.
...Karna was smiling. Before the nemesis who had plotted his murder, he wove words of limitless respect and honor.
"That King steps over even the feuds of Gods with ease. —Neither I, nor you, can deny that we were men bound by all manner of fetters, who ultimately never wielded our power as we pleased. —Though I was left with no regrets."
"—Tch."
"Awarded Hero, Arjuna. —To fulfill the wish sleeping in your heart that you crave, and to fulfill your wish to make our settlement supreme. —For now, I want you to wield that bow for our sake."
Karna's sincere plea.
"I swear that I will have Master summon you without fail. I want to spin the bond for that purpose, no matter what. —Believing that this will be an irreplaceable step towards affirming that you are you, and towards the wish of our mother and father, I beg of you."
—Yes. Karna did not borrow the Treasury to turn a blade against him, nor did he desire to display his full power for his own ego.
He simply desired the strength to answer his own full power and his wish.
He desired the speed and strength to make it in time for the looming decisive battle.
From beginning to end, he is a Hero who runs for the sake of others.
The "Hero of Charity" who affirms all things, even if he gains nothing he sought for himself.
Tragic, yet proud—he is the Great Hero of the Mahabharata, Karna.
"Besides—when it comes to acts like saving the world, you are far better at it than I am. In that sense, too, I felt your assistance was most appropriate."
—And the wish he entrusted to the Holy Grail sleeping in his chest was:
'Do something about my lack of words.'
—The current Karna had finally obtained it.
A means of mutual understanding without misunderstanding.
—Words to speak his own wishes without hesitation.
That is exactly why—the current Karna is not Karna.
Because if a 'Karna whose words were perfectly sufficient' existed... the ending of the Mahabharata would have changed.
"...No matter how much time passes, it is impossible for you and I to truly understand one another."
Arjuna's words were sharp.
"—However. Just one arrow. Just one shot. There is something I regret, something that left a grudge."
But—
"Therefore. Just this once... —I swear to assist for the sake of what you protect and what you aim for."
—While guaranteeing their opposition, the Awarded Hero conveyed his feelings to his lifelong friction.
"—I thank you from my heart, Arjuna. Then—"
"Swear one thing. —When this Singularity is repaired, and all fetters are gone at the end—you will settle the score with me in that form."
Arjuna stated his own wish to Karna.
"Settle it—with me."
That was Arjuna's pride—choosing to assist despite harboring their feud.
"—I swear upon my father and my body that I accept that wish. —Though you speak very strange words."
He looked straight back at Arjuna.
"—When that time comes, I look forward to it."
Saying only that, as if to say he was satisfied, he deployed his burning wings.
"There is no longer defeat for us. —Reinforcements from my lifelong arch-enemy will surely become the winning move."
"...Do not get too carried away. Do not forget our fate that lies beyond that."
"I am aware. —Let us meet again. Arjuna."
Leaving those words behind, he became the sun once more and raced back toward the President House.
—A quiet morning glow began to illuminate the earth. Coloring the whitening sky was the radiance of a scorching sun, a golden firebird.
"—It is infuriating beyond measure. To become a Servant and obtain everything you could not obtain in life."
Staring dazzlingly at that crimson afterglow.
"—Ah, as I thought... 'I' am. I am jealous of you. Karna—"
—The Awarded Hero, bearing a lifetime of hardships, whispered softly to no one in particular—
...The time for the decisive battle is near.
—The battle that would decide every fate was looming right before them.
"Welcome back! Karna-san!"
"Master..."
"Where did you go? Huh? Wait, aren't you kind of sparkling!?"
"—I suppose. If I do not put it into words, it will not be conveyed."
"Eh?"
"—Your place belongs to you; it already exists. There is no need anywhere for you to worry that you are alone."
"...!!"
"Rely on the King. Believe in your friends. Entrust your back to your comrades and look forward. —Know that it is self-righteous to harbor tragedy and persist in loneliness while knowing there are those who love you."
"Karna... san..."
"—I will convey to you once more the words I hold in my chest, the words I once said in Okeanos."
'—Live, Master. Surely someone, waiting for you who is no one else, is out there.'
"—Yeah! Thank you! Karna-san! The club members, Gil, and everyone else scolded me soooooo much! I won't make that misunderstanding ever again!"
"—..."
"'My place is in Chaldea'! 'I have everyone wishing for my happiness'! I'm already 'happy,' aren't I!"
"—That is correct. All you need is 'self-awareness,' Master."
"Thank you! Karna-san! Okay, only one day left! Let's spend it without regrets! Mom and Jeanne are making all sorts of things, so they said let's have a dinner party with everyone!"
"—If you will have me, I shall accompany you."
"With everyone! Come on! Let's go! Oh, and tell me that story about your Master that you mention often!"
"Jinako. —Ah. I really am a Servant blessed with luck in Masters—"
"Heh, told ya? She bounces back on her own."
"I am astounded by her resilience. —It seems there is no anxiety for the decisive battle."
"Yeah. The rest is leaving it to chance."
"—Cú Chulainn."
"Don't say it all. I'm gonna stick close to the young lady. I'll look after her properly, so don't worry."
"Hmph. I do not worry. —Do not show me a worthless ending."
"Leave it to me. I won't let anyone say 'Lancer died' anymore."
—Master is allowed to be happy. No.
—Do not forget. Every life in this world possesses and harbors blessings and happiness from the moment they are born.
Just as I was. —You, too, are one of the radiances filling the world.
The world that is the King's Garden will—definitely accept you.
—Therefore, I pray.
Humanity's Final Master. May you—
—Be able to seize the utmost blessings and a brilliant future—
(A place in the world she wants to protect... huh.)
(...—New Humanity. You dim-witted scum. Prepare yourselves. —I have no intention of forgiving your existence in the King's Garden, nor in the world she embraces, nor in the world she looks forward to. —I'll show you the full scope of the Primate Murderer, so look forward to it, okay?)
—Fou?
(Ea~. Fluff me. Fluff meeeee.)
—You're such a spoiled baby, Fou. Let's go to the room, okay?
"What a calculating beast. If I were not Ea, I would have heartburn."
(Shut up. I'm an Ea-exclusive.)
"Fuhaha, —I have high expectations for the struggle of Uruk."
(Don't fall for my seriousness, okay?)
—I'm already having my heart stolen by Fou's cuteness, though...
(EA———————————!!! (National Border Established))
Fou—!?
"How many times must you die to be satisfied, you cur! You have mastered too many arts! Fuhahahahahaha!!"
-------------------------------
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