—Seriously, India, Enough is Enough—
"Little lady, put in a request for a solo concert from the Emperor and the Lizard Girl... and tell that Jeanne girl to order me a full course of that stupidly spicy food, would you?"
"Eh? Bro?"
"Not me, not me. —There's a Master out there with a death wish. I'm just going to go claim a life first."
"Ouch, ouch, ouch! That's cruel, Cath Palug! Just when I thought you'd become round and cuddly in Princess Gilgamesia's arms, you do this?! And you've powered up, too—this is nasty!"
A young man with a refreshing aura and the scent of flowers drifted into existence. Even as he was smashed with full force by a hammer, misting away, he instantly reformed.
(Obviously. I launched that with the intent to kill.)
"You were actually serious?!"
—Fou, who is this person...?
Fou shot the man a glare of pure rage before speaking. He revealed the true nature of this Grand Caster candidate, possessor of Clairvoyance.
(This guy is Merlin. A piece of scum mixed from incubus and human blood. The trash who barges into people's dreams without asking to feed on their vitality. The garbage who, with the grandiose sales pitch of 'Kingmaker,' drove a single girl to ruin. The King of Scum who kicked me—ME!—out of Avalon! What the hell have you done?! I don't resent you, but I have countless reasons to be angry! Die!)
"C-Come on, it turned out fine! You found something beautiful, didn't you?"
[This fellow loves humanity, but he only loves the stories humanity weaves; he possesses no affection for individuals. He resembles Me, yet... in the way he intervenes on a whim, he is far more malicious than I. A clever fool, imprisoned in a tower due to a romantic entanglement.]
The two of them assaulted Merlin with words, sparing no venom. Merlin—or rather, the scum—turned pale and tried to defend himself.
"Could you stop?! You're going to ruin my reputation before we've even properly met! The Princess is going to hate me! Human relationships only work when you hide the inconvenient truths and polish up the surface!"
—Is this the Master Fou was talking about?!
(To my deathly regret, yes. Gil, do you have the original Rule Breaker? I want you to stab me with it and transfer the contract to Air.)
"Do you hate me that much?!"
[Wait. I am searching for it now.]
"Don't search for it! Wait, please! I need you to be the tactile sensor connecting Chaldea and the Garden! I want you to stay in a relationship that's convenient for me! And hey, putting a firewall on Princess Gilgamesia's dreams is cheating!"
Merlin spewed terrible words while flailing in a panic. Naturally, Fou's rage ignited.
(Obviously. Go look up the definition of privacy. I'm seriously gonna kill you. Want me to test the full power of Precious Star Fou, re-forged by Ea, right on your face?)
Fou growled, radiating a rainbow-colored bloodlust.
[Ea, though sudden, let us discuss the habits of the incubus. Incubui barge into human dreams to devour vitality. Unilaterally, without consent. Truly the work of trash. They are essentially invincible while in a dream... however, should the dreamer consciously recognize them, they become powerless. If you see this fool in your dreams, call upon Me. I shall crush him without letting him escape.]
The King happily exposed Merlin's weaknesses. Judging by the faint smirk on his face, he knew exactly what he was doing.
"Wait, please! My standing is shrinking rapidly! My 'Plan to be Liked by Princess Gilgamesia on First Impressions,' which I spent a month devising, is ruined!"
(How can you be such a razor-sharp piece of trash when you don't even understand human emotions?)
—He is the Magus who guided Fou to the lower world...
"N-No, it's a misunderstanding, Princess Gilgamesia! No, well, it's mostly correct, but please understand there's more to it! Uh, look, I'm amazing! I can charge NP, grant invincibility, boost critical damage, and raise Buster performance! I'm in high demand for farming loops! Everyone works me to the bone! I think the level of scumminess balances out!"
[Human rights are possessed only by humans. They do not apply to an incubus like you. The same applies to labor standards. Even if you perish from overwork, no one shall mourn. We shall simply find a new support friend. Perish from excess overtime without shame.]
"That's too cruel! You monster!"
[Naturally! For I am the King! Fuhahahaha! Come, Ea, you say something too! It is rare for this fool to expose himself like this!]
—He is Fou's master.
The cause of Fou falling to the lower world.
The reason Fou was invited to Chaldea.
—Merlin-san.
If so, there is only one thing for me to say.
"W-What is it? Please wait, your insults might shatter my heart! Just give me a moment to..."
Yes, just one thing.
—Thank you very much!
"Eh?"
(Fwah?)
[—Hmph.]
Though only a soul, the Heroine Princess, Air, bowed deeply, expressing her gratitude.
—Because you guided Fou, I was able to meet my one and only, irreplaceable best friend in this world! Fou has become my precious, precious—most important friend. Truly, I cannot thank you enough! Until I found what was important to me as a human, until I found my wish, Fou stayed by my side, watched over me, and guided me...!
...Yes. I wanted to convey my gratitude to him.
Because he was there, I was able to obtain an irreplaceable treasure.
Because Fou stayed by my side, I was able to move forward and grasp my own wish.
Because he was always there to encourage me... I was able to never lose my respect and gratitude for the King.
—Thanking the person who kicked you out... it sounds cruel, doesn't it? But, more than violence or insults, this is what I wanted to convey, so...
(Air... —)
—Because Fou is my irreplaceable... precious, precious best friend. To the person who allowed me to meet you... I can't offer insults or violence.
(—Ugh... ~ —)
Overcome with emotion, Fou was rendered speechless. A cute, choking sob could be heard.
—So, please let me say it. Magus of Flowers, Merlin.
...To you, who gave me an irreplaceable treasure: Thank you.
That I can be who I am today is thanks to the King, and thanks to Fou being here. —Really, truly...
She bowed deeply once more.
Thank you so much... for watching over us!
"—Ah, you really did find something beautiful, didn't you?"
Receiving the Heroine Princess's wholehearted gratitude, Merlin smiled with satisfaction and stroked Fou's head.
"It's a complete defeat. You're the second person to thank me face-to-face even after knowing my true nature. —Good for you, Cath Palug. You really found your one, true, irreplaceable Master."
(—Shut up. If it wasn't Air, I'd never forgive you. You, who pushed me down... B-But... because of you... I met Air... ugh...)
Fou's eyes welled up, tears overflowing.
...In truth, Fou had cast aside his grudge against Merlin long ago. Anger remained, but hatred did not, and that was the reason.
He understood.
Had he not descended to the lower world, he never would have met his irreplaceable Princess.
The Princess was not in Avalon.
—He never would have met something truly beautiful...
(Thank you, Air... Thank you— I... I'm really glad I met you, too—)
Weeping, Fou snuggled close to Air's soul.
—Don't cry, Fou. Look, let me hug you lots later, okay? Okay?
(Yeah—!)
Fou caused rainbow-colored flowers to bloom all around. They vanished and bloomed again, birthing a field of prismatic flora.
"—Ah, it is precisely because she is like this that I've become such a huge fan. Of the oldest, yet newest epic woven by you, who harbors the Princess."
The King responded to Merlin's gaze with dignity and amusement.
[Hmph. I shall not rebuke you for being unrefined. My epic is so vivid and gorgeous that there is no end to the staff clamoring to participate. I shall specially forgive the rudeness of leaving the spectator seats.]
With those words as the signal, the King rose from his throne.
"I have seen what I needed to see! We have the Holy Grail, and the Demon Gods are no longer of use! In that case—we must wipe them out immediately and begin preparations for the banquet!"
As the King finally gave the order to settle things:
"Then, allow me to contribute to this flawless happy ending. As a member of the staff, of course."
The Magus of Flowers responded refreshingly.
(Whoa, seriously?! What happened to your creed?!)
He answered Fou's question nonchalantly.
"Flexibility is key, obviously. You can't fill your stomach on pride. Showing my face but doing nothing would just disappoint the Heroine Princess."
...Thank goodness! With the aid of Fou's master, a Grand Caster candidate, we have the strength of a hundred men!
—Thank you very much! Merlin-san!
"No, no. Not at all. Rather, let me thank you, Princess. For the mercy and kindness of including a monster like me in your story—may the blessings of flowers be with you. —The bond has been connected. The current me is just a projection from a nap that wandered in, so I will disappear, but we will surely meet again."
Saying this, Merlin placed a bouquet of flowers beside the throne.
"Now, let's do this! Leave stopping the Demon Gods and simplifying their patterns to me! I'll show you my specialty: 'Confusing the enemy with smoke and mirrors to somehow make it work'!"
He waved his staff, instantly bewitching and halting the Demon Gods below.
[This is Helena Blavatsky! King of Heroes, the device has been reinforced, so you can go all out!]
We received a crisp transmission from Helena.
"Oh? Have you devised some new invention?"
[N-No, actually, well...]
[Match the output to me, you mediocrity! I shall show you true lightning, you who whined at mere thunderbolts!]
[Silence, Teslaaa!! You genius (lol) who panicked and came out because the King of Heroes' plan was too perfect and you lost your screen time! Don't bark at me, Teslaaa!!]
[Shut up, you lame Edison!! Do you want to be denounced by Lady Ricca again?!]
[I am already Cool Edison! The lame one is you, Tesla, showing your face just to scavenge for leftovers!!]
["Humanity Myth - Lightning Descent System - Keraunos!!"]
["W.F.D — World Faith Domination!!"]
The moment the geniuses on the other end of the comms roared, the strength of the Reality Marble spiked even further. Through the bickering cooperation of the two geniuses, the device powered up!
—King! With this!
[Umu. It may just withstand our full potential. It is truly—the time for judgment!]
[Gil! We're good on this end! Please, use full power!!]
Responding to Olga Marie's encouragement, he swiftly took hold of the Sword of Rupture.
"A righteous cause, Olga Marie! You are indeed the embodiment of devotion, worthy to be my left arm!"
[—I realized recently that I grow when praised!]
Olga Marie laughed happily, and they nodded to one another.
[Gilgamesh-sama... Everyone, Rama-sama...]
Responding to Sita's wish:
"Leave it to me!"
Flying out on the Vimana, he answered!
"Jeanne! Use your Command Spells to force them to unleash their Noble Phantasms! Exactly as I direct!"
The King gave the order, and Jeanne nodded instantly.
"Fortune be with you, King of Heroes!"
"Hah, naturally!!"
Glances were exchanged, and the Ruler and the Arbiter nodded forcefully to one another.
—Fou, Merlin-san! I'm off!
(Come back safely! That's a promise, Air!)
—Yeah!
"I have something for you from that Wise King, too. I pray for our reunion."
—Yes!
From the distant heavens, the King took flight—!!
The fuse for the Demon Gods' destruction was lit by a flaming arrow.
With that arrow, Karna became convinced of victory.
"—You've come, Arjuna."
The Archer of white clothes and dark skin, Arjuna, had shot through several Demon Gods at once. The pillars burned and collapsed.
"I merely came to fulfill the pact. —Why do you laugh?"
Pointed out, Karna smiled proudly.
"Because it brings me joy and pride to stand shoulder to shoulder like this. I, too, am human. I possess emotions."
Faced with a Karna so different from the one he knew—so far removed—Arjuna sighed.
"—Good grief. How annoying."
But perhaps it couldn't be helped that Arjuna smiled along with him. —Had Karna been this eloquent, perhaps he would have been the protagonist of the Mahabharata.
"We just received word from Ruler! All Servants other than myself, Arjuna, and Karna are to unleash their Noble Phantasms, leaving only 'One Pillar' remaining! —Everyone, I'm counting on you to the end!"
At Rama's command—
"Shaa! I'll be taking the honor of the first leg, if not the first spear!! I'll show you the vanguard of the greatest hero!!"
A chariot led by two divine horses and one famous steed reached maximum speed in an instant.
"Witness this!! Demon Gods! This is the sprint of a true hero—!!"
A violence of speed and mass that would dismantle a jumbo jet in an instant blew the Demon Gods away immediately—!
"『Tempestuous Immortal Chariot — Troias Tragōidia』—!!!"
Any Demon God caught in the path of that emerald flash was instantly reduced to dust!
"Heracles!!"
By the time Achilles asked, the arrow was already nocked.
"『Shooting the Hundred Heads — Nine Lives』"
Heracles fired the anti-phantasmal species dragon-homing lasers. Black and gray beams gouged through the Demon Gods, erasing the impact points into 'nothingness'—an ultimate shooting attack.
"—You talk too much. Words are unnecessary on the battlefield; a war cry and a roar of victory are sufficient."
"Hah, those who don't laugh on the battlefield will forget how to laugh even in Elysium, you know?"
"—Learn from her."
He jerked his chin towards—
"『Piercing Spy of Death — Gáe Bolg Alternative』"
Wielding two Gáe Bolgs, Scathach pinned the teeming Demon Gods in space with the first spear.
"Pierce, and penetrate—"
With a full-power throw of the second, she slaughtered and pierced every Demon God in the trajectory, as well as those pinned down—!
"Learn silence, Achilles."
"...That gives Cú Chulainn no ground to stand on, dual-wielding spears like that..."
The two great heroes of Greece marveled and shuddered at the Celtic God-Slayer.
"—Come, my loyal retainers. My limbs, my armor."
Minamoto no Raikou released her demonic blood, shaping her memories into the divine messengers of Gozu Tennou.
"The Four Heavenly Kings are as you see—Forward!"
She leapt upon the Demon Gods. Sleshing with katana, piercing with bow, cleaving with axe, sweeping with nagamaki!
The Demon Gods were torn, pierced, split, and severed.
"Ricca, Mother is coming— 『Ox-King Storm Call — Goou Shourai』—"
The bond between mother and daughter, the Doujigiri Yasutsuna, the lightning, and the vast magical resource—the mud rendered harmless by the contract path with the Master—mixed with the lightning and flowed in.
"『Vengeance of Heaven — Tenmou Kaikai』—!!"
A lightning strike of perfect contrast, black and purple, swallowed the Demon Gods and returned them to ash—!
"Japanese martial arts... to this extent. —Magnificent."
"Oh, it is merely this much. Like child's play... Fufu, but it makes me happy to be praised."
Scathach smiled ferociously; Raikou smiled proudly.
"...Women are amazing."
"Umu. In Greece, it is usually the Goddesses who make a mess of things."
The two Greek heroes were taken aback—no, they were impressed.
—Furthermore, the trampling continued.
"Meave-chan! And my friend Cú Chulainn, who has gone utterly mad! I dedicate this technique to you!!"
The brave warrior of Connacht, Ferdia, tore open his upper body tights, hardening his flesh like steel.
"『Harden and Roar, My Flesh — Ferdia Astron』!! Meave-chan is the beeeeeeest!!!"
An anti-personnel Noble Phantasm sublimating the legend that 'Ferdia possessed skin tough enough to deflect even Gáe Bolg during battle.'
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