Air had her answer. Therefore—she would move forward, strong and certain. To take back the future. To achieve 'joy' across the entirety of the vast world—
And the same was true for those who desired the future more vividly than anyone else.
The information download continued. According to Hermes' calculations, that spear could hold the souls of 500 people.
The city was the 'Holy Spear' itself. Every human brought to the Holy City was essentially being stored inside the Spear.
"The Lion King says she's protecting 'pure' humans. But the reality is that she's 'preserving them so they can't escape.'"
"…Yes. That… is not Camelot."
Mash looked up as the deduction clicked into place.
"That is the outer shell of the Holy Spear Rhongomyniad. It was never meant to save people…"
"Then what happens to the people inside? —With this much data, it's obvious. It's a 'shelter' in the most literal sense. The Holy City will collapse and become a single tower. Inside, there will be nothing but a compressed hell."
Olga Marie spoke of the horrifying extreme of 'goodness.'
"People weren't gathered to live in an ideal city; they were gathered as samples of 'ideal humans.' To be stored by the Lion King. Like items in a showroom, proving the value of humanity."
Rikka closed her eyes.
"—No matter how hard I struggle, I'd never be chosen. That's just the nature of 'virtuous value.'"
She felt she was far too stained to ever speak of being 'good.' Therefore—she quietly accepted that there was no path to reconciliation between herself and the Lion King.
And then, she thought:
(But if it were you, you'd probably even accept a Goddess without a second thought.)
A soul she believed was more beautiful than anything else, born from the foolishness of ugly humans. If it were 'him'—she was certain he would be more than enough to represent the 'goodness of man.'
…That was why she would fight. She accepted the fact that she and the Goddess had no choice but to clash. Because she believed he would make that same choice.
She could almost hear him saying, "I can't call a world without culture or anime 'living,' can I?"
That's why she had to fight. The world that had been burned away—it contained everything he loved. There was no time to dither here.
As if shaking off her hesitation, Rikka clenched her fist and thrust it upward. Her eyes were free of doubt.
"The Lion King… would discard my Senpai. That's all the reason I need."
Mash looked at the quietly bowing Rikka with sad eyes, then swung her shield as if to rouse herself.
"The fact that she would reject Senpai… is more than enough reason to stand against the Goddess."
She would fight to the end. If there was a logic that deemed her Senpai unnecessary, she would protect him from that logic. For that, Mash resolved that she wouldn't take a single step back, even against a god.
This wasn't Galahad's will. It was her own simple, human resolve.
"—Thanks, Mash." Rikka patted Mash's head affectionately.
"Come to think of it… I ran all over Egypt, but there was absolutely nothing beyond the desert, was there?"
Iskandar, having grown bored in Egypt, had driven his chariot toward the horizon to see the edge of the world. And he had seen the truth: there was nothing beyond the sands. The same 'Edge of the World' that Moses and Sanzou had glimpsed.
"Building a Tower means that the entire surrounding area becomes the 'World's End.'"
Roman spoke of the cruel salvation.
"Instead of creating a perfect world in the Tower, the world outside the Tower vanishes. —The Lion King isn't trying to protect the people of her country; she intends to 'discard everyone except those people.'"
The whole world would be absorbed into the Tower. Everything else would be swallowed by the waves of destruction.
"—The one who will destroy this Singularity is no longer Goetia. It is the Goddess Rhongomyniad, who is willing to sacrifice a Foundation of Humanity just to keep an ideal city in her hands."
Everyone nodded firmly at Artoria's words.
"Alright! Then—let's fight!"
Rikka cracked her knuckles.
"If the Goddess fights for the 'Chosen,' then we'll fight for the 'Unchosen.' That's what our battle has been about all along, right?"
Deep agreement followed.
Yes. Even if her 'spirit' wasn't wrong, the Lion King's 'logic' was flawed. No matter the reason or the will, the logic of 'someone choosing someone else' must never be allowed. One's own life, way of living, and death belong to each individual living there. No one but an absolute 'Arbiter' is permitted the act of selection and judgment.
"We aren't fighting for a 'Present' that's closing shut. We're fighting for the 'Future' we want. For the sake of the people the Lion King is throwing away—let's take her down!"
That was Rikka's conclusion. She was always running toward the 'Future.'
"Yes! Let's go, Senpai! We will definitely… return Bedivere to his proper place!"
Mash stood up, her resolve burning.
"—Very well. Let us head for the Sun King's territory. The time for the final battle is upon us."
Artoria's cape fluttered as she turned.
"Aye! The nerve of someone trying to snatch up land while the King of Conquerors is around—it's laughable!"
Iskandar slammed his fists together.
"..."
"…King of Heroes?"
Artoria noticed a change in Gilgamesh's expression. Despite his typical coldness, he wore a smile full of pride and clarity.
"—What? Even I laugh when something is genuinely amusing."
"…Did the Princess cheer you up again?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he looked up at the sky with delight.
"—Watching a reincarnated soul isn't as bad as I thought."
"—?"
"Just talking to myself. Now, back to the surface! We've seen what we needed to see and heard what we needed to hear!"
Having confirmed the Lion King's true intent, the group sprinted out.
"By the way, I turned off all the defense functions. Is that okay?"
"Should be fine, right? Tri-Hermes is powering down anyway."
"What?!"
"Someone must have been tampering with it. Yes… someone."
"I wonder who~? I have no idea. How mysterious~?"
"Hmm… is it just me, or does the Director seem unusually energetic?"
"Do I? Well, it is fun!"
In the roaring chariot, the group left the Atlas Institute behind—
—Let's go! To the Lion King!
(Yes! —Air.)
—What is it?
(I'm so glad… I met you—!)
—Me too! We're staying together until the very end!
Fou transformed into a shimmering cloak of light, gently adorning Air's soul.
"Hey, Rikka. Can I ask one thing?"
"What is it, Marie?"
"—You are 'Good,' yet you do not hate 'Evil.' Even when tormented by it, you strive to remain 'Good.'"
"..."
"No matter what anyone says, that is a wonderful thing. Don't forget that. It's for the sake of a person like you… that 'she' is fighting, after all."
"—Yeah! Thank you!"
"Good. Well then, I'm going to take a break. I'll see you again 'soon.'"
"—And she's gone. Hehe, let's just call her 'Marie' for now."
"I'm so sorry! I drank some coffee and suddenly got so sleepy! Are you okay?!"
"Eh? Director, are you still half-asleep? You were just navigating with us a second ago."
"What? What?! —WHAAAAAAT?!"
The Hallway
"—Heh, hahaha. Hahahaha!"
The 'Olga Marie' who had just passed her other self laughed as she walked. Shedding the clothes she was wearing—
"Hahahaha! Because you are so excellent, you 'noticed me.' And that's exactly why I had to 'keep an eye' on you. Me, who sided with 'Good,' and you, who sided with 'Neutral.' —It was obvious who would get the first move, wasn't it? I've stolen your spotlight, Holmes! Besides, we have Gilgamesh-kun, who is a complete superior version of you. A detective who stays silent at the most critical moments is just a nuisance! —However…"
"—Oh?"
"That Gilgamesh-kun… he probably noticed. And the white one was looking this way too… Oh well! Forgive the Professor's little prank, Olga Marie-kun! Ahahaha! Take that, Holmes! Ahahaha!"
"Oh, good work today."
"(Changing back into staff clothes) Good work to you too~"
The Desert
"Wait, an Artorium reaction! Gil! Is there a Saber nearby?!"
"Hmm? Let me see—"
—King! Over there!
(…Ugh!)
[There sat Lancelot, buried in the sand with a peaceful expression.]
"—Lancelot… what on earth is he doing here…?"
"Senpai! It's a huge pain, but let's recover that freeloader face-down in the dirt!"
"Mash?!"
"His personal relationships are a total disaster, but his skills are the real deal! It would be a waste to let him rot here! Let's put him to effective use!"
"I'm heading down there now! A few Excaliburs won't be enough for a nuisance like Lancelot!"
"Do as you wish. I've heard enough from the Sun King to know the deal."
"WAKE UP, DEAR FATHER!!"
"BWAGH—?!"
"WAS THAT A SHIELD BASH?!"
"I don't want to hear about being a 'troublesome person' from the likes of you! EXCALIBURRRRRRR!!"
"GUWAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!"
"Sir Lancelot is dead!!"
"He has a powerful Gift. He'll be fine."
—The King of Knights was surprisingly cold.
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