『I shall watch your life from the far shore. This battle—is your—victory—』
「—」
"It" settles into the hand of the King of Heroes.
「—Hmph. A bit too much sentiment for a ring of fate, you fool.」
It was… a single replica ring, and nine Rings of Solomon.
—King of Heroes. That… replica ring. May I have it?
It was the first time.
The first time… that Aia had ever "wanted" something.
"I allow it. …Shall I place it on your finger?"
The King takes the replica ring and presents it to Aia.
—Will you… put it on for me?
At Aia's small request, he gives a pleasant, amused laugh of affirmation.
"—Hmph. Consider this a special exception for your soul."
The King takes Aia's hand and slowly… slides the ring onto her left ring finger.
Though the King says nothing of the meaning behind that finger, the Princess understands.
Without a word, they simply look at each other and nod.
—Thank you. …I will never let it go. This ring that Goetia left behind, and that you placed on my hand.
"Good. It's a cheap thing… but in terms of being one-of-a-kind, it certainly suits you."
She offers a quiet nod of agreement.
Aia stared silently at the single ring.
Though it was a replica, it was a testament to a definitive decree and a pact.
A ring of vows, showing love.
—And the nine rings entrusted to Goetia were returned to where they belonged.
"Umu. Even for that great idiot, these will make fine souvenirs."
In the King of Heroes' hand, the nine rings pulsed with a steady light.
「The Temple… the final Master has done it.」
Artoria simply watches the crumbling temple.
「Everyone, thank you for your service. If even one of you had been missing, this conclusion would have been different—」
…There is no one left to receive her praise.
The Heroic Spirits have all dematerialized.
The members of the club, too, have left their brilliance behind and returned to their original dimensions.
「—My gratitude. Even as your strength failed, even across dimensions, you carved a path and connected us to the future. I… shall return to Avalon as well.」
「It is only natural. "Independent Manifestation" is a trait held only by Beasts and I, who harbor Aia. A proper Heroic Spirit would have begun to collapse the moment they entered this airspace. —Yet they pushed through it to hold back the Demon God Pillars.」
—Thank you. To every life that gathered here. Your existence is the proof of human history—of its brilliance.
『…Thank you. My dear, wicked friends. I, too, am grateful for meeting all of you.』
「The club members who answered my summons, and the ordinary Heroic Spirits. —I must give this battle a high evaluation.」
The King of Heroes drinks the wine of the Sky God, using the sight of the world's treasures returning to his vault as a side dish.
「—…」
Artoria, too, begins to fade. There are no longer many words left to exchange.
「—Farewell then, King of Knights. This, too, was quite enjoyable.」
While stroking Aia's hair, the King bids farewell to the King of Knights—to the star he can never reach.
「—You are going, then.」
「Naturally. I am the protagonist of this battle, of this story. A participant in the epic we weave. What would it be without us?」
「…Even if it is a history that should not exist, fighting alongside you was not a bad feeling. —To you and the Princess, may you have a good journey.」
「You as well. O brilliance that cannot be contained by heaven, earth, or the hands of man. Do not lose sight of your own value.」
Fou lies down, preparing for them to mount.
「…Rikka, who destroys all other futures for the sake of her own life and the future of those she loves. Goetia, who ate only lamentation and aimed for the void. How ironic. That "Humanity's Evil" is, in fact, "Humanity's Love" itself.」
—It is not malice that destroys humanity. Malice always fades, is satisfied, and dissipates. It can never destroy everything.
『Yeah. —The thing that threatens the Human Order is the very wish to protect it. The desire to make things better, the want for a better future. That's why—it threatens the peace of the present. To grasp a better tomorrow.』
「…Merlin said that Beasts appear in a chain. That a world where an Evil of Humanity appears will be beset by further disasters, leading toward the "Final Evil."」
「The moment Beast I appeared, the Final Beast VII must have manifested somewhere in this world. —But whatever it may be, whatever disaster awaits, I care not.」
—Yes! We will definitely overcome every Evil! The journey to sing of life never ends. Until the day of the King's Judgment—it will surely continue!
『I'm here. Rikka-chan is here. —It'll be fine. After all, we have a Princess who turned me into Human Love, and a King who has finally stopped being so careless!』
「Hmph, so I've finally been brought down, have I? —That is how it is. As long as I am here, any "ordinary" ending will be blown away. An epic that kicks aside every tragedy and pain. That—is my latest saga.」
「—I am not worried. Then… goodbye, King of Heroes, Heroic Princess. And Fou. —May a blessing of flowers be upon your path—」
Artoria finishes her duty and departs. All that remains in this place are the King of Heroes, harboring a soul with Independent Manifestation, and the Sovereign Beast.
—Let's go, King of Heroes, Fou! To the end of our journey!
『Yeah! Hold on tight!』
「Very well—let us behold it! The perfect, flawless conclusion that only we can grasp!」
Fou, the King, and the Princess gallop away.
To make the final conclusion perfect and flawless—!
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