The memory of their first meeting—those trivial, everyday words—echoed in her mind. A "wonderful hallucination" of where it all began. At the time, she hadn't felt anything special. But now she knew.
That encounter was the most precious thing in the world.
"..."
...Thank you. Rest well, Doctor Romantic.
May your joy be everlasting.
"Romani? I know you're happy, but maybe show a little restraint? You're making Rikka and Mash uncomfortable."
Da Vinci chimed in with a teasing grin at the sobbing Roman.
"You can't blame him," Olga Marie added with a smirk. "Even your eyes are bloodshot, 'Master.'"
"Oh? You got me there! But let's just say it's eye strain from the paperwork, shall we?"
Olga Marie let out a nihilistic chuckle.
"My, aren't we being wicked today? Who taught you how to smile like a villain?"
"If I had to guess... perhaps a certain 'Old Man' from the Shinjuku incident?"
The two women laughed. Somewhere in Chaldea, the sound of someone tripping and falling echoed through the halls, but they chose to ignore it.
"S-sorry! But I... I'm just so happy...!"
"Lord Roman❤️ Come, let it all out in my arms❤️"
Fighting back her own tears and trembling voice, Sheba-nyan (Queen of Sheba) pulled Roman into a hug.
"Ah, thank you! I really am... the happiest man alive...!"
"DAMN IT ALL—!!"
The envious cries of the other Chaldea staff were ignored. It was just another day, after all.
"Director! Forget Meuniere, we need the order!"
The staff turned to Olga Marie, awaiting her final command.
"Everyone is waiting for your words, Director!"
Olga Marie smiled—a look of pure, radiant pride.
"Right. I should say it properly."
She raised her voice, announcing the completion of their journey—the end of humanity's newest epic. The curtain call of the Grand Order.
"With the awakening of Rikka Fujimaru, the final phase of the Grand Order is hereby concluded! As of this moment, the future has been reclaimed by our hands! To everyone here—thank you for everything!!!"
""""""""""UOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH!!!""""""""""
The room exploded into a roar of triumph. The future was set. Those who had believed in a way of life stronger, kinder, and better than any other had finally been rewarded.
"You did it! You really did it! Oh, damn it, I can't find the right words! I spent too much time studying and never learned how to be funny...!" Roman cried out, his voice a song of life and life-giving joy.
It was the very same "Joy of Birth" that a certain Evil of Humanity had once felt. Finally, the burden had been lifted.
"A thirty-year-old trying to be funny usually just ends in cringy dad jokes, you idiot," Jeanne Alter snapped, though her eyes were soft.
"Guh!"
"...Thank you for your hard work, my Rikka. Finally, you can begin a life that belongs only to you." Jeanne took Rikka's hand. "I used to think I was filled only with hatred, but I didn't know I could feel something this wonderful. For you, I'll put it into words."
Rikka would never forget the smile Jeanne wore in that moment.
"Thank you, my Rikka. May your life be blessed."
The smile of the Avenger, weeping and laughing like a warm sunny day.
"...The same to you. I've still got a lot of self-improvement to do, after all."
"Yes. Let's study together! We have all the time in the world now!"
The two laughed, bound by a bond forged in the fires of hell.
"As for what's next... the outside world is in an uproar," Olga Marie muttered, looking exasperated. "I've cut our communications for now to keep them in the dark about our status, but that noise is useless to us going forward."
"Ho? My star pupil has already made her move?" Da Vinci asked.
Olga wore a predatory grin. "I told you, didn't I? 'Chaldea belongs to Gilgamesh.' I've already sent the documents to the UN, the Mage's Association, and the Holy Church. They will be convinced. No matter what."
Olga had already transmitted the paperwork—a thesis on the legitimacy of Chaldea's activities, laced with ciphers and hidden text taught to her by Da Vinci. Every single character was infused with Age of Gods script, designed to place a powerful 'Cognitive Hypnosis' on anyone in those organizations who heard the word 'Chaldea.'
It was a technique that acted directly on the human soul. Chaldea is safe. Chaldea is functioning perfectly. Intervention is unnecessary. The magical formula wove those words into the very spirit of the reader.
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