"Ansuz! Burn it all to ashes!"
The Caster chants, traces rune letters, and releases blazing flames.
A storm of heat with real power.
Each blast slams hard into Mash's shield, the heat searing her skin bit by bit through the gaps in her armor.
"Ku—ugh… gh…!" Mash grunts, her feet sliding backward across the pavement.
"..."
"…Is Mash alright?"
Olga Marie voices her worry, her hands clasped tight against her chest. Unlike her earlier panic, her words now come from calmly facing what is happening.
"That Servant… he's serious. He's truly trying to kill Mash and Rikka…!"
"That he is," I confirm, watching the flames dance. "In a fight where lives are exchanged, that dog would never joke."
"Then shouldn't we stop this…!"
"If she dies here, so be it," I say coldly. "Dying without seeing the trials ahead may be a kind of happiness."
The Incineration of Humanity. The dark schemes lurking within it. The seven journeys across Singularities.
Words spoken by the mysterious voice at the moment of reincarnation. Words I still do not fully understand. But I know this much—the road ahead will not be simple. The world, and those girls, will walk a harsh path.
Which is happier—falling halfway in regret, or leaving the world without knowing anything at all?
I never even had the chance to choose a path like that myself. So I don't know.
Breaking is easy. Giving up is easy.
Closing your eyes, accepting the end, is easy.
But—
I know what comes after.
Regret comes later. The idea that death brings peace is a lie.
There is no comfort after death.
There is no rest in a vague, meaningless end.
For a dry, empty soul, nothing remains.
I have seen that. And that is why I am here.
…I don't want that for them.
"Their souls have not lost their light yet," I whisper, mostly to myself. "Desperately, recklessly, they cling to life."
"…!" Olga Marie flinches at my tone.
That's right, Mash. Master. You still have a future.
A shining tomorrow. A future you can choose. You just don't know it yet.
You don't know the despair that lies ahead.
Because you don't know, you can walk forward with courage.
Because you don't understand, you live with all your strength.
Even now, you face yourselves, fighting with your lives on the line.
—It is worth watching.
There is a brilliance in them that I have never seen before.
"Those who are so full of promise sometimes even overturn fate itself," I say, looking down at the silver-haired Director.
"King of Heroes…"
"Well? Are you just going to watch, girl?"
Olga blinks. "…?"
Yes. You are involved too.
"They are your friends, aren't they?" I ask, tilting my head toward the battlefield. "If your friends are in danger, at least give them some words of support."
"I—I mean… I…" She stammers, looking at her hands.
"…Honestly. You lack confidence in yourself too. Such trouble."
It's understandable. Anyone would cry, hesitate, or panic in this situation.
For such a small person to carry so much—just standing without breaking is already an achievement.
"I acknowledge you, Olga Marie Animusphere."
She freezes. "Eh—?"
"Your efforts are more than worthy. From now on, make sure you do not lose this way of being."
"—! —!!"
They are simple words. Just a small, casual praise.
But for Olga Marie, crushed by doubt, sorrow, and despair, they are more than enough to melt her hopelessness.
Tears well up in her eyes, but she wipes them away furiously.
"…Alright! Fine! I get it! Saying a few words—!"
She steps forward, cupping her hands around her mouth.
"To my first real friends—I'll say as much as I want!!"
Across the field, Cú Chulainn grins, spinning his staff. "Looks like I misjudged you, girl."
"Ku—ugh…!" Mash's knees buckle under the pressure.
"Master, want to die together with your Servant?" The Caster taunts, gathering more mana. "If you run, you might live."
"Senpai—run—" Mash gasps.
"It's okay."
Rikka steps out from the absolute safety of the rear. She gently takes Mash's trembling hand and stands beside her.
"If we die, we die together. I'm making my Servant fight for me, after all. The least I can do is this—as her Master."
"Senpai…"
"I can't fight," Rikka admits, staring down the Celtic hero. "But I can stand by her side!"
"—!" The Caster's eyes widen slightly.
"I see. Good spirit. Then I'll burn you all without regret—!"
The magic power surges violently. It's coming—the Caster's trump card. A Noble Phantasm!
"I—I…" Mash falters, the heat overwhelming her.
"What are you doing!! Mash!! Rikka!!"
I snap back to reality. Olga Marie is shouting with all her strength, her voice cracking.
"Director…!?" Rikka turns, shocked.
"I won't allow you to die here—of all places, here! Why do you think we came this far? Why do you think you chose to fight!?"
Olga Marie screams, tears streaming down her face.
"You didn't choose this just to die in some stupid place like this, did you!?"
"—!"
"For the first time, I talked for hours with someone my own age! For the first time, I had fun talking!"
She points a shaking finger at the girl behind the shield.
"For the first time—I made a friend!! Mash!"
"!" Mash's eyes widen.
Olga Marie keeps shouting, throwing all her feelings into her words.
"Rikka too! I won't forgive you for throwing away a life you barely managed to keep! You're a Master! You have talent and power I could never have—an amazing person!"
"There's still so much I want to talk about! So many things we still have to do! So, so—!"
"This is no place to stop and give up——!!!"
"—!"
Resolve fills Mash's eyes.
"Mash!"
Strength enters Rikka's voice.
"Let's do it! We can't let a friend say all that and do nothing! If we don't try now, we're no better than cowards!"
"Yes! I will protect everyone—no matter what!!"
She grips her shield again.
Even from here, the heat is clear. The snowflower that has chosen to protect—
Now stands like the shield that guards human history itself—!
"Collapse—'The Burning Cage of Scorching Flames'! Come on, good or evil, all of you turn to ash——!!"
A giant arm of straw, built to demand sacrifice, swings down.
The instant it smashes into the shield, a violent shock and raging wind tear through the area.
"G—uuuuuuuh——!!!"
"Mash!! You're not alone! I'm here!!" Rikka shouts, pressing her hand against Mash's back.
"Uuuuuuuuh——!!"
The pressure increases. The giant pushes with full force, trying to crush her.
The ground groans beneath their feet.
The shield she holds begins to shine.
And then—
The fortress that became the foundation of human order appears here!
"Mash———!!!"
"Uuuuuuuuh—aaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!"
———
"Wasn't it a waste to use that treasure?"
A voice echoes.
"—If it's someone worth using it on… then giving it away isn't so bad—"
Whose memory is this, I wonder…
(End Of Chapter)
--
At last, Mash shows her true strength.
Making Gilgamesh speak of friendship…There really is no irony greater than that.