As I sit up, a communication comes through.
"Awake, Your Majesty?" Romani Archaman's cheerful voice greets me.
"Not exactly restful… this bed is far beneath a king's standards," I grumble, the vessel clearly unimpressed as I rise slowly.
"Haha, fair enough. Chaldea's not exactly equipped with VIP suites," Roman replies.
"It's beyond preferential treatment. For those facing world salvation, the strain is immense. To endure such grueling work in this cheap inn is remarkable," I say.
Indeed, Chaldea's staff are humanity's last stand. If even one falls, it could cripple operations. I'm not demanding luxury, but the designers should've ensured above-standard living conditions. Employees with honed expertise are irreplaceable; critical work demands a supportive environment.
"Worse than Uruk's shanties… even sheep sleep better," I mutter.
"No choice, I guess. Chaldea was scraping by for funding, and expecting mages to care about others is a stretch, right?" Roman says.
"Can I return to Uruk? I miss my ziggurat," I sigh.
Uruk… is it really that great? The vessel's fondness makes me curious. I'd love to see it someday. Was it in Iraq?
"Wait! I'll talk to Marie about improvements!" Roman pleads.
"Tell Siduri to fan me… or would she just nag me to work? Hmph, no use complaining," I murmur, brushing past the vessel's muttering to ask about Marie.
"How's Marie? She hasn't vanished, has she?"
"She's fine—better than fine, actually. Bit tactless to say?" Roman hesitates.
"?"
"She's okay with it, so it's fine, right? Oh, Marie's waking Ritsuka now," he adds.
"Master's awake?"
Then I shouldn't linger.
"We're holding a briefing to decide our next steps. Bring them along—everyone's needed," Roman says.
"Everyone? Mash and Master are enough, aren't they?"
"What are you talking about? You're one of us," Roman insists.
"—"
"I know your stance, but as a Servant here, you're involved. Why not close the distance a bit?"
Involved… right. I'm no longer just a bystander, I realize anew.
"Fair point. When in Rome, as they say. I'll act the part," I concede.
"Haha, a cooperative king? That's new," Roman teases.
"Shut it. Time for the king's grand entrance."
Knock, knock. I tap on Master's door.
"The hero among heroes, Gilgamesh, has arrived. Entertain me," I declare.
"Super haughty! Come in!" Ritsuka calls.
The automatic door slides open, revealing four women around a table.
"Morning, Gil!" Ritsuka chirps.
"Good work, King of Heroes," Mash says.
"Good morning!" Olga Marie adds.
"Feeling energized by Marie's lively greeting?" Da Vinci asks.
"Not particularly," I reply.
"Ouch, rejected," Da Vinci laughs.
"It's not like that!" Olga Marie protests.
"Welcome, King of Heroes, to Chaldea's paradise—our ladies' haven!" a stunning woman exclaims grandly.
"…The Renaissance Man," I note.
"Impressive! Spotting me at a glance! I was skeptical, but that insight, that perception—you're truly the King of Heroes!" she marvels.
The Renaissance Man… Leonardo da Vinci?
"I'm Leonardo da Vinci, the shining star of human history!" she confirms.
Da Vinci, creator of the captivating Mona Lisa… a woman?
"Didn't expect her to be female," I remark.
"Not exactly female, this oddball," Olga Marie mutters.
"Hey, Marie, don't be cold! You're my disciple now—let's get along!" Da Vinci pouts.
"King of Heroes, this is Leonardo da Vinci, nicknamed Da Vinci-chan, Chaldea's second summoned Heroic Spirit," Mash explains.
"And Marie's master!" Da Vinci adds proudly.
A disciple of the universal genius?
"Bold move. How do you feel?" I ask Olga Marie.
"With the Grail fused to me, I can't lean on anyone anymore. I must live as myself. Plus, the Mage's Association and others will likely hunt me," she says.
"…"
"To be clear, I'm deeply grateful for your help," she adds quickly.
"I was shocked too. A body reconstructed by the Grail needs no food, sleep, or… ahem," Da Vinci trails off.
"?"
"Um, well…" Da Vinci hesitates.
"She doesn't poop! Like an idol!" Ritsuka blurts.
"Ritsuka!" Olga Marie snaps.
"Senpai! That's crude!" Mash scolds.
"Hahaha! That's the gist. The Grail's fulfilling Olga Marie's wish to 'live,'" Da Vinci explains.
"HAHAHA!" I burst out laughing, stunned. "So the Grail answered that thoroughly? Even a discarded vessel has its use—spare parts well spent!"
"A leftover…? You've got more Grails stashed away?" Da Vinci asks, incredulous.
"Naturally. I possess the archetype of all Grails. Producing miracles like human reconstruction is trivial," I boast.
"Your world's a true nightmare," Da Vinci marvels.
"Impressive, right?"
The Grail that sparked that miracle was a lesser one, and I hold its origin. I'm running out of shock. If this hero says so, it must be true.
"The Grail I gave was a flawed trinket, but the miracle's real. Stop glaring at me with teary eyes—laugh it off," I tell Olga Marie.
"…Right. Leftover or not, a Grail's a Grail! I'll keep moving forward!" she declares.
"Such positivity, Director!" Mash praises.
"A flower of hope blooming!" Ritsuka cheers.
"I'll look after her for now. A disciple needing no sleep or food? Perfect! Let's see if I can mold a second me—though there's only one beautiful me!" Da Vinci boasts.
"Why do you look like the Mona Lisa? A self-portrait?" I ask.
"King of Heroes, Da Vinci-chan loved the Mona Lisa so much she chose to become her," Mash explains.
"…What?"
Genius borders on madness, but wanting to be your creation? No sane mind would conceive it. She's undeniably a genius—I, a mere mortal, can confirm.
"The solitude of genius—we both know it, don't we, Gil-kun?" Da Vinci winks.
"The burden of the lofty. Though you're not quite on my level," I retort. "More importantly—"
"Fou!" The beautiful beast leaps out.
"Everyone, the briefing's starting," Mash says.
"Ugh, I wanna sleep more," Ritsuka groans.
"Indulging sloth? Those limbs are useless—let's make them decor," I tease.
"Everyone! Prep in 40 seconds!" Olga Marie barks.
"Right! Don't wanna get scolded by the scary king! To the briefing room!" Da Vinci chimes.
"I'll head there first. Got prep to do and Roman to back up," Olga Marie says, glancing at me. "…Thank you, truly. I'll dedicate this saved life to Chaldea."
"Work hard. Humanity's future rests on your efforts," I reply.
"Yes!" she affirms.
The girl runs off, her resolve and fate shining through.
As a Servant, like Caster, I'm destined to fade. So I'll entrust the future to her, to the impossible miracle she embodies.
May Master and Mash seize that future alongside her.
"Dukshi!" Fou smacks my head.
"(Let's go to the briefing room. Roman might start crying soon.) Fou, kyu!"
"…Fine. Let's kill a bit more time," I say.
"You told us to prep!" Ritsuka protests.
"I'm exempt," I declare, the vessel snorting haughtily.
The hassle this causes others is… amusing, secretly.
It feels like I haven't laughed in ages.
Holy Grail: "Girls don't poop."