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Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chorus of Bonds

"Well done getting this far. It's not over yet. The main event's still to come (Fou)!"

Chorus

Approaching the fallen Gilles.

"…Such injustice… Even with the Holy Grail, such nonsense…"

Gilles mutters like a delirium.

"Hah, fool. That's why you're a clown. Thinking a single Grail could challenge me? Arrogance at its peak."

The vessel picks up the rolling Grail.

"This thing's just a wine goblet to me. …Though it tends to reek of blood."

Gilles has no strength left to resist.

"Here, Master. It's yours. Keep it safe."

He tosses it carelessly.

"W-Wah!"

"It's definitely the Holy Grail. —Order complete."

"We did it! Rikka-kun and everyone pulled it off!"

"…Truly, well done, Mash, Rikka."

"You too, Marie, Romani!"

"Mission complete!"

"…Not yet."

Crawling, bloodied, Gilles struggles to rise.

"Not yet… My depravity… isn't done…!"

"—Stubborn to a fault. Did I hold back too much? Truly, I'm not used to this restraint."

The vessel sighs.

He must have that much resolve.

I couldn't simply condemn his feelings as mere evil.

"—Ruler, Jeanne. Finish it. This is your mess, after all."

He points at Gilles.

"Give him some rest. He was your aide, wasn't he? He'll vanish soon. Keep it brief—share some old stories, make them bloom."

"Hero King…"

"Understood!"

The two Jeannes rush to the holy monster.

"I—"

"No more, Jilles. That's enough."

The two Jeannes gently take his hands.

"You've done more than enough. You can rest now."

"Jeanne…"

"Believing in a simple girl like me, fighting to liberate this city. —Thank you, Jilles. Because of you, I could run to the end without regret."

Jeanne speaks softly, comforting him.

"Somewhere, we'll meet again. —You're my precious comrade."

"Jeanne… Oh, Jeanne…"

"It's okay, Jilles!"

The other Jeanne declares brightly.

"I won't leave you alone! If you're headed to hell—"

She grips his hand tightly.

"I'll be right there with you!"

She smiles radiantly.

"No, no, Jeanne…"

Gilles firmly returns their grip.

"I'd never let you go to hell— You, to the Lord's side. Hell is for me alone—"

With tears overflowing and a smile, the holy monster Gilles de Rais fades away.

"—Goodbye, Jilles."

"Yes, somewhere… we'll meet again!"

"Everyone—!!"

Turning toward the voice, Vimana hovers nearby.

"Evacuation's starting! We need to keep our promise quick!"

"Hmph, immediate evacuation after correction? No time to spare. Get on, everyone! Time to wrap this up!"

"Yeah! Mash, Jeanne!"

"Yes!"

"Understood!"

"Jeanne! You really are Jeanne!"

A man's voice—Marshal Gilles, in white.

"Jilles…! This is bad timing…"

"Leave it to me!"

Chaldea's Jeanne speaks up.

"Keep your promise! I'll just return to Chaldea!"

"—Please!"

"Fou fou! (Hurry, hurry! Driving's not easy!)"

"Get on!"

"Alright, time for a triumph! Vimana, ascend!"

Leaving Chaldea's Jeanne behind, Vimana rises—

"Jeanne…! You're alive! As long as you're here, I…!"

"No, Jilles. I'm dead. This is a fleeting dream, a warped France. I perished, and you went mad. That's set history."

"…Even in death… No, even beyond death…!"

"It's fine, Jilles. —This is the life I chose, the path I picked. There's no reason for your tears."

"Oh, oh—Forgive me, please forgive me, Jeanne!"

"Jilles…"

"I betrayed you! France betrayed everything about you! We raised you up, then cast you aside—!! Forgive me, forgive me—Jeanne…! Ohhh…!!"

"It's fine, it's fine, Jilles. Everything led to the future, to tomorrow. —That's enough."

"Jeanne, Jeanne…! Ohhhhh—!!"

"Let's go. With smiles. At least, with smiles—"

The Saint warmly embraces the weeping Marshal—

"It's all ending now. I could die from how much I'll miss it."

Marie murmurs wistfully.

"A corrected Singularity's events become undone. This strange alliance will vanish like a dream."

"No way—"

"That's how it is. Meetings and partings are inseparable, for any being."

Yes. Partings always come.

That's why the time we meet is precious, I think.

"Why so glum? Chin up."

"Huh?"

"Fool. 'Partings are inevitable,' but 'you can greet them with a smile.' Simple logic."

Yes. Precious time, until the end.

Greet it with a smile—and we'll meet again. If you live, the chance will come.

Even I, dead, got that chance, so it's certain.

"—I've got it!"

Master shouts.

"Let's take a picture! All of us!"

"Great idea, Senpai!"

Perfect. Nice idea. That'll leave a lasting record.

"Please, Gil-emon! Get out a tool!"

"Haha, fine, you mongrel. Alright! A camera's prototype is easy!"

"Oh! A lasting memory!? How wonderful! Jeanne, Amadeus, we did it!"

"Yeah. To think such miracles exist… It's worth living for…!"

"Hey! I'm center, right!?"

"Idiot! The gorgeous me is obviously center!"

"What'd you say!?"

"Be quiet. I'll stick close to Master, like this."

"Then, I, Saint George, will humbly take the camera."

"Sorry, I'll stay on the edge… I wasn't much help. Really sorry."

"That again?! By the way, return my key!"

"Jeanne, together, okay? Like, intertwining fingers, faces close…"

"M-M-Marie…!"

"Whoo! Close contact! Nice! Perfect!"

"Fou! (Whose beauty to embrace? So many choices!)"

"Me!"

"Me!"

"Me!!"

"Me!! Go tour the boonies, variety idol!"

"I'm a pop, cute idol!!"

They get along so well…

"No fighting! Mash, get closer!"

"Y-Yes!"

"Smile properly, okay?"

"So jealous! I wanted to be in it!"

"You've got Magi☆Mari, right? (laughs)"

"Don't mock me!"

"Now, now. Let's take as many as we want. —Here we go."

"I'm center!!!"

"Hey, no cutting in, Gorgeous—!!"

""""""Cheese!""""""

—Unerasable memories. Unerasable records.

Even if they fade, true bonds remain here forever—

"We took the picture! Now the song! Amadeus!"

"Come on, get out a piano, King!"

"Of course, but your attitude irks me! I'll smack you!"

"No holds barred, no holds barred. —Alright, let's keep our promise, Maria."

"Yes! —This time, we really met! I love you all! Vive la France!"

"Vive la Uruk! Haha, nice ring to it! Shall we make it Chaldea's motto?"

"Vive la Uruk!"

"Senpai!?"

"Sorry… I'm not good at singing, sorry…"

"That's straight out of the Nibelungenlied!"

"That's the myth's name, sorry."

"Stop apologizing! Musician! A request! Play this!"

"What's this?"

"My favorite, the Carnival Phantasm ending theme! Its upbeat lyrics are perfect for wrapping up the journey!"

"I'm the vocalist!?"

"Cast off, you dumb dragon!! Master! Command Spell!"

"Okay!!"

"Nooo—!! As bad as confinement—!!"

"Hah! Know the difference in class as a seeker of beauty! Now, I'll show you all I reign supreme in voice too—!"

"Singing…? I'm not great at it…"

"Let's sing sparklingly, joyfully! That's what songs are for!"

"…Yes!"

"No time! To sing the full chorus, we need to start now!"

"I'll conduct."

"Here we go! Hear the genius's skill!"

"Okay, one, two—!"

"BOEEEE—!!!"

"You wretched dragon—!!!!"

—Oh.

What a wonderful farewell.

The vibrant, lively, joyful time passes.

—And history returns to its proper form…

Back to Chaldea!

Pleasure Club members! Got your wine?!

Here we go!!

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