"Ya. I'm just your average Lancer. Ishtar should die. Specifically: stripped naked, skewered a thousand times, then paint herself with her own leaking guts and blood-spray. Still ugly, so smash her with Gu-gal-anna's foreleg and toss her into the abyss. To put it mildly—turn to dust? And hey, Merry Christmas, everyone. …Hehe. Weird for a weapon to celebrate a birthday? Cut me some slack. My heart's doing cartwheels."
"About what? Obvious. The 'princess' he chose. —God, she's perfect. You granted two of my selfish wishes at once."
"Not citizen, not vassal, not accomplice. Sadly not friend. I wanted you to be something only you could be to him. I told you that, didn't I? Selfish. One-sided."
"—You became the 'princess.' The one who walks beside his new myth. Yes. Epics have gods, men, monsters, friends— but never a princess at his side. The shape your soul chose is undeniably one-of-a-kind."
—Thank you, Ea. Hero-Princess Gilgameshia. Take care of my friend from now on.
—With this, my past mistake, the sin of wounding your pride— can I call it atoned? What do you think? Laugh at the foolish weapon? Gil—
"All set. No forgotten items. I cleaned, I checked—perfect."
Just before rayshift home, she tidied the apartment that had been hers, folded every memory into neat corners.
That vessel survived the king's full arsenal without a scratch— past surprise, straight to giggles.
She could almost hear him: "That? Barely a warm-up!"
"—Thank you, Hero King Gilgamesh."
Murmured gratitude.
Never forget: the friend who pulled her from prison, the king's words, the king who crushed the Magic King with his whole soul, the king who gave her name, vessel, flesh.
—Everything that happened in this Singularity, she would never forget.
"—All right!"
Slap—cheeks stung awake.
To the king's expectations, everyone's blessings, the whole wide world— she would walk forward with gratitude and respect.
Seeking new "joy." Chasing unknown delight.
—So someday she could stand tall and tell the king everything.
That was Ea's chosen way to live.
(Ready, Ea?)
Her best friend Fou called her name.
(Let's go home to paradise—chest out!)
"Yeah!—Hehe."
Laughter spilled free.
(What's so funny?)
"Hehe, sorry— being called by my name… it's happy."
Her soul's mark. Hearing it spoken— she never knew it could feel this good.
(Of course! I'm thrilled too! "Nameless" was so bland—glad it's retired! …But)
"Hm?"
Fou looked up.
(…Is it really okay? You finally got name and body. You could shine brighter. Still handing the reins back to him?)
—True. She had no plans to stay Gilgameshia forever. Default: let the vessel drive. Hero-princess form only when he rested.
(You're one-of-a-kind and you hide again? We should throw a world-wide party! Wasting that name no one gets to call—sad…)
"Fou…"
(You finally have a name and nobody uses it—tragic…)
Fou really was the kindest. The proudest best friend.
She scooped him gently.
"You're here."
(Eh?)
"Fou's here. My best friend who calls me Ea. And not just you— the staff seniors call me Ea, Gilgameshia, Gilgashana."
—That was enough.
No need for parades, pomp, cosmic fanfare.
"One person celebrating me is all I need— I'm already bursting with happy."
(———)
"Just you calling my name— that's my happiness, Fou."
—She'd been given a name. That alone gave her reincarnation meaning overflowing.
"Besides, the story's stars are the king and the Masters. I'm supporting cast. If the extra steals the spotlight, the tale breaks."
Yes—she was fine in the wings.
Masters marching to tomorrow, Hero King guiding them— a rollicking adventure. She'd stand at the side, smiling.
—Just being part of this story, walking beside the king— no greater joy existed.
(…You really ask for nothing.)
lick—Fou nuzzled her cheek.
(You, supporting? Joke. A supporting role that dazzles everyone? The script would flip—audience only watches the wings!)
"R-really?"
(You're the lead, the heroine! The grand flower coloring the tale! Your beauty, your innocence—not one bit less than his shine! I guarantee it!)
boop boop—face smooshed.
(Only you. Only you can solo me, the Beast of Comparison, because your light and stainless soul can't be measured against anything!)
"Fou—!"
(Thank you. Really, thank you. My one friend across countless dimensions. Your existence saves me. My fear of turning ugly— you gently purify it. So—)
He pressed closer.
(You stayed you. My precious you wasn't stained. You didn't choose to become a hideous Demon God— I'm so, so glad…)
"Fou…"
(My irreplaceable, priceless you wasn't taken— I'm so glad—)
Fou trembled.
—So Fou was scared too.
Just as she cherished him, he cherished her.
Afraid of losing her…
"…Thank you."
She hugged the shivering fluff tight.
"I love you, Fou. The you who loved Nameless. The you who calls my name."
(Ea…)
—Yes. Caring for someone— beast and soul could understand each other. The world overflowed with priceless everyday miracles.
Such a world was wonderful. Such a world was dear.
And—
"I love you. I love every bit of this world you're in."
—This was "joy."
The world brimmed with irreplaceable things.
Nothing deserved to be called worthless and destroyed.
Because even she—once worthless— had been given value.
"So it's okay. I'll never leave you alone."
"Let's save the world together— then go touring! Let's joyride the whole planet!"
—If the day came to challenge the world, it would be with the tiny best friend in her heart.
"I'm glad I was born! I love you, Fou!"
Forever beside him— and he beside her— sworn in soul.
(——Yeah. Thank you, Ea.)
Golden motes exploded—then reformed.
(You, hero-princess— defeated me again, as always…)
"Fou—!?"
(I'm fine! I learned! Every time you slay me, I store dignity and boost mana! Like muscle super-recovery! I grow nobler, prettier with each death! Bit of Primate Murder gauge? You reset me before full Beast! Congrats, Gilgameshia! World's top beast-slayer! Forget that pity-deer playing Solomon— Grand Precious suits you! I just witnessed something sacred—)
"I get it! Stop exploding mid-sentence! Fou! Fou—!"
—Until the vessel reverted to the king, Fou detonated and respawned maybe ten times…
"Oh, Ea— if you join FGO, what rarity? I'll whale exactly the number of lives I've murdered."
"I'd like welfare. ★4, FP or event shop—guaranteed."
"Why!? You'd top the revenue charts! Tens of thousands easy!"
"Nope. I don't care about money spent— I want to reach every Master who wants me."
"———"
"Welfare means anyone who wants me gets me. Anyone uninterested can skip. Even if my stats suck, guaranteed contract matters way more. Oh, but…"
"———"
"…I'd rather heal tired Masters in My Room than fight. Good contrast with the king, right? 'Kinda weak but calming in My Room'— that's the Servant I wanna be. Hehe."
"…"
"W-was that bad? ★2 FP then…?"
"Can't—can't— offering Saint Grails… NP5… I'll feed you everything— too sacred— can't look directly—"
"Fou—!!?"
"I really— witnessed something sacred—"
"FOU—!?"
"Hmph. Naming my treasure after my sword? Whimsical. (While preparing a dress)"
"Magnificent, Ea! Let these arms, this chest embrace your radiant form! (While making bouquet)"
"Innocent yet not ignorant—well said. Still nowhere near enough! That's fraud, false advertising! She'll follow any avant-garde pickup line! Self-defense, basic chastity—mandatory! Some stinking fox will sniff her out and gobble her head-first! What was that idiot vessel thinking— 'She's got me, she's fine'? One-kid dad energy! Arrogance!! Clear 5-6 Singularities in half a day— get to Uruk! I'll give minimum education— (While readying Tablet of Destinies)"
"Hm?"
"Eh?"
"—————"
"Wake, Ea!!"
"Behold heaven! Ruin-fire brims!"
"Nock—at my command!! MELAM DINGIR!!!"
""YOU'RE EARLY, IDIOT—!!"""
"Fuhahahaha, dealing with you is— Hm?"
『Flag: "Which King to Support?"』
"WHAAA—!!? Crap, they're all me—!!"
"Ah… Ea-san… Gilgameshia-san… so sacred… must protect…"
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