"If you make it just as I taught you, it will surely be fine. Your King and your friends will surely say it is delicious, Shana."
"Thank you! Nefer, Shiki-chan!"
"I should be the one thanking you. I never thought I would make friends. Fufufu... I will definitely return the favor someday for these fresh, wonderful memories."
"Don't say that, just being with me is enough—"
"Fufu, if that is your wish, I will definitely grant it. 'So that you and we will never be apart,' I will lend you my strength, just once."
"—Shiki-chan...?"
"It's a secret for now. Fufu, I look forward to that time..."
"Shiki's words are like a poem. She delivers wonderful feelings with a clear voice. Let us wait for her words with anticipation, our hearts dancing, shall we? Shana."
"Yeah! See you both tomorrow—!"
"May Rameses's blessings be upon you—"
"Fufu, see you tomorrow. —It's a nice thing. To have a tomorrow—"
O Supreme Sovereign, May You Be Eternal
Chaldea, The King of Heroes' Room
A massive throne, carpets, a chandelier. Stuffed lion dolls, patterns on the murals, a vast king-sized bed, and a dining table for the King's meals. A colossal room permitted only to the King, boasting the most luxurious and gorgeous layout and spaciousness among the many rooms furnished with the finest supreme furniture.
In a corner of that room, in the kitchen, one person was humming in high spirits while cooking...
"La♪ La♪ Lala♪"
Humming a cosmic tune of Ea, deftly preparing an afternoon snack, is Ea. The Hero Princess, Gilgashana Gilgamesia.
"Hmph. To work so diligently at cooking. I never imagined I would stand in a kitchen."
Laughing amusedly is the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh. He speaks as a soul, entrusting the body entirely to Ea.
"Fufu, doing something out of character is more fun! I believe it is exactly as the King of Heroes said, you know?"
The current Hero Princess is clad in the King's attire, the 'Raiment of the Wise King.' It is a custom-made Mystic Code selected and tailored by Caster Gilgamesh specifically for the Hero Princess.
A hat on her head, and on her upper body, a short jacket over what is essentially underwear. An outfit that colors the supreme body of the Hero Princess without hindering it.
'Exposing the breasts would be too immodest,' he said, so a chest plate made of shape-memory material is attached to the chest area. A golden gauntlet is fitted on her right hand, perfectly protecting the fingers and hand, one of the virtues of a woman.
The lower body is covered by baggy trousers made of loose material... but as Fou put it, 'Isn't it full of slits!? Amazing!', slits are cut into every possible place, creating an aggressive design that offers glimpses of the skin of her legs.
And the entire outfit is enchanted with a 'Curse to repel all calamities.' While wearing this, it is a custom-made item among custom-made items capable of repelling skin damage, malice, and degradation.
All of these—are nothing other than a reward from Gilgamesh, who has seen everything, to Ea, the unsung contributor of their journey so far.
"Besides, I just couldn't help wanting to try this outfit on... Ehehe. Does it suit me?"
Ea spun around on the spot, twirl. The King of Heroes spilled a satisfied smile.
"Umu. It is attire befitting the soul and body. Truly, even I, the Wise, do good work."
"Yay! Fufu, though since it is the supreme body of the King of Heroes, I suppose it is only natural!"
Ea puffed out her chest proudly. Her ample bosom swayed, bounce.
"Fuhaha! It was not for nothing that the club members said with bitter smiles, 'The clothes become a side character, so as a dress-up, it's a complete failure'! Umu, very good! Indeed, to match the body, the design must also be cutting-edge!"
The King of Heroes laughed in high spirits, and Ea smiled proudly.
Though they are King and Princess, there is no friction born of status between them, only delightful conversation.
"Perhaps we should hold a fashion show someday. ...Here, the butter cake, kebabs, and karinto are ready, are they not?"
"Ah, right, right. Serving for three people, and..."
She deftly and carefully served snacks for the King of Heroes, Fou, and herself. When she asked Fou if chocolate was okay, he puffed out his chest and said, 'It's fine! I'm a Beast, after all! Or rather, dying from chocolate would be too funny a death for a Beast.'
"I know not of a single death that is not amusing, however."
"I'm on edge, though... wondering 'Are you okay? Can you revive?'"
"He would revive out of sheer stubbornness. Lately, he seems obsessed with some resurrection gag or another."
"I hope he isn't pushing himself..."
"He seems to be enjoying it; there is no need for worry. —Set aside my portion."
She blinked at the King's words.
"It is troublesome to be bitten by the Beast, after all. Take a moment of rest and converse together, just the two of you."
Saying only that, the King put his consciousness to sleep.
"Store it in the Treasury. The freshness will be preserved. I shall partake of it gratefully later. You have done well, Ea."
"—Yes! Goodnight, King of Heroes!"
She carefully stored it in the Treasury, and holding snacks for two... Ea headed towards Fou...—
"Fou~, sorry to keep you waiting~! I made snacks~? Ah, the butter cake isn't made of Fou-butter, so it's not cannibalism! It's okay!"
Holding the snacks she learned from Nefertari and Shiki, Ea flipped her platinum apron and spoke to Fou with a smile.
"Now, let's eat togeth... hmm?"
(Fufu...)
Fou was smiling gently in front of a golden laptop. He seemed unaware of Ea, gazing intently at the screen.
—Ah, I get it. Compiling the Great Chaldea Adventure Diary, huh~?
Grin, Ea smiled. Her natural curiosity poking its head out, she plotted to check just what kind of lovely girl Fou was staring at. She quietly set down the snacks and sneaked up behind Fou, stealthily.
—Who is he obsessed with this time? Is it Artoria-san after all? Nightingale-san? No no, maybe Sita-san, Shiki-chan, or Nefertari...?
Fou did not seem to notice. —Like an Assassin! What skill!
(—Sooobly... yes, search...)
Ea peeked into the laptop, and there...
(—Ah...)
—What was displayed there were nothing but images of the 'Hero Princess.'
Smiling faces, scenes of happy conversation, images that by some principle captured Ea clearly existing as a soul beside the King of Heroes, scenes of fighting together in battle. Enjoying a Girls' Night with Nefertari and Shiki, her sleeping face...
From 'Nameless' to 'Ea' to becoming 'Hero Princess Gilgamesia,' regardless of daily life or battle, Fou was looking at a file compiling photos that certainly made each and every day eternal—and he was smiling.
(Since becoming Ea, Nameless really has become so emotionally rich... I'm truly happy. As someone who has watched over you from the beginning, I'm truly overcome with emotion.)
Clack clack, he performed the operation for 'Permanent Save.'
—Fou... could it be, you were recording my journey, my every day, all this time...?
From what she could see, there were no private scenes like changing clothes or bathing.
In other words, without ulterior motives... from the heart, purely. He wished for it.
(I won't let your journey end with just 'oral tradition' or 'things that happened.' ...Sorry, Ea... but 'being known by no one' is what I hate more than anything.)
To record the journey of the Princess. To not let it end as just memories, but to leave sure 'footprints.'
To preserve the fact and the karma that the 'Princess' he met within an endless fate, his irreplaceable 'Best Friend,' certainly existed here.
To leave it as an eternal form—
"—Fou..."
Ea herself didn't realize she had spoken aloud.
"Thank you..."
...Her best friend proved it.
That she is not a hollow ghost or spirit, but a life that certainly exists here.
That the things she has accomplished, the things she has achieved, are certainly—right here—
(Fufu, you're welcome. Please don't worry. I haven't taken photos of your changing or bathing scenes without your permissi— Howaaah!?)
"Ah—!"
Recognizing each other, the two flustered souls panicked.
"I'm sorry! I was just, um... curious! I was just a little curious about what kind of girl you were writing a report on this time...! Sorry! I'm really sorry! Fou!"
To the deeply apologizing Ea, Fou flusteredly offered an excuse.
(No, no, I'm the one who should apologize! You don't need to worry! This is, um... how should I put it...)
Stammering, Fou eventually turned bright red and hung his head.
(...For me to be so careless. To be snapping and compiling images of you, a magazine dedicated to you, just as much as the Great Chaldea Adventure Diary. ...No, maybe it was like this a long time ago. Now that I calmly think about it... there's a part of me that is this invested in your existence. And... that. The fact that there is a 'me' involved with you makes me so happy...)
Kyuuuu, Fou shrank into a ball. The sight of him curling up while holding his head was extremely cute. ...If you didn't know what was inside, that is.
...The expressions of Ea stored there were mostly smiles. Every single captured moment of the 'Princess' was smiling happily.
This is a manifestation of the wish in his heart, and his pride.
Gratitude for 'You, who are always smiling.' Pride in 'Being able to see you from the closest place.'
And a wish. A wish for the future.
He prays. With prayer, he continues to compile.
'May your records continue to be filled with smiles. May the records from now on be filled with a smiling you,' he prays—
(...Actually, I intended to look back on this with you and Gil, the three of us, when everything was over... but since it's been conveyed this way, it can't be helped!)
Suddenly raising his head, he leaped into Ea's soft chest.
"Fou?"
She gently held Fou, who was pressing his body against her, rub rub.
(Ea! For the sake of our friendship, I want you to listen to two requests, two pleas from me! There is a wish I absolutely, absolutely want you to hear!)
"Y-Yeah!"
She gazed back at Fou, who looked up at her straight with untainted eyes.
(One is, I want you to show me more and more of your everything! It's a selfish story since I'm taking photos without asking, but I want to increase the moments of you more, much more! I want to see them!)
...Yes. Fou desires it. Further memories and records of the preciousness spun and born within the journey.
(Your journey... no, after the journey ends, your own journey, your life... let me see it from the closest place, let me record it!)
To the one and only 'Princess' who made him break away from being an 'Evil of Humanity' and called him her 'Best Friend.' He spoke his unfeigned feelings and wish.
'Please, let me be with you forever.'
"...—Of course, Fou."
Gently, she hugged Fou close.
"I'm the one who should say... forever, and ever... please take care of me. Fou."
(Yeah! And, one more thing!)
Narrowing his eyes at the soft warmth, he suddenly sharpened his expression.
(Listen, Ea. In the journey ahead, no matter the reason, no matter the situation you fall into! Never, absolutely! Do not choose the option of 'sacrificing yourself'! Got it? Absolutely! It's absolute!)
Twisting his body flap flap, Fou slammed his feelings against her.
(No matter what choice you make, I intend to accept it! But, but—I will absolutely not acknowledge a 'World without You'! Even if everyone is smiling, even if everyone is satisfied! I will absolutely not smile in such a world! I will be angry at 'You who left me behind' for the rest of my life! I will cry for the rest of my life!)
Fou rattled on.
I hate a world without you.
I want nothing to do with a world where you aren't there.
(A 'Flawless Happy End'... without you in it! I will absolutely, absolutely not accept that! I will absolutely, absolutely not accept your sacrifice, Ea... so, so...!)
...I need you. That is what he said.
(Absolutely, absolutely reach the end of the journey safely! With Gil, and with me... Got it, Ea! It's a promise! A promise between best friends, me and Ea! If you break it... I'll destroy the world that took you from me!)
With trembling eyes, kyau kyau, communicating with gestures and motions.
—Perhaps Fou can feel it.
That the journey ahead is no half-hearted thing.
That given her personality... she might choose self-sacrifice.
That she might use herself as the price for a 'Flawless Happy End'—
...I can say it.
Now I can say it. The answer, the reply that Fou is seeking.
"—Of course. I promise, Fou."
Softly, she whispered to Fou.
"Me, and Fou, and the King—the three of us will reach the future we desire. Let's definitely grasp a conclusion where no one is missing."
I cannot make a guarantee.
But, I can make a vow.
That I will not betray the best friend in this chest.
That I will not make this carefree, yet... anxious, and very kind best friend sad.
On this soul—absolutely.
"Someday, we'll go touring... someday, we'll even fly out of this planet! To worlds we haven't seen yet, definitely, all of us together!"
She hugged Fou tightly.
"The King, and me, and Fou—together!"
Absolutely—I will not let go of this little best friend—!
(—Yeah! I believe in you, Ea—!)
I got my answer—as if saying that, Fou raised his voice loudly—
"All riiight! Then let's eat our snacks right away! After that, let's wash each other in the bath, and sleep in the same bed, just the two of us!"
(Yeah! I will murder the dirt on your body!)
"After that, we'll talk with Nefer and Shiki-chan, talk about Gil and Pharaoh Ozymandias, and then—"
The conversation filled with hope bounced. Spinning the time that was natural, and irreplaceable.
"—Hmph. Making such a fuss. But I shall allow it. I will not call it whimsical. To gain a peerless friend and eulogize everything in this world. —It is an experience I am greatly familiar with, after all—"
The Supreme King continued to watch the bond between the Princess and the Beast, happily, amusedly—
Next time: The Sixth Elaboration
This time, with these hands—
"Mash, the Heroic Spirit within you, the name of the Hero who saved you and exists with you... under the name of Olga Marie Animusphere. I convey it to you now—"
"—That is the name of the Hero within me—"
Camelot, The Realm of the Round Table Purge
"Your journey! Truly exhilarating! To the point of making me think that perhaps you lot might derive a chance of victory against that Magic King!"
"Pharaoh Ozymandias, that is—!"
"I dare to ask! The remaining two Singularities! And beyond that! Do you have the spirit and conviction to tell this Pharaoh Ozymandias that your future and journey will continue!!"
"I can hear the sound of a bell. For a long time, somehow, right by my ear—"
[O Dragon Daughter. Before me, before my mausoleum... show me that resolve—]
"You are—The Lion King—!?"
"No. I am the King of Knights who protects Human Order and carves open the path. I am the one who admonishes the mad Round Table, corrects them, and returns them to the heavens."
"The day has finally come!! Round Table Purge Seven-Match Contest! Let's go, Mordred! We'll kill them all, resolve and everything!! Death to Sabers!!"
"Hell yeaaaah! Crushing the Round Table is my specialty!!"
"So, um... I also... as a reward... to Chaldea..."
"Delicious rice goes boom! Boom!"
"—To rot away into such a worthless existence thing—"
—My King...
"The idiot is you! You'll bite your tongue, do it seriously!"
"I CAN FLAAAHY!!"
"'Judgment,' is it? —Very well. I shall snap that repulsive lance of yours from the front—!!"
"'Rather than how you were born, it is how you live'—I will not forget these words for the rest of my life."
"Mash—"
"Let's go, Senpai. To the end of the journey we desire—!"
"The Holy Lance... Hahahaha! Repulsive to look at... Then I shall show you my jewel of a Garden that encroaches and drowns the pure—!!"
"I shall show you! The radiance and authority of the Oldest and Newest 'Ship' of humanity that travels the sea of stars, surpassing and kicking aside all! I will snap that toothpick pinning the planet in a single breath!!"
"Dendera Lightbulb, Activate!! Behold—the Love of Amun!!!"
『Hero Princess. Are you one who calls me? Are you one who rejects me? Let me hear it. Your answer.』
—My answer is decided—
Scheduled to be written soon.
This time, with these hands. I will kill My King—
"That is our homeland, which heals all wounds and all grudges—"
Please look forward to it.
"Manifest——!!!!!"
-------------------------------
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