Grrrrmble...
The great cavern containing the Greater Grail collapsed. Pierced by tremendous force, the night sky with a full moon became visible through the hole in the mountain.
"You tried hard enough. It's just that we are too strong."
Unlimited Blade Works and Medusa's Bloodfort Andromeda. It was a good combo. Archer also projected Caliburn and did his best, but that was his limit.
Even using Nine Lives Blade Works, it was useless because we were excessively strong. The infinite sword reality itself was split apart by King Hassan's sword energy, which showed swordsmanship beyond that.
The power of the god of death that can even cut concepts is absurd, you know. Moreover, Pegasus was shattered by a single punch from Kukulkan, and the Jeweled Sword was smashed by a single thrust from Scáthach.
Shirou, having learned projection magecraft from Archer perhaps, properly accomplished it... but it was futile before Muramasa's Tsumukari. It was a Shirou at the level of the Fate route who could even project Caliburn, but he stood no chance against Muramasa.
"... Complete defeat."
"That's, Senior..."
Illya closed her eyes and bowed her head at the group's complete defeat. Sakura despaired, and soon Illya walked over to this side.
"That's enough... You want me, right? Take me, I'll give myself."
"... Illya, what is she saying now?"
"I wonder. The phrase 'that's taking wishful thinking too far' seems fitting, doesn't it?"
"... No?"
"Sorry to say, I'm not a lolicon."
"..........."
"I wish you were a lolicon..."
"What are you saying, Illya."
This Illya momentarily panicked and looked incredulous. Well, that's because I have no interest in the Grail, you see.
"I have no interest in the Grail. To begin with, I intend to destroy that thing. The pathetic deeds of the three families end here. Now, please."
Ishtar and Kama moved, and the two unleashed attacks at maximum output on Archer and Rider, forcing them to retreat. Thus, only Saber remained.
"You've essentially won, Saber."
"Even though I can't obtain the Grail anyway, does that have any meaning?"
"Not really... With this, everything is over, but how should I say it... Is there anything you want to do as a last thing in this world?"
Even so, I forced her to come along, and feeling it would be a bit regrettable to end it just like this, I asked Saber. She seemed to think of something, then...
"I'd just like to walk together for a bit. Just the two of us."
"Just the two of us?"
Though I feel some sharp gazes... I nod for now. I decide to have the kids send the collapsed Shirou, Tohsaka, Illya, and Sakura back home.
I temporarily leave the cave with Saber, descend the mountain, and walk along the night streets alone for a while.
"So, what's the matter?"
"... During this short time, I watched you from beside you."
A little over a day. Honestly, it's an extremely short time. Did she make some judgment about me during that time?
"Honestly, I still have no idea what you want to do. I don't understand. For what did you intrude, and for what did you fight..."
"I told you, didn't I? For amusement. To begin with, if I hadn't intervened, you all would have suffered greatly, and among you, someone would have suffered tremendous damage. Thanks to me, it ended at this level."
"Is that so... You seem to know a lot. Especially, those Servants following you... Honestly, they are absurd existences that surpass the Round Table. I wonder why they follow you."
"There's no secret, it's just... a lot happened~ Over about 8 years, you see."
"... 8 years, huh. A time that's long if you consider it long, short if you consider it short... I became king and ruled for 10 years. And, I failed as a king. Even the Round Table分裂 because of me, countless soldiers rose in rebellion."
"Even if nothing else, the main causes of the Round Table's collapse were Merlin's laziness and Lancelot, so don't worry about it. Ah, if recruiting Lancelot was a mistake, then it was a mistake."
"Ahem... Anyway, in that regard, I'm envious. Tristan and Galahad who left me, Lancelot and Mordred who betrayed me... I couldn't even properly understand my closest Round Table. But... with all of you, I felt a strong trust and belief that I never had. It was like, a single family."
"I should say you're half right... As you probably know, even if not intentional, my relationships with women are a bit messy..."
Saber chuckled lightly and smiled as if it was nothing.
"Even emperors are like that. Even if one who becomes a king does so, no one would say anything. Of course, if one becomes a tyrant or a foolish ruler by indulging in women, that's different, but if done well, there's no reason to be criticized. If anything, it would be jealousy."
"Hmm... So a king is a king... If there are two kings, it's Viking."
".... Pfft, pfft..."
She's laughing at this. So it wasn't for nothing that I made that reference in FGO. For reference, I'm still among those who don't understand why it's Viking.
"You're an interesting person."
"Honestly, I think I was pretty unfunny, you know."
"Is that so? ... That aspect is enviable. The part where you honestly reveal your emotions and heart, I envy that. For 35 years of life, for 20 years since pulling Caliburn, I hid my emotions and true feelings. I had to live solely as a king. The result was... ruin."
"I think that was more Britain's problem than your fault..."
"That might be. But, honestly, it was a life with many regrets."
"Especially the food culture?"
"... It would be a lie to say no."
Mashed potatoes always welcome you, Seibah. Honestly, if the kids from Britain make a mistake, I'm considering the torture of giving them only potatoes for three meals a day.
"That place called Chaldea, you said Morgan is there too... How is, my sister?"
"Good. Very good. She's doing well, likes me, and I like her too. Though it's a bit of a problem that she calls me husband."
"Husband... I see. So she is, doing well."
Saber doesn't hate Morgan. It's a love-hate relationship. As sisters, they acknowledged each other and had some affection, but as king and witch, they hated each other. Until the Vortigern subjugation, Morgan actively supported Saber, but after becoming king, she sought her life.
Even that Saber felt gratitude but also sent aversion toward Morgan. The reason she trusted many members of the Round Table who were Morgan's children was probably because she knew the sister from the past. It's just complicated British family matters.
"... By any chance, could I also go to that Chaldea?"
Saber asked while looking at me. I'd like to take her, but...
"Impossible. You're a living spirit, aren't you? Though it's a living body, only your soul is here. Of course it's impossible. And, you haven't returned the Holy Sword either."
"..... Yes, that must be so."
Though she looks regretful and disappointed, I can't take her. I was also in a good mood because she ate well, and I do like her... but here too, there is a Saber. Having two is a bit excessive.
After walking the night streets for a while, we headed back to the cave with the Greater Grail. After our last conversation, we returned to the Greater Grail in an awkward atmosphere without talking for a few minutes...
"You finish it last."
"Yes, thank you."
Illya used up her three Command Spells, and Saber used the Holy Sword. With an expression that somehow feels regretful.
The Sword of Promised Victory blew away the Greater Grail, and a golden pillar soared high into the sky. Saber smiled, turned into light, and disappeared.
"Phew... Then, shall we return?"
Using one Saint Quartz, I summon Morgan. Only about 30 minutes have passed for Morgan. Though Morgan was very flustered, calming her down... we, at last, return to Chaldea.
The story of the Holy Grail War, which was somewhat long, has finally come to an end.
"... We're back."
I opened my eyes on the bed, and the members who went together were in my room.
"I'm sorry, Master!"
The root cause who made us crash-land due to an explosion, Kebap, groveled and apologized...
"It's okay. It was fun in its own way."
I readily forgave her. Sakura looked around, perhaps curious about coming to Chaldea.
"Is this, Chaldea...?"
"Yes. Welcome to Chaldea, Sakura."
Now, it's time to return to our main job again.
A land where the wind blows. A woman looking outside where the wind blows from the castle terrace.
"Did something happen?"
"... I dreamed a nostalgic dream. A single day's routine. I dreamed of a time when everything seemed like an illusion, like a midsummer night's dream."
"Was that, enjoyable?"
"Yes... Though it's a story from the distant past, I still cannot forget that day. That's why, I'm waiting. For 1500 years, I wandered the world as a wraith, waiting for this time to come. Chaldea... I'm still waiting for the Star Gazers to come here."