The Tower at the Ends of the World, which had only just completely repaired itself, began to slowly fracture and crumble once more. Massive chunks of the floating architecture broke off and plummeted toward the earth below.
Hearing the Lion King's words, Takumi felt as if he had just been granted amnesty. He was about to break into a sprint, but he couldn't help but stop himself.
Looking at the peerlessly beautiful Goddess who stood exactly where she was, watching him with a gentle gaze, Takumi opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
He wanted to ask, "Will we ever have the chance to meet again?" But the very moment the words reached the tip of his tongue, his "Heart" already gave him the answer.
Instantly understanding everything, Takumi flashed a bright, radiant smile:
"...Goodbye."
With those words, Takumi activated his ultra-high-speed state, shooting out of the crumbling Tower at the Ends of the World and bolting toward the battered Pyramid temple still floating in the sky.
He had to go retrieve the Holy Grail of the Sixth Singularity.
"Goodbye... my Knight..."
Seeing the brilliant smile that bloomed on Takumi's face after that brief moment of hesitation, the Lion King suddenly felt a strong reluctance to let him go so easily.
But Takumi vanished in the blink of an eye. The Lion King could only suppress that sudden impulse with a sigh of regret, silently thinking to herself:
Next time we meet under the right circumstances, I should definitely take off this armor beforehand...
She had to admit, wearing full combat armor genuinely ruined the tactile experience.
***
In reality, Takumi could fly.
Combining the special effects of [Tiger, Burning Bright] with the auxiliary support of his Runes, Takumi could literally sprint across thin air without his speed dropping in the slightest.
—At most, it just consumed a little more magical energy than running on solid ground.
Along the way, Takumi deactivated the complete combustion state of the [Heart of Fire]. His hair reverted to its normal form, and the transparent, warm flames dancing across his body extinguished, leaving only his permanent, glass-like fiery pupils.
The power of the Holy Lance had blown a massive "skylight" through the roof of the Pyramid Great Temple. Flying up to it, Takumi only needed to cast a single glance to spot Ozymandias and Nitocris, who were currently observing the Tower at the Ends of the World through their magi-tech lenses.
Crap. Don't tell me they saw that...
Feeling a sudden wave of extreme social death approaching, Takumi bit the bullet and landed right in front of the two Pharaohs.
"Waaah!"
Nitocris was severely spooked by Takumi's sudden materialization. Gripping her staff in a panic, she almost reflexively blasted two spells right at his face.
While the magi-tech lens had been looking at Takumi, it could only track him when he wasn't moving at hyper-speed. With Takumi sprinting up there at absolute maximum velocity, their lenses hadn't even registered his movement yet.
Realizing he had accidentally terrified someone yet again, Takumi stood awkwardly on the spot. Fortunately, the ever-composed Ozymandias, who had clearly anticipated this, was the first to act. He casually tossed a glittering golden object down toward him.
"Take it. We have witnessed your perfect 'Answer' with our own eyes. This is the promised reward."
Propping his cheek up with one hand, Ozymandias spoke, a distinct trace of amusement swimming in his eyes.
"Thank you!"
Takumi caught the Holy Grail, thanking him with genuine pleasant surprise.
Without wasting any time, he manipulated the "watch" on his wrist to initiate the Grail's retrieval process.
It took roughly ten seconds to complete the retrieval and transmit the return signal back to Chaldea. When Takumi finally looked up, he realized the atmosphere had grown inexplicably weird.
Specifically, the slightly teasing, deeply amused expressions plastered on both Ozymandias and Nitocris's faces were making Takumi feel incredibly restless.
"Um, what's with you guys..."
Just as Takumi carefully tried to ask what was going on, Ozymandias and Nitocris wordlessly raised their hands in perfect unison, tapping the corners of their own mouths with knowing smirks.
Understanding hitting him like a freight train, Takumi froze completely solid. In an absolute panic, he drew the [Sword of the Heart] and peered into its mirror-like blade to look at his face.
And there it was. Printed clearly on the corner of his mouth was a faint, rosy-red lipstick mark.
Gah! The Lion King actually wears something like lipstick?!
Completely unprepared for this level of exposure, Takumi's face flushed a violent, steaming red. He frantically scrubbed the lipstick mark off his mouth.
"Hahahahaha!"
Seeing this, Ozymandias finally burst into roaring laughter, and even Nitocris hid behind her staff, covering her mouth as she giggled uncontrollably.
After laughing for a good while, Ozymandias slowly reined it in, discreetly using his hand to stabilize his head, which had nearly rolled off his neck from laughing too hard.
"Earning the favor of a Goddess is no simple feat. You had best tread carefully, boy. Being targeted by divine affection is a remarkably serious matter."
Having clearly deduced what happened, Ozymandias offered a teasing piece of advice.
"I... I know that already..."
Takumi turned his head away, fidgeting with his hands and muttering under his breath.
Speaking of which, he probably only had himself to blame. He already really liked the Lion King's character, and seeing her looking that unimaginably beautiful in person... his feelings of "affection" had literally been transmitted straight into her heart. And then that happened...
If he hadn't let his heart flutter, that situation probably never would have occurred.
Right at that moment.
A voice filled with a mix of sheer joy and deep grievance suddenly echoed from the shattered entrance of the Great Temple.
"Wukong~!"
Wukong? Sun Wukong? Where the hell is there a monkey here?
Hearing the voice, Takumi instinctively looked around, trying to spot the monkey.
"Waaaah—"
???
Before Takumi could even find the source, a scantily clad figure with a peerlessly beautiful, tear-streaked face violently lunged right at him.
Takumi instinctively sidestepped out of the way.
"Ouch!"
The person who launched the surprise attack completely completely missed and face-planted onto the floor.
"Wukong~! Why did you dodge?! That really hurt, you know~!"
The Servant named Sanzang rubbed her chest with teary eyes, puffing her cheeks out in anger.
"You're my disciple, you know! Even if we haven't seen each other in a long time, you're supposed to protect your Master and listen to her!"
"Wait, wait, wait! Setting aside whether or not I'm Sun Wukong for a second—what kind of Buddhist monk dresses like that?! Even if the Tang Dynasty was open-minded, it definitely wasn't this open-minded!"
Seeing those massive 'assets' continuously deforming as she rubbed them, Takumi hurriedly averted his eyes, waving his hands frantically in a complete fluster.
What kind of monk leaves their arms, entire thighs, and the vast majority of their chest completely exposed?! This is totally a demonic monk!
"Ehehe, it can't be helped! Proper monk robes are just way too hot! Dressing like this makes traveling so much cooler!"
Sanzang scratched her head, stating her completely shameless logic with absolute, unyielding confidence.
"No, no, no, even if you say that, do you dress like this in the winter too?!"
"What are you talking about? Of course I leave minor problems like that to Wukong!"
Sanzang shot Takumi a weird look, speaking as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"...You weren't looking for a disciple, you were clearly looking for a babysitter."
Takumi facepalmed, utterly speechless.
"Ugh—! How can you speak ill of your own Master in front of other people?! You unfilial disciple! I've been taking the task of spreading the Buddha's teachings very seriously!"
Sanzang puffed her cheeks. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She actually stormed over and started throwing a flurry of chaotic, rapid-fire punches against Takumi's chest.
"Ahaha... but no matter what you say, I'm really not Sun Wukong..."
Enduring Sanzang's light drumming on his chest, Takumi sighed helplessly.
Sure, he loved the character of Sun Wukong too, but that didn't mean he enjoyed roleplaying as him.
"Liar! The scent on your body is exactly like Wukong's—eh? Wait, it actually is a little bit different..."
Just as Sanzang was about to list off her disciple's defining traits, she suddenly realized something was wrong.
Refusing to believe it, she grabbed Takumi by the collar and, completely ignoring his protests, started aggressively sniffing him.
"Waaah! Waaah! It really is different... Did I actually get the wrong person?! Ugh..."
Finally confirming that this was not her monkey, Sanzang's pupils violently quaked. Overwhelmed by a potent cocktail of embarrassment and crushing disappointment, she squatted on the ground holding her head, continuously letting out tragic whimpers.
"That's exactly why I told you: you're not a dog! Smelling 'Wukong's scent' from miles away? Look what happened. You grabbed the wrong guy."
A heavily muscled man carrying a massive sack of rice on his shoulder jogged up, panting heavily, and sighed in exasperation.
God only knows how he managed to run all the way up into a flying Pyramid.
Upon the throne.
"Good grief... Has Our Great Temple truly been damaged to the point where anyone can simply wander in and out as they please...?"
Ozymandias stared with dead eyes at the Servants who were continuously popping up in front of him like this was a casual house party.
Eh? The Pharaoh is saying that... does that mean he wants me to kick them out? But that great monk and Takumi are both esteemed guests of the Pharaoh! So should I only kick out the really muscular guy? But wouldn't that make it look like I'm targeting him specifically...?
Nitocris blinked, her mind twisting into knots over the diplomacy of the situation.
Whatever the two Pharaohs were thinking, Sanzang had no idea. All she knew was that her newly recruited disciple was slandering her again!
"Touta! As my disciple, you're being incredibly rude! You need to greet everyone properly! Besides, mistaking someone's identity is completely normal, right? After all, I'm only mortal flesh and blood! Back when I was traveling, I mistook people a bunch of times!"
Sanzang declared with complete, solemn seriousness.
She actually said that out loud with absolute confidence... ×4.
Everyone stared at her in deafening silence.
"Yes, yes. Servant Archer, True Name: Tawara Touta. A pleasure to meet you all. Oh, and this is the monk Sanzang. I assume I don't need to introduce her?"
Tawara Touta helplessly introduced himself, casually tossing in an introduction for Sanzang as well.
Wait, did I introduce myself earlier? Sanzang fell into deep thought.
"Also, I am not her disciple. I'm just a guy who bumped into her and is currently taking care of her."
Remembering a crucial detail, Tawara Touta immediately clarified.
"What are you talking about?! You are absolutely my disciple! Have you already forgotten the journey we shared all this way?!"
Snapping out of her thoughts, Sanzang asked indignantly.
"If by 'journey' you mean the part where you constantly caused endless trouble for me... then yes, I've completely forgotten it."
Tawara Touta ruthlessly shrugged his shoulders.
"Ugh! Now I'm mad! I'm going to go find a disciple who is way better and much more obedient than Touta!"
Sanzang turned her head away in a huff, then immediately looked at Takumi with sparkling, expectant eyes.
"And you, you are...?"
Sanzang wanted to call his name but suddenly realized she didn't actually know it.
"Takumi."
Takumi helplessly offered his name.
"Takumi! Do you want to be my disciple?! One look at you and I just know you'd get along famously with my Wukong!"
Sanzang batted her eyelashes at him.
"Uhh..."
Takumi scratched his head.
Could he admit that compared to this demonic monk, he actually preferred hanging out with the monkey?
"Haaah?! You actually prefer hanging out with Wukong?!"
Sanzang's eyes widened in sheer disbelief.
Takumi simply offered an honest, sheepish smile.
"Anyway, I should probably..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Takumi's silhouette completely vanished into thin air.
The timer was up. He had Rayshifted back to Chaldea.
"Eh? Eh? EHHHH—?!"
"Where's my disciple?! Disciple!!"
Sanzang patted the empty air where Takumi had just been standing in utter disbelief. Realizing he was completely gone, she immediately started screaming in panic.
"Wait... my body is suddenly fading away too!"
Mid-panic, Sanzang noticed her own hands becoming transparent, which nearly gave her a heart attack.
"The Singularity is being corrected. You simply arrived too late."
Watching the panicked Sanzang who had entirely missed the final battle, Ozymandias—whose body was also turning transparent—chuckled softly.
"But I rushed over here at absolute top speed the moment I noticed what was happening!"
Hearing this, Ozymandias's laughter grew even more unrestrained.
What a joke. You were running on two mortal legs. Did you really think you could outrun Our flying tomb?
***
Chaldea.
Within the Rayshift Coffin Room.
"Well, that was a rather abrupt return..."
His hand still hovering mid-air from where he had been talking to Sanzang, Takumi smoothly transitioned it into scratching the back of his head, sighing with a mix of relief and nostalgia.
Stepping out of the Coffin, he instinctively started walking toward his usual post-mission routine.
It wasn't until he had literally stepped through the doors of the Medical Bay that it finally clicked.
"Wait a minute... I don't think I actually need to do these checkups anymore, do I?"
With the [Heart of Fire] fully awakened, Takumi understood his own physical condition far better than those clunky medical scanners ever could.
Under the passive protection and mending of his Heart of Fire, aside from being generally mentally exhausted, his body was currently in the absolute peak of health!
Not to mention, over the course of the last two Singularities, he had barely taken any lasting damage whatsoever.
"Okay! Straight to the next step!"
With his face restored to its original appearance—and arguably looking even better—Takumi was noticeably more cheerful and radiant than before.
Walking with a slightly arrogant, overly-confident strut, Takumi marched back toward the Central Command Room. However, the moment he stepped through the doors of the Control Room, his demeanor instantly shifted back to normal.
His gaze locked intensely onto a specific, seemingly empty spot in the grand hall.
In truth, ever since the Heart of Fire awakened, Takumi's perception of profound, conceptual existences had skyrocketed. Over the course of his last two "Rayshifts," he had already noticed the distinct abnormalities surrounding his own "transfers."
Now, with his full awakening, the answer seemed to be standing right in front of his eyes.
Takumi smiled softly and withdrew his gaze.
There was no need to forcefully drag them out into the light. All he needed to know was that there had always been "someone" accompanying him on this solitary journey.
"Time to write in the diary!"
He no longer wore the heavy, burdened frown he used to. Because his absolute, undeniable victory lay waiting in the very near future.
"The Sixth Singularity: The Sacred Round Table Realm."
"Landed and immediately had to run for my life. Ran into Hundred Personas Hassan and a kidnapped Nitocris... My 'Resolve'... ugh, let's not talk about that part, haha..."
"I thought my progression speed was fast enough, but I still got completely played. I was running on the ground while the Holy Judgment was flying through the sky. I didn't even get to meet the Great Hero..."
"Ran into King Hassan on the road. Taking an instant-death sword strike from the Grand Assassin was absolutely agonizing, but the power of [Death Perception] is seriously too good..."
"Defeated Tristan, Mordred, and Lancelot back-to-back... Hiss! Are my stats getting a little too busted?"
"The Lion King... Dealing with her fully divine state was definitely tricky... Wait a minute. Were the Servants with major backgrounds secretly adjusting their difficulty to force me into awakening the [Heart of Fire]?"
"Like Romulus and Saint George? Maybe Heracles was doing it a bit too..."
"Anyway, the Lion King after regaining her humanity definitely had a bit of that intention mixed in. Also, she is incredibly gorgeous! Her figure is absolutely amazing too!"
"—I want a kiss..."
The moment the final stroke of the pen hit the paper, Takumi decisively slammed the diary shut, too embarrassed to even look at what he had just written.
Then, he abruptly shot up from his chair.
"Diary time is over! Now it's time to get back to work!"
Takumi hyped himself up, then turned his gaze toward the sprawling array of computer consoles in the pit below—a system originally designed to be operated by an absolute minimum of fifteen to twenty people.
The next prep phase was going to be a massive "campaign" in its own right!