People who've known me since I was a kid, I was always told that I was obsessed with reading.
I read any and all types of books I could get my hands on. Yet I only finished less than half of all of them.
I blamed it on my ADHD or being busy with school later work but I always knew why I didn't finish all of them.
I hated the endings.
Whenever I got super invested and saw that a couple of pages were left I got scared and told myself to slow down to enjoy it, then that I should finish it when the mood was right. Inevitably resulting in tossing the book aside and never finishing it.
Staring at the 20 or so pages left of a book titled "Records of the forgotten Holy Grail War". My hands squeezed the edges of the book.
By all accounts it was mediocre at best and the premise wasn't even uncommon. With more and more holy grail wars popping up the mages were making a smear campaign by connecting the idea of holy grail war to cheesy stories on the web. It worked tremendously with every serious report of holy grail activity being called obsessed fans.
The only reason I even read this one is because it got weirdly popular in most stores I visited. About half way through when the insane amount of smut started is when I realized why it was so popular. Nonetheless against my better judgement I continued reading.
As I continued to read the number of pages remaining dwindled, right now only 10 pages remain.
"I already know how it ends, it's extremely obvious there really isn't any point in stopping." I tell myself my hands slightly crumbling each page I pass
6 pages left. A stupid harem ending with zero conflict is the note this will end at
5 pages left. Maybe a description of them living together
4 pages left. The stupid self insert main character will be named god emperor of the universe or smth stupid like that
3 pages left. He will tell his children his grand adventure and end ut with a basic moral lesson told as if its very very deep
2 pages left. I stare at the remaining two pages " what the hell" I muttered
1 page remaining. I was wrong, I was so very wrong. I remember the title of the last chapter " Ozymandias"
As I prepare to read the final page the urge to leave and let this world continue living overcomes
me and I place the book on a nightstand and walk outside of the room, to get to the basement its a fairly annoying march.
I pass the guest room, gaming room, a locked door which I tried my best to avoid looking at, go down the stairs a bit until I reach the basement door opening it I find a large magic circle in the center a couple of magic crystal surround it in the damp corner of the basement I see a man tied to a chair bleeding onto the ground. I ignore the magic circle for now and walk toward the man
"Now can you kindly tell me where the catalyst is"- I say standing before a man who was missing his arms and one of his legs with the stubs being burned shut.
His eyes immediately go to a wall in the corner of the basement, walking towards it I can see a small box shoved between the ceiling and wall. Taking the box into my hands i turned towards him.
"Thank you so much for cooperating, oh let me untie you real quick" - I see his tense body relax and a few moments later he is untied lying in the chair which I immediately kick over.
"I TOLD YOU EVERYTHING MAN PLS LET ME GO" he yells while using his only remaining arm to crawl away
" You think I don't know about those bodies upstairs, about the kids?"
" P-please Tian there's a rea-WAIT STOP"he starts wailing as I shoot him.
Silence fills the room as I tighten my grip on my gun trying to remember the kids he killed to calm myself.
I need to clean up before the summoning to make a good impression. Staring around at the blood soaked floor I sigh and start working
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In a cave there was a child kneeling before an ancient king.
A golden haired king was staring at the air while his eyes glowed, the girl didn't dare question what he was doing.
" I am seeing future, however it appears this stage is truly a mess that only I can fix"- said the king named Gilgamesh
"I apologize my lord but I don't understand" - the girl named Tine Chelc
" A child shouldn't have to worry about issues at such a scale"-Gilgamesh paused for a second- "But it appears you have no other choice, in simple terms every spirit in this stage will be twisted and strengthen"
The girl stayed silent clearly confused but too scared to ask
"Tine" -he suddenly said looking down at the kneeling girl - " I am no longer the same king I was when I was younger so you needn't be afraid to show your confusion. However, your doubts will be answered after meeting with my friend." Gilgamesh stood up and started walking outside with a confused Tine behind him
Staring down at the kneeling crowd he spared a glance before staring at the earth as if waiting for something. Before Tine could say anything, the earth cried
A roar sweet that could be described as a lullaby was heard by all.
" I have missed you friend" said Gilgamesh with a bitter sweet smile
As the cries stop he looks at Tiren and gives her an elixir and a wand.
" My lord what is this"- she looks at the items in her hands wondering if this is a test
" A king should provide for his retainers and a retainer should accept what the king gives them"- he says without even looking a her
"Thank you my lord" she says still kneeling
" Stand up already everyone that follows me must walk with confidence"- after a few seconds she stands up and they are towards the people kneeling. Unbeknownst Gilgames continued to see into the possible future to find the best possible solutions for humanity as a whole.
There was only one
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After taking an embarrassing amount of time cleaning the basement looked like an appropriate greeting place for a potential demigod, not really sure if there was such a thing but it was close.
Everything was ready except one
Opening the box I see a crystal monocle
Taking it into my hands I place it in the circle and prepare to join the war.