Standing by the window and observing the scene below, Aoko glanced at Riddell. "This part of your plan too?"
"No way. Archer doesn't listen to my orders. If anything, every interaction with him is a negotiation." Riddell said. "The King of Heroes of Uruk isn't someone you can treat like a familiar. If you're too arrogant, he'll eliminate you on the spot."
"Tonight's situation is that I asked him to stand by outside. Unless Naoki leaves this place, he's not allowed to act. But if Naoki does leave, whatever he wants to do to Naoki, I won't interfere."
Even so, Riddell knew this was only because Gilgamesh respected her as his Master. In truth, even if she didn't comply, she couldn't do anything to him except use a Command Spell. But using a Command Spell would mean completely severing their relationship.
Like on the first night, Riddell had explained to him that using a Command Spell to protect herself was acceptable, but using it for trivial matters…
"So, you won't interfere with the fight below?"
"There's no need to interfere, and besides, it's an opportunity." Riddell smiled. "To shut up the elders in my family and make them accept Naoki, titles alone aren't enough—tangible proof is crucial. [Defeating the King of Heroes Gilgamesh head-on]—something no Magus could achieve—is enough to make them willingly stay silent."
(She's got plans like that too.)
Aoko smiled. "But if Archer loses, doesn't that mean you can't participate in the Holy Grail War anymore?"
"No problem. I don't have an absolute need for the Holy Grail. With Naoki's promise now, my wish is practically fulfilled. All that's left is to wait for the Holy Grail War to end and bring him back to the Archelot family."
At this point, Riddell gave Aoko an apologetic gesture. "But… Aoko, you know how nobles are obsessed with pride. Besides reaching the Root, honor is the most important thing. If possible, I'd like, openly, for Naoki's 'first position' to be me… is that okay?"
"You'd have to ask Merry about that. I'm not even the first. By the way, I haven't settled all your debts yet. I've already hit Naoki, so you're getting two punches too."
Seeing the two women start to bicker, Scathach, hiding in the shadows, couldn't help but sigh in resignation, then glanced at the battlefield below.
"He doesn't even consider the possibility of you losing, huh. They really trust you unconditionally, Fairy Magus."
"If you do, then let's see if you truly have the ability to kill me now."
If he did, then perhaps two Servants would be retreating tonight.
*WUZHHH!*
*BOOOM!*
As Scathach thought this, two lights suddenly shot into the sky.
The battlefield had shifted.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Vimana, the flying throne of the king recorded in Indian epics, was Gilgamesh's favorite airborne Noble Phantasm.
Now, he sat inside this ancient super fighter jet, streaking through the sky at a speed that completely defied the laws of physics.
And behind him—
"Its speed is truly incredible. I didn't feel it as much when I rode it myself."
Relying on the flames in his hands, Naoki, also flying through the air, chased Vimana while marveling. During his four years in another world, Angelica's Vimana was often used as transportation. For instance, if there were no suitable flight tickets, Naoki would simply ask Angelica to bring out Vimana.
Even if they had to travel to the other side of the world, Vimana could arrive in a single day—truly convenient.
But only now, chasing Vimana, did Naoki realize just how astonishingly fast it was. Despite flying at full speed, the distance between them kept widening.
(If this keeps up, I'll fall behind… Just kidding.)
Generally, failing to keep up would mean losing track of the enemy, putting him in an awkward situation where the enemy was hidden while he was exposed. But for Naoki, this was impossible. As a Starlight Sensory now, he was aware of everything happening around him.
Even if he couldn't match Vimana's speed, Gilgamesh's movements were still within his grasp. He held the advantage.
However, after passing through a cloud bank, the Vimana that should have been ahead suddenly vanished.
Lost track? But he could still sense it…
"Huh?"
The situation within his sensory range made Naoki pause involuntarily. Within the area he could sense, there was no trace of Vimana at all?
This wasn't because Vimana's speed was so great that it left his sensory range. Naoki could, at the very least, detect changes across the entire Fuyuki City area. Vimana wasn't fast enough to exit Fuyuki in two seconds.
Yet, Vimana's presence had indeed vanished, leaving no trace in any direction.
"A large-scale stealth Noble Phantasm… and at a high level too."
That was the only explanation he could think of.
And just as Naoki reached the correct conclusion—
*SWISH!* *SWISH!* *SWISH!*
Countless Noble Phantasms pierced through the clouds behind Naoki like a torrential rain, shooting toward his back at high speed!
*BOOOMMMMM!*
Without hesitation, they hit their target, and a massive firework exploded in the skies above Fuyuki City!
Emerging from behind Naoki in the air, Gilgamesh, seated in Vimana, stared at the fireworks, his brow furrowing slightly—
*WHOOSH!*
A figure appeared without warning beside him. Before Gilgamesh could react, Naoki's fiery fist slammed into his face!
*BANG!*
Gilgamesh, who had been seated on his throne a second ago, was hurled out like a meteor the next!
Golden wings unfurled from his boots, allowing Gilgamesh to quickly stabilize himself in the air. But as he looked up, a massive flaming star was already hurtling toward him!
*BOOOMMMM!*
The golden figure was instantly engulfed and swallowed by the flaming star, followed by an even more spectacular explosion of fireworks in Fuyuki's sky!