"Those who hold the tickets, line up!"
"This is the summoning ritual. Sit equally and wait patiently."
Interlude: Summoning Arc
Summoning Arc: Religious Deliberation—Dance Doctrine Edition
"—Hear my voice!" The command tore through the air. "All staff, assemble!"
A clarion call shattered the tranquility of the Chaldean resort.
"Here it comes!"
"I've been waiting for this!"
"Gil… is he gonna be okay…?"
"That king's as unyielding as ever!"
In a way, a battle more critical than any Singularity was about to begin!
"You're early. Five minutes ahead this time—impressive," Gilgamesh remarked, arms crossed, standing with unshakable poise.
"You're okay!?"
"Thanks to the ingenuity and devotion of my subordinates. I brewed every elixir, herb, and offering they brought me and clawed my way back."
As usual, he'd let his consciousness slumber. Perhaps it was the recoil of touching the vessel's treasures too many times, but his exhausted soul had been barely present until moments ago.
"That Jeanne, slyly adding flavor to her tricks, huh? If it's edible, a king can't back down."
He'd writhed in agony for a while, but that was a secret. He'd kept his consciousness intact to share the suffering—no mistake about it.
"Enough of that. Today, we commence the ritual to summon my queen!"
Somehow, this king felt the real fight began the moment he arrived in Chaldea.
"I'd start now, but spinning the wheel as usual lacks flair, don't you think? Let's spice things up this time."
"Spice things up? Your mood swings are already peak entertainment…"
"Hah, don't remind me—it stings." Gilgamesh grinned. "I hear the fools who challenge the gacha cling to some sort of religion."
"Religion…?"
"Like Buddhism, you mean?"
"Exactly. Drowning men grasp at straws—pathetic coping mechanisms for mongrels who lack faith in themselves. But I won't mock their whimsy today."
Catalysts, timed summons, perhaps? Better than blind spins, at least.
"To judge without testing is beneath a ruler. So, for this summoning, we'll call forth ten heroes! And during it, we'll evaluate a few of these so-called religions!"
"Ten, huh? Not splitting them by class like last time?"
"Not today. If our current heroes fall short, I'll reconsider."
"I know one! Someone on Twitter kept spinning 'til they got it!"
"Utter heresy. Forget it. What's so foolish, you ask? It's painfully obvious, you dolt! Flaunting millions or tens of millions like it's pocket change? Pathetic! There's no romance in it, no sense of fate! Those base mongrels who think spending proves love, mocking those who can't afford it? Laughable! Money only sates vanity. Comparing yourself to others fuels nothing but petty pride! If you truly wish to impress me—buy the entire company! Then the gacha's free forever! Until you manage that, no matter how many millions you pour in, you're just a exploited slave! Etch it into your souls!"
Rising from his throne, the vessel of the king declared:
"Love isn't for comparing or wallowing in! It's to be embraced, to be proud of! To hold it close forever—that's the truest proof of love!"
Who'd have thought a gacha would teach the Heroic King's philosophy of love?
"So that's why you keep trying, Gil! Even when it fails!"
"Indeed! No matter how coldly I'm rejected, I allow it! I won't break or compromise! Thinking, 'If that fails, this'll do' is defeat for a king and a man! Enough preamble—let's begin!"
"Got it! Prepping now!"
"First, the ancient gods' so-called Dance Doctrine!"
Around the summoning circle stood everyone but Gilgamesh.
"Dance."
"Dance!? That's tough…"
"No need for skill. Just move. Don't forget to chant 'Saber.'"
"I-I'm not much of a dancer…"
"I can dance~!"
The Master broke into a razor-sharp breakdance routine. That kid's got talent.
"Not bad, Master! You've danced before?"
"A bit for 'dance covers.' Got invited to a stage once!"
"I can manage some ballroom dancing. Mash, I'll lead."
"U-uh, please do!"
"I'm in too! My kind's got one dance we're great at!"
"I know it—glowsticks, right?"
"Time to show off my honed otaku moves!"
"Let's start the summon!"
The summoning circle glowed, surrounded by a surreal mix of otaku dance, breakdancing, and ballroom waltzing.
"Let's hope there's some payoff."
"Woo! I'm hyped! Don't underestimate my million-view dance vids!"
"Like this, Mash. Loosen up a bit."
"S-sorry…"
"Woo! Magi☆Mari woo!"
"Fou! (snaps a pic)"
The summoning circle spun, light swelling before fading.
"How's that, Nitocris?"
What appeared was…
"Saber, Saber! Why am I a Saber!?"
A red-clad, robust Saber—Caesar—emerged.
"Not a bad start. A true Saber."
"What's this welcome? You foresaw my summoning?"
"No idea, fool. But well done arriving. Your strategies will aid Marie."
"Hm, good, good. If it's not the front lines, I'll manage. I'll step back now."
"The Servants are preparing a welcome. Show your face."
"Hm, where's my Master?"
"Yaaay!"
"That one."
"Got it."
"Next! Spin it! Dance!"
The summoning circle whirled again, the excitement surging.
"What's next? My heart's racing!"
"I'm dancing!"
The circle settled, revealing…
"Archer, David. I'm ready—really ready."
A green-haired, breezy young man appeared.
"Oh? Israel's king. Not bad at all."
"Hey, Heroic King! I'll be hanging around. —Abishag!"
David's eyes lit up at Olga Marie.
"Abishag! It's Abishag, isn't it? You've grown! It's me, David, the one you warmed! Too young to remember?"
"W-what!?"
"No flirting! King David, please leave immediately!"
"Tch, fine. But I'm lucky! Abishag's here! This'll be fun. Where's my Master?"
"That one."
"Yaaay!"
"Haha, those spats are dazzling. Nice to meet you!"
"Yaaay!"
"Last one! Spin it! Let's go!"
The circle spun, the Master twirling with it, dancing wildly.
"One Saber, huh? Not a total loss."
"As a religion, it's… passable?"
"Now, let's wrap this up."
The circle slowed, revealing…
"Ruler, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada. Look like someone else? Just a coincidence."
A tanned, serene boy appeared.
"A Faker wannabe, huh?"
"Just a coincidence."
"Who!?"
"A mysterious Ruler, A…"
Amakusa's gaze lingered on Olga Marie.
"…Never mind. Pleased to meet you."
"Not bad results. The Dance Doctrine… I won't suppress it."
Saber, Archer, Ruler…
Did the dancing even matter?
"The summoning ritual will occur thrice more."
"Sit and wait. I pray the evening bell doesn't mark your end."
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
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