"Go."
"…You sure?"
"The oracle has spoken. Join the battle to save humanity."
"Me too, me too! I can go, right, Gramps!?"
"Pass through."
"The final assassin will come later. Now—go."
Summoning Arc: Religious Truth—Great Success Edition
"Okay, Alter! Materials and Embers! Time to strengthen your Spirit Origin!"
In the My Room, Master Rikka poured her energy into powering up Jeanne Alter.
"…You sure about this?" Jeanne Alter spoke up, her usual bravado replaced by a softer, unguarded tone.
"Hm? What's up?"
"You know… there's no one else? Like, other Servants?"
"Nope, just you."
"No one else to strengthen? Like Goldie or Mash?"
"Of course I'll get to them, but you're first, Alter. Gotta turn you from half-baked to full-fledged, pronto!"
"…Why me? Why go this far for me?"
"Huh? Because you're not at your true strength yet, Alter. I want to see it! The strength you showed back then—it'd shut up anyone who dares call you half-baked!"
"You… believe in me? Even with Jeanne around, you pick me?"
"Yup. I believe in you. The Alter who doesn't make excuses for her weaknesses and gives it her all—I believe in her."
"—"
"Someday, you'll be the coolest witch ever! A full-fledged Servant we can brag about! 'How's that?! I'm the strongest witch, and no one can say otherwise!'"
"Master…"
"So, stick with me, okay? Jeanne Alter!"
"…Master."
"Hm?"
"I-I mean… back then, Goldie interrupted, so I couldn't say it, but…"
"Yeah?"
"You… calling me here… I-I'm… th-thank… th-th-thank…"
"Oh!"
"!?"
"Great Success! We did it, Alter! A Great Success!"
"…Y-Yeah. Nice job."
"Hold on, I'll be right back!"
Rikka dashed off, leaving Jeanne Alter staring after her.
"…Couldn't say it again…" she murmured, gazing into the void.
"…Thank you, Master. I'll do this."
She tugged off her fur cloak with resolve.
"I'll keep pushing. For you—the one person in the world who wanted me."
Quietly, she slipped on an apron.
"So don't you dare lose, Master."
"A Great Success, huh? Good. Time for the gacha." Gilgamesh's voice boomed in the simulation room. "Time's up, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada."
At his feet lay Amakusa, battered and gasping, thoroughly crushed by the golden king.
"Has my radiance sunk into your bones? Your wish—humanity's salvation, was it? To challenge me for my Holy Grail the moment you're summoned? Quite the audacious man."
"…I realized subterfuge was pointless against you. So I staked everything on this fight…"
"Oh? Taming rebels is my duty. I see through your schemes. Face me head-on, then."
Golden ripples spilled forth, dropping countless Holy Grails onto the ground.
"Your 'desired treasure' lies here, in droves. Defeat me, and your wish is granted instantly."
"You're a cruel one. As if that were easy."
"I show no mercy to dogs that bite the hand that feeds. Only the whip and the treat will discipline you. But I'll grant you the freedom to rebel. If I deem you worthy, I might toss you one or two of these trinkets."
"…"
"Harm Olga Marie or Chaldea's staff, and I won't forgive you. They're my treasures. You won't sully them."
Amakusa himself was stunned. To be summoned and immediately demand, "I'd like your Holy Grails"? Bold.
"Understood. Defeat you, and I claim everything. Fail, and I get nothing. So be it—my dream hinges on challenging you."
Amakusa rose, his eyes clear and resolute.
"I'll keep coming at you, staking my dream. I'm stubborn, you know—very stubborn."
"Fine. I allow it. Caesar and David excelled in governance, didn't they?"
"…?"
"Dogs run free and waste effort. I've thought of roles for you lot."
Gilgamesh stored his treasures and strode out of the simulation room.
"Don't forget, Amakusa. Your dream—humanity's salvation—lies in my hands."
Golden particles lingered as he departed, leaving Amakusa behind.
With a heavy sigh, he slumped.
"…Truly, my dream's a distant one. Of all people, the Heroic King holds the Grail…"
"Great work, Amakusa-san! Want some mapo tofu?"
"Huh—?!"
In the control room, everyone gathered.
"How's Alter doing?"
"Strengthened her! Great Success!"
"Good! Let's test the truth of this Great Success Doctrine!"
"Is our luck holding? No, is there a way to prove it…?"
"No matter. Truth is secondary to romance and momentum. Success brings laughter; failure, more laughter! Let's begin!"
The summoning circle glowed, spinning to life.
"Who's coming~?"
"Expect half, hope for more. Now—"
What appeared was—
"Servant, Lancer! You my manager? Raise me right, 'kay?"
—A baradoru. An idol.
"Eli-Eli!!"
"Yoo-hoo, gorgeous! Your star idol's arrived! Cry with joy!"
"Heresy! Suppress it!!"
"Why—?!"
"To fish out a Venusian fairy… The Throne of Heroes is messing with us."
"Idol! I'm an idol!"
"Nero's here too!"
"DigiMa!?"
"Golden P says you're a no-go—Next!"
The circle spun again, gleaming to summon another hero.
"Mistakes are irrelevant. I'm pulling anew, got it?"
"Look forward, got it!"
"Who'll grace my paradise next?"
What appeared was—
"Servant, Zhuge Liang. …Heroic King, it's obvious I'm not him."
A tall, long-haired man.
"As expected, loyal vassal."
"Stop calling me that. It's embarrassing."
A man who fought and fell in Rome, now visiting Chaldea.
"I-Intelli-yakuza… Intelli-yakuza…?"
"…You, we've met somewhere…"
"No, I'm Zhuge Liang. Definitely not some Clock Tower professor. Nope."
"What's your name again?"
"Heroic King! Enough with the games!"
"Hahaha! You'll make a fine teacher for the Master and Olga Marie. Now—"
And then—
"Spin it. I've got a read on the next hero."
The summoning circle whirred, its light settling.
"—!!"
What appeared was—
"Well done pulling me in!!"
A towering figure, radiating dominance.
Thunder roared as the Conqueror King emerged—
"Conqueror King Iskandar! I'll carve your path forward!!"
"…"
"Hey, Heroic King! I've joined your so-called paradise! You've got wine and every pleasure lined up, right?!"
"Of course. But you'll seize something on your kingly path."
"Hm? Ho! Ordering me to conquer? Can't ignore a request from the Heroic King! I'd love this paradise too, but…"
"The future stolen by those mongrels."
"Oh, that? Worthyទ
System: conquering with my kingly might!"
"No doubt. Work hard, you and that guy over there."
"Never thought I'd see you again in a burned-out Humanity…"
"Huh?"
"Waver Velvet, the Conqueror King Iskandar."
"Oh, nice wrinkles you've got there! Haha!"
"Ouch—!!"
"So big…!"
"You're the Master, huh? Alright! Show me this Chaldea paradise! I'm gonna savor every bit of what the Heroic King's hyping up!!"
The young man met his fate once more.
"Alright!! Let's bond over some games first!!"
"Put on some greaves first, Conqueror King—!"
"Oh, those? Are they a must?"
"Absolutely essential—!!"
--+--
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.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
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