There may have been a time when she wished to do it all over again.
But—the things she had done were not wrong. One girl remembered that at the edge of space-time, there was a miracle where she received an answer, a story that was truly written.
"—Had you been at that banquet, there would have been one more King falling by my hand."
"Fufu—I wouldn't have lost."
—Kings are really cool after all, aren't they, Fou?
(True. —Though in this world, there's also a king who fused with his armor out of fear of assassination, a virgin king who fell in love with a frog and woke up to sadism, and an 'ideal king' who developed an exposure habit until his internal organs were visible.)
—There sure are a lot of different kinds of kings...
The Hero King, the Knight King, the King of Conquerors, the Sun King, and King Leonidas. Ea felt truly relieved that they were all such cool kings. There were no kings here who had fallen into monstrosity.
"—Princess, why don't you try calling for a knight yourself?" The King of Knights spoke to her soul.
—Me? But, this is the Hero King's battle...
" I care not. If it is a result you have invited, I shall deem it good. —You, too, have the right to challenge this struggle. "
The King swirled his glass, encouraging Ea to summon.
(This is basically the final Artoria-Challenge! Take it easy, Ea!)
—U-Um, okay!
Pushed forward by the three of them, using her soul as the catalyst, she began the summon.
—The possibilities of the King of Knights, be here now! Please answer the Hero King's wish...!
The circle spun, light overflowing as it welcomed a hero.
"————"
Gilgamesh sat quietly, sipping his wine, waiting for the finale.
"Pattern, Saber! ...It would be nice if it were the King of Knights this time, right Gil?"
"Indeed. Though truth be told, I am not as obsessed as I once was. If she does not come, then so be it."
With a heart close to how he felt right after the Herb of Immortality was stolen, Gilgamesh looked up at the ceiling.
"There must be at least one treasure in this world that does not fall into my hands. —That is your value, and yours alone. —That stubbornness in not compromising your own worth... it was magnificent."
He raised his glass to the yearning existence that wasn't there... and drank it down.
"—Actually. This was quite enjoyable."
What appeared was—
"Nice to meet you! I am still but a half-fledged knight, so please call me Saber Lily! I look forward to being with you all for a long, long time!"
Clad in white armor, smiling like a white lily, was a young, youthful Artoria.
—Whoa...!
"—Hehe. I suppose I'm not very honest myself. I don't know if I'm just being stubborn... no, I suppose this is the natural result. —The name I had while I traveled the country was..."
Lily smiled like a flower, greeting them energetically.
"Hero King! And, my grown-up self! —I am still very much a novice as a King... but I will do my very best!"
"I look forward to working with you!" the radiant "Princess Knight" called out.
—King! What do you think of this white, straightforward Artoria-san from a Gil-perspective?!
" Hmmm. It feels like catching a glimpse of an egg... no, a fledgling. That Saber, she plays a spiteful hand. —But this is acceptable in its own way. If you wish, you may interact with her. "
—Yes! I want to hear what kind of dreams the Knight King had, what kind of journey she walked! The stories from before she became King!
"—It's a bit embarrassing... but if the Princess wishes it. ...I mostly remember just being a constant nuisance to Kay and Merlin..."
The King of Knights looked away bashfully, her face flushing red with embarrassment.
" Right, then! We shall hear every single detail! Naturally, I shall accompany you! I must hear these precious experiences of the Knight King! "
(I'm in! Ea gets a new friend—that's what makes me happiest!)
"…Honestly. —Please, go easy on me."
A new Princess, a new Artoria.
...The battle for Artoria ended with the Hero King failing his original goal due to her refusal, and the Knight King sending her own "embarrassing past" to be exposed to the Hero King.
...As a mutual draw, the matter reached a temporary conclusion—
"That aside, next we shall perform a completely random summoning."
—Gil, please keep it to two or three people, considering the burden on the King of Construction.
" I am weak to that argument. —Very well. Now, I wonder who will come next? "
With a gentle laugh, the King, the Princess, the Beast, and the Knight King returned to their rooms to rest—
[Invalid Summons: The Blooper Reel]
"I am the Lancer of Symphogear! Born September 13th, Type O! My height was 157cm at the last check! My weight is a secret! I love rice and more rice! These hands I hold are my Armed Gear—wait, no, my Noble Phantasm! My motto is: fastest, shortest, straightest, in a single line! I'll convey the feelings in my heart! That's me!"
"She sounds exactly like Ritsuka-kun!?"
"I am Ritsuka Fujimaru! Master Number 48! Height 158cm, weight is a secret! My measurements are 84-56-82! I like communication and subculture in general! I hate prejudice! The one and only Master of Chaldea! A young maiden fighting to save the world! Currently looking for a boyfriend! My motto is: If there's a will, I'll even become friends with a God!"
"Amazing! That Symphogear Lancer doesn't lose to Ritsuka-kun at all in terms of coolness!"
"You shouldn't be competing in coolness, Ritsuka..."
"Wait... do you like communication more than violence?"
"And do you believe that people can always understand each other?"
"Yup!" "Of course!"
"W-Which one is which!? Their voices and mindsets are so similar it's scary!"
『 Firm Handshake 』
"They reached a reconciliation!?"
『 After enjoying Paradise, Ritsuka convinced her that "you shouldn't keep your important person waiting," and she de-summoned. She taught Ritsuka vocal exercises and Kung Fu before leaving. 』
"Oi, oi, oi! You've got some nerve waking a man up and dragging him here! I'll teach you exactly who I am, so open those big ears and listen well! The man whose name echoes through Giha Village, the leader of Team Gurren! With a man's soul burning on his back... the indomitable, G (high note), DEMON LEADER~~! GURREN SABER! That's me!!"
"Woooooah!! It's Aniki! Aniki from a completely different vector!!"
"You bet! Listen up, you lot! Keep moving straight forward! Don't let 'ifs,' 'buts,' or 'maybes' lead you astray! That one choice you make! That is your one and only truth! —Catch ya later!!"
『 Couldn't stay in one place, so he de-summoned. Left behind a fiery speech of encouragement. 』
"A fool who can only live in a turbulent era. —A man as straightforwardly stupid as him is rare even in Uruk."
"Aniki—thank you—"
"Ride on! I'm... the leader of Tekkadan... Orga Itsuka! This is nothing!"
"Why are you already on the verge of death immediately after being summoned!?"
"Protecting Chaldea is my job!"
"Leader!? What are you doing, Leader!?"
"Marie!?"
"Enough, let's go! Everyone is waiting... and... Mika... I finally get it..."
(We don't need a place to arrive at. We just need to keep moving forward. As long as we don't stop, the path continues!)
"Where are you going!? We have to treat you!"
...If you apologize, I won't forgive you.
"(Yeah, I know...) Because I'm not stopping! As long as you guys don't stop, I'll be right there ahead of you!"
"What's all the noise?"
—Wait, are you okay!? Get in the capsule!
"That's why..."
"Don't talk! We're treating you! —Ritsuka!"
"Throw him in here!"
"Ritsuka!"
"Heeeave-ho!!"
"Don't sto—UWAAGH—!?"
『 The "Flower of Hope" was about to bloom, but he was slammed into a capsule and forcibly de-summoned. 』
"We made it in time... thank goodness. That's why..."
"Director...!?"
"Everyone, it's okay to rest now—"
"""DIRECTOOOOR~~~~!!!!"""
『 The Director saw the Flower of Hope bloom and fainted. 』
-------------------------------
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