—I could never mimic the Hero King's laugh, after all! If I try, it just comes out as a robotic 'Fuhahaha,' but the Hero King's is... 'FUHAHAHAHAHAHA!!' The pressure and the sheer joy are on a different level. Just hearing it makes victory and safety feel guaranteed. Let's call it the 'Gilga-Guffaw.' It's so magnificent it makes everyone else want to laugh along with him.
(Ea.)
Fou suddenly pulled out a page from a mysterious book and handed it to her.
—?
She gave it a little rip... Rrrrip.
" FUHAHAHAHAHAHA!! How can I stay silent at this?! A masterpiece!! Ea, you realize that was a 'Grimoire of Elegance,' don't you? "
—EEEEK!!?
" It matters not! Pay it no mind! It's a foolish book only good for toilet paper anyway! But you—where did you even get that? "
(Gilgamesh.)
Fou used his most handsome voice as the two of them tore pages together.
" Hahahaha!! Fuhahahahahaha! Hahahaha!! Ah—hah... (gasping for air) "
(Gilgamesh. [Handing him a memo pad with 'Beautiful Portraits of Merlin' on it])
" Oh ho— (Rip!) FUHAHAHAHAHAHA! Hahahaha! Wahahahaha!! "
(Pughu, fufu. Kyahaha!)
The two of them rolled around, laughing hysterically as they shredded the paper. They had found their "sweet spot."
—Is this also what they call 'Pleasure'...?
Ea began to carefully pick up the torn scraps of paper. Elegant Merlin-san... I am so sorry...
"Nero. Come."
"Alright! I shall be the guide!"
With that, Nero and Romulus peacefully left the room.
"Your shoulders have been shaking for a while now... are you okay?"
The Hero King waved off Roman's concern.
"...Yeah! I'm feeling a bit out of sorts, so let's call it a day! Everyone, to Sweets Jeanne! It's my treat!"
"Seriously!? Yes! Mash is still in her capsule, so we should buy her something!"
"Right. —I wonder if Mash would like a fruit tart..."
Chatting about their own cravings, the group left the room, their hearts dancing at the prospect of dessert.
"Haaa—I haven't laughed that hard in ages. Well, I feel like I found rest in a rather pointless way, but I suppose we'll stop here for today. I'd rather not have Siduri glaring at me."
Gilgamesh stood from his throne, tossing his chalice and catching it with style—one of his "777 Hidden Skills of the Hero King."
(Any excuses for using Ishtar as a curse-deflector earlier?)
" —Don't tell Siduri. "
(You want me to shut up for free? The Golden King is a cheapskate, isn't he? I wonder what Siduri-san would think if she knew her advice was being trampled on?)
Gilgamesh gritted his teeth as Fou smirked and shook him down.
" Confound you, Beast! Don't get cocky! Siduri is the main program for Marduk; without her, the Great God-Machine won't even function! If she goes on strike and Marduk doesn't boot up, I won't be able to reach the conclusion where the people of Uruk are safe! The 'Deification' ritual isn't even finished yet, so don't rush me! —Fine! I'll settle for candy and butter cake! "
(Good. One for Ea, and one for me.)
" Exploiting my weakness—! Even if you've turned into 'Love for Humanity,' your attitude is as detestable as ever! "
Of course it is, Fou snorted.
(I'm going to be serious next time. I'll work hard enough to make you invest everything, even my full power that can fill all of Mesopotamia. So invest, invest!)
" —Oh? "
—Fou, is something like that actually possible...!?
(Fufu. Just you wait.)
Fou jumped into her arms, nuzzling against her.
If Fou won't talk, then I just have to believe, she thought, hugging him back gently.
"Well then—"
Just as the King was about to leave...
"—An escort or a sub-pilot is indispensable for a weapon. I believe you understand that as well, don't you?"
The moment that voice spoke, the King spun around toward the summoning circle.
It was glowing. It was spinning. A summon had begun on its own.
"—Uruk is vast. If you wish to lose no one, then the weaponry should be just a little 'excessive.' If we are to borrow the power of the primordial Hero-God Marduk—who possesses four eyes, four ears, and the strength of ten gods twice over—then my existence would be nothing more than a 'sub,' a mere support."
An elegant, calm voice echoed through the room.
—You... are...
『—Yeah. I couldn't hold back anymore, so I came. I hope you'll forgive me. Because—I hate it. I hate the thought of your heart becoming clouded. If you were lost, he would only sink deeper into the depths again.』
Ea knew that voice. It was the gentle, soothing voice that had watched over her and resonated with her since the First Order...
『You have consistently answered my selfish requests, time and time after. —To me, you are already an irreplaceable existence. Therefore, I shall become the weapon that defends both you and him.』
The light subsided.
"—Hey. It's been a while. Shall I introduce myself again?"
An elegant expression, beautiful green hair, and golden eyes—
"————Hmph. To think the bearer of the World Grail would appear in such an unexpected place...!!"
Standing there was the Hero King's one and only friend—
"Good morning. Good afternoon, good evening. Good night... wait, no, wake up. I'm everywhere... no, sorry, I just really like that intro. Ahem. —I am Enkidu. I booted up just in time to match your pleasant laughter. Ea, Fou-kun... and Gil. It's good to be here. Oh, and leave the cleaning of any rust or dirt to me."
The strongest weapon of the Age of Gods, Enkidu, smiled mischievously as he reactivated... right here.
Epilogue & Bloopers
The Mother Learns
『——…』
"Mother...?"
"—I cannot spend all my time grieving."
"?"
"I must do what I can..."
[Book: My First A-I-U-E-O]
"Mother!?"
"First, communication... A... A-i... u... e-o... A... A... Aaaaaa——"
"Mother, that sudden vocal shift is giving me the shivers—!"
The Hot Springs
"..."
(...It's quiet... too quiet. How long has it been since I've had such a peaceful moment... No sound of Gawain mashing potatoes, no Tristan flying around, no environmental destruction from the King... just peaceful...)
"..."
(...I wonder when I should actually get out?)
『 Stayed in for five hours and nearly died. Was rescued by Bedivere just in time. 』
The Matchmaker
"Fou-fou, Fou! (Follow me!)"
"W-Wait, Fou-san! I am still an apprentice knight, I can't go that fast!"
"Oh? What are you two doing?"
"King of Knights! It's just that Fou-san is..."
"Fou! (Right here!)"
"Fou-san...?"
"—Oh, hello, Lady. Are you in need of one of Bedivere's Simple and Delicious Journey Lunches?"
"Sir Bedivere!? This place is..."
"A privately owned shop. I have lunches ready for you. Would you like some?"
"Y-Yes! I'd love some!"
"—Fou. Are you acting as a Goodwill Ambassador now?"
(Making precious encounters happen is my current hobby, after all.)
"Hehe—you truly are the Princess's guardian beast, aren't you—"
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"