"This is the Holy Grail... it's not just a super-class magic furnace... why is something like this in an island country..." (Olga Marie)
"According to the records, that appears to be what's called the Greater Grail, created by the Einzbern family about 400 years ago." (Dr. Roman)
"Wow, that's amazing." (Ritsuka)
"This is... the Holy Grail..." (Mash)
While everyone shares their thoughts about this space, I—no, the vessel Gilgamesh's eyes are fixed on one point.
"That's enough talking. It's here. That's the last guard protecting the cause." (Cú Chulainn)
"——"
Skin like a dead person, heavy oppressive black armor. Shining blonde hair.
And murky yellow eyes. A sword filled with darkness.
"..." (Gilgamesh)
Looking at the knight ahead radiating overwhelming presence, an indescribable irritation and discomfort wells up from inside.
What is this feeling? Without even thinking about it, the vessel speaks on its own.
"—What is that appearance? In the short time I haven't seen you, you've been caught by unnecessary thoughts again." (Gilgamesh)
"—I'm surprised you're here, King Of Heroes." (Saber Alter)
I'm a bit surprised. Is that black swordsman and the King Of Heroes acquainted? At least, I think there's no hero who doesn't know the King Of Heroes...
"What!? You could talk!? You've been quiet this whole time!?" (Cú Chulainn)
"Everything was being watched, so I played the scarecrow. —But." (Saber Alter)
She looks at Mash.
"!" (Mash)
"You have an interesting Noble Phantasm, girl." (Saber Alter)
"Eh, m-me?" (Mash)
"Girl, don't let your guard down. That's the famous Knight King, Arthur Pendragon. What she carries is the sword of selection. The ultimate sword that's no exaggeration to call the world's most famous..." (Cú Chulainn)
"Excalibur! The ultimate holy sword forged by the Inner Sea of the Planet!" (Dr. Roman)
Romani shows his admiration.
Arthur Pendragon... an unfamiliar name. I think Arthur was a king, and male.
Or rather, if my eyes aren't going bad, he—no, she is...
"She's... a woman..." (Mash)
"A cross-dressing girl, Britain is really living in the future~" (Ritsuka)
That's it. At least, I've never heard any theory that Arthur Pendragon was female in history.
"She probably couldn't become king as a woman. Because of her family position, she had no choice but to act as a man, right?" (Dr. Roman)
"Don't say such carefree things! Mash—that Knight King is targeting her!" (Olga Marie)
"Interesting, truly interesting. —King Of Heroes, I'll deal with your unpleasant face later." (Saber Alter)
She spits out lightly, faces Mash, and holds her black sword in a lower stance.
"Take your stance, little girl. My sword will test whether your protection is true—!!"
—The discomfort grows more and more. What is this? This irritation, this feeling.
It's like—a feeling close to murderous intent, as if filth was thrown on something precious I longed for.
"You dare say you'll deal with me later. —Mash!" (Gilgamesh)
"Y-yes!" (Mash)
"She seems to want you. Put strength in your core. She's covered in filth but unmistakably has the planet's radiance." (Gilgamesh)
"If you let go of your shield, you'll vanish instantly. Along with your Master behind you." (Gilgamesh)
"—!" (Mash)
Since the vessel is uncontrollably unstable, I have no choice but to entrust the Master's protection to Mash.
Though our time together has been short, I've grasped by instinct how to give encouragement that lets Mash show her full power.
She doesn't fear her own death—she fears her loved ones getting hurt, and that drives her forward.
Mash is such a kind-hearted, ordinary girl. Rather, she's far more admirable and strong than me, who's been given the immense privilege of being the King Of Heroes.
—Please, Mash. Don't die no matter what.
"—I understand! I'll protect my Master!" (Mash)
"That's reckless! With a Noble Phantasm whose True Name you don't even know! Against Excalibur! The strongest holy sword!?" (Olga Marie)
"What are you saying, Director?" (Ritsuka)
"Eh...!?" (Olga Marie)
Master, Fujimaru Ritsuka smiles cheerfully.
"My Mash is the strongest shield!" (Ritsuka)
"You...!" (Olga Marie)
"Let's do it, Mash! Your power!" (Ritsuka)
"Yes! —The name of my Noble Phantasm that the Director gave me—!" (Mash)
"Vortigern, invert the aurora, swallow the light!!" (Saber Alter)
The magic power she wears gathers in the sword, and an enormous bundle of darkness forms light.
This is the planet's holy sword fallen to darkness. The peak of violent tyranny like an evil dragon that swallows and devours all radiance.
"—Noble Phantasm, deploying!!" (Mash)
This is the foundation that watches over humanity. The unbreakable wall bearing the name of the observatory that watches the history humans create and weave.
"Excalibur Morgan!!!" (Saber Alter)
Released. A tsunami of despair and destruction far exceeding a dragon's breath.
Releasing enormous magic power, creating and bundling it to increase momentum. The tremendous force doesn't weaken at all, becoming a hammer to destroy enemies and pass judgment.
"Imaginary Noble Phantasm—Pseudo-deployment / Lord Chaldeas—Foundation of Humanity———!!!" (Mash)
Built. The fleeting yet eternal immovable fortress wall bearing the name of the observatory that watches and observes humanity.
Thoughts become power, wishes become immovable. The snowflake wall rises to protect what's certainly behind her.
The tale of contradiction reenacted here. Black violence and white snowflake shake and rattle every object in the space, raging wildly to scatter them.
"God—!" (Olga Marie)
"Don't pray to god, fool." (Gilgamesh)
"!" (Olga Marie)
"What can those who vanished into emptiness do? What you should pray for—is only your friend's safety." (Gilgamesh)
That's right, don't cling to something and close your eyes.
Look firmly. At that soft yet never-breaking determination.
And the Round Table that responds to it.
"Ugh, uuuu! Aaah—!!" (Mash)
"It's okay! I'm here! Everyone's here! Mash isn't alone!" (Ritsuka)
"—Disappear—!" (Saber Alter)
The light of destruction increases its force. Finally, the dragon's roar trying to swallow its prey into its belly.
"I won't just be protected! I am—Mash's—!" (Ritsuka)
Mash looks at her Master.
"——" (Mash)
"Ritsuka!!" (Olga Marie)
"Gil's—Masterrrrr!!!!" (Ritsuka)
The red pattern carved on the back of her right hand shines, and one section disappears.
At the same time, power wells up through Mash's entire body, and the shield gains more strength and hardness—!
"Ooooooooo———!!!!!" (Mash)
———
————————
"—I had no intention of holding back even slightly. What utterly astonishing sturdiness." (Saber Alter)
This time, the shield won. It received all of Excalibur's light, and yet Mash and her Master are still alive.
"They did it! Mash did it! Fujimaru did it! To stop that holy sword! As I thought, Mash is not inferior to first-class Heroic Spirits!" (Dr. Roman)
"You're praising the wrong thing. Fool." (Gilgamesh)
"Eh?" (Dr. Roman)
That's right. That's not what to praise.
Heroes, Noble Phantasms. None of that matters.
Only give unstinting praise to the way their hearts are.
They are the ones worthy of walking side by side.
"—Now, I've grasped the shield's hardness well. Next is this side—King Of Heroes."
Yellow eyes turn toward me.
—That's exactly what I want. After seeing such determination and spirit, I can't stay silent.
—Here, I define myself.
"Don't interfere, dog." (Gilgamesh)
"—Hah, who would?" (Cú Chulainn)
Judgment is passed on the nameless soul. This is the first real test for the reincarnated me.
"I'll forgive your rudeness of treating me as a side character, thanks to Mash's hard work." (Gilgamesh)
Now—let's go, King Of Heroes who stands against ten thousand.
"—Let the curtain rise on my stage—!!" (Gilgamesh)
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