Finally, all of Chaldea has gathered. Even the Servants who were allies in the singularities have all assembled.
"That's quite a biased development..."
"I'm relieved~ With this lineup, we can't lose, right?"
"Normally, I'd say Ritsuka's line is a death flag, but it's on a level where I can't say that, so I'll let it pass."
We are heading comfortably towards Orléans on Artoria's ship, the Ehangwen.
"Master! Here's some lemonade!"
"Thanks."
Umin, who hasn't done anything, is lying on a sunbed on the deck, wearing sunglasses, and receiving lemonade from Xu Fu, enjoying the leisure. I feel a bit sorry for him, but it's also annoying.
"Hey, human! I want cookies!"
"No, I don't have any..."
"I hear there are some over here. Let's go together."
"Then I'll go too~"
Ibaraki wants cookies, and Mash finds the dessert room inside the ship and heads there with Ritsuka and Ibaraki. I lie here on the terrace, enjoying a leisurely moment. But where is everyone...?
"You know quite a bit about my father. I might have to revise my evaluation."
"Eeeh!? Really!? That's surprising... Hey, Aunt Nero, is there anything else?"
My wives are all trying to make a good impression on Uathach and Connla... Well, I can't interfere or stop them, so I'm just leaving them be. What can I do? Merlin and Solomon are there too, and Kiyohime as well. Everyone is trying hard...
"But... you're not doing anything?"
"What is it? Do you want me to obsess over you?"
"As if? I thought you'd do it out of pride... I'm glad you're not."
Next to me, Gilgamesh was lying down. Unlike the other two, she doesn't seem to have any particular interest in me, which is反而 reassuring, but... I was worried she might covet me out of curiosity, that is, possessiveness. But, I guess not.
"Ha! What a laughable provocation, Fergus mac Róich. You were sure that I would be desperate to have you in my arms?"
"I didn't say that. I just thought it might be possible considering your arrogant nature and greed. Obsessed with you? Please."
"Hoh... Is that so? On the contrary, it makes me want to challenge you for the first time in a while, Fergus... If I were to join in that trivial, whorish love fight, I would obviously win overwhelmingly, wouldn't I?"
"I somewhat agree that it's trivial... but take back the 'whorish' part."
"Are you commanding me?"
"What."
"... Hmph, I'll retract it just this once. Anyway, watch here. I'll show you how easily I gain recognition from your daughters. No, not recognition. I'll make them look up to me and beg me to become their new mother."
"Ah, yes."
Gilgamesh smirked and walked towards the scene of the love fight. And she started talking to Uathach and Connla with a smile... After a while.
Whoosh~!
"... Today, another star has fallen in the Heroic Spirit realm."
Gilgamesh, hit by the double uppercut from Uathach and Connla, flew far away and eventually fell to the ground like a shooting star. She was knocked out from a proper hit to the jaw. She'll wake up soon, so it should be fine.
"That's quite an organization."
"You're not being sarcastic, are you?"
"Not at all, that wasn't my intention."
Next, Siegfried walked over and sat next to me. Among here, he and Jeanne are old acquaintances, so he probably came to me. Despite being a charming man, he has a loner-like aspect.
"You have quite a lot of wives."
"Do I look like the worst kind of man?"
"Not particularly. Love differs from person to person. Moreover, for a king, whether male or female, having multiple women isn't unusual. And you, my lord, love them sincerely as wives, not concubines. I have no reason to judge that as the worst."
"You're a real man~ It feels good to hear that from a devoted husband like you."
"Devoted husband... Indeed, I still love Kriemhild. She was a woman too good for me..."
Kriemhild. Siegfried's wife was truly a pitiable person. She sincerely loved Siegfried but had a tsundere personality, causing them to constantly miss each other and their hearts to be at odds. And due to political strife, Siegfried sacrificed himself and died. Not knowing this, Kriemhild lived for over 20 years to avenge him, and in the end, upon learning the truth that Siegfried had sacrificed himself, she despaired, hated him, and accepted death.
However, even so, she couldn't hate him and held feelings of love and resentment. People who sincerely love each other but think they might see themselves as the worst husband (wife)... From the outside, you'd want to push their backs and tell them to just love each other already.
"Have some self-esteem. If you meet her later, tell her you love her and hug her. She'll like you too, you know."
"Do you think she would...?"
"Based on my prediction, she definitely will."
"Is that so... As a Servant, I'm not sure if I'll retain this memory in another summoning, but... if I meet Kriemhild in the next summoning, I'll try following your advice."
"Yes, trust me on this."
After having a married men's conversation with Siegfried... next, Báthory interjected.
"Really, don't you want to be an idol!?"
"No~"
"Your voice is so good and cute, you'd definitely do well!?"
"I refuse~"
"Come on~ Elize~ You shouldn't force it~ Let's continue our girls' talk~!"
"Ah, wait a minute, Marie!"
Marie Antoinette tactfully pulled Báthory away. Ah, how peaceful...
As we continued flying through the sky, finally, Orléans Castle came into view.
"The destination is in sight."
I stood up and stretched my body. Finally, the last battle in France.
"Hmm? Is that a Western castle? It looks pretty cool."
Ibaraki came out to the terrace while eating cookies, and after finishing them, she just threw the bag behind her. But she burned it to dispose of it. What a good kid. Then she started eating the ice cream she was holding... but that flavor...
"Ugh...! T-this..."
"Um... Ibaraki-chan?"
"It's toothpaste!!!!"
Bang!!!
"Ugh!?"
Ibaraki, who ate mint chocolate ice cream, exploded. She physically exploded.
"Siegfried-san~!"
"I'm fine! Stay away, it's dangerous!"
"What are you sorry for!?"
Along with Siegfried, I was blown away by the explosion, and Siegfried, who was in front of Ibaraki, was thrown further and fell. I'm about to fall too...!?
"Shiro!"
At that moment, Illya, who was eating ice cream behind me, shouted, and Shiro (the bear) stretched out its hand, or rather its paw, to me...
Thump!
"Guh!"
"Hey, you should catch him, what are you doing!?"
"Kuma (How should I catch him!?)!?"
"That's a fair point...!"
Thus, hit by the punch of the EX-rank Noble Phantasm, the spirit bear, I was thrown towards the castle. Hey, guys... show some concern... Why are you all still having that love discussion...? As a father and husband, I feel hurt...?
Crash...!
"Damn it..."
Thus, breaking through the castle wall, I rolled on the floor in some room. Life is tough. My luck is high, so why does it feel low...? My luck is A, right...? Maybe A stands for asshole...? Fucking asshole...
"....."
"... Hello?"
Hearing a presence, I looked up and saw Carmilla looking down at me. There's no way Carmilla could defeat me, so I greeted her first and got up from the spot.
"... Hello."
"Ah, yes..."
I didn't expect her to accept the greeting?
"..."
She hesitated and stared at me intently. Is it because of what happened before...? Should I apologize profusely?
"Um... would you like some tea?"
"Huh? Ah... yes."
Given the atmosphere, I thought I should accept, so I sat on the chair at the table she guided me to. She then poured tea from a teapot she had prepared, perhaps for herself. The aroma is nice.
"The aroma is nice."
"Isn't it? I carefully selected the tea leaves... No blood was added. I enjoy tea separately..."
"I see..."
Taking a sip, it's high-quality tea with not a drop of poison. She's surprisingly good at making tea? I thought as a countess and baroness, she might not be able to... Considering social activities, it might be a cultivated hobby?
"You came to fight, right...?"
"Yes... though being thrown here was an accident."
"I see... By any chance, if I surrender, will you accept me?"
"... Huh?"
"Ah, I guess not?"
I don't think Carmilla has any loyalty to this side, but... she's not the type to beg for her life by surrendering. Is it possible that she has ulterior motives towards me...? Judging by her appearance, it seems like that kind of reaction...
"Well... Báthory is on our side, so it might be difficult. She's not part of Chaldea, but she's an ally for now..."
"My past, embarrassing self... We couldn't even have a proper conversation before becoming enemies..."
"She proposed I become an idol."
"Ah, an idol... That's embarrassing even for me. But, it might suit you..."
At her core, she's the same person as Báthory... Báthory grew up to become Carmilla. Seeing that Báthory later adopts a phantom thief concept, Báthory is Báthory.
"But still! After everything is over... will the me on your side leave with you?"
"I'm not sure... Probably not, or maybe I don't know..."
"Ugh... But, isn't it possible to take me along?"
"Well... It might be a bit difficult..."
"I see..."
Carmilla genuinely disappointed and sulked. If she had animal ears like Atalanta, they would probably droop.
But... I feel someone's gaze...
....... Why is Altera there?