The surrender of Rias Gremory has been confirmed. The victory goes to Riser Phenex.
The broadcast echoed, but the dignitaries in the VIP seats showed no surprise. The outcome was as expected.
"Boring. If the Red Dragon Emperor were here, things might've been different."
Mocking laughter rippled through the crowd in agreement.
The game's flow was simple: Riser won through sheer numbers, sacrificing pieces. Rias's peerage had superior quality but failed to capitalize on it. Her Rook and Bishop took out opposing Pawns but fell to a lapse in vigilance. Her Queen cornered Riser's Queen, only to be reversed by Phenex's Tears. The Knight, reaching Balance Breaker, defeated the enemy Queen but was too exhausted, resulting in a mutual takedown.
Had Hyoudou Issei been present, with his precise healing or another high-firepower ally, the board could've flipped. If the Queen or Rook had unleashed their true power, or if the Knight had conserved strength, the outcome might've differed.
The game's consequence was merely that the Satan's spoiled sister would wed the Phenex family's third son. A trivial battle in the grand scheme, its stakes meaningless to the world.
Yet everyone acted as if there were no greater concerns. Some gods, knowing better, remained silent—an unforgivable oversight.
The air was heavy.
That single phrase captured the mood.
Knights of a Round Table from another world, summoned by the Goddess Rhongomyniad, sat once more at its seats. But the table had gaps.
The King was absent. So were the King's brother-in-law, Kay, and the Knight of the Sun, Gawain. Naturally, Galahad was missing too.
Tristan was also gone, off to retrieve Bedivere.
Bedivere, who'd wandered nations seeking the Holy Sword, hadn't been summoned by the Lion King. Hearing that holy swords were gathered in Asia by a Fallen Angel leader, he'd gone to Japan, only to arrive after everything concluded. While searching for the lost swords' whereabouts, he reunited with Tristan, leading to this moment.
"So, it was that court mage's doing that brought him here?"
"Yes, Tristan's report was clear."
A collective sigh of displeasure—or rather, exasperation—followed.
"Why would that mage do such a thing…?"
"It's Merlin, after all."
"Merlin being Merlin."
"If His Majesty were here, he might know."
"We can't trouble the King with this."
Unanimously, they shelved fathoming the Magus of Flowers' motives. His alien values made predicting him futile. Caution was warranted, but their familiarity bred some trust.
"Then, before Sir Bedivere returns, let's align our understanding, for his sake, we need clarity."
Not all present recalled the Sixth Singularity's events.
Tristan, for instance, didn't remember killing comrades, challenging the Lionheart pretender, or massacring civilians. Yet, his lack of memory let him sense the emotions of those who did, souring the mood. This wasn't how they were in life.
Agravain, remembering everything, believed Lancelot should be dealt with here but acknowledged his necessity as a warrior. He hoped there wouldn't be a third betrayal. Lancelot, vaguely recalling events, was grateful not to remember his final monologue but only recalled, "I think Galahad really chewed me out…"—his competence limited to his prowess.
Agravain was relieved Gareth remembered nothing—
"I'm back! Irina Shidou, reporting!"
They thought Bedivere had arrived early, but it was Irina, a former Church warrior now serving under Agravain. She'd recently completed a critical mission. Mordred, spotting her, clicked her tongue in disdain.
"Shut up, self-proclaimed knight."
"That's harsh, Lady Mordred!"
"Then self-proclaimed Japanese."
"I'm not self-proclaimed! I'm properly Japanese!"
"Liar. Lancelot knows more about Japan than you."
Why Lancelot knew Japan baffled some, but they assumed it was from a Holy Grail War's lingering knowledge. Gareth and Gaheris, meanwhile, beamed, "As expected of Sir Lancelot! So knowledgeable about distant islands!"
"…Sir Mordred, I understand your feelings, but she's one of my knights. Don't be so harsh…"
"Shut up! She's not King Arthur's descendant, not a Knight of the Round Table—just a Church warrior who inherited a factor and wields Father's—King Arthur's—Excalibur! What a ridiculous joke!"
No one could respond. It was only natural.
Excalibur is the sword that belongs with King Arthur.
That truth needed no words. It drove Bedivere's return of the sword, Mordred's rebellion, and the noble Round Table's fall.
"Sir Mordred, I understand, but calm yourself, sitting at this table, you mustn't disgrace us further."
Mordred grudgingly fell silent. Then, they noticed two knights behind Irina.
"I am sad, amidst this commotion, my return goes unnoticed."
"…I'm unsure if these words are right, but let me say them. Bedivere, humbly, has returned to King Arthur's side."
Bedivere's first question, noticing the empty seats, was inevitable.
"Sir Agravain, where is the King?"
The answer was already clear. Gawain and Kay's absence was tied to it.
"It's obvious, diplomacy."
"Suggestion from Andromalius. We should use the information from Caspar League via Hyoudou Issei to devise a counter against him."
"Agreement from Decarabia. Further discussing Zepar's poor negotiation skills, Phenex's unilateral actions, or Flauros's blindness is a waste of time."
"Resentment from Flauros. You'll pay for that later."
"Alignment from Zepar. I understand that sentiment."
"Support from Phenex. It's wrong that only we face scorn."
"Request from Amon. Reflect, you disgraces."
"Proposal from Foras. We must start by purging our internal anomalies. Otherwise, we can't proceed."
"Suggestion from Gamigin. A reversal: what if we die again?"
"Refusal from Andras. Absolutely not! I repeat, absolutely not!"
"Agreement from Phenex. If implemented, I nominate Gamigin as the test subject!"
"View from Furcas. Not practical. Given our nature, it's likely futile."
"Point from Gusion. We need to discuss how our anomalies manifest, but debating among ourselves is pointless."
"Request from Ronove. A collaborator is essential. Our discussions may already be tainted by his will. We need a god-slaying ally outside us."
"Suggestion from Botis. First condition: they must be unaffected by gods, meaning a top-tier deity."
"Supplement from Vepar. We don't know when his plan began—during the Three Factions' war or at Genesis? Was it the will sealed in the Lance?"
"Suggestion from Sitri. Next condition: they must be willing to ally with us. Most mythologies view us as part of a calamity. Building trust from scratch is difficult."
"Explanation from Naberius. We negotiated with many hells and succeeded, but that's not trust—neither given nor received. We haven't revealed the full plan."
"Correction from Buer. Explaining his second coming to non-Biblical factions would make us seem insane."
"Declaration from Forneus. I firmly refuse negotiations with the Three Factions. They'd exploit this. Our ally must not be named in the Bible."
"Concern from Gremory. The Hero Faction has our factors. Using them is risky."
"Summary from Murmur. Our rebellion begins by finding an entity meeting these conditions."
"Objection from Valac. No such convenient entity—"
"…"
"...…"
"..."
"There is one."
"Yes, there is."
"Indeed, but…"
"Can that handle such a complex issue?"
"It's a dragon of pure innocence!"
"But as a candidate, it's not bad."
"Directive from Goetia to all Demon God Pillars. We'll rouse Ophis, likely dozing in her Reality Marble."
"Goetia, you called?"
"When did you return? No matter, it saves time. Ophis, we need your power."
"—I have a condition."
"Fine. Teaching you a Reality Marble was payment enough, but this matter exceeds that. What do you want? Aid against Great Red? The Holy Grail? Knowledge of our world?"
"I want to play with you."
"Oh, an easy request. It won't disrupt our plans. Simple enough—wait, what?"
"Goetia, you don't pay attention to me. I'm lonely. This isn't the silence I sought. I want to be with you. So, play with me."
"Nothing else?"
"I won't help otherwise."
"Once spoken, I can't retract it. Fine, I'll indulge your 'play.' We can incinerate Human Order—this is nothing. It should be nothing."
"I want to go to an amusement park."
"Uh, alright… Before we proceed, Ophis, explain that bizarre creature with you."
"Ehem."
"…Ddraig…!"
Once upon a time, there was a king.
The king was wise. The king was a great mage. The king was kind. But the king was always angry, never smiling.
The king hated God! God sat arrogantly in the heavens, doing nothing! Always haughty, lording over everything, impossibly greedy!
The king hated angels too! Angels only flattered God, mocking the king as a mere human, calling his people sheep. Yet they forbade the king or his vassals from mocking God. Humans had to praise God.
The king hated Devils too! When unwatched, Devils wreaked havoc in his kingdom, stealing precious rings, deceiving humans, and whisking them away. They even dumped their trash.
The king hated Fallen Angels too! They fought endlessly with angels and Devils. Unrestrained by God, they caused more chaos. They longed to return to the heavens, but God no longer needed them, so they bullied humans.
No matter how hard the king tried, God, angels, Devils, and Fallen Angels ignored him. The king heard voices he didn't want to hear. He saw things he didn't want to see. His kingdom was in ruins.
So, the king devised a revenge.
Imagining the troubled faces of God and Devils, the king smiled for the first time! He grinned, chuckled, smirked!
And then the king—cursed all of humanity.
***
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