Pharaoh's Shining Glory

Now then.

We will now begin the ritual of one hundred trials. Nitocris!

Yes, great king. I have come as summoned.

I will permit you to participate in the ritual. I don't quite trust THAT ONE's Servants to do the job.

Hmph. This may just be a simulator, but it would sit badly with me if there was some sort of accident and he died from shock or some such.

Do well with Fujimaru. I shall be watching over your performance.

Understood.

Then are you prepared, Fujimaru? Eh? What are we doing exactly, you ask? Don't make that face!

...As you heard, a swarm of Divine Beasts is heading this way. You mustn't let your guard down. I will also be vigilant and careful...

So! You must fight like your life depends on it as well!

Such big talk! You must suit action to word, then! If you fail to do so, you will invite my wrath!

Yes. I'm about to cry! Actually, I'm already cryingI mean, just kidding!

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Ohmyohmyohmy...

No...no, nothing good will come of cowering in fear! So... I! Will! Do! It!

(Pant, pant, pant...)

Whew...we...managed...to get rid...of the last of them...!

(Sigh)...

...Y-yes! We did it, didn't we!? We finally did it, Fujimaru!

Hm.

Your performance exceeded my expectations. Perhaps I have underestimated you... Perhaps...

I am a wise pharaoh, even a god incarnate. However, even an omnipotent god is not omniscient.

At times, it seems man can make a miracle.

It may be possible to say that is a truth of this world, but I am not ready to say so tonight!

Heh. You fought well, Fujimaru! You too, Nitocris!

Pharaoh Ozymandias!

Heh.

You persevered through this most difficult of trials. You should be proud.

And now, after your five-and-a-half-minute break, we will resume your Sphinx challenge!

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Ohmyohmy... (Whispering)

Now, let's resume the challenge. Try not to let the Divine Beast rend your souls.

Who said it was a Sphinx!? Hahahaha! I decided I would give you something a bit more impressive.

Enjoy it, my gift to you!

Haha, that's the spirit. Don't give up. You will face a powerful enemy to rival even Amun-Ra!

Or, at least, a replication of its data, at any rate. Now, go!

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...Then we shall head into battle!

(Cough, pant...)

(Pant...huff, hufff...) Can't...breathe...

My apologies...um... (Huff...huff...wheeze...) Haaaaaa...

(Huff, pant...)

Hmff...unnngf...pf-wah! W-we did it...yes... Finally...finally, finally...!

We finally finished it, Fujimaru! The one hundred trials...all in a row...

Heh.

You fought. You endured. Stand tall! Be proud!

And now, after your five minute, forty second break, the final battle of your Sphinx challenge begins!

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...

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(Gasp!)

W-with so much glory...I was in such a state of ecstatic joy that I was on the brink of losing hold of my manifestation in this world...

U-um, um...Pharaoh Ozymandias...should there really be a final battle, I shall do everything in my power

No need!

Gyaaa!?

Hmph. There's no need to be so humble.

Your reverence and sentiment for me... I certainly could not fail to notice your attempt to undergo the ritual of one hundred trials twice.

I could not miss such a thing! There is no need to offer yourself further! To do so would be nothing more than sacrificing yourself!

Praise and reverence can become obsequiousness if overdone. It could even turn to disrespect!

M-my apologies...

Fine. I will allow it all!

Rest well, Nitocris! Your sincerity is a good thing, but take care not to overdo it!

I shall take a third of the resources that were given to my great temple as offerings and use them to double the recuperative abilities of your bedchamber!

Through the power of Ra, that is my blessing to you!

I am thankful beyond words!

Pharaoh Ozymandias! With great respect, I, Nitocris, will head to my chamber to rest!

Hm. Be sure you do so in moderation.

And Fujimaru. How should you be rewarded?

Hm...

Come closer. Two or three steps closer. I will permit you to approach my throne.

Good. That's enough. Now show me your face. I want to see your eyes.

...Hmph. They're still the same as when I last saw them.

Completely lacking in regality, and with nothing of a soldier's fire.

You lack talent in magecraft as well. You may be a mage, but you would never have merited a position as a mage in my empire.

Let me look closer. Ah, take care not to meet my gaze directly.

After all, I am the brilliance of the sun itself. You may lose your sight. Now, then.

...

No regality. No soldier's fire. No talent as a mage. You seem to be preparing for something, but I cannot determine what it may be.

No, not even a hint of a sage's wisdom, nor the intellect to mark you as a genius.

And yet, you still intrigue me.

Hmmm...

I didn't want to believe it, but the resemblance to my friend Moses...

!!! Pharaoh, you don't mean...!

...is nowhere to be found, either! You are not the least bit like him!

(Sigh of relief)

He possessed such fierce resolve, such conviction that could only be met with admiration...

His unwavering determination to face fate head-on...truly a saintly type.

Sacrificing everything for the sake of others...and wishing for the entire world's happiness.

Hm.

Indeed.

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But what of you? You are the opposite. However, you have strength enough to go through the ritual of one hundred trials.

You do it for your own sake. For your life. You are one of those who struggle in order to live.

You are an embodiment of life itself, as vigorous yet fleeting as you are. That is precisely what you are!

Such a sight to behold, and such a gaze you have!

Though you have multiple Heroic Spirits under your command, your gaze is...fleeting. Heh. You are truly an embodiment of the people I vowed to protect.

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Pharaoh Ozymandias...

Listen, Fujimaru, young would-be mage who managed to summon me to Chaldea...

I have made my judgment!

You! I grant you permission to refer to yourself as Master in this age!

Amazing! Pharaoh...!

Haha, do not gape so dumbly at me, Master.

Obviously. What of it?

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Until now, what you had was not unlike a probationary license! A trial period of sorts!

What. Did you really not know? Hah! Do not think of me like those other ordinary, submissive Heroic Spirits contracted to you!

Think of me whenever you feel the dazzling light of the sun, and respect me whenever you receive the blessing of the sun...and even that is not enough.

Devote yourself well, Master.

You are neither regal nor a soldier. You are neither a grand mage nor a great sage.

I cannot even call you valorous, though some may refer to one who walks your path as such.

In other words...

You're human. Just one man.

Keep that well in your mind as you proceed! As long as there is a ray of light in the heavens, my luminescence will light your path!

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Mhmm.

...Now, this may seem a fitting place to end things...but no.

It would embarrass me to stop only at words. That is, I must give you a reward as well!

Though, if I gave you something like an Awlad, Nitocris would faint and foam at the mouth. Hmmm...

(Tremble)

Then how about this? I shall give you the gift of my words, in poetic form.

Let me tell you about my beloved wife.

Pharaoh's beloved wife...could it be about Queen Nefertari?

Such information is so scarce, even I have little knowledge of her! And now you say that you're going to grace us with it in poetic form!?

That is so gracious of you...please reconsider, my God King. We are not worthy!

I'm feeling generous! Heh. Behold, my poetry shall surpass even the great poet Percy Shelley!

I shall speak of myself, and I shall speak of Nefertari. There is no other poetry so dramatic, it will stir your very souls, even the air around us!

Stand up straight! Focus all your thoughts upon my words!

Now, to begin...

Upon the glittering banks of the Nile stood a solitary...

...And that's how the story goes. Hm.

Wonderful... Beautiful beyond description...

Yet so innocent...it made me blush... The story of Pharaoh and Nefertari in their teenage years...

The story of them when they were fourteen and sixteen... Of course it would be a story of pure, innocent, young love!

That concludes part one of the tale. Heh. If I gave it to you all at once, you would have nothing to look forward to in the future.

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Of course!

Now, let me ask you properly...

What is it that you desire? This all started when you rushed toward me so suddenly...

...and insisted I hear your desires. That is why I was so kind as to provide you with this trial.

I was so focused on the tale of Nefertari, I almost forgot. Forgive me.

So. What was it that you desired from me?

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Hm.

Well, that's a rare sight, even for me.

What sort of amusement have you devised this time, Sun King? I never expected to find you by the simulator.

Heh. Come now, don't say such things, Golden King. We cannot simply ignore Master's requests.

Master pleaded for me to come relax in Chaldea once in a while, instead of maintaining my residence exclusively in a pyramid in the simulator.

Oh?

Then I will permit it. I will allow this pharaoh, who is as good as a stranger here in Chaldea, to enter...

And I will grace him with my presence, and personally give him a tour. I am feeling generous tonight.

Hm...

In this area, rows of tiny cells called "My Room" are arrayed. But more importantly, do you know of the great hall beyond the storage area?

It's a Western-style building that rather stands out in a base built in such a cold place, though the idea may have been to make it look like a lodge on a snowy mountain.

Its official name, though, is the "recreation room."

It stores plenty of electronic entertainment devices that the commoners amuse themselves with. You may use it to pass your idle time.

Hm. A recreation room, huh? If you plan to participate in some sort of racing game, I shall join you.

I would enjoy beating that ancient king to a pulp. I see some unfamiliar faces, but no matter. I will beat all of them as well.

Lion King!?

...Or the one that's not her. It's the beauty. Haha. It might be best if you dismount that white horse!

Don't bother! No matter how you coax her, that woman will not get off her high horse.

Indulging myself all night in recreation with an absolute beauty. Ha. Ah, I could not permit Nefertari to see such a thing!

Hahahahahaha! It is not THAT kind of recreation! Well, it's a pain to explain, so just watch!

Then lead the way!

I will!

Keep it down, you two!

Ah! Finally...it has finally happened! Pharaoh Ozymandias is...

...interacting with a new Servant in a friendly manner! Yes...yes!

For the time being, I will ignore the fact that the Servant he is interacting with is King Gilgamesh!

Thank you very much, Master. Thanks to you, we have convinced Pharaoh Ozymandias to enjoy himself.

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Fujimaru. I have a favor to ask...

It's about our God King, Pharaoh Ozymandias...

I would like you to get him out of the pyramid!

The great compound shrine that's been reproduced by the simulator is simply based on his memories...but it is still nothing but a counterfeit.

It cannot be good for even him to stay cooped up in there.

I would like him to walk around Chaldea, and perhaps interact with some of the other Servants...

I...I...would like him to continue thriving.

Thank you! I knew you would agree!

As unworthy as I am, I will aid you as best I can! Let us accomplish this task, no matter what!

So please...even just for a little while, let's take him outside!

R-really...? But I am...unworthy of such esteem...

Try. Not to tease. Too much. Disrespectful! Disrespectful!

But...but...

Please. Lend. Me your. Hand! For the. Sake. Of Pharaoh Ozymandias!

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Yes...we did it! (Sniff) ...Oh, to see His Majesty looking so playful and having fun...

Nitocris! Where's Nitocris!?

I suppose I don't even have to ask where you are, since you're always beside me. Well then, let us head to the recreation room together!

Yes, Your Majesty!

Come, Fujimaru. You shall accompany us too! You will be rewarded with our blessing!